Aegis's Point Of View.“Gee-gee” The little girl squealed happily as she raced past me. My heart softened as the sight of the joy on the little Cece's face as she chased after the other pups with a wide smile on her face. The Pack kindergarten space was a large grassy area that smelt like Pine, thatch and wet earth with little brown thatch huts around it in a circular fence. The sun had dipped low behind the hills, painting the horizon in shades of purple and gold as the last rays filtered through the thick forest surrounding the kindergarten. It was a very nice touch, I’ll admit. This pack clearly loved their children because I had ever seen anything like this before. But then again they didn’t have parents like mine.Children raced all around, some playing pretend houses in the huts, some painting weird looking childish paintings, some drawing and pushing their friends on swings more than heavy for their little bodies.There was one thing constant here- Laughter and joy. This place
I could almost see his head rolling across the giant conference table. A head rolling across the entire room before being turned to its inevitable form_dust. Elijah was about to kill Elias. Okay maybe I’m being dramatic but Elijah was mad mad. I now understood why Elijah was so particular about me being here. His constant almost wary insistence that I babysit Cece in the conference room today totally made sense now. She calmed him down enough that he wasn’t responsible for murder today, his words not mine. I finally got sworn in as an official member of the pack. Yayy I know. Elijah had been rather smug about it, scratch that he loved it.A small smile crept on his face at my line of thought. Oh did I forget to tell you. Being connected to the entire pack meant they had 24/7 access to your thoughts and feelings at every moment, well until you block them out that is. And lord knows I wanted to block out a certain big headed handsome Alpha out tonight but I have a feeling he would compl
Sobs racked through my body. Giving up on someone hurt so much. Why was i never enough for anyone? "You don’t have to be strong all the time," Elijah whispered, his thumb brushing the tears fro my face to my jawline.“I just.. I can’t. He didn't want me. He never did. Am I that awful?“No baby. Never think that. You’re awesome, He’s a jerk”“ I can feel my wolf’s pain Elijah, I…I…I don’t know what to do.”“You pick yourself back up again. It gets better love. I promise you. Please stop crying”.We were back at the pack house. It’s been a whole of three weeks after I rejected the mate bond between I and Elias. What a sight we were the Alpha soothing a broken pack maid in the Pack kitchen. Hugging me to his chest even as i soiled his chest with tears and soap dud covering my hands. The other maids didn’t know what to do when I burst into tears right in the middle of cleaning the evening dishes. Sensing my anguish, Elijah raced back to the pack house from the border.“Please baby. Pleas
Aegis's Point Of View.Life has been good lately.So much so that I can’t stop smiling no matter how hard I tried. And I’ve tried a lot.Humming to myself, I kneaded the cinnamon dough on the already floured counter. Little clouds of flour puffed into the air with each fold I turned around dusting my nose and cheeks. It reminds me of a joke Elijah made and I smile. Why does everything remind me of him?. “Mommy, am I doing it right?” Cece asked breaking me out of my thoughts. I bit my lips in amusement at the sight of her with a total flour covered face and a watered down version of a piece of dough paste in her hands.“Yes baby. Of course”“Mommy you’re lying. I’m bad at this”.“Okay maybe. But you can dust flour on the baking pan the way we did to the counter. You can do that, can’t you baby?“Yes mommy. But can I do it later? My wrist hurts.”“Of course baby.”And with that,she was out of the room. Probably to go play with the other children.“You’re going to wear that smile right o
Aegis's P.O.V"Mommy look, A big fat cloud."The day felt like a dream I never want to end. I leaned back with a smile on my face watching Elijah laugh as Cece fed crumbs to a squirrel. “We should do this more often,” he said in a calm and warm voice . “And you?” I teased “Do you love feeding squirreld as much as she does?” Everything shattered before he could answer . The mind link opened sharply and painfully ringing frantic voice through. "Rogues! They’ve breached the border!” I froze, same as Elijah. His easy smile was gone, replaced by the fierce, commanding look I’d seen too many times before. “Take Cece and run,” he said, his voice low but firm. He was already on his feet pulling Cece toward me. “Elijah—” “No arguments. Aegis not now," He handed her to me, his eyes softer now. “ Get to the safe house. The both of you” “What about you?” I whispered scared out of my mind.“I’ll fight. I’ll come back.” His hand brushed my cheek, “Trust me.”I didn’t want to leave him and
Omniscient Third person P.o.v.She woke up completely at peace. It was weird and she knew why."I’m dead?" Aegis’s voice was raw as she stared around the glowing white courtyard. Statues of faceless figures loomed around her, doing little to mask the faces and decapitated of her fellow dead pack members. They matched in a straight line with her at the very end. All ended to meet the Goddess and be judged. Then it was her turn. Selene sat on a massive throne before her basking in radiant and calm light."Am I dead?,""Yes," the goddess said softly. "And you lived a beautiful life, child."Aegis froze. Her chest tightened with rage like boiling water. "A 'beautiful' life? You call that a beautiful life? Are you insane?" she spat, her voice carrying through the stillness of the courtyard.Her nails digged into her palms but she felt no pain. "What kind of life would you define as beautiful ?"Selene tilted her head, unbothered as ever."A life of trials, yes. But beauty often grows in pa
"What the hell? She has no injuries." I opened my eyes to the sound of muffled voices. Another Hospital. The sharp scent of antiseptic hit me first. The room was cold, too bright. White walls. White sheets. White everything. I blinked slowly, my chest rising and falling. Alive. Somehow, I was alive. "How is this even possible?" A male voice. "She should be dead," said another, softer voice. A woman this time. I turned my head. Two doctors stood near the door arguing amongst themselves. They hadn’t noticed me yet. "No wounds. No burns. It doesn’t make sense," the woman whispered. "That's just not possible ," the man muttered. I sat up, the sheets falling off my chest. My sudden movement made them freeze. Their heads snapped toward me. "She’s awake," the woman said, her voice trembling. " I can see that," the man bit out in frustration.He stepped closer cautiously. "Miss...can you hear me?" "Where am I?" My voice was hoarse. It didn’t even sound like me."You’re safe," he said
AEGIS'S P.O.V"Duck."The punch came out of nowhere and slammed into my ribs like a sledgehammer.I staggered back gasping at the pain exploding through my side. Before I could catch my breath another hit came, this time to my jaw. My vision blurred."Focus!" a deep voice barked.I dodged the next blow slightly by instinct, ducking low and spinning away. My body moved like it knew what to do, but my mind was still catching up.Another strike. This one grazed my shoulder, sending a sharp sting down my arm."Is this all you’ve got?" the voice growled.I raised my head fists raised. The man towering over me had a cruel smirk on his face. Sweat glistened on his dark skin, and his eyes were sharp promptlg calculating my every moves."Is this how you're going to make them pay?" "You're such a weakling," he taunted, circling me.I lunged at him, throwing a punch. He caught my wrist mid-air and twisted inhumanly, forcing me to my knees. Pain shot through me, but I didn’t scream."Pathetic," h
Aegis's P.O.VI felt him before I saw him. It's weird. Really weird.There was a shift in the air. A ripple of something. Something that my body recognizes. And Loves.What the hell?King Damien is moving through the crowd mingling like a man who doesn’t detest the very wolves he rules over. But I know better. He hates them. The same way I do. I clench my fists and forced myself to focus on Brianna who just got here."Hi Everyone.. How's our evening going?"“You’re late.” Brianna smirks and tilted her head.“Missed me that much huh?” I narrow my eyes.“What were you doing?” Brianna sighs.“I’ll tell you later.” Before I can press her, the air around us thickens. A large and very suffocating presence loomed over us.King Damien. He stops beside Brianna with a master poker face. “Hello Brianna,” he greets.Brianna raises a brow before slightly bowing, “Your Majesty.”Damien’s gaze slides over to Noah, and something in his sharp eyes softens with amusement. “And you must be the Poison Ro
King Damien's P.O.V“She’s deadly, no doubt.” “But he is insanity itself.” The voices murmured in the corners of the grand ballroom, just beyond the golden-lit chandeliers and polished marble floors. They spoke in hushed tones, stolen whispers exchanged like secrets laced with fear. King Damien. The Insanity. The man who had bathed the throne in blood. And now--The Poison Rose. A woman just as ruthless, just as untouchable. Some said she had been carved from the same darkness as him. “They say she wiped out an entire rogue faction by herself.” “They say he crushed an Alpha’s skull with his bare hands.” Silence. Then, softer... “If they ever stood against each other…” A pause. “No one would survive.” Damien heard them. Every word. He didn’t slow his steps. Didn’t even glance in their direction as he passed, his heavy black cloak trailing behind him. He hated this place. The wolves. The way they bowed, the way their voices dripped with false loyalty. They feared him, as they shoul
Aegis's P.O.VHow is it that I know every torture that ever existed but never discovered this one?.These shoes were death traps. Five-inch, pencil-thin, ankle-breaking, toe-pinching, nightmare inducing torture devices. I have fought in wars, ripped out throats, and faced down entire rogue packs but somehow, these damn heels might be my greatest enemy yet. I muttered a curse, shifting uncomfortably as I walked out of the black van we came in. Noah, ever the observant one, smirked. “Something wrong, Alpha?” I shot him a look.“If I trip and die tonight, tell Brianna she's responsible for my death .” Noah chuckled. “Noted. Should I also let the King know he’ll need a new special guest?” “You do that, and I’ll haunt you.” Talia who's currently fixing the last few details of my dress, grinned. “You look good in heels, Alpha.” I scoffed. “I look like a baby deer learning to walk.” Noah nodded. “Yeah, but a hot baby deer.” I jabbed him in the ribs with my elbow, making him grunt.
Aegis's P.O.VShe cut their neck off right at the jugular vein. And from the way she was looking at me, I was next. How the hell did Brianna talk me into this? "You need to be seen,” she'd said, smiling so sweetly. I took in a spoon of the lasagna in front of me. “You’re our Alpha, Aegis. You’ve got power and presence but no one’s going to know that if you continue hiding in the shadows. Let the world see the Poison Rose. Let them see why they should fear you.”I took in another spoon. That sounded reasonable, it was making sense until she added, “Besides, there’ll be handsome Alphas at the ball. Maybe even the King himself.” I rolled my eyes so hard it hurt. I'm not searching for a man, a mate, or any of it. What I wanted was to be left alone. But Brianna was like a storm, relentless, unavoidable and absolutely impossible to fight without getting drenched. I successfully avoided her the entire week but now here I was sitting at the dining table, cornered. How she expected my
AEGIS'S P.O.VSta. Stah. Stah. Stahh. Ztahh. Ztahh. Ztahhg.I snapped the rubber haur band against my wrist over and over again. Each time harder and harder. I need to feel. I need to feel. My mind echoed " Feel, Feel," with each sharp sting echoing through the silence of my room. It wasn’t enough. I snapped it again. And again. Each time, the elastic dug deeper into my skin and left welts that darkened and split. My breathing was steady, but my thoughts were mumbled and chaos. Had I become a monster? So much of a monster that Zach thought I’d kill his mate? I stared at the bruises forming on my wrist, the faint line of blood seeping through one of the deeper cuts. My mind replayed the moment over and over. Zach’s wild eyes. His stance. His words: He thought I would hurt her. He thought I was ruthless enough to kill his mate. Snap. The band dug deeper.A knock on my door pulled me out. “Come in.” Noah stepped inside holding a stack of papers. He glanced at me then at my wrist. He kn
"Get Up Now."The most high-pitched and panicked scream I've ever heard ripped through the house, I bolted from my office ready to fight. I raced into the kitchen, expecting to see blood, someone dying, an intruder---anything but the three men frozen in place jointly staring at a spot on the floor.Ladies and Gentlemen, My Council."What is it?” I demanded. Noah, Zach, and Emery turned to me with wide eyes pale faces. Noah pointed a shaking finger toward the counter. “A spider,” he whispered. I stared at them. Three of the strongest wolves I’d ever met and personally trained, standing like children in front of a bug. A Beta, Gamma and Delta to be exact.“A spider?” I repeated incredulously. “It’s huge,” Zach said defensively, as if that excused the situation. I looked at the tiny creature crawling across the countertop. “You want me to kill it?”“Please,” Emery begged. I crossed my arms. “None of you can do it?” They all shook their heads. “You’re supposed to be warriors,” I deadpan.
AEGIS'S P.O.V“Combatants, Please step forward!” the referee’s voice rang loud and clear.I stepped into the arena slowly and deliberatey. Mikeal swaggered in across me with a wide, arrogant smirk. The crowd roared excitedly amidst the tension of the environment.“This is a fight for the position of Alpha,” the referee announced. “This battle ends only in death or submission. Fighters, are you ready?” I nodded once silently. I'll do all it takes to not kill the boy. I might not like him but no one deserves to die for their foolishness. I did and I wouldn't wish it on my worst enemy.Mikeal sneered, flexing his muscles for the crowd. A few girls shrieked and screamed but the older ones were quiet, understanding the consequence of electing Mikeal as Alpha.“I was born ready.” The referee raised his hand. “Begin!” Mikeal lunged at me without any hesitation, his fists swinging wildly. I sidestepped him easily, making him stumble forward. “Running already, huh?” he taunted, spinning back
AEGIS'S P.O.V"You're a disgrace to the Alpha title." Mikeal’s voice dripped with arrogance as he leaned back in his chair smugly.The tension in the room was unbearable for everybody but Alpha Brianna didn’t flinch."Mikeal might I remind you that this is a pack border meeting." She smiled, very calm, composed and far too collected for my liking. He wasn’t done.“A woman Alpha? You’ve tarnished the position. Don’t worry, though. I’ll clean up your mess when it’s mine. I’ll show this pack what a real Alpha looks like.”Brianna tilted her head, her voice smooth as silk. “I've been Alpha before you were even born Mikeal but please enlighten me, what exactly does that look like, Mikeal? And who are you to even judge? A man who’s already caused atrocities before even earning the title?” Mikeal's smirk faltered.“What are you talking about?”“I’m talking about the thirteen girls you’ve impregnated,” Brianna said, her tone light but lethal. “Three of them forced into abortions. One of them
Third Person's P.O. V“Where is she?” Alpha Brianna’s voice cut through the room like a blade. The tension was thick. The air around them was suddenly hard to breathe. They didn't have to think twice to know exactly who she was asking of. Noah, Zach, and Emery stood awkwardly,gazes fixed on the ground. Danny’s hands clenched at his sides with guilt written all over his face."I know I'm not talking to a bunch of deaf people. ANSWER ME." “We... we don’t know, Alpha,” Noah stammered.“You don’t know?” Brianna’s eyes blazed with fury. “The woman who you claimed saved your lives is gone, and you just let it happen?”“She told us to go,” Danny said quietly. “She gave herself up so we could escape.” “She’s our hero,” Kara murmured in a bid to try to soften the tension but it only made Brianna angrier. “A hero?” Brianna’s fist slammed onto the table hard. “A hero you left behind? You’re supposed to be wolves. Wolves protect their own!” “We couldn’t fight them,” Zach blurted out, his vo