XANDER.“I don’t even know who I am anymore.” I wiped my tears and tilted my head up, looking at the starless night sky. Alpha Jace remained silent, and I knew he probably didn’t believe anything I said. But at least I tried.“I heard someone from your group of friends ask what I did while she was in prison, and they all shrugged their shoulders. They saw nothing. They heard nothing.” I continued. “Maybe I did nothing that anyone could see, but I did everything I could, Alpha Jace. Even the part where I looked like the bad guy just to protect her.” “You already saw what Maddox did to Catherine. Why did you allow Nadine here?” He asked.“I didn’t. If you think I met Nadine here when she came, I didn’t. I met her at Catherine’s Claiming.” I started by telling him that I didn’t want Nadine to know about myself and my pack, as I didn’t intend to take her home with me.I told him I should have known better that there was an agenda behind her showing up at the border and her refusal to le
XANDER.I stood in front of the bed, just letting my eyes soak in all of her for a while.She was asleep, and yet her forehead was creased, as if her problems were still chasing her even in her dreams.When I couldn’t fight the urge to touch her, I moved and crouched beside her, letting my fingers run across her forehead before my knuckles smoothed over her cheek. It was only then that her facial features relaxed. Nadine was not a deep sleeper unless she was really tired, and there was no doubt that she was. She and her wolf, as Orion couldn’t sense Star as well.Her blanket moved, and my eyes turned to the end of the bed. Her foot slipped out of the sheets, and it was the one with the shackle. My face formed a scowl. Why hadn’t they removed this yet?I let out a deep sigh when I saw the many gashes and wounds from the metal grinding against her skin.‘Heal her.’ Orion whispered in my head, and his words made me remember what she told me when we were still getting to know each othe
NADINE. A group of females I spoke with a few days back asked if I would open the Beta post for someone else or if I would let Kenzo have it. I knew I could do such a thing. Kenzo would make a great Gamma or Beta, and anyone in the pack could certainly step up, learn the ways of a Beta, and excel in it. But my heart wanted to reserve that spot for my mate. I knew Xander would make a great Alpha, and I would love to rule this pack with him. But if there was anyone who could fill up the spot as a Beta, it was him. Not because I was superior to him but because after everything we went through, I knew I would never trust my life with anyone the way I trusted my life to him, and I think no other shifter could top him in that position.I also knew he could reject both posts, and I would never take it against him. He had always been vocal about not wanting a rank-wolf life. That life was more peaceful outside of a pack.Maybe it was the reason he left. He didn’t want this kind of life. Thi
THREE DAYS AFTER THE LAST CHAPTER.NADINE. “Are you ready?” Mindy asked me as soon as I opened my bedroom door.I was still staying in the room I shared with Xander. I didn’t want to move to another floor, especially the floor Maddox used. Even with him gone, I was still not comfortable owning the floor he used to own. I examined the budget to determine if we could afford a new packhouse. But with all the debts and rehabilitation needed throughout the whole territory, there was no room for a new home. So, in the meantime, I had to live with the truth that I had to use the office that Maddox once owned. But I hope someday, when the finances are better, I can build a new home. However, this morning, I got a call from Nadia, and she excitedly informed me that she and Riley decided to give me a gift—they would finance the building of the new packhouse. It was a gift for me and not for the pack. Of course, their pack, as well as the other packs, had been giving me assistance in all aspe
NADINE.“Did you say they got him?” I asked Jake. I was sure I heard him right the first time, but I wanted to be sure. “Yes. He has arrived at the Council territory and is currently being detained.” He answered. “Fuck! Fuck!” I kept tapping my palm against my table. “I was supposed to go to him today. I was exactly on my way out when you called.”“You are slower than them, then!”“Jake! Don’t let them do anything to him! I swear to Selene, he is innocent! He just came here four months ago and knew nothing of his business! I asked him to try to sneak in and get more details, but that was it! Maddox had never trusted anyone with his business, especially Xander!” I was too fast, explaining what I knew as if it could save him.“Calm down! All they need to do is roll out an Alpha Command when they question him, and if he answers his innocence, they will let him go.” Jake sounded relaxed this time, and my heart clenched in pain. Saying this out loud was even more painful. “He is an Alpha
NADINE.I lowered my Alpha aura as I walked to where Xander was. I didn’t want him to think I was letting it out on him. Or, maybe I just want us to talk more about us and not me being an Alpha.Xander was already sitting at the small table when I entered the room. There were only two chairs at both ends.His head snapped up, and our eyes met. My stomach churned just by looking at him. He didn’t have any expression on his face and like earlier, he didn’t hold my gaze.His attention went back to his hands resting on the table, as if taking out the invisible dirt under his nails was far more important than looking at me. I took a deep breath and thanked the person who let me in. He gave me a nod and left the room, closing the door behind him.Although the room had a big glass window so anyone from the outside could see us if they wanted to, I was glad we were left alone.I sat in the vacant chair, my heart thudding loudly as I looked at him, but he didn’t even budge from his position.“
NADINE. “I was sure I reminded you to ask him important questions and not eat his face,” I heard Riley say, and Jake chuckled. I stopped the words wanting to come out of my throat and discreetly looked at Xander through my lashes. He had his back on them, and since I was on his front, I was the only one who could see his face. He bit his bottom lip, suppressing a smile to crack on his face. That was enough for me. He was not grumpy about Riley’s comment.“Stop talking as if you don’t forget you’re the Alpha whenever Nadia kisses you. She bats her eyelashes, and you immediately pant like a dog.” Jake mocked him, and I rolled my eyes. I wanted to tell him as if he were not the same as Riley, but Riley did the honor of telling him that, until they realized Xander and I were just quiet and just staring at each other. “Ahem..” Jake cleared his throat again. “I understand you don’t want us here, but you need us. Trust me.”I was not able to stop my chuckles as I walked past Xander and
NADINE.“So this is the reason he looked terrified whenever I told him I would leave the pack. He didn’t need me as his Beta. He wanted me there so he could use Maxwell’s money.”“You didn’t know about your father’s will?” Riley asked. Xander shook his head. “No. I never cared about it.”I couldn’t think straight. I couldn’t even comprehend what was going on. I heard them, but the only thing that continued to reverberate in my mind was the realization that I was the one with nothing.I had a pack with no money or resources. I had a mate who thought I was not someone he could come home to. I thought I was already over the worst, but it seemed that was not the case yet. “Nadine, I know this is very upsetting, and it looks like you really have to start from scratch. Soon, the debtors would find out Maddox is dead, or they found out already and they would ask for their money back.” Jake added.“My pack has nothing,” I responded.Riley reached for my hand and squeezed it. “I will talk w