Ryder's POVI watched Elder Hugh, staring at his lips as he began pushing out the plight of our packs to my step-brother, Hudson. He was here physically, but his voice seemed distant. It was as though he was talking from across the room when he only stood beside me. I caught snippets of what he said but my mind was too far away to piece together his words. I still thought about the message that I had received from Jason and I ached to hear back from him. I kept on glancing at the door whenever I caught someone walked by from my peripheral vision and grunted when I realized it wasn't him. "Prince Ryder," I heard someone call from a distance. The voice seemed faint so I didn't give it much heed. It wasn't until I felt a light tap on my shoulder that I came out of my thoughts and turned away from the door. "Yes?" I muttered as I looked up at the elder who had tapped me. My face was squeezed into a frown and I made sure to add as much spite as I could into my tone. "What is it?" "Alp
Hudson's POVI stood in my room and watched from my window my step-brother. My gaze followed him as he walked back and forth by the garden, conversing with Jason, the guard that I had appointed to him. From his movements, I could tell that he was very much agitated. What I didn't know though was why. I caught the sound of footsteps by my room door and my attention shifted to the sound. The door slowly creaked open and in walked John. "Alpha Hudson," he said as he gave me a short bow. "You asked for me." "Yes, I did," I said with a small nod as I turned back to the window, placing my gaze back on Ryder. "How was your sleep last night, John?" "It was... good," John answered with a little hesitation, his tone laced with confusion. "Is there any problem, Alpha Hudson?" "No, no, no, not at all," I answered with a small sigh as my touched the gold ring on my right index finger. As my fingers traced the carved surface of the ring, I felt my mind begin to wander. I watched Ryder for a fe
Ryder's POVI grunted and turned from the window. My brother had seen me now and from the expression he wore when our eyes met, I could tell that he was suspicious of me. But I didn't care. Turning to Jason who stood by the mansion's front door, I nodded. "I'll be back before nightfall," I said as I collected the reins of the horse from him. "If Hudson asks you where I'm going, you either tell him a lie or tell him that you have no idea, alright?" Jason nodded slowly, a look of understanding in his eyes as he backed away. "I will, Prince Ryder. Be careful." I nodded at him and made to mount my horse when I caught sight of Hudson still staring down at me. I looked up and we locked eyes for a few moments. He was about calling me but then I mounted the horse swiftly, the leather reins firm in my grip. With a sharp kick to the side, the horse sprang forward and we rode out of the mansion's gates. The wind whipped past me as I turned towards the path that led to the eastern part of our
Ryder's POV"We're almost there," one of the rogues said as he took another turn. We had been walking for more than an hour now and I could tell that my horse was beginning to get exhausted. The sun was no longer as intense as it was and I could see it slowly begin to dip behind the mountains. Nighttime was close and I had not accomplished what I had come for. "That is the fifth time you've said this, young wolf," I said to the rogue as I frowned. The rogue turned and gave me a small glance as he smiled. Without giving me a reply, he turned back to the path we were on. I was about to snap at him for his silence when I heard a loud bellow echo through the forest. The frown on my face deepening, I reached for my dagger as I looked around, trying to discern where the sound was coming from and what was causing the sound. I stopped looking when I spotted a rogue at the top of what looked like an observation post on top of a tree, blowing into a large twisted horn that curved around his b
Aria's POVRyder stared at me for a few moments before rushing towards me. I dropped my kids to the ground in fear, thinking he was going to attack me but, to my greatest surprise, he enveloped me in a tight hug the moment he reached me. I didn't know what to do so I just stood there motionless as he began whispering words of apology. "I'm sorry, Aria," he whispered as he placed his head on my blossom. "I really really am so sorry." I didn't know what to say or do at that moment. What was he sorry about? And what was he even doing here in the first place? I heard the shuffling of feet behind me and turned slightly to see my father stand from his throne and begin to walk towards I and Ryder. He was confused but had not reacted to Ryder's sudden hug. I assumed it was because I wasn't protesting that he kept cool. "What is happening here?" he asked with a frown on his face as he paused at the last step of the podium on which his throne sat. "Prince Ryder," he called out to Ryder and I
Hudson's POVI walked out of the mansion and turned towards the path that led to the stable at the back. Sure enough, I found Jason there, attending to the horses inside. He was so focused on what he was doing that he didn't notice my presence.I made to enter the stable but then stopped as I sighted a a clump of horse dung at the front. I looked down at the ground and saw that there were a lot surrounding the area. I wasn't sure I wanted to have my shoes get stained with any. Taking a step back from the stable door, I called out to Jason from outside. "Jason," I shouted as I shoved my hands into the pockets of my jean trousers. "Jason," I called out again after seeing that he had not heard my first call.Jason looked up, startled, and turned to the cabin door. He sighted me standing outside and immediately wipes his dirty hands on his jeans before walking slowly to the barn door. "Alpha Hudson," he said as he bowed his head low. "Is there any problem, alpha?" I gave Jason a small n
Aria's PovToday was the annual mating ceremony, and also the day, five years ago, that I lost my parents to the cold hands of death. They were killed by rogue wolves, and all that remained of them were bits and pieces of their torn out flesh.Smack! I felt a sharp sting on my left cheek which snapped me back to reality."Ouch!" I winced in pain, as the slap echoed in my ears. I rubbed my stinging cheeks with my palm, as tears welled up in my eyes."Get your head out of the clouds, Aria!" Mrs. Beatrice, the person in charge of caring for the Alpha's quarters barked. "There's a lot of work to do before the mating ceremony tonight, and you are here daydreaming?!""I– I'm sorry Mrs. Beatrice," I bowed and apologized in a trembling voice, and got back to cleaning, even though my cheeks still hurt, there was no time to nurse that now."Sorry Aria," my wolf, Ava comforted me. "Just say the word, and I'd have her head rolling," she threatened."Yeah right," I rolled my eyes at my hot-headed
Aria's Pov"Mate!" Ava called again in a louder voice.My heart skipped a beat. "A- Ava are you sure?" I stuttered, not wanting to get my hopes up."Mate!" Ava said again happily, jumping excitedly in my mind."Are you sure about this?" I asked again. "Hope you're not doing this because I'm losing all hope of finding a mate?""Trust me Aria," Ava said. "He's here, I can sense him.""Why can't I sense him?" I questioned. "Cause your heart is finding it hard to accept," she told me. "Now let's go find out mate," she urged.I sighed in defeat. "Where is he?" I asked, even though I couldn't sense him yet. Well, I just have to trust Ava on this."Just walk straight ahead, and climb the first stairs you come across on your right," Ava described."Stairs?" I asked in disbelief. "Why go up the stairs? All the unmated werewolves are down here.""Quit complaining, Aria," Ava scolded me, with a hint of frustration in her voice. "Just trust me, will you?""Alright, alright," I said and did as Av