ITHRAI returned to a barely alive Zadok and immediately fed him the fruits. As I fed the fruits to him, I prayed to the heavens above that I wasn’t wrong with my administration. I remember watching my mother boil the fruits, pound them and administer the content after drawing out its nutrients using water. With our current predicament, we didn’t have such luxury. I gave Zadok the fruits raw and hoped that would help while I got to creating a fire to roast another batch. My snake bite burned like fire, but I didn’t let it distract me. I put some fruits in my mouth for the poisonous effects of the snake bite and went on to put on a fire in the cave. It took a while, and eventually, the fire burned. The cave glowed with a fiery red tone. I returned to Zadok, using my mediocre skills to assess the extent of damage. Thankfully, his breath evened and gone was his previous laboured breathing. He was still unconscious, but I hoped he wouldn’t die. While roasting the fruits, I thought a
ZADOKI felt a soft body pressed beside me, and a sweet scent of lavender and spice filled my nose. My eyes fluttered open, and I came face to face with a mop of red hair. Soft legs wrapped around me, caging me to the silkiest skin I’ve been privileged to feel in my years of existence. Instinctively, my hands traced the skin of the legs around me, and I felt my wolf purr in delight. Waves of pleasure shot through me, and my arms tightened around her. It took a moment for me to come to my senses. I was a second too late because Ithra jolted up from her sleep, hitting my head in the process. A sharp pain from my head rocked my body, and I winced at the strange feeling. “Are you alright? Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry.” Came the panicked voice of Ithra.I couldn’t speak. It seemed like the pain in my head increased as time passed by. “It’s the poison. Lay on your back. I’ll get you something to help the pain.”Poison? I thought, wondering what the hell she was talking about. I didn’t
ITHRANot as good as my tits?I huffed as I walked through the woods, trying and failing to put off the flames in my cheeks.Zadok was unreasonable, I thought. Remembering his lopsided grin as he teased me without shame. I couldn’t have it with him. I walked through the bushes, placing thoughts of Zadok in the corner of my mind. My stomach growled, reminding me of the hunger that ate at me. There was nothing in the forest - not even a single bunny. I wondered where the animals fled and why. A scare came upon me at the thought of them running away. If they had all run away, I presumed something scared them - and whatever it was, I knew I needed to be wary of it. I pulled out my knife and stayed guard, and my eyes opened for any unfriendly attacks. I heard rustling in the bushes and turned around with my hands clutched tightly on my knife. I smiled when I saw an antelope feasting on leaves. I felt joy as I checked out its large behind and hinds. Meat. I thought with a smile, gettin
ITHRA Zadok was brimming with energy. He carried the dead meat and led us back to the cave without breaking a sweat. I even felt stupid for worrying over him. From my observations, he was as strong as a calf. His Alpha genes must have hastened his healing, thus giving him back his strength. It was beautiful to behold him back as the protector I knew him to be. A butterfly flapped in my stomach, and I killed its motion before it could take off. I couldn’t be fawning over Zadok. I shook off the weird thoughts that plagued me and walked by his side - ridding me of the view of his legs from behind. I didn’t miss the feeling of despair that hit me at the loss of that precious view. This time, I violently shook my head, trying to rid the thoughts that brought heat to my cheeks. What was going on with me? I thought. Unknown to me, Zadok’s attention was well on me. “Any problem?” He asked with a gruff voice. I was startled, but I covered up with a tense smile. “What do you mean?”
ITHRA “Ithra! Please, help us!” My mother screamed as she burned alongside my sisters. My eyes were red with tears as I helplessly watched the fire devour them while they screamed for help. I couldn’t come close to them. I got held by Athaliah and Azriel - who refused to leave me as the others burned every hut in the Celtz clan. “Please. Stop it, I already pledged my life to him, I already agreed to help him! Please, just spare their lives. I beg of you.” I cried, “It was stupid of you to think I will let these scoundrels live. You are lucky you are still alive. Had it not been for our Alpha’s generosity, you should be burning with them!” Athaliah said, eyeing me with disgust. “Kill me!” I screamed, unable to hold myself. “Kill me right now because death is worse than this! I can’t live with this memory. End my life this instant.” I yelled, getting tired of the torture. “Gladly,” Azriel said, tightening his hold around me. “I would love to rid this earth of trash like you, but
ITHRAWe trekked all night long. My feet hurt. My body was sore, but I refused to give up. My pride refused me to retract my words and demand us to rest. Zadok was agile. He brimmed with energy as he made way for us in the dark forest. He didn’t look back even once. Everywhere was hot, and Zadok created a torch made out of firewood in the shortest possible time. We continued the journey that suddenly felt like it had no end. Zadok suddenly stopped in his tracks. I bumped into him, lost in thought. It felt like I walked into a steel door. “What?” I asked, too tired to be anything but soft. “We rest here.” He stated and dropped the torch on the floor. I couldn’t accept defeat, “No. I told you we must get to the Cold Valley before resting. If we stop now, all our efforts will go to waste. We must continue.” I picked up the torch, determined to continue. Zadok grabbed the torch out of my hand. I could see his clenched jaw through the glow of the light. He was pissed. “I wasn’t as
ITHRAWe woke up to a freezing atmosphere. Zadok and I journeyed through the Valley of Thorns. In our journey so far, this has got to be the longest walk yet. Thankfully, we were close to leaving the Cold Valley, and we could tell by the coldness that increased as we went further. “Finally.” Zadok said, stopping in his tracks, “We are here.” He faced me with a smile. “Welcome to the cold valley.” I searched for signs that told me we were in the cold valley but saw none. “Where does it say so?” I voiced my concerns, and he smiled. “Surely, you don’t expect a signpost in the dark forest, Ithra,” he said sarcastically. I rolled my eyes, “No shit, Sherlock.” I gestured to our surroundings, “Forgive me for looking for something that suggests we are out of the Valley of Thorns.” I opined, “Other than the increased coldness, there’s nothing out of the ordinary.”“That’s because we are yet to cross its thresholds,” Zadok said, studying the map. “From my analysis, it should be right her
ZADOK “She’s right, you stubborn human! Are you trying to kill yourself?” My wolf, Kir, said in my head. I mentally rolled my eyes at his ridiculousness. “Stay out of this, Kir. I have no time for your side talks.” I replied to him through my mind, and he snickered. Rude. “I don’t know, okay?!” Ithra threw her hands in the air. “All I know is that I am cold, and you are in no position to get us through this Valley.” “Why don’t you let me be the judge of that?” I asked, tired of the arguments. “We don’t have time to waste. Let’s get going.” I walked through the snow and felt my bones shake from their marrow. I clenched my teeth, feeling partially numb in my feet. Shit. The map depicts the journey through the Cold Valley as a short one. I’d heard a lot of people died in this particular valley, and for a while, I wondered why and what monster lived in this part of the forest to warrant such a high death rate. There was no monster at all. The monster that killed many travellers
ITHRA’S POV I woke up with a moan. Zadok was between my legs. This has been the case since I was declared ready and fit to go home. I couldn’t believe I survived. And that with Logan intact - my little fighter. When I woke up, I was unable to use my body or legs properly, I remembered the relief I felt when the news broke that my baby had survived the poison given to me by Cole. They said he had a will to fight and three months down the line, he was still kicking and ready to come out - our hybrid baby. Zadok licked me and I let out a soft moan, “Baby...” “Good morning, Amore.” He said with his face between my legs. His breath caused a vibrating feeling down my cooch and I bit my lips in ecstasy. “Zadok,” I muttered, and his finger slipped into my core. A shiver passed through my body and I felt my baby kick. “I want you.” He said, “I want you in all the way possible.” I closed my eyes, enjoying the feel of his hands on my body. His fingers went in and out of me, increa
ZADOK’S POV I held Ithra’s hand while they attended to her. “How is she? And my baby?” I stuttered, unable to swallow. She looked too thin. Our baby bump was showing but she was yet to wake up. It’s been three days already. “Her body is weak, and the baby has been poisoned. We are trying to save their lives but the odds are not in our favour.” I got on my feet and held the shirt of the doctor. “You will save both their lives!” I roared in his face and he looked scared out of his wits. “You will save them both or I will have your head.” Azriel stepped in front of me, holding me back. “Alpha. You need to let them do their job. Staying here and scaring them out of their wits will only hinder the smooth operation and speed recovery of the Luna.” “What am I supposed to do?” I asked, breathing heavily. “What am I supposed to do when my mate is lying lifeless and I risk losing her and my baby?!” Azriel maintained silence. He knew I was at my wit's end and was capable of doing a
AZRIEL’S POV I figured out the best way to rescue the Luna that night. You can imagine my shock when I came to share my progress with the Alpha and found him gone with a note that he was taking a head-start. My shock grew when my spies in the Moon Light pack informed me of Zadok’s arrest and his close execution. I was already on my way with the warriors when Athaliah’s message of Zadok’s impending death was delivered. We got to the pack at midnight, and according to my three-month-old plan, we infiltrated the borders, clearing the guards while keeping a low profile. The heavens must have smiled at us because the entire pack was gathered for an announcement, making our entrance, swift and painless. By the time they were done crowning Athaliah Luna, we were mixed in the crowd, and brushing the dungeons for signs of the Alpha and Luna. Soon enough, news of our arrival spread and warriors were dispatched to the dungeons, seeking us out. It soon became a warzone, and I killed ever
ATHALIAH’S POV I was one step closer to my goal. I walked down the aisle with a faux smile, while Cole stood in the portal with an impatient look on his face. He couldn’t wait to get his hands on the prisoners and I could understand that. A sudden assembly had been called to welcome me as the new Luna of the Moon Light pack. I heard the whispers. They couldn’t believe that I had climbed my way up to snagging the position of Luna. Thanks to Ithra’s sudden pregnancy, Cole decided she had been tainted and could not serve as his luna. However, he had every intention of making her his slave after killing the bastard that grew in her stomach. But of course, his crazy obsessive mind couldn’t deal with the thought of killing Ithra with her baby, so he sought ways to kill the growing child while keeping its mother’s life. Hence, her imprisonment in the dungeons, coupled with the timely administration of abortive potions. Live long enough and you will see a lot of things. In the thic
ZADOK’S POV “This is useless!” I banged my fist on my office desk. “I need to leave. I need to get her out.” Azriel, the ever voice of reason spoke first. “I understand your reasons. But we need to cover all bases before we rescue her from Cole’s hold. It’s one thing to sneak you into the pack, but It’s another to take her out in one clean try.” “I don’t care! I don’t care anymore.” I said, getting up on my feet. “If it will take a war to get her out, then rally the warriors. Because I’m done with this shit!” “We can’t go to war.” Azriel's tone was levelled. “That would be us sending people to their deaths with the risk of coming up empty.” “I don’t care what you think. I need to go back and retrieve her. If you are unable to come up with a plan, then rally up the warriors, we move in three days.” “We can’t go to war.” He said and I saw red. “And why the hell not?!” “Athaliah.” He said and my anger rose to an all-time high. “She is the new beta of the Moon Light pack and
ITHRA’S POV It’s been three months. Three months since he visited me, promising to return and save me from this insanity. Every day I woke up with hope, waiting for him to save me like he promised - only to be disappointed when night fell and there was no appearance of him in my room or the Moonlight pack. A lot happened this past few months. After my sizzling night with him, I decided to prepare. I woke up that morning, wore my clothes and pretended I couldn’t feel the ache or hollow between my legs that yearned to be filled by him. I went about my life like a docile bride, doing everything within reason to convince Cole I had submitted to him. The first few weeks were tricky, seeing he didn’t believe my act and thought I had something planned. However, as we approached the third month, Cole was convinced of my acts and took every opportunity to show me off as one whom he managed to bend to his standards. Kissing up to Cole had its ups and downs. For starters, I was no long
ITHRA’S POV I returned to my room from dinner with Cole, escorted by two guards. Dinner with Cole was painful. Listening to him yap about how I needed to be good to enjoy more of these ‘privileges’ with him made my stomach churn. I sat there like a moron while he fussed over me like he didn’t beat me a while ago. I could feel my sanity dwindling the more I remained here. Much more than anything, I craved freedom. Freedom that Cole has vowed never to give me. I was trapped in an insane nightmare that was my life. One would think I have suffered enough to experience peace but whoever wrote my story thought otherwise. We arrived in front of my door and they opened it, silently urging me inside the dark room. I walked in and the door was shut and locked. I sighed and felt the walls around me, looking for a light switch. Soon enough, light flooded my room, or should I say - my prison and the first thing I saw was a dark shadow standing by my window. Startled, I blinked, grabbing
AZRIEL’S POVThis madness ends today.I thought as I marched to Zadok’s office with proof of why we must rescue Ithra.Yes, I was beyond convinced she was the one. My instinct had once again been proved right and if the Alpha refused to take action this time, I would do so myself.She was my half-sister after all.I knocked on the door and Zadok ordered me in. His face was a wreck as always. I didn’t care. I was done doing things on his terms. If there would be any further proceeding with us, then he needed to get out of that self-depreciating slum or I would yank him out myself.Damn the consequences.
ITHRA’S POVThe sound of the metal door opening stirred me awake.“Rise and shine, Luna,” Athaliah said with a smile.I felt weak. Too weak to say a word to her.“Thankfully, your mate is better and he has ordered to have you out of here.” She said with a clasp and some men entered my cell. “Seeing you can’t help yourself, I thought to bring some guards to speed the transfer.” She added with a smirk and the guards picked me up roughly.I felt pathetic. I couldn’t even fight back as they roughly dragged me through the concrete floor, leaving me with bruises and scratches.By the time I returned to my room