Florence The harsh slamming of the door made me flutter my eyes open, and jerked up, knocking my head on the roof of the car. “Dang it” I hissed, rubbing my head, noticing the black coat covering my thigh. I was still dressed in the flimsy clothes I had last night. The coat smelt familiar. But I had no time to pinpoint the scent with my head still fuzzy. I felt like my head was hammered. With a groan, I looked around. It was only then I realized that I was inside an SUV. I looked outside the window and the sight of an airfield where a jet airplane was located made me gulp. My heart thumped loudly as I tried to remember how on earth I ended up in a car. “I am in an auction and…..” I mumbled to myself, remembering the bar with me standing on the stage, then that green eyed-man appeared. "Goddammit," It felt like someone threw a bucket of cold water at me when I finally remembered everything last night. From Nicholas Gavner Acworth—the Alpha King being my mate, him buying me, the
I couldn't help but feel a wave of frustration wash over me as I boarded the plane. Lost in my own thoughts, I barely registered the greeting from the person who said hello to me when I was hauled inside. Without protest, I allowed myself to be dragged inside the aircraft until I was unceremoniously shoved into a seat. What a gentleman. "Fudge," I hissed under my breath, rubbing my stinging arm. The skin was already turning red, and a purplish hue was beginning to form. The sight reminded me of what happened the previous night. Nasya whimpered in my thoughts at the memories. The mate bond can be a blessing and a punishment sometimes. That memory was enough to make me and my wolf hurt. New weakness unlocked—mate bond. I gently touched my cheeks, relieved to find that they were no longer hurting and the swelling had subsided. But now, I have acquired another mark. With a weary sigh, I turned my head towards the window, devoid of any interest in the men who had just passed by my se
Florence I fixed my dress, smoothing out the fabric after washing my hands, and faced my reflection in the mirror. Taking a deep breath, I forced a smile onto my face, a habit I had developed over the years to encourage myself in times of stress or when things didn't go according to plan. It was always up to me to uplift my spirits, as no one else had ever done so for me. In my 25 years of existence, apart from my wolf, I had never had someone to boost my morale or offer encouragement. It had become the norm, but that didn't mean I didn't yearn for it at times. "Why am I thinking about this now?" I muttered to myself, my tone dry. With one last sigh, I opened the door, only to be met by the man who always seemed to be by Nicholas's side. Earlier, I hadn't had the chance to thoroughly scrutinize his appearance, but now, with the bright light and a close-up view, I couldn't help but notice his curly brown hair falling over an innocent and charming face, complemented by clear gray ey
Florence "Come here, Florence, “ Nicholas ordered once the door was shut. I raised a brow, feeling suspicious, "Why?" The moment I saw the small briefcase, my heart hammered against my chest. At the sight, there was only one man that crossed my mind—Keith Caldwell, the man that trained me into a spy and into his tool to make his goals accomplished. That horrible man was the one who raised me after my father died. My training included learning to tolerate the effects of silver and to pay attention to how each substance affected my body. That man would appear carrying a briefcase and a syringe was properly stored inside to pierce my body. And my innocent, dumb self just let that man do it to me. And I highly doubted this was different from that. “What the hell was inside that case?” I growled, taking a wary step back. Does he truly not care about me? Nasya, my wolf, had resurfaced after sensing the threat. My wolf and I both had similar recollections of injections, which was one
Florence I slowly opened my eyes. Groaning, I sat down still feeling lightheaded. I shut my eyes for a moment, adjusting to the sudden dizziness. My back is sore from lying on the cold floor. “F*ck” I swear. When I felt a little better, I looked around. My brows furrowed instantly when I was met by lines of prison cells, and lamps placed on the wall built in rough stones. Bones, broken stones, rusted chains, and ashes are in some jail cells. There was only one thing that crossed my mind. Dungeon. I was in a dungeon. It was common for packs to have dungeons where most criminals or werewolves that go against the law were detained. However, the place I was in was much larger. I would know after being inside a lot of prison cells and dungeons. Of course, being a spy for a long time doesn't mean I was invisible all the time. When I was embodying a different identity, there were people who wanted me to stay with them, and adjusting to every such unprecedented event sometimes just mes
"What? Don't tell me you're offended by that?" Nicholas smirked. "You let yourself in that auction. Then you must be prepared to be obedient to whoever bought you" "Didn't you hear what the host in that club said? I'm sure if you read my profile then you must know that it's my damn first time there!" I shouted back. "Standing there with such confidence in flaunting your body in the eyes of men. You seem to know what you are doing to get a rich and powerful man. Do you think anyone would believe what that host uttered there?" I held back my tears as I pushed back the sorrow that brought about those words. A lot of people called me names. But I brushed it off in an instant because it didn't affect me. I never felt offended or hurt because I knew it was not true. But this time it was different. Those words coming out from my own mate was just a dagger being stabbed in my heart over and over again. I swallowed hard and arched a brow, "Those rich and powerful men didn't need to lift a
I hugged my knees, trying to find some warmth in this cold, desolate place. The chill seeped into my bones, and I could feel my energy draining away. I couldn't afford to let myself get sick; I had to stay strong. My lips were dry and stinging, and my throat begged for water. It had been almost four days since my last meal, and I was shivering uncontrollably, barely able to move. Since the day I confronted Nicholas, no one had visited me. I had no sense of time except for the faint ray of sunlight that occasionally found its way into this dungeon. The absence of light made me guess that it was already night. Darkness had become my only companion for the past three days. Despite my weakness from hunger, I didn't scream for help. This was nothing compared to what I had endured before. I closed my eyes and held onto my knees tightly, seeking some comfort in the darkness. A few minutes later, as I was about to drift off to sleep, I heard a woman's voice, unfamiliar to me. I hadn't heard
I glanced at the guards before turning my attention to Gayle, who nodded at them. The guards opened the door, and a gust of cold wind hit me as soon as it swung open. Gayle tugged me outside, and I felt the soft ground beneath my sandals, tempting me to take them off and feel the soil beneath my bare feet. But the sight of the sky-high castle quickly erased that thought. Nicholas had been living here all this time? In a castle? Well, what did I expect? A small house? I turned to Gayle, who was laughing at my reaction. "Your look was priceless. Everyone who sets foot in our pack for the first time has that kind of face." "Well, who wouldn't when you all live in a castle?" I couldn't help but exclaim. Gayle shook her head. "No, you're mistaken. We don't. Only the Alpha King does and few others." My hazel eyes widened in shock. "Really? He was wasting space." "The Alpha King gave us permission to live in that castle if we wanted to, but we all decided to make our own houses around o
Nicholas’s POV The air crackled with energy that buzzed right through me. It wasn't my own, though. Mine simmered low, a slow burn fueled by nervous excitement and a simmering pride. No, the nervous energy radiating like heat waves originated from the room itself, a collective held their breath as the music swelled and the double doors at the far end of the aisle creaked open. There she was. Lily. No, Florence. Not quite. Today, she was a vision in white, a goddess emerging from the sunlight streaming through the stained-glass windows. The years hadn't touched her, not a single cruel line etched onto that face that had haunted my dreams for so long. She is still that beautiful being in my eyes with her dark blonde hair and hazel eyes that were sparkling brightly at the moment. She was wearing a white gown and a white veil on her head while her hand was clasped on a bouquet made of Lily of the Valleys. I noticed a nervous tremor in the hand that gripped Percival's arm as his, a
The salty breeze ruffled the pages of my book as I leaned back in the wicker chair, the sun already hidden, painting the sky with a darkness filled with stars. A contented sigh escaped my lips. It’s already been six months since Nicholas and I started over again which means dating for real like a normal couple. Both of us pushed our work stuff and it was one of the best decisions I made. Six months of travel, dates, adventures, and laughter-filled days. We'd tried everything from visiting ancient ruins in Greece to white-water rafting in New Zealand. Right now, we are in one of Nicholas's owned islands, perched beside me on the balcony of his secluded beach house, absorbed in his own book, a glass of amber whiskey swirling in his hand. I set my book down with a soft thud, the sound breaking the comfortable silence. "So, Nicholas," I began, his blue eyes locking onto mine as he glanced up. I directly asked the question that popped into my head, "Why are we still mates?" Surpris
Soon after, the night had fallen, painting the sky a canvas of inky blue dotted with a million shimmering stars. Dressed in a stylish, midnight-hued dress that clung to my curves in all the right places, I emerged from the bathroom. A gasp escaped Charlotte's lips, and even Sara, usually so composed, let out a surprised whistle. "Wow, Lils," Charlotte breathed, her eyes wide with admiration. "You look incredible!" Sara, her phone clutched in her hand, held it up to my face. On the screen, a video call connected me to the familiar faces of Percival, Quinn, and his husband. "Hey guys!" I greeted them, my voice filled with a genuine smile. "There she is!” Quinn exclaimed, his booming laugh filling the room. “Hey, kiddo" boomed Percival's voice, "Our own famous artist" Quinn chimed in, "You look stunning, honey! We can't wait to see you smash this exhibition!" His husband, a kind-looking man with warm brown eyes, offered a shy smile and a wave. "Good luck," he mouthed si
6 years later….. My fingers traced the worn frame of the photograph hanging on the plain white wall. A simple black-and-white capture: a lone tree silhouetted against a fiery sunset, its branches reaching out like gnarled fingers. It evoked emotions that felt like a lifetime ago, not the picture itself. "Just making sure, Lily," a soft voice broke through my reverie. "Tomorrow's the big day, you know. Your fifth exhibition and your first appearance." I chuckled, glancing to my left. A beautiful woman stood beside me. Her closely cropped hair, a riot of ebony curls, framed a face that, though small, held a radiant warmth. Her skin, a rich, warm brown, seemed to glow with an inner light. "Tenth time this week, wouldn't you say?" I asked. She grinned, a flash of white against her warm brown skin. "Maybe. But this is different. People are buzzing about you, Lily. The mysterious artist finally makes an appearance after four years." My gaze swept across the gallery, taking in
Keith let out a cruel laugh. "I used all my strongest rogues to deal with the Lycans," he said, his voice dripping with satisfaction. "And your dear Nicholas... Well, let's just say he put up a good fight. The man was a monster indeed. His regenerating ability was remarkable" My gaze fell upon the jacket he wore, a small device embedded in one of the pockets like a dark eye staring back at me. "Is that the button?" I asked, my voice barely above a whisper. My eyes seem lifeless. Keith raised an eyebrow, a knowing smirk playing on his lips. He nodded curtly. "The button for the chips in the rogues? Yes. One press, and they all die a quick, painless death. Useful to threaten them to do something" My face was cold and unreadable as I turned to him, watching him light his cigarette. “Want some?” he offered. I reached for the cigarette he offered, lighting it. As I inhaled, a single thought echoed in my mind: everything had to end. “You know you need to cooperate with t
Seizing the opportunity, I turned and ran, deeper into the dense darkness of the forest to the clearing. I can see it. I had made a choice, a terrible one that left me torn between self-preservation and the agonizing cost it had come at. But as I ran, I couldn't shake the image of Nicholas, wounded, facing the wrath of the rogues because of me. The burden of that decision would be a heavy one to bear, one that I knew I would bring to my death. Suddenly, a blur of fur shot out from my peripheral vision. I snapped my head around just in time to see another rogue, its red eyes zeroing in on me. I reached for the gun. But my hand met only empty air. “Huh, of course it is gone” I scoffed in annoyance. I flung myself aside, barely avoiding the snapping jaws of the beast. But the momentum of my dodge carried me off balance, sending me tumbling to the ground. As I lay there, sprawled, the rogue loomed above, its fetid breath washing over me. An instinct older than thought, deepe
A glance in the rearview mirror confirmed five wolves, their sleek fur gleaming in the daylight, chased after me, led by the imposing figure of the black wolf. He was larger and faster than the rest, impossibly so, but I couldn't stop. They were so fast that our distance was just so small. “What the f*ck?”I cursed. Suddenly, the walkie-talkie crackled inside the car came to life, a very familiar voice cutting through the sound of the engine. I know it belongs to Keith Caldwell. "Hurry! Meet me at the cliff. I've set the GPS coordinates. I know you can hear me Florence. Hurry, if you want to finally escape and save your pack. It's just right as you are their Luna” I gritted my teeth. I am not surprised he already knew that Nicholas and I were mates. Taking deep breaths to regulate my emotions, I glanced at the GPS, memorizing the route, then opened the glove compartment seeing a grenade and a tear gas grenade. Without hesitation, I grabbed the tear gas grenade. “We should
With a shriek of pain, my mother staggered back, releasing her hold. I gasped for air, collapsing onto the forest floor. As my vision cleared, I saw my mother clutching her face, a crimson stain blooming across her fingers. "How… How did you find me?" I rasped, my voice hoarse from lack of oxygen. "Olga," she spat, her voice laced with venom. "Keith and I made a deal. I’ll help him get the rogues in the borders in exchange for… getting rid of you." The revelation made my stomach churn. My mother had orchestrated my capture, colluding with the very threat she swore to protect the pack from. "I even gave her guard schedules," my mother continued, her voice dripping with vindictive satisfaction, "making sure the rogues wouldn't be stopped at the borders long enough… for you to be… eliminated. But I hate their plan. Keith wanted you alive but I wanted you gone so the attack was merely an excuse for me to kill you" My mind reeled. The woman who had birthed me, the woman who had
I was shaking in anger as I asked, “Why are you doing this?” Olga just shrugged and a sadistic gaze glowed in her black and gold eyes, “Simply because I wanted for the line of the Lycans to end. We are living too long” I hold myself back from killing her. I still need her to find the way out. No matter how I wanted to help up there, I could only be of help to them if I killed Keith and got out of their lives. After all, everything happened because of me. “Enough chit-chat. Let's move now” Olga said. The urgency tightened its grip on my heart. I followed her silently, my steps light and quick trying my hardest to ignore the loud footsteps above and screams. After countless turns and twists, the staircase ended in a narrow tunnel. Without hesitation, we crawled through the cramped passage, the damp earth brushing against my skin. I was a little frustrated since Olga moved a little slower and honestly I am more concerned with how she was short of breath. Finally, after what