I shook my head and sighed, feeling my body tense up once again. The Alpha King was here. I knew what the man looked like because I had seen him in pictures. And he was just gorgeous beyond words. Honestly, I kind of wanted to meet him. I was certain that my photographs did, but only as a wanted person.
But I was sure the picture the Alpha King received of me had an image that was far from my real face or from years ago probably. When I was still a spy, well, I still was, just on a break, the man I was working for named Keith Cadwell met me twice a year. That man only knew me as Makayla Ellis and not Florence Lancaster—my real name. Meanwhile, others called me Veilios, which means shadow, known as the conniving spy.
My father hated my mother so much that he changed my name to Makayla Ellis because my real name sounded like hers. He even made it a rule for me to wear contact lenses whenever I would go see him because apparently, I got my hazel eyes from my mother.
Since I started to work as a spy, I had become used to hiding my face using prosthetics, makeup, wigs, contact lenses, and other accessories. It was the same when I was meeting Keith. I would cover half of my face with a thin black cloth.
I took a deep breath, trying to calm my racing heart. Everything would be fine. The Alpha King would not recognize me because no one knew the real face of Makayla Ellis. I looked back at my reflection in the mirror. My long dark blonde hair cascaded down to my shoulders, weary almond-shaped hazel eyes shimmering in the bright light, and my full and pouty lips pressed in a straight line. I had only put on light makeup because if I did the full-on, someone might recognize me. I needed to be as close to my bare skin as possible.
Well, Makayla Ellis or Veilios never showed up in dark blonde, though.
"Be ready, ladies!" someone shouted at the door, grabbing our attention.
The women started practicing their smiles in front of the mirror and jumping in excitement. I started putting a light concealer on my neck to hide Austin's handprints around it. It had been fun riling him up, letting him feel angry, but torturing others was not my idea of fun.
After five minutes, a staff member of the tavern appeared at the door with a warm smile on his face.
"Let's go, ladies."
The remaining women fell into their respective lines. I strolled toward them, at the end of the line because apparently, no one wanted to stand behind me. I cracked my ring finger, squared my shoulders, and adjusted my expression.
If I wanted to escape, I needed to be picked first. If my assumptions were right, these Alphas may only have one bodyguard with them. It would be easy to handle that number. And I was confident I could put an Alpha to sleep.
Soon after, we left the room and stepped outside, stopping only once we were a step away from the stage.
"Now, I will present to you the best picks of the night! The stars of the night!" the host announced excitedly.
Uproarious cheers from the crowd echoed backstage. It was our signal to go outside. I maintained my expression as I lifted my legs, decorated with gold strap sandals, highlighting my thighs. The bright lights greeted me as soon as I walked onto the stage, followed by the roaring noise of the men once they saw us lined up on the platform.
My hazel orbs landed on the gorgeous men in front of me, each in different clothing, some in suits and
casual attire, oozing with power. They were sitting in front seats that were enough to make any woman's heart race. Alphas. They were staring intently at us, their gazes burning on my flesh. A normal wolf would be affected by the natural power Alphas emit, but not me. I was a pro at this game, thanks to being a hybrid with Lycan blood.
Almost 20 men were sitting in front. I looked around, sensing my surroundings. They said the Alpha King was here, but I couldn't sense that very thick air of power.
Maybe he's not sitting here.
With that thought, I let my body relax even more and avoided looking directly at them. Instead, I fixed my gaze on the wall until my eyes caught sight of the tinted glass room. I immediately looked away.
Damn. Maybe the Alpha King was there.
The bidding started, and the announcer enthusiastically introduced each woman one by one.
"Two million dollars for that woman," one of the men in front said, raising his right hand and pointing to Lynne.
Everyone waited for someone to bid higher, but no one did.
"Going once, going twice, sold!" The announcer grabbed Lynne's arm. "Lynne now belongs to Alpha Derron!"
I arched a brow at the name, watching Lynne excitedly walk towards the Alpha who harshly grabbed her hair and dragged her away from the scene. Way to be gentlemen. Alpha Derron Fitcher, the Alpha of the third-largest pack in the world. Seeing him here, along with the other powerful Alphas, surprised me. This was good intel, actually.
I caught sight of how Lynne's face shifted from shock to a grinning one the moment Alpha Derron tugged her hair. That was one of the disadvantages of this auction. Whatever the buyer did to them, no one had the right to question or stop them. But it's not like their buyers could hurt and abuse them forever.
"This is Dawn, 24 years old, and it's just her third time participating in this auction!" said the host, gesturing to the brunette woman in front with an innocent face.
"The starting price will be—"
The announcer was cut off by the deep, rich voice of a man with dark brown hair and gray eyes.
"Five million dollars for her."
I caught sight of how the announcer blinked several times before clearing his throat. I couldn't blame him; it was a lot of money.
"Going once," the announcer waited, yet nobody had raised or yelled a larger number. "Going twice, and selling!"
"Dawn now belongs to Alpha Carter of the Craven Pack!"
The man stood up as the brunette woman confidently descended the two rungs of steps in front of her, her innocent face transformed into that of a temptress. A smirk ghosted my lips as I admired the woman's confidence. Seeing women master that kind of attitude pleased me.
I patiently waited for the next woman to be presented, observing the crowd's reactions. To my surprise, none of the men placed any bids on the remaining women, and I could sense the announcer's growing worry as he scanned the crowd, searching for Madam Barbara. The women in line grew visibly impatient, and I couldn't help but feel a sense of dread building within me. The host's whimsical tone cut through the air as he motioned towards the blonde woman in front, Elaine, who smiled seductively at the gentlemen in the audience. But before he could continue, a bulky man sitting in the front row interrupted, demanding my presence. Here goes nothing. Fear shot through my veins as his finger pointed directly at me. It seemed my time had come. The host's face lit up with excitement as he faced me, beckoning me to step forward. His words fell on deaf ears as I fought the urge to punch him in the face. Taking a deep breath, I composed myself and walked confidently towards the front even tho
I turned my focus back to the formidable man standing a few meters away, ready to smile at him and accept my fate. But my idea was shattered when he nonchalantly left, slipping out the door just as a young man in a tuxedo stepped out of the shadows and onto the stage. In the corner of my eyes, I noticed the other Alphas releasing a sigh of relief when Nicholas disappeared. I turned my attention to the newcomer, feeling the strong aura of power emanating from him. Although his force was almost on par with that of normal Alphas, he may have been the gamma or delta of the Moonstone Pack, the pack of Lycans. Their intimidating presence and naturally dense aura of power made them easily distinguishable from other werewolves. The man held out his hand and positioned himself beside the steps that led off the platform. Tentatively, I placed my hand in his, my brows pinched in uncertainty, as I descended the stairs. When I reached the floor, the man guided me away from the area. I quietly fol
I could already feel the bond between us tightening into a knot. However, the bond also carries pain, and I was dying within because my mate had just slapped and rejected me. Nasya, my wolf, stopped wagging its tail and howled in agony within my head, escaping to the recesses of my mind. I keep my focus on him as I take in all of his features, including those breathtaking green eyes. “Then let us reject each other,” I announced, forcing the word out of my mouth. The words felt like a knife being stabbed deep into my heart. He suddenly laughed darkly, causing me to arch an annoyed brow. His voice was too enchanting for my ears. Gosh, I hate that thought. Clearly, the mate bond is still trying to fix this broken bond between us. It was one thing I hate about the mate bonds. It didn’t recognize that the feelings of two people were not always mutual and the other was just hurting. "I will not accept your rejection even if you chanted it like a prayer. Our bond will only be broken
NicholasI gave Florence a long, intense look, ignoring her words. My eyes no longer contain fury, instead, they now contain malice. My gaze fixed on her hazel eyes that were warmed by inner gold. Her irises flicker with hurt and rage. I could hear my beast growling at my head. Fortunately, I blocked him. I cannot succumb to the bond and let my wolf control me. The woman before me was utterly powerless. I saw her profile earlier and it states she cannot shift and the fact that I cannot sense her wolf just confirmed it. It was kinda funny because her surname—Lancaster was the same as that strong and infamous crazed rogue but she was the exact opposite of him. And it was basically impossible that I would acknowledge a lady that was not a Lycan.It was almost unacceptable to think that she was related to that Rogue King. I grabbed her chin. A high-pitched cry came from her red and luscious lips while her soft hand grabbed my wrist. It was funny seeing her struggle in vain. I then dragg
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
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