Nora’s POVMichael ran into my room like a flash and caught me just before I hit the ground.Oh my God, this is not happening. They didn’t do this to my Dylan.“What happened!” He yelled as he held my body for any visible wound but found none.“Tell me, Nora!” I looked to the side at the package box on the floor.Tears were streaming down my face. I opened my mouth to speak, but no words made it out.“I think she got a package,” a guard said. He had followed my gaze. He peered into the box from afar and clutched his nose.“It’s a piece of flesh and some children's clothes, smeared in blood,” the guard said upon checking. Michael moved aside and looked into the package. The putrid smell of decaying flesh hit his nose, and he wrinkled his nose in disgust.Just then, Mia and Hercules burst into the room.“What happened? We heard her shout.” Hercules said in between breaths. Mia ran to my side."Nora, tell me, what’s the problem?—immediately, she wrinkled her nose too—what is that smell?
Nora’s POVAfter they left, I went to a corner and bawled into my arms. Everything was going wrong at the same time. When I was through, I joined the others.And so I sat still and waited. Minutes turned into hours. By then, it was night.“Do you hear anything?” I asked Mia. She shook her head. I was terrified.Someone tapped me. I turned to find Malia. “Go on. Close your eyes for a minute. I'll be awake," she said, looking at me with care. So I and Mia, who was already fast asleep, were cooked up in a corner, and just like that, I slept off. This time, I fell into another dream.Suddenly I could hear blasts. I ducked my head under the table as my heart began beating fast. “Do you hear that?” Alpha asked me, and I nodded, shaking my head more than required. The sound was so loud, I bet even the deaf could hear it. I had known they would attack us, but what I didn’t know was the manner in which they would come. "Sir, we are being ambushed. We decided to follow through the other way,
Michael’s POVThe battle field stretched before me. My heart pounded in sync with the chaos that was playing out in front of my eyes. When I turn around, I see everything in 3D.The soldiers are gearing up to leave the hideout. The sound of guns being refilled with silver bullets fills the air. The tension in the air is so palpable. I can test it. I take in a deep breath and pace the walls.It’s now morning, but we still have not advanced into the field. on the other side, occupied by the rogues.“These modafuckers,” Hercules curses as he looks through the binoculars. I move him aside and look too. Immediately, my heart begins to thunder in my chest. The rogues are still coming. They are marching in through the white oak forest. The place they had first entered the pack from. Someone must have helped them. It had to be someone from here.I turn around and watch my men in action. The thought of having an inside man in my pack is like a knot in my chest. Who is it? I scan their faces. W
Mia’s POVMy food sat untouched on the table while everybody danced and swayed to where their liquor let them. My appetite kept decreasing by the minute."Hey,” I said, turning around. Hercules had with him a champagne fluke. It looked like he was having the time of his life."Hey,” I said and looked away. What does he want now? He had been glancing my way all night. If he kept up with this, people might begin to ask questions. And I don’t want that.Being in that underground thingy for those days made me wish I wasn’t knocked up. I had to hit my chest numerous times to keep myself from throwing up. We had Nora, who thought her son had been killed, and now telling them I was going to have my child would seem insensitive.“If you keep staying like that, you might end up making it obvious." Hercules whispered into my ears. I turned. That he would see me glare at him.“What? What do you want me to do? Dance like crazy? Maybe you can start by giving me that champagne.” I made to take the
Mia’s POVIt’s 4 a.m., and I have not slept a wink.I have been tossing and turning while Hercules seemed to be in a faraway land in his sleep. But here I was.I'm still finding it hard to close my eyes.It’s Zen.My blood is still cold, and my heart is pounding in my chest. Threatening to fall out of my rib cage. I have tried to visualize Zen as the bad guy, but the memories I have of him are nothing but sweet, kind, and shy. How could he? I mean, why would he? Michael treated him like family, even though they were in no way related. Did they have unresolved issues? What could have made Zen... sweet, innocent-looking Zen try to usurp power from Michael? Did he want to be the alpha? My eyes widened at this thought. Did he know anything about Dylan? Was he the one who took the boy?Oh no. If I continue like this, I could end up in a mental facility by morning. And also the baby. Oh my god, the baby. The pack doctor said I shouldn’t put myself in trouble or at risk.I took a deep breath.
Michael’s POVBreakfast was over. Now it’s time to face my fears. When Nora asked me if I was alright after breakfast, I quickly nodded. Yeah, that was how easy it was for me to want everyone to believe that I was okay. But then I was in a state of turmoil.Zen’s brother is back.Back then, I wanted nothing more than to find the snitch in my pack. But right now, all that has occupied my mind is Zen. How do I face him? And others? Just then, a guard ran towards me.“Your highness, you are wanted at a meeting,” he said.Meeting? No one told me anything about a meeting.I nodded at him and left.When I got there, I realized that there was indeed a meeting for the alphas. I had to be there as the king of Alpha."Apologies to everyone; I forgot we had a meeting. Can we go on?” he said. With my son missing, the news of an impending attack courtesy of Zen, and a mole in my pack, I always forgot that I was still the alpha king. Just before the meeting began, a roll call was made for the alphas
Michael’s POV“What do you mean you can’t find her?” I walked in on Hercules, grabbing the neck of one of the search guards.“Herc!” I called out to him.“Where have you looked?” Hercules released him as he glared down on him.I walked to him and pushed him aside. “Don’t touch me,” he snapped as he shoved me away. My blood began to boil.“Everybody out!” I barked. All the guards scramble, like little children, out of the house. Hercules stood with his hands on his hips, and he sighed deeply. Then he ran his hand over his hair.One word. Frustration.“hey Hercules” I tried to touch him, but he slapped my hands away. “I mean it, Michael. Don't touch me!” He pushed me aside.Oh hell, naw.I grabbed him by his hands and landed a blow on him. He fell to the floor. He struggled to stand, and when he did, he checked his nose. There’sblood running.“Has it kicked in yet?” I asked. I am not prepared for what Hercules does next. He grabbed a chair and broke it on my back. The broken chair falls
Michael’s POVHercules rose up and charged towards Eleanor. The guards were fast, as they grabbed him before his hands could touch her.“Where is she?" Hercules demanded. I grabbed him.“Herc, be calm, please,” I said.“ What? Did you just hear her? She said she knows where Mia is!”“Please be calm, Herc. We will find Mia, I promise you,” and did my brother sit still? He glared at the Eleanor girl. She ducked. I told her to stand aside.“Tell me what you know," I said. She looked scared.“Some days ago, I saw Nyla leave the pack.”“Nyla?” I asked, and she nodded.I always knew that girl had something to hide. “Go on!"“She was headed towards the side of the white oak forest. I told Luna... I mean Miss Nora. Then, later, after the attack, when we were saved, she was angry. I decided to follow her. It was there I saw Zen.” My eyes widened.“You did?” she nodded.“Are you sure? Did you take pictures?” She shook her head, and all my hopes fell.“Then, your highness, I had told Miss Mia abo
Nora’s POV5 years later“Nora! Come on, we will be late,” Michael yelled from downstairs.“Coming!” I ran downstairs. But at a slow pace, “please hold her,” I handed Danielle to her father.Today was a game day for Dylan. He had begged us all to come. And when I mean all, I mean me, Michael, Hercules, Mia, Malia, and Zen.Michael cleared his schedule, and for the others, they didn’t have much to do in the park. I was also lucky that my 1-year-old daughter was not fussy today.A lot has happened since I got married to Michael. After I was made Luna, my previous pack came to apologize for some of the things they had done to me. I forgave them. Michael had pity on them; instead of taking ownership of the pack, he made one of them an Alpha, and the moon goddess did the choosing. Hercules and Mia had their child, Arla. Four years ago, she was the most beautiful child I had ever had. She keeps Hercules on his toes, just like her mother. As for Zen, Malia is 5 months old. We also cannot wai
Nora’s POV6 days later.I was woken up by a pesky mosquito that wouldn’t stop screaming in my ear, no matter how I tried to swat it away sleepily. It was on my third attempt that I mistakenly smacked myself across the face. I felt an excruciating pain in my head.“Aargh!!!” I cried. It was then that I took in my environment. I recognized the room. I tried to move more, but I couldn’t. I realized there was an IV drip connected to my wrist."Guys, she’s up,” I heard someone say from outside of the room. Then they all come in. Malia, Zen, Hercules, and Mia. They had a huge grin on their faces.“Hi guys,” I smiled back. “Where is Michael?’’ I blurted. They all turned their gazes to the side, and there he was. Sleeping on a small cushion. He was a giant in that chair."Aww,” my heart melted. The girls chuckled as the guys laughed. I think that was what woke him up. He stirred around and was about to fall off the chair, but he caught himself. He peaked an eye open as he stared at everyone’
Michael’s POVAll through the night, I felt like someone was calling out to me. My wolf was awakened. I had to do something to calm him down. I had to go towards where I heard that voice. I stood up and began to walk.“Where are you going?” Hercules turned to me. Someone was going into the underground house. The one we saw Zen go into last night.“I need to go in,” I said as I began pacing.“If you do, we would get caught. We still have no plans yet,” Hercules said. I nodded. He had a point, but the longer I stayed without going towards where my wolf was leading me, the more agitated I was. I kept pacing till I had it up to here."Okay, fuck this shit! I need to go inside. Now this is the plan. Once I go in and make sure the coast is clear, I howl out to you guys,” and with that, I left.The moment I walked into the house and found someone kicking Nora to the ground and trying to claw Dylan on the throat, anger rose to my head, and I lost it. I jumped in the air and immediately transi
Nora’s POVThe first thing I saw when I opened my eyes was a cat. It was staring intently at me, or rather, at me and Dylan. My heart began to race as I thought of what next to do. I wanted to scream, but then I remembered. I was not at home. I had been kidnapped. I stared at my lap, and there he was. Dylan. The son I thought I had lost. I fixed him properly on the carton we lay on and stretched my leg. When I turned back, the cat was gone. I breathed a sigh of relief. I wasn’t too sure of what the time was, but I think it was 4 a.m.ish. I was up, and I couldn’t sleep any more. So I stayed up, watching the sun rise from the little reflection of the sun in the small room.Sitting there, yesterday’s event rang fresh in my mind. I was this close to getting killed. I feared for my life and that of Dylan. Zen looked hell-bent on exacting his revenge on Michael. My eyes went to the door. What if he still tries to kill me again? What am I going to do? I sighed and began to bite my nails. Wha
Mia’s POVThe next thing I know, I am being dragged out of the car, and the car zooms off. I turn my head around. No one was in sight. All I could see were trees and grasses. Tears began to well up in my eyes. Where am I? I stood up and limped to a corner. It was an abandoned building. I took shelter under it. Not wanting to go in, danger might be lurking, or you might stand outside the building for fear of being attacked. My legs were swollen. Partly because of my pregnancy and also because they made me walk half the way. I squinted. I saw no one. Just then, a car sped past me.Wait, was that Nora? Yes, that was Nora. Immediately, I began to jump.“Nora!” I ran after the car, and just before I rounded the corner, I bumped into someone.“Watch where—“wait a minute. I knew that smell came from somewhere. Hercules? I looked up, and it was him. I jumped on him, screaming and crying. Hercules kept wiping my tears. I tried to speak, but he put his hand on my lips.“It’s you. It’s really you
Nora’s POVMy heart raced at the thought of what had just happened. I had been forcibly dragged into the backseat of a car, my screams muffled by a hand over my mouth. Panic surged through my veins, and my mind was a whirlwind of fear and confusion. I struggled against my captors, but their grip on me was firm."Let me go! Help! Someone, please!" I cried out, and my voice choked with terror. Oh no. This was all shades of wrong. And so go all our plans and what-ifs. Nothing matters now."Shut up, you little brat!" one of the kidnappers growled, his voice harsh and menacing. "You're coming with us, whether you like it or not."My eyes darted around the dimly lit interior of the car, searching desperately for a way to escape. But the windows were locked, and the doors were sealed shut. I felt trapped, helpless, and utterly alone. I wanted to cry, but I blinked back my tears. It was as if I had left all my courage and determination on the ground while being shoved into the car.As the car
Nora’s POVImmediately, sleep vanished from my eyes. I blinked a couple of times before it all seemed so real.A letter for me.That could be the answer to my questions. My closure. Was my Dylan dead? Is this a torture letter? Maybe they have a picture of my dead son. Oh, Zen’s brother, you must hate Michael so much. So much that he had to hurt a child to drive home a point. My heart stomped in my chest. Maybe it would not be a good idea to open it yet.The letter trembled in my hands as I stared at it. I stared so long at it that it began to look like another object. I put the letter in my other hand as I rubbed the clammy, shaky one on my dress. Suddenly, everything had changed. The memories of the previous night with Michael.I looked from Michael to the letter. It might look like some piece of paper, but to me, it was as heavy as a rock. Was it blank like the last time, or does it mean my son is still alive? My Dylan.“I... I think I should open it." I looked at Michael. He nodded
Michael’s POVHercules rose up and charged towards Eleanor. The guards were fast, as they grabbed him before his hands could touch her.“Where is she?" Hercules demanded. I grabbed him.“Herc, be calm, please,” I said.“ What? Did you just hear her? She said she knows where Mia is!”“Please be calm, Herc. We will find Mia, I promise you,” and did my brother sit still? He glared at the Eleanor girl. She ducked. I told her to stand aside.“Tell me what you know," I said. She looked scared.“Some days ago, I saw Nyla leave the pack.”“Nyla?” I asked, and she nodded.I always knew that girl had something to hide. “Go on!"“She was headed towards the side of the white oak forest. I told Luna... I mean Miss Nora. Then, later, after the attack, when we were saved, she was angry. I decided to follow her. It was there I saw Zen.” My eyes widened.“You did?” she nodded.“Are you sure? Did you take pictures?” She shook her head, and all my hopes fell.“Then, your highness, I had told Miss Mia abo
Michael’s POV“What do you mean you can’t find her?” I walked in on Hercules, grabbing the neck of one of the search guards.“Herc!” I called out to him.“Where have you looked?” Hercules released him as he glared down on him.I walked to him and pushed him aside. “Don’t touch me,” he snapped as he shoved me away. My blood began to boil.“Everybody out!” I barked. All the guards scramble, like little children, out of the house. Hercules stood with his hands on his hips, and he sighed deeply. Then he ran his hand over his hair.One word. Frustration.“hey Hercules” I tried to touch him, but he slapped my hands away. “I mean it, Michael. Don't touch me!” He pushed me aside.Oh hell, naw.I grabbed him by his hands and landed a blow on him. He fell to the floor. He struggled to stand, and when he did, he checked his nose. There’sblood running.“Has it kicked in yet?” I asked. I am not prepared for what Hercules does next. He grabbed a chair and broke it on my back. The broken chair falls