Michael’s POVI pace my bedroom as I go through my thoughts.“What did I do wrong?” I said it out loud. I needed to talk to someone.As I lay in bed that night, I could say sleep had eluded me. It was in the wee hours of the morning that I finally closed my eyes.*************************There was a knock at my door. I sat up immediately.“Come on in!” I yelled, grabbing my shirt off the floor. Hercules peeped in.“You look horrible; did you catch any sleep?” I laugh, shaking my head.“By the way, I and Zen are going to the human world. Lucas is getting married, and he is having his bachelor party over there. you want to come?” He looked doubtful.“He did invite me,” I groaned. “I don’t think I can.”“Okay” Hercules turned to leave. "Herc, I’m coming with you.""Huh, you changed your mind?” I nodded.And so I delegated all my duties for the day. I needed all of these things. Maybe I would tell Zen and Hercules about it there. ***************************“Truth or dare," Lucas sai
Nora’s POVMy cake sat untouched on the kitchen counter as I stared out in the open. All through the night, I have been thinking about what Michael said. Truly, he had a point, but that does not negate the fact that maybe Jake has changed.I put the phone in my ears, and it has been saying the same thing over and over again.“The number you are trying to call is not available; please try again later.”I dropped the phone and stood. “Where is Claire when you need her?” I muttered. I stood up and went to my room.I sat on the bed and began to think. What if Michael was wrong? I mean, I know that I should be careful around Jake, but people change. I am a person who truly believes that everyone deserves a second chance. As hard as it may look, even Jake deserved the second chance.I said try to call Claire one more time, and Dylan ran into my room."Mummy, someone has invited me for a party!” Dylan ran. Into my room.“I’m so sorry, Miss. Nora, he just ran straight here,” Anna said in betw
Jake’s POVTwo days earlierMoonlight spilled through the dense canopy, casting an inappropriate glow on a secluded area in my room. I awaited my physiotherapist, Claire. Anger burned through my heart as I recalled that night. I scrunched up the glass in my hands. Blood was everywhere."Asshole,” I spat. Curses erupted from my lips like a tempest, a storm of resentment. Michael had outmaneuvered me in that fight, leaving me feeling humiliated and powerless. The bitterness stung, a sour taste that lingered with each venomous word he uttered.“I could not believe that I had walked into Michael’s trap. In my rage and attempt to pull him down, I ended up being the one on the floor."He thinks they can trample over me? Over my weakness? I growled. I was pacing the room like a caged tiger. The walls absorbed the echoes of his frustration, as if bearing witness to the unraveling of a wounded ego.I replayed the scenes—the undermining comments in the meeting, the horrible ideas for the ball p
Claire’s POVI heard a sharp knock on the door. Oh my God, he’s here. I took a deep breath as I assessed my apartment one more time. I couldn’t make a quick dash to my bedroom mirror. I hoped I looked good after all that effort.I breathed in and walked to the door, but with a racing heart, cold hands, and an aft smile on my face.I opened the door. "Hi, come on in,” I said, smiling. Oh my gosh, he was so tall. My apartment dwarfed this handsome alpha. I can’t believe I snagged myself an Alpha. Not just an Alpha, but a rival one. That was brave of me. I mentally patted myself on the back.“Welcome to my humble abode,” I said with a nervous laugh as I moved aside for him to come. He didn’t move. That was strange.“Hello?” I asked him as he just stared at me. It felt like he had just gone blank. I had to wave my hands again before he came to me."Hello, are you okay?” I asked him. He looked at me as if he were thoughtful before he spoke."Breath-taking,” he said. “That is what you are."
Nora’s POV"Shit! Shit! Shit!” I slept in. It was Dylan’s big day; he was part of a recital today. I needed to get him ready. He had been talking about this all through the week. It would break his heart if we were late.Immediately, I ran downstairs to see a scowling Dylan. He frowned at me, and with just one look, I ran back upstairs and jumped into the shower. I agree; I was in the wrong. His feelings were valid. I had stayed up all night talking to Claire.“Why didn’t you tell me about your new job?’ I asked.She coughed and hesitated for a second. “I didn’t know how you would take it,” Claire said.“Come on, Claire, you are my best friend; you are like a sister to me. I would not keep such a secret from you; you know that."I scrolded her. She took in a deep breath.“I’m sorry, Nor. I didn’t mean to hurt you, okay?’I didn’t say anything. Claire was not telling me anything. She was too chill."Nora, are you there?’ She asked, and I nodded.“Hmm”“Have you forgiven me?” she asked.
Nora’s POVJust as I expected, Jake was at the door of the house. He had promised that he would come. He was already in the sitting room waiting, as the guard had told me.“You are early,” I commented. “Do you want to join me for breakfast?" I asked, and he shook his head, smiling.“I ate to my satisfaction. They made lentil soup.” I stopped mid-way to the dining area. Lentil soup was my favorite. It’s been years since I had it. The Nexton pack never grew lentils because it wasn’t actually fertile.“What did you say?” I spun around.“I said I ate lentil soup. His eyes widened. “Oh sh*t, Nora, I didn’t know you hadn’t had it all these years. I—“ I raised my hand to him.“It is okay.” I narrowed my eyes at him. Was he trying to trigger me? I ate my breakfast in total silence. There was a change in the atmosphere.“Are you regretting it?’ He asked as I sat, two seats away from him, in the sitting room.“Regret what?” I asked him almost immediately.“Forgive me,” he said. I stared into hi
Claire’s POVFor the first time since I began to work in the hospital, I didn’t look forward to work. I checked into work and began to prepare."So, how was the weekend?” Lisa asked.“It was beautiful,” I said. Except that it didn’t end well. Jake suddenly disappeared.“Don’t you want to give me the specifics?” She winked, and I burst out laughing.“It’s nothing like that, Lisa.” I said this after I regained myself. The lady had a future in comedy. She loved to make jokes. I took up my phone and put it down. As much as I wanted to share with someone that I was seeing the Alpha of the viola packing, I couldn’t. It didn’t end well. It is such a pity that I cannot do those with Nora.“I see you checking your phone; are you expecting someone?” She asked, and I shook my head."Oh, it's nothing; I was waiting for a call from my brother.”“Oh, he better call; how dare he keep you waiting?” and I began to laugh. What made it all funny was that I didn’t even have a brother. I was an only chil
Michael’s POVThe night had just taken a sudden turn. A bad one, actually. My mood soured, and I wanted to puke.WHAT?With the news from Mia, we got to hear that the volcano pack was under attack.“Have you tried calling Marcel?” Hercules asked me.“His number is not going,” Zen flashed on the phone screen at us. I hissed. How could this have happened? I thought we had made sure it was not secure.“Tell the guards not to let Mia out of the pack,” I commanded. By then, we had gotten to the route to the volcano pack. I asked my men to wait for us. We drove till it was midnight. Then Zen suggested that we rest. We needed to know what was ahead of us.*****************************“We camp here for the night!” Hercules commanded. We have been marching since. The road to the dwelling of the volcano pack wasn’t this far, but due to the fact that we wanted to come unannounced, we needed to not make much noise.“Agnar, we will leave at sunrise,” Hercules told me, and I nodded. As I stood wat