ORION’S POVI stepped out of the entrance to Emilia’s apartment building with the wind underneath my arms. I felt like I could soar in the sky and just take off, high into the clouds where dreams were rumored to come true. I nodded with a friendly smile to the security guard at the entrance, and he seemed to see the true meaning behind my smile as he returned it with one to match.I stepped onto the busy road and flagged down a taxi. I took my phone’s silence to mean the engineer in charge of the auto repair facility where I’d had my car dropped off the previous night wasn’t done with it yet. I considered ringing Tristan up to hitch a ride, but instantly decided against it. He knew how to pick an offense easily, and I wasn’t ready to sit through a ride with him while he complained about how I was being a disturbance to his peace.If there was a part of Tristan I had come to understand he hated so much, it had to be the fact that there was another living, breathing person in the world
TRISTAN’S POVI could feel the wolf within me threatening to burst through my skin at any instant. All I just had to do was focus on the hate that I had for the man sitting before me. We looked so alike, a trait I never particularly adored, and it more than infuriated me to look at him.It hadn’t taken much for me to put two and two together, to figure out that my brother had indeed gone to see Emilia. Ordinarily, I wouldn’t care, not even in the least, but this was Orion, my sworn competition.The moon goddess has to have made a mistake sending us to Earth as siblings, because all we ever did was disagree. Maybe it was mostly me choosing not to see eye to eye with him, but what did it matter?He was weak and spineless where I was strong, and it didn’t matter to me what anyone else thought about my opinion. A kind heart is prone to hurt, some wise sage said that, and he couldn’t have been any more correct.“I’m sorry, I didn’t quite get your question,” my brother, Orion, replied with
TRISTAN’S POVI stared past my father at Orion, who stood calmly at the other end of the room.“Why, father? We have unfinished business,” I roared in protest.“Tristan, one more word from you and I’d hand you your tongue on a platter for lunch,” my Father said firmly.I could only humph and breathe my anger out into the air.“We’ll have that meeting now. In my chambers,” he announced, and walked out of the room.I eyed Orion with one final cold glare before rising up to my feet and stomping out of the room, after I had punched a hole in his wall, of course.The thought of Orion’s arms around Emilia’s waist enraged me beyond anything I could imagine. I knew a good chunk of this fight lay with her and not with my brother. But I wasn’t going to let down my ego and reach out to her.Women were crazy over me and not the other way round. I picked up an antique flower pot sitting in the corridor and hurled it at the wall. As I walked to my father’s chambers, everyone steered clear of my way
EMILIA’S POVI walked with my head high up in the clouds after Orion had left my flat. Breakfast with him meant I had to put off my trip to the gym till we were done. And I had no regrets.While at the gym, I didn’t have to lean into my wolf’s abilities to lift weights or do any of my usual routines. It all felt like a featherweight to me. Everything blended into each other as though I was lost in some sort of ecstasy.“Don’t you think you should go a little easier on yourself?” John, my instructor and a fellow member of the Roger pack, had asked with his eyebrows quirked in skepticism. I had lifted a seventy kilogram weight while he watched in shock.“You are we’re saying?” I turned to him with a confident smirk.As I let myself into the apartment upon returning from the gym, I drew in large breaths to inhale whatever was left of his scent in the room.I made sure to draw the curtains and lock the windows, so there’d be nowhere for the fragrance of his cologne to escape.I stepped in
ORION’S POVSeeing my father burst in to separate our scuffle made me almost tear out. Father was getting too old for all these. The fact that Tristan engineered it, didn’t always show. I was the older one, I was meant to be responsible even when he was in the wrong. “What in the name of the moon goddess is going on here?” Father’s baritone rung out, causing even the utensils in the room to shake under his wrath.We both bowed in respect, “All hail the Alpha!” Tristan knew at this point he had to be respectful at least in front of the pack members. Father sighed and motioned for the other members available to exit the room.“What have I done to you both to deserve this? From birth, your mother and I before she died taught you both to live in harmony. Where did we go wrong?” My father voice came defeated and I resisted the urge to soothe away his heart aches. He was getting tired and I could see it in his eyes. I could see a flash of hurt in Tristan’s eyes but it was gone the second i
TRISTAN POVI was still seething when my phone beeped with a message from Logan and I threw it on the wall watching it shattered to tiny pieces. It was satisfying, I wanted to break everything around me. The need to do pot came strong and I succumbed.I prided myself in the thought that I was a dealer but didn’t take this hard drugs but at this point every ounce of care was thrown to the wind.I rolled it up, flicking my finger as I lit it up. Every one of the Alpha’s children had his special abilities. As twins, Orion and I share pretty much the same capabilities and it irked me. The thought of having someone who was my mirror image and had the same abilities I had was unnerving. That was why I rebelled. I could remember high-school, dyeing my hair and getting into a rebellious phase.I gulped in an unhealthy amount of smoke but it didn’t affect me one bit, perks of being a werewolf. Emilia had though warned me against it, because she had, had a traumatic experience with it. Suddenly
ORION POVThe look of defeat on Tristan face was enough to give me satisfaction. We had planned it out, knowing he would fall for it. He was so predictable and the fact he’d come to me in that manner indicated that he still wanted Emilia. Why would you want someone and not give them your attention? Father started his speech, immediately Tristan had gotten over his tantrum.“My sons, I have gathered you all today because I have very little time left. The gang in the city have gotten stronger and I will appear weak in the eyes of the pack if they are not caught, so security will be mounted on every corner, every nook and cranny of the city will be guarded so they have no choice to retreat or be caught”The flash of fear appeared in Tristan’s eyes before it went away. I blinked and he was back to his usual lazy look.“Father, that is a brilliant idea but there is a little flaw to that. This gang seems to know the areas guarded and avoid those parts. It’s almost as if they know our plans
Emilia’s POVI woke up the next morning giddy with excitement. Orion was taking bold steps and asking me out on a date. The first thing I did was call my best friend Marilyn who booked the entire mall to us. She was a fashion icon and was of reputable standing. Growing up as children, she had been the outspoken one and had engineered our getaway from that hellish excuse of a pack.The runway was her guise and she kept a low profile while at the same time stunning the world. She had recently premiered a series which was all about werewolves and human colliding. The irony of it all.“Good gracious, why are you still in bed, Em?” She said, still her head in disapproval at my defeated look, her heels moving in a rhythm. I had taken the day off, specially for this date. My boss had sounded shocked when I requested for that. I couldn’t blame her, it wasn’t every day a workaholic decides to take a mini vacation, even if it lasted for only a day.“I am overthinking things, Mar. What if he’s w
TRISTAN'S POV He laughed again, laughter that burnt my chest. Laughter that made me want to punch him in the stomach and hit him on the face until I drew blood. “Who knew that in a few weeks, you'll be here with me, eh? Eating leftovers, and about to be judged by a panel of Elders and your own brothers. Life is a rollercoaster, Tristan. And it's your turn to go on that ride.”I shook my head in anger when he shoved me again. “Don't push me!” I hissed angrily. “I'm in charge here, Tristan. And you're going to do as I say. Now move!”He was right. I was now underneath him. He was in charge, and there was nothing I could do. How the mighty falleth!_________ORION'S POVStanding before my brothers and the elders, I raised my hand in silence. Before me, I held the bottle that was filled to the brim with acid, which served as an evidence before the whole court that my brother, Tristan Ironclaw had been charged for the death of a dozen people and conspiracy to kill me and the rest of t
ORION'S POVStaring at Rosalind, I was filled with rage. How could Tristan be so callous? How evil could he be? For him to do such a thing to his brothers meant that he could go to any length to try and destroy most of us. It meant he was willing to go to any length to destroy whoever had been standing in his way on his charge to become the Alpha. It was a good thing that he was locked up, just where he deserved to be. There were no two ways about it. “Denver!”I called out, placing my hand atop Emilia's in order to let her know that she wasn't alone. I was annoyed, but not at her. I was offended by my brother's callousness, by his lack of human empathy, sympathy and love. Being his brother at that moment was something I wouldn't even wish on my worst enemy. He was an evil man, a very callous person, and I wanted him to be paid according to how he had lived his life, according to how evil he had been. “Yes royal one.”Denver was beside me in a flash, the worry on his face mirrorin
EMILIA'S POVBrushing my teeth in the bathroom, I couldn't help but smile time and time again. My head was filled with pleasant thoughts, and that was all I cared for at the moment. I wanted the pleasant thoughts to continue, I didn't want them to end in any way. All I thought of was marriage with Orion Ironclaw, and how I wanted to spend the rest of my days with him. I imagined living in the palace, and I imagined our children running around. He was eventually going to be the Alpha, and I imagined him being disturbed by one or two thoughts and problems that plagued the land, and there I was, comforting him, telling him that everything was going to be alright. It was all I wanted to think about all day, it was where I wanted to be. I loved him to the moon and back, and with Tristan gone and locked up in jail, it was going to be a rollercoaster ride for all of us. I wanted us to get married immediately, because I didn't want any problems or obstacles. Because I wanted to continue be
ORION'S POV “Good morning chef Sarah. I want to prepare something for my girlfriend. I know you guys must have already prepared a meal for the occupants of the palace, but I'd like to prepare something special. And yes, I'd like you guys to help me. But from a distance, please don't interfere.”Sarah smiled, then nodded. It was obvious that she understood where I was coming from. Most of them had heard about the showdown with Tristan, and had probably heard that he was in prison too. Nodding, I noticed a young cook who seemed disturbed by my presence. Her hands were trembling, and she was in a corner, standing as she stared at me. Smiling at her, I noticed that she averted her eyes. But I didn't take it to heart, that was the reaction of most servants when I tried to be friendly. Without skipping a beat, I decided to start preparing breakfast for Emilia before she woke up. Asking questions, I managed to find the eggs and then put them into a bowl before whisking them. Bread was wh
ORION'S POVI stirred awake, the rays of the sun that pierced the windows blinding me monetarily. For a minute, I didn't know where I was. I stared, surprised and in clear wonderment. And then I remembered. I was in the palace, in my room. And beside me was my girlfriend, a woman that I loved and had always loved. A woman that I was ready to lay down my life for, a woman that I was ready to spend the rest of my life with. Just seeing Emilia beside me made me excited. The fact that I hadn't been this close to her in months, that we were not allowed to be close to each other because of obstacles that existed in the form of my brother and her ex boyfriend made me bitter. But all that bitterness had been transformed into love now. I no longer felt bitter towards my brother, who at that moment had been handed unto the hands of the pack by the police force. We were going to deal with him, just as our laws, rules and regulations required, while they were free to deal with the remainder of
EMILIA'S POVI was seated on my bed watching the television when Elena called me, telling me to turn to the NBC News channel immediately. I did so, and I was shocked at what I saw on the television. Tristan Ironclaw had been arrested after he was identified as one of the most notorious criminals of the past year. I couldn't believe it. I was actually free. Him being arrested meant that I was free to go back to my lover, and I was free to go back to the palace as well. My life had been pretty messed up, filled with ups and downs, and it was eventually time for a change. I broke down and wept, still looking at the television. Tristan Ironclaw had been the worst thing to ever happen to me. And now, he was going to jail, where he was going to spend the rest of his days. The evidence against him according to the television was massive, and I found myself wondering what they had found on him. I didn't care.All I seemed to care about at that moment was that my life was finally mine agai
ORION'S POVAs soon as they shook hands, our van drove in, and in a twinkle of an eye, I could see Tristan transform into a wolf. But I was ready. Clutching the gun that was armed with several bullets, I transformed into a wolf as well, blocking his path and tripping him as he began to run. He fell in a heap on the ground, and I pointed the gun at him. He smiled at me, a nervous smile, and I shook my head, perplexed. My twin brother was a hardened criminal. He was laughing even though death was staring him in the face. He was showing that he had no remorse for whatever he had done in the past. He was just showing everybody the type of man he was. “I should've known. Who else will be in charge of my downfall if not for my own twin brother, if not for my nemesis from day one.”“You are your own nemesis, Tristan. The evil you've done in this city is only coming back to haunt you. I am your karma, and I'm telling you right now that you should surrender and hand yourself over to the pol
EMILIA'S POVI nodded, acknowledging at that moment that I loved listening to Orion Ironclaw speak. His voice was soothing, especially for the fact that I hadn't heard it in days. As soon as we were done discussing the matter of Tristan Ironclaw and his masked dealers agency, I proceeded to tell them that I couldn't live with Charles anymore. It was going to be better if I checked into a hotel on the outskirts of town where he would never find me. Agreeing immediately and seemingly annoyed, Orion immediately agreed to it. He wasn't going to let anything happen to me while he was alive, he swore time and time again. I entered the car while we drove to a hotel in the outskirts. There, I checked in, and Orion paid for everything, including my room service. “After all this is over, you'll be back with me in the palace as my wife. We've suffered so much, Emilia, we deserve every good thing in the world. Which is why I'm going to say we should get married as soon as possible.”I clutche
EMILIA'S POVI had swallowed it for too long. I knew that I had tried my best, and I was supposed to move forward. At least, I was supposed to be treated as if I wasn't in a dungeon anymore. If he loved me, he was going to allow me to do what I wished. He was going to let my plans flow as smoothly as I wanted it to. “I need to go out, Charles. I've been locked in here for two weeks. You've bluntly refused to let me go out. Is this love? You say you're afraid of Tristan, but you go out everyday yourself? What does that mean?”He shook his head, then tried to touch me. I ducked immediately, then swore inwardly. Why did he keep trying to touch me? It only made my skin crawl with repulsion, and I wondered if he couldn't see it. I hated him, and he wasn't even seeing it. “You need to understand that you are fragile, Emilia. I love you, and I'm trying to let you understand that.”I shook my head angrily. This wasn't love. It was something else. I didn't deserve to be locked up like an ani