ORION'S POVThroughout the day,I felt oddly tired and nauseous. Something didn't seem right, and I found myself asking people around me what date it was. Maybe it was probably the loneliness in me acting up. I needed to see Emilia, despite the fact that she had asked for the distance that she had put between us to be respected. But I didn't want any of that. I was done with pretending that I was alright without her when I wasn't. Slipping my phone out of my pocket, I dialed her number, pacing my room in worry. I was still pacing when she picked, and I paused, my breath coming in short gasps. I was afraid of the woman I had come to love over the past two months. I was afraid of how she was going to react towards me after such a long time. “Orion?”Her voice was just the same even though we hadn't talked in days. It was the ever rich tenor, and it made me smile for an instant. It made me want to be with her, to at least hold and kiss her at the moment because that was all I felt my
ORION'S POVAs I watched my father trash on the bed that had been made but was now a mess, I found myself wondering if he was going to survive. I was paralyzed by fear, crippled by the fear that my father, the alpha wouldn't survive. I was crippled by the fact that I had never seen him like this, that the strong and able bodied man I had grown up to know was not the same man on the bed, blood dripping from his nose, foaming ridiculously at the mouth. He was convulsing violently, and I continued to look at him, rooted to the spot. It was more than the fear of him not surviving, it was the fear of death. It was the fear that death was finally here to take its debt, and there was nothing that could be done to stop him.Logan's scream and shove brought me back to reality. I had been staring at my father in his sorry state, watching the life seep out of him slowly.“What do you suggest we do? Orion?”I ran my hand through my hair, confusion making everything I was thinking about at that
TRISTAN'S POVWhen I heard the alarm bells in the palace sound, I knew it was happening. I had been waiting all night for this, I had stayed up all night envisioning this. I had imagined what it was going to look like, and now that it was finally happening, I couldn't believe it. Following the sound of Logan's voice that screamed “To the Alpha's chamber!”, I stood up from my bed, smiling. I had done it. I had gotten revenge for my organization. I had gotten revenge for the slain bodies of my men that had been murdered by the collaboration of the police and the arc moon pack. I had done my organization proud, and that was all I wanted. Any other thing could wait. Now all I wanted to do was watch his death. All I wanted to do was see him die before my eyes, just like he had seen my men die. The poison had been a mixture of deadly Nightshade and Wolfsbane, a concoction that I had made specially for him. Only one of it was not enough to defeat a werewolf as strong as he was, so I had
ORION'S POVBy the time I stopped crying, the sun was high in the sky. The sky was gray, and I could see that even the sun was battling its master. It was struggling to rain, it was struggling to weep for the just slain Alpha.It was struggling to weep for the just killed man that had been my father. Sitting on top of his bed as the doctors crowded the room in a bid to transfer his body to the mortuary, I knew that there was literally no use. The brothers were all in the room, all of them too shocked to speak. It was at that moment I knew that they looked like sheep without a shepherd. Somebody had to take control. Somebody had to take charge. “Doctor Holmes,” I said, addressing the slim doctor who was struggling with his glasses in a bid to keep them propped up his nose. “Hope his body will be safe there? We need enough time to prepare the burial rites. We cannot just rush things. Even though I think there is no use because he'll be buried before the week runs out, I believe he wo
TRISTAN'S POV“Look”, I said matter of factly, my hand demonstrating, “we're not going to mourn for days. He's gone, let's face the truth. We need to choose another Alpha. That's all I'm saying.”“Tristan, your twin is right. This isn't the time for this. This isn't the time to make trouble.”I couldn't help it but laugh, looking at Logan. He was infuriated, but I didn't care. Respect for the dead and my brothers could go to hell. As long as I wasn't done with my revenge completely, I was going to continue acting in the way I pleased until my plans were fully carried out. “Because he called me a troublemaker doesn't mean y'all can refer to me by that name. As you can see, he's dead now. Dead men don't bite. And since he always wished for trouble, I'm giving it to him now, even in death.”Before I could see it, the shove had come, Orion planting his fist fully into my chest and pushing me to the wall. I laughed pitifully. He didn't want to do this. He was weak from all that crying, al
ORION'S POVI stood next to the door as all the brothers exited the room that had once belonged to our father. The grief was in their eyes, the mourning and the exhaustion. Most of them hadn't eaten since his death, and I didn't blame them. Why would one think of eating when a man that you once loved, respected and looked up to was in the grave? There was going to be no food, no eating as far as the great Alpha's death was concerned. There was only one man I knew that would eat, that would even party in this time of grief. He was the man that was leaving the room last, his smile making him want to punch him and wipe it off his face despite my weak state. I had never hated him like I hated him since I heard him utter the words he had uttered a few minutes ago. How dare he refer to our father as “a dead old man? As a dead man?” The disrespect was alarming, the cowardice appalling. What annoyed me most was that he wouldn't dare, he would have never had the courage to say such things
ORION'S POVAs I washed off the blood on my hands and ditched the clothes I had been wearing as at the time of my father's death, I found myself thinking about Emilia.The time I had spent with her a few days was still evergreen in my mind, I hadn't forgotten how she smelt, how beautiful her skin had looked and how beautifully her hair had smelled. She was a beautiful woman, and I wanted nothing more than to share my pains in this moment of grief with her.I wanted her beside me, I wanted her sympathy and her voice to wash over the fact that the man I had called my father for years now was dead. I needed her comfort and her pity. Sighing, I acknowledged that I needed Emilia's touch. I wanted her to touch me, to make me forget about my grief and the death of my father. Noone else could do it apart from her. Slipping out of the bathtub, I toweled up quickly, ignoring the cold that seemed to raise goosebumps all over my flesh. It was because of the amount of hours I had spent next to
TRISTAN'S POVIf Orion Ironclaw thought I was going to stand by and watch him control everything I had worked so hard to get, he was going to get a very big shocker. Even after he had held me down and warned me to stay away from the vehicle he had had prepared for him, I knew that wasn't going to stop me. I was ready for them all. I was going to show them that I had not only orchestrated the great alpha's death, but I was going to orchestrate each and everyone of their deaths if they tried to stand in my way. Smiling in my pain and discomfort of being denied the royal car, I instructed Christopher Shawn, my personal guard to fetch another car from the garage. Even if I was going to go to the pack circle late, I was going to make sure it was worth it. The car he brought was an old model Benz, and I knew that it was going to take us more than twenty minutes to reach the pack circle in that manner. I wanted to be there because I didn't want to miss the address Orion was going to give.
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