Arabella's POV "Alpha" I moved my face away. "You're not meant to use words that vulgar with me. I don't like them" I covered my eyes with my hands. "I'm sorry" Asher shifted forward. He was bare-chested when he told me to trust him. "Trust you on what?" My face was still away. "Whatever I do, I will never harm you" he whispered to me as he got closer. I could sense that he was now right in front of me. I felt a sudden weight on my chest. My heart was thudding. "Arabella. I admire you and want you so badly" he took his hand to my chin and cupped it in his. I tried to put up a resistance but he was stronger. "Be careful, I wouldn't want to hurt you" he insisted on bringing my face to look at him. I managed to succumb. Unwilling, I still looked down at my feet. "Arabella, look at me" I refused. "Arabella, this is not a command. It is a plea. I want to you to look into my eyes, I have something to tell you" His voice had lowered. It was now soft, gently and velvety. I wished I
Asher's POV It was finally over. All the while we sat through the ceremony, my mind only went to one thing. I was really concerned with whether or not Arabella was wearing any underwear or not. I hoped she got the message I was trying to pass. It was not about the underwear, it was about today being the day I would finally devour her. "Congratulations once again, Alpha Asher. You chose a lovely mate and Luna for out pack. We wish you a peaceful reign and abundance, granted by the moon goddess." Another stranger spoke. Arabella and I bowed our heads to receive the blessings and walked past him onto the next. "The blue crystal shine on you and your Luna" We bowed our heads again and then moved to the next stranger. The process of receiving blessings from the council went on and on for quite some time. I was exhausted at some point but had to keep on going. "I hope this doesn't tire you out" I said with a wicked grin to Arabella. She caught my grin and smiled back."Even if it does,
Asher POV: Her skin felt soft under my grasp. It seems like I was touching a pillow. I longed to grab it and kiss her. "Arabella, do you trust me?" I whispered in her ears. Arabella seemed stiff. She looked uneasy and slight uncomfortable. "Are you a virgin?" I whispered again. At the mention of the word 'Vitgin'? She shuddered. Her eyes popped up open even more. It was like I had bursted a bubble. I had committed a crime. "I think I should leave" she stuttered but before she even tried to free herself from my grasp, I pulled closer. Her body bounced back on me. "Arabella, don't leave" "Asher, I don't think I'm ready yet" She didn't need to say anything. I wanted her to be completely at peace while I wielded the power there. "Let me" I had to be gentle. Arabella deserved to be treated with respect. My usual self would have been rough but not with her, "All you need to do is close your eyes and let me show you how it's done" I whispered to her again. Gently, I felt like her
Arabella's POV I had started to love Asher more and more. The way he kissed and caressed me every night, the way he whispered sweet things in my ear and made me feel very special was something I always looked forward to, every night. The other night, I had seen Ava talking to a maid. They talked for a while and in secret when I saw them. I got curious to hear what they were saying and decided to eavesdrop. After some minutes of hearing nothing but gibberish, I almost decided to leave when I heard the maid ask for money. Ava handed her a large sum of money and asked her to get the job done. That caught my interest, "what job?" "I want it done neatly, no mistakes and definitely no traces." Ava pulled her ears, " if this comes back to me, you'll be done for" The maid nodded. She turned her back and quickly ran away. Ava watched as she left. I was still curious. What could have been so important that she had to pay her for it upfront? As members of the alpha's family, their positio
Arabella's POV: Asher pulled out of me once more. This time, I felt like a pipe was being dragged out of my ears. It hurt much more than the previous day, but each time I complained about it to Asher, he told me it was because I was a virgin and I was going to get used to it in no time. "It still hurts" I whimpered. Both my body and my wolf were in pain. "I told you'll be fine, it's only a matter of time" I saw Asher take a towel into the bathroom to wipe himself clean. "You're meant to heal after the first trial, why are you still complaining?* I felt a little insulted but said nothing. "I was just asking" In the twinkle of an eye, Asher was done and ready to head out. He came out of the shower with a towel tied on his waist and water running down from his head to his chest. His hair was wet and so some beads of water still hung on his beards and hair. I loved it that way. "What will you be doing today?" I asked him like the wife I was. Asher smiled. He must have gotten the gi
Asher's POV "Hello! Arabella! Can you hear me?!" I spoke into the phone. No one answered. "Arabella?" "Trouble on paradise?" Alpha Nick said to me. I shook my head. Of course I couldn't have him knowing anything about Arabella beyond what he already knew. Besides that, I didn't like having him around, not while Arabella was still in the mansion. "Give me a second" I said to him while I took out my other phone and dialed Claire's number. I had to make sure Arabella was long gone. "Hello Claire. Is Arabella with you?" I placed my phone on my ear. Claire sounded scared. "The last thing she said to me what that she trusted me. I don't know what's going on. You need to find her" The news hit me like a blow. Arabella's was missing? How on earth did that happen? I closed my eyes to breathe. I needed to calm down. Alpha Nick was not allowed to see panic on my face, and he was a smart man. He was quick to notice expressions on people's face–– so I had been told. "Again, I ask, is the
Arabella's POV I had no answer to her question. I merely stared back blankly into the dark closet, my lips unable to move. "Would you be willing to stay and sort it out or would you want to leave?" "What do you think?" I closed my eyes to imagine myself seeing the face of my wolf. She had been so kind to me and was always there to make make me happy. I never would have gone that far without her. "I've bonded with Asher's wolf. He and I had a connection and I can also feel your connection with his human mind. You love him and I sense that he loves you too, but as of this moment, I'm not sure I can tell you what to do and what not to do. It's solely left in your hands." I drew in a deep breath. "I'll support whatever decision you take" And then, I exhaled. I sat in silence for a while, letting all the memory of what Asher and I had, replay in my head. I was trying to reach a conclusion. What was I to do next? What weakened my knees the most was that no matter how hard I had tri
Arabella's POV:"What do we need to talk about?" Asher seemed curious. He sounded soft and gentle. More than usual.One would think he was an angel and wasn't working for the enemy. "Nothing, I just have a few questions" I reached for his hand and slowly grabbed him in. "Leave the door, come inside and let's sit"I led Asher to the bed and grabbed a still by the corner. "Here, you can sit on the bed while I sit on the stool. It's something serious. We need to be relaxed enough to talk"Asher nodded. He did as I had asked him to and then faced me, "is this comfortable enough?""Yes"It was time to talk. I pulled the stool closer and held his arm."Asher" I looked into his eyes, "Alpha Asher, I have something important to stay to you and I need the best possible answer. I need you to be honest"Asher leaned in. He had his serious face on. An expression I saw only once."Is this about us or something else?""It's about us"I rubbed on his arm. "Yes, its about the both of us but also a
Arabella's POVAfter feeding and tending to the triplets, we carefully escorted them to a secure safehouse in the basement of the attic. Ava insisted on staying with them, her protective instincts kicking in as she cradled our precious babies in her arms. With tears in my eyes, I kissed each of their foreheads, silently promising to return to them unharmed.As we left the safety of our makeshift sanctuary, the weight of impending conflict hung heavy in the air. The moon cast an eerie glow upon the forest, illuminating our path as we marched toward our destiny.The night whispered with the rustle of leaves, a symphony of anticipation and fear. We moved with purpose, each step a silent vow to protect our loved ones and rid the world of the darkness that threatened to consume us.Arriving at the rendezvous point, our allies stood ready, their eyes ablaze with determination. Jeremy, clad in the mantle of leadership, exuded a quiet confidence as he addressed the assembled group."We strike
Arabella's POVMy heart raced as the echoes of the ritual still lingered in my mind. The bond may have been severed, but either it didn't work or its remnants were imprinted on my senses. I turned to Asher, urgency etched across my face."We need to find Jeremy. He's in danger," I uttered, the gravity of the situation piercing through the newfound calmness.Without hesitation, my father led the way, his steps purposeful as we ventured back to the house but I stopped them. "I think he's in this direction," I shouted and they stopped."Noah, take them home. I'll go find my brother." My father suggested but I shook my head. Without me, they might never find him and I'll be restless. I had to go with them. We just had to be extra careful.The air seemed charged with an unspoken tension, and my instincts guided me toward Jeremy's location.As we moved deeper into the forest, a sense of foreboding enveloped us. The ominous rustling of leaves and distant echoes of a struggle sent shivers do
Arabella's POVIn the quiet of the nursery, surrounded by the soft breaths of the sleeping triplets, I grappled with the enormity of the revelations.I traced the patterns on the floor, lost in thought when Mary and her sisters materialized in the room. “Asher called me," Mary said, her eyes locking onto mine. "Your father explained the situation between you and the other Jere brother. “Is there a way to unlink us from each other? I don't want to be linked to him. And my blood, isn't there a way to remove that too?” I asked with hopeful eyes.“They asked me this and I will tell you the same thing I told them. Breaking a bond like yours is no easy feat. Only the witch who binds can unbind but she doesn't seem to be alive and with the help of my sisters and the rest of the coven, we'd try our best. I believe we can find a way.”Relief washed over me at the prospect of a solution. "Please, Mary, find a way”One of the sisters nodded, her expression serious. "First, we need to delve int
Arabella's POVI rushed to find Asher, my mind swirling with unanswered questions. As I entered the meeting room, Asher's concerned eyes met mine, and I knew he sensed that something was wrong."Dad needs us. There's something going on," I said, trying to convey the gravity of the situation.Asher nodded, immediately following me to my father's room. The atmosphere was tense as we entered, my father and Jeremy exchanging uneasy glances. My father gestured for us to sit, and as we did, he began to explain."As you already know, Jeremy and I are the Jere twins," he began, looking at his brother and then at me. "We've been around for more than three hundred years before I finally met your mom then had you. Before that time, the two of us used to rule, until there was a fight and he became a rogue. I couldn't bear to kill my own twin but I had to find a way and it came with its own consequences. With everyone's help, we were able to find the witch queen who explained that you were coming,
Arabella's POVAs I met Jeremy's gaze, a chill ran down my spine. The shared look of terror confirmed that what I had experienced wasn't merely a product of exhaustion. There was something more, something ominous lurking in the shadows."Jeremy," I whispered, my voice shaky. "What does it mean? Why would we both dream something so vivid and unsettling?"His eyes darted nervously, and for a moment, I wondered if he held a piece of the puzzle he wasn't ready to share. "Why did we have the same dream?" I asked and this time he opened his mouth to speak."We're connected. As for the dream, I don't know…"A surge of anxiety tightened my chest. "But what if it's a warning? What if something terrible is about to happen to Dad or you?"Jeremy hesitated, his jaw clenched. "We have to be careful. I think you should call your witch friend," he said, then turned around, an air of mystery following him as he left. "Don't bother him now, Ara," Asher sang in my ear as he saw that I was looking at t
Arabella's POVJeremiah's eyes held a mixture of sadness and regret as he regarded me. "Arabella, my dear, I've been trapped in this place for many years. Breaking the barrier at the door was only the first step. But now, we need the map that brought you here."I nodded, determined to free my father from this mysterious confinement. I retrieved the aged map from my Jeremy and handed it to him. As he studied it, a solemn expression crossed his face."This map is more than just a guide," he murmured. "It holds the key to the enchantment that keeps me here. We must decipher it together."I leaned closer, my eyes fixed on the intricate details of the map. "Tell me what to do, Father. I'll do whatever it takes to free you."He muttered a few incantations, his fingers tracing the lines on the map. Suddenly, the room seemed to shift, as if responding to whatever he was saying. A low hum filled the air, and the barrier that surrounded my father's room weakened."Arabella, my strength is fadin
Asher's POVJeremy led me to a secluded corner of the house, away from prying eyes and curious ears. The air was heavy with tension, and I fixed him with a glare that could pierce steel."Explain yourself," I demanded, my voice low and threatening. "What happened with Arabella? And why the hell is my sister claiming some... connection with you?"Jeremy ran a hand through his wet hair, raindrops falling onto the floor like a steady beat. "Look, Asher, I didn't plan for any of this. I found Arabella outside, unconscious. I have no idea why she was there or what caused her to faint. And as for your sister, Ava, I can't explain that either. It's not something I control."I scoffed, unconvinced. "You expect me to believe that? We've been through enough without adding mysterious mates and fainting episodes to the mix. I need answers."He sighed, a weariness in his eyes. "I know it's hard to believe, but I'm not your enemy here. As for Ava, the connection she feels is real, even if it defies
Asher's POVAll of a sudden it began to rain heavily and we decided to go back inside.As I approached the entrance to our home, I noticed the lights were turned on. Thinking it was Jeremy, I ran in.Entering the living room, my eyes widened in disbelief at the scene before me. Jeremy stood there, his soaked figure revealing that he was in the storm outside. Yet, it wasn't the rain that held my attention, it was the limp form of Arabella he cradled in his arms."What the hell happened?" My voice came out, filled with shock and anger. I glanced between Arabella's unconscious form and Jeremy's stoic expression."She fainted," Jeremy explained calmly, his eyes meeting mine. "I found her like this outside. I didn't see you, so I brought her in."I could feel the heat rising within me. "Fainted? Why was she outside in the first place?""I don't know. She was just standing there, and then she collapsed. I did what I could to get her here quickly." "Call for the nurse. Now." My command cut
Arabella's POV"I don't know, Asher," I replied, my anxiety growing. "But I have a bad feeling about this. He just disappeared."Asher nodded, a stern expression on his face. "You stay here with the triplets. I'll gather some men, and we'll search the pack house and the surrounding area. We can't let him slip away when we are this close to finding what's going on."I watched as Asher hurriedly stood up, wore his clothes then left the room. Alone with the triplets, I couldn't shake the uneasy feeling that had settled in the pit of my stomach.The minutes felt like hours as I waited, listening to the distant sounds of footsteps and hushed voices. When Asher returned, his face wore a mix of frustration and concern. "We couldn't find him anywhere. It's like he vanished into thin air."I clenched my fists, frustration bubbling within me. "This is not good, Asher."Asher's gaze hardened. "We'll keep searching. But you need to stay here, Arabella. It's not safe for you to be wandering around