A cold towel pressing against my forehead had me opening my eyes. Thorne was sitting next to the bed that I was now lying in. He must have moved me. I tried to get up but he pushed me back down gently. "Rest" his voice was also soft and I shut my eyes again. My body felt weak and the throbbing in my head remained persistent and unyielding. "Ava" he called softly and I opened my eyes. "I'm fine. Just a headache" I croaked and he snorted putting the damp cold rag on my forehead again. "It's still raining heavily" he informed me and I took note of the rain that was beating down on the roof of the house. "I can't send for the healer now but he'll see you tomorrow" I groaned in response. "You have to eat something. The soup is ready" I nodded and felt his presence disappear. I needed to sit up to eat. I had to help myself so I wasn't a burden to Thorne. I wasn't very successful in that area and he came back and found me, thinking I was trying to get out of bed. "I just wanted to sit
His kisses burned through me. Like hot lava melting my skin. I couldn’t get enough of him and his kisses. I never wanted them to end and with the painful realization that I had managed to catch feelings for a man who would never love me. I should have pulled away and gone to bed but I latched onto him, kissing him with the same intensity as he kissed me. I barely registered when he lifted me from the chair and carried me into the room, laying me on the soft bed. His fingers trailed under the clothes I had on and burned my skin.As his kisses continued down my skin, I tugged on his hair, pushing him closer to my neck. I couldn’t get enough. He mumbled something as he tried to get my clothes off. With the urgency, I was frightened he would try to tear it off and then I remembered that the clothes must belong to Rachael and something that seemed to have slipped from both our minds since we started kissing. We were in his ex-mates special place. Maybe it was lust clouding his senses. I
I woke up expecting to see that Thorne had gone. He never lingered in bed after sex and I was surprised to see him still there. The rain had ceased. Sometime in the early hours of the morning. That Thorne and I had collapsed in exhaustion, far spent out from fucking each other's brains that we fell asleep. He was gentle and rough at the same time, cautious but demanding. So far one of the best intimate experiences with him. Maybe it was much more intense because I finally found a name for the conflicting emotions I had been feeling. It made no sense because he had done absolutely nothing for me to fall for him. Except save me from my terrible family. But he had not been the best to me so why? Maybe it was the mark on my neck and bond that made me feel this way. Nevertheless, those were my true feelings and it posed as a problem for me. He could never love me back. How could I go on knowing that he couldn't return the feelings that I had for him? That he would always love another over
Planning a ball was harder than I bargained. Even with the extra help, it felt like I still had the weight of the world pressing down on my shoulders. Thorne asked but I refused to give in to temptation and tell him I was stressed. I wanted to do this. Our relationship only got better and I was happy. I was reading through the suggestions of one of the assistants when the door opened and Agatha marched inside. I was surprised to see her. I haven't run into her since the day after the last ball. She didn't cross my mind either since I had made up my mind to put some distance between us. "You're having the time of your life. Aren't you?" "What does that mean?" I asked, tilting my head up to stare at her. "I mean you've been having so much fun that you forget about me" Her tone changed swiftly when she spoke this time. "Not fun and I didn't forget you. I've just been so busy" she scoffed. "Busy planning a big ball. If that isn't fun I don't know what is""I guess. But it's really ve
"I told you she must have taken it" I heard Diedre's voice but I didn't turn. Couldn't turn up to look at her. My gaze remained on Thorne. Different emotions swirling inside of me, where did that come from? I had never seen it before. "How did this get here" he asked in a calm voice. "I...I have never seen that before""Then how did it get here Ava? This was in Rachel's room. Had been there for the longest of times. Why did you take it?""I swear to you, I didn't go there. I didn't take it at all""Then how the fuck did it end up here with you? Magic? I'm trying to fucking think about how this got here""It must have been what she was hiding when she was getting away," the servant said and I turned to her. "Enough. You and I know this is a fucking lie. I didn't go into any room. You didn't see me. Who put you up to this?""You're going to try and blame someone even when the evidence is clear? Who will you call now? Agatha? That seems to be the only name you call whenever you get int
ALPHA THORNE'S POV'You can't do this to our mate' my wolf screamed in my head but I wasn't listening. He was only saying this because she was our mate, wearing our mark. 'That's the main reason you shouldn't be doing this. How will people perceive you? That you had your mate whipped?'I didn't care what people said or thought about me. They were in charge of their thoughts so they could think whatever. But our pack had an image to hold. If it were any other person they would have gotten more than ten lashes of the whip. I had it reduced because she was my mate but I couldn't let the act of stealing go unpunished. This was the second time. What was I teaching the pack? That it was okay to steal?"You are foolish," my wolf said. He was letting emotions cloud his judgment. I didn't rule like that. If it were any other person, I would give them the same punishment. "You wouldn't do this to Rachel" I paused. Of course. I loved her and....my wolf cut off our connection. The moment the
I felt like hell when I finally woke up, unable to move an inch because of the pain. Eiza was beside me each time I woke up, encouraging and taking care of me. Others dropped by but I was mostly unconscious to hold any conversation with them. Eventually, I was fully healed and came to move about on my own. "What do you want to do today?" Eiza asked. I thought about it. What could I do? Lessons? I had lost interest in that but I knew it wasn't a good idea to stop. They were skills I could learn that would be good for me in the long run. It wasn't because I hated Thorne and it was he that organized it that I had to ruin my lessons. "I think a lesson today. Wade must be back now" she nodded. "They haven't been doing any lessons though. Torren wanted to wait until you were better" I nodded. "I'll help you bath," she said and I accepted her assistance. After I was cleaned and dressed, I had my breakfast. While I was eating, I felt Eiza's gaze on me and I sensed she wanted to ask me s
"I...I...it's" the servant girl stuttered and I looked at Thorne who was vibrating with rage. I wondered what could possibly be happening right now. It was never a good thing when he was so angry like this. I looked around the table and noticed a few seemed to have dreadful looks on their faces. "Fucking answer" he yelled and yanked her up, his fingers digging into her arm, that had to be painful. I had a moment of fleeting concern for the girl but quickly dismissed it. She was the same person who lied about me stealing. "Where did you get this?" he asked and I looked at it again. It was a necklace with a missing pendant...Wait a minute, was that the same necklace I had been accused of stealing? My eyes widened in shock and I moved closer. How was it with her?"Answer" he yelled in her face and Diedre marched forward. "Brother I think you...""Shut the fuck up" he growled at her and she jumped back eyes wide with fear. This was the first time I had ever seen such a look on Diedre.
TORREN AND MATHEW TORREN's POV I was honestly tired of the whole back and forth with Mathew. I wanted a happy life but I couldn't quite get it here where I was undervalued. ‘Not undervalued’ my wolf corrected but that wasn't how I saw it. I saw Ava approaching and I put on the fakest smile I could muster. She didn’t need to be worrying about me in her condition. "I've been looking everywhere for you" She frowned as she walked closer. "You ought to be resting," I said with an eye roll. At this stage of her pregnancy, it was advised that she stay off her feet but Ava was never one to listen. If her mate saw her here, he would scream his lungs off. And I wasn’t interested in that kind of drama. "I can't stand being cooped up in that room for a single minute more. It’s driving me crazy" "Does your servant and guard know you are here? Does the alpha know you’re here?" She shook her head with a mischievous smile. "They'll find out when they check the stack of pillows under my
DIEDRE AND EVANSDIEDRE’s POV I felt confused, miserable, and ultimately, unhappy, I had to leave my home because of how foolish I had been. I had no one to blame for that mistake, I should have done better. I should have stopped when Thorne asked me to. When my wolf begged me to stop. Ava wasn't a terrible person, far from that. She was sweet and I only just realized that after my last talk with her. It was too late by then. I had let my bitterness consume me just for the hate I had for mistresses that had absolutely nothing to do with her. Now I had no home. Thorne had banished me and never wanted to see me again. The tears that had refused to stop since I left started again and I pushed my fist into my mouth to muffle cries. I had nothing, no one. The loneliness and abandonment I had feared all my life was now a reality. I didn't even know the name of the pack I was currently in. Was it even a pack? Thorne had been kind enough to give me some money. That was all he spared me
As I watched my baby in the crib, my mind traveled back to how he had come into this world. On that day, I sat on the chair with Torren discussing certain things. I was as round as a ball now, the baby had also been very active and kicking. I barely went anywhere far because of my swollen feet which hurt so much. And Thorne had my movements restricted. "You said you wouldn't eat anymore today," Torren said and I pouted. "I can't help it, the baby has been making me eat a lot" "I'm sure the baby will have a lot to say when it can finally talk" I rolled my eyes. "What's been happening? How are you and Mathew doing?" "We are fine" he answered stiffly. "How is your new place? Do you like it?" "Yes. I'm glad that I decided to move out of the pack house instead of leaving the pack entirely" "I'm glad too. But in the end, I only want you to do what makes you happy" "I want okay right now. I can't say I'm happy because it'd be a complete lie. But I hope in a few months from now,
"What!!!!" She said excitedly. "I just found out some minutes ago" "Oh, my goodness. I'm so happy for you. What was Thorne's reaction to the news?" "He was so excited about the news" "I knew he would be happy. Finally, there'll be a mini Ava and Thorne and my baby has someone else to play with whenever we come here. I’m super excited. Maybe even more than you are” "That's true," I said with a smile. She touched my belly. "I hope it's a boy and I can't wait for him to be here. I'll finally have a godson. And maybe when they’re older, they could be married” "How do you even know it's going to be a boy? It might be a girl just like yours" I didn’t bother about correcting her on the marriage issue. Arranged matings had a way of turning out bad. Agatha’s was a solid proof. My child will choose to be with whomever they wanted. "No, it's going to be a boy. I'm very sure about that" "The baby is not going to be here until a few months so we'll find out then if it's really a boy or
"What?" I said shocked. I instinctively touched my belly. Another life was forming inside of me. I am pregnant. I looked at Thorne's face and he was so happy. He touched my stomach. I couldn't settle on one emotion. Uncertainty, confusion, fear... the news had me conflicted. But how...'I'm sure you weren't expecting a trophy with all the unprotected sex you've been having' my wolf mocked. Of course not. "I can't believe this. We are having a baby. Thank you so much Ava" he said squeezing my hand and kissing the back. "Congratulations alpha and Luna," the healer said again."So why was she vomiting so much? Is there another thing wrong?" He asked with a frown while I was still trying to process it. "No alpha, it's the baby that's causing the sickness. She'll feel sick for some time but after the first three months it'll stop""Excuse me please," the healer said and then she was out. With her gone, the seriousness of the situation dawned on me and I started crying. I didn't know
ALPHA THORNE'S POVI felt uneasy as I walked towards my office. Ava wasn't well even though she kept wishing she was okay. I knew better than to argue with her. But I'll still have the healer check her just to be sure. I couldn't shake off the feeling that something was terribly wrong. And I wanted her to be okay at all costs. I couldn't be at rest knowing that something was wrong with her. I arrived at my office and Busta was there. He had a solemn look on his face. "Are you okay man?" I asked Busta and he looked up at me as he nodded with a strained smile. "You don't have to lie, Busta," I said softly, encouraging him. I could do nothing to ease his pain but I could offer a listening ear."I don't know how I feel truly," he said with a drawn-out sigh. "She chose her part. I warned her severally but she failed to listen. She was bound to end up like this somehow. I just thought.....that I could save her somehow but I ended up..... I killed her myself. Do you think my parents hate
There seemed to be a kind of peaceful feeling in the air as I woke up. It probably stemmed from the knowledge that everything had been sorted out and I had no reason to fear anymore because Jonathan and his family were gone. Never to be seen again. We didn't get to talk about it. He only told me that much before I jumped him. Thorne was still sound asleep, I climbed out, going to the bathroom to do my business. When I returned, he was still asleep so I climbed back into bed with him. He took that moment to wake up. "You should still be asleep" his chest rumbled as he spoke. I kissed the side of his face lovingly. "I couldn't sleep anymore" his face quickly changed to one of worry. "That's not right. You need to rest. The last couple of days have been really stressful. Do I call the healer? There must be something wrong if you can't...." I groaned. "No. I don't want to see the healer. I feel alright. All I've done is sleep. I want to go outside and see my friends" Being inside thi
I was afraid. My heart pounding with the worst kind of fear. Jonathan and Agatha had found a way to connive with another alpha and attack. That was bold but very risky. I feared for my mate. I didn't want him hurt. The door opened and Busta came in. A dark look on his face. "Why are you here? Where is my mate?""He asked me to stay back and protect you. He'll be okay" he tried to assure me but it couldn't quell the fear that I had in my heart. "Please try to relax Luna. I'll be outside if you need anything""No" I stopped him immediately. I couldn't be alone. He nodded and sat at the chair closer to the door. I paced up and down the room, my head imagining various scenarios and preparing for the worst. But at the same time, I was hopeful. I looked over at Busta and noticed he was restless too. And I felt selfish. His only family was also involved in this battle and on the wrong side. The chances of something happening to her....."Are you okay Busta?" He looked up and his eyes we
ALPHA THORNE'S POVI slowly gained consciousness and Ava was snuggled against my side, listening to the sound of her steady breathing. I thought of how lucky I am to have her with me. Alive and well. So many things could have gone wrong during the time she was in captivity but the goddess kept her for me until I was able to get her. I brushed the hair away from her face, a sigh of relief still leaving me. The injuries had slowly healed and she was much better. I still wanted her in bed every day, resting until she was completely healed but she did everything to assure me that she was okay.The fear I had felt when I realized she was taken. I never want to feel that way again so I was going to do everything in my power to make sure she remained safe and unharmed. Even if it meant killing everyone or dying myself. I’d do it to make sure she was always safe. She shifted against my side. I slowly moved away from her touch, hating to be separated from her but my need to use the bathroom