I was trapped in a dark place. The air was filled with a strange stench that made my stomach churn. I tried to take in a lungful of air but it was difficult with each passing breath. “I’m going to have you,” a familiar voice said, the sound creeping up my skin. I tried to get away but there was no means of escape. He was drawing closer and closer.“No. Stay away” I yelled louder.“You’re going to be mine” his disgusting voice drew closer. I felt fingers climbing up my skin. I tried to claw it away but it wasn’t going away from me. His touch remained persistent, climbing up my skin until he was holding onto me. “No” I yelled but his face came closer. “Nooo” I yelled, springing up from my bed only to see that it was a nightmare. My breathing was coming out in loud pants. My sheets were damp with sweat and my clothes stuck to my skin. I was relieved that it was only a dream and Jonathan was not here with me. I climbed out of bed and stripped out of my clothes, going into the bathroo
After Thorne left, I thought about what he said. For most of the day, our conversation was on my mind. Should I really be blaming him for everything that happened? He was lied to just like I was, he could not have known the truth and still acted the way he did. And he was remorseful about all that had gone wrong. But....he didn't trust me and that's why he believed everything Agatha said. Could I really forgive him and move past this? I thought to myself. It seemed very impossible and difficult. It was not easy for me to forget the pain and humiliation, I remembered how I pleaded with him to believe me but his mind was already set on not believing me. So I didn't think it was possible to move on from that. 'You don't want to forget it and that's why it seems hard to move on but it's possible to move on' my wolf said. 'Can you really forget all the accusations against us? Or is it the whipping? Or is it how he never treated us like his real mate except when he needed to satisfy hims
Thorne came to me after I was dressed.“You look exquisite” he complimented as he kissed the side of my cheeks. “Let’s go” he offered his hands and I took it. We arrived at the large double doors and it was opened wide by the guards who stood at the entrance. We entered the dining and it was only Diedre who was seated, she looked shocked to see Thorne and I coming in together and holding hands. Thorne pulled out my chair for me to sit down and I sat before he took his own chair. "Good evening brother" Diedre greeted Thorne but he only acknowledged the greeting with a nod. I wasn't expecting her to greet me so I just kept quiet. But I felt her flare on me. The bitterness from her was reeking. One could perceive it from a thousand miles away. The servants started dishing the food at Thorne’s order. The others had not yet arrived. I wondered who the special guest was and why the person had not yet arrived. I wanted to ask Thorne about it but I decided to keep it to myself. If he de
“Are you okay?” I asked, my voice full of concern as I checked Thorne. He held onto the place where he had been stabbed, an annoyed look on his face.“I’m fine” he tried to smile but it did nothing to reassure me. The guards had grabbed a struggling Henry and dragged him away. “Are you fine?” Mathew tried to come close but he held up his hands stopping him. Diedre was crying loudly and I felt pity for her. She had just learned in the most cruel way how her mother had passed.“Let’s go” I tugged him gently and he let me take him away. I led him to his bedroom and sat him on the bed. The healer was called and the stab wound was attended to. He was in slight pain before the healer arrived and after the wound was treated he no longer felt pain, but he looked pale and I was relieved it wasn't something serious. I had been very scared when he was stabbed and I thought something was going to happen to him. I was supposed to be the one lying on the bed with the wound but he came just at the
ALPHA THORNE'S POVAfter speaking with Ava, and she fell asleep in my arms, I left the room. It was hard to convince Ava that I was fine even with the cut, I saw how worried she was but I needed to speak with Mathew. I needed him to clarify some things. I wanted to be done quickly and get back to Ava before she realized that I was gone. And again, despite the situation, I just wanted to go back to holding her in my arms. It’s been a long time since I got to hold her like that and be surrounded by her addictive scent. It wasn’t fun to throw that moment away for crisis. When I arrived at the front of my office, Busta was waiting.“Henry is in the dungeon. Is there anything you’d like us to do until you’re ready to see him?”“Have him bound and watched at all times. I don’t want him slinking out of our sight. He could be the key to cracking the trafficking case once and for all”“Of course alpha. Do you need any other thing? You were injured”“I’m fine. Get me Mathew immediately. We nee
Days passed after the incident with Henry and Thorne had contacted the other alphas, they were going to track down the others so they could stop the trafficking of young boys and bring all those who were involved in the disgusting trade to book, serving as a déterrant to others who would think not starting or engaging in something as horrendous as that against small children. I couldn’t believe what they had done all these years, the lives they had ruined. Children were taken away from their families and forced into the harshness of that business. I was alone in the room and I was bored, I walked to the window and looked out. Today looked dull and I was thinking of something I could do to keep myself busy. Eiza had only dropped by earlier in the morning but I was still sleepy so I asked her to let me be. I had yet to see her since that time. Torren would be occupied too. I huffed as I moved away from the window.Since I woke up extra late today, I haven’t done my morning routine and
"Sorry," I apologized again, just for the sake of peace because with the look brimming in her eyes, she was out for trouble and I wasn't in the mood to engage her. "What exactly are you sorry for?" She snapped and I pressed my fingers against my forehead. She really was going to take the long road. "Diedre... this isn't....""I really want to know what you're fucking sorry about. Bumping into me and breaking with what I'm holding or you're sorry for not seeing. Are you blind?" She raged angrily."I just said I was sorry Diedre. You don't have to be rude about it" I raised my voice equally even though I regretted right after for engaging her. "Would the sorry pay for what I was holding, it's very expensive. Not like you can tell the worth of anything with how measly you are"I pinched my lips tightly together, trying to stop myself from exploding. ‘She’s not worth it’ I repeated to myself.“Do you even have the money to buy it or do you just go and steal my brother's diamonds like
"W-What..." I stuttered, a bit alarmed by his sudden entrance but also self-aware because I was exposed to his gaze."I-I... had...." He stuttered, also unfocused as he gazed at me, coming closer and closer. I stood at the sad spot, my eyes following him as he drew nearer. The moonlight shining on him was intoxicating to look at. His body and huge frame were like a work of art as I gazed at him. When he was close enough, he wrapped his arms around my naked body and kissed my shoulder softly."You look so beautiful" I purred in his touch, pushing my body against his. My nipples had hardened into pebbles and brushed against the rough material of his shirt. "I've seen so many beautiful things in my life. Paintings... Even The view outside is breathtaking." He whispered reaching his hands up to touch mine."But not even the greatest painter in the world couldn't capture the breathtaking beauty of you standing in front of me right now." He whispered with a second kiss on my neck.My e
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