Nikolai's POV
I couldn't count the number of times I had splashed cold water over my face, but it didn't take away my red rimmed eyes or the weight on my chest. Frustrated with myself for not having control over my emotions at the moment, I grabbed a face towel and wiped my face with it. My nose was runny as well and I could feel that my eyes were swollen. I couldn't remember the last time I had felt this way.
As I gulped down a cup of water, my mind floated back to Liyah.
Liyah.
Knowing her name now only made me feel worse about everything. Why had I been so full of hate, blinded so deeply by regret that I had become this... inhumane. I wondered what Elle would think if she was here now. If I was this disappointed in myself, then I could imagine just how disappointed she would be in me. I had hurt an innocent woman for weeks, for a crime she didn't commit.
I buried my head in my hands, letting the pain and regret wash all over me. She
Liyah's POVMy lids were extremely heavy as I struggled to open my eyes and I could hear the sound of my breathing, which definitely was not a good thing. The day after he had put me into this room and assigned Margaret to take care of me, I had fallen very sick. I wasn't sure what the problem was and neither did Margaret but she brought in a new concoction for me to take every single day. Over time I started to feel a little better, but I wasn't strong enough to move around yet.Sometimes my eyes would open up a little and I would catch glimpses of Margaret, Annalise and a strange man looming over my sick bed. But I never stayed awake long enough to engage in conversation or ask questions. But I wasn't even sure I felt like it. I was just exhausted. Sometimes I'd wished I would fall asleep and not awaken the next day. I would be happier when all the pain finally ended. But my wishes never came true and so here I was.Sometimes the memory and pain of
Liyah's POVIt had been two weeks since I was declared free. I was fully recovered now, rarely caught a glimpse of the alpha, and I had been accompanying Margaret to wherever she was needed when there was an emergency. Everything was going... good, surprisingly. But I still couldn't help but feel like it was all too good to be true. I kept expecting something bad to occur like it always did when things were going too well in my life. Maybe it was because I was used to having bad things happen to me so I never expected my happiness to last. But so far nothing had transpired yet.Being a free woman felt... weird. I could go out whenever and wherever I wanted to, I didn't have to do any chores, and I didn't have to ask permission for anything from anymore. Sometimes I felt like I would get punished for it but when time passed and nothing happened, it began to dawn on me that it was real. I was no longer a prisoner. Everyone treated me like a person now, which was su
Liyah's POVI saw Eve get up from her bed as fast as a firecracker when she saw me walk into her bedroom. She ran toward me, her lips parted as though she wanted to say something but them she clapped them shut. When she got to where I was standing, she jumped up as far as he tiny legs could carry her and gave me a tight embraced. I squealed in surprise, holding on to her waist to keep her from falling."I was going to call out your name before the hug and then I realized I had no idea what it was," She said, pulling back for a few seconds to regard me strangely. "I am deeply sorry that I forgot to ask all this time," She frowned. "But if you aren't so mad at me for it then may I know now?"I decided that no one could deny just how adorable this little girl was."It's Liyah," I informed her, glad that I no longer had to keep it a secret.Her eyes widened. "My, what a beautiful name! She it suits you so well. Liyah," She repeated. "In my next l
Nikolai's POVI stopped dead in my tracks when I saw Liyah also sitting in the backseat of the truck. Before I could react, Eve had jumped forward to drag me by the arm and pull me towards the car."Yay!" She squealed. "You're thirty minutes late but I forgive you. We can get going now.""Wasn't it supposed to be just the two of us?" I asked, but she pretended like she didn't hear me and dragged mecri the other side of the truck. Sneaky little girl.The driver at the wheel greeted, then bowed when he saw me, attracting Liyah's attention. I saw the surprise on her face when she looked up to see me. I followed awkwardly as Eve unlocked the car door and clambered in, plopping herself comfortably between Liyah and I.I suddenly began to feel hot and I tried to ignore it but it only got worse. This was my car, my house. Why did I feel so uncomfortable and out of place? "Turn on the air conditioning," I commanded. When he did I began to
Liyah's POVIt was hard to keep a straight face when you were with Drew. Add Margaret and Annalise into the puzzle and you've got yourself a perfect day. I don't remember the last time I had laughed this much. I don't think I had ever laughed this much in my entire life. And it felt really good. My ribs were literally hurting. I was actually starting to feel like part of something... part of a family. With people who cared me, who supported me. Sometimes I would wake up thinking it was all a dream, and then to reassure myself that it wasn't, I would race to the nearest person's room, which happened to be Annalise. When she recognized me and was her usual nice self I would sigh in relief and go about my day like normal."I'm serious though," Drew said still laughing. "The last time I stayed up so late. My parents had no idea I had hid in a corner. When I saw them start to pile up the presents under the trees and in the stockings, I nearly had a heart attack."
Nikolai's POVI stood horrified at the entrance of the kitchen, my palm permanently glued to my forehead. I couldn't understand why I cared so much that I began to feel embarrassed. As if to make my point clearer, my face heated as Drew began to describe in detail how I used to chase him and Anna all over the garden with my booger fingers whenever they provoked me.When I heard Liyah gasp in disbelief and then start to giggle, I wanted to rush into the kitchen and clap a hand over Drew's mouth. Why did he have to tell all these embarrassing stories in front of her? Just why?"And it's so cool how you're all still very good friends," I heard her say.Brief seconds of awkward silence took over, and I could imagine them thinking of what to say."Well, we all grow up don't we?" I heard Drew laugh awkwardly, then silence ensued.My heart clenched as I turned away and started to walk back to my room, lest they walk out to me standing suspiciously at the door.
Liyah's POVIf I wasn't so scared of being bit by an insect, I would have sat in the grass and enjoyed the scenery. So I decided to walk instead although it was getting a little late. Margaret and I had made a little trip to the other side of town earlier today to treat some members of another pack who had gotten badly injured. I still wasn't used to the freedom, and so I told Margaret to go ahead. I wanted to take a little stroll, enjoy the scenery and such, before going back home. Now I was here, I didn't regret it one bit. I had never seen anything so beautiful, so refreshing. The lake, the small river, the meadow, the birds, the clean space. Everything about it was perfect.I started to worry when it began to get really dark. I had gone so deep into the woods that now I couldn't find my way out. Every path I took only led to a dead end, and I started to suspect that I was only moving around in circles."Oh no," I facepalmed as I came to another d
Liyah's POVTo say that I was shocked would be an understatement. Frankly, I was dumbfounded, and no matter how many times I gaped at Nikolai breaking the silver chains off the werewolves, I couldn't seem to get over it. When he was done, he made way for the two middle-aged women who were in charge of the hideout to clean and feed them, then make sure they were well rested.I saw him look away when our eyes met and I couldn't help but do the same. As I watched him walk out of the room and down the stairs, I began to think of possible reasons why he could be doing this. If there was anything I knew about him, it was how selfish and cold-hearted he was. So what was his motive? I wasn't going to argue the fact that it was a good deed. He was saving lives, restoring hope and happiness in these people when they thought they'd never again find it. He
EPILOGUEThe black-haired man who sat on a large ottoman fidgeting quickly sprang to his feet when he saw a middle-aged woman appear from the room directly opposite him. He had been wiping his clammy palms from time to time throughout his stay outside the room. At intervals he would shut his eyes in a silent prayer to the Goddess. His heart leaped in fear when she solemnly began to take off her gloves, and with his heart in his mouth, he waited for her to speak. But instead, her lips parted in a wide grin. "It's done. You can see them now."He raked a hand through his hair, smiling and then leaning in to accept the hug she was offering. "Jeez, Margaret. I was scared for a moment there."She only gave another chuckle. "Go on, they're waiting for you."He nodded shakily, walking into the room. His eyes first flew to the frail-looking woman laid out on the bed. She opened her eyes weakly when he walked in, smiling as she saw him. "Baby..." He whispered, quickly moving to her side. He t
Liyah's POVI tightened my arm over Nikolai's torso, leaning into him and not wanting to let go. I still felt eternally grateful to have him standing by my side alive and well. His wounds had been so bad that he had fallen unconscious for days. Margaret and I had to work day and night to treat him, mixing concoctions and applying them on him and the other man he had asked us to bring back with him. He still hadn't told us anything about the strange man. His wounds were nearly fatal, ten times worse than the ones Nikolai had sustained. I didn't know who he was but I was praying he would be okay. Nikolai chuckled and it sounded like music to my ears. It felt good to hear his laughter again. "Li, I know you love me and that you're happy to have me back, but now you've got me thinking you're planning to send me back into a coma."I laughed, loosening my hold on him. "Do you have any idea how long it's been since I touched you or even smelled your hair? Let me have my moment," I joked, pu
Nikolai's POVAs I waited with my eyes shut for a final blow that never came, it all happened at once. One second Jonas was staring at something on the other side of the garden, the next he had slumped to the floor, blood gushing from the hole in his forehead. Still in shock, I stared at Jonas' unmoving body on the floor through my heavy lids, and then I looked to the other end of the garden. That's when I saw her. Liyah dropped the gun from her hand, racing towards me in a split second. "Nikolai..." She breathed, placing a hand behind my head for support. "Drew and Annalise will be here soon, okay? I mindlinked them already. Just hold on..."I smiled, feeling my busted lip ache, but I didn't care. Liyah was here...leaning over me and smoothening out my hair. She was here...she was alive. And Jonas was dead. It felt like a dream. Everything had happened so fast, I wasn't even sure it had happened. My chest was burning, and everything was beginning to get blurry. But that was okay.
Nikolai's POVI could feel the heavy swelling in my right eye as I slowly regained consciousness. I knew I had only been knocked out for a few minutes but I could feel my head spinning. I clutched at the grass, trying to pull myself to my feet but my hands were too shaky. I fell back heavily onto the grass, expelling sharp breaths as my chest started to burn. A piercing scream made me look in the direction of the sound and I looked up to see Jonas digging his fangs into the other man's side. I gasped in shock, trying once more to stand to my feet. I had almost forgotten that the man called Gabriel had come to my rescue. As I tried to crawl over there, I saw Jonas ram his fists into Gabriel's face...over and over again until he finally stilled, his damaged face buried into grass as he fell from Jonas' grip.No, no, no."No!" I yelled, grabbing Jonas' attention to me. As long as he was yet to snap his neck off his shoulders, there was still hope. Maybe he could be saved. Jonas swung ar
Liyah's POVI counted my steps as Barbara and I circled each other, everything I had learned during training resurfacing in my head. I knew she was waiting for the perfect chance to strike, but for now she wanted to stall, make me wait before she came at me. I knew she was confident...the glint in her eyes and the way she was walking calmly as though she were strolling told me she was. And I knew it was because she didn't think I stood a chance against her. She didn't know I had a wolf now. That, was my advantage. She was confident enough that she thought I would be dead in a heartbeat. But she wanted to take her time, taunt me and toss me around before she could really enjoy tearing me into pieces. Which was why I played along. Since she didn't know I was a full werewolf now, why tell her? I would only wait. Wait for her to make a mistake. Then I would play my hand. "Oh, step sister, this will have to be the most interesting thing that has happened in this pack for a long time," S
Nikolai's POV'Nikolai?' My heart skipped a beat when Anna's voice filled my head in a mindlink. I stopped in my tracks, my breath caught in my throat, praying silently that she was about to deliver good news.'I can hear you Anna, what's up? Did you…' I paused, not knowing what exactly to ask. My insides churned as I waited for her response.'We've found Liyah, she's alright.' I felt my heart muscles loosen at the sound of those words, my clenched fists relaxed and I heaved a sigh of relief. Thank the goddess. Liyah was alive. She was safe. Everything would be alright now. 'Okay. That's very good.' I breathed'Drew says our soldiers have already rounded more than half of the Monhowl pack, a lot are dead and the few who are wounded are surrendering.' She sounded in my ears.I scoffed. So these were the best fighters of Monhowl. Pathetic.'Okay. I'll need you to help him gather all the prisoners, maybe into their dungeon or something then wait for my command.' I said and broke the m
Liyah's POVAs I sprinted out of the dungeons, I checked for any sign of life in the cells I passed, but there was no one present. I knew that most times Nanny Maria was either in the cells or in the servant quarters depending on which mood Mira was in. I needed to find her. She was the only member of this pack that I cared about. As I made my way up the passages where I knew she usually was, I prayed that she was still alive and well. I could feel the blood pump in my ears as I kicked the door down and stepped in. My heart fell. The room was empty. No, no. Where else could she be? "Maria!" I yelled into the deserted room. But there was no one around. My head spinning with different thoughts, I held onto the door to steady myself. Maria was alive. She is alive. And I was going to find her. I repeated the mantra in my head until I began to feel better. As I walked out the door, I heard someone sniff. I froze in my steps. It was short and ever so light. But I was sure I heard somethi
Nikolai's POVAnna held my hand in a light squeeze as we waited for Drew to arrive. He had already mindlinked us saying that he was close by. I nodded at her, understanding all she was trying to communicate to me. But I knew I would not be able to relax until Liyah was standing unharmed by my side. I signaled the pack to hide in the shadows as we heard footsteps approaching.Anna and I did the same. A few seconds later, a figure clad in a cloak slipped into the courtyard. My wolf growled but I held back. We needed to be calculative. As soon as he was in the middle of the hall, I stepped out. The spy staggered back in shock. As he made to escape, Drew pushed at him from behind, dealing him with a deathly blow before he could recover from the shock. As I walked toward the man who lay on the floor squirming and begging, I shifted to my elbow. He played a huge part in Liyah's abduction. He was part of the reason why she was not here with me. Kicking him up in the air, I held him forward
Drew's POVFear gripped my insides as I walked out of the study. I couldn't help but continuously blame myself. Why did we leave them both alone? We should have been around, at least we would have been able to stop them before they went too far. But we didn't. And now Nikolai would not stop blaming himself for everything. We were all at fault...we should have been more watchful. If a spy had slipped into our territory unnoticed, it was because we had all let our guard down whilst making preparations for the wedding and the engagement party. I tried to hold myself steady, looking in Nikolai's direction every now and then to make sure he was okay. I couldn't imagine how he must be feeling. As we halted at the entrance of the hall where he had ordered every single pack member to assemble, Nikolai stepped forward. He had already masked his expression as that of anger, and I marveled at how well he was keeping it together."A couple of minutes ago, I found out that my would-be Luna has be