Layla POVIt is so dark I don't know if it's day or night or how much time has elapsed since Sasha and Isaac left. Silent tears run down my face; I want the pain to stop. Drifting in and out of consciousness, I don't hear when my tormenters return. Sasha slaps my face, “Wake up, Layla.” Opening my eyes slowly, I mumble,“Kill me and get it over with, Sasha.” She steps back, her face filled with contempt, and snarls, “I am so disappointed in you, Layla; I thought you would put up more of a fight. But then you always were weak, weren't you?” My heart and mind are numb; I don't care anymore. Sasha picks up a bottle containing wolfsbane. Isaac holds my head tightly; Sasha lifts the bottle to my mouth, laughing as she pours the liquid down my throat. I don't fight them, choking and sputtering; I swallow the burning liquid. She snorts in disgust and screams. "Your fucking pathetic, Layla.” Then storms from the room; Isaac chases after her, “You can't just leave her there, babe.” Sh
Nicole POVWe reach the outskirts of Michael's territory late in the afternoon. We have been dodging rogues all day; it didn't take the bastards long to sense there wasn't an Alpha in this area anymore. Monique, Simone, and two of the Jackson warriors separate from our group; they must get as close to the town center as they can without being seen. Marian Diana, myself, and the last two warriors continue toward the mountain.When we stop at the mountain's base, Marian turns to Diana and me and says,“We need to reach the top of the mountain before dark.” The plan is to reach the top before nightfall to give us a better view if anyone approaches the cave. We need to be cautious if Sasha and Isaac see us; the general census is that they won't hesitate to kill Layla before we can reach her. We haven't stopped running all morning; it's so hot; sweat runs down my face stinging my eyes; our clothes cling to our skin. When we come across a small stream, we stop for five minutes, washing ou
Layla POV Stashing the syringes in my pocket, I picked up the wolfsbane bucket and waited patiently as they got closer; when Sasha and Isaac entered the room, I threw the contents in their faces. Their screams echoed through the cave as they fell to the ground, trying desperately to wipe the wolfsbane off their skin. I smile down at them; this is only a tiny amount of pain that they deserve; a chuckle escapes me as I watch them writhing in agony; Lea’s voice whispering in my mind jerks me out of my trance, “Get him first, Layla.” I take my time as I sink slowly onto Isaac’s chest; his eyes widen in fear as I smirk and push the syringe full of wolfsbane into his heart. Out of the corner of my eye, I could see Sasha as she stumbled to her feet; when her legs gave out, she started to crawl on her hands and knees, trying to escape. I stayed where I was, relishing in the feeling of power that rippled through me as the light left Isaac's eyes; he was dead. I rose to my feet, whispering t
Leon POVI had just arrived at Michael's territory when Jackson's mind linked to mine, “We are on our way down.”I growl through the link,“You rescued the girl.’ He was silent for a few minutes before he answered,“We didn't need to. Laya saved herself before we could get to her.” Lucian is standing on the porch of the packhouse questioning two young warriors,“Where is my fucking son?” They put their heads down, whimpering, as he raises his voice. “I won't ask again, Tate, where is the worthless prick.” Tate's voice trembles with fear as he answers,“Sasha and Isaac left this morning. He said he had something to take care of.”Lucian growls, punching the boy in the face as he screams,“I told you to keep him away from that fucking whore. Get the fuck out of my sight.” The two warriors scramble to their feet, running away from Lucian. I mind link Jackson back, “Lucian’s barely controlling his rage down here; what the fuck is taking you so long?””Just do what I say, Leon, and
Layla POV Watching Alec jump out of the SUV and run toward mom and Jackson was so hard. I will never have a child of my own; my undoing was the unconditional love in their eyes as they clung to each other. I walk back into the office, closing the door as I enter and sit at the desk; I can't stay here forever; I only need five minutes to compose myself before I go back out there. Mind linking Marian, I ask, “Can you come to the office, please?” Marian taps on the door before entering. I raise my eyebrows at her, “Really, Marian, you knocked?” She chuckles as she takes a seat, asking. “What’s wrong, sweetheart?.” “I need to send wolves back to Lucian's territory.” “Ok, so how do you wish to handle it.” “I am not going to force them to come here. The wolves will have a choice to accept me as their Alpha or stay where they are as rogues.” She raised her eyebrows questioningly when she asked, “You are not going to claim Lucian's territory?” I shake my head “no” the id
Layla POV I roll over and look at the clock, groaning when I see it's only four am. I climb out of bed and go to the bathroom for a shower. I throw on a pair of leggings, sports bra, hoodie, and sneakers before going outside into the crisp morning air. The town is quiet; everybody is still in their beds; I don't need much sleep anymore. Jogging for an hour in the morning helps clear my mind before the day begins. We haven't got any younger pups; Zach said many of them didn't survive living as rogues. Jackson's mind-linked mum last night; he and Marian will be back today with another two hundred and fifty wolves. I will now have five hundred wolves in my pack; we have more than enough houses to accommodate everyone. Monique and Simone leave after training this morning; they will be traveling to the city to pick up the security cameras I ordered. All the wolves will be at the arena at six am; they will be assessed for their strengths or weaknesses, even if it takes all day. The ligh
Amy POV I woke up in tears, my hair and body drenched in sweat. Layla was in the dark; I could feel her pain, and a knife pierced my stomach. My hand clutched my chest as severe pain ripped through me. Then I saw Layla walking out of a cave covered in blood; she was surrounded by wolves. Layla needs me, and nothing will stop me from going to her. I climb out of bed, rush to the shower, and get dressed. Drew stirs when I grab a bag out of the walk-in and hastily throw some clothes in it. He looks at me sleepily, trying to focus, then asks, “What are you doing, sunshine?” I fall in love with Drew a little more every time he calls me that. I stop what I am doing and sit beside him on the bed. The only people that know I have these dreams are Layla and Drew. “Layla’s in trouble, Drew.” He frowns as he asks, “What, how do you know that, Amy?” “I had another dream, Drew; this time, Layla was covered in blood; she was in so much pain. Then I saw her walking through Michael's territ
Layla POV I am glad Amy is here; she has always been the one I went to when things got tricky. I haven't told anyone else what Sasha and Isaac did to me in the cave. I giggle, watching Amy sleep; when drool runs down her chin. Amy has always been a late riser, so I climb out of bed, trying not to disturb her, and go for my morning jog. The last four weeks have flown by; Brea is a marvel with computers; I have put her in charge of our IT department, and she has three shifts of six wolves. We now have twenty-four-hour surveillance seven days a week. The barracks for the warriors have been started; every member of my pack is expected to work regardless of rank. I had three Beta’s, so I named Sebastian my fourth. Dillan, Tiffany, and two wolves, Ashton and Bella, previously from Lucian’s pack, are my gammas. I needed to ensure my pack members were safe if I had to leave for any reason. Zach is waiting for me as I jog to the packhouse; I smirk when I see Diana and Sebastian standing cl
Darius POV Ellie and Beth have just turned five, and watching my daughters interact with the other children in our pack never ceases to surprise me. Whenever the older pups get into an argument, you can guarantee that Ellie is standing in the middle of them, trying to calm everyone down. Beth always stands beside Ellie with her fists clenched, ready to step in if anyone gets too close to her sister. We always knew Ellie would be our diplomat; her calming nature can diffuse just about any situation in which the girls may find themselves. If Ellie can't get through to the other pups, you can guarantee Beth; our warrior, will take control and step in. Beth watches her mother train with the warriors every afternoon, mimicking Layla’s movements; we are trying to delay letting her train with the older pups. But it is getting harder and harder to refuse her, especially when we know what our daughter's future holds for them. Ellie and Beth are highly protective of their little brother; they
Layla POVAll the pups that Willow brought with her now have homes; it never ceases to amaze me how quickly children can adapt to new surroundings. Willow and Riley have marked each other. Willow is a beautiful she-wolf with a loving nature; Riley and Willow are perfect for each other. Darius and I are on our way to my territory; Anita has gone into labor, and Diana is there, but both Zach and Anita have asked if I could be with her in case Zach passes out as Drew did. Our baby is due in a couple of weeks; I feel like a baby elephant these days; my feet are swollen most days, and getting up off the floor never ceases to have Ellie and Beth giggling uncontrollably. We have everything set up for when our pup arrives; I don't mind admitting that I have told Diana to bring any pain relief she can get her hands on when my time comes. I smile when we pull up out front of the packhouse; Zach's pacing frantically in the front yard; he turns toward us and approaches the truck opening my door
Darius POV I wake up in a foul mood; my eyes feel like someone has tipped a bucket of sand in them. Layla is sound asleep beside me; I untangle my body from hers and throw a pair of jeans on before going downstairs. No sound comes from the loungeroom where the pups and Willow are sleeping. I go to the kitchen and make a coffee before going to my office. I go to stand when I hear footsteps getting closer to my office; the door opens, and my eyes widen in shock when Riley enters and sprawls out on the couch opposite me. He rakes his hand through his hair as he says, “I need to talk to you.” I smirk at him and reply, “That's obvious, or you wouldn't be here this morning.” He shakes his head and chuckles nervously as he says, “I need your advice.” I groan, “Please don't tell me you have gotten one of the she-wolves you sleep around with pregnant.” Riley snorts as he says, “If only it were that simple.” I frown; this is serious; it looks like I am not the only one who
Layla POV It had only been a couple of weeks since Soren, Nathan, and Teena came to our territory. It's early on a Saturday morning, Darius and I are still in bed, our pack run was the previous night, and as always, after our packs ran together, we had a bbq. It was a bit of a struggle getting so many wolves in one place, but somehow we always managed to pull it off. Since it's not safe for pregnant females to shift, I waited at home with Ellie, Beth, Amy, Abbie, and the younger members of our packs. Darius and I usually lead the run, he wanted to stay at home, but I didn't see the sense of both of us missing out on one of the things we loved. We have added two toddler beds in the nursery for Ellie and Beth; Darius and I are lying in bed arguing over baby names; we have only just agreed on Bohdi as a boy's name. Choosing a girl's name is becoming impossible. I chuckle when I hear the pitter-patter of two pairs of feet as they run toward us. Ellie and Beth have started climbing int
Layla POV I froze when Teena stood up and went to follow me inside. Did I want this woman in my home? Lea’s voice entered my mind as she said, “Teena and Soren won't harm Ellie and Beth.” I nod and motion her to follow me; Alec is playing with the girls in the lounge room. I pick Ellie up. Teena looks at me and asks, “Can I pick this little one up?” I can see the shock in Darius’s eyes when I say “Yes” Lea had already told me Teena was a witch; as long as she wasn't here to harm my babies, I couldn't care what species she was. When we entered the kitchen, Teena said, “You are pregnant. Would you like to know if you are having a boy or girl?” I shake my head and answer, “No, Darius and I are happy to wait until our pup arrives.” She nods, helping Diana, Abbie, and I carry the food to the porch. Darius has already taken the girl's chairs outside; mom pulls a chair close to her and narrows her eyes at Alec as she says, “Behave yourself, or you will be eating inside
Darius POV We knew Soren and his companions were coming; our patrols spotted them two days before they reached our border. I mind-linked our warriors and told them not to stop him from crossing the border. Alec, Beth, and Ellie were to remain inside the house with Diana and Abbie while they were here until told otherwise. Sebastian was staying on Layla’s territory with her wolves. Everyone was to remain on high alert in case of any trouble, we weren't expecting any, but it was better to be safe than sorry. Lea has already alerted Layla that Alpha Soren would arrive within the next thirty minutes. Layla has set up a meeting area on the porch, she refuses to allow him to enter our home. Zach, Riley, Jackson, Nicole, Leon, and Kyra are already here, and Drew and Amy are on their way over now. Its have been raining non-stop since yesterday, so they would have to walk a fair distance up the mountain; my patrol mind links me and says, “They have pulled the cars off the road and coming
Soren POV The wolves Teena let into my territory have been here for two days; they have recovered from the wounds, and I intend to speak to them today. Teena and I have been in my office since dawn; she sits opposite me, holding a cup of coffee in both hands. I lean back in my chair and cross my arms over my chest and ask, “What did you see?” She frowns as she says, “Nathan was an Alpha before he came here; he has made terrible mistakes in his past and is trying to compensate for the hurt he has caused the ones closest to him.” I nod, looking at her; Teena seems tired. I growl before saying, “And you still want to claim him as your mate?” She nods her head “Yes” and replies, “Everybody makes mistakes, Soren; you know that.” I snort, “That may be so, but it's too dangerous for you to leave here without me.” She chuckles as she says, “Mark my words Soren; Nathan will denounce his title as Alpha and stay here with me.” I roll my eyes at her and say, “Your very con
Layla POVIt's been a couple of days since Josie’s visit. Darius and I have been awake for hours, I get out of bed, and as soon as I place my feet on the floorboards, the room starts spinning. I run to the bathroom, kneel in front of the toilet, and empty the contents of my stomach. I groan, resting my head in my hands until the room stops spinning. I use the vanity to pull myself off the floor and step gingerly into the shower turning the water on so I can have a shower. I stay under the water until I feel better and wrap a towel around myself as I leave the bathroom.Darius is resting against the headboard of the bed with a frown on his face as he asks,“Are you ok, sweetheart, your not making yourself sick worrying about what Josie said?” I sit beside him and rest my head against his shoulder as I say, “Maybe I don't know Darius?”He wraps his arms around me as he whispers, “I wasn't joking when I said I would kill anyone who hurt our girls, Layla.” I sigh, looking up at him, a
Alpha Soren I haven't had anything to do with my family for years; I left home at sixteen and have remained hidden for the last twenty years. The politics of my brother's court sickens me; I had many wolves loyal to me and have built my pack from two thousand wolves to five thousand wolves; we choose to stay hidden. My brother has no idea where I am, and I intend to keep it that way. My brother Phillipe is an evil prick and wouldn't hesitate to kill my mate and my children if he knew our whereabouts. I wrap my arms around Tatiana, holding her close to my chest as the sobs wrack her petite frame; I can smell the fear seeping from her as she murmurs, “What are we going to do, Soren?” I kiss the top of her head as I reply, “I will never let anyone hurt our daughter Tatiana.” My sister Teena has just placed Octavia in her cradle; she smiles at me sadly as she leaves my bed chamber. Octavia is a beautiful baby. She will grow into a beautiful woman just like her mother; the corners