VENITA:"Finally, the family reunion!" Clay mocked."Shut it!" my father snared.I couldn't recognize the man who stood before me. Everything was different about him and the hint of his eyes that could see had lost the warmth I knew, replaced by total coldness."How are you here? You're alive. How long?" I rapidly asked, not pausing to breathe. I was overwhelmed with thoughts. Couldn't narrow down the feelings that swelled within me."I take it that's my granddaughter," he pointed at Sasha, ignoring what I said. "And that's the lucky man? The one you threw everything away for? One you couldn't avenge your us for? Your mother would be ashamed of your life choices Venita," he scolded.What was he driving at? His words didn't make sense to me. He moved to his left side at the far dark end. There he dragged a worn-out stool and sat. "This is a night of confession, Venita since this is the end for him."There was something mean and certain about what he said. It hurt in the depths of my sou
VENITA:His words broke my heart. That a man I thought I knew never loved me. All the memories I had in my head were lies. I wasn't sure what I knew anymore. It means that it wasn't just Clay and Mirage who were watching Sasha and me. My own father watched too, keeping tabs and comfortably enjoying my pain without stepping in. He wanted me to be a killer out of anger. Thank Goodness I failed him."So, because you were about to put two cells together to create something, that makes you feel like a god. Newsflash, you're nothing special. I too can do that. And, what do you mean you created me? As far as I'm concerned, ruining the life of an innocent girl by messing up her genetics doesn't sound like creating anything to me. It's okay if you never loved me. There was mum who truly did and I'm okay knowing that.""Let me tell you worthless disappointment how it all happened. I was thinking about keeping and rebranding you. But, there is no need for that. So, listen carefully as my voic
VENITA:My Dad raised his gun. “Oh, he’s awake. Nice of you to join the party, sleeping beauty.”“I don't care who you are. But, I will hunt you and every member of your goons down. You don't want to be on my bad side.”“Oh, I'm scared,” he mocked. “Nice to see you too, Landon, it's been a while.”Landon went quiet, taking a moment to figure out who stood before him. “You?“Yes, me. Surprise! Surprise! I didn’t die. And, don't worry. You're paralyzed even though you're awake and would be like that for at least the next eight hours until I put you in your cage like the nice little puppy you are.”“I'm not a puppy, you sickhead. I'm a wolf!” he howled.“Just shush. You're interrupting the story time I was having with your mate. Where were we? Oh,” he waved his gun and went back to sit, sliding the barrel across his forehead as if he were lost in deep thought. “Now I remember. Well, you were born a healthy baby girl. After a while, you started getting sick. I was the only one that
LANDON:It was as if I was present in the room but my soul was fading away. My insides were crushing in pain; each organ feeling like someone ripped them out of place and held them in their hands while still connected to me, crushing it. My head spun and I kept hearing laughter in my head, making me feel like something wasn't right. It was like invisible whispers saying things only I couldn't understand anything as they were incoherent. The laughter got louder, making it hard to focus on what was real, and I felt like I was on the edge of losing my mind.Each time I tried to open my eyes, it hurt and I couldn't move any part of my body as they were stiff. I was an Alpha. I was Landon Kurt. I needed to get my family out of this. Slowly, I began to lift my hand. It was hard work and painful but I had to. That was the only thing that I needed to do, to bring sensation to my hand and therefore cause myself pain to wake up my brain. Countless attempts and I failed. I couldn't even succ
VENITA:The distant screaming of my name and angry howls around me slightly woke me up. It forced my unconsciousness to slip away and I lightly opened my eyes. At the same time, I felt pain in different parts of my body, it faded like it was never there. My breathing was faint.“Oh mine, no! Landon! Medical! Get here now! The Alpha is down!” Ashley looked at Landon’s chest, blood gushing out. She pressed her hand over the wound, trying to stop it from bleeding. “Son!” Ashley looked up to see Michael standing above them. “No! Landon please, no!” Tears streamed down Ashley's cheeks. “I’m sorry! I’m sorry. I never got to tell you…we love you!” There was chaos all around them. The Medical team rushed into the scene with oxygen masks, and a stretcher, and Dr. Grant dashed to Landon’s side, leaving me with some other Dr. Another Dr. went to Sasha. “His pulse is very weak…we’re going to lose him!” Dr. Grant shouted to his team. “Please, Ashley, make way. We’re going to do the best we can.
VENITA:It was a nightmare. Simeon getting shot. Sasha and Landon getting put out and my father laughing wickedly in my face. I scrambled up, all sweaty. My body felt heavy as if I had been in a wrestling match. "You're awake, Venita," Dr. Grant said as he casually checked my IV and proceeded to check my vitals. "Yes, I am," I mumbled, feeling more energetic. Memories came in waves and I began to cry. I killed Simeon. Her parents lost their precious daughter because of me. They will never see her. How would I ever forgive myself for this? "Where is Sasha and Landon?" I asked, looking around. I recognized the room. It was the same one I had woken up in the night I transformed. We were obviously back at Landon's house in his hospital. Dr. Grant gathered his things and stood from the edge of my bed that he was sitting on. "Sasha is fine. All her vitals are okay. She's just asleep from the stressful experience. I'm sorry she had to witness all that. None of what happened is your fault
LANDON:I was falling. Slipping down a long slope. No, I was plummeting through the air, like I had jumped out of a plane without a parachute. “Landon, please wake up. Please fight.” The voice…it sounded familiar. It was soothing to hear. Venita? Memories rushed back. Yes, I was going to see her again. My Mate. “I need you. I do.” A spark of electricity jolted through me. What was that? “I love you.” She loves me? Leave you? No, I would never leave you, Venita. But I saw you get shot in my presence. Falling, falling, dropping and tumbling down. Wait, this was all wrong. Venita. Venita. “Venita!” I called out, my hand grasping air. My eyes flew open. “Landon?”“Venita?” My voice was weak and raspy, my vision was blurry, but I knew that voice anywhere. “You’re…Venita…” Softly callused hands wrapped around mine. “Yes, I’m here, Landon.” “I don’t understand…” I tried to get up but felt dizzy. “No, don’t get up! Please, just stay down and rest. Do you want something? Water?” She wa
LANDON:It took little to no time for me to get back on my feet. It has been two weeks since the incident and finally, we had the courage to attend Simeon's funeral. It broke my heart seeing Venita cry and Simeon's parents too. I wish I could pay that bastard a one-time visit and kill him myself for hurting an innocent person. I sent back Mirage's corpse to Thronesman and from what I heard, he has been making a fuss. Last night, I burnt Clay's body on the outskirts of the border linking my pack to his old pack. What a worthless piece of shit.For a change, I summoned the council to announce the adjustment of things within the pack and the new rules. Also, I have a surprise for everyone. When it's safe, we will take Sasha to mingle with her roots and tell her the truth about Venita and myself. Since things were unstable, I had Emily and Aurora with the guards watch her as Venita and myself planned to visit the council, having rested after the funeral.Dressed and ready, I was waiting f