MelodyThe aroma of hot cocoa, sausage, and freshly baked bread wafted into my nostrils as I stirred on the bed, patting around in search of Draven. I frowned but quickly relaxed, assuming that he was making the hot cocoa for me. Seconds after that, the door was pushed open, but it wasn't he who came in. I didn't have to sit up or open my eyes to know that it was the former luna and the only mother figure I had."Mom?" I called out, dragging myself up. I rubbed my closed eyes, then fluttered them open, blinking rapidly as I adjusted to the light."Good afternoon, honey." She cheerfully greeted, placing the tray in her hands on the bedside table."Afternoon?" I asked, my voice distorted as I yawned."Yes, you slept through the morning." She answered, moving to draw the curtains. I groaned when the light streamed in."Where's Draven?" I asked, licking my lips as I shifted my eyes to the tray. I couldn't decide which to eat first, the sausages or the bread."He had an early morning meeti
Draven Fox"What's the situation at the points we mapped out for entrance?" I asked my trackers via the mind link as we neared the Starfall pack. My wolf was already pushing, wanting out to deal with Nathan and anyone who stepped in our way. My magic, too, was right on the surface, and the grip on the steering worsened the tingle in my hands to snap, clap and throw balls of fire at the enemy."Clea-r." One of them answered in an almost unnoticeable stutter. Mason wasn't with them; we had left the pack without him because any attempt to find him had proved futile. We couldn't locate him anywhere, but the attack couldn't stop because he wasn't there. Yes, he was the best tracker I had ever seen, even though he was now my gamma, but like they say, time waits for no man."What is it?" I asked the trackers, sensing unrest among them."Something doesn't feel right." One answered, making my eyes squint as I stopped my car. We hid them from sight in the neutral woods, as far as we could get w
Melody Reese"Mason." I tried shaking him to wake him up as quietly as I could without Nathan noticing. He was busy engraved in a phone call a few yards away from where he had tied up Mason against a tree. He was totally incapacitated, and I couldn't help but feel they had drugged him because he had no significant injuries that I could see.EarlierAfter dinner, I was feeling quite exhausted, and my head was heavy with sleep. I didn't want to give in because I couldn't stop thinking about Draven and the possible danger he was facing. I missed him so much and could only pray to the goddess to keep him safe. Before he left, he explained that he would cast another spell on me that would keep me from accessing his thoughts, just to keep me from worrying too much for the safety of our child."Draven will come back to you, possibly by sunrise." The former alpha assured as he sat on the opposite side of the dining table."Jaxon's right; I know my son, honey. He will come back." Scarlett seco
Draven FoxHolden drove me straight to my house, a feeling I couldn't quite get rid of nagging me in the back of my mind. After Nathan's call, it took several warriors to get me off Jones as I dragged him out of the car, holding him by the scruff of his neck. Not even the years we had spent together as close friends could stop my hand from going around his neck.Alpha, please, we have more pressing matters to attend to. If we are to catch Nathan, every damn second matters." It was Caleb who spoke, and the mention of Nathan made me loosen my hold on Jones, whose face had begun turning pale. He didn't even try to fight back or flare his hands to get me to loosen my grip around his neck. It seemed he knew his fate and welcomed it; fortunately for him, catching Nathan was more important."I will deal with you when this is over." I let him go, but not before delivering a solid knee to his abdomen that brought him down to his knees."Paralizzare." I snapped my fingers, rendering him paralyz
MelodyNathan recovered quickly after managing to control the damage the protection spell Draven had cast upon me caused. I couldn't help but wish him death for kidnapping Mason and me. Nathan realized quickly that my fear and the thought of being in danger were the ones activating the spell, so he threatened again to kill Mason if I didn't try as much as I could to avoid triggering the spell. In order to save Mason's life, I had no choice but to push down my fear, masking it with worry and the urge to see my mate. When I did as he asked, he finally gave me a shot of achenka, lulling me into a comma."This is the best gift you could ever give me." I could make out Nova's voice just as water splashed over my head, making the scratches on my exposed skin sting. I was suspended by my hands on bars that were attached to the ceiling by chains. My toes were barely touching the creaky wooden floor of Nathan's basement. Any movement made the silver chains rub on my already broken and burned w
Draven FoxMy lips stretched into a full grin when I felt as if a light beam was directed at my soul, warming it up. It was unexplainable—the feeling of my heart soaring and my chest stirring as I listened to the two heartbeats. They were steady, fast, and so emotionally evocative that everyone found themselves lost in them.Melody let my arms go around her as she laughed in tears, shaking her head repeatedly. She was simply on cloud nine, floating all the way through as she experienced the first audible heartbeat of our child. "You are just perfect for me." I didn't know what appropriate thing to say at that moment; I just said what crossed my mind."As you are." She replied, snaking her arms around my neck. A tap on my shoulder had me growling, but my parents didn't move back. They wanted to hug Melody too, and as much as I didn't want to let go of her, I knew they would keep bugging me. Holden sat beside Mason, handing him a bottle of water that even I had no idea where he had gott
Melody Reese"I never imagined I would sit in Nathan's dining room, eating without looking around, worried for my life." I said, shifting closer to Draven when he twirled a fork around spaghetti for me. He insisted on feeding me after Scarlett had prepared spaghetti and meatballs, courtesy of Nathan's pantry and freezer."Weren't you allowed to?" Draven asked in a hiss, urging me to open my mouth. The flavors exploded in my mouth, making me close my eyes as I savored the hearty meal."Nathan didn't like finding me seated here. I was required to be in our bedroom at all times, either positioned around the dance pole or on the bed, dressed skimpily. If he found me, I would be punished by getting bound on the dance pole and getting whipped." The sound of a fork falling on the plate with a clang had me lifting my eyes across the table.The former alpha had his face set into a scowl while his hands clenched into fists on top of the table. "How long?" He hissed."Not long." I answered, my c
Draven Fox"It is time, Mason." I told him when my parents brought him downstairs. Nothing about our short fuck session was spoken about by either Mason or my parents, and I was glad."Surely you must want to avenge the kidnapping." He mumbled, hanging his head.Oh, I do, but a deal is a deal, Mason. And as your alpha, I intend to keep it that way." I assured.Look, Mason, it really doesn't matter who takes his life, as long as we get rid of him and live peacefully." Melody said, pressing her petite body to my side with her arms hooked around my bicep. The blush from our quickie was still evident on her face, reminding me of how hot she felt inside."Melody is going to miss her appointment with the doctor back at the pack if you don't hurry up." My father chimed in, clapping his hands to get us to move out of the house."That can wait," Melody said.No, it can't. We need to make sure you are okay, and so is the life inside of you." He argued back, ushering us out.God, he's literally
Third POVTwo Years LaterDraven and Melody heaved consecutive sighs of relief after their twins finally fell asleep. They had tried everything for hours to get Astra Mae Fox and her brother Knox to sleep, including massage, swaying, and singing lullabies. Only when they contacted Scarlett did they get a complete guide, which worked within minutes. Now they had to tiptoe around and make little to no noise, so the twins couldn't wake up."Stubborn babies." Draven whined in a low voice, sleeping on his back on their bed, eyes tightly closed."I almost cried." Melody confessed, making Draven chuckle lightly, before he got a slap on his arm."Lower your voice. If you wake them up, I swear I will run out of this house and leave you alone with them." Melody sternly stated in a low voice, glaring at Draven as she lied beside him."I didn't think putting a baby to sleep would be so haard." Draven exaggerated the word 'hard' making Melody roll her eyes even though she knew so well what he was
Melody Reese"Mmh." Draven swallowed my low moan in the kiss, deepening it and making my heart beat fiercely. His lips were salty sweet, moving against my cold ones, warming them as the intensity increased. It felt like days since we had a true slow kiss without any worry of lurking enemies or evil plans being plotted against us. His fingers combed through my hair, his touch completely pulling me into a pool of desire."Goddess, you taste so good." He rasped against my lips when he pulled away, his eyes roaming over my face."And you look so inviting right now." He added in an evident rasp, using his other hand to swipe a thumb gently over my lower lip. I was at a loss for words, just drinking in his riveting features and wanting more of him."I would have loved to fuck you right here right now, but..." He trailed off."But?" I raised an eyebrow, almost challengingly, as I shifted on the hospital bed."We are in the infirmary, in one of the check-up rooms." He clarified, looking aroun
Draven FoxI couldn't count how many handshakes and condolences I received from my pack members after the ceremony. My mother had whisked Melody away the moment it was all over, leaving me to interact on their behalf, citing that stress wasn't good for Melody. There was still a part of me that didn't want to accept that nana was gone and that it could have been prevented. Had I listened to Melody from the start about not trusting Jones with Mercy, Astra would still be alive."You cannot blame yourself when fate happens." My father's voice invaded my mind, snapping me back to reality. It looked like I had greeted the last few pack members absentmindedly."I am not blaming myself." I replied in a harsh tone, pocketing my hands in my slacks."I know you, son; I can see it written on your face." He insisted.I sighed, "Fine. But can you judge me, though? I was supposed to know something wasn't right with Jones the moment he started conniving against us." I pulled out my hand from my pocke
Melody ReeseDespite every attempt to keep Draven off my mind, the state of his mom, and Jones all together, I still found myself pacing around in the sitting room. My eyes kept darting toward the front door, praying for my mate to push it open. As if the goddess had decided to respond to my prayers instantly, the door knob moved. I halted, folding my hands together as if saying thank you, and looked as the oaken door was pushed open."Draven!" I squealed, running toward him when he finally stepped in, a very large, telling smile gracing his handsome face. He spread his arms, but before I threw myself on him, a scent, even though weaker than his usual masculine one, hit my nostrils. I put on breaks, standing just a few steps from him as my eyes roamed around his body, inspecting him for any injuries."Melody?" His brows shot up, his shoulders rising up in question."Is he..." I trailed off after the realization that it wasn't his blood dawned on me. A relief washed over me as I exhale
Draven FoxAfter cutting the mind link with an overly excited Melody after hearing the news of where Jones was, we spread out. We planned to approach Mercy's home from different directions so that if Jones escaped, we would have extremely high chances of catching him. It was a solid plan, one that we kept just between the three of us, Holden, Mason, and me. I wasn't about to tell my warriors and risk Jones getting wind of it. At that moment, he was an enemy—a dangerous, traitorous one that needed to be tamed."How come Mercy's parents just let him stay there?" Mason asked via the mind link, positioned a few meters north of the two-story house."They are not there. They left the pack the moment they heard what their daughter had done," I answered, crouching low behind tall grass a few steps after the tree line on the back of the house. The lights were off, and except for sounds made by small animals, it was extremely silent. That meant that we had to be extra stealthy; otherwise, Jones
Melody ReeseI threw the covers off and sat up, putting my hands above my head. Time seemed to have stagnated; the howls subsided, and uncomfortable silence reigned. I didn't know how long I had slept, but there was still daylight streaming through the window. My heart was still heavy, and I could feel the puffiness around my eyes without even touching or looking. It was still surreal how so much chaos could take place in just one day.Throwing my legs over the edge of the bed, palms on the mattress, and forearm facing forward, I sat there for a few seconds, finding some bearing. The ache Draven had caused between my legs was still there. My clit was still throbbing, begging to be relieved, but I attempted to ignore that and let my feet finally touch the area rug on the floor."When will this be over?" I talked out loud, heaving a prolonged low sigh as I thought about going downstairs to the kitchen. I was craving cocoa since I hadn't taken it earlier. I couldn't feel Draven's emotion
Draven Fox"Any report?" I asked Holden when I joined him in the search minutes later. My heart constricted at the thought of leaving Melody alone, but it had to be done that way."None; it's like he disappeared into thin air." There must be somewhere he was hiding and something he was using to hide his scent. Without a scent, it was almost impossible to track and locate him."He knows this pack like the back of his hand. He must have a hideout; we just have to figure out where." Holden added when I remained silent. I was trying to come up with a way to smoke him out, but it was proving hard because my mind was a mess with nana's passing and Melody's state."He told me he did it for power." I suddenly said, trying to let my mind cool down."I know; he told me the same. You said I was your favorite, and that's why you chose me to be your beta when you demoted Nova." The tone of his voice didn't change. It remained even, barely depicting an emotion."You don't seem affected." I pressed.
Melody Reese"I can help you catch him." I blurted it out once we got inside the house, after Draven pulled me in while looking around."Absolutely not!" He replied instantly, looking at me as if I had become mad."He wants me; why don't you let him think he can get me?" I insisted, crossing my fingers that he would agree."You are nuts if you think I am letting you out of this compound. Nothing will make me break that spell unless it is Jone's headless body." He stated, throwing me over his shoulder, then began walking towards the stairs."What was that for?" I complained when he slapped my ass, sending shivers down my spine, but I wasn't about to admit that I loved it."For daring to risk your life and our babies." He nonchalantly answered before adding another one that stung but soon was replaced by sparks of pleasure when he began rubbing the spot."But it will work, I know." I argued, biting my lower lip, when he spanked me two times without any pause in between. They were fast a
Draven FoxI stood in nana's backyard, looking at her lifeless body, as my mother cradled her head in her lap. She wasn't crying; no, she was staring at space, rocking back and forth as if her mind was slowly processing everything. Then she began mumbling the healing spell; it was almost as if she was slowly losing her mind without knowing it."Let go, mom." I said in a broken voice, my Adam's apple forcefully bobbing up and down over the lump that had formed."No, no, no." She whispered, then threw her head backwards and, in human form, let out an extremely loud howl that carried with it the pain of losing someone so special to her. Almost after that, dad howled behind me, and the elders that he seemed to have gathered joined him too, and they howled to the moon goddess together.As I listened to them and looked at my nana, it almost felt like I was in a frozen state. My mind was still processing what my eyes were seeing and my ears were hearing. Then, with a slight push inside of me