Melody ReeseOne minute I couldn't keep my eyes open as I talked to Draven; the next I was back in our house, in our bed, covered up to my neck with the comforter. "She's awake!" I heard my mate's shout of relief, then felt his hands wrapping me in a warm hug. Then I opened my eyes, looking past his shoulder as the door burst open and Scarlet ran in, her shoulders slumping in relief when she looked at me.My father soon followed, sending a weak smile my way. "What's happening?" I asked, inhaling Draven's scent and letting it calm my racing nerves."You don't remember?" He pulled back, placing his hands on either side of my face as he gazed into my eyes. It was as if he were searching for something, something that he expected me to know, maybe."Remember what?" I asked, my throat itchy and dry. I cleared it, making his mom fetch water from the mini fridge in our bedroom."Don't overwhelm her; your magic was too much for her. She will remember after she has settled." His mother said, op
Draven Fox"I want to talk to her." Melody suddenly spoke while sitting up, her drowsy eyes directed at me."Who, Astra?" I asked, glancing at her father, who leaned on the dresser."Draven, do not test my patience." She spoke in a low, menacing voice, making me wonder what had changed. Could she have somehow known that Nancy had poisoned her? Did she have a recollection of what happened?"I don't know who you're talking about." I shrugged, watching as she turned to her father."Are you also going to pretend you don't know what I'm talking about?" She raised her eyebrows, shaking her head, when her father swept his hand over his face. Mom came back with a bowl of chicken soup and a spoon in her hand, flashing a smile at Melody, who put on a straight face."Feeling better?" Mom asked Melody, who just stared at her, not uttering a single word back."What did you do now?" Leave it to her to blame everything on me. She handed me the bowl, an understanding crossing in her eyes."When was t
Melody Reese"Pl-ease." Nancy's whimpers had my weak legs tingling, itching to deliver a kick to her mouth to make her shut up."It must feel so bad to know that you're a failure." I mocked when the guard inside unlocked the door following Draven's command. She was suspended in the middle of the cell, her hands tied with silver chains that were attached to the concrete above. Her clothes were torn, and her body was whipped, clawed, and bitten, allowing blood to trickle and pool on the ground beneath her.The cell reeked of iron, burnt flesh, ammonia, tears, and so many other things I didn't have the luxury to pinpoint. "Has she revealed who she's working with?" Draven asked the guard, who glared at Nancy and then punched her in the stomach. She winced, coughing blood mixed with saliva that trickled down her chest."She hasn't said a word, except beg." He replied, nodding at the alpha after they exchanged a word telepathically. He left, leaving us inside alone with her."Why did you wa
Draven Fox"Mom, do you know where dad's keeping his torture tools?" I asked after we were done eating, helping mom clear the table."Are you sure you want to take that path, Draven?" Instead of answering, she asked, emptying the left-over remains on the plates into the bin and then handing them to me as I loaded them into the dishwasher."What path?" I asked, leaning on the kitchen counter, when she stopped with the dishes."You once told your father that he enjoys spilling innocent blood and that you don't want to be like him." She reminded me of the day my father accused me of being lenient with Gwen. As it panned out, he had been correct all along."Now you want his tools? What changed?" She probed, a smile dancing on her lipstick-covered lips. I didn't understand what she found funny in our conversation."Nancy isn't innocent." I pressed my teeth together, forcing the words in between them."Neither were the people your father used his tools on." I didn't respond immediately, try
Melody ReeseMy chest constricted as I watched Draven walk away, his shoulders slumped and his gaze cast down. The sound of the door closing with a bang pulled me back to bitter reality. I had hurt him in front of his own mother and my mother. I had undermined our bond without a care, disregarding his love for me and his alpha position. But for my plan to work, it had to be done. I needed to make him angry and create tension between us so I'd have a reason to raise a barrier between our bond."As the luna, you just want to do what's good for the pack," his mother said, placing her hand on my shoulder as a tear passed past my eyelid, "but don't let it come between you and your bond." She finished, busing herself with the dishes."If I were you, I'd be running after him." Those were the only words my father uttered before fishing out his phone from his pocket. He furiously typed before looking at me with an emotion I couldn't identify. Then he spoke, his voice trembling before he covere
Draven Fox"Why?" I simply asked Nancy with the thumb crusher in my hand as Jones adjusted the tightness of the silver chains around her wrists. When I saw it previously, the device had two vertical, distance-spaced round bars, but a third one had been added, with the middle one containing threads for the screw. A rectangular metal bar was affixed to the top of the three bars. On top of it, another one with three holes was slung into the vertical bars, with space for fitting the fingers."I hate repeating myself, Nancy." I hissed lowly, my jaw ticking, when she coughed and spat blood, glaring at me with drowsy eyes."Big mistake." I roared, licking my lips as I anticipated hearing the sounds of her finger bones being crushed slowly in between the metal bars."You fucking bitch!" Jones wasn't patient; he backhanded her, sending her swaying in the air. She screamed when the movement made the silver chains burn further into her skin, leaving a hefty smell of burned skin."Hold her hand."
Melody ReeseI tried getting through Draven for the umpteenth time, but my attempts proved futile. The more the man ventured further into the woods, the more my heart beat in my ears, blocking any other sound. My senses weren't heightened since my wolf was knocked out. My limbs couldn't move either nor could I let out any sound. Every part of me except my eyes and my insides seemed to be paralyzed."You have such a delectable ass." The rogue made an hissing sound, sending my heart leaping in my throat. "It's too bad I was told to bring you to my master quickly." He, using his other hand to palm my ass. I closed my eyes, the contents in my stomach churning as his touch elicited nothing but disgust from me. "Been long since I fucked a mated she-wolf." He outright said. A cold wave washed over me as the hairs on the back of my neck rose and my mouth ran dry. I had never been in such an helpless situation in my life, not even when Nathan tied me to the dance pole and whipped me. At leas
Draven FoxAll the blood drained from my face as my heart leapt to my throat. Adrenaline kicked in, and the sheer intensity of it made me burst out through the glass window, sending shards of the broken glass everywhere. I landed gracefully on the ground below in my wolf form, sniffing around the grass until the scent led me to the backyard. With my wolf's snout lowered, almost touching the ground, I followed the invisible trail of my mate's unique scent over the fence and into the woods."Find anything?" My father mind linked; an edge in his voice was quite detectable even in my mind."There's a whiff of Melody's scent leading to the river." I responded, my wolf letting out a bark of frustration when we could no longer scent her anymore."Maybe she swam to wash her scent off." My wolf suggested, but before we could decide which direction to go, my father got back to us."I think I found something in the northern part of the pack, a short distance from the main entrance." Came my fath
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