Melody Reese"How did it go?" Draven asked, massaging my feet gently as we sat in the backyard, enjoying the afternoon sun. "Good." I lied, shifting on the sofa to place my feet more comfortably on his lap, while I sipped on the glass of white wine. "You know you can't lie to me babe." He moved his head to the side."Spill it." He added, making me let out a loud sigh."I don't want to talk about it." I curtly said, shaking my head when memories about what happened that morning forced themselves in my mind. I had tried so hard to block the thoughts, or the entire cold treatment I got from dad."Then let me in your thoughts." Without arguing I lowered the barrier, closed my eyes and let him in. His hands on my toes felt so good, neutralizing the burning feeling in my chest. After minutes he lifted my legs from his lap, then scooted closer to me. He snaked his arm around my shoulder and pulled me to his side, not saying a single word. He understood and felt what I was feeling, saw what
Draven FoxI felt Melody freeze in my hands, losing the sound of her heartbeat for a few seconds. Then the pulse resumed, penetrating my ears as I felt her heart thumb loudly and violently against my body. "Babe." I gently called, accessing her thoughts, when suddenly everything went dark and then blank in her head. She pulled away, lifted her face, looked at me, then burst out laughing, startling me."Nice prank, babe; you had to even involve your father." She spoke, then added another laugh, the second one sounding strained."Melody." I couldn't believe she thought it was a joke. Her reaction had my eyebrows furrowing as I tried to understand her."You're not laughing." She whispered when I stood there, looking at her without blinking, trying to make her see that there was no prank."Oh my god, it's not a joke." She murmured, her eyes widening in realization, her hand flying to her mouth to cover it as she opened it, gasping. I watched as she then shook her head, her eyes filling qu
Melody ReeseAs Draven carried me out of the guest room, I chuckled bitterly and then pressed my lips together in a thin line. I could feel Draven's confusion in our bond, trying to understand me. He must have been waiting for me to crumple on my feet, but there was no way I was ready to cry for a man who was that selfish. I wondered if he sat down and thought about how his suicide would affect me."It's enraging how he took an easy way out." I spat, shaking my head, as Draven just tightened his hold on me, listening."What does your pack law say about suicide? Does a person get a befitting burial? Because my father sure as hell doesn't deserve that. What he deserves is to be thrown into the woods and left there to be feasted on by other animals." I spoke breathlessly, taking in shallow and fast breaths."There isn't any law about that." He replied, staring at my face and trying yet again to read it."I'm fine, Draven; stop worrying yourself. See, my emotions are open for you in our b
Draven FoxAfter the quickie in my car, I drove to the office to follow up on the matter concerning Nova. I was still trying to comprehend Melody's reaction to her father's suicide, especially when she insisted on accompanying me to the office. She seemed okay, and so did her emotions in our bond. I kept on throwing sideways glances at her as she stared right ahead."I told you I am okay." She said after noticing me stealing glances.I sighed, turning the steering wheel to the left when we got to the administration block. "Melody..." I trailed off, trying to find the right words to use without offending her. At that point, I had no idea how she would react or what she would say. I guess it was her grieving style, but to tell the truth, it scared me."I know, babe, I know." She whispered the last part, then let out a loud, prolonged sigh."Everybody is expecting me right now to be screaming and bawling my eyes out after losing my only parent." She began, shifting slightly in the passen
Melody Reese"I know exactly what you're feeling right now." Scarlett said, holding my right hand in a gentle grip as we walked towards the training grounds. Pack members waved; some came to say hi, while others just simply smiled as we passed. I noticed the adoration in their eyes at our closeness, and that alone warmed my heart."Do you?" I didn't mean to come off rude, but I asked anyway."When my mother was captured and locked in the dungeons awaiting sentencing, I knew what was coming." She started, reminding me that she and I had a lot of similarities."When I went to see her for the last time before her torture and murder at the hands of Draven's grandfather, I felt nothing for her." She continued, stopping to say hi to a group of teenagers who were rushing to get to the training grounds."I would have stayed and watched her get killed and watch her body as they got rid of it, but I chose not to because I had something else to look forward to. I had Jaxon, and I just didn't wan
Draven FoxI put my phone on speaker, listening to it ring as I looked at the pack's new junior warrior recruits that Caleb had forwarded. My call went unanswered, making the left part of my upper lip curl upward. "Idiot." I grumbled, stopping myself from hurling the device across the room. Nathan was testing my patience, and soon it would thin out and he'd have hell to pay. I smelled Holden before he even spoke, his presence alone snapping me out of my thoughts."Food for thought?" Holden casually asked, standing in the open doorway."Nothing I can't handle." I put it simply, ticking off the names I thought Caleb needed to re-examine for the warrior training recruitment."With your nostrils flaring like that? I'd say there is something." It seemed after Melody that Holden really knew me."I need my hands on Nova and Nathan." I admitted, swiping a hand over my face while I leaned on my swivel office leather chair."And you will; our trackers are on their borders as we speak, scrutiniz
Melody ReeseA week after my birthday and the cremation of my father's body, I sat beside the river, dipping my legs into the fresh, clean water. As promised, he had gotten me a Fiat 500 green car that was sizeable for me. As I enjoyed the feeling of the warm water on my feet, my mind drifted to my father. I hadn't attended his cremation, and I felt good about it. I had let go, and for the first time in a long time, I felt free. I felt like I was finally surrounded by people who actually cared, without secrets or hidden motives.A smile graced my face as I remembered how Scarlett had chosen to go shopping with me as the former alpha and some members oversaw the burning ceremony. "Nova was right; you are a witch."I pulled my lips back into a thin line when Mercy stepped out of the woods, hands pocketed in her navy blue sweats. For the past few days, she had been constantly on my way whenever I was alone, throwing rude remarks here and there. I had managed to ignore her and keep it fro
Draven FoxI smirked when Melody visibly shivered but did as asked, sitting on my desk and then lying on her back. I unbuttoned my slacks without my gaze wavering from her creamy thighs. When she lifted her legs and spread them to reveal her glistening folds, I swear my cock twitched while I took a heavy, loud breath in."What alpha? Are you just going to stand there and stare?" She challenged, supporting her shoulders with her elbows on the desk. I pushed the slacks together with the briefs, just enough to free my leaking dick. As I stroked it and walked closer, Melody licked her lips in anticipation. As my eyes dropped to her folds, I could see them clenching, dripping wetness onto the desk."What if I do?" I challenged back, rubbing the bulbous head with my thumb and spreading my pre-cup around the crown."I'll use my fingers." She threatened, guiding her hand between her legs. I watched as she first let her palm slide over her wet folds, gathering the juices. Watching as she began
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