Violet's POVPouring all my attention into what I was doing, I prayed someone would call him away, what was he even coming towards here for anyway? I wondered angrily and in my anger, I mistakenly pricked my finger with a needle. "Ouch!" I winced shaking my wrists, now his cologne was closer, and even with my hair covering the sides of my face I could see him coming, Grandma Charlotte wasn't going to like this one bit. "Watcha doing?" He asked, his head a few inches away from mine, I could hear the smile in his voice. "Nothing," I said too quickly and his brows arched slightly, a glint of amusement he always seemed to possess lurking behind them. Facing him fully, I tucked my hair behind my ear"Fine I'm doing something, a lot actually" I agreed rolling my eyes and he chuckled. "You're doing a great job for sure. I've been watching you for some time and I can only say I'm impressed" I looked up at him and gone was the flirty look on his face ...he was serious and he'd also been
Mason's POVI found myself happier than usual. At first, I thought it was because of the upcoming ball, but somewhere deep down, I knew that wasn’t true. Last year, I’d also supervised the ball preparations and had been very restless. Yet today, I was grinning like a schoolboy. There was still something else about today...“Fold it again,” Violet said absently, stretching her hands towards me to grab a pair of scissors.Staring at her for some time, I carefully took note of how gracefully she carried herself. She spoke so carefully, like royalty, and her poise wasn’t something you could miss. It was elegant. Did caterers have a certain elegance to them? I wondered.“Don’t be silly. Of course, they don’t,” my wolf, Finn, said.“I wish we could solve this mystery,” he said, sounding thoughtful. I had to agree.“There’s just something about her,” I said through the mind link. “Like there’s more to her.” Immediately after I said it, I was surprised. When did I start making sappy statement
Inhaling the deep country air, I was grateful for the cool breeze that tousled my hair and the soothing calm sounds from swaying stalks of wheat as they danced to the wind.Breathing in, I let my mind wander off to Emily. It had been weeks since I'd seen her last, my brows furrowed as I remembered my promise to myself. Silently cursing, I wiped my forehead with my palms and sighed.I had little knowledge about her health status at the moment. It was one of those things Emily didn't like talking about, and because of that, she promised me not to ask about it except when we met face to face.Slouching against my seat, I stared up at the white ceiling, wondering what was taking the doctor so long. I'd arrived at home about two minutes ago and was told I couldn't see Emily right away because she was being examined.Trying to reduce my restlessness, which was a result of so many things, but one in particular, my dad's order for me to leave Emily...it was impossible, what he was asking for.
Mason's POVI found myself remembering her limp body that was carried away on a stretcher, a mix of emotions rushing through my body. I couldn't still get over the realization that she was pregnant. Was that why she came to the pack? Was she running away? These were questions I asked myself.I straightened my tie, and a tired-looking face with worry lines etched into my forehead greeted me. I bit my lips and rolled my eyes. Finn had been right all along; she had been hiding something. I knew I should probably be relieved that it was just a pregnancy instead of something more tragic, but...Glancing at my wristwatch, I glanced at my reflection again. Were the corners of my tuxedo uneven? I wondered as I tugged at them. Shaking my head at such absurdity, I left the dressing room. Following the sound of soft classical instruments, I soon found myself in the ballroom. The quiet chatters were now audible and no longer drowned in the music.Adjusting the sleeves of my tux, I slowly scanned
I woke up weak and tired. Opening my eyes, I let out a loud yawn, the back of my palms covering my mouth. The last thing I recalled was Mason lifting me up. I still couldn't remember how that had happened."Are you feeling better?" I jerked my head, surprised to find my grandmother sitting beside me, her eyes staring attentively at me. How long had she been there?"A bit tired," I yawned again. "What happened to me?" I managed to ask, now pulling my body into a sitting position."I think you were tired. You fainted at the pack house." Her lips pursed and I knew she had more to say. "You need rest," she added, yet I was convinced those weren't the words on her mind."You need to stop exerting yourself." She stretched her hands to my forehead, checking my temperature, then placed a thermometer into my mouth and brought it out."I know," I murmured, my eyes now heavy with dizziness as they fluttered."You know," she scoffed, "you know you should stay away from Mason, I believe?" She aske
Staring blankly at the corpse in front of me, I could barely outline its features to know who it belonged to. Reynold said it was Violet's, but I didn't want to believe it. Or at least I felt I shouldn't believe what I was seeing. My parents were equally as shocked as I was.The body had been brought to the park house for some sort of identification, on my father's wish, of course. I pinched my nose and looked away, hoping this body wouldn't end up haunting me in my dreams.Because of my doubt, Reynold had added that the body was found a few days after she'd fled the park. On hearing that, my chest had tightened hard, and for a moment I couldn't breathe properly... well, that was a few hours ago.Considering the speed I drove in, it was a miracle I'd managed to drive down to my parent's without getting involved in an accident.Now I sat in the drawing room with my parents, an unexplainable atmosphere hanging in the air and robbing all of us of our proper senses. I felt heavy and tired
It's been days now, and I felt like I was losing my mind. The pack house, usually full of life, was now quiet and sad, mourning the loss of their Luna. Violet had been their light, their joy. She had been everything. Now she was gone."Just stop with the whole pity party. You barely loved her while she was alive," Ares' voice cut through my thoughts like a blade. With every single passing day, he always reminded me of my crime, murder."I think that's enough, Ares," I rolled my eyes, wishing I could see him face-to-face and punch him."Is it?" I could hear the smirk in his voice."I never forced her to leave, did I?" Now I was really pissed."No, you didn't. In fact, you didn't have a hand at all in her death. You're very much innocent," he scoffed, and I gritted my teeth. It was horrible not being able to think clearly in such situations."Fuck off," I hissed.Pulling out my car key, I stepped into my home, which now felt like a house, nothing compared to how it was when Violet was a
ADRIAN Well, no one told me someone can be puking out blood from their mouth without having a high fever and the pulse as normal as an average human.Staring down at Emily, I watched as she creased her brows, pinching the bridge of her nose as she held my hands on her forehead."Can you feel it? It hurts right there," she whined, her blue eyes glistening with tears as she spoke, melting every form of doubt I once had. My heart ached as I watched her fight back the pain. I knew Emily to be a strong girl, and also her body system might differ."I'm so sorry. What can I do to help?" My voice came out as a whisper.Emily sat up straight, her cleavage popping out from the silhouette that she was wearing, and all I could do was recall Violet putting on the same red silhouette, revealing her hot figure and then inviting me to the bed."Quite slutty, isn't she?" Ares wouldn't miss a moment to show his disapproval of Emily."I wish you could spend more time with me. At least I'm still alive,"
Violet POV I wake up feeling sore but utterly satisfied. My body aches with the remnants of last night, Adrian's touch still lingering on my skin. A soft smile tugs at my lips as I stretch, expecting to feel his warmth beside me. But when I turn, the bed is empty.Frowning, I sit up, wrapping the sheets around me. Where did he go?Before I can call out for him, the door creaks open.Adrian steps in, dressed in only sweatpants, his toned chest bare, his dark hair still damp from a shower. But what catches my attention is the small velvet box in his hands.My breath hitches.He walks toward me with that confident stride, his piercing eyes locking onto mine. My heart starts hammering in my chest."Adrian?" My voice is barely above a whisper.He stops in front of me, and without a second's hesitation, he sinks down to one knee.I gasp, my hand flying to my mouth."Violet," he begins, his voice steady but thick with emotion. "From the moment you came into my life, you've been my greatest
Violet's POVI barely have a moment to catch my breath before Adrian lifts me into his arms, his grip strong and possessive. My body is still trembling, my mind hazy from the pleasure he just wrung out of me, but the hunger in his eyes tells me he's far from done."We're not finished," he growls, his voice thick with desire.I shudder at the dark promise in his tone.Adrian strides out of the pool, his muscles flexing with each determined step. Water drips from his body, soaking me in the process, but I don't care. My fingers tangle in his damp hair, my lips pressing against the curve of his jaw, his neck. I can't get enough of him.His grip tightens around me as he carries me through the pack house, ignoring the startled glances from a few passing pack members. My cheeks burn, but Adrian doesn't slow down. His focus is solely on me-on us.By the time we reach his room, my arousal is pulsing all over again. He kicks the door shut behind him, then pins me against it.His lips crash aga
ADRIAN POV I pulled my finger out from her already wet dripping pussy, and she squirms.My cock aches, hard and pulsing, but I hold back, watching her beneath me. Violet is trembling, her breath coming out in soft, desperate gasps as she squirms against the wall."You enjoy teasing me, don't you?" I murmur, dragging my lips down her throat, my teeth grazing her pulse. Her body shudders, her nails digging into my shoulders."Adrian..." she breathes, her voice laced with frustration.I chuckle darkly. "No, sweetheart. You don't get to say my name like that-not after the hell you put me through."She glares at me, her stubbornness flashing in those beautiful eyes, but the desperation in them is unmistakable. She wants this. She needs this.I press my knee between her thighs, spreading her legs wider, feeling the heat radiating from her core. My fingers glide down her stomach, teasing the waistband of her shorts."I can smell you, Violet," I whisper, my fingers just barely ghosting over
ADRIAN POV The Rogue Alpha had stopped screaming a while ago. Now, he only groaned, barely clinging to consciousness as his severed fingers lay discarded on the cold floor. Blood pooled beneath him, I barely noticed.I crouched in front of him, gripping his chin and forcing his head up. His swollen, bloodshot eyes struggled to focus on me."I told you," I murmured, my voice eerily calm. "You were going to die a slow, painful death."His lips curled into a weak, mocking smirk. "Just kill me already,?" His breath hitched, his body convulsing from the pain.I narrowed my eyes, my grip tightening painfully. "You're already dead. It's just a matter of when."He let out a hoarse chuckle, but I was done listening. My fist connected with his jaw, the crack of bone satisfying as his body slumped forward.Without another glance, I turned and walked out of the dungeon, slamming the door behind me.The cool evening breeze was exactly what I needed to cool the heat Of battle still pulsing through
VIOLET POV The moment I open my eyes, my first thought goes to Adrian-the mate mark on my neck burning like a reminder.His voice reaches me, low and desperate, as he sits beside my bed, repeating over and over again, "Sit up. Don't die on me."It aches... watching him suffer, knowing his mate, the one he stood beside, waiting so patiently to wake up, didn't even recognize him.The Shadow Alpha... I'm glad he's beaten down. But why am I doing this? Honestly, I don't even know. The plan I made was half-baked, driven by instinct more than logic.But Mason? He's sharp enough to see right through me. He knows I'm just pranking him."You enjoy needling him, don't you?" Mason asks the moment Adrian storms out of the room, his heavy footsteps echoing down the hallway.I turn to look at him, the laughter I'd been holding back finally breaking free. "Did you see his face?" I chuckle, shaking my head. "He looked like he was ready to rip your throat out."Mason grins, lounging back against the
Adrian POV Three days.Three fucking days.But it doesn't feel like just three days of agony. It feels like a lifetime. Like I'm drowning in slow motion, gasping for air while the world watches and does nothing.Harry's been calling me Daddy like he's afraid I'll disappear if he stops. He's been jumping around, tugging at my hand, showing me drawings he made in the hospital's playroom. He even drew one of Violet, him, and me. A perfect little family, all smiles and holding hands.But that's a fucking lie.Because Violet had to pretend.After the doctors explained everything-her memory loss, the gaps in her mind that swallowed me whole-she agreed to go along with the truth for Harry's sake. Not mine. Just Harry's."Daddy, look! I made another one!" Harry beams, holding up a messy drawing of us with stick arms and lopsided smiles. "This is you, Mommy, and me! We're fighting bad guys together!"I force a smile. It feels fake. Stiff."That's awesome, buddy," I say, ruffling his dark hair
ADRIAN POV "Violet, I love you. And I promise to make everything right. Just give me this chance and come back... please." My bears frantically as I say these words. Ares is clawing right at me. It's another day of saying the same words, over and over again.I've battled demons that won't let me sleep. Nightmares. Guilt. Regret. But I refuse to break."I won't give up. No, I can't give up," I mutter, gripping her cold, lifeless hand like it's the only thing keeping me grounded.My body tingles from the contact, the familiar warmth of her skin, even in its fragile state. I miss her, we missed her. Ares and I. Her smiles... How her eyes sparkles... How she looks when she's angry and wants to deliver a warning. The soft looks of her eyes. I fucking miss all of it and more."Sweetheart, please," I whisper, brushing a loose strand of hair from her pale face. "Harry misses you so much. He won't stop talking about everything you taught him-the nasty tricks, too. Like how you'd seize his
Adrian POV It's been two days, and I haven't moved an inch away from where Violet lay. She was all I fucking had.I almost lost her. She almost died. I felt her die."Alpha, you need to rest," Reynold's voice cuts through the silence that was existing I'm the room. I turn my head slowly, blinking at him.Rest? That's an understatement. I don't want to move. I want to sit here, watch her breathe, and make sure her chest rises and falls every goddamn second.The doctor says she's in a coma and will need a few days to recover. I want to be the first person she sees when her eyes flutter open. The first person she calls. The first person to watch her smile again, bright and alive.No. I can't. I won't move from here."What about Alpha Valenwood?" I ask, voice hoarse from hours of silence. He'd checked up on her and had been staying in my pack house ever since."He's still there, bonding with Harry," Reynold reports, his gaze softening. "Speaking of Harry... he hasn't touched a bite of fo
Adrian POV Ares growls inside me, restless and furious. We're holding our mate in our arms, but she's lifeless. Whatever the fucker injected into that syringe had done its job, and now Violet's life is slipping through my fingers. He won't die easily. Not after this."Reynold," I mind-link, voice sharp as steel. "Capture that bastard. I want him rotting in the pack dungeon. No one touches him but me.""Understood, Alpha," Reynold replies, his tone matching my rage.By the time I storm into my pack's hospital, Violet's body cradled against my chest, everyone freezes. Gasps echo through the hallway, but I don't care. My only prayer is that Harry's still indoors, far from witnessing this nightmare."Alpha!" Dr. Lee rushes toward me, eyes wide."Get to fucking work! She's losing breath. She's dying, Lee! Do something!" My voice cracks as I lay her on the bed, the same damn bed I once bled out on.Dr. Lee doesn't waste a second. He mutters commands, nurses scrambling around like clockwork