I stared at my reflection in the mirror. Rosy lips, rosy cheeks and a good amount of eyeliner along with mascara popped the blue in my eyes. Nola stood behind weaving through my hair into a loose fishtail braid with curls of my honey blonde falling free around my round face. It reminded me of the day I prepared myself like this for my first prom. Even then the man on my arms was my papa. Every other boys at my class were too scared even to look at me because of Papa's death stares whenever they tried. I used to hate that first, though by time I was glad he did that for I had seen a few breakups of my female friends, and they were nasty enough for them to run for therapy. One even tried to commit suicide. I never wished to go through that pain ever. But that never meant I didn't wish for true love. Rather it was something I desired since I read my first romance novel, since I felt the love my father held for my deceased mother. Or was it regret I couldn't tell now. Either way love
The huge double doors to the great hall opened, and every set of eyes turned towards us. The crowd parted as we made our way through. The lavish suits and gowns they wore were grand, however, the venue was even grander. High vaulted ceiling with a whole wall made of nothing but glass gave a perfect backdrop of the sparkling lake at night. Tiered crystal chandeliers glistened above in their soft glow. Elegant flower arrangements and soft tulles draped over the french-like windows at the other sides made it look like a piece cut straight out of a prince's magazine. I didn't know the pack house held a party hall this gorgeous. Now it made me curious what else was left unseen beneath its layers. A tug at my hand made me look down at our conjoined hands. We looked normal like a newly-made couple basking in the admiring gazes. But was there a thing normal about us? Not at all. Though that's what he portrayed as he pulled me onto the podium with him, hand snaked around the low of my bac
Looking around, all I could see was the hatred in the pack members' eyes. Feel the sting of their glares. Saw a few leave like they couldn't stand the sight of me. That drove me to my third glass of the night. I chugged down the red liquid, surprisingly relishing the burn. Hades was nowhere to be seen. I could find no face amiable enough to bask in their protection. The guests from the other packs might have sent me wide smiles when met, but I couldn't possibly trust them enough considering they were all beasts of prey after all. Fear and loneliness found their abode in my heart as I felt like the air became too heavy to breathe, the ambience gotten too noisy for my sensitive ears, and the world around spinned out of control. I put down the glass in a waiter's tray only for it to slip over the edge and smash to the floor. "S-S-Sor-Sorry," I told the waiter and blinked when he grew into two. Something was wrong with me. I needed fresh air. I needed to get out of here. Turning aro
"Do not ever run from me." My teeth gritted as a spark of newfound anger throbbed inside me like a mad heartbeat. "Anything else?" I clipped. "Do not drink." He had the audacity to carry on as he stepped inside. "Are you out of your mind?" I snickered, not being able to believe the man. "Who the hell are you to tell me that?" "Your mate," he said simply shoving his hands inside his slack pockets, his head tilted in sheer arrogance. "Mate, my foot! I don't take you as my mate." Stomping my foot, I jutted my chin out. "What are you gonna do about it?" I didn't know what came over me today or how, but I felt a surge of dare blooming inside my chest, and it didn't carry even the slightest bit of intention of backing down. "I'll make you." Each and every word that escaped his infuriating lips passed me like a splash of fuel, inflaming the scintilla of rage burning deep within me. My fingers curled, dangerously resisting the urge to jump at him and strangle the daylight out of tho
My horrid eyes trailed over the bright purple marks starting from the end of my ear to my collarbone. My thigh carried the marks of long, broad fingerprints. My eyes squeezed shut in frustration when the picture of his callous hand gripping my thigh resurfaced in my mind. But my body differed as a familiar heat initiated from the depth between my legs to my entire body. It wanted to be relieved. Released of its celibate prison. Only one person who could sate ti came to my mind and the huge thing he cloaked beneath him. My ears heated up as embarrassment flooded my insides. How could I even let that thought enter my mind? Shortly, another thought crossed the previous one, slicing it under the severity it held. Inadvertently, my hand slid down between my thighs, and a knot tightened in my chest. He didn't, did he? He didn't take my virginity. It wasn't a question, but a knitted statement in my head I wanted to believe even after I couldn't remember a thing past the heavy, imposin
"Alpha." Before I could respond, Garrett showed up at the door. He took a quick glance over the splashes of blood on the floor and steered his gaze back to us like it didn't stir even the slightest bit of his conscience. Extending an envelope on the desk, he gave Hades a grim look. "Alpha Tanner was found dead in his bed last night." Hades raised a thoughtful brow. "Alpha Ryan takes his place today. He invited you and..." his gaze found mine, "the Luna to the inauguration." My insides revolted at the name, but I also felt bad that he lost one of his parents. "When is it?" Garrett hesitated for a second, then replied, "In about twenty minutes. We were the last one to get the card." The Alpha's lips tipped back in dry amusement. "Get the car ready. We're going to wish luck to the new Alpha." Nodding, Garrett left. Seeing he got himself a busy day, I decided to discuss on the rights of mates later and began to walk away. "Be in the car in five minutes." The command halted me
My screams muffled under Ryan's ruthless clutch, and struggle died when he pressed five sharp claws over my heart. "You scream, you die." I quieted, with a frantic bob of my head. "Good girl." Ryan stepped before me, his deranged gaze pinning me flush against the wall. "Though I can't say you haven't been on my fucking nerves." "You're sick," I couldn't stop the hiss from slipping my tongue. His fingers curled around my throat as his nose flared. "I'd watch my mouth!" My windpipe constricted, blocking the air into a minimum. But it was fear that burned my half-empty lungs, making tears prick the corners of my eyes. Yet somehow there was a small part inside that believed he couldn't harm me, not with Hades somewhere in the vicinity. And he knew that too because his grip loosened, allowing me a full inhale of breath. "Hades will kill you." His lips stretched into a sadistic smirk. "If I don't kill him first." I glared at him. "Don't worry. I won't kill you." A strand of my c
Could I forgive him? I questioned myself for the millionth times in the past two days. Even considering the erroneous path my papa shifted the course of his life, he still didn't have the slightest right to unleash hell on my life. He could've asked for justice like any normal people did. Go to the cops, file a report, get Papa arrested and served for his crime. Guessing the cops didn't know about these bizarre supernatural beings, they'd be more than dutiful to help him. Instead he chose a route harmful to both him and I, to Papa and who knew how many other people like Orlan. It wasn't like I'd want my papa to go to jail, and somehow I was grateful for being able to take the hit in his place. But still...Even if I could forget about all the shit he put me through, I couldn't possibly get over the facts that he whipped my ass raw and almost got me raped. Then there was the bright red siren ticking like a timebomb that he was still very much hellbent on digging out my papa from h
Eight years later~ "Elizah?" I stared at the empty room, my brows furrowing. He was supposed to be in his table studying. "Elizah," I called again in a low voice afraid the twins might wake back up.I and Nola spent three hours trying to get them to sleep, and then I dozed off, completely forgetting that I had promised my elder son to help with his homework. Walking down the hall, I checked in the other rooms, even the twins' just in case he decided to visit them like he did sometimes, yet no sign of him. My stomach knotted with unease. Normally, he'd come running to me on my first call, occasionally the second no matter where he was in the house. He was such a sweet kid. But today as I ran around looking for him, I knew something wasn't right. Not working myself up as the doc suggested because of the heart problems I developed over the years as heirloom, I decided to check his hiding spots. There were several throughout the house, the most used one being behind his bookshelves in
One month later~ I sat before the huge mirror like a mannequin princess being coddled by a dozen women. A soft, warm air blew on my hair as someone blow-dried it. Two painted my nails, and another ran several brushes on my face applying make-up. This was the big day. My wedding. Yet as I looked up searching for familiar faces among the people surrounding me I missed the ones I called family. Some more than the others. Some I hated that I ever loved. They took things from me. Significant things. Parts of my heart that I can never get back. But it was a relief knowing the ominous time was over. The evil lurking in the dark waiting to pounce and feed on our happiness was gone forever. And if someone new decided to test their luck, I knew Hades would be right there, protecting his family, and his pack like the feared blood alpha he was. And with him beside me, I too could tackle any storm, swallow any pain and vanquish any enemy that dared to wedge their evil ploys between us. "The d
"No!" I screamed, my chest constricting so painfully I could be sure I was having a heart attack. But it turned out to be fruitful because Gordon's head shot my way, and Hades took that opportunity to slam his forearm on his elbow pit, making a crack echo through the trees. He didn't stop there because the next moment he headbutted the elder sending him flying across. Hades was bloody all over, but he was okay. However, there was no relief as I knelt beside Tera, my head spinning, and a strange pressure building in my belly. Shaking my head, I glanced at the huge broken branch sticking out of her torso. "Tera," I cried out. "Why did you do it?""Don't... get your knickers... in a twist, woman. I'm not... dying for you," she spoke between coughs, her eyes squeezing shut as she clutched the wood and tugged at it. But it didn't budge. She tried again, a gritting scream leaving her lips, but once again, the wood piece refused to come out. It was stuck to something inside. Falling b
The blood in my veins went still as I stared at the man before me. Silver rooted hair and grey eyes. He had the proudest smile plastered on his face as he closed the gap between him and Iris into a loud, sloppy kiss. "Mhm, I missed you, babe," Iris cooed. "I'm here now, my love," he cooed back, and they both turned to me with matching looks of pure mockery. The nerves!Those two? Together? All this time? Shock and disgust combined with each other struck me frozen for a moment. My gut feelings had always been right. Of course it had to be him. Every single of those evidences denoted so. I should've known. I should've fought harder with Hades to prove my reasonings. But then the shock got buried under the weight of the brazen revelation of his dirty game.Every ounce of blood in my veins started to downright scorch. "The fuck you just said?" I snarled. "Manners, girl," uncle Gordon spoke, but then his lips curved into a wicked smirk. "Oh wait, I forgot you didn't have a mother to
Once Garett called off the celebration, the guests started departing with confusion and disappointment washing off the earlier enjoyment from their faces. Some even looked annoyed, but of course they knew better than to complain. I, on the other hand, felt like there was a stress attack swirling deep inside me, but I couldn't freak out now. I had to think about my child. I had to keep it from any kind of harm's way. And when Nola and Iris ran my way, the panic somewhat alleviated from my core. "What happened?" Iris asked. "Are you feeling alright, darling?" Nola followed. "I'm fine," I replied, taking deep breaths to calm my nerves. "I think they caught Alpha Ryan." Nola gasped while Iris sent me a baffled look. "Who's that?" "An alpha who attacked our pack a while back. He even tried to hurt Gisella," Nola explained.Iris' eyes rounded, and she looked around, her gaze alert. "Luna," Wyett and the two other bodyguards stepped closer, "We should go. Alpha asked to take you back
"Why are we here?" I asked, looking around at the fancy shopping mall Hades brought me first thing in the morning. His arms wrapped around my torso and whirled me around. I frowned, staring at the shop before me, but then the name and the long white fluffy gown on display of the shop quenched all my curiosity, and I gasped, my eyes widening. I whipped around too fast, felling a dizziness follow. But I shook it off, my heart pounding in my chest. "Are you going to buy me a wedding dress?" "You're not planning on marrying me in one of your pink sundresses, are you?" I giggled, my insides bubbling with excitement. "No, but a pink bridal gown wouldn't be bad, don't you think?" "Nothing on you looks bad. Drill that into your head, pet." I smiled, feeling a silly swooning moment pass me at the nickname. I missed hearing it from him. It might sound crazy, but I might even prefer this over love, or weird enough, my own name.Hades did as per my wish though. Because the next thing I kne
I sat at the hospital bed anxiously watching Hades and the pack doctor talking between themselves. I couldn't fathom what gotten into Hades all of a sudden. The whole way back home he had been so paranoid even the smallest sounds or movements around got him unduly worked up, and so overly protective even the smallest of road bumps made his free hand shot out to shield me. I had asked him, but he refused to answer before the doctor checked. I told him I was fine. It was only the weakness from not eating enough, but he wouldn't budge. He even made sure half of the nurses from the hospital come aid me like I was some patient with serious illness. My perturbation palliated a little when Bree barged into the private chamber. "Bree," I relieved. Greeting the Alpha, she rushed to me. "Luna, I heard what happened. Are you hurt?" I shook my head. "No, I'm not. But Hades is acting weird I don't understand why. Do you know anything?" She sent me an apologetic smile. "I'm having my hunches,
Sneaking Sam's car keys wasn't the easiest thing, but I did it. I took his car and slipped out of the Church ground. I left my scarf in the shade just so Hades wouldn't lose my scent completely and go berserk. I knew it was the stupidest thing to do right now, but I also knew Hades wouldn't believe me. Not without proof. Whichever uncle Gordon was talking about. And at this point, I was desperate. Something in my guts told me he was speaking about my papa's apartment. Something inside suspected he was behind this murder. I only needed to prove it to Hades and the world. But what I didn't understand was why he would do that. As Papa said the one who started it steered Papa and the other hunters looking for the culprit to the Vilkas spouses. He framed them to get out of the hook. But would Gordon really do that? He had been raising Hades since their death, and sometimes it even felt like he was angry at me for being the daughter of the one who took his brother's life. Then... Could
"Gisele, let me handle this." "So you can let him off the hook?" "I'd never do that," Hades clipped. I stared at him. Maybe he wouldn't because as I had always heard, Hades took justice to a whole new level. He didn't even spare a rare hybrid for wronging one of his allies. Didn't care what the council had to say. "If he's guilty," he added. My teeth gritted. Maybe it was because he never punished a family member before cause when it came to family, even the great rulers fell weak. Turning away from him, I barged through the office door uncle Gordon worked in now. He had been staying in the pack since we arrived from Alaska and helping Hades operate the pack business while he had been recovering and spending more time with me. It felt like a blessing until now. I couldn't keep control of my anger as I stormed right to his desk and slammed my hands on it. "You. You killed my father." He looked up, eyes widening for a brief moment, then they hardened. "Gisella," Hades appeare