"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
Every set of eyes turned to the direction of the imposing voice. Sure enough, there stood Hades, hair disheveled and dress shirt ripped in places, giving a peek at his tattoos. Blood dripped from several cuts on his body. I'd be running with ointment and bandages if I didn't know about his miraculous healing power like Wolverine. Even in this state he looked like he could give the perfect shot at an action themed photoshoot for the America's top model. He stomped on something, and it flew in the air, landing in his hand. In the next blink of an eye, he hurled it, and something warm and wet splashed all over my face. The man holding me by the hair loosened his grip and collapsed on my feet. The other one let out a snarl, canines out and ready to avenge his friend. Breathing heavy, I looked down at the unmoving body. A stake through his heart. I gasped, a cold spreading all over my body. The commotion taking place a few feet away from me didn't register in my mind as I kept starin
Drip drop. A cold feeling rolled down my cheek. "Mhm," I groaned, turning my head to the other side. Drip drip. I squeezed my eyes and tired to ignore the chill that ran through my face to my neck. Drip. Who the hell left the faucet running? The thought evaporated when I remembered I wasn't in the bathroom. I was in my room in my bed sleeping. Then what...My eyes shot open and met two dark silver orbs. They were staring. So close, so hypnotizing like a set of moons with two black holes to suck the senses out of whoever dared get close. I could just loose myself in their depths. And I would have if not for the water droplet to land right into my eye. I jerked, closing my eyes. "What the!" Opening them back, I looked up to see Hades looming over me. A scream left my lips, and I shot up to a sitting position, pushing myself against the headboard. He straightened to his full height, shirtless. His hair was soaking wet, latching onto his forehead. "What the hell are you doing
"Papa!" I shot up from my deep slumber- or drugged slumber- and frantically looked around. Nola came hovering over me, her eyes wide with concern. "It's okay. It's ok, El. You're fine." I shook my head, all the memories crashing back in my mind. "No! No, my papa. I have to save my papa." "El, calm down." Nola held me down by the shoulders, trying to put me back to sleep. "Just listen to me." "No. You don't understand, Nola. My papa. I have to- I..." Shoving her off of me, I jumped off the bed and ran to the door. "They didn't find him." I stopped and turned around. "What? Are you sure about that?" She nodded her head. "Yes. He fled before they could catch him." A sigh of relief slipped my lips, and I slumped back against the door. The injected spot in my neck throbbed, and my head felt like someone was hammering it with a bulldozer. That bastard. Anger flared back in my veins, making me see red. Striding back towards the bed, I searched it, then the bedside table, then the w
The last thing I saw before the door slammed close, were those bottomless pits of darkness in his eyes. "No, wait!" I screamed. "Wait, please!" My fists collided against the wood of the door repeatedly. "I'm sorry! I'm really sorry. Please, get me out of here." Silence prevailed from the other side denoting he abandoned me. Breathing heavy, I turned around to take in my surroundings. Only it was impossible. He didn't hit me. He didn't touch me anymore.He simply left me in the basement. Alone with darkness. I had never been one to be afraid of the dark. If anything, I felt rather peaceful in it. But it was what lurked beyond that sprang my heart out into my throat. It was the tip-taps of the little feets all around that invoked the terror in my mind. It was the imaginary crawling sensation that burned my lungs. Or were they real? I shook my head, turning a blind eye to the disrupting thoughts and slowly moved on one side of the stairs on curled toes. My hand trembled as I g
"A-Al-Alpha..." Nola started, her voice timid and shook, and her gaze lowered to the floor. With a final glare my way, Hades stormed out of the room, not giving her a chance to question his command. Not long after, the sound of the front door slamming shut made us both wince in our spots. Thick, woeful silence prevailed throughout the house. I stood up, walking around the broken table and knelt down beside the clutter on the ground. My stomach churned, not from the situation but from hunger. I didn't eat more than a couple morsels of my now spoiled breakfast and hadn't eaten anything since yesterday's breakfast. Neither could I sleep last night which explained the awful throb in my head. "Ela..." I could feel Nola moving behind me, her steps jittery. After the clear order, she wasn't supposed be here anymore unless she could afford going against her Alpha which I palpably doubt she desired. But she couldn't help her kind heart. "Go, Nola," I told her. I was calm, unreasonably so
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