Philip's POVMy heartbeat raced following the sinking feeling that erupted within me. Every part of my body was shaking as the information that Tessa had just relayed to me settled within me. I could not believe such a thing, could not believe what was going on.It couldn't be that Eunice, my aunt, had been the one who stole my children. I didn't believe what she was saying; I could hardly believe that there was a possibility that Eunice had been the one who took the babies."What are you saying?" I asked her."You heard me right. I don't know what happened, how come Eunice had been the one, but she was. She had taken the children. And the more I think about it, the more sense it makes. Other than the midwives, she had been the one there.""It can't be her!" I yelled, refusing to believe that the woman I considered a mother even more than my own mother had been the one responsible for my children's disappearance.My mother had left me with my father. She had been going through very ab
Philip's POV"My job is to take the babies from you. Someone else is coming with your children." The voice was automated. Straight from a machine, it could be somewhere tucked within the hoodie he wore.Eunice was hesitant; she looked down at the babies before she stretched out her hand to him to hand over the children.It was this time I knew I had to act.I immediately ran in between them and dexterously took the babies from her.On seeing me, all the blood drained from Eunice's face; she immediately fell to the ground, her mouth exuding the sounds of shock and fear mixed together.Meanwhile, her partner stood there staring at me. He didn't seem to be afraid of me, which was new to me. He seemed stubborn, relentless, as his stance appeared to be steady, more than it was before.He wanted to fight with me.Normally, I would not hesitate to take him head-on in battle, but somehow, I was instantly reminded of Lyra's words, of Tessa's own, and of course, Matt's consistent advice against
Philip's POVIt was great seeing that she was alive and well. But the news she just relayed to us wasn't one to be happy about.From what she just said, I could deduce a few things from it, and one was that Emily was looking for my destruction. Because why else would she send someone from the barbaric family to come and test strength with me, knowing damn well that I was going to come out victorious.She had been quite the mastermind of everything, pulling strings, making promises, doing all that she could just so that she would bring me to my knees. I shook my head.I was sure of this because she knew that if Clayton were to die, his family was going to attack me and demand that I either be killed for their son's death or bring my own son to be killed.She had wanted to take the children from me because she wanted me to either not have a child to present to her to be killed or bring the last one, and then I would be left childless.If it was the former, it meant her initial plan was
Philip's POVHer laughter filled the dining room, even some servants had to stop to stare at her, wondering the reason why she was laughing so hard.Her people joined her, of course. As long as their leader was insane, they had to follow suit. What else is loyalty except communal insanity?The same abrupt way her laughter started, it ended too.She looked at me with a gaze of skepticism and distrust. Her eyes raked my body. She was older than me, and I could spot the jealousy in her gaze. She had her ego wounded, and it was too palpable. She was being offered a house and food by a man even younger than her son.What else was the definition of failure?"So you are granting me a house and food and a farm because you killed my son, but you also believe that your actions had been just," she said, "if so, then why are you bribing me?""Bribing you?" I chuckled, "I'm sure you know that if I don't offer you something, you will probably let your rage loose in my mansion, and I cannot see my f
Philip's POVI saw how Lyra's expression changed. The only person I have ever told her I was scared of was Tristan, and to suddenly dump on her that I had been scared of someone else must have been alarming to her.She dropped the baby in the cot, though she was still awake. She walked towards me and then took my hands in her own, "why do you think so?"I took in a deep breath, about to explain everything to her. From how I was well-known in the town and beyond as someone who was quick to move his hands, someone who was terrible, and someone who wouldn't hesitate to kill anybody. From that very horrible reputation to the fact that I had met someone who didn't flinch a muscle upon seeing me.He was trying to kidnap my children, trying to smuggle them away from the city, and he was caught in the act. Instead of being very terrified of such a thing, instead of being utterly scared given the reputation that glued itself to me, he wasn't. It was as if he didn't care about who I was or abou
Philip's POVI realized that I hadn't talked to her about the other thing that brought me here. Her thumb was still busy caressing my hand as the silence poured between us.It was a perfect atmosphere, and everything seemed tranquil."Eunice had been the one who took the babies."I recalled that she didn't get the whole gist from me about what happened and how I came to find out everything. Although Tessa could've told her, but knowing Lyra, she would want to hear it from me than to hear it from someone else.And just like I thought, her eyes lifted up to my face as she paid so much attention to me as I began to tell her all that had happened."So basically, Matt had found the footprints on the ground after I had him set up some men on the secret and illegal path out of this town. He found the tracks, and then he called me that night; we followed them and met a man. He was known for illegally bringing people into this town.""Illegally?" She asked, "can't they just move in?"I shook m
Philip's POVHow was that not surprising?Even though it had never crossed my mind, it didn't manage to actually throw me off or even stun me. It wasn't improbable that Emily would have such influence over Hana. It was surely her influence that made Hana decide to take a few moments to herself to think about an offer that would literally change the life of her pack for the better.But no!She would rather stay with Emily and still be dealing with poverty and homelessness. Although a very feared woman, it didn't stop the ridicule.It was just too easy to get a good laugh out of her situation; anytime someone thought of the Moonlight Pack, surely a laugh would rumble out of their guts. They steal stuff, take money, fight petty wars, but they would not, they refused to help themselves get better.It could be that they actually loved the poverty or it was just so hard to pull themselves out of it given the death of Hana's husband. Though when he was alive, there wasn't much of a differenc
Philip's POVThe few hours that Hana had requested came to an end. Matt and I were soon marching to the dining room where we get to discuss her decision over dinner.Serving them dinner was a scheme of mine. If she were to see just how good our food tasted, then she would be bought.I sighed, sitting at the head of the table. I hated having to convince someone that I was a better choice. Lyra was the last person I would be convincing, but somehow, she had made me begin to try to figure people out, to sort things out, to ask for an apology. I didn't know how or when, but certainly, I was seeing the difference.The old me would not even look at her. I had been so reserved, kept to myself, and only fought when necessary, but these days it's something else. I was moved by rage and kept doing things I knew were not supposed to be done. There was no controlling it.I just began to love violence more.The sound of heavy footsteps approached. The ones on the table - Michelle, Tessa, Matt, and
Tessa's PovIt's been a month ever since what happened. Kura returned to the silver moon pack and from what the news said the economy of he place wss taking a turn for the better. Things were finally looking up for them.I wss still yet to be given a nate and so was Michelle, there wasn't anything better to do than to just continue with our relationshipsMatt as expected became the leader of the pack for a while till Keagan was old enough to return. We all wanted hom as the leader. Philip had seen something in hom, the something he saw in all of us. Other than the fact he was born an alpha, he probably had zeal, he had the strength of a leader.Michelle had gone to meet Lyra, sje had a particular liking doe the kids and loved that about her. There were news of lyra and Asher's relationship probably leading to marriage and I was happy for Gomez finally throwback going to be married to their mates and they were happy.We were all happy for them.The rest of the betas had gotten themselv
Asher's POV"No!!" Tesaa screamed.Emily smiled victoriously asbshe saw the small cottage engulf in flames, she had a satisfies smile on her lips and shebste the projectile weapon on the ground next tonher feetz unknown to her, she setbthe remote control as well."Thwn that's jt, they both are dead."The flames were intense bring everything in the cottage turning it all to crisp, inwas sure that Tessa ws on the verge of jumping intonthe flames asbshe grww sloser yknthe cliff onnher knees and so I quickly hekd her down. Inwraoed my hands around her and then whispered into her ears."You csn kill her now".Tesaa froze. She disnt react to what insaid by looking at me, but rather she just slithered outnof my hold and then rose tonher feeshe tuened to where Emily stood lookingbatbthe flames, haooy that she had brought suxh destruction.Tesaa smirked, "you must be proud"Emily clapped, "you cannot even begin to fathom how excited I am.about thism this is truly a miracle. Thjs js something j
Asher's POVI shuddered slightly at what she said and instantly just started the car. I drove the car and sped of so that I would be driving right behind Emily she was moving so fast out of town out of everywhere and towards the docks. She was going to take a boat sowmehre and there were a large number of boats available for use.She immediately stopped her car and then jumped into one of the baots there.I saw this from the windscreens and madensure that I caught up with her. Tessa was as impatient as I was because she didn't even wait foe.me tonstoo the car before she was already running out and running towards a free motorboat bjust like the one that Emily had taken.I quickly pulled over and huried to where Tessa was getting the boat into the water, I quickly koined her and mived to first start the motor engine. Then it roared to life, I looked behind me andnsaw Tessa's approving glance. We started driving l, as fast as we could so nthat we could be right behind Emily.Emily dorve
Asher's POV"What do you mean by that?" I asked her and i moved forward."Oh," she chuckled, "you didn't realize? I think the person who poisoned you was Steven."I shook my head as I began to feel by body vibrate with the sense of being betrayed. Incident know I'd trusting Devlin's words were the right thing to do but at the moment, it made sense.He was the one that the assasin hadbeen warning me about. He was the person that was close to me thst wanted me dead. I didnt know why hebwas behaving kike that. Why he had posioned me and started tk act like the ruler.I didn't know what j should be thinking about ir even feeling but I felt frustrated. I felt broken."It cannot be" I said to myself.Devlin laughed, "stop lying to yourself, you already knew abiut jt."Somehow, when I thought back, it really was the truth, he had in so many ways done a lot of things. Hehad been the one whonkeot pestering me to go out and get drunk and how can I have possibly slipped away from him and he just
Asher's POVAfter the confession last night, I didn't even know how I ended up on.my.bed, I didn't know how I even slept but as I stared at myself in the mirror, with dark circles under my eyes and a certain fatigue in my.bearing, I believed that I might not have had any sleep last night.I brushed my teeth, and then proceeded to take my bath before I went downstairs to keep searching for anything that woukd kead ne to Philip.But ko matter how I'd love to go over the issue with Philip, s that i can work my way around finding him, i just couldn't even think for a minute. I couldn't understand what was happening nor why it has to be.like this.If Lyra's babies were really mine, did Philip know? Did he decide to be their father regardless? Lyra hsd saud she thought I hated her and all, so was the reason she hid the children from me because sbe thought I was going to deny them? That it was not going you accept and love them?I couldn't helo but winder jow broken she must've bee to even c
Asher's POVI ran my hand over my face and steooed forward to where shebwaa standing, maybe it was the distance that made me hear incorrectly what shebhad just said.Maybe i had been imagining things that she just said that Philip wasnt home.Because if he wasn't here, then where was he?"Lyra, I am not joking"She frowned, "I'm not joking either. I suddenly got tired and then I left the party after searching around for the both of you. What would make you think I'm lying?"She suddenly went quiet and her whose focused somewhere else, "what are you saying?" She asked, "Philip isn't with you?"I shook my head, "he isn't, and if you say he's not here then I have no fucking clue where he is". I said exasperatedly."Thus was what Fiona had saud, she told me that there was nothing i could do to stop their fucked up plan from going into action". I said shaking my head and recalling every bit of my conversation with Fiona. "If I had known, I would've left instantly"."Left?" Lyra's eyes chan
Asher's POVI grabbed a drink off from the tray of drinks a waiter wss passing around. The spaces between people kept getting more narrow and weaving through them became a huge hassle.I downed the alcohol in a go and then kept the glass on a nearest table before finding a way to swim through the sea of people, so that I could use the bathroom.I didn't even know where the bathroom was located.I looked around some more. Everybody wore masks and I was sure even the celebrant had her own mask. I suspected this because everywhere I've looked, I haven't seen her face. Akk I could see were different colors, shiny or dull and just eyes.I wasn't particularly looking for her fir I had nothing to say to her, anybody that could lead me to the bathroom right now was going to do me a huge favour."Asher?"I immediately turned around and saw a woman standing behind me.She wore a silver dress embedded with stones that glistened under the light. Her hair was shirt and brown and so were her eyes.
Philip's POVThe party was all I thought it would be, soft music playing, people talking amongst themselves rather than dancing. Only a few people were on the dancefloor doing nothing really amazing.As we walked further into the place, a waiter holding a tray approached us holding a tray of masks and then presented it to us.Asher picked one and then Lyra did before i settled for mine.I looked at the two of them first and saw the design of their mask, Lyra's own had feathers, jt was blue with shiny stones and quite beautiful to look at.Asher picked something more manly, it was plain black and had nothing quite noticeable. He just tied it around hisbface and instantly he blended with the group. So djd Lyra.I did the same."Well," Asher said, "be careful". Again he was here with his advice. Something inwas not against.I gave Lyra a kiss on her cheek and then decided to go around the olace. We all knew what we wrre doing. We all knew our plans and showing affections or soending the
Asher's POVThe visit to Emily's place had been a waste of time. I had found out absolutely nothing about Tristan. The women kept talking about the upcoming party and the theme they were using and everything else that was no business of mine. Fiona even went as far as to show me all that she had prepared.And when I walked out of there, a headache was already spotting.I had no intention of ever paying a visit to a female friend just because. There was nonjoy from such an activity but only stress.When I returned to Philip's place, I was praying and hoping that hebhad sorted out whatever he needed to sort out with Lyra. I hadkeft thwn with a strangeness in the air. They were aost having a fill out fight iverghe fact that Philip had feelings. Over the fact that he was feeling guilty over betraying his friend.I understood jownhe felt, but unfortunately, Lyra was not even about to hear it. Hwr opinion of Tristan had never been the best but after what he did to her, she was not about to