ALPHA DARIO POV The heaviness in my heart after Alpha Xavier defeated the Zuzkies was much. Although everyone in Thornridge was happy that we had been saved from the Zuzkies savages, it presented another issue for me and one I did not know how to handle."I think it's only fair that we say congratulations to Dario, who has been able to get the necessary aid needed to turn the tide to victory." Falko said as he made a toast with other members of the council."That I concur, Dario has proven once again that he's dependable." Leon joined Falko."I'd rather we toast to Alpha Xavier, whose army indeed conquered the Zuzkies." Eli spoke and everyone held their tongue in anger. "I remember we were all scared, with our tails between our legs, waiting for the Zuzkies to come before Alpha Xavier arrived with his mighty army. They rode night and day to get here after they heard that our defenses could not hold." He raised his ale. "To a proper Alpha!""Yea, to a proper Alpha." Tam replied begrud
ALPHA XAVIER POV The night seemed like a long night and sleep was far from my eyes. What could have happened? Where did I get it wrong? One minute everything was going so fine, the next minute she was visibly angry with me, with no regard whatsoever for the implications. I had woken up long before dawn, restless and tired. Was I tripping or was something happening to me? I kept thinking of Isabel, unable to get her out of my head. She did have valid reasons to be angry with me, she's a female but I also have the right to do anything I want. "I will not be tied to one flaming female." I snatched my shirt and left.I had no destination in mind, something was pulling but then, I also felt like taking a walk. I believed walking would help me clear my head, and rein in on my emotions. As I walked through the streets, a sense of calm and peace started to wash through me as the early morning breeze greeted me.With no destination, I found myself in the cemetery and seated at my usual seat,
ALPHA XAVIER POVThe entire castle hall was silent, everyone suddenly seemed to want to be in a different place at the same time but none could move an inch except I said so.I turned slowly to scan the hall, Isabel seemed grateful that Valerian had spoken up on her behalf. Marita was shaking her head slowly, in a silent plea for me not to react. Thalia had a look that made her seem like someone who wanted to cringe. I had noticed that Valerian was finally making advances at her, since I let the cat out of the bag during our fight and I also know she's Isabel's closest friend. So, I could understand why her expression was the grimmest of all.Theodrin seemed less concerned, and so did Dyelin. Kira seemed very concerned, I didn't quite understand her relationship with Isabel. "Of course, what was I thinking?" I turned and looked at Isabel and back at Valerian, and back at Isabel. "Yes, you are totally right." I casually strolled back to my throne-like chair, with a smirk on my face. "
ISABEL POVThe room seemed to be buzzing with a sound I could not understand but it was having an adverse effect on me. It seemed like I was tuning to a frequency and it was difficult to resist. It seemed like my urge to mate was suddenly heightened.What was happening to me? Was I the only one who could hear that sound? He didn't give any outward expression that he could hear it, he didn't even look at me, besides occasionally looking up to take in all of me, he really didn't care.This was wrong, very wrong. I really wanted to mate, I had never had this feeling, it was similar to the same feeling I had, the night Alpha Xavier left me hanging, just close to my first ever sexual bliss. Was this Alpha Xavier's doing? Or was it Valerian's doing? Surely he doesn't intend to be intimate with me.The next time I looked up to his eyes, there was fire in it, there was yearning, there was desire. His eyes were not just that blue sexy eyes it was earlier, it was a shade different. "Is this roo
ALPHA XAVIER POV The exquisite bedroom suddenly seemed uncomfortable. A familiar scent kept drifting through the room and was gone before I could catch a better smell of it. It was interfering as I poured over the different reports on my desk.A lot seemed to be happening at the same time that I needed to be right on top of. And it doesn't help that Dario is plotting against me, I possibly can't have Thornridge, Darkwood, Emberwood and even the flaming Belcheya all plotting against me. All it takes is for Dario to find out they all have a grudge and unite all of them against me. Emrys would never move against me, but he has warned me. I suddenly heard great laughter from down the castle and I felt angry. I was not sure if anger was the right emotion I felt, but I know I felt envy, and jealousy, clothed with rage.'Why are you jealous, you did cast her out, and mandated that she sleeps with Valerian.' I heard that still small voice in my head accusing me. "Burn her!" I cussed in a si
ISABEL POVI drifted off to sleep almost immediately and collapsed on top of Alpha Xavier, tired and exhausted. Sara had not told me sexual bliss that comes from making love, especially when you love that person and you know they love you too. Alpha Xavier had confessed his love for me but I suspected he was under the influence of the moment.I had woken up before midnight to Alpha Xavier eating me out and driving me crazy with his wicked tongue. He seemed to be pulling some unseen strings attached to my body and I reacted as he dictated the tune. We made love again, and laid there cuddled up while he planted feathery kisses on my chin and ran his hand through my hair. "You are here again? You must like him huh?" A beautiful lady, probably in her late teens, dressed in white, spoke to me."I don't know, he's the first man I've ever loved..." I started to speak but trailed off. "Why does that make you uncomfortable, and don't even try to deny it. It's written all over you." She said
ISABEL POVTears ran down my cheeks as I walked through the streets of Tarrenhall in Wolfshade, this was definitely not what I wanted in life, my father would never have allowed me to pass through all of this. This was the worst humiliation I've ever had in my life. Alaric kissing Theodrin was a sight that made me want to puke, Alaric and Renata had been the duo that had found me. He had seemed sweet and charming, he kept reassuring me that everything was going to be alright when we arrived in Wolfshade. What was I thinking, not everyone can stand up to Alpha Xavier like Valerian.Everyone tried to avoid me like a plague when I entered the castle of serenity, all of them trying to avoid the fact that I was stinking. The castle seemed deserted when I climbed a floor higher. "Wow, did you have a fight with a mule or something?" Kira greeted, with a hand over her nose."Yeah, my mate wanted it." I said with a smile and walked past her but then stopped and turned to face her. "Thank you
ALPHA DARIO POVMy vacation in Lunaria has been splendid so far, I didn't realize I'd enjoy it this much. Experiencing the glory of Lunaria made me understand I needed to change my fortunes at Thornridge.Thornridge was a poor kingdom, by the standards of Alpha Xavier's Wolfshade, and Alpha Emrys' Lunaria. "Lovely morning, Alpha Dario." The female who had shared my bed with me two nights ago poke ahead through the door and greeted me."Daisy, lovely morning to you too." I gestured for her to come in. "What can I do for you?" She came in, and flashed one of those smiles that could melt even a heart of stone."Thank you, you are very sweet Alpha Dario. The Queen, Aria, requests an audience." She said, still smiling."Alright, thank you Daisy." She turned to leave and images of our last time together flashed before my eyes. I wanted a rematch. "Hold on, where?" "Oh, The Visitors Court." She turned to face me. The peach silk robe she wore, left a lot to be seen. "I don't know where that
ISABEL POVThe whole Wolfshade was up and about as preparations entered top gear for Valerian's mating ceremony to his wives. There was excitement all around and Alpha Xavier had declared that it would be a feast. Alpha Xavier and Valerian are more like brothers, he considers Valerian his brother. So, he took the whole ceremony and preparations very seriously.So many people were surprised since it was the first time a male would be mated to two females. The moon goddess doesn't allow it but somehow Valerian and his would-be mates were clearly excited to be the exception and they didn't hide.Thalia and Shira spent the day leading up to the mating ceremony to visit the elderly, the orphans, the families that lost loved ones during the invasion of Wolfshade by Alpha Dario, and just about everyone. They were radiating love and always wanted others to share in their joy and happiness. They always seemed to spare time to come look for me. Each would come alone at different times and then,
ALPHA XAVIER POV It was around past midnight when I perceived a familiar smell, I knew that smell and the owner. "Alpha Xavier, are you still awake?" The voice whispered, whilst he crept in."Ace, I told you to remain at the border and wait for Dario to bring Rose to you." I whispered, trying not to wake anyone."Don't worry, it's too late already, I think they are holding little Rose in the main building." He said while he gently unlocked the chains around me. “I had a few of the fighters scout and find out what was happening.”"Hurry up," I whispered, "Dario's security comes to check in every fifteen minutes." Ace motioned for two other persons with him and they quickly got the chains off."What do you want us to do?" Ace asked, looking intently at me."Have you located where they are holding Rose?" I asked again and Ace was shaking his head when the other person beside him replied. It would all be for nothing if Dario finds out that a break is in and decides to kill little Rose."
ALPHA DARIO POV I left Alpha Xavier angry and struggling to come to terms with what he was saying. Surely Isabel would know better to keep to her duty, she should understand at least that I won't deliberately hurt her. Kidnapping Rose, Isabella's daughter, was not the best of strategies but it was important to bring Alpha Xavier to kneel before me.A glorious future awaited Thornridge, but sacrifices were necessary to achieve it. I had envisaged this day and thought all Thornridgens that duty to the pack should always come first before anything else. I hoped that Isabella would still remember her duty and follow suit.I deliberately refused to go back into the chamber to torture Xavier anymore. He had somehow found a way to rattle me by bringing up Isabella. My actions were unbecoming of a parent, I should be ashamed and embarrassed by my actions, but I wasn't. There was no way that I'd ever have had Alpha Xavier bound and almost at death point if I had not done what I did."What hap
ALPHA XAVIER POV The journey to Thornridge was an emotional one. The Wolfshadan guard insisted on following me despite my orders that they don't. There were Thornridgen fighters already waiting when we got to the border. "Alpha Xavier, I see you have come to surrender to the Lord Alpha Dario, just as he predicted. Stand your army down." A male spoke, I guess he was the leader of the fighters gathered here.I paused and took in the fighters that had come to welcome me and turned to see the fighters that had come with me. "What is your name?" I asked softly."My name is not important to you, I'm here to lead you to the Lord Alpha Dario." I noted that Dario had added another title to his name. The man was really pitiable, he has not yet gotten his victory but he is drunk by it already."I have journeyed for days from Wolfshade, but I will not move an inch if you don't answer me. You can tell your Lord Alpha to go fuck himself." I smiled and nodded behind him, for him to run along.Ther
ISABEL POVThe days following the disappearance of Rose were the worst days of my life. She had been my only source of joy and happiness. I was suddenly tired of everything, my depression had a relapse and I became suicidal. Life was not worth living, why should I be alive in a world filled with so much hate.While I was nursing my loss, Alpha Xavier was trying to cheer me up but I could see that he was not normal. He looked like someone who had so many emotions that he was trying to rein in. It was important that the Alpha always showed strength at all times but I could see beyond the façade, and so did many others.So when the lady Alanna came with news about Rose, everyone like me was excited that finally, a way has been chosen through the mercy of the moon goddess. "Read it." Alpha Xavier had said and Alanna began to read.I was not really paying attention, patiently waiting for her to finish and tell me who was responsible. For the first time I was going to cheer Alpha Xavier as
ALPHA XAVIER POV I was excited when Verin started going out for evening walks with Isabel, she usually returns home calmer and would sleep like a baby through the night. On one of the occasions, she had come home in high spirits and demanded we make love but it didn't quite go well, as planned. Especially, after the last time we had tried but failed.I could see the sincerity in her eyes, in as much as I was bitter, I dare not lay this on her feet. I knew I was responsible for whatever she was going through. Verin had cautioned me against sleeping with another female, saying that it would destroy all the success we've made. But that was difficult, chiefly because I had a band of beautiful females who would only require a moment's notice to warm my bed.Alanna, the new Mistress of Spy was one who had subtly suggested that we could be more. She had gotten so under my skin that I had taken to avoiding her, and mandated that Valerian do the usual check in with her and hold strategy meeti
ISABEL POV Alpha Xavier's attempts to warm my spirits were admirable and commendable, I started to feel bad for his sake and wished I could become what he wanted. This version of him had been what I've always wanted, yearned for, prayed for, yet now that I have it, it didn't seem to matter anymore to me. Although I was back among old friends and family, the feeling was not quite the same. Something was off and I couldn't figure it out, the old me would have been worried but I didn't really care. I would have preferred if he had left me with Sulin and never come back, but seeing his efforts had me thinking about what I could do to meet him halfway.Alpha Xavier decided to name our baby girl Rose, after my mother and it meant alot to me. So, to show my appreciation, I decided to become intimate with him but I couldn't put myself in the mood.Alpha Xavier watched on as I shivered at his touch, not out of pleasure but out of fear and recoiled from his touch, from his lips. I knew that b
ISABEL POV I was shocked when I got his smell but I believed it was not possible, that probably someone else had been able to smell like him. But then he called my name and I knew who it was before I raised my head. I would never forget that voice, the voice was with me always. Somewhere in the back of my head.An argument ensued but Sulin had me packed and seated in a carriage soon afterwards, regardless of how much I protested, she made sure I was on my way back to Wolfshade.It took two days to get to Wolfshade and I refused to talk to him. He insisted I eat and not allow my pride to harm the baby, his baby and that irked me the most. "Last I checked, you broke our bond and had me banished, with an order to have me killed if I ever set foot in Wolfshade. Are you leading me back to have me killed?" He paused eating and just looked at me, with pain and regret in his eyes. "Yes, I did all of that. I don't know if I will ever be able to love you right and atone for all the hurt I've
ALPHA XAVIER POV My team and I searched and searched for Isabel with no luck for the next few days. On the tenth day of our combined search a certain fear gripped me. A small voice at the back of my head started to whisper the possibility that she could be dead. I felt the others had come to the same conclusion from their expression but no one wanted to say it."I want to thank all of you from the deepest part of my heart, for toiling with me these past few days." I gathered them all at sunrise, the moment we arrived at Wolfshade. "You have shared in my faith, my belief and my hope that she's out there. And have been relentless in searching for her, but I guess it's time I also share in your faith that maybe, she's not out there." I took a deep breath and wanted to howl, I wanted to scream, I wanted to cry, I wanted to punch the wall."Xavier, maybe you should..." Verin was still speaking when I raised my hand and cut her off. I may not have confessed my love for Isabel while she was