ISABEL POVI spent the following weeks applying everything I've learnt from Thalia and Shira about men. But the progress was snail paced, Alpha Xavier after the week of the Moon festival, recoiled back to his shell, seemingly coming alive each time we wanted to make love.I loved it at first, happy that he couldn't get enough of me, satisfied that he always runs to me to have his urges satisfied. But lately, it began to occur to me that I was being objectified in the way and manner he's treated me. It was not okay that the only thing that connected us was love making. Was it the alliance that was eating him up? Our conversation dried up gradually and all we had were just to people, meeting to make love and the occasional periods he's taken deliberate efforts to see me."What's going on with you Alpha Xavier, you are shutting me out and I don't like it." I summoned courage to tell him how I truly felt inside."Leave me alone Isabel." He said softly not raising his voice, which even en
ISABEL POVI spent the rest of the day talking with Eira and deliberately avoided any touchy subject. She kept reassuring me of how strong I am, and how beautiful I was. When the conversation shifted to my insecurities with Alpha Xavier. She told me that Alpha Xavier was faithful to me, that there's a rumor that he no longer visits any pleasure house as he used to."Why do you think many Wolfshadans like you?" She asked and I was surprised."I'll be damned if I know, but I'll say probably to spite Xavier." I tilted my head to an angle."No, that's far from it. You may not know it but you've been able to tame Alpha Xavier, maybe not in its entirety but even the blind can see it." She said gleefully. "Then you gave us the very first festival in ages. You have, unbeknownst to you, brought about some change.""I didn't know all this, it's been a fight of survival for me all this while." I said meekly."Yeah, you are too meek. You've testified yourself that Alpha Xavier follows your lead
ISABEL POVI hurried home later that evening, careful not to be seen by them with my heart racing at the possibility that they could still be there somewhere.I heaved a heavy sigh of relief when I got back to the Castle of Serenity. A lot was at play and I didn't know how to deal with it, I had the belief that Wolfshade and especially those resident in the castle of serenity were one big family. It was a lot to take in, discovering that this was not the case. I need to tell Alpha Xavier as soon as possible, I figured. 'Are you sure he is going to believe you?' That still small voice at the back of my head reminded me."Burn me." I muttered under my breath, it occurred to me that Alpha Xavier and I had a nasty quarrel earlier before I stormed out of his presence. It would not be easy to go back to him with this new information without appeasing him at least."Look who the cat drags in." He said when I walked in. It seemed he had not moved a muscle since I left, he was still seated at
ALPHA DARIO POV"He returns, the fox himself is back." Eli sounded excited to have me back to Thornridge, I had left him in charge when I left, which had been strange to everyone, even himself, considering the fact that he was my biggest adversary. "I see you Dario." "I see you Eli." I greeted, he had gathered every other council member and had them waiting for my arrival the moment a runner had arrived with the news. The ride from Lunaria has been hectic, it has taken all my persuasive skill to get Queen Aria to agree to my terms. She had woken up the next morning after we made love and changed her mind. She insisted that Thornridge was far from Lunaria and there would be no one to warm her bed but I was able to assuage her fears. She must have felt that out of sight would be out of mind for me and she was right. So she had me take new oaths that I dare not break. One of the oaths was to abdicate my throne and Thornridge would cease to be a sovereign country but a colony of Lunari
ALPHA XAVIER POVI woke up the next morning with Isabel snuggled close to me. I watched her body rise and fall gently and felt proud she was mine, my wolf leaped in joy and joined in. I drew her closer and kissed her lightly on her head."I see you are awake, big man, and the little man is obviously awake too." She said sleepily as she felt for my cock and was soon lowering herself on it. "There's something I've got to tell you, I don't know how you are going to take it but I have to tell you, regardless of how you'll feel about it." She said after she was all the way in before she started riding me slow and steady."What is it?" The way she said it, gave me an indication that whatever she wanted to say was important. I've learned through experience that the little details mattered a lot. "Why don't you tell me this 'something' and we can continue where we left off." "Make me orgasm and I'll tell you. I promise you, I will." She placed both her hands on my chest and closed her eyes.
ISABEL POV The sequence of events that happened were so fast. How did we arrive at the fact that I was now being led to the dungeon again. My time in Wolfshade at best could be described as interestingly eventful.One moment I was making love to the love of my life, the next moment, the craziest allegation was leveled against me. I guess the most disappointing thing was that Alpha Xavier didn't not believe me, and even Valerian who usually would did not either. But in all sincerity, I couldn't really fault Alpha Xavier for not believing me. Listening to him outline the different occasions where my actions and inactions have been suggestive of an ulterior motive made my case thin and my attempts to defend myself improbable.The carriage stopped at the dungeon and one of the guards signed me over with some instructions that Alpha Xavier had given them. "I see you are back again?" I knew whose voice it was before I raised my head. "It's unfortunate that it's Alpha Xavier that has sent
ISABEL POV With the judgment, Thalia, Kira, Shira, Eira, and Livia, accompanied me to the border. Each trying to bring up conversations that won't bring back the memories of what had just happened. I saw that they decided to come, Thalia and Shira came despite Valerian telling them that it was not safe."My baby girl." Verin caught up with us as we approached the border. "It was not fair, but even I couldn't do anything about it." She seemed sad and I knew she meant it. She was my biggest fan and I loved her a lot. "The moon goddess justice will be swift. I'll carry you in my heart forever."I hugged her before she was done speaking which surprised me also. Verin was someone I have come to cherish, she was the mother I never had. "Thank you Verin, it means a lot to me." She wrapped her hands around me and we both cried."Where will you go?" She asked when we pulled apart. I looked around and saw that everyone around me had been crying too, and were just beginning to come out of it."
ALPHA DARIO POV The whole Thornridgen council had rallied around my plan, with Lunaria already in my pockets, it was only Wolfshade that stood in the way of achieving my ultimate goal. Alpha Xavier would never be brought low and the methods that Queen Aria had suggested would not work. It should have worked if we were playing the long game, a gradual disintegration of Wolfshade. But I was tired of waiting. "Listen here, Queen Aria appointed me as head of this alliance because she believed in my vision and trusts in my judgment. We need to act now.""We need to take it easy, we may have the numbers but we should remember that this is Alpha Xavier and Wolfshade that we are talking about." Erik Wolfsbane said, the leader of Torek, he was a very strong werewolf. There was a rumor that he got his name from the fact that wolfsbane doesn't have any effects on him. "I believe you know where I stand when it comes to battles.""Is that fear I sense in your voice?" Sebastian mocked him and I u
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