Dakota The house was quiet as the sun dipped below the horizon. Filled with sorrow, it felt as though a dark cloud loomed over the mansion. Cara's desperate sobs echoed through the halls, and I felt her raw pain. Behind her closed doors, she wept, consumed by her grief. Meanwhile, Axton paced restlessly back and forth, while I leaned against the rail of the second floor, lost in my thoughts as I stared at him. The atmosphere was heavy as if someone dear to us had passed away. I didn't know what to do or think anymore. Cara needed to stop crying to prevent her fever from returning. I scoffed, looking away. Who would have thought that I would feel pity for her considering our rough start? Everyone outside the pack house, including Olivia, believed she was rude and condescending. They had completely misjudged her, and I couldn't blame them. Beneath Cara's façade was a broken woman whose own son had murdered her husband. How many people could bear such a burden? The negative a
Axton I stared at Dakota. Her brows furrowed in a frown, but I paid no attention to it. I was determined to be the voice of reason, to protect her from trouble. "You should quit this whole psychic thing," my voice tinged with concern. But, she vehemently protested, "I need to find my staff of leadership. It means everything to me." I let out a weary sigh. "I know, but magic is risky. Don't be stubborn and let things unfold naturally. Magic is a dangerous game, and I've witnessed firsthand the dangers it can unleash. There's a thin line between bravery and recklessness, and I fear you're crossing it." Her eyes flashed with annoyance as she challenged me, "What are you afraid of?" "I'm afraid you're becoming desperate. Why rush? Do you even know the true source of this magic?" She rolled her eyes, crossing her arms and distancing herself from me, taking a seat on a nearby chair. "It's easy for you to say because you haven't lost anything. Put yourself in my shoes. What would
Dakota Carefully measuring out the precise amount of herbs needed for Cara's tea, I used a small scale and then proceeded to wash the herbs. The herb I was using, dream leaf, had calming properties and was known as a natural remedy for depression. I brewed the tea, hoping it would bring some solace to Cara's troubled spirit. Alone in the kitchen, I found myself humming a familiar tune that my mother used to sing to me. Memories of happier times flooded my mind, and a wistful smile played on my lips. Oh, the carefree days of childhood, when problems seemed nonexistent. It's ironic how I longed to grow up back then. If only I could turn back time and remain a child forever. I let out a sigh and set a pot of water on the stove, waiting for it to reach the desired temperature. Once the water was hot enough, I began steeping the herb, but the pungent smell that filled the air made my face contort in disgust. It had an overpowering odor, like expired cheese. I needed to nurture Ca
Dakota All through the night, I stayed away from Axton, my body restless and irritable as I kept to myself in our bedroom. He attempted to talk to me, but I responded with the cold shoulder, refusing to engage and generally resentful of the situation. Eventually, he gave up and went to bed, leaving me alone with my thoughts and the panic rioting within me. Perhaps this was the perfect opportunity to go see the psychic with Erika. Restlessness consumed me and I tossed and turned in bed, unable to sleep. Early the next morning, Axton was deeply asleep when I quietly snuck out of the room, my footsteps quick. My mind fluttered away in anxiety, half in anticipation, half in dread as I rushed towards Erika's house. Minutes later, I banged on her door, causing her eyes to widen in surprise as she opened it. "Oh my God, you scared me. What's going on?" She asked nervously with a rapid flutter of her lashes. I panted, trying to catch my breath. "I've made up my mind, let's go see
Axton My sword-handling ceremony had finally arrived. The pack elders and leaders, dressed in our traditional pack attire and carrying gleaming swords, had begun the solemn procession. Dakota's smile broadened in approval as she detangled my hair with a wide-toothed comb and ran a stylish product through my hair, styling it to her taste. "You know, the ceremony isn't a fashion contest, right?" I said, the beginning of a smile tipping the corners of my mouth. Her startling blue eyes shimmered with amusement. "You need to look your best." The rest of the pack members, dressed elegantly, gathered in the foyer, eagerly awaiting the celebration. Dakota and my mum's maids had meticulously arranged everything, from the tablecloths to the delicious food and drinks. She excelled and enjoyed managing the affairs of the home without any assistance and I considered myself lucky to have her by my side, knowing that she could balance her responsibilities as my mate. She smiled, her beau
Dakota Ever since I returned, following the encounter with the psychic and the burning of my hand by the crystal ball, I embarked on a series of remedies to stop the persistent itch. Erika had given me some aloe vera gel, which I diligently applied to the affected areas in the bathroom. I chose not to tell Axton about it yet, because I didn't want to burden him with worry. He had enough on his plate, particularly with Xavier's impending execution. Clutching the small vial given to me by the psychic, I carefully unscrewed the cap which released delicate hints of herbs and flowers and its clear liquid shimmered faintly under the bathroom lights, I allowed a few drops of the liquid to fall into the crystal-clear water, observing as the drops blended and dispersed. Satisfied with the mixture, I stared at it for a bit, then raised the glass to my lips. Its sweet taste danced tantalizingly on my tongue and I took my time sipping slowly. But after a few minutes, an overwhelming wa
Dakota Beads of sweat trickled down Axton's forehead. He sat up, looking anxious. My eyes widened in realization. Axton got me drunk on purpose to sleep with me and get me pregnant, and this infuriated me so much. "How dare you, Axton!" I yelled, glaring at him. He didn't even need to tell me what he did because he already looked guilty. "What the hell is wrong with you? You did this on purpose!" "What? What are you talking about?" he stammered, scratching his head and getting to his feet slowly. "Axton, you are a terrible liar. Whenever you lie, it is very glaring. You are lying to me, and it's going to infuriate me even further. Why? Why are you doing this? Do you think deceiving me is cool? I told you I was not ready to get pregnant, and this is the time of the month when I am fertile. Do you think I'm going to let you go scot-free if this ends up in pregnancy? Do you think I'm going to be happy with you?" "Dakota, please, I just want us to have a future…" "Really, by being i
Axton I sat on the couch, weighed down by worry and sadness. Dakota had stormed out in anger, and I regretted my actions. I knew it was going to backfire, yet I went ahead and l went ahead and listened to Elias. Dakota was perceptive, and she couldn't have missed the fact that we had sex without using condoms. I had pushed her too far, and the realization that she might not forgive me hit me hard. Sighing, I absentmindedly traced patterns on the coffee table, replaying the argument in my mind. Every word she spoke, every gesture she made reflected her anger and hurt. I was the last person who should have caused such pain to my own mate. Aimlessly wandering in the pack house, I heard angry voices downstairs, indicating that Dakota still hadn't returned. I wondered who was causing such noise. "What's going on?" I asked with a commanding tone. Hugo, the head warrior, and Jackson, the head guard, were engaged in a face-off, raising their voices in heated arguments. I commanded
Sara Four months later. With my pregnancy showing, I wore a loose beach-colored gown together with other bridesmaids. Pumped and happy for the big day. Today was Dakota's wedding, and I was so happy as though it were my wedding. Dakota was experiencing back-to-back victories, and my emotions overflowed with tears streaming down my cheeks. It was a good decision for me not to wear makeup because I knew in the end, it was going to get smudged. My hands roamed my belly. My tiny miracle was growing every day, but the cravings that hit me were often crazy. While Dakota was getting ready with Olivia, Imani, and Sloane dolling her up, I reached for a slice of cake nearby and stuffed it into my mouth, enjoying the smudges of frostings. "Goodness gracious," Dakota laughed. "Somebody remind them to take my wedding cake far away from you." The wedding was the biggest talk in town as the merging of Wild Fangs and Desert Canines. It was the biggest event I had ever encountered, filled with
Sara My mornings were filled with overwhelming nausea washing over me. Getting sick in the morning had become my constant companion, and I felt a change taking place inside me. Everything was happening so fast, and Axton's betrayal threw us off balance. I couldn't believe that he cheated on Dakota with that bastard, Erika. I had never liked her, although I didn't have the guts to tell Dakota. The pain Dakota was experiencing was unfathomable, and I hated that bad things kept happening to someone with such a good heart. Axton, her own mate, had hurt her deeply. I made my way to the bathroom, and my stomach churned as I emptied its contents. Dakota watched me as I lay on the couch, covering myself with a blanket. "Are you okay?" she asked softly. I could see the sadness in her eyes, yet she was concerned about me. She had lost so much weight and was looking like the ghost of her former self, reminding me of the sad times before she met Axton. "I don't know," I managed to say. "I f
Elias My honeymoon with Sara was a fucking disaster. I was frustrated, confused, and annoyed that no matter how I tried to salvage the situation, nothing worked. All she wanted to do was return to Desert Canines to meet Dakota. The bond between both ladies was unbreakable, but I needed my time alone with my wife. It didn't help that I was getting blue balls after the failed attempt to make love with Sara. Sex had never been a problem for me. Although I was quite big, the girls at the Academy and my ex-flings had no issues with my size, but Sara freaked out when she saw me for the first time, making it seem like I was abnormal. She still hadn't returned from the pack house. I needed an outlet and went to Axton. He was busy with alpha duties, but when we took a break, I shared my feelings with him, hoping he would provide some relief. Instead, the idiot was amused and burst out laughing, which only fueled my annoyance. "It's not funny, dude. I don't think I can handle it a
Sara My wedding day had arrived. The whole thing seemed like a dream. I couldn't believe that I was getting married. I was ecstatic and scared at the same time. I sat in front of the mirror, and Dakota and Imani stood by my side, helping with my makeup. "I can't believe my baby girl is finally getting married," Dakota beamed, curving my brows. "You, my dear, are such a beautiful bride." "Adorable," Imani agreed. "I'm nervous, Dakota," I said to her. "What if something goes wrong? What if my wedding isn't perfect? Or what if I trip on my dress? What am I even going to do after the wedding? I know nothing about sex." Dakota and Imani exchanged glances, chuckling softly. "You're worrying too much. Everything will be fine. It's your day, and it's going to be amazing." I slipped into my wedding dress, a shimmery soft tulle gown adorned with intricate beadwork. Imani had gifted me the dress, and I had to work on it considering that it was meant for someone chubby like her. It turned
Sara I sat with Dakota in the back of the van, my heart racing with raw fear that compressed me like a vice, making me faint and feverish. Our hopes of escaping were shattered. Axton looked so pissed, like an angry bull. His reaction confused me, making me wonder why he was angry, considering that they had already labeled us murderers. But knowing how strong the mating bond was, I couldn't blame him, because somewhere in the back of my mind was dancing and rejoicing that we weren't leaving anymore. Now we had to face the consequences of our actions. Dakota sat beside me, her mouth on a white slash and anger simmering beneath the surface. Elias had no emotion on his face, and I wondered what he was thinking. He must hate me so much now. We returned to the cabin and Axton headed upstairs with Dakota, leaving Elias and me alone. The silence felt as though somebody had just died. I couldn't meet his gaze. I stared at my feet instead. He stood opposite me, not moving or saying anyt
Sara All night, I couldn't sleep. My limbs weakened, feeling Dakota's raw betrayal. I couldn't believe she would think so low of me. She blamed me for her circumstance and I didn't think I'd ever forgive her. The next morning, I sat outside the cabin, staring at the desert landscape. A small part of me wanted to run away because it took her getting angry before she said what was on her mind. If she didn't trust me, why were we pretending to love each other? Despite how angry I felt, I knew I couldn't leave her. We were all we had. I felt her presence behind me and went completely still. When our gazes met, I saw the remorse etched on her face. "Sara, I honestly didn't know what came over me last night. I'm so ashamed of myself. I shouldn't have said what I said. You know that I didn't mean any of those things, right?" My tongue lay like a stone in my mouth and a thick silence passed between us. "Sara, please say something. I was so worried when I returned to the cabin and cou
Sara When Axton drove us to the cabin. I was so scared and silent tension filled the air in the van like gas, choking me. I watched helplessly with nerves fluttering in my tummy. When Elias's fingers brushed my thighs, I luxuriated in the sweet sensation and the wave of desire hit me from my head to my foot but I'd rather fry my brains out than admit it. We all headed inside. Dakota looked away from Axton and avoided meeting his gaze like the plague. Axton seemed more pissed than Elias and didn't fail to show it. He shot Dakota a nasty look, his eyes like flint stones. Elias tried to infuse some humor and cleared his throat. "Anyone hungry?" No one answered him. Silence descended upon the cabin like a black-winged bird. "I want to speak with you alone. Upstairs," Axton said in a stormy voice to Dakota. The Dakota I had known and lived with for years would never acknowledge anyone who spoke to her in such a rude tone. But now, she did the opposite of what I expected.
Elias POV In my wildest dreams, I never knew the moon goddess would give me a mate. I'd always felt different, like an outsider. This mindset developed when I was a student. I didn't give a crap about school at all. It was worthless, soul-sucking, with distant monsters as teachers who ignited any spark of passion within me. It didn't help that I was doing very badly in school. Axton, my best friend, always thought I wasn't dumb, and always consoled me whenever the teacher yelled at me for having a coconut for brains. "You're street smart," Axton always said to me. "You're very good at solving problems most of the time. Maybe you're not functioning well because this place is a regimented learning system, or maybe the teachers are crap sacks." Axton was very different from me. He was a genius, loved by everyone. He had a dad, mum, and brother even though his brother was an asshole. My mum died while giving birth to me and my dad mourned her by busying himself with work. I was alwa
Sara Days and nights passed. Hopeless and defeated, Dakota and I continued our nomadic existence, surviving each day as it came. Our lives had been forever altered and we were stripped of everything we had. I watched Dakota sadly deteriorate from an Alpha to a rogue and after a series of rejections, we had no choice but to seek refuge in the northern deserts. My mind raced like a clock when we stepped into the brothel. I hated the place with everything in me and felt a bitter tang of disgust in my mouth because of their questionable character. It was a whorehouse. Somewhere I wasn't used to. The ladies of the night did their business here, making their rounds around. They were all young girls of varying ages. I had never had sex before, nor did I want to have sex in such a disgusting way, where my body would be on full display, fucking different sizes of dicks, ranging from the ones as tiny as my thumb to long as my forearm. I didn't want to be used as an animal. No female's