AidenGargled sounds come out of her neck, little air bubbles creeping through the blood as it oozes out of her. I purposely hadn’t sunk my teeth deep enough. Just deep enough so that she couldn’t heal quick enough. I wanted her death to be slow and painful. And if we were true mates, I would have felt it, instead, I feel nothing.As I spit her flesh from my mouth, Amelia’s hands flap. Her eyes grew wide with fear as she scrambles at her missing throat. Her eyes flicker to Bella, looking for help. Bella doesn’t move from her seat. Her face was still, her rampant heart slows. Her eyes focus on no one but Amelia.No one moves as Amelia’s body slumps back in the chair. The light dims in her eyes as her brain starves of oxygen. Even I knew it was a cruel way to go, but protecting Bella is my number one priority and will be for the rest of my life. No one is getting in between us again.“Get rid of the body!” I order Leighton as Amelia’s heart stops. “I don’t want to look at her for anothe
AidenBella was completely still in the back of the van. She was dressed too, which was something I was not expecting. Especially as she had shifted.“She shifted back and I helped her get into some of the new clothes before she passed out.” Katie mutters as she looks around me at Bella.“At least she shifted back.” I mutter“Eventually.” Leighton peers over my shoulder. “Basically I threatened to call you. Which sounds really stupid, but it worked.”“And she crashed out?”“I had to finish putting the hoodie on her. I couldn't leave her half dressed.” Katie adds. “And she is out cold, not even stirring.”I had asked her not to shift. I didn’t like that she still could. It was unnatural.Her face, lips and hair is coated in dried blood. She is curled up on her side, the same as when she is asleep. The shift had been too much for her, it had wiped her out. Climbing in the van, I place my hand on her stomach. The pup was fine, I could still feel the movements and the strong heartbeat.“
Bella. Aiden looks alarmed, “As in to eat? You wanted blood to feed your hunger? Like a Vampire?” “No. I felt this intense rage to kill. I don’t really remember why, or what happened.” I shake my head and my copper hair falls around my face. I was desperate for a shower, my hair was so matted and I smelled like old iron. “It’s like there is a blank spot of time, but I remember what I felt.” I pause to look at his face. There was that look again. “I mean it Aiden, everything is just blank. I left the house with Katie and Aiden. We had been in a few shops. I even remember Katie choosing some fancy underwear because she is going on a date. We came out and then I was here.” I frown at the room and pull at my clothes. “I don’t even remember buying this.” “Maybe you just need some more rest. Maybe after everything, your body is going in to some sort of protection mode. For the pup.” “Protection mode? Aiden, you know as well as I do, I don’t kill for fun. But from what you have told me
AidenWhat did she mean? For a brief second, my world had crashed around me. I couldn’t explain it, it wasn’t like she had died. Yet I had felt like we weren’t together, that I wasn’t mated to her. I was expecting her not to be here. The relief I felt when I saw her sitting in the shower almost brought me to my knees. She was still here, but she had a vacant look in her eyes.Her big golden eyes flash up at me “I saw something.”“Was someone in here?” There were no other scents in the bathroom or the bedroom.“I…” She shakes her head. “Can Hybrids have visions?”“No. Why?”“I think our pup gave me one.”“A vision? Bella, he isn’t even fully developed yet.”“Then I don’t know how to explain it.” She folds her arms across her chest which just makes her bump look even bigger.“What did you see?”She tells me about the piles of burning bodies. About a voice that calls to her, a voice that isn’t mine but one that belongs to another man.“Did you see his face?”She shakes her head at me an
BellaRubbing my eyes, I sit up in bed, surprised to see Leighton sitting on a chair in the corner of the room, watching me.“He’s told you then?” I mutter, yawning.“The lack of scent gave you away. Normally you stink.” He smiles at me and I couldn’t help but smile back. “By the way, happy birthday.”“Where is he?” I mumble, ignoring his well wishes.“Just doing a few jobs, he asked me to sit with you and keep you company."“So I can’t even sleep alone?”“No, not while you are unable to protect yourself.”“Pfft, I can still fight.”“Not for much longer, the way that pup is growing” He points to my round belly. “You look like you are about to pop.”“I’ve got ages yet.”“Not if it is a Hybrid, and at the rate you are growing, I would say you’ve maybe got a month or so left, tops.”Climbing off the bed, I am grateful that I had slept in one of Aiden’s massive tees. Looking down at my bump, Leighton is right, it was big. “I’m sure Aiden has told you that Hybrids develop faster.”“He tol
Bella“Terrified?” Leightons yellow eyes hover on me. “Why would you of all people be terrified? Plenty of people have had pups. It’s not like you are the first.”“It’s not that.” I mumble, trying to find the words to explain it. “I have never felt like this about anything in my life, ever.”“That’s why you took that potion of Eden’s isn’t it? So the Alpha won’t find out how you really feel about the pup.”“It’s not how I feel about my pup, it’s…..” I rake my hands through my hair. “It’s who my pup is going to be.”“That makes no sense. No one knows who he is going to be.”“Every member of my family has a bad reputation. And the only ones who are left are me and Miles and he is locked away in the dungeons. I’m pretty certain that if I wasn’t mated to Aiden, I would be dead right about now. Scratch that, I know I would be dead.”“You really believe that, don’t you?” He asks with his eyebrow cocked.I nod my head up and down.“We have already had this conversation, Bella. Yes we are gen
Aiden‘OFFICE!’ Leighton’s voice rumbled through my head.‘What’s wrong?’ Is it Bella?’ I ask, throwing the box of final decorations down.There is no response. Seconds later there are screams outside, a hundred voices echoing in my mind for me to come quickly, but it was Katie’s that stood out over the others. ‘Bella’s hurt!’It was not what I wanted to hear, today was supposed to be a day of celebration.I almost knock Rhys over as I charge through the doors, but I had to get to Bella.From here I could see the house. A mass of people grouped just outside of my office window, all looking down at something.Katie was yelling something about giving Aslow space.“MOVE!” I yell as I approach the group. They parted, leaving a small gap for me to move through. I could see her hair first. Her copper locks fanned out over the ground. She was quiet though. As I close in, I see her legs are twisted awkwardly. Katie is holding Bella’s hand, talking to her and Aslow is moving his hands over he
AidenThere wasn’t a chance for me to even think about what was happening. Katie and Eden pulled Bella backwards onto her back. Eden grabs a blade from the tray Aslow had set up for her and she starts cutting into my mate's stomach without a second thought. Like she was on some sort of mission.A tiny foot appears in the open hole. A greyish tinge to his skin.“He has to come out now.” Eden yells Within minutes, both women have freed my son from his mother’s room, but his whole body is floppy and has that strange tinge of grey, like no oxygen was circling his body.“Wrap him in the blanket and rub.” Eden orders Katie as she continues to work on my mate. "You need to stimulate his blood flow."After a few minutes, I hear this faint cry and see Katie breathe a sigh of relief. Her sea green eyes flash to me. “Your son is alive, Alpha. He is small, but he is strong.”She smiles as she hands him over to me. He has golden eyes just like his mother and the moment they settle on mine, he clo
Bella It was a strange few days, watching Aiden put plans in place. I knew where we were going, he had made that clear and I couldn’t wait. I had never felt more at peace than when we were in the forest and I couldn't wait to show the boys. “That’s all my stuff packed.” Katie whispers as she drops one last box into the back of Leightons van. I had barely seen her smile recently, unless it was a front she was putting on for Flynn. But a natural smile just didn’t seem to exist anymore. I hoped she would get past her mothers death. “You don’t have to come.” I say for the hundredth time. “Yes I do. Leighton says that he won’t leave me, but he won’t leave you either. nd you are the closest thing I have to family besides Flynn." There was a strange tone in her voice. One that I hadn’t heard from her before. “Are you mad?” “No…I just….” She tucks her blonde hair behind her ears and scans the grounds looking for someone. “Leighton’s inside with Aiden. If that’s who you are looking for
Aiden“Well she has to be wrong?!” Leighton shoves his hands in his pockets, completely unfathomed by what I had told him.“Why would she kill herself? Why would she tell me all that if she is lying and then stop her own heart? what would be the point?”“Guilt,” he shrugs his shoulders. “She knew you wouldn’t let her get away alive.”I groan and lean back in my chair, resting my hands behind my head as I stare up at the ceiling.“Bella’s with Katie?”He nods at me. “They are trying to decide on the best way to tell Flynn. Chances are, he already knows.” He studies me. “This is a good thing. The problem dealt with itself. You should be happy. But you’re not, are you?”“No.”“He’s a pup, what harm can he do?”“He won’t be a pup for long. You know as well as I do, he will be fully grown by the time his first birthday comes around. And I can’t help wondering if Eden was right.”“It’s not the first time we have been screwed over by a witch that has been spouting off a load of crap.” Leight
AidenI was grateful for the change of pace, standing guard of my own packhouse. The peace and quiet gave me time to think, to put a plan in place. To decide what’s best for my family.It was dark outside, and the clouds above us were thick. Unusually, you couldn’t see many stars. A storm was brewing, I could smell it in the air.I look at the other Hybrids, Wolves and Lycans that are standing guard. All giving up their own time to either protect my home or theirs. No one moves, everyone is as still as a statue, alert and prepared.I knew Eden was coming back. I knew this storm that was brewing above us was not a natural storm. And everyone else did too. That’s why the chatter had stopped and that’s why everyone is so alert. She was trying to mess with our senses.“You should go inside.” Rhys whispers next to me. “You are the King, and you and I both know she will target you.”“I have to do this.” I mutter back.“What about Bella and your son?”“I’m doing this for them.”He nods his h
BellaThe Omega leaves me with the three boys. While Connor and Cayden were messing around trying to bounce on the bed, Flynn just stares out the window, his small hand coiled up in the curtain.Stepping next to him, his eyes don’t leave the window. I assumed he was looking for his mother.‘You don’t need to be scared.’ I link him, knowing it was the only way to talk to him.‘I’m not.’ His small voice answers me back‘Why didn’t you tell everyone that you were still seeing your mum?’ I was curious. If it hadn’t been for Cayden, we would never have known.He wrinkles up his nose. ‘Is she in trouble?’‘She is.’I watch his shoulders drop a little and his eyes flicker up to me. ‘Katie says we shouldn’t lie.’‘Your sister is very smart.’ I smileA small smile appears on his lips. ‘She’s the best. She looks after me.'I couldn’t agree more. She was a good friend too.‘Do you know where your mum is?’ I ask calmly, hoping that if he knew, he would tell me but I didn't want to push him, he wa
AidenI was trying to keep my mate focussed. But I couldn’t help but be curious about the shifter's words. Had Bella really been born as a pup? Creedance hadn’t said anything when we had interrogated him, but then he had never said that Bella was a twin either.Looking around the room, blood was sprayed all up the walls and across the carpet. The shifters decapitated body discarded on the floor. Leighton was holding Katie against his chest, running his fingers through her blood stained blonde hair, muttering reassuring words but his eyes were on me. I knew why. Being born in pup form was extremely rare, there had only ever been a handful of recordings in history. And all were female, and all with a power unlike anyone else's. They just needed to learn to tap into it. If it was true about Bella, she was more powerful than we realised.Everything was starting to fall into place. The size of her Wolf, the delayed first shift, her need to protect the vulnerable, and why Selene was so des
Bella“Christian. Christian is fucking dead. I ripped him and his Rogues apart.” I spit“Yes, I remember it well.” She smiles. “You really are something else. He said you were special and yet I was always sceptical until I saw you that day. And what a magnificent Wolf you are, wasting no time to shred him to pieces. I was livid and yet mesmerised. You really could have provided him with a brilliant child.” she laughs, wiping her chin and spitting more blood on the floor.“You watched?” I mutter, wondering where she had been.“Like I said, I was fascinated.”“So how do you plan on carrying out Christian’s work? All those women got away. And do you really expect me to let you leave, alive?”“Did they get away?” Cassie mocks as she leans her back against the wall, smiling to herself. So much had gone on that I hadn’t even had a chance to find any of the women that Aiden and Leighton helped to escape. I had no idea about their children, I had no idea about any of them. They had been taken
Bella“Is he serious? Is he really expecting us to believe that he hasn’t done something to my Dad?”I watch Katie pace. Her arms swinging frantically at her sides, her hands are clenched into tight balls. I knew Katie, she was never angry, emotional yes, frantic sometimes, but angry is not something I usually see. If I hadn’t dragged her out of the lounge, I was certain she would have attacked someone. I wondered if it was what Aiden saw when he looked at me sometimes.“You are right.” I mutter. “Something doesn’t seem right.”“So you agree?” She stops and stares at meSlowly, I nod my head. Eli’s words, his denial, something just seemed off.“You should tell them. Flynn, Connor and Cayden are all down there with him.”“And so is Aiden and Leighton. Trust me, he is not getting anywhere near the boys.”She starts pacing again and I try to hold in the laugh. It was funny, we all did it when we were frustrated, like it was drummed into us how to react when we were overwhelmed.“He said
Leighton“What do you mean you can’t tell us?” Katie ask as I push bookcases in front of the windows.“Is it Aiden?” Bella queries.I turned around to look at them. Katie had her arms folded across her chest while Bella stood with her hands on her hips. Both of them glaring at me.“Aiden is fine. I’ve been ordered to not let you out of the room and to ensure you are all protected.”"You know I can shift, right?" Bell mutters, rolling her eyes“But why?” Katie frowns at me. Feeling all her emotions was still taking a lot of getting used too. Yes I’ve always been able to scent changes in peoples moods, but feeling them when your mate can be an emotional wreck was hard.“Yes, I know you can shift Bella. They were Aiden’s orders. I don’t know any more than what he has told me. He said he would talk to us when he gets back.”“Back from where? Leighton you are being very secretive!” Bella scowls at me.“I’ve told you everything I know. Aiden is with Rhys, he isn’t alone. You know as well as
AidenI knew Bella would be losing all sense of being calm, I just had to hope that Leighton and Katie could keep her in the house. That Leighton would use his Beta skills to stop her from coming after me.Guards surrounded the pack house while others were already searching houses, looking for Eli.Katie had said that Leighton could still scent Eden. That she had tried covering her scent but had been watching them as they talked.Sniffing the air, I can’t scent her, not immediately. I look around at the guards who are watching me with interest. Some of them were Hybrids, they would be able to scent her too, but they were holding their places as ordered.“Rhys!”I call him forward seeing as he was watching me the most. He jogs towards me, a wide smile on his face. The guards that had been stood either side of him take a step toward each other, covering the gap that Rhys had left.“Yes Alpha.”“Have there been any sightings of either of them?”“The Witch,” He whispers, “is watching at a