Kavan’s POVOne could cut the thick tension in the room with a knife. The hand of my father lay possessively on Autumn's back; his eyes were sickly sweet love that made my stomach turn. I observed as he handed her a piece of fruit; his smile grew as she chewed under direction.Twisted in my gut was disgust. This is not right. A friend ought not to be treated this way. Autumn was someone, not a pet to be showered with attention and paraded about. But driven by his obsession with this new omega, my father seemed ignorant of the fact.I pushed back my chair, the sound of scraping resonating in the tense quiet. "If you'll excuse me," I murmured, my voice tense with hardly subdued rage. "I have some business to take care of."My father hardly looked up from his loving on Autumn. "Of course, son," he responded, sounding patronizing. "Don't let us keep you from your vital obligations."I gave no thought to responding. My jaw locked so hard it hurt as I turned and walked out of the dining roo
Kavan’s POVThe lavish furnishings in my father's office felt stifling, the strong smell of polished wood and ancient leather a sharp contrast to the austere efficiency of my own desk. My hands balled into fists at my sides, my jaw closed as I stood before him. The room had obvious tension—a quiet battlefield between two alphas.The words emerged metered, under control, each syllable a precisely placed stone building my case. "Father," I said, "I must express my disapproval of your decision to make Autumn the queen mother." My voice was low and serene.My father's brow creased with a flutter of displeasure across his face. "Disappval?" he replied, sounding with a warning note. "For what reason?"Not backing off, I gazed firmly at him. The chamber buzzed with turmoil, a subdued fight of will between alpha and son. Though I knew this would not be simple, I was ready to struggle for what I thought to be right. For the pack, for the memory of my mother, and for the gnawing discomfort Autu
Autumn’s POVEvery gasp for air was a useless struggle against the iron hold on my throat; my lungs scorched. Kevan's face was a mask of rage, his eyes flashing with accusation as I battled and kicked, yearning to release. Though it felt like dragging at stone, my fingertips scraped against his flesh. My vision started to waver; the room's boundaries became a blurry vortex.Adrenaline flooded me, a last-ditch attempt at survival. Pulling every last bit of strength, I spun my body in a furious push, elbow jabbing into Kevan's ribs. A grumble of pain escaped his mouth, his hold briefly slack.With that elbow strike, I gasped out loud. So sweet and valuable, the air poured into my lungs; every breath was a desperate try to fill the vacuum inside. As oxygen flowed into my veins, my brain swam with a disconcerting relief, rekindling the embers of cognisance.But the life-giving air was grabbed away just as rapidly as it arrived. Driven by a fresh wrath, Kevan's hand closed down on my neck
KavanI stood frozen in place, staring at Autumn. The sound of her words reverberated through my mind, shocking me to my core. If I were to believe what she was saying, I could very well have been the reason for her being able to talk.Her frantic eyes darted around searching mine. I watched her throat bulge as she swallowed, and her fingers jerked forward as she tried her hardest not to show her fear as she waited.Waited for me to speak, to tell her I believed her.I could practically see her fear that I might not believe her.Did I?As wild as the story she had spurned, a niggling feeling told me, what she said was the truth; how could it not be, when on that night we had come together—more rather, on the night I had slept with her, I had done something irreversible to her.Something that would surely cause problems for her and me in the future.From the look in her eyes, I knew she wasn't even aware I had marked her that night.I couldn’t help but replay the moment in my head, the
Autumn The shock of Kavan’s words stunned me; all I could do was stare rather blankly at his face.“Claimed me?” I questioned, “Why would you do that?”Kavan sighed, running a hand through his hair. “It just happened; one moment you were there, the next you were claimed, I could not control it. It was a primal feeling.”I stared at him, stunned at his words as they echoed through my head. I tried to understand the full extent of my plight. My confusion turned into dread as the repercussion of this truth hit me.“But I’m your father’s mate. How can this happen? This can’t.”“Don't you think I know that Autumn? It complicates everything,” Kavan said. “But I can’t change how I feel or what my wolf has done. All I can do is be honest with you.”“I don’t know what to say, Kavan. What happens now? Your father mustn't know of this; we can't change anything.” I rushed through my words as if trying to assure myself that I couldn't mess things up for Dax, and this problem was a big mess.“I k
Autumn POVA few days had passed since I made the decision to finish my mission and leave this pack for good.After much deliberation, I decided on following my brain rather than my heart; finishing Dax's mission and gaining my freedom was the best bet of action for me and all involved.I realized it would be selfish of me to lead Kavan on when I knew I had no future with him.Dax had promised to set me free; if only I could get the cure, with proper planning I was sure to get out of this alive. Letting myself be swayed by thoughts of Kavan and the Mark was a distraction I could not afford.For days I had done all I could to avoid Kavan; the thought of acknowledging the tight knot we were tied into was too much to bear. Every time I saw him, the memories of his touch, his kiss, his confession, the mark all flooded back, threatening to drown me in emotions I couldn't afford to feel, reminding me yet again how powerless I was to fate.In a bid to save myself from ruin, I made an effort
Autumn’s POVAs I was laid down inside the store over a corner table, trying to struggle through, I realized it was Kavan. I have a sigh of relief. For every second of the moment, the air in the storage smelt strongly of cleaning products—a weird aroma. One minute I was engrossed in the daily grind of my chores, replenishing shelves, and the next strong arms surrounded my waist, pulling me off my feet and taking me into this quiet area.He asked why I have been avoiding him. Kavan's inquiry surprised me; the passion in his voice shivered down my spine. His charge hung there, loaded with unsaid feelings. My head flew, desperately looking for a way to turn off his pointed stare."I haven't been avoiding you," I said, trying to add a humorous lilt to my voice despite my heart hammering against my ribs. We had been flirting along the aisles just moments ago, trading clever banter and stolen looks. The air had changed then, packed with an indisputable tension.My eyes flew over the poorly
Kavan’s POVWide with terror, her eyes fastened on me, a mute cry for aid painted on her face. Her heart's frenzied pulse resonated in the little storeroom, a mirror reflecting the anarchy whirl inside my own chest. Guilt turned my insides into a stark, agonizing reminder of the catastrophe I had brought us into. Holding her and looking for a way to shield her from the approaching conflict in my head. I wanted to murmur words of consolation and reassurance to help her to clear the anxiety carved on her lovely face. But Mrs. Pott's unrelenting approach, each one a hammer strike to my gut, kept me back.Rather, I reached out, cupping her cheek, my palm shaking with a mix of want and fear. Her delicate skin, like silk under my rough hands, stood in sharp contrast to the storm inside me. My hand followed the delicate curve of her jawline, a silent apologies for the risk I had carried her into. My words were merely a breath on her flesh: "It's going to be okay." The words ought to have ca
All did not sit well with me seeing Autumn become so flirty with my dad. I knew she had to be up to something, but I could not quite wrap my fingers around it yet.After my dad and she left, I was worried, and I decided to follow my instincts to go check up on her. I knew something bad was happening, and I could not just stay by and think about it.“Sunny, I have to go now. I will be right back,” I said. “Where are you going, Kavan?" She asked. “No, you don't have to worry; I will be right back in no time,” I responded. “Okay, I will be waiting for you here. Do not take too long,” she added. I faked a smile and left, heading to my dad's room.I could hear someone screaming and shouting from his room, and I knew all hell has finally broken loose; he must be trying to force himself on her again.I banged at the door, and I slammed the door open. My hunch was right. The sight in front of me was so gruesome, as I could see my dad on top of Autumn, trying to force himself on her.“What do
MATHIAS’S POV Autumn was being flirty with me, and she made it so obvious to everyone. I was sure she did not know if Kavan was being serious about Sunny or not, but I believed him either way."Mathias, can we go to your room, please? I feel like spending the night with you,” she said. Kavan looked stunned when he heard her say that and was looking at her for some sort of explanation; she ignored him and was persistent in going with me to my room.I took the opportunity and grabbed her waist, gesturing her to my room and leading the way. Oh yes, finally!” I said. I was filled with excitement as I beamed with smiles all plastered on my face. Autumn was trying to make Kavan regret his decisions by getting him jealous of me. Either way, I was enjoying it, so I did not bother to think much of it.“Kavan, I think we should go too. We have told dad what we came here to say,” Sunny said, almost dragging Kavan away. Kavan did not want to leave as he continued staring at Autumn, waiting for h
AUTUMN'S POV Marcus dragged me by my hair and forcefully started kissing all over my body. I felt so disgusted as I struggled to pull him off me. His grip on me was too tight, and I was unable to get him off. At this point, I was screaming and shouting, hoping someone would hear and come to my rescue. This was not the first time Mathias had tried forcing himself on me.The last time was when Kavan luckily came to my aid. Mathias had dragged me from Mrs. Potts room to his room and tried molesting me. I was trying to fight my way out, but his grip on me made it so difficult and hard to leave. I could hear banging at the door, and Kavan suddenly slammed the door open. He came to my aid again, and I knew he had a hunch about this earlier because he knew I would not willingly go to Mathias’s room unless I had a plan. “What do you think you are doing, dad?” Kavan said, pushing his dad off me. “Why are you here?” Mathias responded. “Shouldn't you be with your pregnant wife?” he added. “W
AUTUMN'S POV I was being flirty with Marcus, and I made it so obvious to everyone. I did not know if Kavan was being real with the pregnancy with Sunny, but I suspected it to be only an act to get his dad deceived."Mathias, can we go to your room, please? I feel like spending the night with you,” I said. Kavan looked stunned when he heard me say that and was looking at me for some sort of explanation. I ignored him and was persistent in going with his dad.Mathias took the opportunity and grabbed my waist, gesturing me to his room and leading the way. Oh yes, finally!” Mathias said. He was filled with excitement as he beamed with a smile all plastered on his face. This was part of my plan and also to make Kavan feel a bit jealous about it. I could see the jealousy all over his face, and he was very terrible at hiding it.“Kavan, I think we should go too. We have told dad what we came here to say,” Sunny said, almost dragging Kavan away. Kavan did not want to leave as he continued st
MATHIAS’S POV “You have always been selfish, Mathias; you have never truly cared about me or my feelings,” she said, trying to gaslight me. “Me selfish? How dare you say that to me?” I responded. “That is the truth; why don't you want to accept that fact?” she added, trying to instigate me to respond. I knew all she was doing and just played along with her tricks.“You are lucky, Autumn, that I am in a good mood, or else you know what I would have done to you,” I responded. “What haven't you done, Mathias? I still remember vividly how you raised your hands on me,” she said. “I cannot believe you would do such to me,” she added. “I did not mean that, Autumn, and you know that, you keep pushing me to the wall,” I responded.She was about to respond back at me, but then Sunny and Kavan suddenly showed up and told me that they had something to tell me..Kavan saw me and Autumn already there; it was as if she wanted to leave, but I was stopping her from leaving. Kavan and Autumn looked at
AUTUMN’S POV “You have always been selfish, Mathias; you have never truly cared about me or my feelings,” I said, trying to gaslight him. “Me selfish? How dare you say that to me?” Marcus said. “That is the truth; why don't you want to accept that fact?” I added, trying to instigate him to respond. “You are lucky, Autumn, that I am in a good mood, or else you know what I would have done to you,” he responded. “What haven't you done, Mathias? I still remember vividly how you raised your hands on me,” I said. “I cannot believe you would do such to me,” I added. “I did not mean that, Autumn, and you know that, you keep pushing me to the wall,” he responded.I was about to respond back at him, then Sunny and Kavan suddenly showed up and told Mathias that they had something to tell him.Kavan saw his dad and I already there; it was as if I wanted to leave, but he was stopping me from leaving. Kavan and I looked at each other briefly before we avoided each other's eye contact. We had to ma
KAVAN'S POV Sunny and I went to look for my dad. We had gone to his room after revising for the plan I told her already. “You know what to do, right?” I asked her. “Yes, I do,” she responded. "Okay, give me an example; express yourself,” I added.“No, it is not needed. I will do that when I see your dad,” she said. I did not argue with her and just nodded in response to her. We first went to my dad's room to see if he was there, but he was nowhere to be found."Dad,” I said, knocking softly on the door. “Are you in there?” I added. “Maybe he is not in the room,” Sunny said. “I guess too; let's go to the balcony or the dining hall,” I added. “Let us go to the balcony first,” she responded, and we both left and headed to the manor's balcony.There we saw my dad and Autumn already there; it was as if she wanted to leave, but he was stopping her from leaving. Autumn and I looked at each other briefly before we avoided each other's eye contact. We had to make it look like we got betrayed
MATHIAS'S POV “Did he catch you hiding?” Kavan asked her. She responded and told him that I did not, but I noticed her presence. “He did not see me; I made sure to hide very well,” she responded to him. “So when they both left, I came out of my hiding spot and quickly went to Mrs. Potts room, and then, I think, after a few minutes, he also came by to check up on her,” she added.“Did you try leaving when you saw him?” Kavan asked her. "Yes, I did try to leave, but he held me back,” she replied. I was spying on Kavan and Autumn and also listening to their conversations. After some while, I got bored of it and went to the library to cool my head off. After some minutes there, I asked a guard to request for Marcus to come to the manor. “Hey you, come here,” I said, sighting one of the guards I saw. "Yes, sir,” he responded. “I want you to call Marcus for me, get in touch with him, and tell him that I want to see him at the manor right now,” I said. “Okay, sir,” he responded and left.
AUTUMN'S POV I do not owe you any reply, Marcus.“ I responded to him. “Why can you not get that you are just a tool for Mathias? He is never going to trust or actually love you like his son; you are just doing this for nothing. Are you blind to see that?” I added.“Shut up,” he said. “You are working so hard for him, but when he is done using you, he is going to leave and dumb you without even looking back at all,” I responded. “Who asked for your opinion, Autumn? Why can you not just keep your mouth shut?” He fired back at me.“You don't own me, so I can speak and give my opinions whenever I want to,” I said. “You are not the boss of me, and you cannot control me, scumbag,” I added. I have had it enough with both him and Mathias; people have been calling me names, but I have just decided to keep calm all this while, but now I am so tired of it, I cannot take it anymore.“Since you are done barking Marcus, how about you leave?” I said. “I already told you to mind your business,” he r