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Libby POV“Don’t you know who I am?” It’s like a bucket of ice cold water has been thrown over me, knocking me out of the shocked trance I had been locked in.Even with my wolf suppressed I can feel his aura, as he lays it on thick for Ben, Beth and Anwir. The aura of the Alpha King…the most powerful aura around…well they haven’t met Evelyn yet. She could always give him a run for his money.“Yes your majesty, forgive me, I didn’t recognise you.” Ben murmurs, head down in a sign of respect..his neck submitting to the shifter world’s Alpha King.I try to keep that growing fear within me at bay, but his presence creates that dread in me that I haven’t felt in a long time. The same fear that made me leave in the first place. I can feel his eyes gaze upon me, something inside of me looking up at him wanting to meet his challenging look. As soon as I do it, I regret doing so. A smirk forms upon his face until it sinks into a frown.“What has happened?” My eyes seem to be playing tricks o
Pierce POVI had lost the pick-up truck some time ago and had resorted to shifting into my wolf form. My wolf refused to let me take command on this, it was simple…he wanted to track our mate in his wolf form and I had to let him handle this for once. Such an animalistic urge could only be handled by the animal. The only problem with this, I had no way of carrying my clothes with me. I could only take my phone via my wolf’s mouth.Tracking a high-speed travelling vehicle is never the easiest but at least being an open back pick-up truck, her scent lingers slightly in the air. Only a little mind, if she wasn’t our mate I wouldn’t have a chance of finding a scent. It had now become that faint, her vanilla scent having remained diluted down still even since finding her again. Her fading scent takes me to a roadside diner, before it picks up slightly around the back of the building. I notice cameras covering the carpark and backtrack towards a shaded area by trees when I shift again,
Libby POVIt took me a 30 minute hot shower to start to feel clean again. Rex, taken straight into his own shower having wrapped his arms around me, not realising what I was covered in. Even as I was towel drying my hair, my mind kept thinking about the bundle of joy in Evelyn’s arms. I couldn’t think of anything else. She had been pregnant. What kind of a person does that make me…I was pacing the floor, building up the courage to walk downstairs, conflicted in my emotions. I wanted to see the children, I was desperate to hold them again but I was out of my depth. I couldn’t fight against Reuben and Evelyn if they wanted to punish me, I wasn’t a skilled fighter. Isn’t that how things worked in the werewolf world, challenges and submissions. Putting the towel down I look at myself in the mirror. My hair now like a wet bird’s nest on top of my head, as I had vigorously tried to dry my hair with the towel. The results of my hands working through my inner stress. “Libby?” Evelyn gen
Libby POVThe smell of dinner perfumed the hallways of the Carmore-Bright family home and when I walked in to the dining room to find a feast on the table, I hadn’t known this level of excitement about food in such a long time. To Ben, Beth and myself, this was the equivalent of a banquet, food to last for days. Even now my mind naturally thinks of ways to reheat this food, to make it last longer for the days to come on the farm…old habits I suppose. We hadn’t ever shared a meal across a dinning table before unless you count the occasional meals at the farmer’s house at their kitchen table, which was always a squeeze. Nothing as affluent as this. Although Ben isn’t talking to me, his eyes keep looking at me from across the dinner table, anxious in accepting this wholesome meal in a grand family setting. Our surroundings had changed from rags to riches in a matter of hours and I couldn’t blame him for questioning which he preferred. At least at our simple camp fire meals there was
Libby POV“My sister and I are packless, we may be alpha borns but we relinquished our heritage when we left the pack.” “And which pack might that be?” Reuben’s eyes narrow. “A pack that no longer knows right from wrong.” Ben sighs. “Hhmm interesting…are they part of the Silver Moon or Red Stone alliance?” It is Evelyn that asks this time, her eyes flickering to me briefly. “I…” Ben starts to respond but is cut off when a car screeches outside, the tyres and breaks being pushed to their limits.“Great…perfecting timing.” Reuben groans as he sits back in his chair as my eyes search the windows for any idea of who was outside. “Did you not tell him where she was?” Evelyn growls at Reuben, as she manages to elegantly stand up from the table, even though she is annoyed, and walk over to the window.“It may have slipped my mind.”“Goddess Reuben, he’s your best friend…”“Where is she?” I can hear Pierce’s roar as he pushes open the front doors. If the house could, I’m sure it would sha
Libby POV“Mate? So, you go from human to werewolf to already having a mate, in one day..” Ben laughs out slightly hysteric. “What’s the joke?” Anwir enters with a large grin on his face yet a sultry look in his eyes. “You!” I point at him before moving away from Pierce and walking up to Anwir, my finger now pointing him in the chest. He is completely unfazed by my anger directed at him, he even looks down at my finger with a pout forming on his face.“Me..”“You…you lied to me. All this time…you knew who I was?” My voice raises at him. “Yes.” He shrugs playfully yet I can’t see the funny side like him. This wasn’t a joke, this was my safety…my life. “I was targeted to keep you safe..” He continues. “Correction, you were assigned to find her…not keep her away for so long.” Reuben cuts in as he picks Elspeth up in his arms, Rex now standing by his side.“Children why don’t you go put a film on..” Evelyn tries to remove them away from of our imploding situation.“But I want to be w
Libby POV I didn’t go back downstairs. In truth, not only was I too angry at Anwir and Reuben, but I was also too cosy in this huge bed just to myself. As soon as I showered and slipped into the bed, I fell asleep instantly. A night’s sleep that felt like waking from the heavens.Clean bedding, a soft duvet and pillows that felt as soft as marshmallows. Yet I still wake up early, 5am…old habits day hard. It took me a moment to remember where I was and I didn’t have to go feed the chickens and pigs. I decide to enjoy the quietness of the morning before the rest of the household stirs and it becomes another battleground. Before that, I definitely needed caffeine. I walk into the kitchen and immediately fill the kettle up with water at the sink, my eyes looking out trying to identify a grunting sound coming from somewhere in the back fields.Opening the back french doors, I scan the area to find figures in the near distance moving. I reach for a blanket that was overhanging one of t
Libby POVThe house starts to stir and so I use the excuse of needing a morning shower to retreat back upstairs. I had gone from a caravan all to myself, to a house full of people in the space of a few days…I still needed time to adjust. Also, now that I am here…back in this world, what is my next step? What do I do now…I took longer than I should in the shower, it was nice not to have to worry about the water turning cold and choosing between washing my hair or shaving my legs…today I got to do both, in the same shower. As I leave the en-suite and enter back into my guest room, a squeal escapes me when I find a sweaty Pierce sitting on the edge of my bed. “Pierce.” I gasps out, tightening the towel around my chest, very conscious of my nakedness underneath. “Are you avoiding me?” His eyes travel the length of me, and I blush knowing what he was thinking…all that was covering me was a towel. A towel he could quite easily tear off me. “I’m just taking my time…trying not to get ov
Libby POV “Wine?” I offer out to Evelyn as we both tiptoe down the stairs, trying not to wake the children up who were too excited to sleep. It took some time, some very well manipulative head stroking on my part…but they were asleep. “I best not, I’ll be up there only in an hour to resettle Angel.” Evelyn sighs out. “I can do that, you should relax.” I’m determined to take no for an answer as we walk into the kitchen and I pull a cold bottle of sauvignon blanc out of the fridge. She watches me in silence, as I fetch two wine glasses and continue to pour the wine out. As I hand her a glass, a small smirk enters onto the corner of her lips.“What?” I ask out, thinking perhaps I did something wrong with the way I poured out the wine.“You seem different…”“Different?”“Good different…you seem like a luna.”“I wouldn’t go that far, but I am starting to feel settled here. Starting to feel at home.” I don’t think I’ve said that out loud yet, and as I do, it’s how I feel. “I’m pleased
Pierce POV “How is she…really?” Reuben asks as he sits down in my office. I have just poured us both a glass of whiskey, as Libby helps Evelyn send the children off to bed. “She’s doing…great.” Even as I say it, I don’t know if I quite believe it. It can’t be that easy can it. Anwir visiting her in her sleep and she miraculously wakes up the next morning a more positive version of herself. “I don’t think you even bought that lie.” Reuben grunts out as he slowly sips on his glass. “No, I didn’t. Anwir arrived one night. He did something, something that seems to be working. I don’t know what it was or what he did, but since then she’s been more open towards her wolf.” I shrug out trying not to let it annoy me that what he did has helped her, when I couldn’t. “Then what’s the problem?” “I guess I’m just waiting for the penny to drop, for her to go back to how she was. This just seems too good to be true.” “Did you ask Anwir to come here?” Reuben asks, his forehead fu
Libby POV I’m bouncing on the balls of my feet, nerves mixing with excitement as I watch the array of vehicles driving towards us just up ahead. They glide towards the alpha house like a slithering black snack…all the same, all in perfect collaboration with one another. Pierce refused to tell me who was coming, but there’s only one person I know that would travel like this, only one family. The alpha king and the royal family. My eyes can’t look anywhere else, the black cars consuming my full attention. As soon as the cars pull up, a door opens even before the driver has had the chance to open it, and a little foot pops out. Warmth enters into my chest and spreads across my entire body. “Auntie Libby!” Rex comes running up to me and I can’t help it…my feet are already running to close the gap between us as I fling him up in the air, and spin him in my arms. As soon as I place him down, his sister Elspeth does exactly the same, and so do it. I can’t believe they are here, th
Pierce POV “Pierce, Pierce!” Libby’s screams wake me, her cries sending a bolt of fear right through me. Were we under attack…why else would she be screaming. As soon as my eyes are open she’s flung herself on to the bed, and on top of me. Not only sending me into a blind panic but also kneeing my manhood. “I heard her.” She squeals out with excitement. The relief I feel with her tone of voice that we in fact aren’t under attack, doesn’t last long and turns into pain when I realise where exactly she landed. “You heard who?” I role onto my side trying to swallow down the nausea from the pain in my nuts. They were already swollen…now they will be even more so. “My wolf, in the kitchen…well not in the kitchen. In my head whilst I was in the kitchen.” I can’t see, the pain has blinded me. Oh goddess, will they ever feel normal again. “What were you doing in the kitchen?” I cough out. “Making breakfast in bed, for you.” Her words cause my coughing to stop and I take her in for th
Libby POV *Four weeks later. I’ve been training non-stop…non-stop. I have muscles, muscles that make me strong. Pierce had turned me into a weapon, and I love it. I’ve never felt so powerful in all my life, so in control. I was now taking part in pack training but only when Pierce was present. It wasn’t lost on me that Annabel was no where to be seen, even though Archie was now out of hospital and taking part in training as well. It was three weeks ago that he was already there at training on morning, standing with the warriors waiting for orders. His presence woke me from the little bubble I had been living in, where I could just pretend that he hadn’t been attacked because of me. My heart nearly jumped out of my chest when I saw him standing there. I wasn’t expecting him and did stop dead in my tracks, even try and back-step as guilt ate away at me. Pierce was there, standing behind me and with a gentle press against my back, I was walking directly to Archie. He refus
Libby POV “I feel like training today, maybe even shifting for the first time.” I say out loud as I reach for the glass of orange juice in front of me and take a sip. Unresponsive, my eyes glance up to Pierce who is frozen…his spoon of porridge floating just below his lips. “Are you okay?” I look at him with concern, he had been acting strange all morning. From the moment I woke up in fact. He’s been my shadow, watching me at every opportunity, even following me into the bathroom until I pushed him back out and locked the door. A shower….fine, I have no issues with him watching, but I wasn’t going to shower. “Are you sure you are feeling up to it?” “Yes, I feel great this morning. I must have really needed that good night sleep.” It’s the complete truth, I did feel great this morning. Like a new me, refreshed and eager to start the day. He places his spoon back down, his eyes blinking at speed as he looks at me in bewilderment. Am I missing something, he’s been in a strange mood
Pierce POVHe’s like something from an old thriller movie, sulking in the shadows preparing to attack his prey. If I didn’t know him I would instantly say he was a threat to my life...even now I’m not sure I can trust him. My wolf keen to not turn my back on him any time soon.His dark features are almost…unworldly. Like someone created in a different era, a different lifetime. Even as he tears off another piece of bread and dips it into milk…the way he holds himself is far too arrogant, far too confident…even for a werewolf. And that is saying something.“I don’t remember giving you permission to enter my home.” My wolf is forward with me, a bitter taste entering my mouth from his unnannoucned, unauthorized entry.“Or your pack for that matter, but here I am all the same.” He lazily responds as if he was doing me some kind of favour by being here. That it was out of his way to intrude in our house, intrude in our lives. Why was he here, did Reuben send him for some reason.“If Reu
Pierce POV Three days have passed since I forced Libby to go cold turkey. She hasn’t left the house yet, and neither have I. Beta Dane visits us regularly, giving me daily reports on the pack. I had discharged Annabel from the pack’s cells, but crimes against my luna would not be forgotten or forgiven. She was on thin ice, one wrong move and I will end her. My wolf’s hearing was glued to Libby’s heart rate at all times, any change and I knew I needed to take her mind off the cravings. Give her food, give her fluids, take her mind off what she is craving, what her body is actually needing. As Dane reads out the night time report, her finger excessively taps on the arm chair, her breathing quickening…both Dane and me notice it, both our eyes watch her carefully. She stands up, wrapping the long cardigan tightly around her as she moves towards the kitchen. I go to follow her until she reprimands me from out of sight, saying she was making herself some bread and milk. I need to le
Pierce POV It’s a phone call I didn’t want to make. But I knew I had to, as both the alpha of the Grey Howl pack and also as Libby’s mate. Reuben has been searching for Natascha for months, unbeknown to him she has been using his own sister as a method to get to him. I wait until Libby is asleep, her recovery still a long path but one I will walk alongside her throughout. She would never have been ready, so I made that decision for her…helped to carry her heavy load. Rightly or wrongly, I took control. Sitting down at my desk, the moon shines brightly in the sky behind me…the pack grounds blanketed in a peaceful darkness as my pack members sleep. I reach for the phone, knowing as soon as I dial his number, all hell will break out. He won’t let this go unchallenged, he won’t stop searching for her. Natascha’s men may have attacked my borders last night, but if I make this call…I am unleashing a hell upon her, a hell she will not survive. A hell she deserves for daring to manip