Pierce POV
I’ve visited Reuben’s and Evelyn’s new home plenty of times, but never with a purpose other than just spending time with them.If Reuben’s trackers haven’t been spotted by mine, then there was the strong possibility that he hadn’t sent any out at all.Fate had destined for Reuben and I to be in each other’s lives from a young age. Our Father’s were the best of friends until their feud, forcing Reuben and I to grow apart, to temporarily become adversaries.A few physical arguments as teenagers, I believe one being over both having a crush on the same girl…then our fates crossed again the day he carried a collapsed Evelyn in his arms out of a warehouse located on my outer pack grounds.I found immense pleasure in flirting with Evelyn so openly in front of him, even when he was denying their bond and remaining with Vicky.Now their kids call me uncle.The Royal Alpha family’s house was set away from both packs, geographically in the middle of the Red Stone and the Silver Moon. It helped them be together as a family and travel between both packs when necessary.For the sake of the children there was an invisible border, helping them to feel more at ease after everything they have been through, especially little Elspeth…she suffered the most after the Silver Moon pack attack.Confined in the dark basement hearing the attack play out, not knowing where her parents were. I can’t think of what she went through.They have plenty of guards placed strategically around the area, remaining invisible. But don’t let that fool you, they are ready to intercept at any stage. However, I have free movement permission, being classed as family myself.The house is quiet, too quiet.It’s usually vibrating with the joyous sound of children’s laughter that constantly bounces off the walls.I find him standing alone, his eyes staring off into thin space, my approach completely unnoticed by him.The Alpha King.The highest wolf in our nation, and he doesn’t notice someone entering his home where his family are.Something wasn’t right.“Reuben?” I’m cautious at first, he seemed to be in some kind of trance-like state. I’d be forgiven for thinking he might be in a mind-link but with the pack too far away for it to work, everything is technology based here.That, and the fact that his eyes aren’t glazed over, which is a classic sign of a mind-link being in process.The guards serving on site for the family’s close protection continue to communicate through the mind-link, a mixture of both Red Stone and Silver Moon guards. At least mind-links work if any same pack member is close by.“Pierce…back for more mayhem.” His eyes remain in a trance like state until he seems to shake himself out of it.He was tired.He missed the first 4 years of Rex’s and Evelyn’s lives…knowing Reuben he was trying to make up for it now with Angel. Overstretching himself with a newborn.“Something like that….I need to speak with you.”“Drink? About what?”“Sure. I’ve had trackers out for the past 3 months…”“You have, why?”I have to bite the inside of my mouth, isn’t it obvious? But I have to remember that they were in a newborn baby bubble and the outside world wasn’t top priority for them right now.“To search for Libby.”“I told you my men were on top of things, we should find her soon.”“Reuben…cut the crap.” I can’t help that my tone takes a sour note.“I know you haven’t had men out there looking for her…have you ever?”“Of course I have..”“Show me?” I press for evidence. Yes I haven’t got a family like him but I’m just as tired. My own mate connection on the brink of breaking tends to keep me up at night.“Excuse me?”“Show me, show me what your men reported to you…”“Pierce!”“Show me!” I can’t help but growl from the slight humour in his voice.He has his mate now, he forgets what it is like to be parted from a mate, someone that was made for you and you alone.“You need to just give it some time…”“I have Reuben…6 months. I can’t keep going on like this. I need to find her.” My voice is sounding as exasperated as how I feel. I take a deep breath in before continuing.“Look, I’ve put Dane in charge of the Grey Howl pack…for however long it takes. I can’t even feel her Reuben, through the mate bond.”A moment passes where he seems reluctant to respond. His eyes closing as if he is contemplating internally whether to tell me something.If he has any information on where she could be he’s got to start talking. It might not mean anything to him but for me it could be a tiny clue that points me on the right direction.“I just need to make sure she is alive, that she is safe.” I plead with him as he starts to turn away from me, I have to pull his shoulder back so that he is continuing to face me.That’s when he gives me the news I needed to hear.The admission that soon makes me realise he has been holding out on me, letting me struggle daily.“She is safe.”Pierce POV “What do you mean she is safe?” I can feel my face screwing up as I ask my own question. My own mind at a loss of what he means. “Exactly that, that she is safe.” This is beggar’s belief. “How long….for how long have you known this?” “For 6 months.” For 6 months…for 6 months he has known she is safe yet he has let me think the worse. Every time I have been here I have opened up to Evely, told her how I have been struggling…no wonder he was so quiet, the prick was holding back from me. I could feel my body trembling, my beastly wolf wanting out…to punish this so called Alpha King for letting me think my own mate was possibly dead. My beast becoming ferociously dangerous in this lovely high-end designed kitchen of theirs. The only way to prevent a shift is to attack in myhuman form. The only warning I give him is the snarl that leaves my mouth. I lunge at him, it doesn’t matter there is a dinning table in my way. I knock him to the ground, our bodies rolling around
Pierce POV Reuben prepares me for a long wait. He says he has no idea where Libby has been hiding but from what he suspects, it is the other side of the country. At least, hopefully, she was still in the country and hadn’t gone overseas. That is what filled me with dread…that she would have used smugglers to get her out of the country. Libby has no trace of a digital record, something her father Odin made a point of ordering. She is on the records until she reached the age of 12 and then it’s as if she died…I even have her death certificate…and her mother’s. Claiming she died of pneumonia. We know for certain that Libby’s mother was human, which makes my mate half human half werewolf. A fact she didn’t know until she stumbled across our kind, both Reuben and I chasing her out of one of my warehouses. I have plenty of regrets with Libby. I regret letting her into this world so quickly…she wasn’t ready. She had also lived a life apart from most humans since her mother died. Her an
Libby POV It was a fresh new week on the farm and I was excited on what it might bring.The weekend had been eventful, I now know my friend’s Ben and Beth are secret werewolves with their own problems, hiding just as I am. I now had a fresh batch of tablets to suppress those stomach cramps, Ben and Beth non-the-wiser on my own part in the werewolf world….I was feeling great. Life was starting to seem less…bleak. My life will never be easy, but at least it was a life I was finally choosing for myself. Ben and Beth left my caravan and headed to theirs to freshen up. I took the eggs that Ben had left outside Anwir’s place and was busy making him his favourite breakfast on the campfire. He’ll be out of someone’s caravan momentarily and I’m pretty certain I know which one. I am crouched down by the campfire when I hear a door creak behind me, my head turning to find the culprit. “Why am I not surprised?” I mutter to myself as I witness Anwir climb out of a caravan, as soon as I start
Libby POV I’m slow in comparison but I manage to follow Ben and Beth, breaking away when I reach my own caravan. This was it. Time to move again. I cannot be caught. I rip open the cupboard door under the sink, reaching for my backpack and hoisting it onto my back. I rush to the fridge, clumsily reaching for bottled water as my adrenaline kicks in. I’ve been planning this for months but now that it is happening…I feel severely unprepared. I just don’t possess that…hunter mindset within me. “What’s going on?” Anwir is watching me, too cooly, at the steps leading up to my door. “They will only inspect the others and then move on. Why are you worried?” He turns and I stick my head out the door when I see the blue sirens gathering distance on us…on me. “Anwir…” I hush him, at the sight of the illegal farm workers starting to run away from the now running police officers in the fields. This was like a scene from those tv dramas I used to watch. But now I was in one. I can’t get
Pierce POV I’ve been traveling throughout all of last night and now today. I’ve checked plenty of farms in this area, none of them seem to be hiring illegal farmers from what I can see. Not that they would be advertising this but I have searched the areas for any signs of people remaining hidden. Anwir wasn’t exact in his location, he was holding back on Reuben and I, but I had a small part of the map that he pointed to and didn’t wait to start my search. I knew instantly this was the right farm. The police now swarming the area was the sign that I needed. I keep driving around the farm’s border fencing until I find the accommodation entrance, finding police loading people into vans and vehicles under arrest. I curse under my breath as I exit my vehicle…I was going to have to act as a detective to get any chance of gaining information. I head to the boot of my car, placing a long black smart coat over me…checking the fake detective badge in my inner pocket. “Can I help you?” A po
Libby POV We’ve been moving for hours…my legs were like jelly. I needed a break. I needed to catch my breath. I was already pushing through the burning sensation in my lungs, now fighting a painful stitch in my side. We must have covered miles since we left the farm, surely this would be enough distance for one night. “Ben.” I gasp which finally forces him to turn around to check on us behind. He had been leading our expedition and I had complete faith in him, but he was so hell-bent on getting us somewhere safe he forgot how much stronger he was than the rest of us. His eyes glance nervously upon Beth who was also panting slightly. She may have a wolf, but from what I understand, she hasn’t got her full strength yet. That wouldn’t come until she was of age. Therefore, for right now, she was stronger than me, but not considerably. “Okay, let’s stop for the night.” He agrees, my chest already feeling some relief from his words alone. “There’s a barn about half a mile in that dir
Libby POVIt’s a growl that wakes me. Not the growl from Ben’s wolf but the growl from my own stomach. With the adrenaline pumping through me last night to evade the police, I forgot about dinner. We all did. I sit up slightly, my back stiff from sleeping on the hard concrete barn floor, Anwir’s hands wrapped around me.It was only just dawn, the birds chirping away in the surrounding trees reminding me of the number of times I woke up early to feed the farm animals. Some sadness washes over me from that short life I loved, now having gone forever. Yes it was basic, yes it was hard work…but for once…it was mine and I called the shots. Not my Father, not my half brother….me. I’m hungry just thinking about those eggs sitting in the hen’s coop waiting to be collected. Like little golden eggs ready for the plucking, waiting to be scrambled for breakfast. I’m tempted to go back and get them, start our day off with some food in our stomachs at least. But I can’t, it’s too risky and to
Pierce POVMy wolf had been searching for her in the pitch black woods, following her scent which was still mixed with others. Where ever she was going, she remained with others…deciding not to break off alone.My wolf liked the hunt, deprived of our mate for too long, he wanted to mark her on the spot. But Libby had been subjected to poison by her own father, trying to keep her wolf from coming forward. Trying to keep her hidden even from the human world due to her fortune. A fortune he wanted to use to reclaim the Red Stone pack alliance from Reuben, even planning to claim Evelyn as his, and the twins as his bloodline to rule. I’d have to keep my wolf in control, I refused to be another tyrant in her life. My wolf was growing inpatient, our fur form has been running for miles, surely we’ve made some ground in closing in on their location. Who ever was leading them was fast and skilful in navigation. My wolf keeps his nose to the woodland ground, following her scent when we hear
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