Ashina couldn't stop her beating heart. She moistened her lips and swallowed back audibly. She knew he wouldn't let her in his Pack just like that, after all they were enemies but she didn't expect being asked to duel. She still felt weak after using her energy to heal Gael but even at that, did she have any hope against him? She hoped she could still have the energy to fight him. He was a strong warrior and from the news she had heard, he never lost when fighting. For some reason, she was scared. Ashina sat back on the bed, biting her nails and hitting her head on the wall while thinking of ways she could win him. She knew it was somehow impossible to win Alpha Hrolf, if the stories about him were true she didn't stand a chance. She may be have been strong enough to fight the warriors in her Pack,but she wasn't sure it was enough to beat the Alpha. She had almost forgotten she wasn't alone in the room when the tall guard who had come to announce Gael's sickness cleared his throa
The arena was so big, it had large seats that could hold upwards to twenty thousand people at once, and it could hold up to thirty thousand or even more. It was a dome-like structure made of marble that was painted a dark gray color. There were several entrances and it was beautiful. It had several tiers and there was an open space near the middle which was used for free entertainment during fights and other activities. The crowd quieted when she walked in with the guard. She realized this pack had lots of challenges and that's why they had a place for fighting. She could hear sneers and boos. Ashina realised how loyal they were to their Alpha, she hoped it didn't unnerve her. She heard cheers and realized that Alpha Hrolf walked in. She turned around and swallowed. Her heart pounded hard in her. He stood in the ring facing her, ready to battle. Just one look at Gael had Ashina's nervousness floating away. He smiled at her waving and she waved back. She saw a young lady dr
Hrolf walked around his office, thinking of ways to stall this announcement. He didn't want her here and he didn't want to announce it, but somehow he knew he had to. He blamed himself for letting her get the best of him during the duel, he couldn't believe she had the strength to push him to the ground and was also smart enough to outsmart him. It ticked him off because he was much stronger than her and it made him believe that she really had a motive for being here. What made him upset was how Gael had approached the night before to plead with him to accept her in the Pack. For some reason, he felt like she won over his son who wasn't impressed easily and didn't talk to everyone much. He was just polite, but he disliked associating. Frustrated and tired of vain thinking, he sighed and accepted the fact that she would be part of his Pack, but he decided to make sure her life was a living hell. He would ensure that she regretted coming here. He concluded that he would keep tormen
Ashina couldn't believe her luck, she was so happy. But she knew she would love spending time with Gael more. As long as she wasn't sent out of this Pack, working as a nanny and housekeeper was better than being caught by Zeeb. She smiled at Gael as he bounced to her side. He flashed a wide smile at her as she threaded her hand through his hair. "I'm so happy, my father decided that you stay here. I knew he would never reject me." Gael propped his chin on his hand, staring at her with a smile. "Sweet boy." Ashina chuckled. Gael linked his hand with Ashina's and tugged at it. "Where are we going?" Ashina asked him. "To my dad's mansion, the place you saw me in when you came earlier, that was my room." Gael said. "I figured." Ashina replied. "You know almost everything and you haven't spent a week here." Gael unlinked his arms and kept hopping from left to right. "You're really smart, you know, you talk like an adult at times." Ashina chuckled. She felt connected to him. He w
She had stayed here for over three weeks now and with each passing day, she enjoyed it except for Hrolf's cold attitude towards her. Ashina's routine was to make breakfast and coffee for an Alpha who took it without glancing at her. Ashina ignored his behavior and continued her work in the house. "Ashina." Gael ran inside the house. "How are you, sweet boy?" Ashina asked, ruffling his hair. "I'm very excited and happy." Gael hopped around. "You didn't have to tell me, I can see that." Ashina said. "I wanted you to know." He said. "So what's making you happy?" Ashina asked. "I was just excited that I was coming home to meet you." Gael said. He was exhausted from the training he got from his father and hadn't even waited. "I was bored and tired. I also missed you." Gael confessed. "You missed me huh?" Ashina asked with a smile as she watched him nod. "Yes, I missed you." He affirmed. "You saw me this morning, Gael." Ashina reminded him. "Yes, but I missed you." Gael look
Ashina swallowed realised it was Alpha Hrolf She felt intense eyes on her immediately she woke up but hadn't known he was the one, she felt someone staring at her. She sat up immediately. She wasn't able to sleep well in the cell as it was worse than the one they put her in before. Her neck itched and she felt sweaty coupled with the whiny mosquitoes who had decided to disturb her. n Hrolf moved closer to Ashina, his eyes shooting daggers at her. He realised that he was right all along. She wasn't to be trusted, in fact, anyone with the Tala name wasn't to be trusted. He was so sure she healed Gael at first to be free, then she allowed him to get hurt again and pretended to not have the ability to heal again. He didn't have a healer in his Pack, yet he knew healing powers didn't disappear that easily. Their powers didn't just stop unless something was wrong. Was it a physical problem? He thought as he studied her through the illumination of the golden lamp. It didn't seem like
Ashina prayed for the ground to open and swallow her when she found out she couldn't heal Gael. She didn't understand what was happening, she could heal herself but didn't know why she couldn't heal Gael."I thought as much." Hrolf's hard voice dripped with sarcasm which chilled her to her bones.Anyone with the Tala name was always vengeful and he guessed Ashina Tala wasn't any different from her father. He was sure she was doing this to torment him just like her father.Hrolf smiled bitterly as he watched Ashina try harder to heal Gael. "I think we shouldn't keep on wasting our time here. Are you done?" Hrolf asked."I don't know why I can't do it, I've really tried and it's not working." Ashina admitted defeat."Sure you have." Hrolf scoffed.If she thought that pity face would work on him, she was wrong, he wouldn't fall for it anymore. She was just like what he knew she'd be, she had been disguising at first, pretending to be different from her father, but everything that happe
"Alpha, Gael has opened his eyes and he is also speaking. He seems to be fine now." Erik said quickly.Hrolf's face creased in a wide smile when he heard the news about his son. His foul mood disappeared immediately and happiness coursed through him. He was so excited that he forgot about punishing Ashina and walked out of the cell in the direction of his room.Ashina sagged back against the wall and she felt so relieved. Finally, he was awake! She was elated. The news about Gael made her very happy and she thanked the moon goddess for listening to her prayers.Hrolf opened the door and stepped into Gael's room. Closing the door after him, he flung his arms open and covered the distance between the both of them in fast strides. He was so happy. Words couldn't describe how happy he was. He pulled Gael into his arms and inhaled his scent."I missed you, Gael." He admitted.Gael's unconsciousness had made him grumpy, even his guards knew because at the slightest chance he got irritated
"Helena" Ashina screamed out loud with a hand placed on her chest when she tripped on the floor. "Shush" Gael carried her up, patting her gently on the back, Ashina let out a sigh of relief when she saw Gael patting her gently. "Mother, she is fine, you do not have to worry about her" he said to her with a smile on his face.Ashina nodded at him before walking forward with her bulging stomach, a hand around her waist.Hrolf had been so scared when she had given birth to Helena so he had told her that he didn't want any more children and that Gael and Helena were enough but somehow, he had ended up getting her pregnant. She could remember the reaction he had when he found out what he had done and had apologized profusely for making her go through pain again but Ashina had dissuaded him, letting him know that it was fine."Mother," Helena called out to her with misty eyes, while stretching both of her hands out but Gael held her firmly. "You wouldn't want to hurt Mother now, would y
Hrolf stood with sweaty palms and his heart beating fast when he gazed at himself in the mirror. It looked just like a dream which he didn't want to wake up from.The door was pushed open slightly and Gravon walked in, staring at Hrolf, he placed a hand over his mouth, a smile on his face "You look..." his gaze wandered over Hrolf as he tried to find the right word to say. "You look handsome" he finally managed to say, while walking toward Hrolf. " Thank you" Hrolf patted both of his hands together trying to think properly. This was a lot but knowing that Ashina was the one who he would be walking down the aisle with was worth it.Letting out a sigh from his lips, he turned around, meeting Gravon's gaze. "Is everything ready?" He asked again, making Gravon roll his eyes at him. "All preparations have been made, Alphas from different packs are seated already, you aren't having cold feet, are you?" Gravon asked, wanting to be sure because Hrolf was acting in such an awkward way tha
The cheering of the crowd as Cassie and Erik was brought in, pierced through Hrolf's chest as he tried to think, faced with a lot of uncertainty and the fact that he had to mete out judgment on them. Clutching the arm of his chair tightly, he turned his head around to see Ashina gazing straight at Erik, with a blank look on her face."Are you okay?" He asked her, her face was pale and recently, she had been under a lot of pressure with merging her pack with his. Smiling back at him Ashina nodded at him, showing him that she was okay.She placed a hand over her mouth, trying as hard as she could not to gag. "Are you sure you are okay?" Hrolf asked again, with concern on his face. He was ready to pass out judgment next time if she wasn't okay. "I am fine" Ashina repeated, her voice firm and strong, she flipped her head to the side where Cassie was glaring at her but she couldn't care less."The people await your judgment" Hrolf let out a sigh as he stood up from the chair that he w
"You got to be joking" Hrolf said to Gravon who gazed at him. If there was something he loved doing, it was ruffling his emotions and he loved that look on his face that showed that he was tense."She is okay, but.." he pulled Hrolf with him to the side. Taking a look at the old man at intervals. "Do you think handing her over to the old man is the right thing?" He wanted to know. " Gravon" Hrolf placed a hand on his shoulder, " Someone has to put her down, she has to pay for all of the numerous things that she had done and I do not want to be the one who will do that for her,"Gravon nodded agreeing with what he had just said but still," Wouldn't you be affected? We grew up together and besides, she is Gael's mother,"" I have made my decision and I am not going back on my word," Hrolf said firmly, not wanting to repeat himself anymore. Letting out a sigh, Gravon pondered on what was happening. If this was what he thought was best, he was going to go along with it. "Take him al
Although it had taken a lot of convincing, Ashina knew that she would have gone with Hrolf even if he hadn't done so much, with how much she missed Gael and how she wanted to be by his side, she would have gone with him.With one hand wrapped around her waist, he kissed her gently on the cheek before yanking on the reins of the horse to move. Picking up the chase and running through the thick forest, Xeva, Hrolf's horse drove like lightning through the thick bushes.Ashina had talked to her pack members and the elders, letting them know that she would be back soon, after settling whatever it was that she had to do at the white moon pack. And at almost dusk, Gravon's men, who he had placed at the boundary of both packs, waved earnestly, cheering him happily. Hrolf flashed a smile at them before donning a blank look as Xeva ran toward the pack house and at every pace it took, Ashina's heart beat faster than the last. Knowing that she was coming back here evoked nostalgic feelings in
Hrolf caressed Ashina's hair gently which was sprawled out, her chest heaved up and down, showing that she was fast asleep.Stroking her hair gently, he let out a sigh of relief, he was sure that they were back to how they were before and he was ready to do right by her. Exhaling sharply, he stood up gently, placing Ashina on the bed before standing upright. He had intended to saunter toward the window when he felt a hand wrapped around his wrist. Turning back, he flashed Ashina a smile."Where are you going?" Ashina asked, trying to sit upright, when she finally did, she ran her gaze at Hrolf who was naked, making her gulp in her spittle. Although they had gone on and on, she still found herself wanting him. Again."I guess I didn't do a nice job there" Hrolf's gaze darkened as he walked back toward the bed, taking in Ashina's appearance as he walked closer. Her hair cascaded down giving her ample coverage over her perfect boobs, licking his lips, he thought of how they had fitte
Ashina pulled open the door to her room gently before stepping in, running a finger on the chain lying by the side of the bed, she shut her eyes, before flicking them open, it had happened in the blink of an eye. From being recaptured to being chained to her bed and Hrolf barging into the pack to rescue her, finding out he had been in cahoot with Zeeb from the onset and then Zeeb's death. She would have argued blindly with anyone who had said Erik was betraying Hrolf because she knew that he wasn't like that but this has taught her a lesson. To vouch for who she knew very well. She had been betrayed also even when all she had done was being kind and she could understand the turmoil Hrolf was in, he was trying to be strong, losing both Cassie and Erik at the same time but he had no other choice.Standing up she sauntered across the room, toward the window, it was dusk already, and now, she had gotten back her pack. She was the rightful heir of the Sussex pack and now it was in her h
Erik grunted lowly when he was forced to stand up, with his head pressed against the wall, Ashina had walked away, intending to address her pack. She felt relieved at the fact that the pack had been handed over to her and this time, she was going to do whatever it takes just to make sure that nothing happens to her people. Hrolf stood by the side watching with admiration at how vocal she was with letting everyone know about her intention, she wasn't avoiding any questions that were being thrown at her and he was glad to see her do that. Ashina could feel a heated gaze behind her and she knew who it was, there was just a man who was capable of stripping her naked with just his gaze. Hrolf. And this time, she was going to make sure that he didn't have it the easy way. She was going to make him plead for a long time before accepting his apology even when it didn't look genuine. The cheers of the pack members caused a smile on her face as she glanced at them, knowing that she was thi
Waves of emotions swept through Hrolf who was contemplating what he had just heard, although he knew that Cassie had done a lot and angered a lot of people still, he was trying to think of a better punishment. "What do you intend to do to you?" He asked although he knew what it was. Ashina glared at him. "He wasn't seriously thinking of saving her now, was he?" She wondered, she hoped that he wasn't going to do that. If he wanted her, he had to show that he wanted her in his life and the first thing was to hand Cassie over. "That isn't yours to find out, Alpha Hrolf, I have heard of your splendid deed and I must tell you that I am mesmerized by your deeds, unlike my son here" he gestured at Zeeb. " Although I wasn't any better than him, days alone in that dungeon taught me a lot of things and when I found out that Ramon was dead" he shut his eyes as though he was honoring his dead son's image before flicking them open. " It shattered my life, Ramon was the apple of my eye, my hei