Alyson's POV
My face was still swollen from crying all night. I'd not slept well. Michelle had slept in my room with me, making me feel a little less alone, but I still felt very secluded and unloved in the world.
This morning, I felt angrier at Ryan than ever. But also angry at myself for trusting him. He said that he would never hurt me, and last night he almost did. It scared me to my core. What was worse, was the memory that he'd handled me roughly another time. The pendant around my neck was proof of that. He hadn't even been drunk this time.
Had I said something wrong to make him act like that? I poured through my memory of our interaction. I had spoken of Jacob, but if Ryan had been listening at all, he would have known my feelings about him.
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"Today?" I called back to Michelle through the door. "Yes, by 3 o'clock. In two hours." She answered, her voice sounding regretful. While she didn't know the whole story, she was smart enough to pick up on my dislike for the Luna, especially with Jacob and Ryan's animosity. "Thank you, Michelle, I will be ready. Could you prepare yourself to come with me?" "Of course," She responded. "Whatever you need. Let me know when you are ready to go." We heard her footsteps venture away from my door. Ryan and I looked at each other. His eyes were as wide as I'd expect that mine were. "Fuck," I asked. "What could she want from me
A servant answered the door. "The Luna is expecting you upstairs if you would please follow me." She bowed, and led us up the stairs. I swallowed a lump in my throat, looking towards the dark stairs that led to the basement. I remember before when I'd expected to proceed upstairs towards luxury, but they'd dosed me with blood's bane. The fear in those memories was a force inside me that I had to ignore. I looked upwards towards the beautiful furniture laced with gold and the finest paintings of all the Alexander Alphas over the generations. At the end of the hallway was one painted of Jacob standing in his imposing stature with Jennifer sitting beside him on a gold and velvet throne. It was strange like seeing the life I should have had, the face I used to have only colder and crueler looking back at me from that w
"Are you threatening me?" I asked, deciding that it was best to call it out to test what Jennifer might say. Finally, Jennifer took a sip of her tea, setting down the cup carefully on the saucer. She looked thoughtful and pleasant again. "Of course not, I'm offering you an unbelievable chance to rise through ranks and riches… and for what? A little blood that you can spare, unless you've been lying to me, and you're already a blood provider to someone." My sister always did know how to suck the air from the room. My breath grew short for a second, and I realized her gaze had lifted straight to mine. She sniffed the air slightly to catch my reaction in all her senses. "I don't know what you're talking about," I said, trying to make the fear sprea
I left Elder Fritz with chills running all over my body. I needed to see Ryan as soon as I could. My heart felt heavy in my chest, weighed down by this new information that the elders had picked out a mate for Ryan.Even my concerns that Diana was the secret blood provider to Jacob didn't seem important for the moment, and slipped to the back of my mind.I kept too distant with Ryan all the time. I could not do that anymore, he could pick another mate, and no one could blame him for how many times I had denied him. We shared love, but we kept it a secret so no one would know. Up to this point, I even delighted in the secrecy, but not when I'd just learned the elders had matched him with another.Even if I felt urgent, I still proceeded with caution. I could not forget how Jennifer had tried to trap me today, and that she was likely spying on me.He meets me at his door, whether it's from smell or som
Ryan's POVI pranced around my mansion as if walking on clouds, completely elated after Alyson was so affectionate with me. If forming a true mating bond would be even half as amazing as the other day, then I would always have hope. She was my love, and my life, and I could only think of her.Her sudden insecurities still tickled my concerns. She had seemed a little closed off towards the end. While this hurt me, it was Alyson, I had to expect that she might always struggle to be vulnerable, and she had shown a lot of vulnerability already that day.The same day, business was as usual till I received an invitation from the elders to meet at their house of council. I hoped that nothing negative would come of it, but the note indicated that they had "important and exciting news to share."The familiar room had books filling the shelves that made up every inch of the wall. The elders sat around
Alyson's POVI received a note from Ryan: The Elders shared important news with me today. I need to see you and tell you everything. If I've learned anything from our history, it's that secrets create walls between us, and I want nothing between us.I clutched the letter to my heart as I paced around my apartment. I wished we could write to each other with love, but we always kept anything written short and to the point without any obvious romantic inclinations.I could not stop thinking about Diana, feeling sure that the Elders had called Ryan to tell him about her.The other night, when I'd been with Ryan, I felt more in-love than ever, more desperate to hold on to him. He made promises to love me always plenty of times, but I still fretted over what he might do if he could live as a full Alexander with a blood provider. He could have a Clan Clark she-wolf of his own and b
I closed the door behind him.He gave me a light peck on the lips, but I knew him well enough that something major was on his mind. He hardly looked at me, but his face was darkened with concern."How were the Elders?" I said. While he paced, I stood watching him my hands tightened to fists, and fear gripping my heart. I knew the nature of the news but it would still hit me like a blow to hear it from Ryan's voice, and I dreaded knowing his reaction to it.He swung to face me, and took my hands in his. "I'll start with good news. The Elders have officially declared that I could be an Alpha candidate. I accepted. They even said that Jacob is showing some signs of deteriorating health all of the sudden."Despite my turbulent mood, that lightened it ever so slightly. "Then the poison is working already."He nodded. "My thoughts exactly. And they do assume it is the curse taking its
A knock at the door surprised me. I doubted it was Ryan, and when I answered, to my delight, it was Dylan. I threw my arms around his neck and hugged him. He was grinning at me, squeezed me tight for one moment, then released me. I slid away from him, my hands lingering on his forearms for a second. "Dylan! I'm so happy to see you! What a great surprise," I said cheerily, inviting him into my apartment. We wrote to each other often about business, but I had missed his happy demeanor. Even as he entered, the entire room lightened up by his aura. He greeted Michelle kindly as I had him sit down at the table to serve him some tea and a bite to eat. 
Alyson The pain is insurmountable. I fight through it, thinking of the pups that need me, that are clinging to the hope that I will always fight for them, and I won't disappoint them now. I turn over, laid out on the floor of the bathroom, the healer working at the cramps in my spine. I grab the towels, grab my own shirt, desperate to get through this sooner than later. My wolf whines and my heart hurts. "RYAN!" I need him, I want him, and I fear I can't do this ordeal without him beside me. I lay out, exhausted from the agony, crying inconsolably until I hear heavy steps parading through the bedroom. Soon, they find the healer and I in the bathroom, my eyes dizzy as I spot Ryan, naked and drenched in rainwater. My breath catches, curious if I am dreaming. "Right here, Alpha, come help me with this," the healer grunts. I feel my mate hold my head, pushing deep into my spine as I straighten my back out in reflex, feeling th
Ryan "Damn this weather," I mutter. The storm has yet to let up and in fact, I believe it's started pouring down harder, with more vigor, and still shows no signs of slowing for my benefit. "Have you tried linking to the healer?" Olivera asks, his antsy attitude not helping my worried state right now. "I mean, if you can't reach through the link to her, she might just be asleep and everything is okay—that could be possible, right? I mean, if you think about—" "Hush," I beg. "You're rambling again." "I'm sorry that I'm flustered," he grovels. "I'm just trying to keep calm." I raise my brow, trying to stay focused on my mate but I can't seem to shake this infatuation Olivera has had for my mate. I should ignore it, as I have in the past weeks, but something about being stuck in this small cave with him has my mind tethering off too many emotions at once. "Enlighten me, please," I sigh, shaking my head out at the storm. "What is this weirdly possessive, sympathetic binding you thi
Ryan I fight through the winds, the rain cascading over my warriors and me. It wasn't the best idea coming out during this type of storm but we lacked one natural ingredient that grows just south of the waterfall trail and then the cure would be complete for the last facility of rogues. I have healed slowly in my weeks of developing the cure, but I could use a dose myself. Thankfully it hasn't affected my poorly mate, spending most of her days passed out in bed until I force her to get up and move around a bit. It's been exhausting for her, but she is the patriarchy of a new family, the strongest she-wolf I know who is capable of carrying these pups. "Dammit, lover boy! Where are you?!" I barge out of the mouth of the cave where my warriors have been taking shelter from the monsoon outside. I see that rogue alpha in the distance, throwing his hands up in a small fit of rage. It's almost amusing if he didn't also sport a petrified look of angst as well. "Over here," I call out. H
Alyson It's hard to feel not included in the cure development, but I watch Ryan and Olivera get along for many consecutive weeks. At least I have that peaceful energy around, watching them work with the palace pack healers to help the rogues locked up in the facilities, still sick. Thankfully there wasn't an enormous outbreak and everything seems to have worked out. I can't help the feeling of doom, though, thinking about every time things were perfect, something horrible happened. I thought once we defeated Jacob and sent away Jennifer, everything would have worked out forever. I was wrong, but if none of that bad stuff happened, I wouldn't be pregnant. I fear these pups won't be okay, the healer making a daily visit, sometimes twice a day, at least to check on my progress. I worry everyday he will say something bad has happened and they're hurt, or worse. I would give my life for these two pups but I hope I don't have to. "Morning, sweeth
Alyson "Relax," Ryan coos, brushing my hair back. He has finally come to my side, forcing my eyes to stay on his, even as he paces his attention back and forth between me and the healer. I squeeze my mate's hand, feeling pressure build in my abdomen. "There you go, he's done." The healer removes his gloves, my eyes catching a glimpse of Olivera in the hall, seeing him pace frantically fast back and forth in the hallway. I look at my mate now, glimmering with sadness as he peers down at me. I know he feels like I've grown feelings for the rogue Alpha, and I haven't, but I can be sympathetic to the wolf who lost everything; just like I had. "Are the pups okay?" I breathe. Ryan flinches. "More than—more than one?" He watches the healer as though waiting to hear so magical, good news. "What is going on? Are they okay? How many are there? I—" The healer settles his hands together before his body, like a man with bad news. "It's hard to tell
Alyson Whatever causes the fight, I'm not exactly sure, but it breaks out anyways. Every single wolf in the courtyard has shifted, the movements so fast that I don't even release that I've been thrown out of the hecticness, my side slamming against the brick wall and my head smacking right up against it until I feel the blood flow from a cut on my temple. I curl into a ball, my hands instinctively curling to my stomach, so dazed that instead of being able to see what has caused this fight to break out, I only spot wolves tearing into one another, biting into flesh and blood being poured. Ryan, I reach through the mind link, not capable of spotting him through the haze in my eyesight. What the hell is going on? Rouges came from the pack lands; they must have been waiting to ambush. Where are you, mate? Get out of here! Go inside, now! I aim to sit up, my head so discombobulated that I can't even dictate which direction would take me bac
Alyson It only takes a moment for me to catch my breath, and another for me to sprint across the hall, watching Olivera struggle to stand, instead melting to the floor where he slams his fist against the tile floor—it cracks instantly under his bold knuckles. I dare flinch, seeing him so angry almost a warning for me to be careful, but I instead charge forward anyways. I grab his cheek, forcing him to meet my eyes, and he relaxes ever so slightly. When he does, I drag my palm across his face in a single, sharp slap. He jolts upright, standing suddenly and staring me down with a pure look of surprise written across his face. "What the hell was that for?" "That's for doing something so stupid," I growl, my fists trembling at my sides. "You could have died from that cure, Olivera, how dare you try something that risky in my palace?" "You might be the Luna, but you're not my Luna," he says, snide. "I am free to make any decision I want if
Alyson I find myself sitting in the hallway between office and bedroom. In one, my mate suffers with an ill mark on his shoulder and back, and in the other sits an enigma of a wolf. He has kissed me, he has fondled me, and unknown to us both, he has poisoned me while I was newly pregnant. If anything, I should hate the rogue Alpha, but I don't have it in me to leave him completely. So I sit in the hall between them both, curled up with my hands resting on my stomach as if I have already blossomed outward, waiting for one of my favorite Alpha's to wake up. If I leave here to be with one, and the other wakes, I'll feel guilty forever. For now, I wait, hearing steps breach my silent mediation between Alphas. "My Luna, why are you out of bed?" I hear Fritz hum, my eyes watered and wide, shocked to see him here of all places. We didn't exactly part on the most amicable of terms. "You're still looking pale." I wave off his words and
Alyson I try to fight Olivera from going into the office, but he easily grabs my wrist, twists it, and nudges me out the doorway. He's too smart and too strong for me right now, my head blotted with the sleepiness that I can't seem to shake. I grab at his arm, at his shirt sleeve, and dig my heals against the ground. He drags me a few paces before finally stopping. "You're a persistent little bug," he snaps, releasing my hands off of his shirt and giving me a stern look. "We have to find out what this cure does to an Alpha and as it stands, I'm the one best capable here of verbalizing the aftermath of taking this cure. If it makes things worse, so be it." I feel my heart patter to a screeching halt. "What does worse contain?" He looks to the healer, the vial on the desk nearby, and then back to meet my eyes. "I could die, of course, or I could only loose my wolf. I'm happy to put both on the line to see if this stuff is worthy of fixing Ryan, fi