Alyson's POV
I wasn't sure how the Luna could have escape imprisonment when Jacob was taking all the punishment for their crimes. I was surprised to see her in the crowd the day Ryan was crowned.
Ryan had moved into the Alpha's Lair, and I was still staying at my apartment for a few more days before our wedding. So many dress makers, and stylist had dropped by to honor me with fittings and dresses, but I had selected one of my liking.
Another knock at my door interrupted my thoughts. Michelle was in the next room, so I called to her, "I'll answer this time." I was expecting another congratulations or someone offering their business to the future Alpha and Luna's wedding.
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Ryan was not aware that I was going to meet Jacob. Beneath the Alpha's lair, in the prison of my death, I knew he was locked up. The guards obeyed me when I asked to see the outcast Alpha. I would be Luna by tomorrow and everyone knew it. They were leading me to his cell. I was surprised when we entered the room. Last time, Jacob was wheezing with ashy gray skin and looked on the verge of death. He didn't look nearly as bad, and I wondered if he'd recover now that he was not offered the Blood's Bane any longer. As the Luna, I could have them still provide that to him to continue the poisoning. Or else, there was a risk that Jacob would return to health. Even if he were already cast
Ryan's POV I could not believe that Jacob had threatened Alyson. I was ready to destroy him, I had been wanting this moment ever since I found out their history. That beast was imprisoned and sleeping beneath my lair. As soon as all grew quiet in the castle, I snuck down to meet the man who'd threatened me and my mate. I walked into the room of his cell without any guards. I knew that I could kill him; I'd won against him in the games while trying not to kill him while he was in better health, so killing him now should be easier. He was laying on his side, but abruptly whirled up to his feet. He did look healthier than he'd been in a couple wee
Alyson's POV I knew that Jennifer lingered in town still. Even after our last conversation, her banishment would not be official till I was the Luna. As such, I had asked for Ryan to have guards monitor her current living quarters and whereabouts. I had a few of my own guards. It felt odd always having them around, and how they would always bow their heads in respect. I had granted one guard the task monitoring Jennifer, he reported back, "She seems to be staying in this small cabin not far from the lair, but on the outskirts of town. There is one servant and an old woman living with her." "What does this old woman look like?" I asked.&n
I stood up away from mother, and she was reaching for me, trying to figure out where I'd gone. Jennifer said, "What did this bitch tell you? She's been out to ruin me ever since she came here, and now she's even after my own mother. How low can someone be." Mother's blind eyes were searching the room to see. Her lips were quivering with pain, but finally she said, "I know my daughters, Jennifer. I know Alissa has come back, even if she has a new name. I could not be fooled." I was slightly in front of her to shield her from my awful sister. "She's going to stay with me," I insisted. "No," Jennifer sai
The day of the wedding had finally arrived. I was getting ready in my dream dress, and I was also receiving reports from my guards every hour to make sure that Jennifer would not interfere with the celebration. Ryan fully agreed and supported that she be banished immediately, but we actually wanted to know exactly where she was on this day, so the guards kept her trapped in the tiny cabin where she'd trapped mother all these years. My mother was there with me, helping me get ready with moral support from her seat nearby. Her presence calmed me. I could not stop looking over at her as if I might discover that she was a figment of my imagination. "I wish I could see you in your dress
AlysonI've known pain. I've lived in a world with nothing but pain. My teeth are stained with the excess of blood I've tasted, the wounds I have healed from physically, but the ones that scared me so deeply that I may never recover from fully, those are the ones I will never heal from. I try not to let it show, masquerading around my new life like I don't recall the last, like I don't know that the moon goddess sought pity on my life and sent me back to do what I was fated to do; find my mate and become Luna. Everyone sees it, though. Everyone.As privileged as I feel, I still cower in the dark, fighting off the memories and flaunting a smile. I walk through the pack lands now, watching as the clan wakes to the morning, meanwhile I haven't slept in days. I lay in bed, beside my mate Ryan, the Alpha, and I wait for him to drift peacefully into oblivion before sneaking off to kill the night hours. He would hate if I were out here alone, meandering around as though I am a lost pup, but
AlysonIt's hard the breathe with the feeling of molten fire dripping down my throat and swirling through my lower abdomen. When I breathe, I feel my lungs dissipate with pressure, only to fill with a mouthful of fire again before letting the pressure resist back just for a moment. My muscles are all tensing at once, my poor wolf whining and damn near howling in my head.I aim to scream, nothing but an exasperated gargle leaving the last reminisce of my lips. Ryan is busy needing to calm me down but I can't help the sight of his eyes in this moment. His wolf is trying to break free, to help his mate in heat, and the irises of Ryan's once beautiful cyan eyes is now red as the blood in my nightmares.His hand finds my waist, so tense and knotted up. My muscles are rough and strained. It's not possible to think of a solution other than the one thing guaranteed to fix this agonizing pain. We both know it's the only option, but in this field, right now, it doesn't seem like a very good out
AlysonI squirm on my cot, watching the eyes through the bars circle my body without a care of the state it is in. I attempt to stand, to face this monster that pins me up almost every day now, ever since the Alpha started getting sick and needed some good blood to be pushed into his system at the ready.That's where I used to come in to play.My legs give out, though. I fail instantly and hit the cell floor, exhausted and drained, in need of water and maybe something to nibble on, but I can't expect that to happen. I've been in this spot too much to know that the more I suffer, the easier it is for them to drain me without tying me down to do so."Little blood pet," the voice snickers, taunting me from above. "You aren't looking so good today, blood pet. You look pale, and worthless, but you know what? Alpha Jacob needs his fix of blood for the night, and that means I'm going to need you to provide just that."I struggle to respond, knowing that even if I muster the energy to do so,
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