Elena's POV I'd been biding my time until I could escape, making friends or trying to make friends.Elyse certainly didn't make it easy, asides from being the whole obedient and submissive servant, she was a total bitch to me.I didn't complain though, seeing as she misbehaved cunningly, only when we were alone.Zayn and Ethan misused my body on several occasions, brutalizing my body so badly allowing me to heal before repeating the process all over again.When Zayn let me know the sheer amount of army they now control, I sunk into deep despair and depression thinking about how I would live out the rest of my life like this.Everything changed though when I found out...I was pregnant.Zayn or Ethan was successful in their breeding attempts over the past weeks.I tried to hide that fact for as long as I could, but I forgot I was surrounded by powerful shifters, no matter how I bundled myself up, Elyse was the first to know.She detected the change in my scent as soon as she stepped i
Elena's POV I retired to my room earlier than I expected to.I had to get away from that place before I did something crazy like stabbing Zayn in his neck to keep him from talking.I feigned a slight headache and left them to their plottings.My stomach rumbled out loud in a protest for food and I wished I had eaten more at the dinner table.It was already too late to ting the kitchen. The food was absolutely amazing no doubt, but after that unexpected bombshell, my mates casually dropped on me, every bite of food I ingested tasted like ash in my mouth, until I could force myself to eat no more, gulping down water to fill my stomach up.After leaving, I was escorted straight back here where I quickly stripped off my outfit because I felt like at that moment, it was going to choke me to death, then I submerged myself in the bathtub.My eyes strayed to where I hung the dress for Elyse to come to pick it up in the morning.It was actually very beautiful to behold.A white silk gown hel
Elena's POV Our plan to fool Zayn and Ethan was working, coming together splendidly.They didn't suspect a thing.I had to go back to my mates and be more submissive in the hopes that they would buy it, and men, was I surprised.It seemed like it was all they ever wanted.They started treating me like I was a part of their pack.This way I was able to get closer to them to get more information to feed to Valerian via the mind link.I was still in shock that I was able to form one with him since I'm not mated to him or a member of his pack.I was so afraid that it was a one-time thing and I might not get the opportunity to talk to him again, that I made him stay up late talking about various things from serious topics like 'what would happen if our plan didn't work?'and too mundane, silly topics 'like if we were to be a type of animal for the rest of our lives, which would it be?' I talked till I fell asleep then woke up in a panic only for me to still find him there.We had to lear
Elena's POV"Your plan is amazing, it just has only one flaw." I blurt out the question that has been brewing in my mind before I realized what I did, pushing a hand to cover my mouth but too late.All eyes turned to me, Zayn's shining with anger."What do you mean dear girl?"The quiet man asked, the force of his intense gaze trained on me a bit overwhelming."I-I…" my eyes trailed over to Zayn where he watched me with an unreadable yet calm expression on his face. "Go on, explain." I gulped and rushed the words out."Won't they be suspicious since she ran into you guys?" "Will they? Not if we deliver her battered and all bruised up."The beefy guy chuckled, his eyes dancing with mirth as if beating someone up was something to laugh about."I didn't -" ...finish my train of thought because then Zayn stepped in."And that's all gentlemen." Zayn smoothly interrupted me, gently ushering the men out."If you could leave, I need a good time with my mate." Zayn smiled but it didn't reac
Valerian's POV "Thank you so much for your time."I smiled at one of the Alphas from a neighboring city that had come to liaise with me.After our little late-night conversations, I made it a point of duty to start reaching out to fellow packs, creating new friendships, and forming new alliances.I would definitely need all the help I can get.As I made my way back to the office where I expected Jared to wait for me, my mind kept running around with so many thoughts.With the recent happenings, and by happenings, I meant Elena, it left me with a lot to ponder.I opened the door to my office and saw Jared standing with his back to me.He was leaning over the desk like he was searching for something and I closed the door, shutting it with a soft click.He turned to face me, a sheet of paper in his hand."What is this?"He asked quietly.I walked over to my desk, brushing past him in the process and I grabbed the paper he had in his hand.It was the layout of the area Elena had describe
Jared's POV The papers were burning a hole in my thigh as I walked home, so many things running through my mind.I was exhausted, not just physically but mentally too.I stayed far away from the city, choosing a safe spot in the woods to call my home.Val mocked me for the longest time that I was an old man, seeking refuge away from the world but honestly even though we did joke about it, I preferred my home here.It was a perfect spot to bring the ladies for some midnight getaway, and also it was the best place for me when I needed to unwind from the day's stress.It used to be my parent's getaway cabin, for when they needed time for themselves.I still have faint memories of being happy here on vacations with them as a child.Unlike Valerian, they died unexpectedly, run off by a drunk driver when they went on a mission.They weren't found on time, and they froze to death till their bodies were retrieved the next morning.It was said even in death, they found my father shielding my
Valerian's POV "Someone get me, Jared!" I yelled to the entire room not speaking to anyone in particular, raking my hand through my hair in agitation. I've been trying to get across to him but to no avail. We were supposed to meet up this morning but he wasn't picking up at all and after a while, the calls were going to voicemail. I was getting worried, it was not like him to dismiss an important meeting without cause. "Sir." Someone called my attention to the front and I turned in that direction, meeting one of the younger shifter's earnest gaze. "I've tracked his phone as you suggested, its location is still pinging that it's at his house. 'So why wasn't he picking up the phone?" I mutter to myself. Then I picked up my keys and dashed out of the room like my tail was on fire. The beta assigned to drive me today saw me rushing out of the building and standing up in a hurry, to jump into the vehicle but I paid him no heed, rounding to the driver's side and I sped off without lo
Elena's POV I was rudely awakened when someone dragged me out of bed in the morning by thrusting the covers back, letting the chill of the morning air kiss my skin, and winding their hand around my arm, pushing me out. I blinked my eyes several times to clear the grogginess and focus on the brick of a man dragging me away, my night dress flapping around my feet. I whimpered when my bare foot stubbed on a table, effectively clearing the sleepiness from my eyes and the man turned to look at me and I realized it was Zayn. I sagged in his hold with relief and looked up at his face. "Za-yn slow down!" I shrieked when he increased his pace. He rounded the corner, his long legs eating up the floor and I hurried behind him walking twice as fast to keep up. He almost ran down the stairs, still dragging me without paying any attention to me or even stopping. If I thought my words were going to convince him to let up, boy was I wrong, because if anything he started to walk faster. "Zay-n! P
Ethan's POV I jerked awake out of the darkness with a deep gasp, clutching my heart which felt like it was going to jump right out of my chest.I felt my chest knit itself back slowly in my chest, and I felt the faint sharp cut still worrying me."What do you remember? Can you hear me?" Someone asked, leaning and blocking the light, which upset me. And of the three men, one guy came close being brave to check on me.I remember his cute, innocent eyes peering at me...I loved when those same eyes were bleeding with fear.I tried to raise my other hand only for the hand to stubbornly refuse my command, the other hand however have graduated enough to learn movement.Before even the next morning, I had already learned about the major languages in the country and can strangely pronounce them.My body and joints felt very awkward like they weren't mine and it took some getting used to.I moved forward, my muscles grinding against my bone, creating a very unpleasant experience.I wanted to s
Valerian's POV Ethan was so caught up in what he was doing that he didn't hear me coming in time and only turned back at the last minute.I rushed towards his knees, tackling him to the floor.I raised my fists and brought them down on his nose, breaking it with a sick crack.I lunged again but he dodged, rolling to the side and I lost my balance."Why. Won't. You. Fucking. Die?" He banged my head against the floor harder with each word he uttered as he tightened his hand on my head.I reach out to hit him but He rolls and leaps to his feet kicking me in my stomach. I curl into a ball as fresh pain blooms in my stomach as the kick reopened the wound. He didn't care, kicking me harder, so much so the force made me fly backward hitting the window and shattering the glass to pieces.I was so badly hurt that I didn't move after I slumped to the floor, just moaning in pain."Fucking pathetic prick." He spat, stumbling to his feet, and walked drunkenly towards Elena. She scrambled back,
Valerian's POV My heart was in my throat as we sped back to the city, all the while inside my mind I was beating myself up for not seeing everything they had planned out sooner.I should have known it was all a setup.I've heard stories about how sick those men were and I can only imagine the twisted and depraved things they were doing to my pack mates, people who right now were looking up to me for help….and I let them down."You'll drive yourself crazy if you don't stop." Jared came to stand beside me where I was fidgeting. I couldn't keep calm, eager to get back home and fight."I can't stop!" I hissed, whirling around to turn furious eyes at him. "It's all my fault that this is happening. I was in such a hurry to get to Elena, I rushed in blindly avoiding a lot of blinking red flags.""Blaming yourself won't help our people, pulling yourself together will."Due to my whole display in the woods, everyone kept away from me giving me a wide berth.I didn't like messy killings prefer
Somewhere on the outskirts of Red Sun Hill CityZayn's POV The soft rays of the early morning sun were filtering through the clouds and I moved around impatiently, waiting for the signal.We were all gathered here since yesterday, camping in their backyard. It was quite hard to conceal this large number of people from the city's radar but our people on the inside helped with that, diverting any attention away from us."What's the status?"I spoke into the earpiece I'd wired into my ear for easy communication, while one eye was on my mate. She was by Ethan's side, her head swept to the side to display her collar which was a symbol of our ownership. "It's a go, sir." A voice squeaked over the earpiece, quite difficult to hear but I easily got the message since it was what I'd been waiting to hear all day.Immediately I signaled to the Alpha for them to kick into action, then called Trent to the side.He jogged over to meet me, decked in his battle gear with several daggers and a knife
Valerian's POV "Hey," Jared calls out and I turned from where I was on the balcony to stare at him, watching his long legs eat up the space before he crossed over to where I was."Heard anything from her yet?" It had taken him a few hours but he healed from the wound, and after being placed on mandatory bed rest he was back to his normal jovial self.The search was still out for Ruby but I doubt we would catch her, I had a feeling she was long gone.I turn back, looking down at the activities taking place below.I was at the Court for some meetings- which seems never ending recently - and also because I needed to think. Being clouded by Elena's things and her scent in the house wasn't helping me think clearly.I had needed to come to a fast decision on what to do, either to forget about Elena and try to move on with my life or to fight like hell for her.I was quite torn about it for a while, the natural instincts as Alpha to protect my pack weighing heavily against my selfish desir
Ethan's POV"I've been thinking," Zayn announced out of the blue, gesturing for us to take a walk down the line of trees by the cabin away from prying eyes. "About what?” I ask, watching two birds tweeting at each other.“Elena.” The sound of her name was like a blaring alarm which caused me to look up at Zayn.“What happened to her?” I think back to the unconscious woman lying on the floor a few feet away from where we stood.“I want us to perform the mating ceremony today.” He informs me, not looking anywhere near me.“That’s sudden,” I turned to look at him. “what caused the change?” “If she’s mated with us, she would truly become one with us in every aspect physically and up here” he tapped the side of his head looking fierce. “she won't be able to hide anything.""You're not giving her the choice?"We might have not been the most loving of mates but there are some lines I do consider extreme, we are mates but performing the mating ceremony has to be the choice of both people i
Ethan's POV I watched Zayn down drink after drink of alcohol, trying to blot out whatever he was feeling.When he first found out, he yelled, raged, and raked for the longest time until I thought he wouldn't stop.I totally understood why she would do that, she was a simple creature that just wanted love and to be loved, unfortunately, she got saddled with the wrong people but what made Zayn so angry was that she was going to take our child away from him.I opened the door quietly and looked at where Elena lay unconscious on the floor with the mark on her thigh.Zayn had rubbed wolfsbane into the wound to ensure that it didn't heal properly, even if it did heal, it would ensure that his name would forever be branded on her thigh.I had initially wanted to stop him thinking that that would be too much and it would definitely make her hate him all the more, but then I understood that he was hurt and he needed to lash out, in whatever form.After he stomped out still angry, his marks on
Elena's POV I was rudely awakened when someone dragged me out of bed in the morning by thrusting the covers back, letting the chill of the morning air kiss my skin, and winding their hand around my arm, pushing me out. I blinked my eyes several times to clear the grogginess and focus on the brick of a man dragging me away, my night dress flapping around my feet. I whimpered when my bare foot stubbed on a table, effectively clearing the sleepiness from my eyes and the man turned to look at me and I realized it was Zayn. I sagged in his hold with relief and looked up at his face. "Za-yn slow down!" I shrieked when he increased his pace. He rounded the corner, his long legs eating up the floor and I hurried behind him walking twice as fast to keep up. He almost ran down the stairs, still dragging me without paying any attention to me or even stopping. If I thought my words were going to convince him to let up, boy was I wrong, because if anything he started to walk faster. "Zay-n! P
Valerian's POV "Someone get me, Jared!" I yelled to the entire room not speaking to anyone in particular, raking my hand through my hair in agitation. I've been trying to get across to him but to no avail. We were supposed to meet up this morning but he wasn't picking up at all and after a while, the calls were going to voicemail. I was getting worried, it was not like him to dismiss an important meeting without cause. "Sir." Someone called my attention to the front and I turned in that direction, meeting one of the younger shifter's earnest gaze. "I've tracked his phone as you suggested, its location is still pinging that it's at his house. 'So why wasn't he picking up the phone?" I mutter to myself. Then I picked up my keys and dashed out of the room like my tail was on fire. The beta assigned to drive me today saw me rushing out of the building and standing up in a hurry, to jump into the vehicle but I paid him no heed, rounding to the driver's side and I sped off without lo