Ava's POV The pain was so unbearable and was like a hellish fire consuming my entire being. I couldn't stop crying over one hit while wondering if I could survive another.The girls were ready to force me into killing myself, and with this wolfsbane whip, I could tell they were very close to achieving their victory over me, because there was absolutely no way I would be able to bear it.The first strike came like a thunderbolt that pierced deeper into the marrow of my bone, tearing my flesh in a streak with my blood spilling freely.My mouth was left loose as I screamed for life as the excruciating even seemed to have seized my breath. It was the most painful experience, which would actually drive me to destroy my life core to escape another lash from them.As I rolled around the ground with my eyes shut tightly, screeching and shaking vehemently from the overwhelming and heart-wrenching pain, I suddenly heard someone say something shocking.At first, I thought my ears were deceiving
Jaden's POV She fell into my arms like a log of wood, tears rolling down her eyes while I stared in terror and panic. I was breathing heavily as my heart stung like it was pierced and ripped apart with a sharp sword.Her blood was gushing from her chest where she had stabbed herself, and I wasted no second in starting to transfer my inner energy to her so it would help her heal faster and stop the bleeding.I had never done this for anyone before since I valued every single one of my powers, but there was no way I could sit back and watch her bleed.The blood stopped after a few minutes, and I could hear her breath flowing normally again, but those eyes were yet to open and there was no movement in her body.My inner energy transferred to her would help her heal faster, but to make it out of the coma alive depends only on her decision. If she decides in her heart to die and never return alive, she will be dead in some hours.My eyes were getting tearier, which was so weird to me as I
Carl's POVMy blood was boiling in rage as I stood right there waiting for the fools who turned Ava that way. The picture of her scarred body was still stuck in my head, and all I could think of was to destroy everyone who had put her in that condition.I was breathing heavily as the anger kept hitting me hard. I was becoming impatient. The footsteps of Ava's oppressor were getting louder as they approached, but it seemed like they were walking slowly, and it irked me the more.I can't wait to see the faces of the cruel wolves who could treat their kind so wickedly. How could someone with conscience whip a poor girl like Ava with whips soaked in wolfsbane, which hurts terribly?Even the strongest warrior will cry at a strike, not to mention Ava. It is obvious that they wanted her dead at all cost, so I will fulfill their wishes in their lives instead.I dropped the whips right beside the tree where I was hiding behind. They will come over to pick it up, which will make them stand clos
Nana's POVI was staring straight into his dark eyes that appeared darker as they stared back at me with a devilish smirk curling up his lips. The whip in his hand was gripped tightly, and I needed no soothsayer to know that he would use it on me, but what I couldn't understand was why I was unable to run while watching him kill those girls like animals.My heart was beating so hard inside my ribcage that I thought it would fall out, and all that filled me to the brim was guilt and panic over what I had just heard. I thought I wanted Ava to die so much all this time, but the moment I heard Carl say she killed herself, I felt a sharp pang in my heart and my stomach was churning.My eyes were wet as I kept forcing myself to doubt Carl's words. I don't want to believe Ava really gave up and killed herself. It sounds terrific to me, knowing fully well that I just caused her death."You dare to ask me if she is really dead? You are really funny. Is this the last prayer you should recite as
It wasn't long before I realized she was a demon, and now she just talked about taking over the pack. Was she talking about our pack? And why did she just make this statement now that Ava just died? Does it mean that Ava was the one holding her back all this time?Different scary thoughts kept running through my mind in a rush, making my breath hitch in my throat as I kept swallowing hard while staring at Aurora. She was smiling all the while, and those eyes that had always been cold and angry were now brightened, shimmering with excitement and victory.She was running with great speed without shifting into a wolf, and her demon scent was still hitting hard inside my nostrils. Her feet were as if they weren't touching the ground. Beneath her legs was something that looked like dark fog as she bolted through the forest path that leads to the royal palace. I was in her arms, but wasn't comfortable at all.Fear was eating me up, so I couldn't breathe again. Even as I found out that Ava w
"What!!!" I found myself exclaiming in surprise as I heard the suicide message she sent to me through the mind link. The staff in my hand fell off as my lips went wide open in fear that just engulfed me, yet I don't know why I was scared on hearing of her death.I tried connecting back to her to check if it was true, and for real, I couldn't locate a trace of her soul. It was lost, which means she was really dead."Alpha, what is it?" Everyone spoke out to me at the same time, darting their eyes at me in surprise. "Ava is dead." I announced, and there was an uproar of excitement from everyone inside the palace room."Finally!!!" The Beta's mate shrieked in happiness."This calls for celebration!" The Beta added that even the guards couldn't hold back their smiles at the news, which was a very great one for them."The pack members will be so happy to hear this!" One of the elders shouted, and they all went on with their jubilations as if they had won a lottery. As I sat there watching
"What the hell are you saying? You want me to believe they appeared here or what? Don't tell me you weren't standing at the entrance all the time!" I rasped, peering at him as I struggled to push away the creepy thoughts in my head.My instincts and even my inner wolf were both whispering to me that Aurora might not be a normal wolf as I thought."Aurora might either be a witch or a demon and might have really walked in here with Nana in an invisible manner." That was what my wolf was whispering to me, but I wasn't listening to him as I silently prayed and hoped he wasn't right.The guard fell to the floor immediately, bowing in panic."I swear, I hadn't left the post for a single second and my eyes were never shut for a second. My colleagues can be called in too and questioned. Both of them never walked in through that entrance." He kept explaining in fear."Then where did they pass through? There is only a single entrance into this place." I asked no one in particular, and the fact
What she just said hit me hard like a tsunami as my body trembled from the ground where it lay flat. I was lying on my belly with my head raised, fixing my gaze on her. I was dumb and couldn't find my voice even when I had a lot of things to say.I didn't know whether to plead for forgiveness or to rise and fight back like the alpha I was. Everything was just playing out in front of my eyes like some sort of movie."What are you fools waiting for? Or do you want me to kill you? Do you have a death wish?!!" The angry voice of Aurora rang in my ears as she yelled at my bodyguards, who were still shivering and finding it hard to hit me.The yell from Aurora made them shake harder in fear as they drew closer to me, but they still found it hard to strike their whips at me. For many years, they had been guarding me with everything they had. They'd risk their lives for my safety without knowing that a day would come when they'd have no option but to hit me."Please, Aurora. I am so sorry for
Lucas I watched her sleep though it had not been induced of her own accord. Ryker had shortened her breath and brought her to me in my room. At first, when I saw her, I thought she was dead because of how limp she laid in his big arms. However, after he explained the lengths he had to go to ensure he returned with her, I took her from him and placed her where she belonged; beside me in my bed. Since then, sleep deserted me, rendering me a guard over her. I threaded her hair between my fingers, combing gently and letting the soft tresses slide away. Her scent was light as she was unconscious but once she was awake, it would fill the air with its mouthwatering vanilla aroma. Her clothes were dirty from wherever she had been, dry clumps of dirt gluing to various areas of the dress. It was ruined for sure and eventually, I had to take them off her to prevent her from developing a rash. Undressing her came with its own difficulties. She would sigh occasionally in a sensual manner and my
“I can't believe you chose Lucas over your freedom, Miatta,” Addy kept saying over and over again after I had sent Ryker away. The pesky bodyguard had seen me on my back from the path and had suggested that I came with him. “No,” I had said to him, not taking more than a minute to make up my mind. “The festivities are over and he no longer has a reason to keep me cooped up in his room. It will be best for all if I returned to the slave room where I belong.” He was not convinced by my act of martyrdom but knowing Ryker, I was confident that he would not force me to do anything I didn't want to. He respected me not just as his master’s mate but as a person. He waited to see if I would change my mind but instead, I walked around him and continued on the route I had earlier set out. Lucas would not be pleased with him but I tried not to think about how Lucas was feeling. Bringing my roaming thoughts to the present, I saw disappointment boldly written on Addy’s face. I was disappointed
Miatta “You can't be serious, Miatta! You want to turn back now? Think about what you are about to do!” Ramona admonished at the top of her voice. I pulled her into the shadows and slapped my palm onto her mouth. “Unless you want to be caught and dragged back to that land of bondage, I suggest you lower your tone and listen to me!” She swallowed twice, her eyes damp and became calm. When I was sure she would not break down in tears, I lifted my palm off her lips and gave her my back. I couldn't explain the feeling I was having but I just couldn't leave Red Bone Pack. My heart was there, lying asleep in the woods while my body was planning on leaving. It just didn't seem right. “Once I get you over the mountains, you will go on without me. Don't look back, don't think about this land, about Addy or me. I will be fine. Stick to the shadows and when it is dawn, run as fast as your legs can carry you. You are a wolf and you can easily find your way once you channel your senses in the
Miatta By the time I returned to the path, I was exhausted from running all the way. My lungs were screaming at me for exercising that hard and I had to stop myself twice from falling on my face. I was still far from the secret passage and I pushed on, using my honed abilities anywhere the moonlight could not reveal to me. My conscience stabbed at me with every step I took and I starved it by thinking less of what I had done and more on what I was about to do. I would be home sooner than I ever anticipated since arriving at Red Bone Pack and I wasn't going to let my nosy, star-stricken wolf ruin it for me. Suddenly, I heard a mild rustling of leaves from somewhere behind me and I froze in place. My mind raced to conclusion that perhaps Lucas had not been sleeping after all and had trailed behind me. I gulped through a tight throat and held my breath, crouching into a squat. Whoever it was, I was determined not to be discovered. The footsteps drew closer and I peeped from where I was
Miatta Lucas dropped into a crouch, bones snapping and rearranging within him. His shifting phase looked painful yet intriguing, drawing attention to the spectacle. Thick sheaves of hair grew out on his neck and back and he howled long into the night. It caused shivers down my spinal column as I marveled at his animalistic beauty. Suddenly, he leapt off the ground, somersaulted in mid-air and landed gracefully on all fours. His clothes were in shreds at his feet and I stood in quiet adoration. His wolf had ink-black, almost oily fur, covering him from his head to his powerful paws. He sniffed at something in the air and turned his head towards me in expectation. His eyes were darker and mystic, compelling me to do anything he asked. In either form, he was a sight to behold and I was proud he was mine, all mine. As shifters, our eyes represented the colour of our fur. The eyes were the window to the soul and our animals were our soul. Without them, one was condemned to a unfulfilled
Miatta The festival night was heated and the excitement filled the air. Mated couples sat next to each other, necking and flirting openly while the single ones hoped for a match from the Goddess. Slabs of meat were served starting from the royal household and later, it was distributed amongst the pack. Even the slaves got a bit of everything though it wasn't in large amounts like those of the freeborns. Lucas gave me no excuses to leave his sight and was super clingy throughout the night. He decided he wanted to feed me himself and I obliged him to take any suspicions off me. He was charming and the little he knew, the better for both of us. However, I couldn't help searching the crowd for Addy. It was almost time for the free run and I had not set my eyes on either she or Ramona. My wolf was itching for action and I could feel her nipping at my guts. The lunar sensation was getting to her and I had to get away before I was pushed off by her. Our empty meal bowl lay at my side and
Miatta My visiting hour was up and I escorted Addy and her group back to the dark room. She pulled me in for a final hug and whispered shortly in my ear: “Do not forget your promise to me.” She had asked for my word and I had given it selflessly. Addy had never asked anything of me in the past and now that she had, I didn't want to let her down. Ramona was coming with me by nightfall. There was to be a wolf run and during that period, every shifter was free to do what he pleased, slave or freeborn. Many found their mates on the day of the Moon Festival while others just mingled sexually for the fun of it, a one-night only orgy. It was at that time when everyone was distracted that I planned to leave with Ramona. On my way back, shadows had fallen along my path, protecting me from the harsh sunlight. The weather was not hot however as chilly winds clashed with each other. Goosebumps were aligned on my upper arm and I rubbed my relatively warm palms along them. I mentally made plan
Mood SwingsMiatta “You bathed the Lycan Prince?” Ramona exclaimed, her eyes large in wonder. I grimaced, attempting a shy smile while Addy burst into laughter. “Well, he didn't give me a choice!” I retorted, wanting to defend myself. They were on garden duty but I sat with Addy, reminiscing the past events of the week. They were on garden duty but I was in a shade, discussing with Addy from there. Ramona chopped unevenly at the flowers, reminding me of the first time I had done the job. Lucas had come to my aid but then, he had been Luke to me. Subconsciously, a smile grew on my lips, my protest forgotten. “Someone is thinking of someone special,” Addy teased, using her shears skillfully like they were an extension of her arms. She was just so capable at everything, the shifter version of perfection. She juggled her brows at me, not losing sight of the shrub she was trimming. When I nodded in Ramona's direction, she twisted her neck at her understudy and gasped in horror. “Ramona
Miatta After my bath with Lucas, I began to give more thought to returning home. I loved Lucas truly but I loved my family first. They meant the world to me and I had to see them again even if it was for the last time. Lucas was uncharacteristically quiet, giving me more time to ponder my plans. “What do you think about Beta Logan?” he suddenly asked, taking me by surprise. I didn't know why he was asking me about the sneaky lycan and so, I was unsure of what answer to give him. Personally, Beta Logan made me uncomfortable in my own skin but I couldn't tell Lucas that because it would lead to him asking more questions. “I think he is very loyal to your father.” With my back to him, I heard rather than saw Lucas approach me from behind. He tugged on my arm, pulling me onto a stool. I didn't resist him, going along with whatever he wanted. He pinched the bridge of his nose, meditating on whatever he was about to say. “Cut the crap, Miatta. I asked you what you think of him as he i