Chapter 57Gradel"You'll have to fulfill our late Alpha's wishes and become his successor." She simply said.I burst into a peal of laughter— a hearty, throaty one that made my body ache after I managed to calm down. But when I stared at her, her expression had turned into an impassive mask that I could barely interpret."That's the joke of the century, female. You don't get to come into my pack where my father presides and dish out ridiculous orders. I hope you know that," I said authoritatively as anger rose within me.She smirked and kicked Iris's knee, causing her to stumble on the ground. "I have your mate with me and before you can think of making any funny move, I'd have killed her. My sentinels have defeated your people and your father is on the verge of dying. Do you think that you're in the position to make demands?"I clenched and unclenched my fists, suppressing the urge to attack her, but she was holding my mate to ransom and I couldn't afford to act thoughtlessly. "I c
Chapter 58Gradel"So how can I make things right?" I questioned.Devin reached for my hands, gripping them firmly. "There's nothing you can do because whatever is going on isn't your fault. You didn't force anyone to like you and that's why I'm taking this offer to rule the Red Sea pack as an escape."My eyes squinted in confusion, my heart tearing apart. "How?" My voice was breathy and I was close to breaking down in tears. "We haven't even bonded yet and you want to leave already. Why can't we team up and fight them?"He giggled darkly. "You and I know that it would be a very wrong move. Besides, I'll lose my mind if I keep staying here. Father will never give me the same level of respect and love he has for you and over there, I get the liberty to rule them as I want. This pack would have been ruled by our late mother, but our father took away that chance from her and killed her. Please, don't allow him to get away with this." His eyes turned cold and hard lines appeared on his fa
Chapter 59IrisA knock on the door riled me up from my not-so-peaceful sleep. I yawned and leaned on the bedrest, irritated by the knock. It had better not be Hazel because even though I loved her more than my sister, I needed time to process my present predicament."Come in, please," I answered groggily and reached for the jar of water on the bed stand.The door was pushed open and Hegar came in, already dressed up for the day. "Greetings, My lady. Did you have a good sleep?"I pinched my forehead in a bid to relieve myself of the banging headache that grew in my head. It had been like that since the debacle with Zera and then it worsened after the nightmare.I didn't know what was going wrong with me but I didn't want to fall sick as this was the worst time for that to happen."No, I didn't," I replied flatly. "What do you want?""Prince Gradel informed me this morning that I'd be in charge of your training session so I came to take you on it." He informed me and I scoffed, sliding
Chapter 60GradelI thought I'd feel something, though slight when I came face to face with my father but nothing sprang up in my chest, instead the desire to leave enveloped me.As expected, he still wasn't responding to treatment as his face had gotten paler than last night's. His fingers were swollen and the only thing that came to my mind was plunging a knife into his chest and ending the misery he was facing, but that would make his death too easy.After poisoning my late mother to death because of his inability to control his lust, he almost succeeded in severing the bond I shared with my twin. A slow, painful death was what he deserved."Keep watching over him and stop administering the medicine to him. You're just wasting your time," I told Silas who was stirring a potion inside a wooden bowl."Are you sure about that, Prince? His condition will further deteriorate..."My deep frown was enough to keep him from talking further. "Just do as I say or you'll face my wrath," I warn
Chapter 61Iris"And why do you think it will be that easy to stay away from him? He's my mate and we're supposed to be inseparable like the other couples. Why can't he forgive me for a sin I didn't commit?" I argued, my voice was beginning to quiver as I was on the verge of tears.He took my hands and squeezed them. "Look, Iris, you have gone through a lot but don't be so desperate to get your mate back. He'll come for you soon. Just occupy your mind with other things like your training because the Prince needs a strong woman by his side right now since he has automatically become our Alpha."He was right, but I couldn't help the hollowness that increased each minute we weren't together."Well, I have no choice but to take your advice." I sighed and fed my eyes by the activities of the market women around.And my mind reverted to the first stroll Gradel and I took and the night run. I got to know things I didn't know existed and he wasn't done teaching me.To think that we were going
Chapter 62GradelGetting to Los Angeles late in the evening didn't stop me from calling for a meeting at the hotel I'd lodged into. My heart churned with guilt at the way I left Iris, but I pushed the unwanted feelings aside and prepared for the meeting.My phone beeped and quickly picked it up in anticipation. I was expecting a message from James, one of the sentinels I'd put in charge of PRO, but why did my heart skip immediately?I scratched my head and flung my phone on the bed in disappointment. What made me think that she would pick up her phone and call me?Besides, I asked for space not her.I stared at my reflection in the mirror and brushed my hair into its usual comb-over style. Satisfied with how good I looked, I waltzed out of the room and headed to the bar.James had assured me that the bar was less crowded as I'd paid for some parts of it so that our meeting wouldn't be disturbed and I saw it as a good deal because I didn't want to start driving around town.Most of my
Chapter 63Gradel"I'm very sure that my intentions are obvious," She got off her stool and drew closer to me. "I want you back Gradel. Can't you see? We used to be so good together—"I didn't allow her to finish. "Agreed, until you decided to disrespect me by sleeping with another man in my house. You could have taken your promiscuity to your apartment or even a hotel, but your teany-weany brain decided that it wasn't the best. Do you think I can just accept you into my life like that?" I spat, trying hard to keep my emotions under control.I didn't want her to think that she still had some effect on me. She fiddled with her well-manicured nails, her fake lash extensions lowered. "That happened a long time ago and trust me, I was being stupid. I don't know what got into my head,""That's fine, but don't you think I'd be married right now? Besides you wouldn't be saying all of these if I didn't come to this club," My tone was derisive.Her eyes widened in disappointment and she almos
Chapter 64IrisThe courtroom was thrown into an upheaval when I brought the young man in. Apparently, no one had ever challenged their barbaric customs that gave no chance for suspects to defend themselves.Just like they did to me."I say we lock him up and wait for Prince Gradel to come back. He should be done with the meetings by now, right?" Elder Hanson said.My body shuddered involuntarily at the mention of his name. I nearly slapped my cheek for having the hots for him when I was faced with a serious issue. His name wasn't supposed to have any effect on me.Head sentinel Silas snorted, advancing toward the young man who was already on his knees."That would be too easy for him. Who knows, Prince Gradel would return and decide to release him, but that would give other criminals the audacity to continue stealing and we don't want that to happen." He injected.My temper simmered to the surface and with all their ridiculous inputs, I was having a hard time keeping calm. Why couldn