"We have to leave this place right now Ariana, they are coming" Ariana's mother threw a few clothes into a bag, no sooner had she opened the door when they heard the rustle of leaves, the night air was chilled as she and her mother ran into the mist, they suddenly heard a low growl behind them that was way too close, Ariana's mother stopped on her track, panting for breath and at the same time trying to shield Ariana from whatever danger coming their way, Ariana's eyes widened in terror as she saw two pair of red eyes staring at them in the darkness, teeth bared, ready to pounce on its prey. powerful footsteps purposefully advanced towards them like a predator once it sets it's eyes on a prey and Ariana's mother quickly stood at her front as if to shield her from any danger, pushing her away from her side, she screamed
"run Ariana, run, take this" her mother shouted as she gave her a pendant, no sooner had Ariana wrapped her hands around it powerful claws pounced on mother,"mother no! I won't leave without you" she screamed as she ran towards her mother, who was struggling with the wolf but she was no match for a werewolf, there was a long gash on her forehead as blood trickled out,"no do not come closer, run Ariana promise me to always wear that necklace" ten years old Ariana watched in horror as blood trickled from her mother's mouth,"promise me Ariana'" tears rolled down her cheeks, as she stared at her mother fight with her last breathe, "I will mom, I promise" her mother smiled as she whispered, "you have to survive Ariana, you have to live" and then she suddenly stopped her struggling as she suddenly grew still, dead, her mother was dead. The wolf suddenly turned to her, teeth bared as it growled, she suddenly jerked from her daze as the word "run" echoed in her head, she screamed and ran with all her might, with the wolf on her tail, heart pounding, breathing hard, she suddenly missed a step and she fell, she watched in terror as the wolf pounced on her, she rose her arms to block the attack as it tore at her eyes, suddenly, everything grew still as she was snared into the den of nothingness.Chapter oneAriana's POVI was sitting on my bed, lost in thought and staring at the necklace around my neck, my hand wrapped around it and I wondered how I got such a unique necklace as I have no memory of it, I have no memory of my childhood, I also stared at the scar on my hand and couldn't help but wondered how I got that scar, my father said I was attacked by an animal when I was little but I can't help but think there's more to it. I am living with my father and sister but for some reason, they always feel like strangers to me as I am treated more like a servant, my elder sister, Samantha, never misses an opportunity to bicker with me and never fails to remind me that I was the reason why our mother died, although, I had no memory of how I caused her death but from what I was told, my father and mother where divorce, while I had to live with my mother, Samantha was taken by our father, she had always craved for a motherly love and was super excited when our mother had decided to come live with dad but died before getting here, father had gone in search of us when she didn't show up only to find out about her death, Samantha had gotten really disappointed and blamed her death on me, so, she hates me and so do father, the least I could do is to avoid them as much as possible, I tiptoe around the house when they are around. My door suddenly burst open and I jumped as I saw Samantha, standing in the doorway, looking at me with hatred and anger, a look I have gotten used to,"what the hell are you still doing sitting down here?" She raged and I felt my inside cringe,"I...I...I..." "Enough of your stuttering and get your sorry ass down there to prepare breakfast for me" she yelled and I quickly stood up to do as she wished, I have been doing this for years, working as their servant, sometimes I doubt I am actually related to them by blood. I quickly prepared some omelet for her and served her with coffee and a spoon of milk just as she likes it and served my father's own black, father quickly drank his own and went out without even glancing my way while Samantha finished with hers, went inside and brought out a heap of clothes and dumping it in my arms,"make sure you wash this before I get back, I have a show to attend" she instructed me as she prepared to leave, I summoned the courage to ask her for a favor,"Samantha, please I need a favor from you" I knew I sounded like a wimp but I desperately need this favor from her, she paused as if surprised by my request and raised a brow, "you dare to ask a favor from me?""Please Samantha, it's something you can easily help me with"She paused for a moment, "let's hear it"I almost punched the air in joy that she would even listen to me at all, I took a deep calming breath,"I need a job, can you help me get work in your company?" I guessed my request caught her by surprise because she suddenly threw her head backward and laughed coldly,"you want to work in a fashion company? As what? You think you look good enough to work there?" She walked up to me and lifted my arm, raising my long sleeve,"look at this scar on your arm, do you know how disgusting it looks?"Tears welled in my eyes, her words hurt so much, I stared at the scar that I didn't even remember how I got it,"get it in your head that the only suitable job for you is to be a servant, dressing in rags and serving me at home suits you better, so do not even think you're qualified to get a job out there" Samantha hissed at me before turning her back and walking out and closing the door behind her.My limbs suddenly failed me as they couldn't hold me up anymore, I crotched on the floor as I sob silently, maybe Samantha is right, I am such an ugly duckling anyway, who would want to work with me? I stared at the huge gash on my hand and suddenly felt the urge to scrape it out, the only thing I can do to keep surviving is to keep being a servant in this suffocating house, my heart trembled and I wish I could remember my mom, would she love me? Or she would also consider me bad luck, I can't help but wonder how she died, I stared at the heap of clothes and decided to wash them later.**I must have fallen asleep because I suddenly heard Samantha screaming curses at me, I stared at my surroundings in confusion before it dawned on me that I had fallen asleep on the floor where I had sat weeping with my head on the clothes she had given me to wash,"How dare you" Samantha screeched in anger and before I could reply, I felt a ting on my cheeks as she hit me so hard that my head reeled, I fell on my face and winced in pain,"How dare you sleep on my clothes?" I opened my mouth to reply as I made to stand up but got a kick from her, my breath whooshed out, it was damn painful,"I have a date tonight with one of the most important person in Carolina, a person someone like you can never dream of ever meeting and you had to ruin it for me, I wanted to wear that red dress for the date, I hate you, why do you have to come into our lives, you disgust me so much""She's just bad luck," my father said from the doorway just as he suddenly entered the house, pain burst in my heart at their stinging words, I tried to hold back the tears but failed miserably, my cheek sting from Samantha's slap and my stomach hurt from her kicks, I suddenly turned on my heels and ran to my room as tears blinded me, I didn't stop running until I reached the comfort of my room, locking the door behind me, I fell on my small bed and wept my eyes sore.Dylan's POVI frowned in impatience as I watched the stack of unsigned contracts on my table, they are the names of new models that have been hired. Ouch, let me introduce myself, my name is Dylan Sabastine. My father was an Alpha before his death and I am supposed to be the next Alpha but I couldn't lead the red moon pack with the death of my father still hunting me.I was reckless as a teenager and lived with my parents as he leads the red moon pack, before I shifted, I had always dreamt of what my mate would look like, I was anticipating my eighteenth birthday, it was the time that most wolves shift and they perceive their mates, someone they would love for the rest of their life. My whole life, I had watched my father loved his Luna with such a fiery passion and had always dreamt of loving my mate the same way. As a teenager, although, I was waiting for my mate, I was infatuated with the beta's daughter, I had loved beta Cain's daughter, Myla from the first time I set
Ariana's POVI opened my eyes to the pounding of my door and heard Samantha's voice from the other side of my door, for a moment, I wondered why she didn't just enter my room as she has always done but then I remembered I had bolted my door when I ran in last night, I quickly stood up and opened the door for her, "how dare you keep me waiting" she raged as soon as I opened the door if she wasn't screaming at me, she was raging or cursing at me, all these are something I am used to from her"I am sorry" I replied her to avoid any argument, she stared at me as if thinking of a new way to torment me."What can I help you with?" I asked her feigning indifference that I was far from feeling, my body aches and I was in no mood to fight with her, "arrogant bitch" she snarled and got no reply from me"Get me my breakfast" she finally instructed and made to leave but paused at the door, her back towards me, "get ready, you're following me to work today"Did I hear co
Ariana's POVI shivered as I stood on the runway and took an unconscious step backward but I didn't know how to properly walk with heels, my ankle twisted and I fell on the floor, the tiny strap on the gown snapped open with the force of my fall and my breast spiraled out, the scar on my arm was visible and I tried shielding myself, I wish they could turn off the light, I heard the whispers and laughter of people and I brought my knee up close as I curled myself into a ball, "what a whore" I heard someone asked"She's a saboteur" another announced and suddenly, everyone started contributing what they thought of me, I was left speechless, I wasn't any of that, how could they just judge me so harshly. The place was suddenly quiet as I saw two pairs of shoes standing in front of me, I glanced up slowly and my eyes almost popped out, it was the man from the elevator, is he here to help me? Did he believe I am being accused falsely? It then dawned on me that it was Samantha's p
Ariana's POV"Who sent you to sabotage my show?" Dylan Sabastine's voice sent a chill down my spine, he was not a man anyone could mess with, I stared into his eyes pleadingly, he's the only one that could get me out of here right now, I was surprised when the police had told me this morning that someone was here to see me and was more shocked when I saw his tall frame waiting for me, "I didn't mean to, you have to believe me" I begged, my heart pounding painfully in my chest, I don't wish to spend another night in this cold cell, he stared at me in disbelief, "what would I gain by sabotaging your show?" I suddenly asked him and he raised a derisive brow, "you tell me, how much were you paid?" I was dismayed by his question and felt like hitting my head against the wall, maybe this is my fate, to rot in this cell."I wasn't paid any money as I wasn't sent by anyone" I retorted but the expression on his face didn't change, "you were working alone then" he spoke as if conclu
Dylan's POVA sweet tantalizing smell suddenly hits my nostrils making my wolf awakened just before I heard a soft knock on my door, "come in" I growled and she slowly opened the door and peered in softly,the words "Mate,Mate" suddenly roared in my brain and I could feel the fur of my wolf on my skin, I was shocked at my sudden reaction to her as I tried to rein in the sudden forceful feelings, I had sworn off falling for anyone when I got rejected by Myla, I am the master of my own feelings and no one can ever make me fall in love, I shut off the chanting of Mate in my head as I gazed her her, feeling agitated, she twisted her hands nervous and refused to look me in the eyes, "you must bow whenever you see me" I growled at her trying to unleash my anger on her, she immediately did as I've ordered and I sneered, "now, get me my breakfast and be fast about it""Alright" she answered as she made to leave, in a flash, I had her pinned to the wall, "you'll answer, yes my Lor
Author's POVAriana walked into the fashion bureau with Dylan, she cringed at the whispers and stares she got and felt like the ground should open and swallow her up, with heads bowed, she followed Dylan straight to his office with heads bowed but he suddenly stopped by the door and she bumped into him, she heard him hissed in anger before turning suddenly to face her, his eyes flashing fire, "will you for a moment not be clumsy?" He hissed and she cowered, "I...I'm sorry" she stuttered and he gritted his teeth, "can't you say a word without stuttering?" Heads still bowed, she kept quiet, she doesn't understand why he was being so angry with her today, without another word, he went in and she meekly followed and watched as he sat behind his desk. "It's time for my coffee" he stared at her straight in the eyes and she quickly averted hers, he had told her never to stare at him in the eyes, he frowned when she made no move to go get his coffee, "is something wrong?" Her eye
Ariana's POVI have been in the dressing room for what seemed like decades before I heard footsteps, I quickly got up from my sitting position and ran to the door in an attempt to pound on it for help but to my amazement, I twisted the handle and it suddenly opened revealing Dylan's angry face, "so you came here to hide to avoid your work" he yelled, my heart raced as I stared at him, trying to explain myself, "no, no, I would never do that, I was locked in, I pounded on the door but it seemed like no one was nearby"He raised his brow in disbelief, "let's say I want to believe you, what are you doing here in the first place?" I quickly remembered the file he had sent me to get, I quickly rushed to where I left it and brought it to him, "here is your file, I came to get it for you as instructed" his eyes darkened and there was that glow again in it whenever he's really angry, I took a step backward as he walked towards me menacingly, "And what am I supposed to do with th
Dylan's POVI paced my room in anger, I couldn't explain what had just happened, one minute it was Myla's face that I was seeing and the next minute I was inside Ariana, the feel of her supple flesh zapped through my memory and I growled at the image, I walked out and went into the woods, pulling my clothes, I let my wolf out, I could feel it's claws and furs as it took over, it jumped out happily and howled, it's sense of smell heightened by the change, he caught a whiff of something, more like a faint smell of witch but it was gone before he could be sure about it. it took off, a predator preying the woods, it was dawn before Icame back to where I had kept my clothes, changing back into human form, I quickly wore it and walked inside, I passed through Ariana's door and paused, I knew she had cried all night, I suddenly felt like apologizing for what happened but what was the use, it wasn't gonna change anything, "mark her, make her yours" I heard my wolf say
Author's POVDamien paced outside the door where Sam and Ariana were, he was asked by Dylan to protect the ladies while the battle raged outside and he wished he was out there to help his friend, the noise of the battle and howls of wolves filled the air."What's going on?" He asked the werewolf he had sent to check on how the fight was going on outside"They are not dying" the wolf replied with a voice filled with fear and trepidation laced down Damien's spine"What do you mean by they are not dying?" He asked"The wizard's men kept coming back to life, it's as if they have numerous lives, the Alpha even bit the wizard but he stood back up"A soft gasp from behind him had Damien turning around to see Ariana holding onto the doorframe"Luna, what are you doing? You are supposed to be in bed" Damien said and quickly walked toward her"There must be a way to make them die, there must be," Ariana said and stared at Damien, did you find anything when you were captured?Damien shook his he
Lilith gazed around the crowd that had gathered for her supposed wedding with Dylan and was surprised to see the Lycan king and some Alphas from other packs, who had invited them? Were they expecting this wedding? She had proposed the wedding to Dylan only yesterday and it was solely her idea, he would not have had the time to invite them right? There was barely any preparation done.Her nerves were almost frayed with nervousness already and she was so tensed but today was the day she and Erasmus had planned to take over the pack and nothing could stop them. If the Lycan king and the others want to be at the party, then they are welcomed.Where the hell was Dylan? He had asked her to go out while he got the contract, what was taking him so long? Erasmus and his soldiers were set already. She had intentionally not invited the werewolf's council of elders nor had she invited any external pack because she did not want any external complications but somehow, external packs had found thei
Author's POVLilith dashed towards Erasmus's house, she could not wait to tell him the news about her success, by tomorrow, the Blood Moon pack would no longer existShe paused when she got there and saw him screaming angrily outside, something must have upset him this much and she ran the remaining distance toward him"Master, are you okay?" She asked with a worried frown as she gazed around to see what might have upset him this much"Is the deed done?" he asked and turned towards her"Yes, Erasmus, the wedding is set for tomorrow and we shall attack by then, the contract will be signed by then"He narrowed his eyes on her, "the contract has not been signed? What the hell are you still waiting for since you have him under your control""He got sick when he was about to sign it earlier and...""Excuses...I don't care about it, get him to sign it tonight" he clenched out and gazed at her meaningfully, "unless, you have developed a soft spot for him""No way in hell, that will ever happ
Author's POV Damien opened his eyes and groaned in pain, "where am I?" He whispered as he stared around, damn, he was not supposed to go unconscious.He sat up and groaned a little, damn it, he was in so much pain and he had been in and out of this excruciating pain for God knows how long, his head was pounding furiously, "damn you and your wizard Lilith" he muttered and gazed around for anything that he could use to boost himself to a standing position. He felt so weak and his bones cracked in pain as he pushed himself up, he had to get out of there, he hadn't even learned anything about the staff that Ariana spoke about.The room where he was kept was empty and he wondered if the wizard was close by or if he had gone out, he hoped for the latter because right now, he was too weak to fight He slowly moved towards the door but as expected, it was locked from the outside, he placed his ear on the door, listening for sound from the other end but heard none, it would seem like Erasmus
Author's POV "What the hell did you just do?" Dylan screamed at Sam and dashed towards Ariana'she said that was the only way to bring your back""Bring me back from where? Dylan asked as he tried to stop the flow of blood"Let's get her treated first then I'll tell you everything""I'll go and get your husband," Dylan said standing to leave"That's not possible" Sam quickly grabbed his hand to keep him from going outDylan frowned at her impatiently, Look, despite you being my sister-in-law, I should be punishing you for this""Calm down Dylan, first of all, Damien is not available, secondly, you cannot let anyone know about what happened here and lastly, I need you here to help or I might lose a sister and you, a wife. After all, it's your fault that this happened to her"Dylan stared at her in bewilderment, "hang on, how is this my fault? You stabbed her""She asked me to" Samantha replied curtly as she tore Ariana's clothes to view the wound"She asked you to stab her and you jus
Ariana's POV I stretched lazily and could not stop the smile that sprang to my lips as my last escapade with Dylan filtered through my mind.I touched Dylan's side of the bed but he was nowhere to be found, I slowly dressed up and went downstairs.The loud cheers and music that filled the air reminded me that the festival was still ongoing, it was way past midnight and I was sure that those pack of wolves was going to be there until dawnI sighted Dylan seated at the head of his table, enjoying his drink while watching those dancing and cheering, I smiled and made my way toward him"I see that you are enjoying yourself," I said and placed my hands on his shoulders with a small kiss on his cheek"Ariana," he said but made no move whatsoever to return my kiss, he did not seem happy to see me and I frowned"What's wrong?" I asked, puzzled by his odd behavior"Nothing, I am tired and need my rest" he stood up and walked away"What the hell just happened? Why was he suddenly acting cold t
Lilith's POVI watched as Dylan finally came downstairs to join in the pack's festival celebration, he had left me at the council's celebration without a second thought and I had to find my way back to the pack.If I did not hate him so much, I would have said that I admired how much he loves his wife, I could say that I was almost jealous of the kind of bond that they both shared, not even the thought that I was also his mate could alter that bond but then, I was furious because their bond was really messing up with my plans and Erasmus was beginning to get agitated and impatient with me.My heart soared when I saw that he was coming downstairs alone, that meant his wife would not be hovering around him like a vulture and messing up my plans.The celebration was ongoing and there was dancing, drinking, and dining in the pack, this was my opportunity to add the elixir to his drink and finally have him eating out of my palms. I quickly poured his favorite French wine into a glass, and
Ariana's POV "Can I have the next dance?" I heard a voice say as soon as the music stopped and I turned to see the Alpha of the Red Moon pack standing behind me.Dylan frowned and I knew he was going to kick the ass of the Alpha that made such a request but before he could say anything, I smiled at the Alpha, "of course" I replied and placed my hand in his.Red Moon pack was one of the strongest packs in the werewolf's kingdom and this was a great opportunity for me to make him an ally, I needed to know those that I could rely on when I sent for themDylan's face was thunderous, he was not too pleased having his Luna in another man's arms, well, he would have to deal with it because what I was doing was for the betterment of our pack.I swayed in the arms of the Alpha of Red Moon pack and he drew me close to him, "you look beautiful tonight" I arched my brow at him as we moved synthetically to the rhythm of the song, "you mean pitiable right? Not beautiful" I replied, testing the wa
Author's POVLilith could not believe what Ariana had offered to her on a platter of gold. Perhaps, Ariana was not as smart as she had thought and had fallen for her act, she smiled inwardly as she thought of how best to use this opportunity presented to her. Erasmus will be damn proud of her, she needed Ariana to fall completely into her trap, and by the time she realizes just how much she was hated, it would be too late because she would have carried out her plans and destroyed the pack Right now, she just needed to look for the right opportunity to give Dylan the elixir so that he would be totally under her control.There were whispers as soon as Dylan got to the festival with Lilith, news had reached other packs that the Alpha of the Blood Moon pack had a new mate but they were not too sure how true it was.How could he choose an Omega over his beautiful and powerful wife who risked everything just to be with him? He could have just rejected this mate and kept on with his wife bu