Numerous times, Dante had strolled the length of the bar, searching for Freya. Where the hell was she? For a second, he wondered if she had backed out, but the thought had left his head as quickly as it came. Freya Parrish wasn't the type to wriggle out of a deal. She was as concrete as a rock once her mind was made up. He knew she had been in this exact spot not so long ago. Her scent still lingered and it was reasonably fresh. His wolf growled at the exotic smell, wanting to hunt her down. To hunt her down and take her, claiming her as his."Her scent disappeared not far from here," said Dante as he reappeared at his side. "Looks like she went into the private office, and she hasn't come back out yet.""What would she be doing in a private office?" If anything sexual was going on, Dante would kill him.Surprised by the intensity behind that thought, he double-blinked. The sight of his Beta and three enforcers grinning told him that they knew what he'd been thinking. They had all war
"Dante," he said gruffly as he slid her down his body as if introducing himself. It was pretty common that two wolves could mark each other before exchanging names, swept away by the urge to claim. Most people around didn't understand what had just transpired. But, the enforcers and others tailing Freya and Dante, or even Ariel would understand the process.She smiled. "You made it happen."Dante almost rolled his eyes when Declan said, "congratulations, you two.""Oh. My. God," said Ariel, gazing at them wide-eyed.Let the show begin, grumbled Freya inwardly, turning to see that many of the Shifters had observed the claiming and were staring. Every face was a picture of shock. Even Katherine and Oscar, who didn't understand one bit of what was happening, looked as though they wanted to pass out.Ariel was still in shock-still and gaping."Hand Freya over," demanded Zoe. The unsteadiness of his voice suggested he was aware of who Dante was. "As Jake's enforcers, we are responsible for
By now, Zoe was gnashing his fangs out of piercing anger. "Jame might be away, but he gets here soon," warned Zoe. "He'll come for you."Dante laughed. "Oh, I certainly hope he does." With that, he flung the guy who'd been blocking him away and signalled for Theo to release the second guy he was about to devour. He then turned his back on them, communicating his lack of fear, and snaked his arm around Freya's waist to pull her tight against him. "Time to look mesmerized by each other while we have a little chat," he whispered in her ear.Wrapping her arms around his neck, she locked her gaze with his and fixed a smile on her face. His answering smile was devilish. "By now, everyone should have felt my connection to you.""I think Alpha Duke's already on his way here. When the enforcers first tried interfering, one of the males from his pack announced to Ariel that he was going to call him. Are you going to be okay watching what happens next? I don't want to battle with Ariel's father
As his head tipped to the side and his eyes turned wolf, Dante gasped. His gaze was glued to her shoulder, and she knew exactly what it was that had his wolf fighting to surface. She had to refrain from flinching as he released a menacing growl. If she, the female his wolf saw as his, showed any fear of him, it would offend and aggravate him. He was already very much on edge right now. Knowing what the animal wanted and needed, she said, "Go on." He didn't hesitate. Just bent his head and bit down hard over where he had earlier marked Freya, sucking and licking the skin to replace it with his own mark. Twice in a roll, meaning that there was no going back.When he lifted his head again, it was Freya looking back at him. Apparently, his wolf was satisfied enough that he was willing to retreat.Dante wasn't surprised by his wolf's eagerness to repeatedly mark her numerous times. But he was surprised that Freya had let him do so twice. By abruptly more or less chomping on her shoulder, h
This whole thing hit too close to home, making Dante think of his own father. His dad for one day did not see him as a son, but as a tool to continue his lineage. He was ruthless and would unnecessarily punish Dante for every little mistake. What he was after was the pack more than his family. He would never seek Dante's opinion but made decisions on his behalf. Right from time, Dante had opposed the idea of being betrothed to someone. He knew he was young and might not like who he was, yet, Alpha Hero still went ahead to do so. While his father was alive, he tried to play along with what he wanted but now, he could make his own decisions without interference since he was dead. Was it not better to go for who would give you power over people? "Get the hell off me!""But I'm comfortable here." Watching Duke try to glance around, Dante smiled. "No one's going to help you. Unlike you, they know better than to try to get between mates. Says a lot about you as an alpha if no one is willi
Rolling her eyes, she dug out her cell phone from her purse and read the dozens of text messages she had received from Katherine asking if she was okay since she noticed a little commotion earlier on. She also kept wanting about how her doctor friend was hot and how grateful they were for him saving Ana's life. From her one thousand messages, she was so mesmerised by Zoe. Although one text did catch Freya's attention. The one from Zoe and Jake respectively. Jake was begging Freya not to make things more difficult for everyone while Zoe was asking Freya to reconsider her decision. Zoe had sent several, both expressing concern about his reputation and trying to convince her that she was wrong about him being her true mate. What she was yet to understand was why Zoe had so much interest in her affairs. Who was he and what was his game?She knew she would have to have to rethink her steps soon, but right now she was feeling too raw.Aware that all had suddenly gone quiet, she looked up fr
All Dante wanted right then was to trace both with his tongue, but he doubted he'd have the self-restraint to take things nice and slow when his lust for her was like a fever in his blood. His wolf was eager to come inside her–another way to mark his mate. But both he and his wolf knew that this was about more than just consummating the claiming. Freya needed to acknowledge, accept, and admit that she was his mate, putting aside whatever ill feelings she might have had for him.They weren't mates of the soul or even the heart – both of which made it possible for it to be temporary – but she had to understand that this didn't make the mating any less real. They were still mates in the physical sense, which meant that she still belonged to him. If he didn't make her understand and admit it, this would never work. He wouldn't have her always throwing in his face that he wasn't her true mate, implying that he didn't have any rights to her. She was his now. Or at least for a short while an
Freya cried out as he began mercilessly pounding into her with deep, dazing strokes that were zapping her with bliss. Nothing should feel this good, she was sure of it. She had definitely never thought it would feel this good before, but she'd known it would be this way, and it had scared her. Now, though, as he tunneled in and out of her reaching depths that had until now been untouched, there was no fear, only sheer and utter carnal bliss.As Dante gazed down at all that smooth skin of her back, that unmarked smooth skin, he had the urge to bend down and sink his teeth into wherever he could reach. He closed his eyes against the impulse. He wouldn't mark her again, he told himself. He'd fuck her and ensure she knew that she was his, but he wouldn't mark her again. Twice already he had marked her when the one claiming bite was all they needed. He didn't need to possessively mark her up with claws and teeth to leave his brand all over her the way his wolf wanted him to. The way Dante
A two-year-old boy held Freya's hand, his tiny fingers wrapped around hers. He looked exactly like Dante, with Freya's kind eyes. The little folk tried taking fast strides as he walked with Freya. “Archer Blue Dante, come on, slow down. You know you have shorter legs,” Freya spoke to the boy as if he was an adult.The little boy, as if reading meaning into his mother's scolding, pouted his lips and froze. Freya bent to his level and swooped him off his feet, tickling the sweet boy. He writhed and struggled in her hold before she slouched him over her shoulder once more.She was taking a stroll through the pack house, heading for the prison. Today was the visiting day for prisoners, and she always took out time to visit them, especially the Tahilas. Under Freya, that system was reformed. Tahilas were now prisoners who committed acts like treason, murder, rape, and domestic violence. Yes, she didn't want any negative strings in her kingdom. Even with that, she visited them, made sure the
Months later…Freya was dressed in a blue princess gown with diamonds around the waist region and a crown on her head. A baby boy was draped over her arms, dressed in white and sleeping peacefully. A soft knock on the door and it was opened.“Are you ready?” Dante asked, leaning to kiss Freya. He was dressed in black trousers, a white shirt with black cloaks and a crown. His had more pearls in red than that of Freya.Looking at them, the baby in Freya's arms looked like a replica of Dante except for his eyes. They screamed that of Freya. He was so beautiful and innocent.“Yes, I am, Daddy,” Freya added with a chuckle.“Keep doing that, and we won't make it to our own Coronation, Luna. Don't be naughty. Our son is here.”These past months have been filled with peace, love, and growth for Freya and Dante. Ariel and her dad had been imprisoned along with the followers of Ares who survived. The Blood Moon pack had also merged into one, with Dante ruling. All the supporters who fought besid
Freya and Dante lay dead as Dante's men arrived. Theo was growling with anger. The survivors looked as good as dead. Injured in all parts of their bodies, they were bleeding. Hope was lost.“We have to take them back to the pack house. We can't leave our Alpha here like a common rogue. Now that Ares has killed him, Ares would be regrouping to attack the GrandAlpha and our side of the pack. He would completely want to take control of the Blood Moon pack,” Oswald said.Wyatt, with tears streaming down his eyes, reached for Dante in a bid to pay his respect. Seeing how Dante and Freya's blood has gathered in a pool, he wept harder. It was like a trail of wine which found its fountain and then formed a circle, except it was their blood.“I hope we win this war and your sacrifices are not in vain,” he whispered.Standing to return to the others, something happened.The moon, which was only, but a hint, came to be full, shining lavishly at where the blood had gathered. The whooshed and calm
Dante examined Freya's neck and saw that the rope didn't do much damage. He scooped her up and tried carrying her back to the car but was intercepted by Ares who he hadn't noticed his presence.He slashed Dante's knees with his claws. “Leaving the party already?” he queried.Groaning as he held firmly onto Freya, careful not to drop her. “I would love to stay, but my Mate is unwell. A bastard messed with her.”Again Ares advanced towards him, but Dante was rapid to move out of the but he got pricked with a syringe instead. Dante turned to see the source of his pain, and there stood Bryant Bryce, the Alpha of Dark Pack. From the dizziness Dante was fighting, he had injected him with silver mixed with wolfsbane.Dante began to cough. “I knew you were too much of a pussy to be working alone. I never knew that you would join with the weak ones just to take what's not yours. Bryant, you took your opportunity well.” “Let's say that I seize power when the time is right,” Ares said.Freya wa
After the attack, Dante declared a few days to serve as a recuperating time for his people. The dead were buried with their loved ones in constant mourning, and the injured were treated. Most of the guests who were from the other packs had their people money their bodies back to their packs.He was fuming that one had dared step on his authority. Now was the time to unite his entire pack. Dante tried to reach his second in command but to no avail. Instead, a member of his old pack had found him, saying, “Ares has gone mad.”His suspicions had to be confirmed. After he vacated the throne to find Freya, he suffered a series of attacks. No one knew about his absence except Area. It only pointed out that Ares had been behind it all along and now, he had united with his enemies to bring Dante down. An unforgivable sin.Dante was growing frustrated at the slow pace of things. With no choice, he put his trust in Wyatt and the web thing Freya had created. Every second seemed to drag longer as
Freya had only managed to lay on her bed when Ariel's condescending laughter woke her up. “What now?” she mumbled to herself.“Guess who's in luck?” Ariel questioned.“You?”“Oh, dear,” she croaked. Ariel snapped her fingers and Freya's cell was opened. “Alpha Ares wants the execution now. I guess he got tired of your presence,” she happily announced.Hearing that, Freya's heart sank. She was getting killed sooner than she had expected. Before she could utter a word, strong arms gripped her, dragging her unwilling body out. “Ariel, if I get the chance to survive this, I promise you, your head will be on a stick. I don't care if your father put you up to this or if you willingly decided to,” she ranted, bashing the men holding her.“Oh, well. Empty threats. A dead girl can't come back for revenge.”Freya had been dragged to the eager crowd outside. They were roaring and enjoying their merriment. A burning fire had also been lit in the middle, exposing the gallow by the side.“Tonight,
“That’s no way to treat our guest. Remove her chain,” Ares ordered as soon as Freya got in.The guard did as he was told. When her hands were free, she rubbed her wrist and groaned in pain. The guard bowed and left.“Don’t just stand there. Help yourself,” Ares ordered Freya.She didn’t have to be asked twice as she grabbed a cup of water, downing it with greed before moving to dish a plate of everything on the table. Forgetting her manners, Freya ate hungrily, filling the yearning with emptiness in her body.Ares chuckled and watched her in amusement. “Go ahead, have some more. You’ll need all your strength for what’s to come.”When Freya could eat no more, she collapsed on her chair, patting her belly. “Can we now get to the reason you summoned me?” she began. “I know it’s not to feed and take care of Dante’s property. You couldn't care less.”Ares nodded to Freya and pulled out his chair, standing and walking over to Freya. When he sat on the top of her table, hanging one leg out, F
Furniture was broken, tables overturned with food spilled all over the floor. The floor was decorated with blood, splashed across the earth. People were laying in heaps on the floor. Dante saw Maya’s body lying protectively near Jodie’s, and he howled again. He was stable as Oswald had taken out most of the arrows, cutting him to aid the poison in his system flow out. He was stable, and he decided to stumble around through the place, kneeling to them, “check around and see if we have survivors,” he ordered.Just as he wanted to stand, he reached for Maya and felt her skin. She was still alive, and her eyes flew open in shock. He moved Maya to feel Jodie, and she was alive too and well. They were just using their survival mode since they were overpowered.“Thank goodness,” he breathed. Helping them up, he led them away from the dead bodies and settled them on a chair.Standing up, he surveyed the rest of the place, taking in the damages. With the help of Oswald who looked too okay as
Dante was grunting in pain as the entire place was filled with wolfs-bane, weakening him. Ariel reached for the unconscious Freya and carelessly dragged her body through the rough ground. Dante stretched his hands in a bid to hold back Freya but was stabbed by Nefline with an arrow laced with sliver, making him screech in pain.“You should have had that sex with me. Maybe I wouldn’t have turned bitter,” she whispered into his ear, licking him.Dante fell unconscious as he watched the entire place littered with bodies. His sight blurred out as he saw Nefline slit one of his enforcer’s throats. It took four hours for Dante to regain conscientiousness. When he did, he transformed into his wolf, howling as loud as he could. Thereafter, he fell to the floor, weakened by both the poison in his system and the rush of anger consuming every nerve in his system.* * *It has been six hours since Freya has been made to walk. Neither food nor water has been given to her. Her feet were bruised be