“This was all your fault, Lennox,” I muttered while fastening my seatbelt. “If you did not talk to your Zoe that long, we would never be caught by Salvacion’s men,” I blamed.“Yes, yes. Everything is my fault, okay? I admit it. So, please stop replying to those words and let me focus on the road.” Still eyes on the road, Alpha Lennox answered, “Blaming me will not help anything at all, love. The damage has been done.”His face darkened. His eyes were full of concentration.I chewed on my bottom lip.My body was cold and it had nothing to do with the air-conditioned car. “At least be sorry about it!” I hissed. “What if they catch us? What if they will kill us? Oh, no. I haven’t even been given the chance to see my family again. If we die, imagine what will happen to Alpha John!”“I know, Keira. Be calm. Panicking will not help us. This is what I will assure you. No one will die tonight. I promise you.”I punched his shoulder. “If I die, I will bring you with me!” I growled. Alpha Len
I froze when a twig snapped in a near distance.I whipped my head to the source and scanned my surroundings. Sniffing the air was futile. The strong smell of leaking gasoline mixed with the pollution messed with my sense of smell."Who's there?"I held my breath, trying to find the cause of the sound. Have you ever watched a movie in which stupid protagonists usually die because they had the guts to ask questions instead of running away the moment they realized something is not right? That was what I was doing right now.Stupid.“Who sent you to do this kind of evil thing?” I ordered my feet to move, but they would never move. At this moment, my feet were rooted to the ground."Come out from the shadows I dare you! Don’t be a coward."I felt someone’s eyes watching in my direction. But who was it? Stop acting like the protagonist and run, Keira. This is not something you can do on your own. "Doll?"I stilled and realized the voice was familiar. “Tate? Tate? Is that truly you?"A
KEIRA: Upon hearing those words, hope blossomed in my heart. Alpha Lennox could be alive! And that's the thing that I must find out now! "Where is he?" I asked, my heart beating wildly against my ribcage. There were a lot of questions I wanted to ask but stopped myself. We would only be wasting a lot of time. The queries could wait, but seeing Alpha Lennox and checking if he was fine or not could not. I hope he is okay. The warrior looked at me with worry. "Luna. I did not want to get your hopes high. That could be another man. This place is also where salvage victims are thrown. It's too early to get your hopes high." I grit my teeth and wanted to punch the warrior talking to me. How could he be cruel? That little flicker of hope was what I was holding right now before I would snap. My lips pressed into a thin line. “Are you implying that Lennox is dead?” Seeing the trembling of my hands, Tate stepped in. "Doll, that's not what we are talking about." "No! All of you are s
I bit my fingernails. Alpha John was looking for the two of us and if he found out that Alpha Lennox was brought to the hospital, he would be the second one to be hospitalized. He would hate me for all his remaining life and would blame me for everything. I was kind of expecting the blame thingy, but if his condition got worse because of that, I would much rather die than hurt him–emotionally.I slapped my forehead. A couple of times. But not that hard. Enough to inflict some pain. Idiot.It is my fault, to begin with! I should be the one in the bed unconscious! My life was meaningless compared to Alpha Lennox. A lot of people were depending on him while I? No one cared whether I was breathing or not. I was only fighting for myself. No one else. Tate grabbed my hand and stopped me. His expressions softened and muttered, “Doll. Stop hurting yourself. It’s not funny to look at.”“Tate.”“Shsss. I got you, okay? I won’t let anyone blame you for what occurred. Someone was behind this
As fast as my feet would carry me, I sprinted to Alpha Lennox's room while my heart beat wildly against my ribcage. The people were looking at me with confused expressions. Don’t care as long as I will be seeing Lennox!He's awake now! Lennox is awake!My heart jumped with joy as I grinned from ear to ear. Finally. All my tiredness went away. After all those sleepless nights of guarding him and taking care of him, I would be able to see him. From the outside, I could hear them laughing. Tate and the alpha. It was true.Lennox was back!My eyes watered.I thought we would lose him!I halted abruptly and nearly bumped into the wall. Luckily the guards stopped me before I could hurt myself. Uttering my thanks, I pulled myself together. Relax, Keira. Don’t get too excited.I wiped the tears from my forehead and controlled the fast beating of my heart. Must not show them that I was super duper excited. Alpha Lennox would think negatively about it and would detect I was hiding my feelin
KEIRA:Alpha Lennox had been the most stubborn man I ever encountered in my entire life. He did not want to be dictated to nor told what he should do and should not. So why did he suddenly change his mind all of a sudden? Was it because of what I said?No. Why would he change his mind? 'Doll. Are you still there?''I was brought back from my musing. 'I don't understand.''You don't have to comprehend everything. You just need to let things happen.''What did you tell him to change his mind?' Perhaps it was because of Tate. Compared to me, Alpha Lennox would listen more to him than me. 'I did not say anything. When the doctor stepped inside the room, Alpha Lennox announced that he will be a good patient and he will wait until he will be given the go signal to go home. Nothing else.'I nodded my head as if he could see me. Regardless of who made him change his mind, I was thankful for what happened. 'I'm relieved. But tell him I won't be going there. I have to return to the Stonew
KEIRA:I was having the most beautiful dream.Lennox was looking at me lovingly while stroking my hair. His soft expressions melted my heart. Why would I not consider this a dream when I never saw him staring at me like this? His hands brushing on my hair felt so good that I did not want to awaken in this dream. Imagine if this was true. Imagine if the alpha was indeed in love with me and not his beautiful Zoe. Then, my heart would not be breaking every single day. Which was my fault, I know. Alpha Lennox had no idea I was in love with him, and I wanted that to remain that way. "Keira," he said in the softest voice he had.It was like music to my ears and the more I wanted to stay in this dream.If only I was allowed to live in this dream, I would never be hurt repeatedly.The dream shifted and I saw Tate in the doorway, looking at me with a pitiful look. The beta shook his head as if he was telling me to stop this. To stop me from hurting further. But I can't.I cannot do it at
KEIRA:Tate had been throwing me glances the moment we arrived at the packhouse. At first, it was fine, but the next time, it was already irritating. 'What's your problem, huh? You're making me feel as if there is something wrong,' I muttered when I could no longer take it. We were already stepping out of the car. Tate chuckled. 'Nothing, doll.'I don't think it was anything. The moment I awakened (with the alpha beside me sleeping also), he had been looking at me now and then. His eyes told me he wanted to say something, but he could not. Or refused to say it. Can I say he was getting weird? Yes, I can.Alpha Lennox was already ahead of us while the beta and I were talking through our links. Tate gave me a knowing smile. 'Spit it out, Tate.''Hey. There is nothing I say. Everything is well, okay?' He said there was nothing, but his eyes were full of mischief.'Did something happen when I fell asleep? Is there something I need to know?'Dang.I was suddenly curious about what hap
KEIRA:I was taken aback by Lennox’s honesty. He rarely showed his emotions to me. And when he did, it was the most tender expression I witnessed.My heart fell for him.I was about to console him when hurried footsteps were heard.The back of my hair stood as if it could sense an enemy. "Alpha Lennox!" It was Alpha Bryan together with his daughter beside him. His eyes darted at our joined hands. "What is the meaning of this?"Lennox put me on his back, protecting me from Alpha Bryan's murderous look."It is what it is, Alpha Bryan."His eyes narrowed into thin slits. "Are you forgetting what we had agreed? The wedding will happen next week!""The wedding won't happen. My apologies, Carmela."The woman secretly sighed in relief without her father knowing. Wait. She did not like Lennox? Why?Do you have to know? Not all women liked an alpha like him. It's good for you, Keira. Less competition in yourself. You can focus on the problem at hand— Alpha Bryan. "You know what will happen
KEIRA:I knew it would be difficult for Lennox to answer my call for help. So it was no longer a surprise when he said, “I cannot.”Right then, I realized he no longer cared about me. His words and actions no longer matched. I gave up. Letting go was much easier than clinging to him. ‘Okay. I understand your decision, Lennox.’Did I? I could not.But what choice did I have? I had to return my focus to Ace. My eyes went back to the fight when the crowd cheered. The fight had already begun and I didn't even notice it. It was only a few minutes of talking to Lennox but Ace was already losing. He was bloody and beaten to a pulp by his brother Kent. “You said you trained him!” I cried out.“I did, Miss Keira. But Kent is stronger than his brother. He had already trained since he was a child. Among the sons, Alpha Bryan had high regard for him,” he growled. I covered my mouth to stop the sob from escaping my mouth.I cannot watch Ace like this. He was only a boy who was forced to honor
KEIRA:My heart was pounding loudly against my ribcage as I waited for the match to start. The rest of the batches had already started and winners were already declared. Except for Ace. His name wasn’t called yet. I squeezed my sweaty palm now and then. It felt like I was also part of the match. I did not know what I should be feeling right now.I wanted to stop the match while Ace was not yet in the arena. But how? That man had already made up his mind. We were in the oval-shaped arena and the crowd was already thick. It was a ten-minute break before the next match. Was Ace okay there? The guards did not allow us to see him for the last time. No matter how much we tried to change his mind, he would not escape. Until I gave up and turned my attention to looking for Lennox. But I failed to find him. Was it only me or he was evading my presence?Why? He was not yet prepared to face me? He looked like he was indeed guilty. Solomon tried to look for him, but he could not find him. O
KEIRA:Ace automatically hides me on his back, protecting me from his father. He snarled at him as if he would fight the alpha if worse came to worst. Solomon was on high alert as if he would fight hand in hand with Ace. "Son!"Solomon was now beside me. "Are you two starting to fight against me?"The tension escalated, swallowing me whole. The air was so thick that breathing was hard. Peeping in front of me, I can verify that Ace was a photocopy of his father. Their eyes. Mouth. Nose. And everything looked alike. They could pass as twins if not for the fine lines on the alpha’s forehead and around his eyes. Aside from that, they looked like they were sewn in the same cloth. “You!" he started, pointing his hands at me. "How did that woman enter my territory?” the alpha growled, snarling. The two guards behind him shifted their weight from foot to foot. The blood on their faces drained while their knees trembled in fear. All of us will die here if nothing is done. "Solomon!""Yes
KEIRA:The tension inside the room thickened. Ace's jealousy was like poison, making me gag. This was supposed to be a normal reunion. But after those baseless allegations of coming here because of Lennox which I didn't even know he was here was low.Lennox will deal accordingly. Not now. I will find him later. And also his woman. I will ask him if he wants her or not. I wanted to ask him where I belonged in his heart. Did he still love me or not?“That’s so mature, Ace,” I commented. “Did I look like the only person that mattered to me was Lennox? You think lowly of me.”There was a slight sting in my chest. I thought Ace would be happy that we were trying our best to save him. But because of Lennox, everything was turning in the opposite direction. I badly wanted to ask him about Lennox. But asking it right now will only make things worse. That can wait. I felt Solomon's gaze burning a hole in my forehead as well as Ace's. He was silent. Maybe waiting for the right opportunity
KEIRA:I think I will die of boredom. A few hours had already passed since Solomon left me. But he had not returned yet. I already asked the staff of the resort if they had seen him, but they shook their heads and said Solomon would return even if it would take him long hours to. It was not new, but they put their trust in the man and the man never failed them. First, it was Ace. Now, it was Solomon.I bit my fingernails. What if he was hit by a truck while he was in his wolf form? Or what if someone shot him a tranquilizer thinking he was some wild beast?Now, I was already worried for two people. I paced back and forth, barefoot. I stayed at the swimming pool area, hoping the water would clear my mind at the moment, but it did not. The pacing did not help free my mind from worrying about the two. Damn it.I felt hopeless and felt like I was a damsel in distress waiting for her knight-in-shining armor.I glanced at the clock on one of the cottages.Past six o’clock in the even
ACE:A backhanded slap with the alpha wearing his ring and bony hands was one of the worst punishments he could give. I felt his ring slicing my skin, sniffing the blood from it. My ears felt like it was ringing, after the alpha's slap. It was more humiliating because that's how he slapped his wife and mistresses. I shook off the feeling of dizziness. "I don't have a coward son! Don't you dare run with tails behind your legs, son. Do not bring any more disgrace in my name."Raw anger emerged like a roaring lion as I tasted the metallic taste of blood in my mouth. Spitting on the floor, and staring him in the eyes, I exclaimed, "Why don't you appoint your eldest son as the alpha? That's how it works, Dad. Aren't you even worried your son will die because of that match?"He pushed me off the wall and cornered me. Pointing his fingers on my chest, he whispered, "The weak should die. I don't feel any sorry if they die during the competition. As long as they did not cower in fear."
ACE:My heart pounded like crazy. After a few years of evading this place, I was able to return to Blackriver Pack, the place where I was born. All the alpha's women gave birth here. It was one of the laws of the alpha to his pregnant women before he would sign the certificates signifying he was the father of the children. The pack were looking at me with a weird expression on their faces. Bastard or the bitch's child. The illegitimate child. The kept woman's child and a lot more to tell. The people became imaginative as I grew up. That was the name they called us. Without the alpha's knowing. My stomach knotted. My legs trembled, but I tried to act calm, especially with the guards beside me. They would laugh at me, thinking how could a powerful alpha like Alpha Bryan have a cowardly son. And then they would add, "It's because he is the son of the mistress. Illegitimate children are all weak. Why did the alpha acknowledge them?"In this pack, only the legal sons and daughters o
KEIRA:The sun had already risen when I woke up. Rubbing my eyes, I looked at the clock on the bedside table. Ten o'clock in the morning. Damn.I overslept because I was too comfortable at this place. Maybe it was also because of the ambiance of the place and the sounds of the waves lulling me to sleep.My stomach growled. I need to eat. Ace. Where was that man?I looked for my shoes only to remember that I was barefooted when I checked who had entered my apartment.Checking if there were some spare slippers, I found them under the bed. Sprinting towards the door and looking for Ace, I found him on the beach, sitting on the sand facing the shore while sipping the juice of a coconut.Sensing my presence, he glanced over his shoulder and saw me, leaving the coconut on the sand, and sauntered towards me. "Hey. Did you sleep well? I asked someone to check if you already woke up, but the helper said you’re sleeping soundly."Surprisingly, I did. Maybe it was because I dreamed about L