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:My head felt like it was spinning as Lennox's words continued ringing in my mind.I love you. I love you. I love you.Lennox loved me? W-why would he love me?When I glanced up, Lennox was wearing the sweetest smile he could ever muster.Fake.Oh, Moon Goddess. How could I believe that he loved me for a minute? What an embarrassment. Do you think it's real? Everything was a front. Lennox did not love you. Face the reality!"What would you say, Keira?" Alpha John asked with a hopeful look. “Your husband just said that he loved you. Isn’t it sweet?”It would be sweet as honey if those words were real."What would I say, then?" I asked. “What would you say if someone confessed?”Alpha John stiffened. “My son did not tell you he loved you before?”Alpha Lennox inhaled sharply.‘Respond to my declaration of love, Keira. Before the old man will think of something else.’“No, Dad! Lennox has told me a lot of times how much he loves me.” Gulping, I faced Alpha Lennox and grabbed h
I did not know what was running on Alpha John’s mind. I did not know if he was pranking us, but me kissing Alpha Lennox? I licked my lips and was suddenly reminded of our first kiss when we got married. It was our only kiss.My eyes darted to Lennox's full lips.Being kissed by the alpha was something I looked forward to from the bottom of my heart.Pathetic wasn’t it?He would only kiss me when the situation asked for it.Besides, I did not think the alpha would do it.Kissing me in front of the guest when we got married was not a problem, but kissing me again in front of his father was something I doubted he would do. We could always think of alibis. I knew it. He could not stomach kissing me especially if someone was looking. Was he that disgusted?I inwardly shook my head. Whatever. When Alpha Lennox did not move, I muttered, “Dad, we are embarrassing Lennox. He is not fond of showing his affections in public." I leaned on him and rested my hands on his broad chest. He still
KEIRA:'Where are you now?' I asked Tate when nightfall came. It was already nine o’clock in the evening. Alpha Lennox hasn't returned to his room. I was waiting for him to tell him Tate and I will have our “friendly date”, but he did not come. Maybe he was out to do some important duties.The best thing was to reach him through our mind link, but I did not want to do it. It was his fault if he didn't come back.As long as I am happy tonight.I call it distressing after our accident. Tate and I will be drinking as we agreed. Whether Alpha Lennox will know about this or not, our drinking session will push through. Alpha Lennox? He did not care anyway about what I would do with my life. Besides, it was none of his concern whether what happened to me. 'I'm done patrolling the area. Where do you want to meet?'I looked around. Hmmm.Outside the packhouse was better. The air was fresh and there was a small cottage with a library on it. Back then, all I could do was look at that cottage
ALPHA LENNOX:‘Kill! Kill! Kill!’ my wolf demanded.My body trembled while my palms balled into fists. The intense anger coming from inside was so strong that I almost gave in to my wolf’s desire—the beta’s life.‘Kill!’ he demanded again. ‘No one touches my mate.’‘No!’ I retorted.Keira was smiling at me, oblivious to the conflict I was battling inside. She was still glued to my beta like a leech and the more seconds passed, the more my beast demanded the beta’s life.I was on the verge of shitting on all fours. Inhale. Exhale.A furious beast was not something I wanted to experience. Its anger felt like mine. ‘Kill! Kill!’My heart pounded wildly against my ribcage.I no longer knew which emotions were mine. This raw anger caught me breathless. My eyes darted to the woman’s hands on the beta’s neck.Another growl escaped from my lips.‘Kill.’“Stay. Away,” I ordered. Even my voice was beastly.What was happening to me? Why was my heart pounding wildly as I watched Keira on the
KEIRA:I knew what the alpha was thinking. That this was nothing but drunk talk. That tomorrow morning I will forget every word I have said.It won’t.I may be tipsy, but I was already sober when I vomited earlier. Alpha Lennox kept on insisting I was drunk.I was not. Not anymore.His brows formed a straight line.“You are indeed drunk. Keira.”“I am no longer drunk, Lennox,” I insisted. I strolled toward him, but he stepped back as if he did not want me to touch him.Blatant rejection. Again. Like the previous years he rejected me.Call it foolishness, but it did not make me lose my confidence. Maybe it was because of the alcohol. “I am here. I am your wife.”“In the paper. Just…stay away from me, Keira.”My heart fell.To say I was disappointed was an understatement. “Why?” Another step. “Are you that repulsive to see me?”One moment he was confused, another moment something clicked inside him. “Do you want to seduce me, Keira?”Yes! Yes! I wanted to seduce you, but my body was
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