Violet’s P.O.V.As worried as I was for Hael, I wasn’t at all ready to jump back into things. I had enough blood on my hands, and not a single clue on how to deal with it all.Seeing Marcel validated every one of my memories, cementing them so that they no longer felt like the daydreams of another little girl.Marcel leaned back in the armchair, crossing his feet at the ankles. “Tell me about this man that found you.”“His name is Elijah. He was the doctor at our old pack. While the Alpha and Luna debated on shoving me in some foster home, he took care of me. He wasn’t exactly looking to have a child, but he’d spent some time in the system himself. He didn’t want me to go through that too, especially with my trauma.”I rarely asked Elijah about his past out of respect. He’d given me enough details for me to piece things together. The only child of a middle-class couple, in a pack where feral attacks happened every other month. One attack in particular claimed the lives of his parents,
Violet’s P.O.V.I went to follow after Hael when Carmen spoke.“Don’t you want to know who’s after you, Violet? What I have to say might just surprise you.”There was a decision to make, and it was time I stepped up to the plate. The power and authority of a Luna ran in my blood. I was no longer the forgotten bookworm forever perched in her gilded cage, waiting for the moment when someone came and set her free.I understood now that only I could free myself.And so I did. “Cole, go after Hael. See if you can keep him from murdering his father.” The command I issued to my mate’s Beta was sharp and powerful.Cole sensed it as well and paused. He dipped his head in a respectful nod, mistrust in his eyes as they danced over to Marcel.“Yes, Luna.”As he passed by Marcel, he paused. There was nothing left of the easy-going, slightly psychotic man I was beginning to like. Only the manic, torturer with a hint of the rogue gene remained.“Hurt her and I will personally hunt you down.”Marcel
Hael’s P.O.V. This was it. This was what finally severed the last tie I held to my father. They fluttered in the chilly breeze. Floating in the wind that raced through the trees. It howled a slow, foreboding tune, as though the trees themselves knew what I was about to do. It was always going to come to this. “Fuck, Hael. Hold up a damn second!” Cole bellowed, bolting out the front door. It slapped against the house before the wind slammed it shut. I paused, the chill now deep within my bones. His hand came down on my shoulder. The urge to tear it off his body had me spinning around with bared teeth. A warning snarl worked its way up my throat, one my Beta was smart enough to listen to. He removed his hand but didn’t back down. “I wasn’t there for you when we were kids—” Was this what he wanted to talk about? Was this him trying to deny me what I’d earned through blood, sweat, and the innocence of my youth? Frustration sent my teeth on edge, constricting the skin over my muscl
Violet’s P.O.V.If it weren’t for Marcel, I would’ve shed my human flesh and ran the entire way to Xavier’s house.Neither Hael nor Cole was answering their phones. After a quick look outside, I realized why. They had clearly shifted; the sea of shredded clothes was proof of that.With a dead body in the basement and blood caking my hands, I had no choice but to wait.Two hours later and I’d baked every conceivable desert possible with the limited ingredients Hael kept stocked in the cabin. On the counter sat one batch of chocolate chip cookies, two loaves of pound cake, and a dozen blueberry muffins. There was also a fruit tart setting in the fridge.“Your mother would bake when she was stressed too.” Marcel sounded wistful, and I knew I would too if I bothered to reply.I pounced from the couch when the front door opened, and my mate walked inside. His bare chest and blood-stained sweatpants had my stomach in knots. He’d been wounded.He was followed by a stone-faced Cole, which was
Hael’s P.O.V.I’d never deserve her; I realized back at the river.No matter what I did, no matter how I atoned for all of the death and destruction, I’d never earn the love of the angel who cried out my name with the reverence and passion of a person calling out for their God.Tonight was both a thank you, and a punishment for my stubborn little mate.She’d been too willing to strip bare in front of two other men and hadn’t even hesitated to use it against me to get what she wanted. For that, I had to punish her. I wasn’t blind to why she did it though.It was to calm me down, to pull me out of the dark clutches of the monster in my head. To pry its claws from my flesh and set me free.It worked, and for that I had to thank her.I didn’t stop until her legs had turned to mush and her cries bordered on the slick sweetness between pleasure and pain. Tears tracked her eyes, as they always did when orgasm after orgasm wracked her curvy body, and I kissed each one from her cheeks until th
Hael’s P.O.V.When I first heard her breathy moan from down the hall, I just about lost it. The need to claim her, to recreate that night again and again, had been so strong that I nearly tore my bedroom door down to get to her.With Elijah home and catering to her every whim, I couldn’t risk fucking her like she needed—like I needed.That didn’t stop my demented little mate from touching herself.“I didn’t—”When we locked eyes over breakfast that morning and I saw the blush that stained her face, I knew she’d done it on purpose. I vowed at that moment to make her pay but hadn’t had an opportunity until now.“On your knees mate.” She stalked towards me with slow, measured steps. I knew I was in for it when she offered me a crooked little smile. “What if I told you to get on your knees. Would you do it?”The curve of her nails dug into my skin as she traced the length of the scar on my chest. A faint pink line appeared, fading as quickly as it had come. I didn’t let her see the way
Violet’s P.O.V.The mood of the crowd hovered somewhere between excited and worried that all hell had officially broken loose.It had. They knew it, I knew it, and most importantly, the two shirtless men gearing up to fight one another to the death knew it.What the crowd didn’t know was how different those two men were, despite the fact that their raven hair, muscular builds, and eyes of polished obsidian, rendered them nearly identical. They had no idea that the fate of their people hinged on who would win tonight.It was hard to believe that just one hour ago, the younger of the two men had been curled around me in bed, whispering words sweeter than I’d ever known in my ear. With the scent of me on his lips and flesh, he stepped into the arena constructed on Xavier’s property.Where his hands had caressed me, squeezing gently as they coaxed every bit of pleasure from my body, they would now be used to kill.What had been even more unbelievable wasn’t the fact that Sylvia said nothi
Violet’s P.O.V.The once silent crowd erupted in deafening cheers. Arms flailed as voices floated towards the heavens. A full moon etched in silver looked down on us all, as though the Goddess herself had stood witness. They were still oblivious to what had just happened, not knowing that the woman who stood fifty feet to my left singlehandedly prevented the death of their old Alpha.Hael stood from his father’s body and looked my way, his feet planted in the bloodied sand. Through the roaring of the crowd, I caught glimpses of his swollen face.I wanted to tell you. Keeping this from you was the hardest thing I’d ever done, I thought to myself.Regardless of the torture Xavier had put him through, murdering him would’ve sent Hael spiraling headfirst into the same darkness that festered within his soul. I couldn’t stand by and watch as he was thrown back into the clutches of the monster his father taught him to be.Even if he hated me for it, I had to do something.Unfortunately, ther
Violet’s P.O.V. Ten Years Later “I’ve got to say, I’m impressed. You’ve definitely improved.” I teased, slipping my arms around my husband’s waist as he stood over the stove. The brisket he tended to had been a twenty-four-hour project of his that he insisted on getting perfect. In fact, this entire dinner tonight had been cooked by him alone. It was his way of proving all my years of cooking lessons hadn’t gone unnoticed. He spun around with a piece of meat in his hand. I went to pluck it from his fingers only for him to move it just out of reach. He shook his head, his ebony hair falling over his brows. “Open up, princess.” I pulled him close, my stomach fluttering as I did as he asked. A groan slid past my lips at the rich, savory flavor. He really had improved in his cooking skills. Another year or two and he’d probably surpass me. One of his arms slid around my waist and remained there as he reached across the counter to grab one of the cupcakes he’d made. Rich chocolate and
Violet’s P.O.V.Two Months LaterDeep breaths, Violet. In and out just like Doctor Leanna said. There’s nothing to be afraid of, nothing at all.Hael squeezed my hand once, and I looked up to meet his knowing stare. The ring on my left hand twinkled in the sunlight as we walked. It was such a beautiful day, and I didn’t miss the irony of that fact as we headed into the maximum-security prison that loomed overhead.Today was the day of Dominic Harding’s execution.Trailing behind us was everyone Dominic, Alice, and Noah had ever hurt. My Mom and Dad were first, followed by Marcel in his wheelchair, then Sylvia, Olive, Cole, and Mykelle. Even Eric Chen was attending, though he was likely already waiting inside. The execution wouldn’t commence without us, leaving me with plenty of time to mull things over.I turned my head to the sky, drinking in the sunlight that warmed my cheeks. There wasn’t a single cloud in sight. It was as though the Goddess herself knew that today wasn’t a time fo
Hael’s P.O.V.One Week Later“Hael! You are in so much trouble.” Violet gasped, but I wasn’t hearing any of it.I paused in front of the doorway, the breath sucked from my lungs at the sight of my mate. You’d think it had been days since we last saw one another with how fast my heart was racing, yet it had only been a couple of hours. Her cheeks warmed beneath her pretty pink blush, and she toyed with the ends of her freshly cut hair nervously.The gown she wore was embedded with tiny gemstones that twinkled whenever she moved. I’d never seen fabric so shimmery before, almost like it had been sliced from the night sky. It was worth every penny to see it wrapped around her mouthwatering curves. Her pupils dilated as she took me in, and fuck if I didn’t love the way her breath hitched.I crossed the small dressing room in six strides and pulled her into my arms, her dress whooshing as it slid against my tux. There was so much raw emotion rushing through me that only her presence kept me
Violet’s P.O.V.The crowd’s chattering came to a halt as the sea of people parted. Voices faded into the distance until only one remained, louder than all the rest. Mykelle groaned from where she sat in the back of an ambulance and covered her face with her hands.“Coming through, coming through! Beta of Alpha Hael here and mate to the most beautiful she-wolf in this place. Come on, people, move it!”Cole shoved his way through the crowd, barreling through the caution tape so quickly that the warriors scattered to seal the breach. A handful ran after him, clearly not getting the memo that he had the authority to be here. Cole either didn’t notice their presence or didn’t care. His eyes were locked on one person in particular.A flutter of something warm and pleasant filled my chest as I watched the scene unfold.Mykelle scoffed at the sight of him, turning her nose up as though she could care less. The blush staining her cheeks and the way she combed her fingers through her hair said
Violet’s P.O.V.Hael stood from the injured wolf, radiating such pride that I wanted nothing more than to fall into his arms and let him tell me it was finally over. I stumbled over to him when a bloodcurdling cry pierced the air.It was the scream of someone being mauled.“Mykelle, stop!” I shouted in time to watch her fling Dominic’s severed arm across the room.Oh fuck. My stomach clenched as I gagged. The massive wolf stepped off of Dominic’s chest, kicking him in the head with its hind leg. She pulled her muzzle back and flashed her blood-stained teeth. Was she grinning at me?Hael snorted, so I must’ve been right.“I know he’s the one that tormented your family and all, but why couldn’t you just let me finish him? I would’ve made it worthwhile.” Mykelle huffed, now standing between Hael and I with her arms folded over her naked chest. She lifted her hand to inspect her nails, a smirk tilting at her lips as she found her manicure still intact.“Don’t be selfish. If anyone deserve
Violet’s P.O.V.“You killed my brother.” Alice seethed, her eyes a shock of white across a canvas of blistering red.Hael cocked his head, the grin on his face both dark and playful. With a gentle hand he pushed me to the side, partially concealing me behind his back. The thudding upstairs continued without missing a beat, as did the drip, drip, drip, of Noah’s blood on the carpet.“I honestly thought he’d put up more of a fight, but instead he hid behind his gun like a coward. It’s not at all surprising that his sister’s exactly the same.”I reached out to stop him from goading her when I spotted the knife behind his back. The hilt was clutched tightly in his hand, and from the way his muscles bunched I knew he was preparing to strike. Alice snarled, the sound cracking off the walls of the small living room.“You think you’re going to trick me into dropping my gun? Please, I’m no fool. You know what? I’m actually thankful my whore of a sister survived when Noah threw her into that fi
Hael’s P.O.V.You’re never going to see her again.The fuck I wouldn’t.I scrambled off of Holden’s body, kicking the bastard in the head for good measure. He had said his name was Noah—the Noah. Absolute fury rushed through me, all of it directed at myself. How many times had he been within sniffing distance of Violet? Too many to count.He tried to kiss her. His fucking half-sister. Man, the guy really was messed up. Should’ve trusted my gut about him, but it was much too late for that.Marcel groaned as I turned him over, his face slathered with his own blood. With my fingers pressed against his throat, I felt around until I registered a small flutter. Atticus’s Beta had taken half a dozen bullets for me. The feeling it left me with was uncomfortable as fuck.“You stupid, lucky asshole. I really hate owing people.” I muttered as I swiped his phone off the floor.The first call I made was for an ambulance, while the second was to Cole. Thank fuck I’d memorized his number considering
Violet’s P.O.V.Dominic stood from his crouch and offered me his hand. While I wanted to bite him and tear a few fingers off as revenge for Olive, I didn’t. I swallowed the disgust that rose from this never-ending pit in my stomach and accepted his help.He didn’t let go though, not for several seconds.“I know you likely have mixed feelings for Hael, but I promise you this is for the best. You trusted me once, and I know that trust will return in due time. Still I feel the need to apologize.” His shoulders fell as he sighed, those dark brows furrowing.“Apologize for what?” Such a stupid question, but what didn’t he have to apologize for? He ruined my family’s life. That didn’t just call for an apology. It called for fucking vengeance.There was such genuine guilt on his face that my heart cried out in response.Dominic ran his hand down his jaw, clenching it as he spoke. “If I hadn’t been so absent, I would’ve noticed the signs. Hael was manipulating you this entire time, just as At
Violet’s P.O.V.The eyes I stared into were Elijah’s, the same man who had raised me these past ten years, but his face was no longer his own. Now that I had seen the mask fall, I’d never be able to go back to who I’d once been.It tore my heart in two to know that the man who had written those terrible letters to my Mom was also the man who had bought me my first cookbook. Elijah—it had been Elijah all along. Behind those soft eyes and his kind smile was the darkest kind of monster.No matter what I felt for him, I would not let him take me. If that meant playing into his sick fantasy, then so be it.I inched my way across the carpet, as far away from my vomit as I could get. The stench alone would make it impossible to speak without gagging. Elijah hovered over me, still on his knees with his hands out in that placating gesture. The sight of it made me sick.“I don’t understand how this is happening. You—You had us both. You had me at the cabin and my mother…” There was no need to f