Violet’s P.O.V.“I knew who he was talking about, but you, your mother, and them twins were already long gone.” She concluded; her hands clasped over her lap.My stomach turned and every speck of food I’d eaten threatened to come up. The red beans and rice no longer looked appetizing, neither did the banana’s foster. If anything, their once delectable scent now made me want to hurl. I had this awful, terrible feeling in the pits of my stomach and somehow I knew it was only going to get worse.This was the price of the truth, I realized. Facing the fact that I might not be the person I thought I was.“Did—did he say what happened to him?” I asked, not realizing my voice had diminished to a whisper.Norma shook her head, and I watched in gut-wrenching silence as her face took on a green hue.“No, but when he showed back up, he was covered in wounds.” She shuddered, her wide shoulders quaking. “The amount of blood on that boy. By the Goddess, I was sure he had to have been tortured. As f
Violet’s P.O.V.I skipped outside just as Olive pulled into the driveway. She was a whirlwind of chatter and energy the moment I slid inside, but more than anything I needed the distraction.“Alright, I’ve waited long enough. Any longer and I’m going to get ulcers.” She huffed, frantically brushing away the strands of purple hair that fell into her face. “Tell me everything. Spare no details, leave nothing out.”Per her request, I launched into what happened between Hael and I, starting with the moment I ran inside the house. Olive was the perfect listener, providing commentary when needed along with cursing, and adding her own exclamations throughout. I did decide to leave out the part about Hael actually being an assassin for his father, since I was still thoroughly freaked out about it, but I did tell her the rest of what Norma had told me.Her face paled when I got to that part and stayed pale until I finished. She did get a wicked grin on her face when I told her about what I’d d
Violet’s P.O.V.“Olive, I’ve never worn something this revealing before.” I mumbled from the passenger seat of her car, fiddling with the skirt I now wore. It was soft and silky against my bare legs, comforting in comparison to the scratchy fishnets she had me in. “You can see my scars, more than I’ve ever had anyone see.”The worst one, the puckered line that rested just above my heart, was on full display for the world to see. Not only that, but it was more than noticeable considering my breasts practically spilled out of the corset she had forced me into. I felt horribly self-conscious, but I had to give it to her—the girl had style.She’d taken something as basic as a lace corset and an ankle length skirt and turned me into some kind of gothic bar maiden from the Renaissance era. The skirt itself was something I’d personally find unflattering, but when tucked into the belt around my waist, it showed off my long legs and thick thighs.“If people are going to stare at you like you’r
Violet’s P.O.V.“This is called a Fireball Orange sweet tea.” I told her, laughing when she gasped. Nervousness prickled my stomach, but Lacey didn’t sense anything amiss. I reminded myself that one drink wouldn’t hurt, and that it wasn’t nearly enough to get me drunk. “It’s a bit strong, so I’m definitely only having one, but I’ll make you as many as you’d like.”“I’m so excited. Lets do this!” She beamed, “I’ve never had a ‘girls night’ before. That’s what this is, right? We’re both girls, it’s night time outside, and we’re here together having fun!”Whoever she was, she kept up this enthusiasm the entire time I made our drinks. When she had her first sip, she sucked down nearly half the glass before coming up for breath. There was a sheen of liquid on her upper lip, sparkling above her cupids bow before she swiped it away with the back of her hand. Seeing that I’d only taken a couple of sips, she frowned.“Oh, no. Is it too strong? Should we get something else?”I shook my head, fe
Violet’s P.O.V.“What do you mean there was a girl there?” Olive asked, her knuckles white from holding the steering wheel in a death grip. “When I came out I didn’t see any girl.”“I swear, there was a girl! She was pretty and funny—a little strange, but she got me to have a drink with her, which turned into ten or so, but I actually didn’t mind most of them. Can you believe I’d never had alcohol ‘till now? How crazy is that! I make all types of drinks but never thought to try one. From now on—“ I paused, hearing Olive snort. “What?”She lifted one of her perfectly sculpted eyebrows and side-eyed me. “I would’ve never pegged you as a chatty drunk.”“I am not chatty.” I scoffed, folding my arms over my chest. “I was just trying to tell you that there was a girl, but I have no clue where she went or how she vanished that fast.”“As weird as that is, we’ve got bigger fish to fry.” She grumbled. “Luna Sylvia’s assistant and driver are coming to my house to pick you up, and you’re shitfac
Hael’s P.O.V.I turned and left Violet standing in the hallway, her face flushed with embarrassment and her chest heaving. The pleasure I’d derived from seeing pain flash across her face, it was tainted by the scent of her fucking arousal.There wasn’t an inch of my skin that wasn’t crawling with need—with desire. If I wasn’t a monster who’d done horrible things, I might’ve screamed myself hoarse shouting at the Moon Goddess for pairing me with her, for tying my soul to hers.No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t seem to stop myself.With clawed hands, I pulled at my hair. The pain radiating across my scalp sharpened things, brought some perspective to the situation. At the very least, it stopped the unsettling sensation drenching my skin, like insects were burrowing beneath my flesh and scratching the insides of my veins.The mate-bond was at play, and I’d underestimated it’s pull, but I still wasn’t yet willing to reject her. I wasn’t used to this—this lack of control. It was grati
Hael’s P.O.V.“Fuck, dude. That’s got to hurt.” Cole winced, biting into his clenched fist as he watched me carve a slice of skin off of Ethan’s back.I rolled my eyes, watching as he shifted his weight from his left foot to his right. His eyes were glued on what I was doing, tracking my every move. He had the world fooled, but Cole thrived on violence. Most with the rogue gene did.I’d come here directly after speaking with my father, needing to blow off steam. Since the cabin’s location and true purpose were compromised, I had no choice but to have him relocated. The best option was at Cole’s, deep in his basement where even the house staff refused to go.Since his father wasn’t here, Ethan had the freedom to scream and wail as loudly as he needed. Which is exactly what he did.“What were you going to do to her, Ethan?” I purred, kneeling so that my eyes could be level with his. The cement floor bit into my knees, but I welcomed the brief sting of pain.Ethan mumbled incoherently, w
Hael’s P.O.V.The entire ride back to the clinic, I could hear Arianna’s voice in my head.I met a ghost.A ghost. Ghost. I’d killed more people than I cared to remember. Some I had to search for, traveling across this wasteland of an earth, while others were brought to me. So many left this world at my hands, had their last breath in my vicinity, uttered their pathetic goodbyes for my ears alone, but I had only ever met one ghost.Violet.My Violet.I dropped Cole off at the clinic with Arianna and immediately headed for the estate.There was no such thing as coincidences, and anyone who tried to convince themselves of that was a damned fool. And fools, they didn’t last long in this world. I was no fool.With how much wolfsbane it took to keep Arianna docile, it was a wonder she remembered anything pertaining to reality. She’d only seen Violet a handful of times back then. It was the other girl she became friends with, the one Violet’s mother had brought here with her.Even with m
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