~Anthony~ Everything had gone to shit in a blink of an eye, and none of us were the wiser. The moment that footage was on the screen in the council hall, I knew something was up. Sitting down and waiting around wasn't going to cut it, but we had hit a dead end with Kelcy, and right now, only a miracle could help us. One thing was certain: I was sure that Mosess was shady, but with the eastern alphas against my cousins, it would be hard for us to investigate properly. Regardless of the situation, we hoped we would prevail. "You seem restless," Luis asked me, and I turned to look at him. Noah and Sebastien were going through documents and making calls. It was a lot of work: searching for their folks and trying to find the culprits simultaneously. I had ordered warriors from Greenville to start coming to the East, I was also hopeful that some Alphas would lend a hand, but it seemed no one wanted to be near this out of fear of being implicated. As things were we might not have the
~Anthony~ The medical team sprang into action swiftly, and I silently thanked my lucky stars for Luis and Noah's insistence on visiting the Zherdevs. Without their promptness, Aspen might not have survived. As I pondered the situation, it dawned on me what kind of life Aspen must have been enduring in that household. Her earlier demeanour towards me, her urgency to leave the East, suddenly made sense. I couldn't help but feel utterly disappointed in myself for not helping out. Though Luis opted to depart, I resolved to stay a while longer, awaiting Aspen's recovery. It wasn't until two hours later, following her treatment, that she finally regained consciousness. Tears welled in her eyes as she beheld me, though she managed to sit up. The sorrow evident in her gaze pierced me deeply, extinguishing any remnants of brightness. "I specifically told you not to disclose anything, Alpha, but you did," she accused, her voice tinged with betrayal. "What do you mean?" I inquired, puzzl
~Anthony~ As I stepped into the alpha's office building, I was taken aback to find everyone already present. How had they all gathered on such short notice? Then it dawned on me—I had spent quite some time at the hospital. "Done playing the hero?" Ethan's snide remark cut through the air, but I chose to ignore it, knowing it was likely a dig about our agreement regarding Chelsea. "Where's Li?" I inquired, directing my gaze at Noah. Exhaustion was evident in Noah's eyes, and Sebastian didn't look much better. It then occurred to me that Ethan was also struggling to keep it together. "Liam, Adrian, Justin, and Jacob went to the packhouse. They should be back soon," Miles informed me, and Noah shook his head. "They won't be returning. We're heading there now. We need to confer and devise a plan," Noah declared, closing the file on his desk and rising to his feet. We returned to the pack house, and instead of going to our rooms, we headed to the lounge. There was no point in going t
~Sylvester~ The night was so hectic that I didn't sleep until the early hours of the mourning. The scouts I sent weren't successful. They hadn't even gotten anything that would give us hope, and my heart was heavy. I was worried and scared. Alexei and Clay had joined the scouts. They didn't want to think or strategise. They just wanted to search for Amelia and Leo. It was a mess. Even Tamia was overworking herself, and it all seemed as if we weren't doing enough. My biggest concern was Leo's children. Although our children were with them, I still knew it wasn't enough. I didn't know who or what we were up against. Throughout this entire ordeal, we had been playing right into the hands of our adversaries. I dreaded the possibility that we were still playing into their expectations, further entangling ourselves in their scheme. I struggled to comprehend why anyone would go to such lengths to overthrow the Alberts—it simply didn't add up. It appeared to be either a longstanding feud
~Sylvester~ Theo, Marcel, Dominic and David joined us in the hall, and we organised ourselves, waiting for the invited parties to attend. "We are all set," Marcel told me, letting me know we were set to leave. I knew I had to temporarily hand over power pending our return, so I chose to hand it over to Dominic. Vino was too emotional and could be irrational sometimes. Dominic would balance them out. David would have been the best candidate, but I knew my older brother wouldn't sit idly by while we were out there trying to find Leo and Amelia. I knew once we found them, we'd find Andrew and Kevin, too. I just had that feeling. Before long, all the invited guests had arrived. Stepping up to the podium, I prepared to deliver a concise speech to avoid further delays. My brothers and cousins flanked me while our wives positioned themselves at the rear of the platform. The event was being broadcast live, and the rioters had subdued, eagerly anticipating our address. "Good day, citize
~Noah~ It had finally happened. I knew we should brace ourselves for attack the moment the King said he would order our arrest. Although I knew there would be no effort on the part of the royal family, I knew the perpetrators and the stupid eastern alphas would seize the opportunity to move against us. Starting a riot everywhere was a wise move by the enemy; it meant reinforcement wouldn't be coming, and we would have to rely on what we had in the East. The curfew would tie down the military in all regions because they will need the manpower to ensure it is enforced. Although we all knew that was what the enemy wanted, it was something that could not be avoided. We all convened in the Alpha's office, ready to plan and prepare for an attack because it was inevitable. Sebastien, Ethan and I needed our father's guidance in this crucial moment, but it seemed we had to rely on each other. I was grateful for how our cousins rallied around us. I was grateful that we weren't alone
~Noah~ As things were between us, I knew Winter wasn't bluffing and even if I said hurtful things to push her way, she'd know. She was too smart to be fooled by such a tactic. I knew I had to respect her wishes. Pulling her to my body, I kissed her passionately, drinking her in, hoping to take away the nightmare that had become our reality. She hopped on me, and I carried her, supporting her weight. The little bed in the room would have to suffice. Our wolves needed to be assured, and so did we, too. I peeled her clothes off her and delved in. I had never wanted to get her pregnant as I did at this moment. As I pumped into my mate, I prayed that the goddess would grant me this wish even if it would be my last. Soon, Winter and I returned to the office, and I was surprised to see Brandon, Lilly and Eleanor. Lillian had Brandon's mark now. Unlike us, they weren't wasting time. But Brandon was always hasty when it came to laying claim. I was happy for my cousin. "Hey, Noah,"
~Noah~ While strategising for a potential battle, Chelsea and Aspen surprised us with snacks. Muffins and orange juice were laid out before us, and I recognised Aspen's baking handiwork. It was a relief to see her well, yet I felt a pang of shame for not checking on her sooner. Despite the chaos, we should have ensured her recovery, especially since her injury stemmed from our actions. If only we hadn't discussed her situation with our father, she might have been spared trouble. Nonetheless, I was grateful she was safe. I couldn't help but notice Aspen wearing a shirt that likely belonged to Chelsea, emblazoned with the words, "Don't look at me; I don't want to be here." Meanwhile, Chelsea sported a shirt declaring, "Sarcasm is my love language." As I observed Aspen's presence, I wondered about the circumstances that led her here. Luis had provided some details, but Anthony remained tight-lipped afterwards. "How are you feeling, Aspen," Winter said, and the girl smiled and n