(Nikolai’s POV).I woke feeling refreshed with a good night sleep. Last night, I had met up with my Wolf Pack in Averna and we had a good time. Run in the wild and came back drunk after a little party we had.I realised I might have sent some embarrassing photographs of me to my dear Ashley. She did not say much except for sending me a message of wishing me “Good Night”This woman was playing hard to get. I knew she was falling for me but I also knew she was afraid to be with me. A Werewolf.I had dreamt a wonderful dream of both Ashley and her son living with me as one happy family. Perhaps, I would get her pregnant again with many of our children.Smiling at my good-looking reflection in the mirror, I rehearsed few pickup lines to get Ashley to like me more. I was sure she felt the connection we had when we are close to each other.The clock was ticking for me to mark her as my Mate. My Wolf Blake was getting weaker and I needed to save him.I was looking forward to my first date w
(Ashley’s POV).I was busy taking care of Teddy that was suddenly down with a high fever. Sleeping next to him, I could not stop staring at his cuteness even when he was not well. He was looking more like his father each day.That kind of frightened me a little. What if others started to notice their resemblance?I sighed to that and covered my baby boy with the blanket that I had actually knitted myself when I was pregnant with him. A pink blanket.I thought I was going to have a baby girl. But, it turned out to be a boy who I came to love whole heartedly. I did not mind if my baby was a boy or a girl. I just wanted a baby who was healthy and happy to have me as his mother.And Teddy was the most precious gift given to me.When Finley called the night before telling me about Teddy being ill, I had rushed all the way to reach Finley’s home. I did not even bother telling my cousin Phoebe and merely left a note saying I had a change of heart.I lied to them saying I wanted to be alone
(Ashley’s POV).I was looking everywhere in Averna for that special material for my dress. It was the last piece to fit into the dress that I had sewn myself. I was working day and night for the dress that I was confident that could win the competition. My assistant Cindy had guarded my masterpiece with her life to ensure someone like Helen would not ruin it.While she kept my dress safe, I was out to find that special material to make my dress perfect for the theme. I was calling it “Charming”. It was actually Teddy’s idea.A dress that would fit a Princess from the land of fairy tales. A dress that a Princess would wear when she met her Prince Charming. Like the stories he loved for me to read before he falls asleep.I wondered how he would react when one day he found out I was a Princess in real life.I smiled to that. He would definitely then want to live in a Castle. Most likely he would want to change his name to Prince Charming. My little vain pot.After going from one shop to
(Ashley’s POV).It took me longer than expected to get the precious material from a man named Kingsley. He was surely a fan of mine. It took me a while to convince him that I would come back to meet him again after I get the special material for my dress. I tried telling him I was pressing for time but he insisted for me to drink the cup of tea he made with cookies his wife had baked for me.He was quite adamant for me to hear how he had fought in the war for my grandmother, the Queen and won an award for his bravery. Honestly, I was ashamed of not knowing who he was. He seemed very passionate in serving the Royal army of Averna. A retired General and well respected, I assumed.A Human with such bravery was well respected indeed. I was sure my Grandparents would soon be informed about me meeting Kingsley. I hoped I would be in time to get out from Kingsley’s home.It seemed his wife had bought the special material to use for their daughter’s wedding dress. But, the family was willing
(Ashley’s POV).I had a complex feeling forming in my heart while I was riding on his back. The feeling of him close by made me feel the warmth of his body that I had missed. I felt reassured that he would keep me safe.Like he always did.We did not talk at all while riding towards the Royal Hall. No words were necessary to explain how we felt at that moment.It was as if we knew we needed each other.Or was it he was angry at me? But why would he?I wrapped my hands on his strong back and inhaled his scent that was intoxicating. I did not understand why but I knew I did not want this feeling to end.I wished things were easy for us.“Ashley” I then heard his deep voice calling me in a whisper, “We have reached our destination. You don’t have much time. They are waiting for you”I opened my eyes and lifted my head up to see where we were at. I did not even realise that I had slept along the journey to the Royal Hall.After rubbing my eyes, I dismount from his back and collected the
(Ashley’s POV).It took me a moment to realise my son was really here. It took me by surprise and I was speechless for a moment. Speechless that led me to feel nervous to see my son appearing in the public’s eyes.“Did anyone see you, Teddy?” I kneel down to his eye level and fake a smile, “Did you talk to anyone along the way?”Teddy shook his head and stretched his hand to hug my neck, “Mommy, I’m so happy you won. Now, we can go home”His big hug on me made me the happiest mother. I chuckled hearing him said in a whisper, “I want to be your knight. Your hero in your fairy tale story too, Mommy”I smiled and pulled him close to my chest. While kissing his head briefly, I whispered close to his ears, “Of course, my baby boy. One day I would fulfill your wishes to be the hero in my design shows. Teddy, I need you to follow Uncle Finley to the backstage. I’ll come to you later. I won’t be long”Teddy nodded his head. He was such an obedient boy.I could not risk anyone seeing him clos
(Ashley’s POV).Last night was tiring. I woke up with dark circles with eye bags. Urgh! It was an ugly sight to see in the morning in the mirror.I did not recall how much I had drunk after putting Teddy to sleep. Finley and Dave had accompanied me to drink while they listened to my pathetic love story with Nikolai.I was just unlucky in love. Maybe, I should forget about being in a serious relationship with one man. Maybe, I should just sleep with other men just like how Gina had lived her life.No strings attached. I understood now. Love was not meant for all women.Because every boy I kissed ended up cheating on me. I guessed I have a type. It was time for me to wake up to reality. There was no happily ever after ending for a cursed Princess like me.I was destined to live alone without a man to love. I then paused for a moment while staring at my reflection in the mirror.Why was I so emotionally unstable? Was I getting my period? It must be my hormones talking nonsense to me aga
(Ashley’s POV).I saw my father for the first time since I left home five years ago. He was looking thinner and his face was as if he had not slept for many days. Was he troubled?There was something not right at that moment. I could sense he was unwell.After taking a few steps towards him, I was surprised to see him looking up at me with hate in his eyes.For some reasons I could not confirm, I thought his eyes looked different.“I’m not here to congratulate you” his words kind of hurt me a little. What was I expecting? A celebration?The thought of seeing my father for the first time after five years was very different than reality. I was kind of hoping he would embrace me with love and affection. A peck on my cheeks would be sweet.I was obviously wrong.He then walked to a table with a familiar looking file placed on a table. “You need to give up the award. You do not deserve it”What?!His words were painful to hear, “And who do you propose deserve such award that I obviously h
(Ashley’s POV).A month later, I had another wedding.To be exact, it was indeed a dream wedding planned for me. Beautiful was an understatement. It was gorgeous and unbelievably fairy-tale like. I could not believe Nikolai would do all that for me. A dream wedding it was.The wedding was held at the Palace of Averna, as what my parents wanted. I was introduced back to the society as Princess Ashley. The name Tiana Winters was only used for business, no longer my name.A garden themed wedding with live music sounded simple but turned out magical. Sparkles, so many of them. Teddy had some involvement in making it colourful. His obsession with shining objects and sparkles were an influence to the wedding theme.I loved every inch of it. In fact, my little boy had even helped me to design my white wedding dress in such short notice. Crystal had helped us too. A Princess like dress that matched with my little crown.I was indeed over the moon and at some point of time, I thought I was dr
(Nikolai’s POV).The day of the final stage of the competition has arrived. I sat next to my son, Teddy, as we watched one by one of the contestants presented their design with their models on stage. Not bad looking I would say.In the past, I would have totally slept with those sexy looking models. They were some who would bed me after I shower them with money. No strings attached. Simple.Those days of my one-night stand sex with random women were totally gone. I had turned into a monogamist. My eyes and heart were only for my Ashley, my Luna, my wife.We got married through a Werewolf ceremony almost a month ago and my life had never been better. Having her by my side when I woke up every morning was all I had wished for since the first day I laid eyes on her pretty blue eyes. I loved her with all my heart and soul.Our marriage was done with full Werewolf tradition. My mother had spent time teaching Ashley the ways of the Werewolf, preparing on what was coming soon in our life, w
(Ashley’s POV).Fast forward three weeks later, I sat on a table as I looked at the dress that Cindy and I had worked on for days in preparing for the final stage of the most anticipated design competition in Paris. I sighed of relief seeing the masterpiece placed on the life size mannequin.“What do you think, Teddy?” I asked my son who sat on my executive work chair with his legs folded in a seating position. Holding his teddy bear Kiko, he looked up and smiled at me.“More sparkles, Mommy” he smiled showing his cute little teeth. Then, he placed his little chubby hands on his chin as he studied the dress again, “Are you going to wear that? I don’t think Daddy would like it, Mommy”I chuckled and pinched his cheeks, “Mommy will wear whatever she wants and Daddy will have no say in it”“Daddy will burn the dress to the ground if Mommy dares to go out parading that piece of cloth” I looked at the door seeing Nikolai walked in the studio, frowning while looking at the dress. He gave m
(Nikolai’s POV).“Ashley, please don’t do this. I’m sorry” I kneeled down by her side while placing a hand on one of her hands. I then palmed her cheeks gently as I whispered my words to calm her sadness, “Honey, I’m sorry. I did not mean to say those words. I just could not lose you again and again. I can’t. I would rather die than living in this life without you. Please look at me”She opened her eyes and stared at me. I pecked her lips and pulled her body closer to mine, “I love you, Ashley. Please, this is enough. You need to rest. Loraine is finding a cure for our son. You must not use all the energy you have left in you. Save it for the babies”Loraine had accidentally slipped from her mouth that Ashley would be carrying twins. I was overjoyed with the news. But, after knowing how difficult her pregnancy would be with twins, I did not know how to react.I was not going to lose her. I needed to find a way to save her and our babies.But first, we needed to save my son.“I’m so s
(Author’s POV).Red. Bodies. Death.It was everywhere around the warehouse, except for two little souls.One was standing in the middle of a puddle of blood, while the other blindfolded and tied to a pole. She heard noises. The kind of noise that was sending shivers down her spine.Not being able to see what was happening was making her anxious, “T-teddy.. w-where are you? What happened?”She whispered with her trembling voice. The sound she heard earlier was frightening to her.There were the sound of Wolves howling in pain. Cracking of bones in a painful and excruciating ways. Cries for help was heard followed by the sound of the doors and windows locked.“T-teddy, are you.. are you still there?” Crystal whispered her words being afraid on what was there around her.She could not see or move much. Despite trying to get free and hurt her hands more, it proved to be useless as the rope was far tighter around her wrist, “Help me. Someone please, help us”It was then Crystal heard the
(Nikolai’s POV).“Oh, look. Your Wolf is here, Ashley. And he thinks he could save you” I saw this b*th named Helen turned to face me with that stupid smile plastered on her ugly face. I wanted so much to punch her but then she spoke something I did not quite understand the meaning of it, “You can’t stop what I’m doing next. Oh, you can kill me. I have nothing left in this world to live for. But, I will come back. Stronger and I will find you”“What are you?” I growled and was surprise Helen could understand my language. She smiled and suddenly revealed herself on what she was. A Demon.Her eyes turned pitch black, and I could see it hollow. The sound of the cries of pain was heard as I stared into her blacken eyeballs. It was probably those souls she had destroyed to make her stronger.Evil being she was. And I needed to be careful on what she would do next. Not fearing her, just careful.“You sold your soul to evil. Let Ashley go. Or suffer the consequences” I said as I moved close
(Ashley’s POV).In the fast-moving car, I asked Frankie to turn the car to the left as what was shown on the locator map. “Hurry! Why are you driving so slow!”I took a glance at Frankie who had his eyes only on the road. His hands on the steering wheels were shaking. Was he afraid of me? He did not even look at me after I forced him to drive me to the point shown in the map.“Someone took my son, Frankie. Does Nikolai know about this?” I asked him as we entered what looked like a road going up the hill. “I was asked to come here alone. You can stay in the car. I’ll get there by foot from here”“No, Miss Winters. It is not safe there for you. I’ll watch over you from far. Whoever you are meeting would not notice my presence” he said as he parked the car at the signage stating, “Private property”“This is a dead end. Walking up there would only lead you to a cliff. This does not look good, Miss Winters. We better call Alpha Nikolai” he turned to look at me with a look full of concern.
(Ashley’s POV).I woke up on Nikolai’s ever so comfortable bed. Soft and feather like feeling of the white sheets. It smelled pleasant too. I smiled and moved to my side thinking he would still be there next to me.But the bed was empty on the other side I sighed and pulled the warm and soft duvet to cover my body completely like being in a protective cocoon.I missed him already. Wished he would come back to me soon as he promised me earlier. Closing my eyes again, I rested my head on the pillow that still have his scent that I came to love.Love. Never thought I would fall in love again with another man, after what Philip did to me five years ago. But, Nikolai was different. Being with him was exciting and he made me feel special.As I drifted back to sleep, there was the sound of knocking on the window. It was disturbing my rest. Definitely annoying and had forced me to get up from my sleep.Nikolai had helped me to rest after our shower together. It was a quick one. It seemed tha
(Author’s POV).In a room with only a small window allowing the dim light from the moon to shine its brightness, two children were heard sniffling their tears of fear and regret. Their small little hands were tied on their back with a tight rope as they rested their back on the wall. Eyes were blindfolded.. mouth taped.. it was terrifying to both of the little children.“Teddy, w-where are you?” little Crystal whispered as she managed to free her hands from the rope tied around her hand. Her brothers once taught her that skill. She sniffled a tear seeing the cut and graze around her wrist. It had hurt her a little too much.At that time of despair, she recalled her elder brothers told her to be strong. Being the only girl among her siblings of three strong boys, had set certain expectation for her to toughened up like them. Despite her age of eight years old, Crystal was stronger than her peers at the same age.She was also smarter than average kids in her school. And that was what l