ã€ŠBride of the Cursed Alpha (Auren and Lucien)ã€‹


 Chapter 1

    Auren POV

    The morning air was cool as I hurried through the pack house, bncing a tray of breakfast tes. The faint smell of caramel and freshly brewed coffee wafted through the halls, but it did little to soothe the anxiety brewing in my chest. Today was my birthday¡ªmy eighteenth-the day I would smell my mate who would take me away from this cursed life. Life as an orphan omega in our pack was riddled with hardships and misery.

    "Do you n on making me wait all morning, Auren?" Maris''s sharp voice cut through my thoughts like a whip as I entered the dining room.

    Maris was Alpha Bram''s betrothed. He was thirty-three years old and still unmated. Maris was twenty-seven and daughter of the Alpha of Iron Pine pack. They had met each other in the annual mating ball about a year ago.

    "I''m sorry," I mumbled, bowing my head. Her dark, carefully fashioned curls shimmered in the sunlight filtering through the wide windows of the dining hall, and her perfectly manicured nails tapped against the table impatiently. Everyone knew Maris would be the Luna soon. She carried herself like it, with a sharp tongue and a sharper re.

    She narrowed her eyes at the tray in my hands. "Where''s my almondtte? I specifically asked for it."

    "It''sing, Maris-" I stopped myself, flinching. "I''ll get it right away."

    Her lips curved into a cruel sneer. "See that you do. I''d hate to have to speak to Bram about your ipetence." I didn''t know why was it that she hated me so much. It was like she was always finding an excuse to punish me.

    The other maids, already standing around the table, exchanged knowing looks. One of them, a tall brte named Reya, a sycophant, shot me a re. "Honestly, Auren, you should be more careful. Lady Maris has enough to deal with without you messing up her morning."

    "Right," chimed in another maid, Hyra, her voice dripping with false sweetness. "She''s practically running this pack already. You should be grateful she even lets you serve her."

    I nodded, clutching the tray tighter to keep my hands from trembling. "Yes, of course."

    As I turned to leave, Maris''s voice stopped me in my tracks. "And don''t call me Maris like we''re equals. It''s Luna Maris to you." Her words wereced with venom, and the maids chuckled. My cheeks burned, but I didn''t argue. She wasn''t a Luna, but she liked others to call her Luna.

    In the kitchen, I prepared thette with trembling hands, still feeling hurt about how they all loved to humiliate me for no reason. And no one remembered my birthday. Usually everyone got a note from the Alpha wishing them Happy Birthday, but not me.

    My reflection in the polished metal of the coffee pot caught my eye. A slim girl with wide, gray eyes stared back at me, her blonde hair pulled into a loose braid. My face looked paler than usual and my expression was weary. It was a known fact that we got our wolves at sixteen and smelled our mates as soon as we turned eighteen, but why didn''t I smell mine?

    "It''s just another day," I whispered to myself. "Keep your head down, and it''ll be fine."

    But it didn''t feel like just another day. The air felt charged. I allowed that little hope to bubble inside my chest.

    After delivering thette and enduring another round of scornful looks and remarks, I retreated to theundry room to catch my breath. That''s when it hit me ¡ªa scent unlike anything I''d ever smelled before. Warm and earthy, like pine trees after a rainstorm, with a hint of musk. My pulse quickened. My heart thundered.

    ''Mate.''

    The words of my wolf, Siena, echoed in my mind, both thrilling and terrifying. The mouthwatering scent tugged at me, pulling me out of theundry room and down the hall. My feet moved on their own, guided by an invisible thread. The scent made my chest tighten, pulling me as if it had wrapped around me. Down the quiet hallway, the smell grew stronger, drowning out everything else around me. It was so strong and intoxicating that I couldn''t think of anything else. All my wolf wanted was to coat herself in it, roll in it.

    ''That''s our mate!'' Siena said enthusiastically. ''Go fast. I want my mate.''

    The scent grew stronger as I stepped outside onto the training grounds. Warriors trained in the morning light. My eyes scanned the crowd, searching for the source. And then I saw him.

    Alpha Bram Reed.

    I couldn''t believe that the moon goddess had made Alpha Bram my mate. Shock mingled with awe. The world around me faded as irresistible desire rippled through me. A deep sense ofpletion overcame me, as if I''ve found a missing part of my soul.

    He stood at the center of the field, towering over the others with graceful confidence. His dark hair was slightly tousled, and his sharp features were set in a look of concentration as he demonstrated a fighting move. The sunlight caught the sweat on his brow, making him seem almost otherworldly.

    My breath hitched as our eyes met. Hope swelled in my chest when I saw recognition in his eyes. This was it. My mate. My Alpha. He was going to pull me out of my wretched life. Before I could stop myself, my feet carried me towards him.

    I stared at him like he was my God. He was so beautiful and strong that every girl in the Crimson Howl pack had a crush on him. All I wanted was to reach him and fall into his arms as he wrapped them around me. ''Mate,'' I whispered, my cheeks flushing.

    But, why was he behaving so coldly? Didn''t he recognize me?

    When I was only a few feet away, his expression shifted. His body stiffened, and his warm, amber eyes turned cold. The flicker of recognition in his gaze was quickly reced by a harsh disappointment and anger. It cut deep and so I hesitated.

    ''No, go to him!'' Siena urged. When I took a few more steps toward him, Maris came into my peripheral vision, heading straight to Alpha Bram.

    "Alpha Bram!" she chirped excitedly, elbowing me roughly, nudging past me, making me stumble to the side.

    He looked at her and beamed as if I wasn''t even there. He opened his arms for Maris who rushed to him and hugged him tightly. She tipped her head up and he pressed a kiss to her lips.

    My heart sank. I stood frozen, unable to move. The warmth I''d felt moments ago evaporated, leaving an intense ache in its ce. The weight of his horrible rejection settled over me. His betrayal felt like a knife was plunged in my chest and then twisted.

    Siena howled inside me out of rage and jealousy. ''No, he is our mate.'' She wanted toe out and tear Maris away from him, but I knew that she was a weak wolf. If she surfaced, Alpha Bram would kill her instantly.

    For years, I''d dreamed of this moment-the day I''d find my mate, the one person destined to see me for who I truly was, who would love me, cherish me. But now, that dreamy shattered at my feet. Tears sprang in my eyes.

    Alpha Bram red at me, daring toe close. Maris also turned to look at me with narrowed eyes. Dread plummeted in my stomach. I was afraid that if I went nearer and dere that I was his mate, they would throw me in the dungeons. So I turned and walked away, my shoulders slumping with miserable rejection I hadn''t even heard spoken aloud. The scent of him lingered, bittersweet and unbearable. By the time I reached the pack house, tears blurred my vision.

    I thought today might be different, that I could finally have someone to share it with. Instead, I was left with a heart full of despair. Weren''t mates supposed to look after each other?

    I hid inside theundry room and started crying. Was there a way to get out of this pack? The idea of rejection was so painful. How would I serve him now?

    I curled up on the cold floor, my arms wrapped around my knees as tears

    streamed down my face. The ache in my chest felt unbearable. It was like a deep, raw wound that wouldn''t stop bleeding. I didn''t know what to do or who to go to forfort.

    Alpha Bram''s cold, distant stare reyed in my mind over and over. My mate. He didn''t even want to acknowledge me.

    Suddenly, the door opened.

    Hi all, Wee to my new book. Hope you enjoy it!

 Chapter 2

    Auren POV

    Being an orphan had always been hard for me. ording to our previous Alpha, who was Alpha Bram''s father, my parents died in a pack war. He was kind enough to give me shelter in his packhouse and even allowed education in a school for omegas. However, a few yearster when he died and Bram became the Alpha, he pulled me out of the school, made me pack''s servant and gave me lowly jobs, clearing stating that if I had to stay in the pack, I had to earn my living. His lusty gaze would often linger on me, and I would shy away, afraid of his intentions. But then he would snap his gaze away from me as if he saw vermin.

    I was born with a tattoo the size of a squash ball on my back. A golden moon shackled by dark thorn vines curving around it. The Shaman had kindly warned me that it was a mark of a curse and so I had to keep it hidden at all times, afraid that if anyone saw it, they would kill me.

    Suddenly, the door opened, snapping me from my thoughts. I hurriedly wiped my tears, but it was toote. Maris stood in the doorway, her arms crossed and a smug smile ying on her lips and her face donned with a wicked expression.

    "Well, well," she said, stepping closer. "If it isn''t our little orphan, sniveling like a child."

    I didn''t respond, keeping my head down. My whole body trembled in fear even though Siena wanted toe out and attack Maris.

    "I know what happened," she said, her voice dripping with venom. "You think you''re special because Bram is your mate? Let me tell you something, Auren." She crouched down, her face close to mine. "We knew it long back. But you''re nothing. You''ll always be nothing. Bram doesn''t want you. He''ll reject you soon enough, and when he does, you''ll wish you''d never set foot in this pack."

    I swallowed hard, trying to fight back the fresh wave of tears.

    "If you tell anyone-anyone-about this," she continued, her voice low and

    dangerous, ¡°I''ll make sure you regret it. Do you understand?"

    I nodded weakly, too scared to speak. Maris straightened, brushing invisible dust off her skirt.

    "Good. Now clean yourself up. You''re pathetic. I don''t want anyone to see you crying because if they do, they will ask you the reason. I swear you''ll regret it if theye to know the reason." Saying that, she turned sharply, flicking her hair and marched out.

    The weight of her words crushed me further. I brought my knees against my chest and hugged them tightly. Mates were supposed to take care of each other. His betrayal was worse than all my years of enduring servitude. And they knew that I was his mate? The revtion shocked me.

    When I finally stepped out of theundry room, the humiliation didn''t end. Reya was waiting for me in the kitchen. "You are reassigned to work in the toilets!" she barked at me. "Stay there until you get a new duty. Don''t youe out of that ce!"

    I balked as I stared at her. "What?" Toilets were the worst ce to work.

    She pped me hard across my cheek. I screamed in pain as I fell down. Her lips curled into a sneer. "Did you not listen to what I said? Clean all the toilets. Now!"

    Scared, I made my way to the toilets, sure that this was Maris''s order.

    Over the next few days, Maris, always clever with her schemes, pointed fingers at me for things I hadn''t done. A broken vase, a spilled drink, and suddenly, I was everyone''s scapegoat. The other pack members whispered and sneered, their remarks cutting me like knives. They would use me of everything and anything. And Alpha Bram just turned a blind eye to all the bullying.

    Things settled a bit, but one morning when I woke up and hurried to the kitchen, I heard Reya shouting at others. When I entered, Reya threw very expensive cutlery directly on the floor near me.

    Maris walked in just at that time like she was waiting for this moment, as if on cue. "Reya, don''t let her get away with that," she said, her tone filled with anger. "She''s nothing but trouble."

    It didn''t take much for Reya to agree. She and Maris cornered me by the pantry, their faces contorted in anger. I sensed something was wrong, but I had no time to react.

    "You''ve caused enough problems," Reya sneered immediately. "It''s time you learn a lesson." And then came the blows. "No," I cried and screamed and begged them to leave me, but no one came to rescue me.

    "What''s going on?" A loud growl came. It was Alpha Bram, my mate. Was heing to save me?

    "Alpha Bram," Maris immediately changed her facial expression and said in a honeyed voice. "Auren threw broken ss at me. See, I am bleeding." She showed him a little cut on her finger that she got while beating me.

    "No, it''s not-"

    "How dare you?" Alpha Bram cut me off and roared in anger. "Throw her in the dungeons!" he ordered.

    I was stunned. It was me, his mate, who was bleeding, and he didn''t even have a heart to respond to that. How naive of me to think of hising to save me. This was just a perfect n for them to get rid of me. And just like that, Maris and Reya dragged me to the dungeons-a dark, damp hole beneath the pack house where air was thick and musty, and the only light wasing from a single flickering torch.

    "You''ll stay here until we decide you''ve learned your ce," Maris said, her voiceced with poison. She gave me onest triumphant smile before mming the door shut. "Fucking bitch."

    Seven days passed in darkness. My body ached from the cold stone floor, and hunger wed at my stomach. The onlypany I had was my wolf, Siena, who tried tofort me, though her own pain mirrored mine.

    But on the seventh day, the door opened. Reya stood there with her usual scorn. "Get up,¡± she said sharply. "Alpha Bram has called for you."

    I staggered to my feet, weak and disoriented. Surprise flickered through me. Did he finally want me? But her next words were like some had sshed icy cold water on me.

    "He''s going to offer you to Alpha Lucien. You know what that means, don''t you? His bride will neverst. You''ll be dead within a year." She gave me a sly smile.

    My heart dropped to my stomach. "What?" I said in a weak voice. "He can''t do that. I¡ªI¡ª" It was worse than being in the dungeons. Everyone knew about Alpha Lucien. He was cursed, just like every Alpha in his family, and so ruthless that he killed first and talkedter.

    "Shut up!" Reya shouted. When I scrambled back, she came over, pulled me roughly and dragged me out of the dungeon. "You dimwit," she retorted. "Did you really think you could everpete with Lady Maris? Now look how nicely she has got rid of you by convincing Alpha Bram. No one wants to marry Alpha Lucien. By offering you to him, she will win his alliance for Alpha Bram. And you? You''ll be nothing more than a breeder for the cursed Alpha. So it''s a neat little arrangement that benefits both packs beautifully."

 Chapter 3

    Auren POV

    As Reya dragged me out of the dungeons, my heart drummed against my ribcage out of pure fear. I couldn''t even think of marrying Alpha Lucien, not just because he was cursed, but also because Alpha Bram was my mate. The idea was abhorrent. It was better to die than to marry Alpha Lucien.

    Summoning up whatever little energy I had left in me, I pulled my hand out of Reya''s and thought of running towards the forest that surrounded our pack. Once I got away from here, I was sure I would find help.

    But the truth was cruel. I stood up, and the next second, my legs felt weak and my body copsed. With a loud "bump", I fell to the ground, so did my hope. The dust stung my lungs, my tears welling up in an instant. "No-" I struggled.

    "Ha, you think you can escape?" Reya caught my neck with great force, turning my face to her. I couldn''t see her face clearly, but I assumed an evil smile there. "Get her." She ordered before throwing me to the ground.

    Two warriors jumped right in front of me. My eyes widened in horror. "Please leave me alone!" I begged them. "Let me live."

    As if my words irritated her, Reya came into my line of vision again. She directly charged at me and tackled me to the ground. She punched my side and I heard a crack. It meant that one of my ribs had fractured. A scream ripped out of my throat as my body turned numb in pain. ¡°Live? You are so pathetic. Pick her up!" she ordered the warriors. One of them hauled me over his shoulder with no mercy to my fractured rib. As I screamed and cried and begged them to leave me, they carried me all the way to a little room in the omegas'' quarters and mmed the door shut behind them.

    I pounded on the door, shouting, coughing blood. "Please leave me. Please." But no one listened. Eventually, I slipped down on the floor with blood-stained clothes.

    I don''t know how many hours went by when I heard the door creak open. I lifted my head only to see the pack''s healer. "Luna Maris has sent me to you. Drink this draft,¡± he ordered. "It will reduce your pain."

    "C-can I talk to her?" I asked.

    He clenched his jaw and without replying to me, forced me to have the draft and left, locking the door behind him.

    I felt so weak and helpless that I sat against the wall as fresh tears sprang from my eyes. "This is not justified, goddess," I said aloud. "It is not my fault that you bestowed Alpha Bram as my mate." Alpha Lucien was the most ruthless Alpha in the north. "What have you written for me in this life?"

    The door opened again and this time Alpha Bram walked in. He narrowed his eyes at me and scrunched his face. Shaking his head, he said, "How could the moon goddess bestow you as my mate? There must have been some mistake. You are so pathetic!"

    With my eyes wide open, I stared at him with rage simmering in my chest. Feeling horrible under his gaze, I retorted, "I am not pathetic. You are pathetic! You are rejecting your moon-mate."

    He let out a growl and in a sh of a second, he grabbed my throat with hisrge hands. "Auren!" he shouted. "How dare you say that to your Alpha? You had the guts to run away and defy my orders."

    I started sputtering and coughing as he squeezed my airway.

    "Bram!" Maris entered the room and shouted at him. "Don''t do that. Tomorrow she

    is going forever!"

    Alpha Bram shoved me away and got up, still growling. And then came out the poisoned words,

    "I, Alpha Bram Reed of the Crimson Howl Pack, reject you, Auren Cressida as my mate."

    "Noooo!" I shrieked as sharp pain stabbed my stomach and heart. My vision blurred and I doubled over, unable to move. Through my blurry vision, I saw Alpha Bram and Maris ring at me coldly. Maris smirked and holding his hand, she walked out of the room, locking the door behind me.

    "I will send Reya to dress her up tomorrow," I heard her voice before I fainted.

    When I woke up next, I felt numbness in my body. Seina had howled and whimpered all night and eventually rolled up in a ball and tucked away somewhere, where I couldn''t reach her. She was more hurt than I was.

    Morning light was filtering in my room. It was a morning of doom. I didn''t have the strength to get up and do anything. I had lost my appetite. When the door opened again, I saw Reya entering with a box in her hand, followed by a maid.

    She chuckled. "What a wretched bitch!" She pulled me up roughly. "Luna Maris has sent me to dress you up. But first you need a bath. You stink like a rotten critter."

    She dragged me to the bathroom where she opened a cold water shower. I shivered under it uncontrobly, but she was least bothered. When I came out, she threw a dress at me. "Wear this. Alpha Lucien will be here in an hour."

    I gaped at her with horror. Alpha Lucien wasing so fast?

    The dress loosely hung over my shoulders. From the smell of it, I knew it was Maris''s old one.

    Reya''s face lit up with a shrewd grin. "Congrattions, Auren. You are getting married to the most unwanted Alpha in the north. Consider yourself lucky that you will live another year while serving as his breeder."

    Chills ran down my body at the way she said it to me, and my knees felt wobbly. I walked shakily behind her until I reached the main hall.

    The ce was buzzing with activity. All the omegas were preparing for Alpha Lucien''s arrival. Maris was giving orders to them and as soon as she saw me, she sniggered. She jerked her chin to Reya who nodded and took me to a corner of the room. My eyes went to Alpha Bram who was talking to some people. Why was it that the rejection affected me and not him? Did his wolf not feel the pain? Tears came into my eyes again, but this time I refused to let them out because I didn''t want to give them the satisfaction of seeing me broken and shattered.

    A few minutester, he went out and when he returned, he was with Alpha Lucien. The most terrifyingly beautiful wolf I''d ever seen.

    Towering at over six feet, his broad shoulders and chiseled physique radiated raw power. Midnight-ck hair framed a cold, sharp, angr face, with dark eyes that seemed to pierce your soul. There were tattoos of vines and thorns on his muscr arms. His presence was maic yet menacing, like that of a silent, dangerous predator cloaked in charm.

    When our gazes locked, I gasped and my cheeks heated.

 Chapter 4

    Lucien POV

    The council chamber of the Shadowfang Pack was stifling, filled with the heavy presence of my pack''s Elders. They had serious expression, their faces weathered with age and experience and their eyes carrying the weight of centuries of tradition. I stood before them, my arms crossed, my jaw tight as they droned on about duty and heirs.

    "You cannot keep dying this, Lucien," Elder On said in a sharp voice. "The pack needs an heir. Without one, we risk losing everything we''ve built."

    I clenched my fists, the sharp points of my ws pressing into my palms. "And what happens to the woman you force me to marry?" My voice was cold,ced with a simmering anger I couldn''t contain. "She will die, just like the others who died marrying my ancestors." I really wanted to put an end to this.

    Elder Ryna, the oldest among them, leaned forward, her pale gray eyes prating. "We know the cost of the curse. But the survival of the Shadowfang pack muste first. Your power keeps us strong, but strength alone will not secure our future."

    Their words were like iron chains around me, dragging me back to the nightmare I lived every day. The curse-a cruel legacy of my bloodline-had imed every bride my forefathers had taken. On the night of the full moon after our bond was sealed, death woulde for them, slowly, silent and final. Within a year they all died. How many women will die just to carry my bloodline?

    It was said that centuries ago, the moon goddess cursed our Alpha bloodline for betraying love or breaking a sacred bond. Rejections happened all the time, but I don''t know why did the goddess curse my forefather? What was special about that mate bond?

    I turned away, pacing to the window. The moon hung low in the sky, veiled by storm clouds. "You think an heir will fix this?" I said bitterly. "The curse will take them too. It doesn''t just stop with my bride."

    On sighed heavily. "We don''t know that. There is a chance...¡±

    "There is no chance!" I snapped, spinning to face them. "This curse is absolute. It doesn''t matter how strong I am or how much the Alphas of the North grovel for my alliance. They want my strength, not my curse."

    Ryna''s gaze didn''t waver. "Strength is what keeps us alive, Lucien. That''s why they seek you, despite the curse. It''s why we must ensure your bloodline continues. Without you, the North falls."

    Their words were upsetting, not because I disagreed, but because I knew they were right. The Shadowfang pack thrived because of me¡ªbecause of the power I wielded. Alphas from all corners sought my favor. Their alliances were a testament to my strength. Yet beneath it all, I was hollow, bound by a curse that tainted everything it touched.

    Elder On said, "There is an offer from Alpha Bram. An alliance in exchange for one of his omegas as your bride. She''s expendable to him, but this alliance will secure his loyalty. It is a solution that benefits us all. He has been seeking your alliance from a long time."

    An omega. My stomach churned at the thought. I had no use for alliances built on the backs of weak and innocent. As such I disliked Bram. He was a slimy bastard.

    I closed my eyes, the weight of their stares pressing on me. "If I agree, this alliance must serve the pack above all else."

    "Of course," Ryna said, leaning back in her chair with satisfaction.

    The decision settled like a stone in my chest. I would take another bride, knowing her fate, because I had no other choice. I was twenty-seven already and hadn''t found my mate. And I knew that I couldn''t love my forced bride. Ever.

    The journey to Crimson Howl was uneventful, but my thoughts roiled with every mile. When we arrived, I noticed the pack house was bustling. Bram greeted me with a wide smile. "It''s a pleasure to have you here, Alpha Lucien." I grunted in response.

    He guided me to the main hall of his packhouse. "The omega I promised," he said, gesturing toward the far corner. "Auren."

    My gaze followed his hand,nding on her. My breath hitched. Auren had golden hair that caught the light. She was small, barely reaching my shoulder, and she was trembling like a deer in headlight. Her face was soft like that of an elf, her presence fragile. She looked pale and thin as if she hadn''t had food for days. Her head was slightly bowed, but not out of submission-it felt like she was trying to disappear.

    As she stepped forward, her scent hit me-a sweet, warm fragrance of apples that stirred my wolf. For a moment, she lifted her eyes to mine. They were gray, like that of a pale moon veiled in mist.

    "Alpha Lucien," Alpha Bram said, snapping me out of my thoughts. "I hope she will serve the purpose," he added like she was amodity. He stood beside me exuding false camaraderie. His grin was tight and it wasn''t difficult to see through him. This was not a gesture of goodwill-it was a business transaction, in and simple. I didn''t like the way his gaze lingered on her.

    As for Auren, I didn''t care for her fragility or her fear. What roiled my insides was the tant maniption behind this so-called alliance. I had no intention of entertaining this charade. Yet I had no choice.

    ¡°Prepare the treaty," I said tly, not sparing her another nce.

    Bram''s face flickered with excitement. "Of course, Alpha Lucien. I''ll have it drawn up immediately."

    I turned to leave, but amotion stopped me in my tracks.

    "Worthless girl!" Maris''s voice rang out, dripping with venom. I knew who Maris was. Bram''s future Luna. A gold digger. Her father had approached me to marry her, but I had refused not because I hade to know of her ns of divorcing me and taking away half my money in less than a month, but because she was a repulsive creature. And now she found Bram. They fitted well.

    I pivoted, my sharp gaze locking onto the scene. Auren was being yanked by her arm by Maris''s rough grip. The poor girl winced, her free hand attempting to shield herself.

    Maris''s lips twisted into a sneer. "You should be grateful for this opportunity. You don''t deserve to breathe the same air as us, let alone be offered as a bride to Alpha Lucien. And now you''re making us look bad?"

    ¡°That''s enough.¡± My voice cut through the air like a de.

    Maris froze, her grip ckening on Auren''s arm. She turned to face me, her expression quickly shifting to one of false innocence. "Alpha Lucien, I was just "

    "I don''t care for your justifications," I said coldly. "Behave yourself."

    Maris''s face reddened, but she protested, "She''s just an omega. She should know her ce that she is nothing but a breeder."

    I took a step forward, my presence towering over hers. "Her ce is no concern of yours. Do not test me."

    Surprised, Maris swallowed hard as she left her. "I-I''m sorry," she muttered.

    I shifted my attention back to Bram. "Ensure your pack members know how to act

    in front of me," I said, my toneced with a warning.

    Bram clenched his teeth, ring at Maris. ¡°Yes, I''m sorry Alpha Lucien." His gazended on Auren again, and this time I could see the lust.

    Not liking it one bit, I gestured to Tarian, my beta. "Handle her,¡± I said curtly, referring to Auren. "Get her packed and ready. We leave in two hours."

    Tarian nodded with a neutral expression, approaching her.

    As I turned to leave, I felt the faintest pull of something¡ªa whisper in the back of my mind urging me to look back. I ignored it. This was not my choice, and I would not let sentiment cloud my judgment.

 Chapter 5

    Auren POV

    The SUV rumbled over the gravel road as we started towards the Shadowfang Pack. No one came to see me off from my pack. I was good riddance for them. As the car sped out of my pack, I looked out onest time, a knot twisting in my gut. Would I evere back? I highly doubted that because I wouldn''t be weed by anyone. I felt like crying but I blinked my tears away and turned my head to look outside the window. I had cried enough for those who didn''t want me.

    After a few hours, I saw the territory of the Shadowfang Pack and noticed that itsnds stretched endlessly in every direction.

    My heart fluttered as the imposingpound came into view-massive buildings made of dark stone, surrounded by tall fences. The entire ce screamed power, control and wealth. The pack was so much bigger than the Crimson Howl pack judging on the fact that our car was running for the past hour, and we still hadn''t reached Alpha''s house.

    Alpha Lucien sat beside me. His eyes were fixed out the window, his jaw set in a hard line. He hadn''t said a word since we left Crimson Howl, and his silence was deafening. As for me, I huddled up in a corner, scared to even breathe in presence of the strongest Alpha in the north. I wrapped my arms around a small bag that contained all my belongings.

    When we arrived, Lucien got out first, his movements sharp in anger. I hesitated, but his Beta, Tarian, opened the door for me and gestured for me to follow.

    "This way," Tarian said, in a curt tone, assessing me.

    The main building was as intimidating as the Alpha himself-high ceilings, white marble stone floors, and an air that felt like it could crush you if you lingered too long. Lucien walked ahead, his long strides carrying him into a room that had sleek furniture and a massive firece.

    He stopped near the mantle. "I want you to leave," he said to Tarian. "I have to speak with her alone."

    Tarian bowed and left, leaving me alone with Alpha Lucien. A wave of dread washed over me.

    "Sit," he ordered, not even looking at me.

    I perched on the edge of a leather chair, my hands fidgeting in myp. The silence stretched until Alpha Lucien finally turned to me with a thunderous expression.

    "I didn''t ask for this," he began, his voice a low growl. "I don''t know what kind of game Alpha Bram is ying, but understand this-I don''t want a Luna, and I definitely don''t want you."

    I flinched at his words but stayed quiet.

    He leaned against the mantle, arms crossed. "My pack Elders want an heir. That''s the only reason I agreed to this. So here''s how it''s going to work: we''ll marry for the sake of appearances and I''ll mark you. In public, we''ll act like a proper Alpha and Luna. But outside of that, you''ll stay out of my way."

    I nodded, and in a shaky voice said, "Okay."

    Lucien''s eyes narrowed. "Okay? That''s it?"

    I tilted my head slightly. "Yes," I replied meekly. What else did he want me to say?

    His frustration deepened, but he continued. "And here are the rules: You''ll have

    no say in pack matters. You''ll live in the west wing, far from my quarters. You won''t sit with me. You won''t eat with me. And more importantly, you won''t demand anything from me. Do you understand?"

    I swallowed hard but nodded again. "I understand."

    His brow furrowed, as if he hadn''t expected me to agree so easily. "And you''re... fine with this?"

    I blinked up at him, genuinely confused. He brought me here for that purpose. "Yes, I''m fine," I replied. At least here, no one will throw me in a dungeon for burning a toast.

    Lucien stared at me, his brows furrowed. ¡°Burning a toast?¡± he repeated.

    My cheeks turned red. Did I speak aloud? "Yes." I nodded in shame. "Or forgetting to fluff a pillow just right," I murmured.

    A muscle in his jaw ticked. His eyes darkened, and for a moment, I thought I saw something soften in them, but it was gone as quickly as it came.

    "This isn''t a joke," he said, his tone sharp again.

    ¡°I know,¡± I said quickly. "I''m not joking. You''re giving me rules. That''s fine. Rules are easier to follow than people."

    "Do you even understand the weight of this situation?" he asked.

    My brows drew together. "Yes. You said we''re getting married tomorrow, and I''ll stay out of your way unless you need... an heir." My cheeks flushed at thest part, and I quickly dropped my gaze.

    Lucien exhaled sharply, pinching the bridge of his nose. "Great. Fine," he muttered. "We leave it at that. Tarian will show you to your room. The wedding will happen tomorrow. Someone will be there to prepare you for it."

    I stood hesitantly, unsure if I should thank him or just leave. "Alpha Lucien?" "Thank you," I said softly.

    His brows furrowed. "What?" he asked, unable to believe that I was thanking him for my situation.

    I hesitated. Then I asked a genuine question. "I have a question. What if I get hungry? Am I allowed in the kitchen, or should I wait for someone to bring me food?"

    Alpha Lucien''s eyes widened. "You''re worried about food right now?"

    "Well, yes," I said, my cheeks warming under his intense gaze. "You didn''t exactly mention meal ns in your rules. I don''t want to break any identally." And get punished.

    His lips parted like he was about to yell, but then he stopped, his brows furrowing. "You''re serious, aren''t you?"

    "Of course," I replied, nodding, my eyes rounding at the corners. "Rules are important for you. And I''d hate to upset you by sneaking into the pantry." Moreover, since in my pack, I was hardly given meals twice a day, I wondered if he would give me good meals since I was nothing but a breeder.

    Lucien stared at me, his expression a mix of disbelief and exasperation. "No. No sneaking. Eat whenever you want. Just stay out of my way."

    "Oh, that''s easy," I said with a small smile. "You''re not hard to miss," I blurted.

    His eyes shed with irritation. "What do you mean?"

    I bit my lip, realizing toote for what I had done. So in order to mitigate the

    situation, I added, "You''re like a... thundercloud?"

    Alpha Lucien narrowed his eyes. "A thundercloud?"

    I flushed again, wringing my hands. "It''s apliment. Thunderclouds are powerful and... dramatic." Goddess, someone stop my verbal diarrhea.

    "I''m dramatic?" He clenched his jaw so tightly that I wondered if he cracked his mrs. "You''re unbelievable." His hands clenched into fists at his side. "It doesn''t matter. Just remember what I said. Don''t expect anything more than what I''ve offered."

    I nodded, my wide eyes sincere. "Understood."

    "Good," he said and marched out.

    I watched him leaving, my heart thudding a little faster despite his anger. He might

    be scary and stern, but he hadn''t thrown me into a dungeon. That was already better than what I was used to.

    As the door closed behind him, I slumped back into my seat, my cheeks burning. Somehow, I''d survived that conversation, but I had a feeling life here was going to be anything but easy.

    Suddenly, my stomach growled loudly.

 Chapter 6

    Auren POV

    Tarian reappeared and led me out, with a kind but cautious expression. "Don''t take it personally," he said quietly as we walked down the long hallway. Was he listening to us? But with sharp hearing senses, what else could I expect from the Beta of the most powerful Alpha?

    "I didn''t," I lied. Even though Lucien was cold, distant, and angry, I felt safer here than I ever had back at Crimson Howl.

    Tarian led me through the grand halls of the pack house, his boots echoing against the polished floors. I followed close behind, keeping my gaze low to avoid staring at the beautiful but intimidating surroundings. Everything about this ce felt unweing, much like its Alpha. The sadness of Alpha Bram''s rejection came back, and I took a deep breath in to stop myself from crying.

    He had smartly not only rejected me, an omega, as his mate, but he had ensured that I would die in a year. At the same time, because of me, he formed an alliance with Alpha Lucien.

    When I was just leaving the pack, Bram hade to my room. He stood too close to me and traced my jawline with his fingers. I wanted to lean into him, but I stopped after what he did to me. "You better serve your purpose nicely, Auren. If Ie to know that you''ve escaped, I''ll personally hunt you and kill you." And then he leaned down and kissed my brushed my cheeks with his lips. I felt sick, so I pushed him away, but he chuckled and sauntered away.

    "This will be your room," Tarian said, snapping me from my memories. We had reached a door at the far end of a hallway. He stopped and turned to me, opening the door.

    I peeked inside, half-expecting something dreary, but it was surprisingly clean,fortable and better than anything I had ever lived in. The room had a bed with a plush nket, a simple wooden table by the window, and a wardrobe. Sunlight poured through the window, making the space seem warmer than I''d imagined.

    "You can explore the pack house if you want," Tarian continued in a steady but kind voice. "But stay away from the north wing. That''s Alpha Lucien''s quarters, and he doesn''t want to be disturbed. Understood?"

    I nodded quickly, not wanting to make a bad impression. "Yes, I understand. Thank you."

    Tarian studied me for a moment, as if trying to figure out why I was being so agreeable. Without another word, he turned and left, the door clicking shut behind him.

    I stood in the middle of the room, letting out a small sigh of relief. This room felt like a safe haven. It was beautiful, but it was mine, even if only for now.

    The thought of being left alone made me smile a little. I didn''t have to see Alpha Lucien or deal with his anger. I didn''t have to endure Reya''s sharp words or Maris''s cruel smirks or Alpha Bram''s rejection. Here, I could just be quiet and unnoticed.

    After cing my small bag in the wardrobe, I spotted a door on the side of the room. Curious, I opened it and found a bathroom. The bathtub looked clean and inviting, the shiny faucet glinting in the light.

    The idea of a warm bath was too tempting to resist. I filled the tub and stepped in, the heat instantly easing the tension in my sore muscles. I had never felt this kind offort. I closed my eyes for a moment, letting the water wash away not just the dirt, but the weight of the past few days.

    When I finally got out and wrapped myself in a soft towel, I felt lighter, like I''d shed

    ayer of my worries. I dried off quickly and came into my room.

    That''s when I noticed it-the smell of food.

    On the small table by the window, there was a tray piled high with bread, steaming soup, fresh fruit, and even a small te of a chocte dessert. My stomach growled loudly, reminding me I hadn''t eaten properly ever since I was thrown in the dungeons.

    I walked over, hesitant at first. Carefully, I picked up a piece of bread, wondering if I was dreaming, and took a bite. It was soft and warm, the kind of food I hadn''t ever had. It was a luxury for me, and certainly not a dream.

    Before I knew it, I was eating everything, savoring each bite like it was a feast. The bean soup was rich and creamy. The fruits juicy and sweet. By the time I got

    to the dessert, my cheeks were puffed like a squirrel''s.

    But I didn''t care. I was hungry, and this food felt so good.

    However, as I reached for thest piece of bread, my stomach revolted, and before I knew, I was retching. I ran to the bathroom and puked it all out. Bewildered, I sat on the floor of the bathroom, heaving. I guess, my stomach couldn''t handle eating so much after a long time. I took a deep breath and rinsed my mouth.

    Suddenly, a faint sound caught my attention. A creak outside my door.

    I froze. Slowly, I went out to see.

    My door was slightly open, the crack wide enough for a shadow to flicker across the floor. My heart skipped a beat. Who was there? I opened it wide enough to peep out and heard retreating heavy footsteps. Out of fear, I closed the door quickly and locked it from inside.

    Feeling mentally and physically exhausted, I dragged myself to the bed and plopped on it. I sprawled on it and closed my eyes, drifting into a deep sleep almost immediately. My dreams were filled with that of a wolf with silky ck fur and golden eyes, who was taller than me, walking beside me, purring. And surprisingly, I felt so warm andforted in his presence. He sat down beside me and I curled into his thick furry coat like a ball.

    I don''t know for how long I slept, but knocking on my door jerked me awake. I jumped out of the bed and dashed to the door to open it. To my utter surprise I saw Alpha Lucien.

    His gaze dropped to the towel that was wrapped around me loosely. My head snapped down to my chest and I flushed till my chest, seeing how the upper swells of my breasts were protruding out. Quickly, I covered myself, tightly wrapping the towel around me.

    "Alpha Lucien," I rasped, meeting his eyes, feeling mortified.

    I was really surprised that he came to see me when he was the one who asked

    me to stay away from him. "H-how can I help you?"

    Through his clenched teeth, he said, "Our marriage is deferred by a week."

 Chapter 7

    Auren POV

    tood at the door, staring at Alpha Lucien His dark eyes held anger and frustration, and his hands were curled into tight fists. He wasn''t happorto see me, that much was clear. I clutched the edge of my towel tighter, feeling exposed in more ways than one.

    "Elder Ryna has asked to meet you tomorrow morning," he said gruffly, snapping his gaze back to my face.

    I blinked, my mind catching up as surprise washed over me. "Oh...okay," I darted my eyes behind him wondering if there was anyone with him. "Alpha Lucien, you didn''t have to personally deliver this message to me," I said quietly.

    "What do you mean?" he growled, "You wanted someone else to deliver this messaget And who? Did you want someone to see my would-be Luna

    In this state?"

    I gulped. "No!" I said, fear gripping me. "It''s just that you are an Alpha and has more important duties than toe here personally and inform me." Goddess, he was a thundercloud, threatening to turn into a tornado and crush me all over. What did I even do?

    "If you think that I will ask someone else to deliver this message to you, then

    you''re mistaken, Auren!" heshed at me. Then he narrowed his eyes in suspicion "Did you mean you wanted Tarian toe here! Especially when you''re just wrapped in a towel?"

    My jaw dropped, mortified as hell. "What? Not at all!" I clutched the edge of my towel. "But how did you know I was wrapped in a towel!"

    At my words, he clenched his jaw and didn''t speak for a long two seconds. Then dismissing my question, he growled, "Just be there to talk to Elder Ryna in the morning at 10AM, okay!"

    I nodded. "Should I wear something special""

    Lucien''s jaw ticked. "It''s a conversation, not a parade. Just don''t embarrass yourself-or me."

    I nodded quickly, my stomach churning. "I''ll do my best, Alpha."

    He stared at me for a second longer, then muttered something under his breath and turned to leave. I didn''t catch the words, but his irritation was apparent as he rushed down the stairs, taking two at a time.

    As soon as the door closed, I let out a breath I didn''t know I was holding. "What a strange man," I whispered to myself cing my hand over my thundering heart.

    The next morning, I woke early and dressed in one of the in dresses I had bought for myself. It was a simple shirt with an was neat, and I thought it would be good enough.

    However, as soo

    old, frayed jeans, but it

    as soon as I was about to go out for breakfast, a soft knock on the door startled me. I opened the door only to find two maids, holding half a dozen dresses. They stared at me, blinking their eyes. Then suddenly, they bowed to me. "Alpha Lucien has sent these dresses for you."

    Surprise hit me and my breath caught in my throat. My eyes widened. For a moment, all I could do was stare, my mind scrambling to catch up with what she said. "Alpha Lucien''" I asked in a raspy voice. "Why?"

    They nodded eagerly with a smile. "Can wee in?" said the older one.

    in with chicken soup. She also bowed to

    "Sure," I bbered, opening the door wider for them. As soon as they entered, I saw another maiding in me and entered inside the room.

    "This soup will be nice for you, Lady Auren," she said. "Alpha Lucien wants you to have light food for now." She ced a ss of juice next to it. "And some natural sugar."

    My mind swirled with thoughts. Did he listen to how I vomitedst night?

    I saw the maids hanging all the dresses in the wardrobe neatly, arranging them

    in a color-coordinated manner. It was all too much for me, so I sat on the bed with my hands folded in myp. When they were done, they turned to me. The older one said, "It would be great if you could wear one of these to meet Elder Ryu"

    ¡°Sure,¡± I replied in a low voice. They bowed again before leaving.

    The chicken soup was really light and tasty. I had it all and didn''t feel like any stomach would revolt. Next, I checked on the dresses. All of them were so expensive that each one cost a fortune. I chose the least expensive one-a pewter silk dress with a round neckline and short sleeves. It hung like a hanger on my thin body, but covered my generous breasts and ass like a glove. How did Alpha Lucien know of my size?

    When I arrived at the main hall, I saw a regal woman with an air of authority standing by the door with Alpha Lucien, talking to him in hushed tours. Her silver hair fell past her shoulders. There were wrinkles on face that spoke of wisdom and age. Her head snapped toward me, and su flickered on her face.

    With a glint in her hazel eyes, Elder Ryna greeted me with a kind smile. "Auren,e on, child, the old, groturing to a chair She looked as

    Chaper

    as a to be

    I sat down, ageung with the bem of my dress. "Good morning, Elder Hyna

    Her eyes crinkled warmly. "Good morning, Auren. I''ve been wanting to speak with you about the marriage. I''m sure Lorien has already told you

    I nodded, unsure of what to say

    "You seem like a sweet girl" she began. "All I know that you must be overwhelmed about this marriage, but this marriage is not just about you and

    Lucien. It''s about the future of this pack. I hope you smilerstand that "

    "Yes, ma''am," I said softly.

    She studied me for a moment, then leaned forward slightly. Tho you know why the wedding was dyed?"

    I shook my head, my brows furrowing "No"

    eyes slightly. "Did you

    Elder Ryna chuckled softly. "Actually Lucien made the decisionst night to dy the wedding. Then the narrowed her ey influence his decision by asking him!"

    "No," I replied. "We didn''t talk about it." Out of anxiety for ring used wrongly, I clutched the fabric of my dress in myp as my heart thudded Elder Ryna leaned back in her chair and studied me for a while. Then in a soft but firm voice she said, "He''s concerned that you might not be able to bear his mark in your current state."

    My heart sank. "His mark? Why won''t be able to bear it?" For some reason her words stung me

    She nodded, "Lucien is a powerful Alpha with very strong genes and very strong venom. His mark is not just a bite-it''s magic And Lucien fears that you''re too fragile to endure it."

    Weak. I swallowed the lump in my throat and lowered my head.

    "No I''m asking again. Did Lucien speak to you about this?" she asked, her voice gentle but probing

    THE

    I thought about the previous night, his clenched teeth and snappy words. "No, he just told me the wedding was dyed. He didn''t say why"

    Elder Ryna''s eyes softened. "I see" Taking a deep breath in, she asked, "And how do you feel about all this, chill)"

    I tilted my head, unsure of how to answer, so I decided to be honest. "I know I''m not strong like other she-wolves, but-"Tears stung in my eyes. "I didn''t have a choice. I knew that she was hinting at my omega status, and that I was traded for an alliance. There was no alliance if I didn''t produce an heir for the Shadowfang pack.

 Chapter 8

    Elder Ryna''s lips curved into a small smile. "You have a good heart, Auren. That counts for more than you know."

    "Thank you. Elder Ryna" I replied politely.

    She got up. The marriage will take ce a weekter. Make sure that you eat well" 1 blushed at her words, but nodded and bowed to her as she left

    After the meeting, I walked back to my room, my thoughts in turmoil Alpha Lucien didn''t think I could handle his mark. Did that mean he didn''t want me as his mate or he geminely thought I was too fragile to handle his mark? When I reached my door, I found him waiting for me. His arms were crossed, and has expression was as cold as ever.

    "What did Elder Ryna say?" he asked, his tone curt.

    "She said the wedding was dyed because you''re worried I can''t handle your.... mark" I said blushing hard, looking up at him with wide eyes

    Lucien''s jaw tightened. "She told you that?"

    I nodded. "Yes, Is it true?"

    His eyes darkened. "What difference does it make! You''re here, aren''t you!"

    I blinked, feeling a little hurt. I just want to understand. Is it because I''m not strong enough!"

    He let out a frustrated sigh. "It''s not that simple. You wouldn''t understand." He

    shook his head "It doesn''t matter. Just stay out of trouble until the wedding

    I nodded, trying to hide my disappointment. "I''ll do my best, Alpha

    His eyes n

    eyes narrowed slightly. "Don''t call me that Just Lucien is fine"

    "Okay... Lucien."

    He jerked his head when I called him by his name just like that. Like he was taken

    by surprise. Did he blush slightly? He turned to leave before I could see it. However, he paused at the door. ¡°And for the love of the moon, stop looking at me like that."

    "Like what?" I asked, genuinely confused.

    "With moon eyes," he said in a frustrated voice. Then he was gone, leaving me standing there, more confused than ever.

    -What is moon

    is moon eyes?" I manered, wondering if Alpha Lucien was talking in riddles.

    I stayed in my room for a few hours, contemting if I should take a tour of the rest of the house. But since this was my first day, I restrained myself. In the afternoon when my stomach growled and I could no longer stay hungry, I thought of going to the kitchen, but I stopped when 1 heard rustling footsteps infront of my room. The door opened and I saw the same maid ptering my room who had brought chicken soup for me for breakfast. She beamed at me and bowed.

    "I''ve got lunch for you, Lady Auren," she said

    "1-1 licked my lips. "I can eat in the kitchen. You don''t have to bring my food here.

    "Oh no, we can''t defy Alpha''s orders," she said with a smile in her eyes..

    Alpha''s order? "What is your name!" I asked as she ced the food for me on the table.

    "Tin Viviana, but you can call me Vivi. And I''ll be your mail-in-waiting"

    ate lunch, I wanted to stroll in the garden, but once again, hesitated. I let out a rough exhale and thought of sleeping the entire afternoon when there was a slight knock on the door. I opened it to find Tarian standing there. "Hi" I said, surprised.

    He nodded tightly. Then he took a phone out of his pocket and gave it to me. "Alpha Lucien has given it to me for you."

    I stared at the device for a long moment because I had never had one for myself.

    "I have stored two numbers for you. Mines and Alpha Lucien''s"

    "Thank you," I said. "But I don''t need it

    His brows furrowed. "You''ll need it someday. This ce is huge and you may get lost. So keep it" Then he gave use a ck card. "That''s for you in

    A phone and a mind Stunned, I stared at the card. "I won''t be needing money for

    He pursed his lips. "Please keep it. These are Alpha''s orders. This is a no-limut card. You don''t know what she-wolves would do to have it, and you

    I didn''t argue with lum and took it because I could understand that be was working on his Alpha''s ordens. "Okay..."¡±

    "Oh and Alpha Lucien will be taking you for a chanty event in the evening In my mind. And shock.

    san added. Saying that he left, leaving me with a thousand questions

    What kind of charity event! Why was I supposed to apany him! It was so out of my league. I had never attended the ball in my pack attend a charity event with an Alpha. Nervousness gruwed me inside and I began pacing the room Suddenly the phone in my hand started rin and I saw Alpha Lucien''s name fashing on the screen. Swallowing hard. I picked it up "H-hello¡± I rasped. I wanted to ask him about the event. but words just didn''te out

    "I''m sure that Tarian has told you about the charity event in the evening" he said in a clipped tone

    (¡ªyes¡± I replied nervously. "But why do I need to attend it, Alpha Lucien'' I haven''t ever attended fancy events in my life"

    "I asked you to call me Lucien he growled.

    I clenched my teeth, shuddering because of his anger. "Sorry. Lucien?

    "Now that we are past it, you will attend the charity event

    ent just to show the world that we are infatuated with each other. After the party.

    I''ll bring you back to my house and we won''t leave it for the next two days"

    My eyes widened, hoping he could understand how tense and terrified I was. "Wh-why?"

    He gritted hay teeth. "So that everyone believes that we are truly falling in love with each other. And once we are home, other than Vivi and Tarian. no one would be allowed to meet you. While people are going to think that we are spending time." cough "exploring each other." cough reality, you will stay away from me, okay?"

 Chapter 9

    Auren POV

    "okay" I replied, anxietycing my voice. "But no one

    ut no one will bebeve this fa?ade, Al-Lucien

    "You have to pull this part. Auren,¡± he said in a strict voice.

    I stifled a whimper and said. ¡°Okay. What about staying away ''forever'' pan'' I was really confused by Alpha Lucien

    "You can go shopping for the dress appropriate for the event," he continued. "The driver will take you to the mall"

    "But I''ve several in my closet," I protested.

    Two hourster, I was looking at a pile of dresses that I had tried on me, but nothing fitted. I felt like crying because we were nearing the time of the event and I couldn''t choose one dress. Every dress was hanging loose on my shoulders. Moreover theck of not knowing how to shop was also

    big factor. I was getting frustrated by the minute as I looked at the pile in my trial room.

    "Are you going toe out or spend the whole time there?" a nasal voice interrupted my thoughts. "Stupid omegal

    gal Where the fuck do theye from)* Then she muttered under her breath. "Bloody whorel Must have got a sugar daddy."

    closed my eyes as tears stung. This was the some she-wolf who was ring at me while picking up the clothes for me. She had practically thrown all the clothes on the chair inside the trial room before leaving.

    Just as 1 was about to give up on the idea and decided to wear one of the dresses in my closet, my phone rang

    "Lucien

    "Auren," his deep voice answered. "Tarian just called me to say that you haven''t exited the sixth boutique for two hours."

    "What? How does he know?" I pecked through the curtain. Where was he? Howe I didn''t notice his presence? "Are you following me?"

    "I''m not following you, my people are."

    "Why?" Why was he stalking me? "I''m just finding a dress for the event."

    "The event is in two hours and you still don''t have a dress. Tarian will take you to my personal stylist." Before I could protest, the phone

    disconnected

    As soon I exited the trial room, I spotted Tarian standing outside, leaning against a shelf with about five girls, blushing and flirting with the Beta of the Shadowfang pack. Immediately, he straightened. He was talking to someone. Perhaps Lucien.

    I handed the clothes to the store girl, and sheshed at me. "I know girls like you" She shouted, "You''ve ruined so many dresses! Who is going to pay for it, you idiot? Your sugar daddy!"

    I gasped as humiliation coated my insides. "Is there a rule against trying

    dresses?"cked innocendy, clutching the sides of my jeans.

    "Shut up!" she screamed. "You fucking omeg

    Tarian strode to us and narrowed his eyes on her. The store girl was so flustered by his p

    presence that she paled. "Beta Tariant"

    He nced at the pile of dresses in her hand and said, "If you shout at her again.

    Il rip you into pieces! We''ll buy all these. From the corner of my eye, I saw that

    his phone was on and he was still talking to Alpha Lucien

    The store girl''s eyes widened in shock. "S-sorry. But a-are you sure? These dresses cost over ten thousand dors, Beta Tarian!" She nced at me, her eyes filled with fear, and an emotion akin to jealousy.

    "Come on." He motioned me with his chin towards the exit, ignoring herpletely. "The stylist is waiting for you." Then he looked at the store girl who hadn''t moved from her ce. "Pack them," he growled, "I don''t have all the time in the world!"

    She gasped at his words, but she quickly bowed and ran away from there, tucking her tail between her legs. Every girl around us was now staring at me, and my cheeks heated. I was sure that it was Alpha Lucien who must have ordered to buy those dresses. "Beta Tarian," I said in a low voice, hoping he would not buy them, "none of those fit me."

    ¡°I know,¡± he said nonchntly. "Alpha''s stylist is going to fix them. Saying that, he led me out of the boutique toward a very expensive store which 1 had ignored in the first ce. None of the dresses in it were less than three thousand dors.

    About forty-five minutester, I exited the most expensive boutique in the Shadowfang pack with a huge shopping bag that had a new appropriate dress for the charity event, which was professionally adjusted by the stylist. Not only that, Tarian was holding two more boxes of strappy heek. 1 had never worn heels in my life and I was scared to death as to how I would manage them. As we walked towards the car, I wondered what Alpha Lucien would think of me in my dress and heels in which I couldn''t walk. But one thing I was sure of he would hate to see how much the whole. thing cost him.

    0

    my

    beckend at my reflection for the hundredth time in the mirror. I was wearing a long maroon dress that was ckce and embroidery

    retanng the neckline and my waist. And then it fell over my hips. There was a slit on the left from the mid-thigh that can down to ankles I had let my blonde hair fall naturally to my waist. My gaze went to my ck strappy heels and I let out a rough exhale. I had practiced walking in them for exactly fifteen minutes

    A knock on the door made me snap my head. "Coming!" I shouted as I slowly, carefully walked to the door.

    uren"

    ¡°Miss Auren¡± she said, giving me an appreciative nce ¡°Alpha Lucien is waiting for you downstairs. He says that you''re gettingte?

    "Oh I grabbed my red beads clutch and followed her downstairs only to find Alpha Lucien. The moment I started walking down the stairs, his eyes locked onto me. He tensed as I walked down carefully, my heels clicking over the marble surface of the stairs. Under his intense gaze, I blushed hard. In his ck suit with a white dress shirt, he looked mesmerizing and huge. His hair wasbed back and I could see his tattoos of thorns peeking out his cor

    By the time I reached thest stair, he closed the gap between us in long strides and offered me his arm. The stoic expression on his face cracked a inle, but it was back in less than a second. Anyway, I was so thankful for his offer, because 1 clutched his arm like my life depended on it as I walked on my four-inch heels.

    An unusual shiver ran down my body at the first touch. I stifled a gasp and focused ahead.

    Against this giant Alpha of the north, I looked so small. If he wanted, he could crush me in his arms with ease, like a butterfly.

    Alpha Lucien matched my pace as I walked slowly toward the car that was waiting for us in the driveway.

 Chapter 10

    Alpha Lucien''s neamess was creating funny emotions in my mind. And why was he snelling so delicious! Like pine and spice. I had to rein in my thoughts because I knew that this was natural. He was an Alpha, and the strongest one at that. Obviously, there were many she-wolves who were attracted to him. And I was just his breeder. I didn''t know why taking me to the charity event was so important? I mean, he could have simply announced that we got married, used me to produce an heir and discarded me. But his behavior was puzzling.

    "Are you ready?" he asked when we reached the event venue. We were standing at the bottom of the stairs.

    "R-ready for what!" I looked at the imposing hall in front of me. Decorated with finest paraphernalia, the ce looked regal. Several people came rushing towards us and they bowed to Alpha Lucien while stealing nces at me.

    In a mega show to all those who were in front of us, Alpha Lucien leaned over and pressed a kiss on my temple. Every thought I had in my mind vanished. My legs became jelly as my mind tried to process what was happening. I must have staggered a little because his strong arm clutched me around my waist tightly, pulling me close to him. Then in a low voice, he said, "Ready to show them how good you act, Auren. Don''t you miss your part, understand

    I gulped. When I looked up at him, f''found his face looming just a few inches from mine. "Y-yes, I murmured as his smell washed over me. I closed my eyes for a second and returned to normal. My mission was to act in front of everyone

    He left me and sped my hand, intertwining his fingers with mine. "The proceeds of this event will go to conserving bear shifters. Their poption is dwindling" We entered the charity event and all eyes turned towards us. A pin drop silence ensued. The crowd parted in the middle for their Alpha to walk. When we reached the end of the hall. I noticed Tarian. He bowed to Lucien and stood by his side. The music began and the room buzzed with excitement as the charity event began.

    I stood awkwardly beside Alpha Lucien, my hands sped in front of me, trying to look as small and invisible as possible. The grand ballroom of the Shadowfang Pack''s estate gleamed with golden chandeliers and polished marble floors. Wolves from the pack mingled in elegant dresses and railored suits. I could hear theirughter echoing around the room. Since I had never been to such an event before, I looked at them with wide

    I tugged nervously at the side of my dress, feeling out of ce. Lucien, towering and cold as always, stood next to me, his gaze scanning the crowd like he wanted to be anywhere but here. Guests came to him and bowed to him in honor, talking insignificant stuff.

    When he was free, he said curtly. This is important Stay by my side and don''t make a fool of yourself"

    1 nodded, swallowing my nerves. But now, standing under the weight of so many judging stares, I wasn''t sure I could manage.

    "Alpha Lucien," a voice called out suddenly, and a group of men approached him. The man gave me a quick nce. "The group of bear shifters is here with their Alpha

    "Stay here," he muttered before walking away to greet them along with Tarian,

    I nodded again, watching him leave. The moment he was gone, whispers erupted around me.

    "Is that her?"

    "Goddess, she is so thin."

    "She looks so in?

    "How could Alpha Lucien choose her! Shecks ss"

    I tried to ignore them, pretending to admire the floral arrangements on the nearest table. But the sung of their words was hard to brush of. A woman''s sharpughter drew my attention. She was tall and stunning, with shiny ck hair that were designed in aplicated bun. Her emerald- green dress hugged her figure perfectly, and her heels clicked confidently against the floor as she approached

    me.

    "You must be Auren," she said, her red lips curving into a smile that didn''t reach her green eyes. "Tin Sable Brown. A close friend of Alpha Lucien''s"

    "It''s nice to meet you, I said softly, with a polite smile.

    Sable''s green eyes swept over me from head to toe, someone willingly marries into a curse."

    her expression tuming smug. "I was curious about you. Everyone is. After all, it''s not every day

    Her words made my stomach churn, but I kept myposure. "It wasn''t exactly my choice," I said, my voice small.

    "Oh, I can imagine." She chuckled, folding her arms. "But let''s be honest, you''re not here because of who you are. You''re here because of what you are-an onsega breeder. I hope you understand that clearly."

    Her words hit me like a p. I bit my lip, my cheeks burning with shame. Everyone around me fell quiet as if to hear the conversation, Getting humilisted in front of others wasn''t new to me. So I remained quiet, hoping for the event to get

    over.

    "Don''t look so surprised," Sable said, her voice dripping with fake concern. "Everyone knows the truth. Once you''ve done your job and given Lucien an heir, your role is over. And, well." She leaned closer, her perfume overwhelming. In a low voice she added. "You won''t be around for long after that, will you?"

    I stared at her, my heart pounding, tears threatening to spill as she talked of my doom

    "Let me give you some advice, Auren," she continued, her smile turning icy. "Don''t get toofortable. You won''tst, but I will. Once your purpose is served. I''ll be the one by his side, taking care of his heir." She winked. "There''s a reason why he isn''t marking me

    Her confidence left no room for doubt. My throat tightened, and I struggled to find my voice. "You mean you''ll stay by his side as his mistress?"

    Sable''s shock was apparent on her face, but tossing her hair over her shoulder, she said, "Sweetheart, it''s not about what I decide. It''s about what Lucien wants. And trust me, he wants me. That''s why he is doing all this drama"

    The room felt smaller, the air thicker. I wanted to say something, anything, but my mind was nk. Sable''s smug expression only grew as she watched me squirm. Before I could respond, I heard a familiar voice behind me. "Auren."

    Sable turned sharply to look at him. "Alpha Lucien," she rasped and bowed to him. "I was just saying how beautiful Auren is. If she needs my help with anything. I''m always there."

    blinked at her in surprise as Lucien nodded at her. "Thanks Sable."

    Sable threw a condescending look at me and sauntered away to her friends who were passing rudements at me.

 Chapter 11

    Auren POV

    I was stunned at how Sable changed her attitude in front of Alpha Lucien, hut I stayed quiet because I knew that even if Iined about her to him would be even believe me! 1 was nothing but an omega.

    Alpha Lucien looked at me as if assessing me. When I turned my gaze to the ground, he gritted his teeth, but he came to stand next to me. I didn''t know what was he expecting out of me to have this reaction.

    Tarian came to us and they started talking to him about the pack''s business. Alpha Lucien picked up a ss of rose champagne from a passing server and gave it to

    me.

    A pole blush crept on my cheeks. "I haven''t had champagne ever in my life, Alpha Lucien," I said in a low voce, scared that if others heard, what would they incur.

    Alpha Lucien furroiced his brows so hard that they were in a straight line. "I asked you to call me Lucien," he said in a low voice. "Now, take it and keep it in your hand. You may sip it. If you don''t like the taste, just keep it in your hand, okay?" he ordered.

    I took the wine from him and stared at the sparkling liquid with interest. As he started talking again with Tarian, I sipped a little bit. Goddess, I didn''t know that champagne could taste so good. Before I knew it, I had gulped it all. Alpha Lucien''s gaze snapped at me, and for a moment he was jurprised, but he took the ss from me and gave it to a server. Then he picked up another one and handed in to me, saying, "Don''t drink it so fast"

    I nodded, feeling like my body had heated in all ces. And before I could stop myself, I had finished half of it. And then giggled. This is so good?"

    Alpha Lucien stared at me with wide eyes. "Don''t drink anymore," he said.

    I giggled again and nodded. "Okay!"

    The emcee of the event announced we need to be seated in our ces so that the bidding for contribution to the cause may start. "What are we bidding for?" Lasked.

    "The bear shifters" he said through gritted teeth.

    "Oh! I''ve heard they are pretty handsome"

    His facial expressions darkened and he resembled a dark thundercloud. So I straightened, but hupped. Goddess, what was wrong with him? Why was he so moody? He grabbed my hand roughly and pulled me in the table where we were supposed to be seated. I noticed Sable was also there, sitting next to Tarian, and two seats away from me. She looked at Alpha Lucien and smiled, blushing slightly. Though I didn''t like it. I stayed quiet. Not my ce to say anything, because she had made it abundantly clear that she was going to take my ce after me. Feeling sad. I gulped the remaining wine. A server came near us and 1 picked up the third ss.

    Alpha Lucien leaned closer and warned, "You''ve had enough, Auren"

    I blinked at him and rounded my eyes. "Okay!" And giggled. Why was he so grumpy about me having champagne? I ced my ss in front of me as the emcee started talking about the bear shifters who started climbing the stage. And by goddess-weren''t they gorgeous! I couldn''t help staring at them with wide eyes. Inadvertently, as the bidding for each of them started, I picked up the ss and sipped more wine. "They are beautiful?" 1

    mustered

    Alpha Lucien''s head snapped to me. He narrowed his eyes and in a sh of a second he pulled my chair to-him in a way that I was facing him.. "What did you say?" he said. A pin drop silence settled around us. I blushed so hard when his hands dropped to my exposed thighs. "Hmm?"

    Every thought in my mind vanished as my breath lodged in my throat. I heard a sh and then some ss shattered. It was my wine ss. Wine spilled on my expensive strappy heels, I gasped, frar gripping me as I watched him with eyes going round. "Lucien"

    "What did you say, Auren? Repeat." He said in amanding voice. His hand reached my leg, which he lifted to his thigh and started opening the straps of my heck.

    1¡ª¡± His touch was so soft and firm that my body tingled. Goosebumps lined my skin. I nched as I tried to remove my foot, but he sped it hard, not allowing me to pull it away. He removed the heel and wiped the wine from my foot with his hanky. My heart thundered in my chest like it had gone berserk. I couldn''t speak a thing because words just got destroyed in my mind, which was probably short-circuited.

    He didn''t make me wear my heels, but be carefully put my leg down. Then he wrapped his hand around the ankle of my other leg put it on his thigh and removed the heel. As he wiped the wine off my skin, he looked at me from under hisshes. "You didn''t answer my question.

    "Wh-what?" I whimpered, stifling a moan and looking up at his face. Even sitting, he was so much taller and broader than me. I felt so prise and

    tiny in front of him.

    The way he was wiping my foot looked like foot-porn. It was like either I concentrated on what he was duing to me or what he was telling me. I was somewhat aware of how everyone in the room, including the emcee, was silent. The ce, which had been buzzing with activity andughter, now felt eerily quiet. Like crickets. From the corner of my vision, I saw Sable ring at me with clenched teeth.

    When I didn''t-couldn''t say anything, he leaned toward me and said, "I think it''s time for us to leave." He got up and offered me his

    0

    hari, and not knowing what I did to him, to leave the event so abruptly, I took his hand. He pulled me up immediately, his grip tight. Then he

    med to Tarian and said something via mind link.

    Tann nodded, and Alpha Lucien walked out with me from the charity event. As we walked on the red carpet towards the exit, he carefully held the straps of my heels in one hand while I walked barefoot beside him holding his other hand in mine. When we reached the exit suddenly. Alpha Lucten scooped me in his arms bridal style. I squealed as I clutched his shirt for my life. "What are you doing?" I asked, bewildered.

    "You think I''ll allow my Luna to walk barefoot in the garden?" he said in an irritated voice.

    "But I can. I''m used to walking like this" I argued, feeling embarrassed.

    He dropped his gaze at me and narrowed his eyes. "This is a show for everyone

    else."

 Chapter 12

    Auren POW

    I could feel the brat crawling up my neck and spreading across my cheeks like fire licking at dry wood. I bit my bottom lip to stop my embarassment. My face must''ve been as red as the tomatoes I used to slice in the park house kitchen back at the Crimson Howl pack. I tried to look anywhere but at him, while his gaze remained forward as he carried me to the car.

    No one had picked me up in their arms. Maybe my parents had done that when I was a babe. So this was new, and wa

    1. warm.

    The harder I tried to steady my breath, the more my blush deepencil, spresiding over my skin. It was as if my cheeks had turned into glowing embers for everyone to see.

    Alpha Lucien made me sit in the car and then sat beside me. However, the moment he ut, he saw a red stain on the leather seat. His eyes narrowed and anger red in his eyes. "Show me your food" he said darkly

    When the wine ss had shattered next to my feet, one of the pieces scattered next to me. So when Alpha Lucien pulled me up and I started walking, I stepped on a tiny shard. It was lodged in my skin but I didn''t make a fuss about it because everything was happening so fast. I was used to so much more abuse that this little wound lundly affected me.

    "It''s nothing" I said, shrinking under his dark gaze. And hupped

    "Show, Me. Your Foot He said a little loudly.

    I must have been a bunny in myst life. His loud voice made me jump so hard that I instantly pped my left foot on his thigh. He jerked his face back 1-I''m sorry." I said, giggling when I should have scolded myself. What the hell was happening to me? When I tried to pull away in a hurry. he grabbed my ankle, his eyesnding directly on my skin where the shard was lodged.

    A muscle feathered in hi

    his jaw. "Why didn''t you tell me about it!

    "It''s absolutely nothing." I reminded him. "Back in my old pack-

    "I don''t care what happened in your old pack, Auren," he cut me off sharply. "This

    is my pack. You can''t walk like this with a shard stuck in your Cool You understand?"

    1 hupped and then bobbed my head nervously as he focused on removing it using his ws. The moment he removed it. I hissed in pain. He muttered something under his breath and then took out his hanky, which he tied like a temporary bandage around my foot. And for the rest of the journey, he didn''t allow me to keep it down. When we arrived at his home, once again, he scooped me in his arms and carried me all the way to my room, taking the stairs like I weighed like a feather.

    ly eyes darted to his beautiful bow-shaped lips and my breath lodged in

    As he set me on my mattress, our faces were merely a few inches close. My eyes my throat

    Hr

    Ir covered me with the nket and said, "We will not leave the house for the next two days, okay!"

    "Okay." I somehow managed to say.

    "If you want anything from me, ask Tarian, and he will pass the message."

    I nodded, my gaze now darting between his eyes and lips. "You''re so beautiful!" I breathed.

    He raised an eyebrow and I pped my mouth with my hand for being so daring and also because I couldn''t stop giggling. Silence hung between us for a few moments after which Alpha Lucien straightened. Then without a word, he turned and left. And only when he shut the door behind him, I loosed my breath Goddess, he was so intimidating and huge and strong that couldn''t help feeling like a bunny in a wolf''s den.

    Ten minutester, the doctor of the pack, Dr. Kenny, arrived. He was an old wolf with gray eyes and a receding hairline. He shook his head as her saw my wound "Lucien sounded like it was a deep gash, but this is so tiny that it doesn''t need my intervention. It could have healed on its own in

    That night I didn''t change and went off to sleep in my formal dress However, at night the weather outside turned bud

    The wind outside was loud, howling like an angry wolf. It shook the windows, making them rattle in their frames. Kain poured down hard, harring the ss so fast it sounded like someone was Growing tiny stones. Thunder rolled far away at first, a soft rumble, but it got louder anst louder unul it felt like the whole house was trembling. I pulled my nket tighter around me, but i didn''t help. I felt scared, alone as my teeth chattered. The storm ounide felt like it was trying to get inside my chest, making me uneasy and cold.

    1y down and closed my eyes, but the noise wouldn''t let me rest. Each crack of thunder and sh of lightning made me jump. After what felt like forever. I fuually drifted off, but my dreams turned dark.

    In any nightmare, I was running through a forest. The trees were tall and ck, their twisted branches reaching for me. My feet burt with every step, bleeding from shurje rocks and thorns. The moon shone above, golden and beautiful,forting for a moment. I stopped for a moment to watch the full moon. Suddenly, thick thorny vines started climbing my body and reached my back, squeezing me tight and crawling under my skin. The thorns dug into my flesh, drawing blood that dripped down the vines, and the moon''s light began to fade. My back started to buri like fire. I

    DECMA

    tried to steam, but muxund came out.

    That''s when 1 feli

    scream filled the room. I sat up so fast my nket slid off. My heart was pounding fast, and I was sweating even though stime shed lighting up the walls for a moment before plunging the room back into darkness. I sat up, shaking, trying to

    someone was there. The room was quiet except for the rain, but I could feel it-like someone was standing in the dark. winching me: I reached for the bedsidemp and switched it on. As soon as the room was lit. I took a deep breath and examined it, but there was no

    Perhaps I was going insane. I had never had this kind of dream earlier

    Feeling restles, ? bolted my door from inside and curled beneath my nket, closing my eyes tightly. I don''t know when I drifted off to sleep, but

    I woke up. I had a terrible headache.

 Chapter 13

    I groaned, bolding my head when I woke up. This was such a nightmare. I''ve never had wine in my life and yesterday I had three sses. Tossing

    nket away, I got down but noticed a ss of orange filer and tum pills on the side. There was a note on the side.

    Have these pills with the juter. This is for your headache

    surprised acto what had pit them here. I darted my gaze to the door, but it was bottel My heart pounded in my chest because it meant that room luas a secret door of which I wasn''t aware of. There was a soft krock on the dent, breaking my reverie. I covered the gap to the door with sluky legs and opened the door only troser Vivi stanilnig there.

    She boned to me with a smile. "Lady Auren," she said. "You are requested toe down in an hour. The Alpha of the bear shifters, Magnus ckwood, will being to meet Alpha Lucien When I just blinked at her, confusion still swirling in my mind, she added, "I''vee to help you to get ready"

    "Vici" Tsaid. "Who has put that juice and pills on my bedside table?" I pointed with my thumb over my shoulder at the bedude table.

    Visa preped in behind me and shrugged. She entered the room and said. "I don''t know......"

    Now wanting to raise an

    to raise an rm over a small issue, I closed the door, dismissing it. But I promised myself that I would find the secret passage if any that came to my rooms. I picked up the pills and downed them with juice.

    An hourter I was in the main hall where Alpha Lucien was already there, waiting for me as he tapped his foot restlessly. As soon as he saw me, be averted his gaze, picked up a book and started reading it. My brows furrowed as 1 watched him doing so. So I walked up to him. He stiffened. "What?" he asked, irritation apparent on his face.

    1 pointed at the book. "It''s upside down," I said and turned it for him to read it properly.

    He clenched his teeth as his nose turned red. Did he blush?

    Just when I was about to sit, the front door swung open, and I sane Tarian entering and behind him thergest man I had ever seen. He was taller than Lucien, with broad shoulders that filled the doorway. His dark hair fell neatly around his rugged face, and his hazel eyes sparkled with warmth as he stepped into the room. He was dressed in a crisp white shirt that hugged his muscr frame, paired with brown trousers that made him look. both intimidating and approachable

    Magnus ckwood. The Alpha of the bear shifters. Though there were several bear shifters on the stagest night, but I didn''t remember seeing him

    I couldn''t help but stare. He seemed like a bear in human form-strong, steady, and calm.

    "Alpha Lucien," the man said, his voice a deep rumble as he approached Lucien, extending his hand for a handshake.

    Lucien, who stood beside me, gave a curi nod. "Magnus," he said, his tone t and unweing

    Alpha Lucien took his hand and after they shook, Magnus said, "Thank you for your generosity. I came to express my gratitude in person.

    Lucien replied in a t tone again, "It wasn''t necessary toe all this way"

    He chuckled. "You are too generous, Alpha Lucien. You have donated us one million dors and yet you say like this is nothing"

    "Please sit,¡± Lucien said waving to the sofa opposite to him.

    Magnus''s gazended on me and he bowed slightly with a smile before taking a seat. Tarian sat next to him

    As Magnus and Lucien began speaking, I found my eyes drifting back to Magnus. He carried himself with such ease, unlike Lucien''s ever-present fension 1 wasn''t sure how long I was staring until Laicien''s voice broke through my thoughts.

    "Auren," he said sharply.

    I jumped, my checks heating "Y-Yes"

    "This is Alpha Magnus ckwood" Lucien vid, his voiceced with irritation.

    Magnus turned to the with a kind smile. "And you must be Auren. It''s a pleasure to meet

    et you.

    "Hi," I squraked, feeling small under his gaze. "You''re really tall"

    Magnus chuckled. "Well, I am a bear shifter, Ites with the territory"

    I smiled back, feeling more al case

    "That inakes

    sense. You look really strong tou

    Lucien cleared his throat loudly, his jaw tightening. "Magnus, let''s get to the point."

    The two Alphas began discussing the donation Lucien had made to the bear shifters. I listened quietly at first, but my attention kept drifting to what they were talking about. Magnus lud an easy charm about him, and hisugh filled the room

    Magnus said. Tam thinking that a part of your donation should go into making a small airport for the shifters."

    "Good idea," said Lucien. "But for that you would need more fund¡±.

    "I know" Magnus sighed. "But this is my dream. Airports for shifters is a one in a million idea I know how difficult it is for the shifters tomute to the human towns if necessary. We have to travel a long distance by road, or we have to shift and run for hours."

    "In my opinion you should make small, modern inns for the shifters," I chirped in.

    Magnus turned back to me, his hazel eyes warm. ¡°That''s a nice idea." Then he gazed at me for a second longer, and added, "Lucien didn''t mention how lovely his mate is"

    My checks burned. "Oh, um, thank you," I stammered.

    Lucien shifted closer to me, his hand suddenly on my lower back. "Auren," he said, his tone strict, "Why don''t

    it you let us finish our

    ir conversation?"

    I blinked up at him, his touch branding my back. Tingles ran down my body. "Am I interrupting?" I asked him.

    Hat Magnus chuckled and answered. "Not at all. It''s refreshing to have someone so kind in the room with fresh, innovative ideas,"

    Lucien''s grip on my back tightened ever so slightly. "I think we are done here. We''ll talkter," he said to Magnus, his words clipped.

    Magnus''s head jerked back in pure surprise as Tarian froze.

 Chapter 14

    Auren POV

    ¨ª gaped at Alpha Lucien for being so cunt. How could he be so impolite to Alpha Magnus as to stop the conversation so abruptly? The way his voice sounded made my stomach twist. He wasn''t yelling, but the edge in his words was clear. It was like he was holding back his frustration, but I didn''t sinderstand whay-

    At first Magnus didn''t seem bothered, so he kept smiling and speaking calmly, even when Lucien''s responses grew more clipped. But I couldn''t shake the feeling that Alpha Lucien was being protective.

    Or maybe he was just being possessive!

    I wasn''t sure,

    but I could feel his tension like a storm cloud hanging over us. It made me nervous and confused, and I didn''t know if I''d done something wrong or if this was just how Lucien always acted around other Alphas

    Now he was sitting so close to me that our knees touched. His arm on my back curled around my waist and his fingers dug in my flesh, like he was angry with

    me.

    "So Alpha Lucien, I was saying that- Magnus continued.

    I think that would be all?" Lucien almost growled. ¡°I have an impending matter to attend to."

    lisa Tarian''s turn to jerk his head back in surprise. I darted my gaze between Tarian to Magnus to Lucien and back to Magnus.

    Though Magnus''s eyes widened slightly in surprise, he got up and so did Tarian. "Yes, of course, Alpha Lucien. Thanks once again. I''ll take my

    As Magnus made his way to the door, he turned back and gave me onest smile. "Take care, Auren. It was a pleasure meeting you."

    You too!" I said, waving awkwardly.

    The moment the door closed Lucien spun around to face me.

    "Why were you staring at him like that?" he demanded.

    I blinked.confused. "Like what?"

    "Like he hung the moon," Lucien snapped. "With moon eyes!"

    "I wasn''t." I protested, my cheeks flushing again. "I was just admiring him. He''s

    so big and strong. I haven''t seen a bear shifter so close in my life"

    Lucien''s eyes darkened, and he took a step closer, towering over me. "Admiring him! How dare you! You don''t admire other Alphas when you''re

    with me."

    hy not? He seems really nice"

    Feeling intimidated. I took a step back, genuinely puzzled. "Why

    Lucien''s jaw clenched. "Nice doesn''t mean anything. You don''t know him," he snapped.

    *But he is helping hismunity," I pointed out. "That''s pretty nice."

    He let out a frustrated growl. "You''re unpossible."

    our with h

    I frowned. What was wrong

    Lucien leaned

    him!

    low and dangerous. "You belong to me, Auren. Stop acting like some starry-eyed pup around other Alphas."

    His words made my stomach twist as butterflies ttered violently inside. "I wasn''t acting like anything." I exined sofily. "I was just being polte"

    Lucien exhaled sharply, his eyes narrowing. "Just stay away from him or any other bear shifter"

    Why was he being so possessive? My cheeks warmed, sending my heart racing. I turned and started to walk back towards my momn, feeling let down. "Why does he care so much!" I muttered to mysell.

    "What did you say? And where are you going?" he growled.

    "To my room." I said, flinching as I nced at him over my shoulder. I really didn''t want to stay next to a thundering thundercloud. When I reached the top of my stains, I heard heavy footfalls behind me. I turned to see that Alpha Lisien was rushing up the stairs. I increased my pace to reach my room, but just as I opened my room, he was next to me, looking like he was about to bunt. "Al-Alpha La?ien?" I whimpered, shrinking under his herce gaze and deadly densealtor. "You don''t leave me just like that!" he said sharply.

    My mouth dropped open as I lilinked my eyes at him. "Okay

    His eyebrows furrowed until they resembled two shes above his eye

    What do you meany okay?"

    Goddess. I was getting so confused by his words. "Okay, I''ll stay until you foush," Dexined.

    For a moment tense silence hung between us. He stared at me intensely. It was as if he forgot what he wanted to say. Then doney. and said. "And you will not. I repeat, you will NOT go near the bear shifters now?

    1 gulped. "Okay"

    Alpha Lucien shot me ast re before he turned and stormed down the stairs. I let out a sigh of relief, ning my hand on my he my room, closed the door and leaned against it. I shook my head as I tried to calm my heart, Wondering what to do one, I drigend bed and then flopped on it Suddenly, the door opened again. I squealed and jumped out of the led to see that Alpha Laran doorway. He was still fuming to the extent that if he was a pressure cooker, steam woulde out of his car with i

    "L-Lucien!"

    His one hand was on his hip while the other was in front of him. He took a ragged breath and said. "And from now on, you won''t d You get a headache."

    "Okay..." I murmured.

    He nodded tightly, and then stormed out of my room.

    I stood on my spot for a long moment, wondering if he woulde again, but he didn''te. How did he know that I had a headacher Did he pul

    the pills on my bedside? Impossible. He didn''t worry so much for me. Shaking my head. I returned back to my bed and flopped

    At lunch. Vivi didn''te with my food to my room, and I grew hungrier by the minute. Usually, the came by that time. I peeped out noticed that the house was absolutely quiet. Taking a deep breath in, I stepped out of the room and tiptoed my way to the kitchen.

    My stomach growling like a baby wolf now. It was way past lunch, but I was too hungry to wait until dinner. The light from the fridge do the floor as I opened it, my eyes lighting up at the ught of leftover pie. As I shut the fridge door. I nearly screamed Lucien was standing crossed, standing over me with an air of menace. "What are you doing?" His deep voice made me jump.

    "Um looking for food!" I squeaked, clutching the pie.

    He narrowed his eyes as he took the pie from my hand. "This is not for you. It is

    too heavy," he growled. "Where is"

    "I don''t know," I replied, clutching my dress

    What happened next was nothing short of cataclysmic shock. Such things happened only when two continents collided, earthquakes urred and apocalypse happened

    Alpha Lucien took the kitchen apron and wore it "Sit, I''ll make soup for you."

 Chapter 15

    Auren POV?

    My megh dre

    dropped open to the floor so hard that I was surprised it didn''t roway across the tiles. By

    the time I collected it. Alpha Lucien was already wearing a kitchen apron. With those strong arms that could rip several woolves in pieces, those thighs that looked like pirs and those ws that could snap someone''s neck in a second, he looked frious.

    The sight was so unexpected that I couldn''t stop staring at Alpha Lucien, the terrifying growing leader of this pack, as he stood there adjusting the strings of an apron with a cartoon teddy bear smack in the middle. His sharp features were as serious as ever, but the image of him wearing something

    soft made my brain short-circuit.

    "Did you listen to what I just said?" he snapped "Are you going to gawk all day?" he asked, his tone clipped, but his ears turned faintly red.

    "1" I licked my lips. "What did you say?"

    The raised his eyebrow. Then in an intimidating voice said, "Go to your room and lie down. I''ll get it for you."

    I didn''t argue with him, so I just turned sharply and botted to my room. But the nging of pots and pans made me sit up from where I was curled on the bed. My stomach grumbled faintly, and I was trying not to think about how hungry I was. I wondered if I should have gone back to the kitchen. The sound increased to the level that I knew 1 had to do something, before the whole ce turned into a disaster before the cooks jenumed. So I stood and walked back.

    Lucien was standing his towering frame filling the space as he leaned over a pot, a spoon in one hand and a cookbook in the other

    He was frowning. Deeply

    Alpha I

    Lucien''" I asked softly, stepping closer.

    He spun around, almost dropping the spoon.. "Why are you out of bed!" he barked, his voice sharper than it needed to be

    Alpha, I know how to make soup," I said, stepping closer. "I could help¡ª"

    weak. You''ll rest"

    he said firmly and turned. "You''re too weak.

    1 blinked at his back, then quietly sat down at the small table, my hands folded in myp.

    The sounds that followed were chaotic, to say the least.

    There was a loud crash, followed by a muntered curse. Then came the sound of something sizzling, though I was certain soup didn''t require frying He opened the fridge, stared at its contents, and pulled out what looked like a jar of jam. Soon, the kitchen was a warzone. Chopped vegetables hered the counter, along with stray sshes of soup. A spoon lud somehownded on the floor, and there was a faint smell of something burning

    Finally after what felt like forever, be poured the soup into a single bowl. He wiped his hands on a towel, smudging them further, and turned to me with a look of pure triumph

    "Here" he said, setting the fowl in front of me. "Soup" When he ced it in front of me, my eyeballs bulged. It looked like someone had murdered the vegetables.

    sid politely, cringing inside.

    "It looks interesting." I said politely,

    He crossed his arms and watched ine expectantly,

    So I picked up the spoon and took a cautious sip. From the moment the spoon touched my tongue, my eyes welled with tears. The soup tasted like somarone had boded gym socks in dishwater and added a handful of spices just to make it worse. My taste buds recoiled in horror, but Lucien was watching me with those piercing eyes, his arms crossed like he''d just conquered the culinary world. He was waiting for my reaction with smug anticipation.

    My lips twitched into what I hoped resembled a smile. "It

    "It''s great," I managed, my voice a little too hoarse,

    He took a deep breathi like he was holding it. "Go on. Eat it all.¡±

    The second bite was worse. My throat seeped to protest, but I forced it down, my face heating up. My eyes watered, and I had to fight the urge to cough. It felt like betrayal, swallowing that CONCOCTIONE

    "You''re rating aw

    arrowing his eyes.

    g awfully slow," he remarked, narrowi

    Hroze, spoon halbway to my mouth. "I''m just.. Lavoring it

    Lucien grunned, clearly pleased with himself, while I internally logged the Moon Goddess for strength. Each swallow was like a battle, but I soldiered on houl i brushed it all

    "Tanking ultra satished, he opened his apron, discarded it somewhere and walked out of the kitchen. I literally jumped out of the chair and ran to

    2:42 PM mc

    clean my tongue with water. However, I was in the midst of it when I heard a familiar honeyed voice. "Alpha Lucien?

    I froze in my ce. It was Sable Brown. As I wiped myself, I heard hering towards him. I tiptoed to the main hall.

    "You had left the charity event so early. I thought I''d ask you if you were feeling well," she said as she came to stand next to him, and craned her

    neck to see him

    Lucien frowned lightly. I''m perfectly well Sable." He saw me from theer of his eye. "Auren wasn''t well, and so I had to return"

    ¡°Oh Sable''s head snapped toward me. ¡°I can understand. She is an omega breeder. What can you expect from a breeder? If it is okay with you. I can help her with her diet. I I am a nutritionist and 1 can write a great meal n for her. She lifted her hand to ce it on his chest. "She is here to give birth to your heir. After that, the curse will im her. But until then she has to stay healthy" She Buttered her eyshes. "After that, I am here. to take care of you and your heir.? Lucien''s brows furrowed and his expression darkened. He took a step back, making her hand fall down abruptly. He walked to me, held my hand and brought me with him to stand in front of Sable. Curling his hand around my waist possessively, he said in a dangerous voice. "Are you telling me that my Luna is going to die soon? Or are you saying that I can''t take care of her?" Sable paled. "Alpha Lucien, n-

    He put his hand up to stop her. "I just made soup for Auren, and she loved it." He looked at me. "Isn''t it?" When I nodded, he said to Sable, "See I don''t need a nutritionist."

    Sable blushed so hard that I felt like giggling but pursed my lips to stop myself. "Im sorry that I offended you, Alpha Lucien," she apologized.

    "You may leave, Sable. Auren needs to rest. Saying that, Lucien grabbed my hand and walked me to the stairs towards my room. I could feel Sable''s eyes burning a hole in my back. But I felt.. happy.

    Never in my life, for the love of the goddess, did I expect what happened next.

 Chapter 16

    As soon as Sable exited. Alpha Lucien left me and stepped away at an arm''s length. I asked at him, wondering about his possessive behavior and his gloating about the soup. What was he trying to convey to her! "Should I go back?" I asked in a low, cautions voice.

    "Yes," he replied, his nose bing pink again. He rubbed it and added. "I pulled you against me because we have to put up a show in front of

    everyone?

    I nodded, remembering how his touch sent goosebumps crawling on my skin. Before my mind formed words to say anything, I turned anel practically jogged back to my room for seriously. I needed to cat something better if I had to sleep. The concoction-sorry soup, was soul shattering. Thankfully, Vivi returned from wherever she had gone and brought great food for me, which included spinach and sandwich

    Tomato soup

    to confront him again Next day when I woke up. I got ready in my room and peeped out to see if Alpha Lucien was there or not. I really didn''t want to after yestey''s debacle, I think he wasn''t there, hearing how the servants talked loudly with each other. Vivi sported me immediately as I walked to

    the kitchen

    Lady A

    Auren, she chirped. "Your breakfast is ready!"

    is speaking loudly, putting utensils with force on the "Thanks" I murmured with a smile. I sat down at the ind table, watching all the servants. counters and hurling abuses in theirmonnguage at each other. They all looked at me, bowed, and then went back to shouting at each other The whole ce was chaotic as hell

    she served it to me, she asked, "Did you try to cook yesterday?"

    No. Why?" I asked as I took a spoonful of hot soup, savoring the taste.

    She raised her eyebrow. "This ce was a mess! Can you see how these fools are fighting!"

    I nodded meekly, my gaze scanning the six people in the kitchen, all of whom were looking like they could kill each nce at me and continue to talk in theirmonnguage.

    other. They would asionally

    "Yeah, why are they so... aggressive?" I asked and bit my sandwich. Goddess, it was so delicious. The vors burst on my tongue. "Mmm"

    "Because they think that you don''t know how to cook and you created the mess yesterday evening. They are ming each other for leaving the kitchen all at

    once.

    up for me yesterday" I blinked my eyes at Vivi and gulped my sandwich down. "Oh no! I didn''t cook. It was Alpha Lucien who made soup

    The impact of my words was so intense that the whole kitchen fell silent. They all stared at me with wide eyes, their facesced with shock.

    "Ummm. Why?" I asked, shrinking under der stares

    Vivi stared at me like I had grown two heads. "Alpha

    pha Lucien prepared soup for you?" she asked, nching.

    "Yes," I said, and but into the sandwich. I wasn''t going to tell them how disastrous it was

    "Oh. My. Goddess" Vivi said as she plopped on the chair in front of me. "I can''t believe it Alpha Lucien has never st make a tous, and he made soup for you!"

    Stunned, my eyebrows shot to my hairline. Now, I understood the reason for the disastrous soup.

    stepped in

    in the kitchen before to

    All the servants came to circle me. They must have talked via mind link because a few minutester, Vivi said, "Lady Auren, please save my number on your phone, and if you feel hungry, call me. Fin afraid that now Alpha Lucien would throw one of us out for not attending to you."

    Iughed nervously. "No, no, He wouldn''t do that?" Right? But now I was afraid for these people.

    A warrior''s cough disturbed us. We all snapped our necks to look at him.

    ¡°There''s a delivery for Lady Auren,¡± he said, holding arge, neatly wrapped gift box. It had a shiny silver ribbon ted on tup, looking all

    "This came for me?" I asked as Vivi took it from the warrior.

    I took the box from her, feeling both curious. "Who sent in?"

    She looked at the card and smiled. "Alpha Lucien."

    My eyes widened, and my heart did a line flip. Lucien sent me a gift That was.... surprising. He didn''t seem like the gili-giving type

    I had my breakfast quickly and took the box upstairs. I ced the box on the bed and carefully untied the ribbon, preling back the wrapping paper. When lifted the lid, my excitement quickly turned into confusion. Inside were several strange- looking objects made of soft silicone and leather

    2421 d

    I stared at the contents of the box as I sat down. There was a set of rings, a long, bendy object, and even something that looked like a mini whip They didn''t look like any things Eid seen before, but I figured they must have some fun use.

    Did Lucien think of me as a child! I picked up rings with O and stacked them on any fingers and wrists. Were these my engagement rings! Then I took the leather ne with O and wore it.

    I took the pink bendy thing out and pressed a button. It started twisting and turning while vibrating Squealing, at first, I threw it on the bed. But then slowly, I picked it up while it was still vibrating and brought it to my eye level. Was it some kind of a pte cleanser? I put it in my mouth.

    "Remm

    y Vivi and the warrior. "Rrrrrrrr.¡± I pulled

    followed by Just then the door opened with a bang: I turned sharply to see that Alpha Lucien hade in the bendy silicone thing out from my mouth. "Thank you for the gift!" I said, standing to greet him.

    He froze, his eyes widening as he took in the sight. His gaze traveled from the rings stacked on my wrists to the ne around my neck, and finally to the whip I held like a fly swatter

    "What..." His voice came out strangled. "What are you doing?"

    I lifted my fingers. ¡°Thank you for the engagement rings. I¡ªI don''t have one for you" Then I put the bendy thing in my mouth. "Rrrrr_" i removed it. "Is this a pte cleanser!"

    While Vivi''s and the warrior''s face turned beetroot red, Alpha Lucien had an unreadable expression on his face. "Out!" he growled. Vivi and the warrior fled from the room, closing the door behind them. Puzzled, I tilted my head to ask a question. He strode to me and plucked the cleanser from my hand. He started pulling out my rings one by one, carefully. Take them off," he growled. "But why?" I whined.

    He turned me around and unsped the leather ne. And something poked me sharply at my back. It was hot, and so long that I gasped. I pressed it back and Lucien groaned. "Stay still hemanded. He unsped it and removed it from my neck. "Fuck"" he muttered, stepping away from me and taking the bendy thing from my hand. Once he had ced every object back in the box, he said. ¡°I did not send these. Stay away from such objects, okay?" Why was he sweating?

    I don''t know why but I got angry. "You ask me to stay away from everything I encounter!" I snapped.

    With eyebrows raised, he stared at me but his gaze dropped to my lips. His lips parted and his breath hitched Clenching his fists, he growled, "Stop pouting!" And stormed out of the room with the box in his hand, shouting, "Who delivered this gift to her!"

 Chapter 17

    Auren For

    Feeling dejected and angry, 1 sat down on my bed as I stared at the open door from where Alpha Lucien exited. Why was it that he didn''t like everything I did or everyone I met with? Not once did he exin me about the things in the gift box. But I was surprised that he didn''t send them to me because that''s what the guard said. Then who sent them!

    I wanted to go after him and ask about it, but then went against it. Instead, I stayed in my morn for the whole day, sulking. Even though I was an omega breeder. I hoped he showed more tolerance. It was in the evening that I went downstairs for dinner. The moment Vivi saw me, she blushed "Lady Auren" she croaked.

    I frowned and sat at the ind table. "Everything okay, Vivi?" I asked, tilting my brail Every other person in the kitchen became

    everywhere other than at me.

    quiet and looked

    "I''m so sorry about the gift box. We don''t know who sent that outrageous gift box to you, and Alpha Lucien is investigating it," she exined.

    Taken by surprise, I jerked my head back. "Why! There were really nice things in it. I liked the rings of O and the ne. And that whip-it could be used for matting flies. Not that we have any. You could use them in the kitchen."

    A pin drop silence followed. The chief cook. Tom''s mouth dropped to the floor. He muttered something under his breath in themonnguage and went back to work. So did the others

    V1 pursed her lips. Taking a rough breath in, she asked, "Have you heard of porn or BDSM!"

    my head. "Nope.

    Who are they? Are they werewolves in this pack? Because there are none in the Crimson Howl pack with that name"

    Goddess, Vivi rasped. "How will she have-?" she clenched her teeth. Those gifts were for BDSM."

    As she began serving me dinner, I took my first bite when I heard Tarian''s serious voice. "She will be here any moment, Alpha Lucien¡± Heavy footsteps followed, and I assumed they belonged to him. Still simmering with anger, I chose to ignore him and focused on my food. Yet, my mind couldn''t shake the question: who wasing to meet him"

    "Where is Auren?" Lucien''s heavy voice reached my ears and I froze, my mouth stuffed with ham and cheese sandwich. I got up and rushed out to him in the main hall, quickly swallowing my food. He snapped his head to look at me, and his gaze turned intense. "Come, sit here," he said, lightly patting the seat next to him.

    "What happened, Alp- Lucien asked, fidgeting with the napkin in my hand. I saw Tarian standing at the end of the hall. He was also averting his gaze from me. I didn''t know what was wrong with me, but it felt odd. Suddenly, the main door swung open, and Sable walked in, clutching the same gift box in her hands, catching mepletely off guard. Panic etched across her face as her eyes darted between me and Alpha Lucien

    wing to him, she stuttered. "A-Alpha Lucien, I can exin. I had nned to give this gift to Auren on your wedding day, b-but the shopkeeper delivered them today!" She opened the box and started wearing the rings in her hand and then wore the ne, lowering her blouse''s neckline and posting her breasts up. She looked at Lucien from under her eyshes and huskily said, "I intended to present her a chastity belt as well, but the shopkeeper forgot to put it." And went on to tie the metal belt on her waist See, doesn''t it all look.. sexy!" And then she rolled her tongue up. parting her lips.

    Confused, I watched her without blinking my eyes, wondering what she was doing I looked sideways and noticed Lucien watching her intensely with a dark expression.

    She added, "A perfect wedding gift for a little bit of BDSM, isn''t it?"

    "BDSM?" Again" "If these gifts are for BDSM, why did you send them to me? Send them to BDSMI" I blurted.

    Her face fell that as Turian coughed leavily as if trying to suppress hisughter. Alpha Lucien''s dark expression morphed into a poker face as his nose became pink. A momentter, he coughed. Then in a very serious tone, leshed at her, "I don''t want to see your face until the wedding. Sable. Don''t try to mock my Auren again. Because if you do, I won''t hesitate to throw you in the dungeons. You get that?"

    My Aurent

    Balle nched. Panic Hashed across her face.

    And in that moment, it hit me¡ªshe was mocking me. My chest tightened as a wave of anger surged back, stronger than before.

    "Sable," 1 hissed, my voiceced with restrained fury. "You already know I won''t be here a year from now. So why nock me! What exactly are you trying to prove?" My eyes narrowing, I added, ¡°Because whatever it is, it reeks of jealousy." I let my words hang for a moment before adding with a sharp edge. "And trust me, that color doesn''t suit an educated woman like you."

    While Sable''s mouth fell open in shock. Alphia Lurien''s hand came to rest on the small of my back. He brushed me lightly over there and my heart skipped a beat

    "You''ve brand her," he said to Salde with his chit up as if in pride. "You muy leave now."

    Sabie turned on her heel and hurried out of the main hall, still d in the ridiculous things for BDSM. Honesty, she looked unterly absurd. As soon as she was out. I got up and stormed to my room.

    "Auren!" Lucien called me from behind.

    "Alpha Lucien, I''ve endured more insults than I can bear in a day. Please, I just need to rest," I said, my voice trembling, not turning to see him. Without waiting for a response, I hurried toward my room, tears blurring my vision. He didn''t follow me. I mmed the door shut its sound echoing through the room and leaned heavily against it, my chest tightening. Why did Sable feel the need to humiliate me like that? That night when I slept, my nightmare revisited.

    I was sprinting through a shadowy forest, the twisted branches of trees wing at me. As I ran, the sharp rocks and hidden thorns dug into my flesh, leaving a trail of blood in my wake. The moon hung silently, watching me suffer. Thorny vines erupted from the ground. They wound around my legs and climbed up my body. They coiled tighter, making me bleed. A searing fire spread through me, and I screamed, thrashing to get free from my agony. All at once, strong furry arts enveloped me and hid me against a warm, furry chest. The nightmare melted instantly and I nestled my face in the chest, clutching the fur. Soft fingers trailed down my back, calming me. Just likest time.

    What happened the next day was absolutely unexpected

 Chapter 18

    1 goi nje groggily the next day, covered in sweat. It was like I was sleeping next to a furry furnace. I shoved the nkets off, trying to cool down, but the warmth still dong to me, like an invisible Ing. My heart started beating faster as pieces of the dream came back to me a deep voice murmuring sohtly, though I couldn''t remember the words, and strong furry arms holding me close. It felt so real, like it actually happened.

    Was someone here!

    1 looked around the room. Everything seemed normal-the chair by the window, the half-open wardrobe, and the bedsidemp still glowing because I forgot to turn it off. Yet, I couldn''t shake the feeling that I hadn''t been alone.

    1 got out of bed and walked to the window. The sunlight warmed my skin, but it didn''t stop the chill that ran down my back, I rubbed my arms, trying to calm myself, but my mind kept racing. Why did my nightmares go away the moment I felt that warm thing in my dream! And why did it feel like more than a dream? Like it was realt

    Shaking my head to clear away the weird thoughts, I decided to take a long bath. As the warm water surrounded me, memories of Sable''s humiliation came flooding back, dragging my mood down again. That wolf always had a way of making others feel awful while pretending she was doing good for others.

    hi got me breakfast in the room. "Lady Auren," she said, keeping the breakfast tray down. "I''m so sorry about what happened to you yesterday. Sable shouldn''t have stepped out of line."

    I nodded as I sat at the table. "Vivi, is BDSM a wolf?"

    And she blushed again heavily. "Ah no!" she blurted. "It''s something you do while having sex!"

    1 blinked rapidly, struggling to process what I''d just heard. This was all about sex! My mouth fell open in shock, and heat rushed to my cheeks. Was that why Sable wore all those things-to show what it meant in sex? A startled gasp escaped my lips. "Oh. My. Goddess."

    "Vivil" Tom''s loud voice reached us.

    Vivi looked towards the door. "Please don''t

    on''t tell Alpha

    Alpha Lucien that I told you so," she croaked

    1-1 won''t." I croaked as well. I sat over there for a long time, thinking about it so hard that my head started aching. Even though I knew my oue, Sable''s actions made me feel unhappy. Tears welled in my eyes on how everyone around me treated me as nothing more than a breeder. I had feelings too. My blood was the same as theirs, so why was I branded as someone so low?

    Wiping my tears, I went outside to stroll in the garden, hoping the fresh air outside would clear my head. The atmosphere inside the house felt heavy and suffocating

    I couldn''t help wishing I''d been born into a higher rank. Maybe then Alpha Beam would have epted me. But the very thought of him epting me now felt revolting. My mind drifted to Alpha Lucien, and I couldn''t stopparing the two.

    Even though Lucien saw

    saw me as nothing more than a breeder, he was still better than Bram. At least with Lucien, I felt safe.

    The garden surrounding the Alpha''s house was breathtaking, bursting with blooms in a vibrant riot of colors. A cool breeze swept through, sending a shiver down my spine as it wrapped around me. The pups were ying near the training grounds, their giggles cutting through the otherwise chilly atmosphere.

    Watching then reminded me of simpler times-back when I watched them ying "Help!" One of the pups shouted. "Help!"

    I wasn''t so confused about my ce in the world. I chuckled as I stood in my ce and

    Istrained my eyes to see who was shouting for help. Then I saw him. A small pup, no older than six, was struggling in a shallow hole near the tree line. He looked scared, histe arms iling as he tried to climb out. The other pups had stopped ying to watch, but no one moved to help

    "Doesn''t he have ws! He can dig himself out," one okler puj said, rolling his eyes.

    My chest tightened. No one was helping him. My feet carried me toward the hole before my mind could catch up. "Are you okay?" I rushed and crouched beside the hole, giving the pup a reassuring smile.

    His big brown eyes, full of tears, linked up at me. "My

    ty foot is stuck," he whimpered, his voice trembling. "And there are snakes inside.""

    "It''s okay. I''ll help you out," I said softly, digging into the loose dirt with my hands. It wasn''t deep, but his foot had gotten wedged under a roo Something slithered around my arm and I suppressed a shriek. By the time I freed him, my hands were caked in dirt. The pup sniffled but

    managed a small smile.

    "Thank you, miss," he said, hugging the tightly. My heart melted.

    The other pups, sering him safe, went back to their gaine as if nothing had happened. But as I stood and brushed off my hands, I noticed two adul Chapter IS

    minning from the packhouse steps. Their gazes were full of concern. The p pop''s parents,

    1. I realized when they hugged him tightly.

    "Thank you!" the mother said as the father picked him up in his arms. "These paddles are infested with snaked! You saved his life

    "It''s fine," I replied with a smile.

    They carried him inside the house and with a deep sigh, I walked after them, looking at my dirty hands When I stepped in, I saw Alpha Luciening inside the main hall with an urgent look on his face. His brows shot up in disbelief when he saw my mud-covered hands and face. "What happened to you?" he practically growled. "Did someone attack you? Who attacked you? Tell me his name

    "Calin down." I breathed. "No one attacked me, I saved a pup who was trapped in a water hole down the tree line."

    His expression shifted from relief to something darker. "I''ll have the masons seal that water hole with concrete," he said firmly. I nodded and started walking back to my room, but his voice stopped me. "Auren," he called, his tone serious. "Elder Rynia will be here in fifteen minutes to assess our rtionship.¡±

    "Wh-what?" My eyes widened in astonishment. Assess our rtionship? What did that mean?

    Just wash yourself ande down quickly!" he gritted. Then he mumbled something about putting up a show.

    I ran to the bathroom, took a quick shower, changed into a shirt and a skirt and darted back to the main hall. He was pacing the room with his fingers in his hair. The moment he saw me, I asked, "Why does she want to assess the rtionship?"

    He sighed. "Because she wants to be reassured that the marriage will take ce

    in a few days as nned, not be postponed for another week!"

    I furrowed my brows. "But why would we postpone it for a week!"

    "Because I suggested," he said in a low voice. "Plus there are rumors that we are not together, and want to split!" He shook his head. "I don''t know who is spreading these rumors, but if they reach the Crimson Howl pack, the treaty will fail, and there will be serious consequences!"

    "So how do we solve this issue?" I asked, totally worried and confused.

    "By acting that we are in love."

 Chapter 19

    Lucien Poy

    Auten Auren. Auren

    I punched the bridge of my nose as I sat in the other. Tarian had been going on and on about a pack problem on the east border where some pack members had started protesting about my choices for selecting a Lama. I felt like crushing them right now for speaking against Auren.

    Ever since she hade into my life, my world had tilted on its axiv and then spun so fast that I didn''t know where it was hearing. I surprised myself every day by seeking her one way or the other. When Alpha Magnus came to thank me, it was just a casual meeting, but my blood boiled when Auren looked at him with appreciation in her eyes. How dare she? She was supposed to marry me and so I should be the only wolf she should Jonk at or appreciate. Just thinking about it made me edgy all over again.

    My wolf, Rennis was constantly restless ever since she had arrived. He goaded me to go to her, see whether she was fine and well protected and whether she had eaten or not. He feared for her heall like she was a baby, I had never in my life stepped in the kitchen to make a toast and that night. I made soup for her. I was really proud of myself and felt immensely better after she had it. It was like my wolf wanted to feed her well.

    1 didn''t like how Sable humiliated Auren. And so I had to put her in her ce.

    I lifted my head and looked nkly at Tarian. He was sitting in front of my desk with his arms crossed across his chest, wondering what he was Jaying Goddess. My focus was diminishing. Every damn thought went back to her. Only I knew how much I restrained myself to not go near her She was like fire who would bum me with her touch before I got over her.

    she was so innocent and beautiful and scared, like amb in a wolf''s den. Every night my wolf broke free from me and dashed to her. I hated it

    hen the screamed, and so I did what I had to It wasn''t a choice. It was a need forcing beneath my skin to protect her even from her nightmares. Every fucking night, Remus ran to her and slept with her on the bed. She would curl into him and go off to sleep like a baby.

    "Alpha Lucien, Tarian''s sharp voice cut through my thoughts.

    "No" I said.

    Why not? You have to mark her eventually"

    "Because one, she is 100 fragile. And two, she hasn''t gained enough weight and strength to bear my mark. I''m afraid that she will fall ill, and probably-" The word died on the tongue for I just couldn''t speak it. "I can''t!"

    Tarian shook his head. "Elder Ryns wants to meet you. She is not happy with you postponing the marriage. S and feeding her to make her strong enough to bear your mark is just a baseless excuse you''re making"

    She feels that you are not liking

    + Auren

    I clenched my teeth and mmed the desk with my fist. "She is too nosy! My life is mine, not hers Who is she to intervene? Auren is not ready for my mark!" On the inside, I was really afraid for Auren. She was like a delicate flower, and I felt like a predator who would crush her. She didn''t deserve what we were throwing her into. All the time I was finding ways to escape her impending doom.

    "Should we return Auren?" Tarian suggested. "I understand she is really delicate" "And send her back to the horrors that are worse than hell I snapped. Tarian froze. "Then what do we do, Alpha Lucien! This is gr

    is griting mor

    moreplicated than it should be. Elder Ryna feels that your rtionship with Auren hasn''t improved. She might suggest the Elder Council to send Auren back to her pack. If that happens, the treaty fails and Alpha Bram, will attack us or drag us to the High Council"

    "What the fuck!" I shouted.

    Tarian nodded. "That''s what I''ve brand. So you have to find a way to do something to postpone the marriage but also show that you''re in love with Auren. If you are not in love, at least show dur you like her. Because He sighed. ¡°I feel that you both are heading in different directions. Like this won''t work at all" He leaned forward. There are rumors on the east that your choice of a Luna is abound. How are you going tobat that coupled with Elder Ryna''s problem!"

    I plopped my head on my table with a bang. There was a valley on both sides of the road. I was walking on.

    Auren POV

    a you pretend that you are in

    su are in love?" I

    He was sitting on the sofa. I stared at Alpha Lucien, my expression torn between shock and aloubt. "How do y asked, my eyes rounding as I walked toward him.

    Just then I heard the door opening. Alpha Lucien leaned in, grabbed my waist and hoisted me up to make me sit on hisp with my legs straddling him. In the process my skirt rose ups. I yelped, my arms going around his neck as my eyes widened. "What now?" ternaked, blushing deep.

    "Open my top buttons," he said. As I fumbled with them, he hissed. "Fast!" I opened them as fast as possible with shaky fingers, and oh, my goddess. His chest wartilled with ink. There were so many tattoos of vines and thorns. I couldn''t stop staring at his chest. A trail of hair dusted in the middle and disqueared beneath his shirt, "Now what?" Lasked.

    aff

    243 d

    cow we wait for Elder Ryna to enter" He lightly brushed my hair from one shoulder and brought them all to another.

    swallowed thickly as I stayed in hisp like that. I heard a quick shuffling of feet and just then Lucien held my nape and pulled me closer. With other hand, he trailed his fingers up my thigh. I gasped, utterly stunned He leaned in closer and started kissing my neck. Every thought vanished from my mind. Frozen in surprise, speechless and dumbfounded. I sat there like a statue with my hands on his chest, my nail digging in his flesh. He trailed kisses along my neck and sucked my earlobe slightly. I whimpered when an ache developed in between my thighs.

    "Alpha Lucien, I havee here to- Elder Ryna''s voice cut off in the mid sentence.

    He didn''t respond to her and went on to lightly brush my lips. His touch, his kisses, everything felt so real. He didn''t stop and lightly took my lower lip in his mouth and sucked on it forever. And for some reason, his hand on my thigh clutched me so tightly over there, like he was trying to w his nails in me to keep me in ce.

    Suddenly, someone coughed loudly.

 Chapter 20

    Auren POV

    My hram must have short circuited. My heart pounded wildly in my chest, each heat booming in my ears. My trembling hands pressed against his chest. His skin was warm, firm, and alive beneath my fingers. I could feel the raw strength thaty just beneath the surface, his muscles taut as though ready in spring into action at any moment

    Beneath my palms, the ridges of his tattoos came

    oos came alive, their intricate designs pulsed with a heat that seemed to radiate and seep into me. I couldn''t help but trace the edge of one with my thumb, my touch hesitant, but it only seemed to make the air between us thicker. His chest hummed with a deep growl and his lips moved against mine, soft and demanding, pulling me into a haze that was difficult to escape.

    The world around us blurred. It was just him¡ªhis touch, his intoxicating scent, his breath mingling with mine. Nothing else existed.

    Then, deep inside me, there was a faint stir. My wolf. Siena, who had gone dormant after rejection from her first mate, flickered to life, like a whisper. She didn''t speak, but I felt the whisper of her presence, her quiet curiosity.

    Lucien''s grip on my thigh tightened, grounding me even as I floated in the overwhelming sensations.

    Somewhere in the background, the cough sounded again. My reverie broke and 1 pulled away from him. His face darkened like a thundercloud and his grip on my neck tightened, like he didn''t like I was moving away.

    1 was breathing so hard and flushed deep till my neck. I had never been kissed like this in my life. And this was a soul shattering, mind bending kiss,

    Alpha Lucien?" Elder Ryna''s voice came again.

    asped as Lucien blinked his eyes and seemed toe back to the present. He inhaled sharply, his chest rising as his eyes burned into mine with - fiery intensity. I was so ruffled by the entire scenario that I hopped off hisp, and it was then that I realized that my feet were dangling in the air when I sat on him. He was seriously such a broad shouldered, tall and muscr Alpha as against a timid, tiny omega like me.

    When I got up to face Elder Ryna, I blinked my eyes, embarrassment coating my soul. Dlowered my head and sped my hands in front feeling like she caught me stealing a cookie from the jar. From theer of my eye, I saw Lucien leaning back with a smug look with one hand thrown cover the back of the sofa and the other on my thigh, his fingers lightly stroking the back of it. My hair was tousled and his lips were wet. With his top bullons open, he looked least flustered. He tilted his head to look at Elder Ryna.

    "Sorry, I didn''t hear you," he said without a trace of sorry in his voice. "I was busy with Auren. What brings you here today. Elder Ryna?" he asked innocently. This sly wolf! Then he tugged at my skirt, pulling me to sit right next to him. I stifled a squeal. He brought his hand to my back where he began drawingzy circles. To anyone it seemed like we were two lovers who were rudely interrupted, but only I knew on the inside what I was going through.

    Elder Ryna sat down on the sofa opposite to us. "I can see that," she replied, excitement in her eyes. She directed her attention to me. "How are you feeling. Auren!"

    "B-better." I mumbled.

    Her lips curled up. "So are you ready for the wedding in a few days!"

    This was a test. Elder Ityna was hell bent on getting us married, but Alpha Lucien wanted to give me more time to heal. I didn''t know which side 1 should take. I took a deep breath and thought about Elder Ryna and Alpha Lucien. She wanted to rush things, but he was diferent. He cared about me and wanted me to be ready. I felt safer with him. I thought about how he made me feel, how he wanted to feed all the time, and buy things for me even with that colder than ice attitude.

    I wanted to wait a little longer before getting married. It felt right to give myself time to heal. So, I decided to tell Ryna that I wanted to wait one more week for the wedding. I hoped she would understand. ncing at Lucien, I said, "Elder Ryna, though I''m feeling much better, is it okay to wait for a werk more? In my older pack. I was-"I pursed my lips tightly, not wanting to go there. Lucien''s hand on my back stilled and pressed hander, like he hated what I had gone through. So I shovel those thoughts and said, "I feel like I need some more time to heal mentally and physically. But I hope that is okay with you. However, if you want to rush the marriage, I won''t protest

    Elder Ryna didn''t say a word as she simply gazed at me for a long time. And at that time, I felt like I overstepped my boundary. Bur Lucien started circling my back again with his warm fingers and 1 seemed to rx.

    Elder Ryna nodded lightly. "Okay, if you say so, Auren. But the wedding will take ce under the full moon. I will give you an extra four days. After that, you have to murry Alpha Lucien"

    The way she spoke, it was like sise was announcing my impending doom. But I nodded. "Thank you," I whispered.

    "And Lucien¡± Elder Byna said "This time there will be no dy. The Elders are getting anty over the situation." She leaned forward and her expression turned serious. "I''m bearing that Rizy Brown''s daughter, Sable, has openly offered her hand in marriage with you."

    My eyebrow slot to my hairline in surprise as my heart sank. How could Sable offer herself to marry him when she was the one who said that she was waiting for me to produce an heir and die so that she took over as the future Luna? What was her motive! Such a hypocrite.

    Alpha Lucien''s eyes narrowed. "Thanks for letting me low, Elder Ryna."

    ? 1/2

    2:13PM c

    As soon as Elder Ryna went I got us feeling a linle blue. I hurried tome and my old room, rage

    Suddenly, I felt a warm grip on w wist Turned to see Alples Lasten standing there,s expression son My heart card as for polled me gely away from there. I was surprised and contineil

    "W-What are you doing?" 1 stammered, ning hak at the stairs whishi berli

    holding mine. The warmth of his touch sent a ver down my spine. I wanted to ask more apuestions, lout the way he held my hand made me feel like there was something so serious on lux mind that there was no rosmi for alisi ossium

 Chapter 21

    Lucien''s hand wors firm as he guided the down the hallway all the way to the north wing. My heart thudded in my chest, confusion and curiosity worling together. The north wing wasn''t a ce tever frequenteil. This was the ce he had asked me to stay away from.

    Ever since I hade. I had avoided it to the level that I hadn''t even ventured into the house, scared that I might step in the north wing and upset Alpha 1 ucm. So you won''t understand the panse that was rising in my chest Was he upset with my performance in the main hall in front of Ekler Ryna'' What souki i do? li studn''t feel like a performance on his part and it certainly wasn''t a performance on my part. It felt so real. As we climbed the stairs toward his room. I became paranol Why the hell didn''t I perform as he had asked me to instead of giving in to my sensations?

    We stopped in front of a grand wooden door and I hesitated. "This will be your room from now on," he said, his voice deep,manding.

    1 blinked, staring at the door and then at him. "What? Wh

    Why! I don''t understand His scent in the air was stronger than ever and by looking at the adjacent door. I knew that it was his room.

    He looked at me, his expression dark and very serious. Tim not exining myself, Auren. It''s an order. You''ll sleep here. Your things will be brought up shortly

    But why so close to your

    to your room?" I asked hesitantly, feeling the heat rise to my cheeks.

    Hearched an eyebrow. "Do you question all my decisions, or just the ones that involve you?"

    gulped and shook my head quickly. "No, Alpha Lucien. I just

    ou''re safer here. That''s all you need to know," he cut me off, his tone brooking no argument. "And how many times do I have to ask you to call me

    and not Alpha Lucien?"

    "Sorry." I whimpered

    wi is going to get all your things here. Do you want anything additional?"

    "No." I quickly shook my head. He had given me more than I ever possessed in my life.

    "Where''s your phone?" he asked as he opened the door and nagged me inside, his grasp still firm on my wrist.

    "In my other room."

    "Keep it with you always. I''ll ask Vivi to get that as well for you," he ordered. He turned to leave but before leaving, he added, almost as an afterthought "Get some rest. We''re attending The Celestial Soir¨¦e tomorrow evening. Be ready." And just like that he was gone, leaving me Manned

    I stood there for what felt like forever before finally stepping into the room. It was beautiful-Lavish, warm, and filled with sunlight streaming through tall windows. The walls were painted a soft cream, adorned with delicate gold ents that shimmered in the natural light. A massive four-poster bed stood in the center, draped in silky, deep-red curtains that matched the plush rug beneath my feet. There was a carved wooden wardrobe and a vanity by the window, which overlooked the forest that surrounded the puck. It felt luxurious, even intimate. But the idea of being so close to him made me uneasy.

    A thousand thoughts chaired in my mind. Why had he brought me here? To make the matters worse, the sensation of his kiss lingered on my lips. Thinking about it gave me goosebumps and I wrapped myself with my arms. He continued to kiss me even though Elder Ryna was standing in the main hall, watching us. My darout turned dry and I let out a sigh. I didn''t know what was happening to me, but I knew one thing-Lucien didn''t want any strings attached. This was a pure business transaction and whatever he dish was for the benefit of his pack "Lady Auren!" Vivi knocked the door, making me snap out of my reverie.

    I whipped my head to look at her "Vivi. I have to ask you something"

    She gave a broad smile and came inside, her hand loaded with my clothes. A battery of servants followed her who all had my belongings. "Sure," she replied as she directed all of them to arrange my clothes.

    I waited for the servants to leave and then asked her, "What is The Celestial Soiree about?"

    "Are you going for that!" she asked, excite

    excitement evident in her eyes.

    I nodded. "Yes, Alpha Lucien wants me to apany him there."

    She sped her hand. "Oh wow" She came to me and first made me sit down on the bed. "Lady Auren, it''s our yearly event. A morous ball where unused wolves dress in her attire and try to find their perfect match. The event includes ballroom dances, slow-building ronunces, and even matchmaking games hosted by pack elders or Alpha

    I stared at her, my eyes going wide by the second. "Alplia Lorien attends in every year!" I asked, feeling jealous,

    "Yes!" she chirped. "But don''t worry, he hasn''t taken any she-wolf."

    Her reply should''ve made me calm, but somehow, I was even more jealous than ever. It was an emotion that I wanted to push down. "What am I supposed to do!"

    "Now that''s an important question. You should appear sexy, like Alpha Lucien should have his eyes on you." Waving her hand she added, "Don''t worry. I''ll dress you up. In fact, we should buy a sexy dress for you."

    "No, I don''t want another dress!" I squeaked. What was it with these people and buying dresses?

    "Oh, hush!" She chided me like I was a child. "All the she wolves are going to be sexily dressed up. Why not you? You are the future Luna" Saying that Vivi left in a rush without listening to another word from me.

    And I wondered, how will I look sexy in a dress? Suddenly, I remembered what Sable was doing in front of Alpha Lucien the other day. Sexy it would be.

 Chapter 22

    Aurch

    As the night deepened, silence filled the room, broken only by the faint rustle of leaves outside the window and an asional howl from patrolling wolves. I didn''t want to sleep. What if the nightmares came again! The thorns, the blood, the echoes ofughter that turned into screams, the feeling of being trapped? And worse, what if I screamed in my sleep'' Lucien would hear me. He''d think I was weak, just another broken girl who couldn''t handle her own fears. I didn''t want him to see me like that.

    So instead of sitting on the warm andforting bed, I decided to sit on the floor away from the rug. I hugged my knees tighter, leaning my back against the wall.

    As the right settled in, 1 sat on the cold floor, bugging my

    y knees. The cold from the

    the floor

    seeped into my skin, making me shiver, but I didn''t care The fear of closing my eyes weighed heavier than the chill in the air. So the chill was wee. It would keep me awake.

    But I didn''t realize when exhaustion imed me. I rested my head on my knees, promising myself I''d stay awake. Just for tonight. My eyelids grew heavier, and I fought against them. pinching my arm to stay alert. But no matter how hard I tried, exhaustion overcame me. My breathing slowed. and my head lolled to the side...

    And nightmares revisited. They faded again as soft hands stroked my hair, my back, my hands. I wanted to wake up and see who was there, or whether I was dreaming it, but my eyes remained shut.

    When I woke up, afternoon sunlight streamed through the windows, and I felt warm. I blinked in confusion. I was on the bed, covered in a thick, sot nket that smelled faintly of pine and something earthy.

    What!" I whispered, sitting up quickly. "How did 1

    Had I crawled into the bed in my sleep? Or did someone put me here? My heart raced as I stared at the neatly tucked nket, trying to make sense of it all. And how could 1 sleep soundlessly till noon!

    I nced toward the door, my checks burning at the thought. Lucien'' Could he have. The idea left me both flustered and uneasy. But that wasn possible because the door was locked. I had locked it myself before going to sleep. Goddess! I ced the back of my hand on my forehead. It was stupid to think that Alpha Lucien would enter my room somehow and bring me to bed. My eyes darted to the window where the curtains were Bluttering in the soft breeze. Shaking my head to push those ideas out, I tossed my nket aside and walked to the bathroom

    I went down to the main hall at noon. There were loud voicesing from the kitchen. I walked into the kitchen only to see that the ce was utter chaos with so many people talking to each other in loud voices. As soon as they saw me, they fell silent and bowed.

    "Lady Aurent" Vivi came rushing to me with a food tray. "Alpha Lucien hasn''t eaten his breakfast, sting Tom for not preparing it nicely. He left in rage. I''m so scared"

    "Oh! I''m so sorry. Can I help?"

    "Oh, no, no!" she replied and went back to her work and began shouting at Toin theirmonnguage.

    Once I had my lunch, she said, "Now let''s get you that dress I mentioned for the Celestial Source"

    "No Vivi. I have plenty of dresses. III pick f

    from them.

    "But Alpha Lucien has sent the stylist for you," she argued.

    Whe

    at? Why?" I jerked my head in surprise. "Did you ask Alpha Lucien about this?"

    She shrugged and guided me out of the kitchen. "I don''t know. And not"

    In the main hall, a woman in herte forties was standing with a bunch of dresses. She looked at me and scrunched her nose. "You need aplete makeover, Lady Auren," she scoffed. Then she muttereid. "This is the worst nightmare of my life. Turning an omega into a princess! Or rather Cusdere My checks turned red. "T-I can manage," I replied. I didn''t know that

    "Oliswerthcant," she said with an exasperated breath. "Manage won''t do! You need to look outstanding in the Celestial Soir¨¦e because you are the queen beel" She held my hand and took me to my rou

    She entered the room like a whirlwind, her team trailing behind her with racks of clothes, boxes of shoes, and a dizzying array of essories. She pped her hands and beanied at me. "Alright, darling, let''s tun you into a vision."

    Hlinked, overwhelmed by the sudden chaos. Fabrics in every shade imaginable were held up against me, rejected or approved in seconds by Dahlia like an expert. "Something sexy, but elegant," she muttered, tapping her chin as her staff worked around her.

    Finally, Dablis pulled out the dress. It was a deep emerald green that shummered subtly under the light, clinging to the body like a second skin. The neckline plunged, revealing just enough to be alluring, and the back slipped low, exposing the curve of my spine. If someone put their hand at the hack of my back, they could easily reach my hips. The fabric hugged my waist before faring slightly at the hips, allowing easy movement. A high

    2:43 PM C

    slit on one side showed my right leg.

    I stood frozen as Dahlia''s team worked their magic-styling my hair into soft waves, enhancing my features with makeup, and slipping me into

    delicate silver heels.

    A couple of hourster, when I looked in the mirror, I hardly recognized myself.

    Not only did I feel beautiful, I felt confident.

    "Now you look presentable," she said with her chin high.

    When I walked down the stairs, I found Alpha Lucien looking at his watch impatiently with an angry expression. However, when he turned his head, be froze. His eyes darkened, the intensity of his gaze made my breath hitch. In his ck suit, he looked like a Greek God.

    0

    Did he like what he saw? Slowly I made my way down. When I reached him, he muttered something about the moon and stars, and offered his arm.

    The venue of the Celestial Soiree was the grand hall of the pack house where the charity event was held. The hall sparkled with golden lights and soft music filled the air, but it was the she-wolves who truly caught my attention.

    Their dresses were designed to turn heads. Most were tight-fitting, clinging to every curve, with daring slits that revealed toned legs. Some wore backless gowns that dipped scandalously low, while others had plunging necklines that left little to the imagination. Shimmering fabrics sparkled under the lights, catching the eyes of every male wolf in the room. High heels clicked on the floor as they walked confidently, their hips swaying in a way that drew attention. It was clear they had dressed to captivate, to lure the unmated males, and they did it effortlessly.

    And then I saw Sable. She wore a dress so sheer it left just enough to the imagination to tease.

    I clung tightly to Lucien''s arm as she stared at him with lust. Her gaze shifted to

    me, and I could see the challenge in her eyes. She was here to stake her im on Lucien and throw me out.

 Chapter 23

    gaze shifted to me, and I could see the challenge in her eyes. She was here to stake her im on Lucien and throw me out.

    Auch POV

    Taking a deep breath in. I felt like a startled deer surrounded by predators. All the she-wolves were sizing up Lucien as their prime target, which angered me somchos. They all bowed to us as we walked.

    Lucien led me toward the podium, his grip firm on my lund as we moved through the glittering chaos of the Celestial Soir¨¦e. I couldn''t help notice the dazzling she wolves who unted their dresses that were so daring they could give lingerie a run for its money.

    As my heels clicked nervously on the floor, I couldn''t help but notice the countless eyes following us. When we reached the podium, I spotted Tarian standing beside a table at the center of the arrangement. Lucien turned to me, "Sit here," he instructed, guirling me to a table right in front of the stage.

    1 sank into the chair, feeling like a disy under the watchful eyes of the pack. When Lucien stepped up to the podhum, the chatter in the room stopped, and everyone''s attention was on him.

    "As Alpha of the Shadowfang Pack, it is my honor to wee you all to the Celestial Soir¨¦e Lucien began, his deep voice booming across the

    TODEL

    As the speech started, from the corner of my eye. I saw Sable. She was shimmering like a disco ball in her silver dress. Her eyes were locked on Lucien. Every move she made was deliberate, calcted to draw his attention. She ran her fingers Lazily down her neck, tracing the edge of her deep neckline, and then slowly ran her tongue over her teeth like she was in a toothpaste ad, and then licked her lips.

    Oh, the gall. My chest tightened with anger. I clung tightly to the edge of the table until my knuckles white.

    Vivi''s earlier advice came in my head: "There are going to be many girls who will vie for Alpha''s attention. So if you want to keep his attention, act

    -wy. Don''t just sit there like a scared pup!"

    The problem was I didn''t know how to act sexy. Frustrated my mind raced on ways to look sexy. So I did what Sable was doing. I tilted my head slightly and slowly rolled my tongue against my pte, just like I''d seen her do and then traced the line of my breasts. I leaned forward, resting my elbows lightly on the table, which in turn made my neckline fall down further, revealing the outer swells of my breasts dangerously.

    Lucien''s voice faltered mid-sentence and when I nced up at him with my heart pounding, I saw his eyes were on me, and for the first time since I''d met him, I saw something raw sh across his face. His hand gripped the edge of the podium, his knuckles white.

    He quickly cleared his throat, tearing his gaze away from me. as I was saying." he continued, his voice sounding strained now. "This ball is special because this time the Elders have decided not toe." There were chuckles around. "So it will be some of you who will make you y the mating

    My tongue started to cramp, and I could feel my neck stiffening from leaning forward for too long. Then it happened. A moan. It escaped me before I could stop

    it

    Lucien froze mid-sentence.

    nce His head whipped toward me so fast I thought he might pull a muscle. His jaw tightened, his dark eyes narrowing on me with an intensity that made my cheeks burn. I leaned back and crossed my leg. And now my exposed leg was further exposed

    Lucien''s jaw tightened, and for a moment, I thought he might step away from the podium ande over to me. But then he blinked, breaking the speil, and turned back to the crowd. "Enjoy the soir¨¦e, he finished abruptly, in a gruff voice. Without waiting for apuse, he stepped down from the podium and headed straight toward me.

    Panic set in as I watched him approach, in long, purposeful strides, Did I do anything wrong? I just did what other she-wolves were doing. Goddess, why did I act upon Vivi''s advice? Why was I so raw with my emotional It was then I noticed that every other wolf in the hall was staring at me, and at group of young unmated wolves, standing in the corner just a few feet away, had their gazes locked on me. I gulped, feeling dirty under their sick. gazes. I turned my attention to Lucien who sat down next to me.

    -What are you doing?" he asked as he pulled his chair right next to mine and sat down.

    ¡°I¡ª what_ umm_"I spluttered. Before 1 could say anything else, he grabbed my waist and pulled me in hisp possessively. I squeaked like a mouse as my cheeks turned beetroot red. Oh My Goddess

    Sable, still lurking nearby, gave me a venomous re. Lucien pulled me against his chest, pressing his hands on my stomuch. Something hot and fund poked my back. It was so hot that is branded my skin. I turned my face over my shoulder as I squirmed. "Are you okay?" I asked. "Your pre-per

    A growl rumbled from his chest. "Don''t move!" he ordered d in a strained voice. So I stayed there unmoving. No one had ever done this with me rver. I was spiraling. Every nerve in my body was hyper-aware of his warmth, the way his firin muscles rippled beneath me, and the scent of him- warm and earthy, like pine trees after a rainyonn. Did he not realize how scamululous this was? Or, worse, did he realize and not care!

    The music started and the soir¨¦emenced. As the wolves mingled, the champagne bottles opened and people started to talk or dance. But continued to sit on Lucien''s Lip, tension mounting inside me. From the periphery of my vision, I saw Tarian''sps etching. He leaned towards us, and said, "Alpha Lucien, a group of wolves from the Purple Moon and Redwood packs are also attending the soiree. They would like to meet you and deliver their Alpha''s message."

    1/

    Chapter 23-

    Lucen gritted his teeth. ¡°Okay, give me live minutes." Five minutester, I think

    he felt better. He made me sit on my chair and said, "Don''t

    "Yes" Farouked When he leh with Tartan, my gaze darted around the room, catching a few jealous stares, especially from Sable. Oh, she was ring geers. My heart swelled with equal parts embarrassment and satisfaction. Despite how mortified I was, a tiny, rebellious part of me couldn''t deny how thrilling it felt to be nned by him so openly

    "So you''re Auten, a deep voice came from the side. I turned my head to see the same group of young wolves who were standing in the corner, were here You''re beautiful!" said the tallest one in a flirty voice as his eyes roamed over my body. "I''m Finn, and these are my friends, Cody, ke and JNC"

    If you''re liking the book, you can follow me on Facebook at MishakWrites. And please do givements. They make my day!

 Chapter 24

    Lucien POV

    Standing at the podium. 1 surveyed the crowd gathered for the Celestial Soirer, my heart pounding with irritation. The energy in the park house was electric, everyone was so excited that the air hunned with it, but all I could focus on was Auren. She sat at a table in front of me, looking nervous but breathtakingly beautiful in that dress. It stirred something primal inside me.

    Ever since I saw her descending the stairs in the low neckline dress that revealed her skin, my hands were itching to touch her skin. Feral povrsiveness like Til never felt before possessed me.

    When I had gone to get her in the Crimson Howl pack, she was nothing more than a breeder for me, I was sure that I would never even think o and stay in my north wing. That''s why I had made a rule for her to stay away from me.

    She was so skinny when I brought her to the Shadong pack. Afraid that she won''t be able to hear my mark, I postponed our wedding ceremony. But over the days, she had fucking filled up in all the right ce, herplexion had be prachy and her dull hair were like sunshine. She looked like a beautiful swan. And I wanted to devour her. As much as 1 tried to stay away from her, my fucking wolf, Remus pulled me to her.

    Every time I was away from her, all I thought of was whether she was fine or if anyone was bullying her. Whether she had eaten well or she was going hungry, 100 afraid to ask for food. I hated to see her hunting for food and so I had instructed Vivi to keep the fridge stocked up

    Why did she have to look so innocent, so fucking perfect! It was infuriating as hell. The way her soft curves caught the light and made her glow, I could hardly stand it. I felt a surge of protectiveness, anger swirling in my gut for my unreasonable reaction to her. Auren was everything delicate and brautiful, and it made my wolf, Remus, growl with a fucking untamed need to im her. This wasn''t just about attraction; it was about dominance, and I hated how she turned my world upside down. Up until now my world was filled with discipline and I was pretty organized. But ver since she had arrived, my fucking life was spinning faster than I could grasp. One minute I was the cold and controlled focused on my duties Alpha and the other I was drowning in the overwhelming illogical pull of this timid little woll Jealousy simmered beneath my skin every time I caught sight of other unmated wolves leering at her. They had no idea what they were dealing with. Then had no idea that I was barely able to control my rage to rip them into fucking pieces for even seeing her. It pissed me off that they were even looking at her. Auren was mine to protect, mine to cherish, yet I felt like a goddamn fool just standing there, helpless, too afraid that this beautiful flower would wither the moment I touched her, marked her.

    As I began my speech, I nced at her again. I could hardly concentrate, my eyes drawn to her as if the were the sun. I felt like I was losing my mind, standing up here and trying to act like everything was normal. My blood boiled when I spotted a group of wolves stealing nces at Auren The anger surged hotter in my chest. My fingers twitched, itching for a fight, itching to release some steain. I wanted to punch something or kill someone to release my fucking pent-up energy. I wanted to tear them away from her, to make it clear she was off-limits.

    While I was barely able to speak, the moment Auren trailed her fingers down her breasts, my breath hitched. What was she doing? The innocent look in her eyes sent a jolt of desire so fucking hard through me, and mixed with the fury of wanting to protect her from the attention she didn''t even seem to realize she was attracting.

    I couldn''t take my eyes off her. My heart raced, and Remus was practically howling inside me. He wanted toe out, to dominate, to im. Lucien, focus? I snapped at myself, my jaw tightening. But every nce at Aurch pulled me deeper into a vortex of desire which warred with fury. Suddenly she crossed her legs. And now she looked like a fucking siren. With her hair cascading down her waist in curls, breasts exposed and all that creamy skin of her legs-she looked like an enchantress, a sexpot. And yet she looked innocent with those rounded hazel eyes.

    When that sexy moan slipped from her lips, I froze. A fire ignited within me, hot and furious. It was enough to make me lose my mind. The room blurred around me. I could see the other wolves staring at her, their gazes full of hunger, and it made me want to roar.

    "Damn it!" I growled under my breath, my hands clenching into fists at my sides. The primal urge to stake my ims surged through me. How dare they look at her like that? Every part of the screamed to keep her safe, to make it clear she was mine.

    Then I caught myself staring again, my heart pounding, I was furious with myself for being so weak, for letting her have this effect on me. I was the Al, not some lovesick foul! But every time I pushed those feelings away, they came back stronger. Auren was a force of nature, and my wolf craved her in a way I couldn''tprehend.

    The tension in the air was unbearable. Mynds were itching to pull her closer. I wanted to growl, to warn off any wolf that dared approach ber Frustration was boiling over. I was angry with myself for allowing her to slip under my skin, for feeling this intense attraction couldn''t shake. It was maddening

    Eventually when I couldn''t take it anymore, I finished the speech abruptly, walked to her and pulled her in myp. It was only then that Remus and I felt better. Goddess. I needed to stop this nonsense as soon as possible. My dick had been misbehaving the moment he saw her in that sexy dress, but the fucker developed his mind when 1 pulled her in myp. I was so hard instantly that I was sure I had the bluest halls in the history of werewolves. She squirmed in myp. Damn it, I pulled her harder against my chest in stop it. And her innocent question about my dick! I was going to relish every moment ofpting my littlemb.

 Chapter 26

    Auten POV

    I couldn''t believe that Finn was lying on Alpha''s face so tantly. Tears streamed out of my eyes as the sting of his p burned in my skin. I was just an omega breeder. And there was no reason why Alpha Lucien or for that matter anyone believed me. "I didn''t." I rasped through my tears. I had to give it a try because I knew that if I wasn''t proven innocent, Alpha would throw me in his dungeons. But hose could do that" "He-he''s lying," I said with quivering lips. "He brought me here, along with the diree other."

    I was sitting in the main hall of the pack house when these four approached me. When Finn said that I was beautiful, I blushed. They were so gentle and sweet at that time. Afterplimenting me, they went awczy. However, I was left alone and heard people talking nasty about me once again.

    I shouldn''t have stepped outside. I knew it the moment the chilly air bit at my skin. The Celestial Soiree was still in full swing behind me, and the music spilled from the grand hall, Lucien had made it clear: stay here. But I had felt so suffocated under all those watchful gazes and nastyments, and so our of ce that I needed a moment to breathe.

    I walked to a stone path that led to a quiet countyard. I hugged my arms to ward off the cold or the unease curling in my chest. Taking a deep breath in I wondered if I could ever be a part of this ce even if for a year. Maybe the moon goddess was right in making me the bride of the cursed Alpha. It was better that I died.

    "Look who we have here finally, a low voice drawled, snapping me out of my thoughts.

    1 froze, my heart stuttering. When four wolves stepped out from the shadows, I recognized them instantly.

    "Alpha Lucien''s

    s littlemb," said Finn, his tone mocking "Wandering all alone. Were you missing us?

    "I-I jun needed some fresh air. I stammered, taking a step back.

    "Oh, we can keep youpany, Jace smirked, his gaze raking over me in a way that made my skin crawl

    My wolf, Siena, stirred uneasily within me, but she was still too weak, too distam to help. I clenched my hands into fists, forcing myself to stand taller even as my legs trembled. I made my way out of the courtyard, but ke blocked it. "What do you want?" I hissed. "Lucien won''t be happy if he finds out you''re bothering me," I said, trying to sound firm, though my voice wavered.

    Theyughed. "Alpha Lucien isn''t here right now, Finn sneered, stepping closer. "But we are. And you''re a breeder. Don''t you want to fuck all of us? I''m sure Alpha Lucien wouldn''t mind it." Then he winked at his friends. "Who knows that she has already offered her pussy to oders! How about we find it!

    "Are you insane!" I squeaked as I took another step back, but my heel caught on the edge of the path, and 1 stumbled:

    "Careful, littlemb Finn taunted, his grin widening "We wouldn''t want you to get hurt. All we want is your pretty little urnega pussy. After that you are good to go."

    The group closed in, their towering forms blocking out the light. Panic wed at my chest as I realized I was trapped.

    "Don''t!" I warned, my voice barely above a whisper.

    "Oh,e on. We just want to talk while we bang you," one of them said, though his smirk told a different story. "You''re new here, after all. It''s only polite to introduce ourselves."

    "And maybe teach you a lesson," another added, his eyes gleaming. "You don''t belong here, parading around like you''re special. You''re just an omega, and an omega should know her ce."

    Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes. "I''m here for Alpha Lucien," I seethed through my tears. ¡°Not for anyone else." So what if I was a breeder? I was Lucien''s breeder, not theirs. "So get lost!"

    Suddenly ke grabbed my arms as Jace wrapped his hand around my mouth. "Not a word omega," he whispered dangerously and they dragged me to a sshouse, I struggled, kicking and wing them, but they were four warrior wolves. How could I be a match to them? Siena whimpered inside me restlessly, When we reached the sshouse, they pushed me away. I stumbled and fell. But I got up and shouted, "How dare you? I am warning you-Alpha

    In a sh of a moment, Finn stepped forward and pped me hard on my cheek. I shrieked and rumbled on the couch behind me with sharp pain stinging my skin.

    "Listen bitch," he hissed. "You are a fucking omega, who is a breeder, So do your job. Once Lucien fucks you, he will throw you to us, so you better prepare yourself for our cucks!"

    Suddenly, a low growl cut through the air, deep and menacing. The wolves froze, their smug expressions faltering

    Turned my head just the ss smashed and someone entered. Lucien. His golden eyes glowed like molten fire, his face a mask of fury. His

    presence was a storm, crackling with power and rage, and blood flowing down his forehead and arms.

    "I thought I made myself clear, he said to me, his voice a dangerous rumble

    The wolves immediately stepped back, their cocky demeanor reced by fear. "Alpha-" one of them started but Lucien cut him off with a spark that made my heart leap

    In a blur of a movement, all of them were struggling to be on their feet, bloodied and gasping for air. ke had run away but I knew that Lucien would burg fun. And then Fim lied. I shook my brail hoping that Lucien would see the truth in my eyes

    Lucien''s golden eyes narrowed, dark with an interity that sent a chill racing down my spine. For a fleeting moment, I thought he was assessing me

    -udging my trembling form and the panic I failed to hide. But then, his sharp gaze sapped to Finn.

    11 happened so fast I could barely process it.

    One moment, Lucien was standing still. The ness, a growl ripped from his throat- a sound so feral is made my knees buckle. My hair whipped across my face as a powerful gust of air stirred around us.

    :

    When I managed to brush the strands aside, my gazended on Finn

    I gasped

    Lucien''s ws were buried deep in Finn''s neck. Finn''s eyes widened as he coughed blood, his body frozen in shock as blood seeped around Lucien''s hugens.

    "Alpha-" Finn croaked, his voice harely audible.

    Finn gurgled struggling to speak, bus Lucien didn''t let up. His ws dig deeper, and Finn''s knees gave out forcing him to ag against Lucien''s iron

    Lucien leaned in his face inches from Finn''s. "You don''t touch what''s mine with that he pulled his ws out and Finny there dead on his feet. As I tried to process what happened, my mind in stunned shock, hemanded Tarim and the rest of the warriors. "Take these two to the dungeons and find Make" Then he strode to the scouped me in his arms and carried me out of the sshouse.

    I couldn''t bear the mental shock and Einted in his armis,

    0

 Chapter 27

    Auren''s body went limp in my arms. One second, she was looking at me with those wide, golden eyes-full of fear, full of life. The next, she copsed, her weight pressing against my chest.

    A sharp, cold dread shot through me. It was like a de slicing straight to my soul. My breathing hitched, my heart mmed against my ribs like it would jump out of it, and for the first time in years, 1 felt something close to panic

    blened my grip around her, cradling her tragile body as if I could keep her from slipping away. Her skin was burning, her breaths too shallow sickening feeling twisted in my gut. My world tilted, threatening to disappear into darkness.

    "Wake up," I growled, shaking her slightly in my arms as I rushed to my car. No response-

    My wolf Remus, snarled inside me, restless and angry. Do something. Fix this. Protect her, he had never b been this restless before. Why did he want to protect her so much, it was beyond my understanding

    "We can''t lose her," Remus hissed. My jaw clenched so hard it ached. No, we couldn''t lose her. I refused to. Not my little dove.

    When Finn said those words to me, the blood drained from his face as be realized that I didn''t believe his lies. Auren was so innocent that she had hever been kissed or touched in her life. How could she demand them to fuck her! it was such a fucking insult to her that 1 del like getting Finn back to life and then kill him again. Well Jace and Cody were there. I was going to forture them so hard that their souls would be terrified of me. Uncontroble anger and desperation flooded my chest. Her scream when he had hit her still echoed in my mind and it was the most haunting thing I had brand.

    I lowered Auren in myp as I sat in the backseat of my car. "Go!" I ordered Tarian who was already at the wheels. I opened my mind link with the doctor and ordered him toe home urgently

    When I looked at her face, I found that it was so pale. "Auren," I called her with my breath lodged in my throat. I don''t know why but the tranima she suffered had me burning with so much rage that it wasn''t going down. Unable to elicit any reaction from her. I just shilled her to a morefortable position. In this position, she looked so vulnerable, so beautiful and delicate that couldn''t stop staring at her. How was she going to bear my mark if this trauma was enough to make her unconscious!

    I raked my finger in my hair, tension getting the better of me. Ift postponed the wedding, Elders would make her leave and she would go back to her hell hole. I wasn''t afraid of the treaty breaking but I was not going to let her go back to that shitty pack. And if I married her, I would have to mark her. Marriage with her meant that I had to mark her and if I marked her I took a ragged breach in. "What do I do, Auren?" 1 muttered, staring at her face, worry swirling in my chest. I thanked the goddess that she was safely back in my arms. Because I couldn''t think of what would have happened if I had gotten a tadne.

    "Marry her as soon as

    as soon as possible," Tarian said.

    I snapped my head to him. "What?"

    Tarian meered the car toward the mansion. "Alpha Lucien, marry her at the earliest. That way you''ll be able to protect her from every unmared wolf like Finn and his friends. And trust me there are a lot like them. For whom an omega breeder is nothing but a whore."

    A muscle feathered in my jaw, Omegas really didn''t have a good ce amongst werewolves But-

    "Alpha Lucien, you don''t have to mark her immediately. Just marry her and mark her when she is ready," he suggested.

    When we reached home, I took Auren to her bedroom and carefullyy her down. I took off her shoes and tossed them aside

    "The doctor ising." Tarian said. He moved aside and Dr. Barry strode in

    1. se. "What happened to her?" he asked as he moved to her side.

    He bowed to me.

    "She passed our half an hour earlier and hasn''t regained consciousness."

    He moved closer to her and sat on the edge. I was surprised by myself how much

    I hated his neamess to her. "Is she sick again? Did she not ear food?" he asked. His eyes went to her clerk "Someone hit her very hard," he said in a low voice, trying his best not to look at me.

    "Yes, a few wolves caught her at the Celestial Soir¨¦e and misbehavedl," I growled. "But you aren''t saying a word about it to anyone"

    "Notar all Alpha," he said, rxing a bit. Then be examined her pulse and checked her temperature. "She just needs rest and so you have to take it easy for the next few days. If her condition worsens, let me know. But she suffered a trauma. For that you may want to talk to her nicely."

    "Yes, I will" I let out a sigh

    A Tarian escorted the doctor out, I couldn''t help thinking that if this was what happensed to me in an incident like this, what would happen if something whese happened? My eyes drifted to her face and I found myself sitting next to her as anxiety shed through my heart. I don''t think I could leave my little dove alone.

    "Can I get you anything Alpha!" Tarian suddenly asked, his toneced with worry.

    I shook my head "No. You may leave

    "There''s something I''d like to tell you, Alpha Lucien," he said.

    "What?"

    "Sable''s father, Rizy Brown, is nning in approach the Elders for his iter. I got the intel just now. Things are going to getplicated if you don''t make the right move now."

    Igned my teeth. "I don''t understand it. Tarian, seethed. "Why has she be so interested all of a sudden, despite knowing the curse [carry?"

    He shrugged. "I am baffled just like you, but you have in curtail Rizy before this goes out of h

    hand

    I let out a rough exhale. "Okay! Just keep an eye on them."

    When Taran left. I weighed the events of thest few days. There was only one logical thing that I could do now.

    AD

 Chapter 28

    Aur POV

    I was running down the same thorny forest under a monolit sky. The shadows of the tall trees darkened, creeping toward me. I heard howls emanating from deep woods. Scared. I pushed past my exhaustion only to tumble on the ground that was filled with thorns. Pressure built arounal me and it felt like I was being chased by the hounds, but other than the shadows, Leouldn''t see anything

    I was engulfed by desperation and acute pain as the thoms dig inside my flesh. Why was the moon hanging silently in the sky? Why couldn''t the moon goddess help me out of my misery! Lopened my mouth but no scream came out, Blood flowed out of my bely and covered the white dies I was wearing. The dress frit so heavybined wah the pain I was experiencing that I couldn''t move. The shadows reached me and epassed me tightly. They reached my neck and choked me, I gasped for air as I stared at the moon. "Help me," I whispered as panic and fear flooded me. Suddenly, I felt like someone was strangling me.

    "Nooooo!" [thrashed hard and mmed into something hand. Startled, I woke up as my breath turned shallow, as I tried to breathe.

    "Auren, you are safe," Lucien''s voice rumbled beside me.

    Oh, goddess. I was shivering so hard from all the terror and trauma that he wrapped his arm around me.

    We''re going to fuck you breeder. Finn''s words came back to me. Their faces, their expressions and how I struggled to get out of there,

    Lucien''s ws through his neck. Blood pouring like a fountain. The fear of being raped. The terror of not ever being able to prove my innocen everything mmed in my chest

    1 looked up at him, my eyes rounding at the corner as a cry came out of my throat.

    "Auren!" His hold tightened on me as I pushed against his chest.

    "H-he was lying Lucien I didn''t go to him. I-I just went out for a walk. S-stilled-"

    He would never believe me...

    The thought was so devastating that Siena whimpered inside me

    Lucien kept his arms locked around me and it was then I realized I was in hisp. He curled his fingers beneath my chin and lifted my face. "Look

    at me!"

    I opened my eyes and tried to fix my gaze, still trembling. He let out a frustrated growl and hugged me. "Tin so fucking sorry that this happened with you. I''ve got you, Auren. This won''t happen again."

    I think it was the effect of the whole thing that I started crying uncontrobly. But when his words made an effect on me, I slumped in his embrace, relief washing over. ¡°Lu-ci-en¡± 1 sobbed as my shoulders shuddered. "I''m sorry, I should have listened to you and stayed in"

    "Goddess," he groaned and pulled my face into his neck. "There''s nothing to be sorry about. You can go anywhere you feel like, I know it wasn''t your fault. It''s okay, and I am not angry with you."

    And then he pressed a kiss to my forehead, and it felt genuine, Was I dreaming or was he doing it out of counesy? But who picked up an omega like me in theirpt Only a kind Alpha like him.

    "Alpha Lucien?" I heard Vivi "Should I get lemonade for her!"

    "Yes!" he snapped,

    A few minutester, a ss is pushed against my lips. I sipped the lemonade and when the ss disappeared, Lucien hugged me and rocked me tofon me. Im here," he murmured.

    Thest of the sobs and shivers eased out and it was only then I realized that I was in my room. The trauma must have had a lot of effect on me because I just slumped my head on his chest and closed my eyes. I didn''t know when I drified off to sleep, but when I slept in his embrace, I didn'' get nightmares

    When I woke up the next morning, I realized that it was afternoon. I was in my bed covered with softforters. Memories of the previous night flooded my mind. A shiver ran down my spine when I remembered what Firm and his friends wanted to do.

    I got out of the bed, took a long hath and thought of going to say thanks to Alpha Lucien personally. That was the least I could do, So I got dressed in jeans and white shirt and trudged out of my room. Vivi was happy to see me, and offered me lunch, but I wanted to see Lucien fini. """Where can I meet him!" I asked eagerly.

    Vivi was heufant to speak, but when I pushed her, she said. "He is in his office with Beta Tarian. I don''t think you should go there."

    1211 PM

    "Why"" I asked with a frown on my forehead even as I started to walk toward his office

    Vivi ran after me. "Lady Auren, you have to eat Please eat something. 11 let Beta Tarian know that you want to meet Alpha Lucien?

    Why was she stopping met Feeling rebellious, I increased my pace and said, "Where''s his office!"

    "In the west wing," she replied, almost jozzing with me to catch my pace.

    that covered in

    I walked to the west wing where it wasn''t difficult for me to locate his office. The door of his office was slightly ajar. I peeped in to see blood, Jace was kneeling on the floor, his head yanked up by Tarian who had grabbed his hair. Lucien was standing in front of him with a dangerous beastly expression, his eyes shing golden. And then he plunged his ws right through Jace''s neck

    Goddess. I squeaked, making Tarian''s eyes snapping at me.

    My heart hammered in my chest. I quickly darted to the left and leaned against the wall. Momentster, the door opened and Lucien walked "Were you looking for me. Auren?" he asked, his voice lethally calm.

    I nodded, my body lined up with goosebumps. "P-please don''t kill anyone else because of me."

    out.

    He wiped his hands with his hanky, his lips twitching up slightly. "I can''t promise. But right now, I''m famished, and it looks like you haven''t had food, little dove. Would you like to ear with me?" His eyes went to Vivi who was standing so stunned that she was pale. She fled the moment he saw her, leaving me alone with the cruelest Alpha of the North

    He took a step closer, He leaned toward me and said. "Breathe Auren. This is just the beginning"

 Chapter 29

    Lucien POV

    Auten froze when I stepped closer to her. Her breath lite bed in her throat and I couldn''t help but pull her in my arms. She trembled in my arms, her wide eyes filled with fear. "Promise me," she whispered, her voice shaking "Promise you won''t kill anyone because of me."

    Killing wolves in the werewolf world who defied their Alphas wasmon. We killed them in cold blood or in lights, And we killed them if they tried to mess with us. This was a message 1 wanted to send to every one of my pack members. If they messed with Auren, that was challenging my authority. I don''t know why beat for some reason Auren was beginning to break the wallsnd carefully crafted around my heart. It was like she was perling them one by one and I wasn''t even aware bl

    "Auren," I muttered as I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear tenderly "No one can mess with you. It''s a direct challenge to their Alpha, and that has consequences,"

    to show that she was brave. But I knew it

    "Please Lucien," she said in a lou voice, her chin quivering as she tried to blink away her jeans trying to

    Herbean hammered so violently that fear gripped my heart, twisting it painfully, I stayed silent, taking in her trembling for. I wanted to reassure her, to tell her that I wouldn''t harm anyone. Finally, I nodded and said, "Okay" But deep inside, I knew the truths if anyone dared toe close to her or hun her, 1 would kill them without hesitation. My protective instincts mared to life, fierce and dangerous as hell "Come, let''s have lunch."

    As Bled her back to the dining room for lunch, I could see she was still shinken. Her hands trembled as she sat at the table, and 1 knew she wouldn''t be able to eat. "What would you like to eat?" I asked sadly, Vivi, Tom and everyone else were standing silently, watching us.

    Auren looked up at me. "I''ll make us something to eat, she said softly

    My lips parted in protest it, but then I stopped sensing something deeper. I watched as she stood up, and I knew that she needed some

    e time alone. "Everyone out. Imanded, and my pack members quickly obeyed, leaving Auren and use alone in the kitchen.

    As she moved around the kitchen, her bare feet quietly padding on the floor, I felt a strange sense of calm wash over me. She started to gather ingredients, her forus shifting to the task at hand. I stood back, silemly observing as she poured her heart into cooking and 1 realized this was herfort zone. She loved cooking and it helped her calm her nerves, Seeing her walking barefoot around the kitchen was a memory that would be etched in my mind forever..

    My heart ank when I realized that she would be gone in a year. Fuck. I clenched my fists so hard that my kosackles turned white. Doubts on how to dral with my unique situation crept in my misl. Darkness started bleeding in my chest and I felt this need to shift and run in the jungles until my wolf was tired and out..

    Auren started humming a tune, snapping me out of my darkness, and I promised myself to just observe her.

    Auren first made a creamy tomato basil soup. The way she chopped the fresh bauil and stirred the pot made me smile despite my earlier anger. The rich and inviting smell filled the kitchen. Next, she prepared a warm, fully garlic bread. I watched her mix the batter and minced garlic, spreading it generously over the bread. The scent made my mouth water. Finally, she whipped up a simple yet colorfuld with crisp greens, cherry tomatoes, shreds of tender meat and a tangy vinaigrette.

    I marveled at her skill, and 1 felt my heart swell as I watched her create. Auren was full ofurprises.

    When she finished, she ced the dishes on the table, her checks flushed with satisfaction. She looked at me and said. "Would you like to try these?"

    I sat at the table and nodded. I filled my te with all that she had made and I delved right into eating all of it. Fuck. Everything she made was heavenly. I could actually fire my chef, Tom, and employ her forever. With my cheeks stuffed with the sd, I said "Why aren''t you eating!"

    She licked her dry lips and I knew what was going on in her mind. So I made her sit with me, unable to ignore the nagging worry that she might not eat after all that had happened. I scouped some soup into a bowl and brought it to her lips, wanting to feed her, wanting to take care of her. As she ate, her eyes sparkled with a mixture of appreciation and bashfulness, and I promised myself right then that I would never kill anyone coldly in front of her again. Not at the risk of her losing her appetite,

    Just as we finished our meal, my phone buzzed. I nced at the screen and some Rizy Brown''s name shing My jar tightened, irritation rising within me. I ignored the call, focusing instead on Aaren''s soft smile as she finished her food. Once she was done. I helped her to her room, ensuring she wasfortable. "Sleep for the aliemoon, Auren," I said as I tucked her in the bed. Til be back in the evening, and then we''ll talk. I knew that she needed to sleep after what she saw in the office earlier. The need to be with her tofort her was so intense that I couldn''t move from the edge of her bed. What was happening to me!

    She looked at me with so much hape in her eyes that my breath lodged in my throat. Once she drified off to sleep, I fch a strange mix of

    protectiveness and frustration. I knew I had to meet Thrian. When I stepped out, the tension in my chest eased slightly, but it was soon reced by a sense of urgency. Thrian was waiting for me in the main hall, and he looked serious

    "Rigy wants to meet you," he said, his expression grave. I frowned, the name alone stirring anger within me

    "What does he want?" I growled as 1 walked back to the office.

    "He''s trouble. Alpha Lucien, Tarian grumbled.

    In the office I noticed that Tarian had already taken care of Jace''s body. There was not a single drop of blood on the floor or anywhere else. And Rizy was sitting there. I narrowed my eyes at him as I sat on my chair. He bowed to me and said, "You took the breeder to Celestial Soir¨¦e. For someone of your stature, you can''t do that."

    "I''ll take her wherever I want to. How does that concern you!

    "Breeders are like ss. You

    You don''t bring sluts to events like that," he said and my body went rigid. "Sable would''ve apanied you."

    I leaned forward, my wolf growling. "If I hear you calling her that again. I will snap your deck. Is that clear?"

    2

    AD

    Comment

 Chapter 30

    Lucien POV

    Rizy paled when he heard my animalistic growl. He lowered his voice and said. "Alpha Lucien, what has gotten into you?"

    "Have I made myself clear. Ry!"

    He stared at me without saying anything. A few moments of silenceter, he answered, "Yes."

    "Good." I replied and leaned back. "Is there anything you want to talk abou?"

    He clenched his teeth as if tense. Then he rxed a bit and said, "If it''s okay with you, Sable can apany you to the events from now on You know that Auren''s purpose is to have your heir. What are you going to do after that! You would need someone to look after the pup, your heir. And you need a constant presence beside you. Not someone who is doomed."

    I wanted to put a silver bullen in his head right now. I was going to enjoy killing him. With the way he was going, I knew that things would escte

    I narrowed my eyes and tilted my head. Sickening pimp. "You know very well that

    I can''t marry Sable. So what I understand is that you''re willing to offer your daughter as my mistress?"

    pup. She is sacrificing

    Taken aback by my crude words, he jerked his head back. "No," he denied, "Sable is offering herself to take care of your liste po her life for the sake of the pack''s future."

    "I see." I replied, unable to fathom his shallowness. He cleverly underestimated the sacrifice of Auren over here because she would be truly giving up her life for me and my pack. Instead he highlighted his daughter''s grand future as her sacrifice. Did he think that I was a fool not to understand that Sable was interested in being the most powerful woman in the werewolfmunity! I highly doubted that she was interested in taking care of my pup. "Well," Tadded. Thanks Rizy. I''ll let you know when the timees"

    He nodded, his eyes showing hope. He got up and bowed to me. "Thank you, Alpha Lucien. I''m d that you see the reason why Sable is interested. Then he turned and walked out of the room with his chin high. Just before be exited, he turned and said, Theard about Finn and Jace. It could have been molded. I mean because of the breeder you killed two of our warriors.

    "Are you challenging my authority!" I mareil, my Alpha wolf trying to break free.

    "No, no, Alpha Lucien!" Rize Truve, indining his neck into submission because my Alpha aura spilled out. "I was just-

    Tarian came behind him and grabbed his upper arm. "Don''t challenge our Alpha," he growled. ¡°Else I will bepelled to shred you in pieces

    Riev looked like he could shit in his pants. "N-no," he spluttered and quickly left

    Goddess above. I had to control Remus to stay put because he wanted to murder Rizy like right now. He had never been this feral in my entire life. but with Auren, he had be so fucking protective that his feelings surprised me sometimes

    Besides, killing two people in a day was going to raise some eyebrows.

    "That bastard is growing balls," Tarian snapped.

    "Keep an eye on him, I growled.

    Hirv Brown was one of the prominent pack members. Close to the Elders of the Shadowfang park and also close to the pack representative to the High Council which was ourw body,

    The High Council consisted of the Lunar Alpha who was the highest-ranking Alpha chosen by all the packs and the pack representative other than die Elders who were old werewolves with deep wisdom and experience.

    I wasn''t afraid of Rizy, but I knew that he was a fucking calctive, maniptive ass. I had to deal with him carefully, yet assertively because the sneaky bastard could harm my Auren. I would have killed him by now, but that would mean that I acted unreasonably. So 1 needed a reason to eliminare him. And right now, I didn''t have any. I had to keep my eye on him until then.

    When I woke up in my room, it was already evening. My heart thumped with a mix of hope and fear as I recalled the morning''s incident. Alpha Lucien was being overprotective about me. But why? Maybe because he didn''t like his authority to be questioned and since I was associated with him in some way, he was careful. I decided that I had to be careful as well and wouldn''t jeopardize any pack member''s life because of me

    I had spent many days hiding in the shadows, feeling small and unwanted. Maybe that was best for all around me

    I tossed the sheet and got out of the bed. Taking a deep breath I made my way to the main hall. As I entered, I noticed some of the other omegas looking at me curioudy. A few of them nodded in silent greeting, like they were epting me. Then I heard murmurs about how face and Finn were dealt with A shiver ran down my spine and I realized that they epted me out of fear of Alpha Lucien.

    12:18 PM

    One older woll gave me a

    e a small smile as I passed by and hurried away

    Later in the kitchen, I helped Vivi and Tom with food preparation. Tom looked me in the eye as I carefully sliced strawberries. "Good work, Lady Auren," he said. His voice was rough, but his praise was sincere. " seems like we finally got someone to tame the Alpha of the North"

    Vivi chuckled and elbowed him. "Do you want to end up in the dungeons Tom just rolled his eyes, making me chuckle..

    At dinner, Alpha Lucien didn''t retum. I noticed a few of the omegas whispering while ncing at me, like they were disparaging me. I sat quietly. trying not to show how hurt I was. With my appetite lost. I walked back to my rooms even though Vivi really urged me to eat something.

    As the day ended, I sat by a window, watching the sun set over the pack territory, I thought about all the small moments that had made me feel epted-Tom''s praise and Vivi''s jokes. I realized that even though the pack could be harsh, there were gentle souls among them too. Maybe they were enough to spend myst year happily. Maybe it was time to focus on the niceties of my life instead of brooding all the time.

    Just as 1 was pondering in my room. Vivi came looking nervous "Alpha Lucien has called you to the meeting room. The entire council is waiting for you." "W-why!" I stammered.

    "I don''t know!" she said. "But hurry!"

    Was he going to break the alliance and send me back? No, please goddess, no, I walked into the meeting room, where the council members were gathered. Convenations died as soon as they saw me. I found Luciers standing at the head of the table with a smirk on his face, his eyes locked on me intensely

    The breeder walks ansong is," someone muntcred.

    "She won''tst king," another snickered.

    1 clenched my fisis and swallowed down the lump in my throat. Yes, they were

    going to send me back. My hands trembled slightly.

    Lucien pointed at the chair beside him for me to sit. I walked there and what happened next shook the hell out of me

    AD

 Chapter 31

    Auren POV

    Lucien''s eyes glowed with authority. His presence was like a force that filled everyer of the room,manding respect and fear. No one spoke until he did

    I swallowed hard when he intertwined his fingers with mine and was hyper-aware of people who saw us doing that. The weight of so many eyes on memade my skin prickle. But more than that it was his touch that was sending tingles in my body. Why was it that is happened whenever he touched in He wasn''t my mate. My mind went to Alpha Brain who rejected me so colelly, and here Lucien was, who held my hand firmly, showing to the world that I belonged to him.

    In that moment, Lucien''s deep voice shattered the silence. "Four days, his voice sliced through the room, dangerously low. Almost feral possessin and filled with threat

    The council members froze.

    He continued. "In four days, I will wed Auren in a grand ceremony. There will be feasts, celebrations, and every pack allied with us will witness it."

    There were sharp intakes of breaths that rippled through the council members. My own breath caught in my throat. Four days? That meant that Alpha Bram would also attend.j

    One of the older councilmen coughed, "Alpha, this is not a wise decision

    Other council members remainedposed, but their expressions were etched with concern, and I felt the shift in the room. Like there was a hesitation. Silent nces were exchanged

    "What do you mean Nelson Lucien asked, his voice a lull before a storm.

    Nelson cleared his throat as he exchanged a quick nce with someone who looked like Sable''s rtive. "Alpha_"He measured his words carefully with his chin up. ¡°A Luma''s position is unquestioned. We acknowledge your choice. Buc. He paused, eyes flickering toward me briefly before returning to Lucien "A grand wedding is unnecessary.

    A chall went down my spine.

    an event

    This time Sable''s rtive spoke in a low but steady voice "Luns before her have proven their strength before being honored with such an She is He hesitated, choosing his words with care "not meant for such a disy."

    They thought I wasn''t worthy. Feeling small, I clenched my fists and wallowed down the lump in my throat. They just humiliated me. Showed me that I was merely an omega breeder. Tears gathered in my eyes,

    Lucien''s grip on my hand tightened and I blinked them away. ¡°Exin it to me, Rizy."

    Rizy inhaled slowly, his fingers intecing in front of him. "The breeder contract was drawn to secure an heir, not a queen. The pack.. does not expect celebrations for something that was meant to be a duty."

    The room held its breath. His words fell heavy and clear.

    Lucien didn''t move. His face betrayed anthing, but I sensed something from him. His eyes darkened.

    "You suggest that my future Luna should be hidden? That she is unworthy to stand by me?" His voice was dangerously quiet, more threatening than

    if he had shouted

    Rizy stiffened. "No. Alpha Bu

    Before I could react, his arm wrapped around my waist, pulling me against him, my back flush to his broad chest,

    Startled, I gasped. I felt so tiny in front of Alpha Lucien''s tall, broad, muscr body. What was he doing? My cheeks flushed deep red.

    A silent warning pulsared through the room. Everyone became alert. Tension was so high that the weight of it pressed on my chest. I was so stunned by has sadden movement that 1 froze in my ce and words left me. The heat body

    seeped through me. I could sense his rapid heartbeat, his aggression, his wolf

    He narrowed his eyes at Razy and Nelson and growled. "Then let me be clear"

    Both of them inhaled sharply, looking scared, as others just stood in their ces like they had grown roots.

    She is not just a breeder, She Is Mine. His words were slow, deliberate, seething with a quiet rage. "And she will be honored as my Luna in every was, "Laren''s grip on mor tightened before he turned his head, his lips brushing against my hair in a show of possessiveness. He dered publicly.

    12:16 PM ch

    "Speak of my Lama with disrespect again, and I will remove your tongue myself. This is not a threat. Test it if you dare to

    The entire room fell into stunned stillness, Rizy''s face palled, his lips parting as if he couldn''t believe he had just said that

    Neither could LA shudder ran down my spine, I had never felt so exposed. Never felt so imed.

    The council remained silent for a while as the mom''s energy turned thick with unspoken surrender. They wouldn''t protest now because their Alpha had spoken.

    And in this pack, his word wasw.

    "This meeting is over!" Lucien growled.

    The council members left silently without another word. As thest one exited. Tarian that therge double doors with a quiet thud.

    "Phew!" he shook his head, wiping the sweat from his forehead. "That was quite a show, Alpha Lucient he chuckled nervously.

    Lucien ignored him. He turned me in his embrace so that now I was facing him. My heart was still racing from the tension of the meeting but his expression was asposed as ever. His eyes settled on me. "Would you be interested in shopping?" he asked canally, as if the meeting had never happened.

    I have everything I need." I replied in a low voice.

    He took a strand of my hair in his fingers and rolled it. Then he brought it to his nose and smelled it. "Wedding shopping," he said in a soft voice "Our personal styli¨² isn''t here for a few days, but you can apany Vivi and buy whatever you like. He tucked the strand of my hair behind my ear, and took my hand in his. As he rugged me to the exit, he added, "I don''t know much about this part, so you have to manage it alone"

    "1-I don''t know as well."

    "Don''t worry, Vivi knows and she will guide you" Saying that he walked me to my room in silence still holding my hand. Before he closed the door, his eyes lingered on me for a few seconds.

    As soon as I was alone, I went straight to my closet. I dug my old bag from there, taking out a bundle of my old clothes. Digging further inside it. my fingers brushed against something cold and metallic My heart skipped a bear 1 pulled out a delicate gold chain with a ring hanging from it. It was worn smooth with age. The ring had two wolves protecting the moun with thoms spreading on each side, carved intricately on its surface.

    It had always been with me since I was a pup. I held it tightly in my palm. The Shaman of the Crimson Howl pack had said that it was my father''s ring and that I should never part with it. I intended to give it to Alpha Lucien at our wedding

 Chapter 32

    Auren POV

    Only four days to go for my wedding? It seemed surreal. I still couldn''t believe that he had made such an announcement and that too so boldly in The public. Remembering how he held me in front of him with his hands wrapped around my waist. I couldn''t help blushing. It was a bold deration that 1 belonged to him and somehow that made me feel safer than ever. Even if I lived for a year, I was going to die happily.

    I ced the ring back in the bag and decided to buy a small velvet box for it. It wouldn''t look nice if I just handed it over to him

    The day wem by with Vivi and other omegas running around the house, preparing for the wedding. Eller Ryna came to meet me, evident in the fact that she gave me a delicate ne of red, green and white beads

    "This is a sacred ne that the Lana has to wear during every ceremony," she said as she handed it to me.

    her happiness

    I couldn''t understand why she had it when it belonged to the Lunas of the Shadowfang pack. But I didn''t ask her and took the ne. Thank

    you

    As if understanding my question, she said. "The Alphas of this pack rarely took Lunas." She sighed. "The reason was simple. None of the breeders stayed alive for more than a year after they were mated. So the Alphas never gave them the status of Luna. However, Alpha Lucien has gone against the norms and is not only marrying you, he is giving you the status of a Luna. It is but natural that this ne should stay in the right hands" She jook my hands in hers and squeezed that lightly. "These are the right hands. Wear it in every ceremony, Auren, and show them that you are their Luna?

    Her words encouraged me and I felt a lump rising in my throat. Blinking away my tears. I nodded. "Yes," I whispered. I think I was filling in love with Lucien.

    That night, I couldn''t sleep well. I tossed and turned in my bed thinking about the day''s events as the sheets twisted around me. Excitement was brimming inside me, and I was thinking of ways to be a good wife to Alpha Lucien. He had put his reputation at stake for me to make me his Luna, which was such a great honor. How could I return this favor en him!

    I couldn''t sleep and red at the ceiling, willing it to crack open and letting me sleep. But no, the universe had other ns for no longer worked-who, let''s be honest, weren''t that interesting

    Counting sheep

    With a huff, I threw off the covers, sang my legs over the side of the bed, thinking of taking a walk outside. As I closed my door solly, I noticed Alpha Lucien''s door ajar. Soft, buttery lights spilled out, and cariously I crept closer, pecking inside because I knew that Lucien hadn''t returned.

    His room was massive like a royal chamber. I had been to Alpha Bram''s room and used to find it great, but even that looked so tiny in front of this ane. The walls were white and gray with intermitent deep charcoal lines, giving the space a dark and powerful feel. A huge canopy bed sat in the center with curtains Lied on all sides. There were white and green milky sheets with Halfy pillows in the renter. As I walked inside, my feet dug in the plush green rug that felt so under my feet. On one side of the room were tall windows with heavy curtains and on the side was a firece in which the embers were glowing faintly. There was a wonden desk in theer, which had some documents. Everything screamed of power. But only one thing was askew.

    Has shoes, socks and what looked like gaming consoles were strewn around. His bed was littered with colored magazines, dothes and some strange purple object that looked like a tentacle. And near it was its new box.

    Unable to stop myself, I walked there and picked it up. It read, "Dildo Dildo"

    I pressed its button. The dildo thing came alive and started wiggling. I gasped and then burst into nervousdaughter as I felt ticklish when it touched my skin. I sat on the bed and on a wild impulse, 1 used in on my feet. The purple tentacle wrapped around and tickled so hard that I started godling. What in the world was such a tentacle doing on Alpha Lucien''s bed

    Just then Lucien walked in. He stopped dead in his tracks with his eyes widening as he took the sight in. I looked up at him, still giggling as the tentacle wiggled on my feet. "Alpha Lucien, this dildo is so good!" I said excitedly. "Is this a food massager?"

    His gaze dropped to my feet. His eyes darkened and a flush spread across his face. In a low and husky voice, he said, "If you''re done ying with it, give it to me."

    "Nooo." I whined. "Can I take it! I love this thing I think I''m developing a foot fetish. No, no. A dildo fetishTM

    Lucien''s mouth dropped open as he stared at him in shock. What Had I grown two horns¡± ¡°H¨Chow did you enter my room!" he asked, his eyes still

    on the tentace

    "Through your door. It was open," I replied innocently, and then my eyes dropped to the bulge in his pants. The bulge was even bigger than thest time I saw it. I couldn''t help but stare in shock, silently wondering why it seemed to grow every time I was near. "Your" Goddess, I blushed so hard. 1 pointed at his bulge. "Your pre-pre...

    Lucien groaned as he closed his eyes and clenched his teeth. When he opened them, his eyes darkened. He stepped closer until I had to crane my neck up to look into his eyes, acutely aware of how close I was to his bulge. Why was it so hot? Like a furnace zing at full force, sting heat in the air toward me. "Give it to me," he said in a strained voice, extending his hand toward me

    12:20 PM

    My amusement got reced with tension. Rounding my eyes, I looked into his dark ones and said, to use it on myself. h''ll help me sleep."

    "I''d like to

    to take the purple dildo with me. I want

    He stood frozen as his dark eyes locked onto me like I had just said something unspeakable. Which, apparently, I hadn''t. I realized Lucien wasn''t breathing

    I swallowed. "What?" I asked. "It''s soft and squishy, and it vibrates. I think it''ll help me sleep" I removed it from my fret and ced it on myp. The thing started wiggling, trying to make home in between my thighs. "Look, it likes me!" I giggled Lucien let out a deep, guttural grond. Ilis jaw clenched so tight I swore I heard his teeth crack. "You want to use

    I nodded, pressing a finger against its smooth surface. "Yeal. It feels nice on my feet. And it Ah!" The shing poked my belly.

    "Auren." There was a raw edge in his voice. "This is this is used

    And what he said next made me blush deep

 Chapter 33

    Lucien POV

    God, this woman would be the death of me

    1 picked up the dildo from herp and kept it on the side. I n to give it to you on our wedding night,¡± I said as I stared at her intensely. "And you don''t use it on your feet.

    I had bought a dildo for her because I didn''t want to prate myself inside her even though my wolf was wing inside me to im her fast. He wanted to knot inside her like yesterday and it was taking all my self-control to stop myself from not pouncing on her and iming her, rutting her until I fucked her minds out. But in the back of my mind I knew she was fragile. If I knotted inside her, she could break or bleed. Hell, the thought of breaking her, making her bleed was unbearable. And so I ordered a dildo to pleasure her, to make her ready for me. To give her all the pleasure that I''d deny her. For her safety. Honestly, I didn''t know why I felt like this about her. She wasn''t even my male

    Auren blushed and then blinked at me innocently. "You don''t use it on your feet?

    1 dragged a rough hand down my face, inhaling sharply. "No," I said in a strained voice,

    She pursed her lips. "Oh. Then where do you use?"

    My entire body jerked like a bolt had hit it, and my eyes snapped to hers as my wild wolf tried to break free from me. My eyes shed golden and my nostrils red as I took a slow, deep breath because I was seconds away from losing whatever was left of my patience.

    Then, very slowly, my gaze dropped-down, down-to her feet. Fuck, she had the most beautiful feet and 1 think I immediately developed a foot fetish.

    "You like it on your feet?" I asked, my voice was dangerously low as I dropped in front of her on one knee.

    She nodded, wiggling her toes. "It ringles."""

    I let out another growl, deeper this time, as my wolf wed to be near her. If I let him out, she''d probably shriek and bolt. Remus was a tall, bande- hardened beast-capable of tearing through a dozen wolves without breaking a sweat. And in front of this timed omega, he turned into a damn pup purring, eager to nuzzle her, his tail practically wagging inside me. He was overly enthusiastic in her presence, fiercely protective and possessie as hell I didn''t know what had gotten into him, but given ilse chance, he''d never leave her side

    But before I could process what was happening, myrge hand suddenly grabbed her ankle. My wolf was close-con-close. Pushing him down was hard and the tension in my body was reaching limits. My breathing hind turned harshs, ragged.

    She gasped. "Alpha Lucien!"

    "Yes" My gaze burned into her. I didn''t yank her forward-nn, instead. I dragged my thumb slowly, firmly, over the arch of her foot. I didn''t know what I was doing, but touching her like this was not in my control. It felt natural even as Lavoided the tingles spreading in my body, I couldn''t control my body''s reaction toward Auren

    A strangled sound left her throat. "ON"

    My lips parted slightly as I watched her reaction. It was the bex porn. My private porn. "Sensitive, huh!" I ran my finger to her thumb and then with my breath lodged in my throat, I opened my mouth to suck her toe.

    She yanked my foot back, hest crawling up her neck. "I-I should go to bed."

    "With my " I exhaled sharply through my nose, with that thing?"

    She nodded quickly, picking it up and hugging the purple contraption to her chest.

    I ran my tongue along my deeth and fangs that had slipped out a little. ¡°No,¡± I smirked.

    She gawked at me. "Why not?" Her hands were trembling and her juices leaked out because I caught the smell and my nostrils red again. Was the even aware of her need? Fuck. I wanted to take my nose to the apex of her thighs and smell her arousal. My wolf pranced, eliciting this response

    from her.

    "Because, linle doc, I leaned in, voine roughi, dangerous, "I don''t share my toys.

    I think her stomach flipped.

    I reached out, my fingers brushing the toy in her arms before plucking it effortlessly from her grip.

    "Itun along." I said darkly, my eyes hooded, my intention wicked. "Before you make me lose my mind."

    She didn''t need to be told twice. She bolted out of the room, her heart pounding.

    12:30 PM

    My hands still singled where I had touched her.

    And the worst part!

    Now I''d never be able to sleep. Not until she was in my rooms, beside me. How was I going to spend the next three nights without her! I watched my little wolf rush out of my room with a beautiful blush. Once she closed the door, I thumped my head on my bed. "Damn it!" I mattered.

    Remus urged, ''Go to her. But her?

    ''I need her. But her. Chim ber

    Fuck. My wild, tamed wolf had suddenly spiraled imo savage waters. So many years he never showed this strange obsession toward any female, but with Auren he was going insane. I took deep breathi to tamper lilms and then walked inside my bathroom. I needed a long cold bath because my cock-the facker was also as wild as my wolf. It had fucking developed its own mind.

    Auren''s scent of sweet warm apples wrapped around me. Before I knew I was beneath a cold shower, Fuck. It felt so good when the cold water sliced down my heated body. Images of Auren and her feet lingered in my mind and I grabbed my cock, "Auren. Aureit. Auren," I muttered as I started stroking my cock. I closed my eyes and imagined hour I wild take her. There would be no surface in the house that I wouldn''t take her on Every fucking surface was going to be coated in her scent. Everyone would know that she belonged to me,

    At the thought of dut, a growl ripped from my mouth. I started stroking myself hard. Images of the upper swells of her breasts flooded my mind. I needed her so badly that my mind was clouded with thoughts of her. She had slowly overtaken my senses, my wolf and I were so really to be destroved ruined her.

    My breath turned shallow as the head of my cock swelled and then with a roar, I shot my load on the tiles in front of me. Arcs of my cum, which I imagined were falling on her beautiful hody.

    I couldn''t wait to get married to her

    Comment

 Chapter 34

    When I reached my room. I slipped under thefoner, blushing hand. His touch on my foot still lingered and I felt a strange sense in my stomach. Like a thousand butterflies violently fluttered. Like a thousand fireflies lit in a dark night around me. And then the strangest thing happened-something in between my legs throbbed. It throbbed so hard that I had to stifle a moon. My panties became wet for no reason. The emotion that Alpha Lucien elicited from me was unknown but so sensual that I felt like chasing it again.

    Suddenly, I heard Alpha Lucien''s guttural roar, like he was in so much pain. My heart hammered in my chest and I thought of going to his room again and checking him out. A few minutester. When I couldn''t stop myself, sossing myforter away. I tiptoed to his room. The door was ajar

    1 preked through the slightly open door of Alpha Lucien''s bedroom, my curiosity getting the best of the. The room was well lit, and my eyes widened as theynded on him. He waspletely naked. My breath hitched and I froze. Where there were butterflies in my belly, now the heat

    coiled.

    His back was turned to me, broad and powerful, maseles shifting under his golden skin as he ran a towel through his damp hair. Water still cling to his body, trickling down his sculpted shoulders. It dipped into the deep ridges of his back before ilisappearing beneath the curve of his ch

    I swallowed hard, my face burning. His waist narrowed into strong hips, his thighs thick with power. He was perfect. Too perfect. And I was staring. Cawking Intervely. Siera''s tongue was practically lolling out as she drooled on the finest specimen of mankind on earth.

    A small sound escaped me-a sharp inhale, maybe a squeak-and my heart stopped when he suddenly stilled

    I turned and bolted down the corridor to my room, my bare feet making a thup- thop sound. My face was on fire. My pulse was frantically drumming What was I thinking!!

    Shuning my door behind me, I pressed my back against it, trying to breathe, pressing my hands over my burning face. My heart pounded so hard could hear it in my ears.

    oh

    Moon above. I had just seen Lucien raked. Completely, gloriously, breathtakingly naked. I. Had. Seen. Lucien, Naked:

    And now, every time I closed my eyes, I saw him again. This was bad. So so bad. The sleep that was eluding me earlier, was totally gone, reced by an emotion I couldn''t quite ce

    For the rest of the night. I couldn''t get the image out of my head. Every time I closed my eyes, I saw broad shoulders, rippling muscles, and that tight, sculpted backside, and-and-those round hips with dimples

    My checks burned homer than a fire pit. Why did he have to be built like that? It wasn''t fair. To be precise it was illegal.

    1 buried my face into my pillow, groaning in frustration. How was I supposed to face him now! Somehow, I managed to sleep several hours bier and then when morning came, I avoided the main halls in order to avood Lucich. I just couldn''t think of facing him or talking to him. Goddess, my life was ruined forever I was practically sprinting through the corridors like a fugitive. But lock wasn''t on my side. It was almost 11AM and my stomach growled heavily out of hunger. Just as 1 was about to sneak into the dining hall, I almost crashed into a firm chest. "Alpha Lucien!"

    I jolted back, nearly tripping over my own feet. His hands shot out, catching my wrists to steady me. In one swifi motion, he guided me against the wall, and came to stand in front of me so close that our breaths mingled. He nted his hands on either side of my head, caging me in. His sharp dark eyes swept over me, hooded and unreadable. Tve been looking for you since morning," he said, his voice low and intense. "Why do you look guilty!"

    I choked. "I-I don''t!"

    A muscle in his jaw ticked. "You do."

    I waved my hands in panic. "I slept badly!" I spuitered

    His eyes narrowed slightly. Then his gaze dropped to my throat, where my pulse was surely going wild. I held my breath.

    He brought his finger to my pulse and lightly stroked it "Liar," he murmured.

    My heart nearly exploded. His scent-pine, dark, and intoxicating-wrapped around

    me.

    When his gaze dropped to my lips, muscles shifted beneath his tight ck shin. "You ran," he stated.

    I pressed myps together, my fingers twisting in the hem of my dress. "N-no, I

    "Don''t lie." It''s voice was smooth, but he watched me with predatory intensity.

    19

    12

    12:20 PM

    I clenched my thighs together, suddenly feeling far too exposed under his intense gaze, and hoping that I didn''t wet my pasties likest night.

    Tell me," he murmured, taking a strand of my hair in his fingers, "what exactly did you see?"

    I turned my face away, my cheeks on fire. "N-nothing!"

    A slow smirk tugged at hus lips. "Nothing?" He leaned down, his breath fanning over my ear. "Then why is your heart racing?"

    I opened my mouth, but no sound came out. Oh goddess, he knew. He knew it, I wished the earth would break and swallow me.

    Lucien''s fingers thed my chin up, forcing me to meet his eyes. They gleamed with amusement, darkness and desire

    linle woll," he murmured, his thumb grazing my lower lip. So dustered. Did you like what

    My knees felt weak

    I gasped, mortified. "No!"

    He chuckled, low and wicked. "Liar," he whispered.

    "N-nor

    you w

    Lucien exhaled heavily, as if restraining himself. Then, with onest lingering nce, he stepped back. ¡°You''re hungry, Auren His voice was softer butmanding

    I nodded quickly, happy that the conversation topic changed.

    "Have your breakfast and then go shopping with Vivi" He turned toward the main hall, Just as he reached the door, he paused. "And next time?" His care flicked to mine, mischief dancing in his eyes. "If you want to watch, just ask

    The door clicked shar

    I copsed against the wall, hiding my face with my hands. Monnow me. What had I just gotten myself insol

    Aber a moment of allowing myself to settle down, I walked to the kitchen

    Comment

 Chapter 35

    Auren POV

    "Lady Auren!" Vivi said in an excited voice. "I''ve been looking for you since morning. Won''t you have breakfast? Where were you And why are you so flushed! Are you unwell? Should I call the doctor?"

    Goddess, so many questions! My brain was already short-circuited after interaction with Lucien bit my lip "Ah no! I''m just feeling hot

    Vi stared at me like I had grown two heads. "It''s 40 degrees outside," she said, staring at me. "Are you okay?"

    I let out a rough exhale and blurted, "I saw-" My words vanished from my mind because the kitchen door opened with a bang and Lucien walked in. What the hell. I thought that he had gone to the office. My eyes widened as I stared at him. I think I was about to get a heart attack just because I saw him naked

    Lucien''s intense gare pinned me in ce, and fire crackled between us. Sweat appeared on my brows and my breath hitched. With a smirk, he sauntered toward me. Vivi and the rest of the kitchen staff watched us in pin drop silence. When he came to stand in front of me, he leaned in just enough for me to feel the warmth radiating from his body. His voice was a low, rough whisper when he said. "You keep looking at me like that, little wolf, and 1 might just forget to be a genile wolf"

    I swallowed hard, my face buruing because it was then I realized that I was

    staring at him. "I-I wasn''t looking at you like anything" I sammered. Jeaning back, straining my neck up to see him

    Lucien''s lips curled in a knowing smirk, but he didn''t press further. Instead, he straightened and walked past me, his hips brushing my shoulder. "Put that dirty mind and wicked thoughts to rest, Auren," he said in a husky voice.

    Dirty mind? Mine! My jaw nearly hit the flour as I watched him walk away, his fingers raking through his hair.

    Two hourster, Vivi and I made our way to the most exclusive boutique in the pack. My excitement rose a notch higher as we stepped inside. The scent of expensive fabric and perfume was thick in the air. But my anticipation quickly soured.

    The boutique owner, a woman in her thirties, barely spared me a nce before sneering "You''ll have to wait. Sable Brown"

    "But we are on a tight schedule, Joyce," Vivi protested. "I called you in advance to fix this appointment!"

    I''m attending

    g to my esteemed client,

    Shock rippled through me. How was it possible that Sable chose toe at the same time as Vivi book an appointment for!

    Joyce shrugged. "I''m sorry. Sable Brown is more important to me as against a She sized me from top to bottom."-as her. Saying that she sinated towards the other side of the aisle to a private seating area.

    I tensed as Sable turned, her lips curling in amusement when she spotted me. She didn''t bother speaking, but her actions spoke loud enough. She draped her fingers along a row of elegant white gowns, letting Joyce fawn over her as if she were the true bride-to-be.

    Vivi''s fists clenched. "She''s picking a white gown? For your wedding?" she whispered furiously. "She''s acting like "

    "Vivi, don''t" I said, quickly. "It''s not worth it"

    Vivi grinted her teeth. "Joyce is one of Lady Sable''s friends. She must have called Sable and told her about this appointment. And I feel that Sable is doing this on purpose. But I didn''t know that Joyce would join her game. Should I call Alpha Lucien

    I took a deep breath in. "No. Let''s just wait here. I

    I''m sure that they will finish in less than an hour."

    I felt so stilled in the boutique that I wanted to get out and let out a loud scream in the open. I hade here because Lucien said this was the best boutique in the pack''s territory, and so I waited. When I lifted my eyes, I saw Sable looking at me with a malicious gleam in her eyes.

    We sat in silence as the minutes dragged on, turning into hours. Every time I nced up, Sable was modeling another breathtaking gown with Joyce gushing over how radiant she looked. Two more sales girls were dancing around her, saying that she was fit to be the firstdy of the pack.

    This one is exquasine, Joyce cooed, adjusting the shimmering train of Sable''s dress. "Alpha Lucien won''t be able to take his eyes off you. His attention won''t be on the breeder even though he would be marrying her. Everyone startedughing

    Sable smirked, twirling in front of the mirror. That''s not the point," she mused, casting a nce at me through the reflection. I''m notpeting with anyone. I just want to look good at his wedding because I know people would be sympathizing with me." She sighed. "I don''t want to give them an idea that I''m affected. Honestly, I want the best for him."

    Joyce nodded eagerly. "Exactly. And we want only the best for him"

    I swallowed down the humiliation, my hands tightening in myp. Vivi, beside me, radiated pure fury, her fingers twitching like she was one breath away from grabbing the nearest disy rack and hurling it at them. I ced a calming hand on hers, but my own patience was running thin

    12:20 PM

    Three hourster, Joyer finally turned to me with a condescending smile. She held out a idress¡ªan ugly, outdated thing that looked like it belonged in a dusty attic. ¡°Here. This is all we have for you. I can''t waste the pack''s resources on something extravagant for you, especially after we know that you will not be around after a year" she said, voice dripping with rudeness. "You''re just a breeder, after all," Her eyes weist to Sable who was twirling in a whitecy dress, the salesgirls giggling how beautiful she looked. "Sable, on the other hand, needs to look her best for Alpha tarcien''s wedding She is the future, you see. And this is the only time the most look her best. Unfortunately, she won''t be marrying him. Oh, the sacrifice!"

    I took a deep breath, forcing myself to stay calm. "Could you show me something else!" Lasked as politely as I could, though my voice wavered slightly.

    Joyce''s expression hardened. "That''s unnecessary," she said sharply. "This is more than suitable for you. Now, hurry up and take it. I have no more

    time to waste

    I swallowed my pride, reaching out hesitantly, but Joyce clicked her tongue impatiently. "And be quick about it. You shouldn''t be lingering here any longer than needed."

    Sable watched the entire exchange with an amused smirk, saying nothing as if the insult was beneath her concern. I felt a cold p?t settle in my stomach. It was like she orchestrated this humiliation. When I nced at her, she simply scoffed, running her hands over the silk of her gown, trying to convey that I was just an ant in the power dynamics of the Shadowfang pack

    Vivi was ready to explode, but the bell above the door chimed, and I froze sering who just walked in.

 Chapter 36

    Auren POV

    After handing the dress to me, Joyce quickly w

    went back to Sable where she started measuri

    measuring her waist. "Should I adjust it here?" she asked sweetly.

    The bell above the door chimed. I snapped my gaze at the door and a wave of shock cruised through my body.

    Alpha Lucien

    He entered the shop, his dark gaze searching. The moment Lucien stepped inside, the air in the boutique turned thick with so much tension that could be cut with a knife. His presence was like a violent storm rolling in, dark and crackling with fury Every conversation stopped. Every sound stopped-the ner of hangers, the rustling of fabric and even the smugughter that had beening from Sable and the salesgirls. He wasn''t alone. Tarian walked beside him and his expression was fierce as his gaze swept over the ene

    Lucien''s sharp eyesnded on me first, dark and possessive. My breath lodged throat. Then his gaze shifted andnded on Sable. The air turned razor-

    in my

    sharp

    Sable wearing a white wedding gown with Joyce measuring her waist. They both stiffened, as they turned to face him.

    Sable smoothed a hand over the expensive wedding gown she''d been faunting in my face just moments ago, her lips parting as if she was about to Jay something. She fluttered her eyshes and bowed to him. "Alpha Lucien, I''m buying a dress for your wedding." She looked down at the silk of her gown. "How do I look?" She smirked with her chin up, ncing at me.

    Lucien didn''t acknowledge her. He didn''t even look at her properly. Sable, who had been basking in her moment of superiority, went rigid when he dismissed her so fast and her confidence wavered.

    Lucien''s focus shifted to Joyce, who was trembling where she stood. She bowed to him, flinching so hard she nearly dropped the measuring tape in her hand

    His voice was quit. Too quiet. "What the hell is going ont

    "A-Alpha" Joyce stammered, her hands wringing together. "1-I was just assisting a valued customer W-what brings you here, Alpha Luclen?" she added as her earlier arrogance evaporated. It looked like she was going to faint anytime now. Her panic was evident.

    Lucien''s icy stare locked onto her. In a deadly calm voice he said. "Have you kept my Luna waiting for over three hours?"

    How did he know? Was he keeping a tab on me just likest time? I let out a ragged breath. Things were about to get interesting. I nced at Vivi and guessed that she must have sent him a message. Vivi pursed her lips and shrugged, and my doubes got confirmed.

    "N-no!" Joyce stuttered. "I-1 didn''t Sh-she was here choosing a gown. She wasn''t sure what she wanted."

    Lucien took a step forward and his alpha aura spilled out. Everyone cowered shaking like they could fall. "So instead of assisting your future Luna, you chose to ignore her and, in the end, handed her that fucking gown!" His lip curled into a cruel snarl "Do you think that she is going to marry me. Alpha of the North, in that fucking piece of shit

    "A-Alpha" she stammered; tape falling from her hands, "There was a misunderstanding,

    "A misunderstanding" His voices wedding gown."

    sliced through the air. "What I see is my mate being humiliated while someone insignificant prances around in a

    ma

    Joyce went down her knees so fast I thought she might faint. "I-I meant no disrespect!" she gasped. "It was just

    "Just what?¡± Lucien''s voice sharpened, his rage simmering just beneath the surface. ¡°Just another way to make a mockery of my Luna Just another attempt to stroke someone else''s ego? Or you think that your future Luna is not worthy of your time! Is anyone more important than her?"

    Joyce let out a choked noise. "N-No, Alpha! I-I can fix this. I''ll give her the best dress, I''l

    Before she could finish, Sable suddenly stepped forward, berexpression desperate. "Alpha Lucien," she said quickly, pasting on an innocent smile. "I had

    no idea Joyce mistreating Auren. It''s unfair."

    I couldn''t believe it. She had thrown Joyce in fire to save herself. I peeked at Joyce and found her staring at Sable with disbelief in her eyes

    "What?" Joyce squeaked. "You were the one who

    Sabie cut her off immediately, "I would never support something like that and I repeatedly asked her to cater to Auren instead of me. In fact," she tumed to me, her voter coated inke generosity. "Auren can have the dress I''m wearing. I was only trying it on, but if she wants it, I don''t mind-

    Lucien turned to her slowly, his fury was barely restrained. The weight of his stare was crushing.

    "If Joyce was mistreating my mate," he said, voice dangerously calm, "hen what were you doing?"

    Sable''s mouth opened. Closed. She blinked rapidly, like she hadn''t expected to be questioned. "I-I didn''t realize-"

    epped toward Sable, and she instmctively took a step back.

    Lucien stepped

    "You didn''t realize?" he said in a lethal voice. "You were standing right here. Watching this happening and you didn''t realize? Are you ying games with me or you think I am dumb"

    Sable flinched. "N-no Alpha. I-Joyce was handling the dresses, I wasn''t involved she quickly tried to get out of the situation.

    Lucien let out a low, mocking chackle. "Not involved His eyes darkened. "You stood by and watched my mate be insulted, and now you want to y the hero?"

    Sable''s lips trembled, but she didn''t dare argue. She looked like she could cry anytime.

    Lucien turned back to Beta Tarian. "Cancel this boutique''s license NOW! She will never sell another dress in this pack again."

    Joyce let out a strangled wall. "No! Alpha, please-1 beg you This is my life''s work-

    Lucien remained unmoved. "Your life''s work was built on disrespect. You don''t deserve a ce in my pack"

    Joyce stumbled forward, hands sped together. "Alpha, please! I-I''ll serve Lady Auren, I swear I design her the most beautiful dress

    Lucien''s

    gaze was pure ice. "You think I''d let my mate wear anything made by you?"

    Joyce whimpered, visibly shaking. "No, please Alpha, no,

    "Tarian" Lucien growled.

    Tarian stepped forward immediately. "Alpha""

    "Burn every dress in this store" Lucien''s voice was like a death sentence. "I don''t

    want a single

    Joyce copsed to her knees, sobbing.

    want a single scrap left"

    Sable waspletely still beside her, gripping the fabric of her gown like it could protect her. Her entire face was rigid with shock.

    Lucien''s gaze flicked to her, filled with nothing but disdain. "You''re pathetic"

    Sable''s lips paned to speak, but she couldn''t find the words.

    Lucien turned back to Tarian, his voice ringing through the room. "Make an announcement to the pack. No she-wolf one is allowed to wear white at my wedding" His gaze cut to me, berce yet passionate "Only Auren will wear white."

    I inhaled sharply, my eyes locked on him as I battled my tears. "Alpha, please!" Joyce cried.

    Lucien, unfazed, turned id me and taking my wrist firmly in his grasp, pulled me toward the exit

    His voice dropped an octave when he said, "We''re leaving. We''ll get your dress somewhere else."

    And just like that, he led me out of the ruins of Joyce''s career-without a single nce back.

    Karma! I wanted to feel sad about Joyce, but I didn''t..

 Chapter 37

    Auren POV

    Lucien led me down the bustling street of the pack''s market square with his grip firm around my wrist as we left behind the Joyce''s ruined boutique.

    As we walked away, I overheard Tarian giving orders quietly to the warriors. Seal the shop as soon as we leave. No one is to step foot inside again." hemanded. "Once everyone''s out, burn it!"

    My heart pounded as we walked from the sheer fee of Lucien''s wrath that I witnessed only a few moments ago. I had never imagined that someone would take such a fierce stand for me. What was It Just a wall flower, a breeder, a wonsin who was rejected because of my omega status. And only an Alpha, the strongest Alpha, had the grit to stand for me. It was rightly said the strongest people are not those who show strength in front of us, but those who win battles we know nothing about.

    Emotions choked my throat and I just stared at Lucien as he pulled me away from that toxic ce, silently thanking the moon goddess and telling her that I''d die happily in his arms. I wished that Alpha Lucien was my mate, but only if wishes were horses.

    He took me through the maze of streets and into a small alley. We stepped into a much smaller boutique which was nestled between two towering buildings. Unlike the grand, pompous atmosphere of Joyce''s boutique, this one felt warm and inviting Soft golden lighting bathed the delicate fabrics that lined the walls. A fain scent of rose and sage lingered in the air.

    A woman in herce fifties looked up from behind the counter, her warm brown eyes widening in surprise. She hurned forward with a respectful nod. Her excitement and shock were brimming to the extent that I almost giggled.

    "Alpha Lucien, it''s an honor," she said, bowing. "And you must be the Luna-to-be"

    I blinked, caught off guard by the genuine kindness in her tone. No sneers, no backhanded remarks just respect. And she called me Luna-to-be. My heart flipped

    Lucien nodded curdy. "Auren, this is Marion. She has been the best dressmaker in the pack for years. But keeps a very low profile"

    Marion beamed. "Thank you for your appreciation, Alpha Lucken. I''m just a small- time shopkeeper," she chuckled.

    Lucien jerked his chin toward me. "I want you to create the most beautiful wedding dress for my Lana."

    Marion nodded eagerly, a blush rising on her cheeks in pure enthusiasm. "Absolutely" she chirped, motioning toward the rows of wedding gowns disyed along the boutique. "It would be my greatest pleasure to dress the Luna for her wedding. Please, take a seat. We''ll find the perfect gown for her.

    Relief flooded through me. She made me feel truly happy, her eyes shining with undeniable respect. Unlike before, there was no hostility in the air. no lingering humiliation.

    "Go with her." Lucien murmured, leaning toward me.

    As I hesitantly went with her, my excitement that had suffed in Joyce''s store, returned. I walked to the aisle where the dresses were hung, my Angers trailing over the delicate fabrics.

    Vivi, who had insisted oning with us, grinned and nudged me. "Now this is more like it I couldn''t help giggling, and shoved all the negative thoughts of Joyce and Sable from my mind.

    Lucien settled into a nearby chair, his legs spread wide, his arms draped over the armrests in an air ofplete authority. His prating gaze never left me as Marion guided me toward the fitting room, holding a selection of gowns that best suited an Alpha''s bride.

    The first dress was simple-an ivory satin gown with a modest neckline and a flowing skirt. It was elegant but in. I stepped out, feeling uncertain as Lucien''s eyes trailed over me. He exhaled through his nose, shaking his head once. "No."

    Marion quickly handed me another. This one was slightly more intricate, with delicatece sleeves and pearl embroidery along the bodice. It was lovely but still I wasn''t confident. I came out of the fating room and walked in front of Lucien again, only to be met with another slow shake of his head. "Not this one either.

    I sighed. What did he want? Marion gave me a few more gowns to try on, but instead, I looked at them and felt like something was missing. "Can you bring a few more?" I asked politely

    Finally, Marion brought out thest gown, and I felt like I found it, but I didn''t know if Lucien would like it. But the moment I stepped into it, I felt different. I was breathtaking-an elegant white gown with an off-shoulder design. The bodice hugged my curves before flowing into a cascading skirt of the softest silk. There were tiny silver moon and star embellishments shimmering in the fabric, catching the light with every movement,

    came out to show it to him, Lucien''s

    "Goddess!" Marion rasped. "You look so beautiful!" She smoothed the skirt and adjusted my sleeves. When I can stare darkened

    His jaw clenched, has fingers curling slightly on the armrest as his gaze roamed from my bare corbones to the curve of my waist and down to the

    126 PM

    skirt. My threat went day under the weight of his scrutiny,

    "This one," he finally said, his voice mough, filed with an emotion I couldn''t figure. His eyes flickered over the intricate details-the stars and moons and the way the fabric hugged my body.

    The longer he looked the heavier the air between us became. Under his intense gaze, my heart hammered wildly. A nest of traitorous butterflies exploded in my stomach. And a blush crept on my cheeks. Gosh, why did his gaze affect me so much?

    Marion hummed in approval. "A perfect choice, Alpha. She turned to me, adjusting the gown slightly. "What do you think, deart"

    I swallowed hard, unable to tear my eyes from Lucien "L. I love it"

    And I did. But what sent a shiver down my spine was how much he seemed to love it, 100.

    Marion began making the final adjustments, speaking with Vivi aboutst-minute aherations, but I barely heard a word. Lucien''s gaze never left me, and with every second that passed, my pulse quickened,

    "What about the train?"Vivi asked Marion.

    "Oh. I''ve got the loveliest fabric for i Marion replied, "Would you like to see it, Vivi?"

    Vivi nodded, and Marion took her to an aiste toward the left. As they disappeared talking to each other, with my hands wringing in front of me I jaid "Tm-

    Lucien shifted in his seat, his knuckles whitening on the armrest as if banting an invisible force. For a moment, it looked like he was about to rise, toe to me- but then he stopped himself. his jaw tightening. The air between us snapped

    Embarrassed. I hit my lower lip and then disappeared behind the changing room curtain, my breath uneven. What were you thinking, Auren? I chided myself. But before I could fully process the tension, the curtain rustled, and Lucien stepped inside. I gasped. His presence overwhelmed the confined space. His burned into mine, dark and user

    "Lucien!" I rasped, goosebumps lining my skin

 Chapter 38

    Auren POV

    He stepped toward me and 1 instinctively stepped back. My back pressed to the wall as I craned my neck up to meet his intense eyes. They shed golden and I stifled a moan. My breath hitched as he leaned down, his lips hovering just above mine, but not touching them.

    "You look beautiful¡± he murmured, his voice thick with something dark, possessive.

    My heart hammered in my chest. He had never spoken like this to me, and so his words meant a great deal to me. They were full of possessiveness and ferocity. "Th-thank you," I replied, my lips qubering.

    A growl rumbled in his chest, and then he leaned his forehead on the wall beside my head with one hand caging me on the other side. His body was so close to me that I could feel heat radiating from him. He turned his head toward me as his other hand slid down my neck and rested on the point where his mark would sit. He stared at it for long as if he wanted to burn the memory of this moment into my skin. I clenched my fists right unul my knuckles were white. My body arched, craving for his touch but he didn''t touch me. All I wanted was to rub myself against him. His vicinity was creating so much havoc in my mind.

    "Lucien," I gasped, my body burning for more.

    He leaned in a bit closer, inhaled my scent and closed his eyes. "You''ll be the death of me," he muttered. "I can''t wait-

    I swallowed my entire body trembling. "I should go."

    With his finger, he trailed my jawline and brought his thumb to brush against my lower lip, his dark eyes hooded with barely restrained hunger "I don''t think I can let you go."

    I didn''t know what he meant, but gods, I didn''t want him to

    A rustle on the changing room curtain shattered the moment. Manon''s gentle voice came in. "Luna, are you ready!"

    I sucked in a sharp breath. "Lucien," I whispered, my voice barely audible.

    Lucien closed his eyes briefly, as if reigning himself in. He stepped back a few momentster, his hands lingering on my waist for just a second longer "Go" he murmured, his voice strained. "Before I forget why we''re here."

    Llet out a shaky breath and turned to walk out, but I didn''t miss the way his eyes followed me, dark with unspoken promises. This wedding was going to change everything.

    It was then that my gaze dipped lower and I froze. There was a massive bulge in his pants. My brows furrowed as I blinked at it my mind scrambling to make sense of why this kept happening around me. Was it some sort of injury? A recurring swelling condition! Maybe he needed medical attention.

    I hit my lip, debating my options. I could ask him directly-but what if it was rude? Maybe Vivi would know? No, that might be too personal, Perhaps I should bring it up with the pack doctor? The thought of knocking on the infirmary''s door and exining. ¡°Hi, I think Alpha Lucien might have a chronic swelling issue in his pre-pre. Could you check made me pause. Or I could just ask him,

    Did it just twitch! I prayed silently, oh goddess, whatever it was, please make it right

    I lifted my eyes, fully prepared to ask him only to find Lucien watching me. He had an intense expression, his jaw was tight, like he was holding himself together by a thread.

    I hesitated "Lucion

    His eyes flickered with something dangerous. "Yes?"

    Iswallowed. Should I say it!

    I almost did. The words were right there. But at thest second, something in his eyes changed, like a warning wrapped in the darkest temptation. It made my throat go dry.

    "N-nothing" I mumbled, quickly going out. I could still feel his stare on my back, hot and heavy.

    When I came out, I saw Marion standing and her jaw dropped to the floor. She was dustered when she saw Alpha Lucien walking right behind me. "Ev- everything okay?" she almost squeaked

    Alpha Lucien brushed my shoulder as he walked past me. "Everything''s fine, Marion," he said. "Make the adjustments and send the dress to the house tomorrow

    "Yes Alpha," she replied, bowing,

    1221 PM

    Then he said. "We have to go. Auren"

    My heart pounded as I changed back into my clothes, my thoughts torn between Lucien''s strange reactions and the growing tension between us. Like we were both teetering on the edge of something neither of us understood or maybe I didn''t understand

    When I came out, I saw Lucien giving his card to Marion who was overjoyed as she swiped it. "Is there anything else you want to buy for her she asked. "Not here,¡± he replied and collected the card.

    I wondered what else he wanted to buy? I had everything I needed and then

    some more.

    "We have to stop at the jewelry store next, Lucien said and my mouth dropped to the floor. He came to me, closed my mouth by curling his finger beneath my chin, and chuckled. "Did you think that my Lana wouldn''t wear any jewelry!"

    Elder Ryna already gave me a beaded ne." I argued. "Please don''t buy it for me. It will." I lowered my y head. "It will go for a waste."

    His chest rumbled with a dangerous growl. I froze. He turned to me, grabbed my shoulders and growled. "Never say that again, okay?"

    I sucked in a sharp breath, nodding rightly.

    As soon as we stepped out of the boutique, I saw Tarianing toward us.

    ¡°Alpha.¡± Tarian said, his tone all business. "The Alphas and Lunas have started arriving. We''ve arranged amodations for them in the hotels

    cross the pack grounds"

    Lucien exhaled slowly, the tension in the air shifting as he reined himself back in. "Good. Any issues?"

    "None so far, Tarian replied. "But there''s a lot of them. More than expected. Every ally Alpha and Luna hase, and their entourages are sizable. It seems they''re all eager to witness this wedding firsthand."

    A strange feeling twisted in my stomach. Of course, they were eager. It wasn''t every day a cursed Alpha took a mate. I swallowed hard. But my thoughts turned to one wolf in particr

    Alpha Bram. Was he here? Would hee to watch the mate he rejected stand beside another Alpha Was he here to celebrate the beginning of my end? Had he brought Marist Thest time I saw them, they''dughed in my face, threatened me, discarded me, happy I was going to face my doom. happy that they used me in the best possible way.

    But now! Now, I was about to be Luna to one of the most feared Alphas in existence

    With that thought, I lifted my chin, as my confidence returned.

    Let them watch. Let them all watch.

    With so many thoughts churning in my mind. I didn''t realize that I was already in

    the jewelry shop seated next to Lucien, every person watching as excitedly

    "Do you like this?" Lucien said, pointing somewhere

    ht with matching earrings. "I love it,"

    My gaze snapped. Goddess, It was a breathtaking ne with moon-cut

    diamonds, shirmering under the Light I murmured.

    "Pack 1 Lucien ordered.

 Chapter 39

    Muren POV

    We returned home after shopping. My mind was a whirlwind of emotions. I was exhausted and wanted to go back to my room and get some sleep, but Lurien insisted that I have dinner, When I refused, he said. "If you like, you can have dinner in your room."

    1 rubbed the back of my neck and smiled. ¡°That would be great. Saying that, I walked to my room and flopped on the bed and waited for Viv Remembering the events of the day. I let out a deep sigh. Sable, Joyce, Marion. I dragged myself to my feet and started to remove my dress when a knock on my door sounded, "Come in." I saidzily as I looked in the mirror of my dresser and removed earrings. Shock rippled through me when

    I saw that the door opened and Lucien entered with a tray of food. "Alpha Lacien!" I squeaked and got up instantly.

    Without tearing his gaze from me, he kicked close the door and sauntered toward me. "Dinner. For you."

    A blush crept an my cheeks with every step he took toward me because all I could see was that the top two buttons of his shirt were now open and his tattoos were showing "Th-thank you. You can keep it there, I pointed to the table, mahle to tear my gaze from his tattoos.

    He raised an eyebrow and my heart thundered in my chest. How could I ask him to do that? But fe ced the tray on the table and instead of leaving, sat on the couch next to it. He gestured at the food with his chin. "Come here and have it."

    I hastily went to the couch, sat as far away as possible from him and quickly started gobbling the chicken sd, When he didn''t say a word as I ate, 1 started squirming under his unreadable gaze. Was I looking tired? Did I have dark circles under my eyes? Or was it something else? I touched my face with my hands, and with a stuffed mouth asked, "severyingbopay!"

    He cleared his throat. "Everything is okay" Then he muttered, "More than okay"

    I frowned when he inhaled deeply, and sat backzily with his arm thrown on the backrest, like he was enjoying the sight. Just then there was another knock on the door. "Who''s there?" Lucien growled, not liking the intrusion.

    The door opened and I saw Tarian with a set of documents. "Alpha?" he said and walked in without permission

    "What are you doing here?" Lucien growled.

    Tarian came to sit between us because that was the only ce left. "Lady Auren has to attend some rituals," he said as he picked up garlic butter shrimp and ate it from my te. Then he gave some documents to Lucien. "The Shaman has called her tomorrow morning. This is the schedule

    "Thanks for letting me know. Now you may leave," Lucien snapped, taking the paper, "And if you''re hungry, you can go down and have food. This is for me and waren."

    Goddess, I couldn''t believe that Lucien was being so checky.

    Tarian whipped his head to look at his Alpha, "S-sorry Alpha, it was just a small bite," he said

    Feeling embarrassed, I said, "Oh, you may take more." I was about to pick-up another piece to give to him, up and perched himself, rather, forced himself right between us with documents in his hands.

    when in a sh of a moment. Lucien got

    "Stop feeding him," he said impatiently. "You can only feed me," he ordered. Saying that, be opened his mouth,

    I didn''t know what to do, but I exchanged a nce with Tarian, my blush

    deepening and I put the shrimp in Lucien''s mouth. As Lucien read the document. I fed him more while Tarian watched us stunned as hell

    Suddenly, Lucien turned his face toward Tarian to say something, and in

    confusion, I dropped the shrimp. "Sorry!" I squeaked. "I dropped it"

    Lucien said, "It has gone inside my shirt. Can you take it out?"

    "What?" My eyebrows shot to my hairline.

    "Come on, hurry up" Lucien said. "That thing is prickly as hell! I could''ve taken it out, but I''m reading these sacred documents."

    Mortified, I blinked

    my eyes,

    and a stunned Tarian seemed like he was transported to a differem world

    Hesitantly. I put my hand inside his shirt, my blush spreading to my chest. I searched for it, but couldn''t find ic

    "You can open buttons of my shirt to fish it out," Lucie suggested, leaning back and smirking.

    Thit my lip opened the buttons and when I spread open his shirt, I saw the shrimp tucked inside the waistline of his pants. God damn it. Curling my finger, 1 fished it out and by that time, I saw the familiar bulge in his pants. But it was bigger.

    "Oh my goddess" I eximed frantically. "Your pre-pee!" I poimed at it. ¡°It''s swollen. More than thest time!"

    This time Than''s eyes alsonded there. Then his gaze snapped to Lucien''s face who red at him as if daring him to speak. "Get Out" Lucien

    12:21 PM

    Chapter.

    39

    growled to hom

    Tarian terally disappeared from there, muttering something about food porn.

    Half an hourter, when I finished, Lucien was still lounging in his open shirt. My mind was a marx-not just from the disy he''d put on in front of Tarian, but from those tattoos. I had to force my case back to the food, refusing to let them distract me. And Latin-the strongest wolf of the North-was dearly enjoying my struggle. Because not once did he move...

    He made me read the schedule a number of times while watching me. Eventually, he got up and walked to his room through the door that connected our rooms.

    I sucked in a sharp breath when the door closed behind him. What the hell was going on with hind

    Next day. I went to the temple along with Vivi for the Luna part ceremony. The morning air was cool against my skin as I stood before the grand ceremonial altar, my heart pounding. I was made to wear a white ceremonial rolic. The Shaman stood in front of me, holding a bowl filled with

    cred water, Some park members surrounded us in a quiet semicircle, as we waited for the ritual to begin, each holding an incense.

    "The Luna Pact has been broken for centuries," the Shaman began. "The bond between Alphas of the North and the Moon Goddess has weakened. And with it, the Bride''s Bane curse that gues your Alpha''s bloodline remains unbroken."

    My fingers tightened around the edge of my ceremonial robe

    Shaman conunued. "A cruel fate where every woman destined to be with Alpha Lacien would die within a year.

    It was the first time I was hearing of it so openly, the weight of it setting on my shoulders like an invisible chain.

    "You must perform this ceremony to seek the Goddess''s favor, the Shaman continued. "Only the right soul can unshackle the binding. If you are truly meant to be his mate, she will bear you."

    I knew that it was just a ritual and nothing else. My destiny was already carved in stone. I swallowed hard and stepped forward to take the bowl of

 Chapter 40

    Auren POV

    The Shaman handed me the bowl of water and 1 looked at it with uncertainty.

    "Kneel," he instructed, and I obeyed.

    He ced a silver pendant in my palm which was the shape of a crescent moon. "Offer your prayer," he said,

    I took a slow breath and closed my eyes. As I offered my prayers, the entire pack watched me. There was a hush over the gathering.

    My mind scrambled for the right words. "Moon Goddess," 1 began, my voice barely above a whisper. "I don''t know if I am the right soul to break this curse, but if I am, grant me your strength" Something pulsed around me, but I think it was a trick of my imagination.

    The Shaman took the bowl and poured the water over my hands. It dripped onto the ceremonial stones beneath me.

    "Rise," the Shaman ordered. When 1 rose, my eyes nced at the cround and I saw Lucien standing at the edge of the crowd with his arms crossed. his intense gaze lorked on me.

    The rinual ended, and I felt a strange sensation working its way up me. Like I was exposed to the moon goddess in more than one way, Lucien came jo me and guided me out of the ce with possessiveness.

    The entire day passed by doing one thing or the ather. I was taken to several plices where I had to offer my pledges. Orphanages, hospitals, nurseries, series of charities and much more. I was constantly changing clothes and wearing matching jewelry Lucien was extremely busy with the wedding preparations, but I don''t know how he managed toe and see me at these events. And every time I saw him watching me with the same intense gaze. It was overwhelming, but I liked the way he looked at me possessively. Like I belonged to him. Even if that was temporary.

    At the end of it. 1 was very tired but there was the pre-wedding party I had to attend,

    As I stood in front of the mirror in my room, adjusting the ruby ne around my neck. I felt Lucien''s presence before I saw him.

    fre wearing it wrong." he murmured behind me.

    "You''re

    My breath lodged in my throat as his fingers brushed against my skin. He corrected the way the ne sat on my corbone, his touch lingering longer than necessary. My pulse stuttered.

    For

    a moment, I thought he might say something, but he only met my gaze through the mirror and stepped away. The tension between us hadn''t eased. If anything, it had grown heavier-thick, and filled with words neither of us dared to say. And with the wedding drawing closer, I wasn''t sure how much longer we could keep pretending

    He drank me in, and then offered his arm. As we walked down the stairs, he said, "Many wolves from neighboring packs have arrived. They will try to contact you, but don''t meet them"

    "Why?" I asked, furrowing my eyebrows,

    A muscle feathered in his jaw. "Because some of them are unmated."

    So I''ve already told everyuar that you won''t meet anyone. That''s it?"

    I blinked my eyes at him, unable to understand the reason for his orders, but I didn''t argue,

    When we reached the venue, a horrible surprise was waiting for me. I saw that Lucien had invited the Elders, council members and a few Alphas and Lunas. And amongst them was Alpha Bram and Maris. My heart rate spiked and I clutched Lucien''s arm rather tightly. He turned his head and narrowed his eyes. "I can sense your spiked heartbeat, What''s wrong?"

    "It''s nothing" I muttered, feeling the weight of Bram''s eyes on me. Dams it. Why was it that the mate bond still lingered inside me? It felt so rotten. so horrible that I wanted to get rid of it. Maris was standing beside him. While he wore a navy suit, she was in an azure silk off-shoulders dress. Maris looked at me with so much haired in her eyes that it pulsed in the air. My eyes went to her neck and I realized that she wasn''t marked as yet. Strange. Didn''t they marry

    "it you''re thinking about Bram and Maris," Lucien said in a low voice. Then remember that I called them just to show who you belong to, and that if they dare mess with you, they mess with me."

    His words sent a wave of warmth in my heart. I chuckled. "Thank you." I lifted my chin up and walked to the ce where Tarian was waiting for us. He smiled and gave me a tight nod. Then he began introducing us to all the Alphas and Lunas,

    1 could sense how everyone looked at me with curiosity, wonder, pity and some with jealousy. When we reached Bran and Maris, both Lucien and I quickly said hello and moved on. However, bad things had to happen.

    1221 PM d

    While Lucien was talking to a bunch of Alphas a few feet away, I was sitting at the table designated for us and talking to two Luras from ally packs about the various events 1 attended From the periphery of my vision, I saw Maris walking toward my table. She ut three seats away and gave me a mocking smile

    "Well, well it seems our line omega has spun quite the web around the Alphs of the North," she said, plucking a grape from the fruit bowl and slipping it between her lips. "I mean a formal mamuge?"

    The two Lunas froze and became quiet. Feeling embarrassed, I bit my lip, heat rising on my checks.

    Maris continued, "You''re doing a good jobs, breeder" She leaned in and growled, "Just make sure you get pregnant as soon as possible-after all, that''s your real purpose here. Don''t forget your ce. Other than that, all this?" She waved at the hall and its opulence, "It''s meaningless. Alpha Lucien is only trying to make you feel better before you die." She scoffed. "Orr because you''ll die soon, he''s making the best use of you. Why not take advantage of a doomed bride! No one in their right mind would willingly marry him anyway. And you- she smirked, tilting her head. "you''re the perfect scapegoat."

    Tears welled in my eyes. Maris knew how to insuh you. Other Lanas were stealing nces at me. I took a ragged breath and was about to excuse myself when I felt a familiar presence behind me.

    "I see you''ve already talked to my Luna" Lucien said as he ced his hand on my

    y shoulder.

    "Al-Alpha Lucien, Maris got up, fastered as hell, her chair falling behind her. He leaned in slightly and his voice dropped in a dangerous low. "If I''m taking advantage of the situation, then Auren is quite an opportunity for me. because she''ll be the one wearing my mark, and not you. If I remember correctly, your father offered your hand in marriage to me a few months ago, and I rejected aff Maris gasped, flushing deeply. "1- s-sorry. I was just-" She got up and scurried away.

    Istifled

    myugh as I watched her running back to Bram

    Wait Maris was offered to Alpha Lucien?

 Chapter 41

    Earlier, when I saw Marising toward Auren, I knew too well that malicious intent she had in her eyes. Maris was looking for an opportunity to find her alone and then insult her in the best way she could. She was a ssic case of rejection. (from me), and having unhinged jealousy toward Auren. It was evident how much she warned to be in the shoes of Auren.

    When she spoke with Auren and humiliated her in front of the other two Lamas, I was listening to her, thanks to my extra sensory perception. Also, the reality was that I couldn''t stop myself from listening to Auren. It was like my entire being was attuned to her. Even my wolf was purring inside me like a kitten, nagging me to sit with her. While talked to other Alphas, Remus was only paying attention to her. And he loved her enthusiasm. The boy was having moon eyes for her. Like she was the center of his universe.

    So when I heard Maris spewing venom to my Auren, I couldn''t stop myself. Leaving the conversation in the middle, much to Tarian''s chagrin, I just walked there andshed at Maris, hitting her on the right spot, below the belt, where it hurt the most. She left, her face painted with shame, but what happened next was something I wasn''t prepared for

    The two Lunas next to Auren bowed to me and left sheepishly. I sat next to Auren and asked, "You are fine!" I was surprised with concern in my voice.

    She nodded, and then she looked into my eyes, Fuck. Those gray eyes-they could look into my soul, and destroy me and I''d ept it happily. I felt so exposed in front of her

    "Maris was offered 16 you, Alpha Lucien!" she asked in a cautious tone.

    I blinked at her question. I mean after all that she just went through she asked me that I tilted my head and narrowed my eyes to assess her. Was she jealous of Maris or was she sad about it? While jealousy was cute, her sadness was disturbing ¡°It doesn''t matter," I replied. "Her father offered her hand to me a few months ago, but I refined".

    "Why?" she asked softly, her dor like eyes drilling into me.

    "Because I didn''t want to marry her. Simple."

    "Or because you were afraid that she''d die after marrying you! And you took me in because my life is useless!"

    I was uken aback by her question. "Auren, I''m not concerned about her. My concern only lies for you."

    She lowered her head, not convinced by my answer. I took her small hands in mine and squeezed them gently "I could''ve married anyone I liked, Auren, but I didn''t. Because I chose you."

    She pursed her lips and looked away. Was my answer not convincing Goddamnit! "Auren, you have to understand

    ¡°Alpha Lucien, Tarian''s urgent voice cut through the conversation. "It''s time for dinner. People are waiting"

    I looked at Auren who appeared crumpled and I didn''t like it at all. So I pulled her to her feet and said, "Stop being jealous of something that wasn''t there. Come, let''s have dinner." But why did I feel like this was our first fight? On one hand, it made my heart butter out of excitement and tenderness I''d never felt before, on the other hand, I didn''t like the way she was subting. And I didn''t even know what I had done. But all I knew was that I wanted to correct this situation. As I tugged her with me to the long table where dinner wasid, I noticed that Maris and Bram were sitting farthest from us. Good, because I wanted to kill Maris for humiliating my Luna

    I pulled the chair for Auren to sit on my right as Tarian sat on my left. Then I sat at the head of the table. The Alphas toasted for us and I thanked them, but my entire attention was on Auren. At the end of the dinner she said in a low voice, "I''d like to go out

    I realized that she needed space, so I nodded. But I opened my mind link with Tarian and said, "Ask two of our bercest warriors to guard her from the sludows

    While I went to the adjacent hall with others to have wine, Auren walked out in the cool air of the night. My wolf became uneasy. There are sa many unmated Alphas out there. What if someone approaches her?!

    ''She needs space. I can''t impose myself on her, I argued even though I was uneasy as hell From the corner of my eye, I saw Bram and Maris leaving, which was good because I didn''t want to see them. Having them here was like something bitter on my tongue that I couldn''t quite spit out.

    Auren POV

    around the venue, making them appear darker, just like my thoughts.

    I walked out of the hall into the open, Moonlight sprinkled over tall trees aroun

    I had no right to feel jealous, but here I was, feeling this seathing jealousy. I was jealous of Maris when Bram chose her over me. But I was a thousand times miserable now. I didn''t know that she was offered in marriage to Alpha Lucien as well. My thoughts were unreasonable, but ! couldn''t help feeling possessive about Lucien Of all the she-wolves in the world, why was it Maris always? I tipped my head up and looked at the stars and moon, sighing, wiping alone tear that fell down my cheek

    "Auren," a deep voice came from behind, snapping n me from my thoughts. Without turning I knew who it was. I stayed silent because Bram was the Chapter 41

    He came to stand in front of me. "I see that you''re dating well in your job," hemented.

    1 grined my teeth but didn''t reply, staring at him with hatred even though I was trembling on the inside out of fear. His rejection still pinched me. but I wanted to gri away from him as far as possible. Having been born and brought up in his pack, under his constant abhorrence and dislike had ms toll on my psychology

    He took a step forward, invading my personal space. 1 finched and free on my spot. He leaned forward and inhaled my scent, shuddering visibly. Then his hand shot up and he took a strand of my hair in between his thumb and forefinger. "Thave a proposition for you," he said in a low voice, his eyes never leaving my face. "After seeing you with Lucien, my wolf has revolted. He wants you back"

    My jaw dropped as I stared at him with wide eyes, dubelief crashing inside me. He brought my strand of hair to his nose and closed his eyes, inhaling deeply. "When you were in my pack, even though I couldn''t ept you, your sinell calmed my wolf. But ever since you''ve left, he is going crazy, and I have realized the biggest mistake of my life. The goddess chose you as my mase for a reason. So-" He leaned forward and whispered in my ear. "Come back to me. Auren. I''ll reject Maris, and take you as my Luna. You don''t have to be Lucien''s doomed bride.

 Chapter 42

    Auren POV

    Disbelief sted inside me but it was revulsion that warred with every other emotion I was feeling for Brain. I stared at him as my mind scrambled for words. How could a wolf be so selfish to his mate! He openly told me that when I was in his pack, my smell calmed his wolf, and yet he didn''t oncee to soothe me or help me out. He just continued to watch me suffer.

    "You threw me in the dungeons for something I never did. "Maris used me, beat me, and you stood by and let it happen" My throat tightened, but I pushed forward. "You let me suffer because even though I was thrown in the dungeon. I was there in your pack. Your wolf could smell me and stay calm even as you did everything to torture me. Not once did youe to see me or ask if I was okay- because as long as my presence soothed your wolf, my pain didn''t matter."

    He clenched his teeth in frustration. "You need to understand. Auren-you''re just an omega. How could you expect me to ept you! Your rank is far beneath mine. Do you think it was easy for me to ept the Moon Goddess''s choice! I mean how could fate give you to an Alpha like me? It felt like a mistake-one I wasn''t ready to ept."

    Oh. My. God. He was so shallow. "And that''s why you let me suffer? And if that is so, why have youe back to me now?" asked, trying to rein in my tears. How much more could he hurt me

    "Because now, I can''t live without you," he said, his voiceced with impatience. "It''s unbearable inside me. My wolf-he''s falling apart without you. He is a mess, but now that I am standing with you, he is calm. He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "So I want you back. Auren. I see it now-t

    v-that denying you wasn''t right."

    I closed my eyes, my heart torn between that fading mate attraction and the one that he was trying to ignise. When I opened my eyes, I said. "So let me get this straight that you knew that I might be your mate, and while you were constantly attracted to me, you went ahead and brought Maris to your pack and dered that she would be your Luna?"

    He shified on his feet, tipping his head up. "Yes, at that time I didn''t have an option. Maris has Alpha blood and she was stronger than you. Bur- He looked away. "I underestimated the power of a mate bond" His eyesnded on me again. "Come back with me. Auren.

    I scoffed. "So let me sum up for you, Alpha Bram. You yed with me, you neglected the mate bond we had. It was you who rejected the band, not me. You favored Mans over me to the extent that she kept ming me for the smallest of the mistakes 1 didn''tmit, and you just overlooked to please her. She punished me because I breathed the same air as you. She knew that you were my mate, and she punished me severely for that, and you you continued to stand on the sidelines and watched me endure her torturing me. Why? You were so selfish to me at that time, and now that your wolf is unable to bear it anymore, you want me back?"

    "Look Auren, I realize my mistake, and I''m ready to make amends," he said, trying to assure me

    "Really? Can you give me back all the time I spent suffering?" I asked, my voice so hoarse with clogged emotions that my throat was hurting.

    "can''t, he replied. "But if you''lle, I''ll try to make up for that time."

    you''ll

    "Wow!" I shook my head at his reply. He didn''t have the audacity to ask me out loud in front of others or in front of Alpha Lucien because he was scared of him. That''s why he chose toer me when I was alone. I crossed my arms across my chest. "And what about Maris?" I asked.

    He replied instantly, "Tll ask her to leave."

    ¡°Oh, so you haven''t asked her to leave until now? Even though you are suffering from inside and want me back!"

    He gaped at me. "I want to be sure that you wille back to me, Auren," he said without an lots of remorse. "How can I ask her to leave otherwise!

    "Goddess, you are so horrible!" I fumed. "She''s the bird in your hand, while I''m the one in the bush-the one you hope to catch"

    He narrowed his eyes as his hand shot to my throat. He growled. "Auren, you are getting way ahead of yourself. Behave yourself! 1 am still your Alpha and you will talk properly with me, and listen to mymand. I will be doing a big favor to you by asking you toe back with me and then rejecting Maris. So you better fucking understand my dilemma. It''s not an easy decision!"

    1 gripped his wrist with both hands. ¡°Leave me!¡± 1 heard a low warning snarl from nearby.

    He whipped his head to see who was there. There was no one, but he left me nheless,

    A4 I rubbed my neck, I asked, "And what about the treaty you''ve signed with / Alpha Lucien!"

    "I''m sure Lucien will understand it. Since we are mates, he won''t be able to stop you. If he stops you. I''ll go to the High Council. In fact, he won''t even attack us because if he does that, the High Council would impeach him and imprison him. A moon bond is sacred above anything else," he pointed

    My eyebrows shot to my hairline. "If a moon bond is so sacred, why did you reject me? Why did you send me to Alpha Lucien as his doomed bride?" He opened his mouth but I put my hand up to stop him. "It was because you were inconsiderate, greedy and egocentric. Not only you got rid of me, you used me to form an alliance with Alpha Lucien, and you tried to secure your future with Maris"

    "Auren"" be seethed. "Yes, I did that! All that you said was important as against an orphan omega like you. You are nothing and by asking you toe back with me. I am actually stooping to a level I never thought I would! So you bettere back with me, else

    "The what Alpha Bram!" I said, my voice growing louder than I intended.

    "Else I am going to

    o tell Lucien that you

    are my male?" he started.

    I took a rough breath in. I just could take his shit anymore. Chuckling dryly, I stepped back. "Alpha Bram, I will not be threatened by you. You may go and tell Lucien whatever you want to, but one thing is clear to me, I will never be yours. And I am going to do something I should have done long ago.

    His eyes widened in surprise or shock. "No, you won''t he seethed, taking a step toward me, understanding my intention. "You will not say a fucking word!"

 Chapter 43

    Auren POV

    Sienna was whimpering inside me because she was badly hurt, but I also knew that she supported my decision

    So I lifted my chin up and said what I should have said long back, "1, Auren Cressida, ept the rejection of Alpha Bram Reed of the Crimson

    Pack

    "Nooo!" Bram shouted in a hoarse voice, stumbling backward. He pped his hand on his chest, his breath turning shallow. "No, no, no!" he rasped in agony. "You can''t reject me! Since he was an Alpha, his pain was stronger than mine. He was on his knees and hands, crawling "Take it back. I can''t be swallowed. "I can''t bear the pain"

    for me I experienced the pain as well, but its intensity was less. Hurt, Sienna curled into a ball inside me, going silent. I clenched my fists tightly as tears ran down my cheeks. Even though it pained, 1 felt liberated.

    ¡°Brammnum¡°¡± Maris''s voice tore through the night, "Bramm, baby where are you?"

    "Maris Marks" called her. This bitch-she-she-

    Hearing his voice, Maris came rushing toward us. "Oh, my goddess!" she squealed as she nced at me and then back at him. "What happened! What did she do?"

    "Ahhh" Bram cried as Maris sat next to him and held his quaking shoulders with her hands. "This blich-she hurt me! She''s j-jealous of you!"

    1 shook my head in disgust. "And how exactly does an omega like me hart an Alpha like you?"

    "She hit me wi

    se with that rock!" he said, looking at a brick on the side that was embedded in the soil.

    Maris red at me. "I knew it!" she shouted. "She was always so jealous of me because you wanted me. How could you stoop so low, bitch? You''re already dying and you want him abo to die! Are you so vicious? Do you hate me so much?"

    I let out a dry chuckle through my tears. "I''m not jealous of you, Maris." Then I tilted my head and said to Alpha Bram, "Why don''t you her, that you''re hurting because l''epted your rejection?"

    Maris''s mouth fell to the Boor. The shock on her face was so satisfying that through all the pain I was experiencing, I wanted tough. I added, "He asked me to return, but I won''t. You''re free to marry him. You both deserve each other.

    Saying that, I spun on my heels and walked back, but I stopped after a few steps and turned to them. "And I don''t hate you. Maris. I pity you"I turned and walked back, tears streaming down my cheeks because of all the pain in my heart. However I felt good, like a thousand chains that had shackled me in misery were destroyed.

    A few meters ahead. I saw Alpha Lurien standing, his arms crossed across hischest, watching me intensely. When I reached him, his dark gaze locked on my face, his muscles tense. A spark of warmth red inside my chest. He said. "Let''s go home"

    I nodded. Home. The word meant so much to me. His home was my home. I had officially untied myself from my pack and its Alpha, and wholeheartedlymitted to the Alpha of the North

    Lucien didn''t try to wipe my tears. Instead he ced his hand on the small of my back and guided me to the car.

    Something strange happened. An electric current fired down my body at his touch. There was this boldness that seeped inside me, drowning away. all the insecurities Ifrit with Brain. I didn''t know why but I felt I was incapable of stopping what was to happen between Lucien and me. Was it the beginning of the end!

    When we sat in the car, Lucien pulled me in hisp. He cradled me there tightly without offering words offort, but his gesture was soothing. I needed a shoulder, in his case, a chest, to cry on. So I cried until i couldn''t. I mourned loss of a mate who deemed me unworthy, and cherished the one, who made me feel worthy at every step

    Upon reaching home, Alpha Lucien didn''t let me walk. Instead, he scooped me up in his arms and carried me to my room, and tucked in the bed after taking out my shoes, "Sleep well Auren," he murmured. "Tomorrow is a big day" Saying that, he switched off the lights and exited. I wanted ham to stay with me, maybe lie down with me, but I couldn''t ask him aloud. I don''t know when I drified into sleep.

    Of course, nightmares followed. Thoms, wolves, rejection and dark forest where I was lost, where tentacles of something dark slithered around my legs and pulled me into an abyss. I shouted for help, cried for it, but

    Lucien POV

    As I closed the door behind me, Heaned against it, listening to Auren''s steady breath

    When I had sent my warriors to follow her, they reported to me that Bram was talking to her. My hackles raised and I strode to where they were, but stopped few meters away, listening to their conversation.

    It was a shock to me that Auren was Stram''s mate. At first rage swelled inside me like nothing. Why didn''t she tell me earlier? He had rejected ber and she had suffered all along. I wanted to kill Bram with my bare ws. However, on the inside my wolf was whining and whimpering, wondering why she hadn''t epted his rejection. He was paranoid and panicky. What if she didn''t ept it? What if she went back to him! But if she went back to him, I knew I would respect her decision. However, after her I wouldn''t marry or choose a breeder for my entire life, consequences he

    damned

    But, Auren epted his rejection. I was surprised by the amount of rebel flooding inside me. Remus celebrated, dancing inside me like a kitten. Her answer to Matis was so sassy that my chest swelled with pride.

    Then something strange happened. I was like I was hit with a tsunami so strong that the world tied on its axis. Cround shifted beneath my feet. And Remus snarled possessively. ''Matc,''

    My heart stopped for a second only to beat wildly like that of a racehorse. A primal force surged through. It was raw and hit me like a storm, leaving me breathless. My muscles tensed and left me with a deep, aching pull in my chest. Remus prowled beneath me, restless and demanding ''MINE"

    Auren was my mate! The momentary shock was overpowered with fierce possessiveness. The thought of anyone else near her, touching her or even looking at her, made my blood boil. She was mine to guard, to cherish and fight for "Mark her im her. Protect her.''

    Now I wanted to kill

    I Bram like yesterday. Or anyone who hurt her.

    The feeling terrified me to the core. I never feared anything before, but losing Auren-that would be a nightmare I wouldn''t survive.

    didn''t know if I could reveal it to her now, because she was already in so much pain.

    When she returned to me, she was crying. All I wanted was tofort her in every possible manner. So I let her cry, but in my arms. She had to purge all the negativity associated with Bram. Only then she would be able to move forward

    In her room I tucked her in the nket, and came out, thinking of taking a shower. Instead, I opened the door of her room quietly and went back to her. Her body was covered in sweat

    AD

 Chapter 44

    Lucien POV

    I knew that before announcing Auren as my mate, I had to prepare for those who woulde after her just to get to me. If people discovered that Auren was the mate of the strongest Alpha of the North, they would scrutinize, be antagonized with her and hunt her. While many would strike openly, it was the ones lurking in the shadows that I was afraid of.

    The thought of someone attacking her made a shadder run down my body. I wanted Auren to be happy. She was like sunshine in my life that was slowly driving away the darkness surrounding me.

    +

    I could make everyone believe that she wasn''t my mate, but how long would I be able to pretend, especially when I knew each and every detail of her curves that fa perfectly against me, the way beautiful gray eyes that rounded at the corner when she was curious, the scrunch of her nose when she was disgusted, and the list could go on and on

    A brilliant idea came to me. What if I let other women like Sablee close to me? But the moment the idea came into my mind, I discarded it. Fuck. It was so repulsive that I felt like vomiting.

    In her room, I sat at the edge of her bed, watching her sleep. She was covered in sweat. Logic said that if I went any closer to her, my restraints would snap, and I should get out of her room as soon as possible. That I should move my legs, get up and go away before it is toote. But the only thing that moved was my hand. Surrounded by her intoxicating scent of warm apples, my wolf was going nuts. "Touch her he argued.

    What if she woke up and found me! I''d look like a creep, I argued.

    Tell her that she screamed and you came to see her if she was fine. That''s what you''ve been doing all past nights, Remus suggested.

    I growled at him. ''No that''s what you''ve been doing. You''ve been forcing me to shift and run to her at every darnn opportunity over the past nightst

    "And look how she curled into me, Remus shot back, his toneced with pride

    Panic rolled over me when her head lolled to the side and a crease formed between her brows. She let out a whimper, her hands cluiching the sheet. What was the dreaming? I removed her hands from the sheet and suddenly, her fingers curled around mine, as if seeking protection

    Violent tingles sparked at the touch and I took a ragged breath. My mouth turned dry. The emotions associated with her were now a thousand times amplifed. Auren rolled onto her side, clunching my hand tightly between both of hers. Her nket shifted, her dress slipped lower and half of her boobs popped out. I clenched my teeth, my muscles sensing at the beautiful sight. I stared at her plump breasts like a starved wolf, imagining suckling her. Fuck. Pressure surged in between my thighs and my cock swelled painfully. My eyes dropped lower to her nipples beneath the fabric and I wondered, no waited, for the dress to go lower. I didn''t

    She was so tempting to the level that the mere thought of touching her inappropriately was driving me insane. Not only was she the most beautiful girl on this earth, she was gloriously innocent. And no wonder so many people were attracted to her I gritted my teeth. If anyone touched her. I was going to kill them slowly and painfully

    I drew in sharp air, trying to control my desire for her. By now her breathing had steadied and the crease on her forehead was gone. She looked... peaceful in her sleep.

    Since I couldn''t trust myself or my wolf at this moment, I softly released my hand from hers, and tucked her nicely beneath the nket. Then I sat next to her, willing myself to leave, restraining my wolf to break free. Slowly, after what felt like hours, I reluctantly got up and walked out of her

    room to take a shower.

    Without opening clothes, I strode into the bathroom. There I turned on the cold water and stood under the shower for a long time, willing my cock to go down. But images of my sleeping beauty flooded my mind and I ended up stroking myself.

    It was a big day tomorrow and I didn''t know how I would keep myself away from my maie for twelve hours. I had this strung urge to tell her that I was her mate, but what if she balked. She had already suffered a lot with one brutal rejection. Would she even believe that she had a second chance mate! Her wolf didn''t react like my wolf and so I was sure her wolf was traumatized to the point that she had gone silent inside her. Either way, I was only restless.

    1 rossed and turned in bed until my mind was utterly exhausted. Sleep came, but only in restless fragments. When I woke up in the morning, the first thing I did was to dash to her bedroom. Shock ssed inside me when I didn''t see her inside. And it was just 5AM. Did she run away? No. Goddess. No. Was she kidnapped? Hell I darted down, taking two steps at a time, leaping off the rail of the stairs,nding in the main hall. I was about to shout for Vivi, when all at once a shadow emerged from the darkness on the left.

    "Alpha Lucien!"

    Iwlupped my head to see who it was. "Sable"" I growled, my wsing out. "What are you doing here?"

    She immediately inclined her neck, submitting to me out of fear. "Alpha Lucien, 1-

    1 came to apologize for my behavior in the Celestial Source and at Joyce''s boutique

    I narrowed my eyes, my mind racing to all the infractions from her side.

    She continued, "I asked you to dance with me when you should have danced with Lady Auren

    Ah I didn''t buy her shit, but 1 was curious as to why she was in my house so early in the morning. "And"" Lencouraged ber

    st night because

    "I should''ve been respectful toward her. Instead, I acted on impulse." There were tears in her eyes. "You see, I couldn''t sleep She pursed her lips, because you are the only wolf I''ve ever loved, and now you''re marrying someone else. It''s painful."

    A snarl escaped my lips in a warning to her. "Careful," I growled.

    She was down on her knees. "Please, Alpha Lucien, I don''t mean to be disrespectful, but I just wanted to convey my feelings even if it meant that you would throw me in the dungeons. She started crying

    I red at her. The way her heart thudded, the way her emocions flickered from fear to guili-tell-ale signs of a Bar. What was her agenda? "T you''ve conveyed your feelings, you may leave. And don''t ever speak with me like that Goddess above, give me strength not to kill her

    She stuntered. "N-no, I won''t I just wanted to make it up to Lady Auren" She wrung her hands in front of her "G-can I help her get dressed up the wedding tonight"

    for

 Chapter 45

    Lucien POV

    cocked an eyebrow at Sable''s strange request. It was evident that whatever she said initially about being in love with me was crap, but this request - to assist Auren seemed genuine. But still I didn''t believe her. "My personal stylist Dahlia has returned and so I don''t need your help," I replied. "And now you may-

    Suddenly, there was a loud ng. Like a heavy metalle thing dropped on the floor, followed by a groan. The sound reverberated in the house. I snapped my head toward the source. Someone was in the kitchen. I sniffed the air. Was it Auren? Was she in some kind of trouble? Panicky, I darted toward the kitchen, every dark thought crossing my mind. When I reached there, I saw that the fridge was open and its dim light illuminated the person in front of it. Smell of warm apples wafied. "Auren?" I mattered. What was she doing so early in the morning"

    "How dare you raid this fridge, omega!" Sable''s voice came from behind me. "Don''t you know that this Alpha''s kitchen?" Before I could say anything, she strode in from of me to reach the fridge and pped her hand on the shoulder of the person, making her spin sharply. "What kind of manners have you been taught here!"

    The fridge closed behind her as Auren tumed sharply. 1 saw her with an apple in one hand and a trawberry smoothie in the other. Her eyes rounded at theers as she looked at Sable and then at me with a pale blush rising.

    Relief flooded inside my chest that she was fine. She looked so beautiful with messy golden hair and sleepy eyes that I wanted to go and kiss her Jenseless. But I clenched my fists, and stayed in my ce, scared that my actions would give away her status of being my mate.

    "Oh, Lady Auren?" Sable rasped, stepping back immediately in surprise. ncing at the apple, the chuckled, "What are you doing here so early in the morning? Are you here raiding the fridge like a thief?"

    A snarl escaped me in a warning to her, "Careful, how you talk Sabler"

    Just then Tarian entered the kitchen. He hade to call me to the training grounds

    I noticed a lot of hum in Auren''s eyes and she ced the apple and the smoothie

    on the table. My heart cracked and rage bubbled inside my chel

    "1-1 wasn''t stealing. Since I hadn''t had dinner yesterday, I was

    ay, 1 was very hungry," Auren exined.

    "Oh, I am sorry." Sable apologized. "I only mean that you didn''t have to steal things from here. You could''ve asked someone to bring it for you"

    Tarian narrowed his eyes. He red at her and said, "This is Lady Auren''s home, Sable. Do you use the queen of stealing from her own kingdom? Or "He rounded the ind table and walked to her. "Or are you having trouble remembering your ce!"

    Sable jerked her head back inplete surprise. This was such a p on the face that she blushed in embarrassment. "1-I didn''t mean that, Beta Tarian. I was just

    you didn''t mean that? Are you trying to say that you couldn''t smell her when you reached the kitchen? What kind of a wolf are you?"

    sable gulped because now she couldn''t wriggle out of the deliberate situation she created to insult Auren

    Tarian retorted, "Please understand one thing-Lady Auren will be my Luna, and I won''t tolerate anyone speaking ill of her. If anyone does that again, I''ll simply throw them in the dungeons!"

    Pride swelled in my chest for my Beta. I always knew that Tarian would protect Auren with his life, but this was a step beyond. This was his way of showing his loyalty. Did he suspect that Auren was my male?

    While Sable gasped, Auren''s lips curled up, and she came to me, deliberately biting the apple slowly. Immediately, even though I tried my best to stop myself, my arm wrapped around her waist on instinct. Before I knew it, I pulled her flush against me. It calmed my already frayed nerves and my wolf I turned my gaze at her with affection pouring from every fiber of my being

    Then she turned to Sable and politely said, "I don''t need to steal what already belongs to me." She let the words sink in before adding with a small knowing smile, "But I do appreciate your concern. It''s good to know you''re so invested in ensuring things are done properly at your Alpha''s house. But that won''t be needed from now on." She looked at me. "I''m here to take care of him and his house

    Fuck Her words made my heart tangle in a flurry of emotions I wasn''t prepared for. Fierce possessiveness gripped me. Auren not only dered that she was the mistress of my house, but she was iming me, in her own subtle way. That awakened something primal inside me, something dark and territorial. It looked like she challenged Sable. I couldn''t help admiring her. She wasn''t the weak, doomed, disposable bride they all thought she was. She was proving herself to be far more dangerous.

    Suddenly, I realized how Auren treated the situation. She took advantage of what Tarian said. She came to me intentionally to show Sable who I belonged to and that this house was hers. It added to the overall effect when I curled my arm around her waist.

    Brunt Auren, brilliant.

    Auren took a loud bite of her apple. Ignoring Sable totally, she looked at me. Pluttering her eyshes, she said. "My Alpha, would you like me to ?make breakfast for you!" I wasplricly lost in her. I let out a sigh and nodded.

    12:21 PM

    Her words hat the nad in the coffin. Feeling like a third wheel, Sable started to leave, but just before leaving, she said. "Alpha Lucien, I really would love it if Lady Auren allows me to help her dress her up for the wedding."

    I looked at Auren for her decision. She said. "No thanks Sable, Dahlias already foxed the time. I won''t need your help."

    Sable looked at me, wondering if I would support her. "You heard her. Sable. 1 shrugged. "Auren''s decision is final."

    Sable parsed her lips and walked out of the kitchen. When we heard the door close, Tarian seethed through the mind Link, If you like I can take Auren to my house, but you won''t let Sablee near herf

    "Don''tpel me to murder my Beta? I growled at him. But make sure that Sable doesn''te near this house for the next few days, unless invised:

    "Okay he replied gruffly.

    Auren went to the fridge and took out the batter to make pancakes as I watched her with hooded eyes.

    Seeing you watching her with moon eyes, I assume that you would be skipping the training today, Tarian''s voice came with a sigh in my mind.

    Yeah. Now leave.

    Tarian exited, shaking his head, and I watched my beautiful Luana making food for me.

    In a few hours we would be married.

 Chapter 46

    Auren Boy

    Making breakfast for Lucien was calming. I helped me forget the usations that Sable had made against me Stealing food Alpha Lucien''s kitchen was so vast and had so much food that no one had to resort to straling. Her words recked of jealousy.

    I must have spaced out in my thoughts because I didn''t realize when Lucien came to

    me to stand next to me. Seeing him so near to me was doing things to me. Like an explosion of butterflies just happened in my stomach when my eyes locked with his. Suddenly, I craved his touch and stifled a whimper. Goddess. Just thinking that was enough to beat my checks. "Lucien"" Ibreathed.

    His gaze dropped to my hips and his eyes darkened. "Yes?" He seemed to have spaced out too as he stared at me. My lips to be precise. Did he want

    to kiss me?

    Shoving those stupid thoughts, I said. "I''m sex

    sorry for how I behaved in front of Lady Sa

    Sable. She is an esteemed member of your pack and

    All at oner, his hand shot to my hair, capturing a thick strand and threading it slowly between his fingers. "Forget about her," he replied. And then in a bizarre turn of events, he took the strand to his nose and inhaled it deeply, closing his eyes. When he opened them, they shed golden. My breath lodged in my throat and I stifled a gasp because I knew it was his wolf who was trying to surface. His chest vibrated with a rumble, his fangs slipped out, and I paled in fear

    Did his wolf hate met Sensing my fear, he inmediately tucked the strand behind my ear, and his eyes returned to their normal color. "I-in sorry!" be said through clenched teeth. Then without a word, he turned and stormed out of the kitchen with his fists clenched on the sides.

    My heart was thadding so hard that I leaned against the courser, clutching the edge. What was that? I sucked in a sharp breath. People of higher ranks were the same in every pack. I don''t know why but Sable''s and Lucien''s behaviors reminded me that I was nothing but a breeder. A means to an end. Why did Lucien leave without eating breakfast? Did I do something wrong?

    With a heavy heart. I found myself exiting the kitchen, walking toward the garden and then before I knew it, I was in the forest surrounding the pack. Why was my vision blurry! I didn''t fear the beasts in the forest, I feared the wolves of the packs. My own kind was rude, nahless, unrelenting I don''t know how long I walked, but I stopped in a clearing that was covered with wildflowers. Tears streamsed down my cheeks, and after several ragged breaths, 1 sank on the forest floor and sobbed. Did Lucien reject me in his own way!

    Lucien POV

    As I sat at the ind table, Auren''s scent tagged me toward her. Before I knew, I was walking to her, and with every step, her scent wrapped around. me, warm and soft,ced with something maddeningly sweet. Her hair was a tousled me from sleep, her skin glowing in the morning light. My stomach tightened at the sight of her-barefoot and inst night''s dress that hung off her delicate shoulders, teasing glimpses of the curve of her throat, and where her neck met her shoulder. Where I''d ce my mark

    My wolf stirred violently. im her. Now!

    Like a moth to a fame, I found myself standing beside her, holding a strand of her hair. I couldn''t help inhaling her scent. A low growl rambled in

    my

    cheat when her intoxicating scent filled my lungs, seeping into my veins like wildfire. My fangs slipped out and I had this primul urge to sink my teeth into her soft skin and make her mine right now. My control was slipping faster than sand through my fingers. One more second in the kitchen and I would pin her against the counter and rut her senseless. Heat in my stomach coiled, tight and dangerous My restraint was about to

    map

    I turned sharply and stormed out of the kitchen before I did something I would regret. Because if I stayed back, there would be no stopping me

    When I reached my room. I was so furious with myself that I punched the wall, making a hole inside it with ster splintering. How was I going to stay away from Auren if I didn''t mark her or ims her!

    And if I did that, she wouldn''t survive.

    The thought of killing her gued every waking hour. How was I going to get out of this jeopardy? Why did you do this to me, moon goddess? You gave me a mate and yet you threatened me to take her away if I marked her! "Please lift this curse. I beg of you."

    Images of how Auren reacted to my wolf in the kitchen flooded my mind, enating me with guilt. I ran my fingers through my hair, letting out a rough exhale. I dashed back to the kitchen to say sorry to her. Seriously. I had fought battles, fought rogues and nned massive financial coups, but at this moment. I was utterly lost. I had never apologized to anyone in my life, so any mind was conjuring different ways to say sorry to her for my sudden reaction.

    "You seared our mate! I chided Remus

    "Then im her he growled back.

    As luck would have it. Auren wasn''t in the kitchen. Vivi was there, discussing the

    menu for the day with an omega. "Where''s Auren?" I asked with my brown furrowing

    Vivi shrugged. ¡°I didn''t see her Alpha Lucien?

    Lexhaled in frustration. Opening my mind link, I asked Tarian, "Tod you see Auren?

    No, he replied back with a grunt. "What happened!"

    Tom entered the kitchen, and I asked him,

    "saw

    aw her in the garden," he said.

    I rushed to the garden, but she was nowhere to be found. Where did she disappeart Durk thoughts fogged my mind. Raw panic wed through my thest. My wolf howled frantically inside me. Find her! She could be in danger? My world tiled into chaos. A violent need to find her, protect her, surged through me.

    Maybe she had gone to her room. I dashed back to her room only to feed it empty. Like a mad wolf, I checked every nook ander of my house -the living room, the dining area, the attic and even the basement, but I couldn''t pick up her scent. Every negative emotion crashed inside me in a thousand times amplified version

    My Auren, my mate-she was somewhere out there, hungry, burt and alone, She needed me. Did she leave inc!

    Flost my mind. "No!" I shouted with a violent shunkler. My pack was huge, and so even if she decided to leave me, I was sure that she would be within my pack''s territory. Opening my mind link, I shouted to every patrol party out there, Find Aurent

    A horrible thought came to my mind. Did she go in the forest What if she encountered shadow wolves out there? No, God, no,

    And then I ran toward the forest.

    If you''re reading this book, you can follow me un FB at MishukWrites

    0

    AD

    Comment

 Chapter 47

    1000 years ago.

    As the moon hung high in the sky bathing the Eldermere temple in its soft glow, Nagia stood before the moon goddess''s statue. Her long golden hair cascaded over her shoulders, her blue eyes sparkled and her beautiful face glowed as her heart thudded with both hope and trepidation. She wore a white robe that made her look like she was in clouds.

    She was a priestess born under a rare celestial alignment, with a direct blessing of the Moon Goddess. She was revered in her vige and the High priest favored her while all other priests valued her.

    She was waiting for Alpha Vaslof, the strongest wolf of the North, under whom all the packs were united. She had met him a few months ago when he came to hunt in the forest surrounding Eldermere. Their connection was instant. "Mate," he had growled and ever since they both couldn''t deny the fierce attraction, the fated love, that pulled them to each other with irresistible force

    The High Priest of Eldermere temple had sensed their moon bond, and was more than happy to offer her to Vaslof in marriage.

    "Naqia," the High Priest said. "Are you sure you want to marry him?" he asked as if afraid of what might happen.

    She nodded. "Yes, he is all I dream about," she replied shyly.

    He chuckled. "Vaslod will being any time now. Once he epts you, I will free you from the duties of the temple. The High Priest had called

    him for this purpose.

    Her heart raced at his words. She looked at the flickering candles that she had lit in the temple for Vaslot''s wee. The scent of incense filled the air. Any time now. Excitement thrummed in her body. After this day, she would forever belong to her mate. This was a bond made in heavens and forged once in a thousand years.

    Heavy footsteps on the marble floor echoed in the temple. Naqis couldn''t contain her thrill and she rushed towards the grand chamber with the High Priest following her. When she entered the grand chamber, she saw Vaslof standing at the moonstone alur. And once again she was mesmerized by his beauty, the pure sirength and charisma he radiated. With broad shoulders, golden eyes and muscr build, he was evidently the most beautiful Alpha.

    Blushing, she bowed to him immediately. "You honor me with your presence, Alpha Valot," she said, her lips quivering, her heart pounding like a drum

    He looked at her with cold eyes, and then nced at all the priests of Eldermere temple who had nked the High Priest. Seeing his cold demeanor, Nagia felt a chill run down her spine. She looked at the High Priest who had narrowed his eyes at Vastof.

    Vaslof bowed to the High Priest. "You wanted to see me?" he said in a frigid voice.

    "Alpha Vadof the High Priest intoned. "We know that Naqia, the blessed priestess of the moon goddess is your mate." His lips curled up tenderly. "And so we would like to offer her as your mate, a union that urs only one in a thousand years"

    When Vasof didn''t reply immediately, fear bubbled inside her She clutched her robe tightly on the sides, waiting for him to say something. He had promised her that he would take her as his mate.

    But Vastofnarrowed his gaze, arrogance and greed flickering in them. "She''s a priestess, but what power does she bring Unfortunately, I can''t ept her. Only a union with a strong Alpha bloodline would give me true strength. I cannot settle for less"

    Naqia''s heart sank, as the chill of impending rejection settled in her bones. "No!" she whispered.

    Turning his face toward her, Vaslof continued, "Hence, I Alpha Vaslof, reject my mate, Naqia, the priestess of Eldermere."

    His words cut through her like a de. "No," she gasped as she fell down on the floor, her mind numb. A mild tremor shook the temple as Vaslof severed the divine bond meant to be unbreakable. She felt intense pain and tears rolled down her eyes. The pain in her heart resonated through the Eldermere temple. It was a cry that reached beyond the physical realms, summoning the moon goddess.

    In a bizarre twist of events, dark shadows emerged from the floor and crept around her. Her despair turned to fury. "How could you do this to me?" she cried in a trembling voice. "You rejected our divine bond, you betrayed the Moon Goddes

    ¡°Naqi¡°¡± the High Priest and others fell to their knees. "Don''t do that"

    Thunder followed apanied a bolt of lightning that streaked across the sky as the shadows started dancing wildly around her. It was as if the moon goddess was enraged by Vaslof''s betrayal. Suddenly, the moonstone altar cracked and blinding light spilled out

    Vasof watched her in fear. She red at him, her eyes shing golden. "You''ve made a grave mistake, Vaslof. The goddess will have her revenge!" Saying that, she closed her eyes

    Another thunder pped in the sky, and a voice boomed in the sky. "Your sons shall wed, but their brides shall perish, for you have vited the bond given by the divine"

    12:21 PM d

    Piercing how emanated from the temple as priests started shouting for help and mercy. Vasiof looked on in disbelief, realizing it toote dat he underestimated the power of the divine bond he had severed.

    The shadows began to swirl around her as she lifted her arms up to the sky. The shadows entered her, hissing and howling

    "Nup" the High Priest shouted. "Come back, my child":

    But she was gone too far. The shadows coursed through her veins, the blinding light from the moonstone r touched her and another tremor rocked the Eldermere temple. The pirs started breaking and crumbling, dust and debris filling the air. The ancient stones groaned. The piry toppled as Naqia sat in the center, enveloped in the shadows and illuminated by the altar''s light

    Vaslof stepped back in fear watching her with wide eyes as she epted the transformation which bound her to the darkness and the moonlight. A few momentster, instead of Nagia there stood the first Shadow Wolf, amidst the ruins of the Eldermere temple. He snapped his head toward the priests and saw them also turning into shadow wolves, joining Naqia''s noe, untamed energy. Suddenly, the voices whispered. "The bride''s bane curse is your destiny" and then everything went quiet.

    Vislof couldn''t believe what happened just now. Bride Bune''s curse! Fear cruised through him for what he had done. How would this curse lift? "Naqia,¡± he whispered as he sank on his knees, staring at the ce where she sat a few moments ago. Im sorry he rasped. "Please take the curse

    back

    But nothing happened. Dejected and panicky, Vaslof went back to his pack. He didn''t mention a word there, but he married the she-wolf he had chosen as his bride. When he marked and imed her, he was happy to notice that the cune wasn''t effective. However, his bride died after giving birth to his heir, and that was the proof of the curse taking root

    He cried and cried for the mistake bemitted. He went back to the ruins of Eldermere with his pup to lift the curse, hoping that Naqia would forgive him. ¡°Naqiaaal" be shouted her name. "You can''t make my pup suffer because of my mistake!"

    As if hearing his plea, the shadows rose from the ruins and whispered, "Only a soul shackled will break the chain"

 Chapter 48

    I didn''t know how far I had run. The trees blurred past me, as my feet sting in pain from sipping over rocks and twisted roots on the forest floor. My breath came in ragged gasps, but 1 didn''t stop. All I wanted was to be alone, to be away from everyone who caused me heartache. I wanted to be away from him. Away from everything. Without Sienna, I was so alone. Like a husk without a soul.

    The trees opened into a clearing which was covered with wildflowers. It was such a beautiful disy of vibrant colors. They swayed gently in the moming breeze. The wind carried whisper-like sounds. The air smelled sweet and fresh. It was so different from the toxic air that I was feeling suffocated in only a few moments ago. Sunlight dappled through the leaves, casting golden patches over the flowers

    and grass

    I felt like all the heaviness in my heart was slowly weighing upon me. As a choked sob escaped my lips, I dropped to my knees. Tears streamed down my face continuously as 1 clutched my chen where my heart ached with a deep pain. Why was it that all my life I remained unwanted. unloved! And now even after I was going to be his bride, I still wasn''t enough. Lucien didn''t want me.

    1 pressed my hands into the dirt, in order to ground myself, but the pain remained. Flowers crushed under my palms, After what felt like forever. my tears waned, and my breath steadied. And that''s when I sa?Y?L

    Not far from where I knelt, hidden beyond the thick grass, I saw a ruined structure. It looked ancient. I blinked wondering if this was a trick of my mind, but then I wiped my eyes, and I saw it more clearly. It looked like an old temple.

    And something about it called to me.

    Slowly. I stood up, wiping my hands on my dress intrigued, I stared at it for a few minutes, studying the stone walls that were cracked and covered in ivy and moss. Every logic in my mind screamed not to go there. Before I knew it, my feet carried me toward it. My legs felt weak, but I forced myself toward it. Step by step, I made my way toward the ruins. As I walked closer, I noticed that half of the roof had caved in. There were broken pirs lying scattered around the entrance. The stairs that led inside were broken.

    As I entered the ruins, the silence felt heavy on my shoulders. The air smelled of damp stone, moss and earth. Dust particles floated in the dim sunlight that was trying to prate through the dense trees overhead. I looked around and found carvings on the walls-like ancient symbols which I didn''t recognize. The temple looked both eerie and beautiful

    Something squeaked and I stifled a scream, my heart racing as fear gripped it tightly, I shouldn''t have, but I walked further inside. I came to what would have been the grand chamber. It had a call celling with giant crumbling pirs and cracked marble door where small nts sprouted from the gaps.

    It was then that my eyesnded on something in the center of the chamber, A moonstone altar.

    It stood beneath a broken done and was surrounded by thorny vines that curled around its base. Some rose up, wrapping the thin pirs around it. The sunlight fell upon it dimly. I imagined how the moon looked through this dome. Shackled in the thorny vines.

    My breath hitched when I came close to it. The stone surface was cracked straight down the middle, as if a violent force had shattered it long ago The sight sent a chill down my spine.

    Why did this ce feel so important!

    A cold breeze drifted through the temple, and for a moment, I thought I heard whispers. They were so ist, barely more than a breath against my

    I took a step closer, closer. And then, slowly, I reached out to touch the altar. The moment my fingers brushed the moonstone of the altar, a strange sensation crawled up my arm. It was like a breath of icy air had curled around my skin. A shiver ran down my spine. I reached the fracture in the middle and traced the stone there. But in doing so, it looked like the altar pulsed. It was as though something deep within it awakened. My heart thrummed and my breath lodged in my throat. I took a deep breath in, "What are you?" I marmured.

    The ce was sacred, it was forgotten but it wasn''t lifeless. It was as if there was an entity. As if the temple had a soul,

    The air thickened. Something moved in the periphery of my vision. Was that a flicker of shadows? I whipped my head to see it more clearly, but there was nothing. My instincts screamed at me to run, but my body wouldn''t move. There was something-someone-out here.

    Suddenly, a sharp gust of wind burst dirough the altar. Dust and dried leaves swirled around me. My hair whipped across my face and with a hiss shadows burst from the altar. They hovered over the altar. I screamed, seeing the figures made of darkness, shifting and swaying like smoke caught in the crack of the altar. I heard whispers, frightened voices,

    "Guardians, they hissed. ''Bride Bane''s curse Shackled moon!

    I stumbled back, falling on the ground. Nono. This couldn''t be. I was surely dreaming

    The shadowcame nearer and then one extended a tendril of darkness toward me. I tensed as it touched the tip of my finger and curled around my wrist is touch was cold and slithery. Shock pulsed through me and a wave of images flooded my mind.

    12:23 PM.

    Of a woman in white robes kneeling before the altar, her voice filled with anguish

    as she cried after being rejected from her mate

    Of a wolf, who was an Alpha, standing in the distance, watching her helplessly with grief in his eyes.

    Of priests, who are asking for help and mercy

    Of blinding silverlight shing and then swallowing everything

    I gasped staggering back. The connection broke, and the shadows recailed. They became wilder. The whispers grew louder and the wind picked up. The shadows pulsed and expanded as they surrounded me like a growing tempest. "Leave met" I breathed, covering my face.

    Thorny vines around the altar twisted violently, although they were alive and mimicking the agony of the shadows. The ground trembled beneath

    1. me.

    A piercing howl echoed in the forest.

    The shadows stilled for a moment and then exploded outward. I screamed and then everything went dark. Thest I remember was the coldness of the ground

    on which I was lying, "Lucien "I murmured before closing my eyes.

    Strong arms scooped me up against a warm chest or so I imagined.

    "Lucien "I tried to reach for him.

    I think I heard him calling my name, but I wasn''t not sure. Was I one with the

    shadows or did he rescue ine

    É«

 Chapter 49

    Auren Po

    Was I dreaming" I was wrapped in the soothing smell of pine and spice. I snuggled closer to the source and allowed myself to calm down. The darkness that I was engulfed into brought nightmares, but within seconds they were reced with different sensations.

    There was a soft tickle on my forehead, like a breath. Then it felt like someone was brushing my jaw with soft fingers, tracing lines on my nose, my checks and my lips. The cold floor that I was lying on, was reced by a warm and cozy softness and proximity. I didn''t fight the feeling and leaned into it, sighing and inhaling deeply the scent of pine and spice.

    A sensation like a kiss on the tip of my nose, followed by a dark chuckle made me snap open my eyes, and I found myself staring into the onyx eyes. of Alpha Lucien, I swallowed thickly, realizing that his fingers still lingered on my cheeks and they were the constant source of tingles across my body.

    "How are you?" he asked, concern riched on his face.

    I pulled myself away from him and his fingers,pletely bewildered as I took in my surroundings. Howe I was here, because just a few imonsents ago I was in the ruins of a temple! "I-I was¡ª"

    *¡ªin the runs of Eldermere temple, he finished the sentence for me and brought his finger back to my forehead as if enjoying touching me.

    My breath hitched when I saw that he was not wearing a shirt and was only in his jeans. Damn it. It was impossible not to look at that ripped body, those chiseled muscles and those biceps where suddenly 1 wanted to dig my fingernails in. I tried hard not to look at the dust of dark hair in the middle of his chest that went lower, lower, disappearing into the waistband of his jeans. Goddess, save me. Feeling embarrassed, I quickly pulled my gaze away from there.

    "You didn''t eat your big day today

    breakfast and didn''t make mine either," heined as he smirked. "And then I found you in the ruins. You should eat. It''s a

    "You came to rescue

    to rescue ine!"

    He didn''t reply, but he got up and walked to the table where a tray fled with food was ced. Honestly, I was surprised to see this mood shift in Alpha Lucien. He came back with it and sat at the edge.

    "You didn''t have to bring the food here." I said "I go down and cat. You don''t have to wait for me."

    "Oh, but I have to wait here for you. I''m not sure if my Luna will run away from me again. It took an hour for me and my warnors to find you. After all, it''s not every day an Alpha gets married."

    I blushed hard at his insinuation.

    "I''m sorry," I replied, feeling guilty. "I won''t run away. was just that''

    "Yes, I know you won''t run away now. Especially now that I am with you saying that he leaned closer to me and inhaled deeply. Feeling awkward, I scrambled back. "So Auren What would you like to do? Take a bath first or cat food"

    "I Words died down in my y mouth because his face was hovering just a few inches over mine.

    "The stylist is already here and she wants to talk to you. That means we are short of time. So I have a solution for it," he said with a smile that dazzled the room. And it wasn''t even a full smile.

    "What solution!" I squeaked, my eyes rounding at the corners.

    His voice turned husky, "I can make you eat food while you''re bathing in the bathtub."

    "What?" I squeaked, blushing till my neck. Was he trying to drown me in embarrassment or the bathtub! Scooting away, I literally jumped out of the bed on the other side.

    He chuckled, leaning on the pillows where I was earlier. "Well, I can muhutask."

    Oh my goddess! I waspletely scandalized. "Th-Thurs now how multitasking works!" I gasped as my eyes settled on the V of his waist. Before he caught me drooling on him, I hurried to the bathroom. "Ill quickly take a bath. Please don''t worry about my food. I''lle down and eat it. You may leavel"

    But before I reached the bathroom, he was in front of me in a sh of a second. He grabbed my wrist and I froze. "Auren," he said in a serious voice. "Promise me you won''t go to the ruins of Eldermere again"

    I opened my mouth to say something to ask what it was, but I realized that his heart was racing wildly as he held my wrist. "What''s in there?" I asked. "I saw shadows, and-"

    He cut me off, "I don''t want to talk about it. Promise me, you won''t go there again. Just promise me

    1122 P

    I swallowed my questions down my dry throat. The urgency in his voice was extreme, and I knew that he would never talk about it. I wanted to because I was really curious to discuss it, but I nodded. "I promise," I breathed.

    Closing his eyes, he let out a rough breath and left my wrist. "Take a bath. I''ll wait for you." Saying that he walked toward the door. Relieved that he was leaving, I dashed inside the bathroom. Once inside. I turned on the hot shower. Under it, images of Eldenemere ruins, the shadows and cracked moonstone altar flooded my mind. It was bizarre and though Lucien made me promise that I shouldn''t talk about it, I was surely going to investigate it Maybe Tarian knew.

    When I finished taking the bath, I dried myself, wrapped a towel around my body and came out and jolted. Lucien stood, holding a set of panties and a bra for me. "You!" I rasped, "Didn''t you leave?" 1 gripped my towel tightly until my knuckles were white.

    Instead of answering me, has hooded gaze sented on me. No, on my breasts where a deep cleavage was showing since half of them had popped out. Goddamnat. Why did this happen to me! His eyes roamed around my body from top to bottom. He licked his lips and lifted the panties and bra to my eye level. My face turned scarlet and my skin set on fire. I felt like I would faint.

    "Don''t faint again, Auren," he said, stepping closer, his gaze scorching "Because if you do, I might have to resuscitate you. You know that mouth to mouth procedure!

    "I''m not fainting." I whimpered, now imagining mouth to mouth.

    Here," he

    he gave me the panties and bra. How could one be so shameless? "luke out a dress for you

    can do it!" I breathed.

    But he ignored my words, and turned, weirdly adjusting his crotch area. He picked out avender silk drea for me from the closet and handed it 10 me. "Wear this, ande back. I''m famished, and I want to eat," he said with a heated gaze.

    I dumered my eyshes at him, confused, I wanted to ask but instantly, I turned and ran to the bathroom to change. Why did I feel like the wolf outside wanted to cat me rather than his breakfast? When I returned, I found him lounging on my bed, his head resting on my pillow, arms casually tucked beneath it. "Come here," bemanded, which sounded more like a plei

    0

 Chapter 50

    Lucien POV

    Remus berated me more than ever when Auren had gone missing. "You''re worried that others will find out that she''s our mate. Look what you''ve done? You''ve not only hurt her, she has run away from us. If we don''t find her again, I swear I will leave you.''

    Already panicky and mad with fury, I groaned in frustration. You know why I was worried? It''s mostly because of you!"

    "No, my choices are pretty clear, he growled. ''I want to im and mark our mate. It''s you who is not clear with what you want,

    Instead of arguing with him, I blocked him and then ran into the forest, my heart thundering like a summer storm rolling in. What if Auren went to Eldermere! The forest on the north of my pack camed winds that whispered the cure,

    Long ago, my ancestors had prohibited every Alpha to visit those forests or go to the ruins of Eldermere. It was said that the shadow wolves lived there. They were the spirits of our forefathers who were locked away for eternity in the ruins, and they sought salvation. It was a story/myth that ran parallel to the Bride Bane''s curse on my bloodline. It was engraved in our minds,

    To test the myth, once Tarian and I had gone there when we were both sixteen. The ancient ruined temple was eerily beautiful. I still remembered how 1 felt when I saw the cracked moonstone. The wind hissed my name, saying dui I was cursed. (found myself drawn to the altar but Tarian pulled me away from there, afraid of the oue. We heard a piercing howl from somewhere inside the temple. Both of us turned and ran for Jafety, When I looked back. I swear I saw a shadow wolf chasing us.

    And that was why I was all the more anxious about Auren. Nothing mattered until I

    found her, I don''t know why but I went to Eldermere on instinct where I found her lying unconscious on the Boor. Rage warred with fear as I scooped her in my arms and brought her back to my hone. There were a thou and questions in my mind and the foremost one was why did she go there''

    1 brought her back to the room, and called the doctor. He said that she was fine, just traumatized a little. I sat by her side and waited for her to wake up, my stomach twisted in a thousand knots. I contemted if i should dere to everyone that she was my mate, but I knew that it would have so many repercussions.

    When she woke up, relief flooded in my heart and I couldn''t help but stay with her. I promised myself I was going topensate for my rudeness.

    But how

    I made her promise that she would never go to Eldermere temple ruins, but I knew through the mate bond that she had many questions abour L And even though I made her vow, I had put a heavy patrol party on that side andmanded every warrior to report me if they saw her traversing

    that way.

    "Come here." I said, patting close to me on the bed. She had taken a bath and her scent was so tantalizing that I wanted to roll in it. It always calmed my nerves, but it was her touch that made me feel vibrant and energetic. She was like a drug I was getting addicted to

    -Should we go down and have food?" she suggested.

    "No." I retaliated sharply. "Twant to make sure that you eat all of this and in front of

    me

    Auren blushed once again as she looked at the ce where I was paiting. Then she nced at the food tray which was kept near me. Hesitantly, she made way to me and sat as far away as possible on the bed. "This is a lot of food" she said looking at the te

    I looked at the food I had ordered Vivi to make. Since I didn''t know what she would like, I brought everything-truffle scrambled eggs, juicy filet mignon, hash browns, caramelized banana in dark rum sauce, croissant sandwich with smoked salmon and caviar, Belgian waffles and Greck yoghurt parfait. Honestly, I didn''t know the names of these dishes. It was Vivi who exined what they were when she brought the tray to the room And I remembered in case Auren asked.

    "It''s nothing," I replied, not liking that she was sitting so far away. "Please eat. I waited like a puppy for its master. But she picked up one fillet

    mignon.

    broke it into two and ate half of that.

    Frustration surged inside me. Here my wolf was nning to go back to the forest and hunt a bunny for my she wolf and give it to her as an offering, and she ate a tiny piece of mignon Goddammit! Without thinking, I reached for her arm, pulled her and made her sit on me, straddling my thighs

    "What are you doing the squealed, resting her palms on my chest. Tingles of tantalizing sparks exploded in my body. Her hair cascaded in front as her face lingered over mine.

    Suppressing my need to kiss her, I went back to lying on the pillow with one hand under my head and one on her thigh. "Now eat and make me eat as well. I''m hungry as hell and when an Alpha is hungry, he goes half insane." At that her eyes widened, rounding at theers and my lips curled up at my favorite sight. In a few seconds, she was feeding me. "My mood will nosedive, if you won''t ear," I wanted her. Thankfully, she also started caring. Seeing her eat food was the most satisfying sight. But the most rewarding sight was her sitting on my thighs. Unfortunately, it was doing things to my cock. The fucker swelled. Her eyesnded on it, and the bastard twitched.

    "D-Do you want me to massage it?" she asked softly. "You must be in pain."

    I groaned and pulled the nket over it. Feeding her was more important even as

    I wanted to open my zipper and see her lips wrapped around in

    Cupter 30

    Down boy! Nope. It was only going up. Yup, I was officially unhealthily obsessed with Auten.

    Suddenly. Tarian contacted me via mind link. "Alpha, would youe to see the wedding preparations! I know Auren is awake and well''

    No I growled at him. "I have to be with her all day to ensure she is DOING well, so

    I can''te. Deal with it I just couldn''t take the risk of leaving

    But it''s the wedding of the century he argued in irritation. Do you realize the magnitude"

    "My Aurrn is more important. I growled at him. I won''t leave her

    Theard Tarian sighing in frustration. ¡°Okay, but I so wanted to inform you that Alpha Bram won''t be giving away the bride. Lady Maris reported he is sick and may not attend the wedding also.

    I grined my teeth. Since Auren was an orphan, it was a tradition that the Alpha of her pack had to give her away as bride. I think someone needed

    scripas visit

    "Lucien," Auren said, mapping me from my thoughts. "I had a question." Her hand rested over the nket, over my cock, which she started to massage, as if trying to alleviate my pain.

    I blocked Tarian immediately paying attention to her. And after that, I only saw her mouth moving with no sounding out, because my mind had descended to my cock. Which she was massaging gently. "A-Auren."I moaned. "D-Don''t!"

    "Let me help you, Lucien she seemed to speak in slow motion. "I freereel guilllyyyy

    My eyes rolled back in my head as my hips hucked toward her hand.

    If you''re reading this book, you can follow me on FB at MishukWriter Çú

 Chapter 51

    Seeing Lucien''s body bucking toward my hand, I was sure that he was in a lot of pain. I felt guilty of the situation because this only happened when I was around. In order to alleviate his pain, I increased pressure and massaged him harder.

    "Aurennn!" he groaned, arching his body.

    "Oh, my God!" I pressed my hands further. Sweat broke out from his body. It seemed like he was convulsing. "Lucien!" I called his name. With one hand he gripped my thigh and with the other he gripped my wrist. "Should I call the doctor Lasked. He clearly needed help.

    "Tm-Im-about to "he said in a strained voice. A dangerous rumble emerged from his chest.

    A heavy pounding ruled the door. I lined myself off him to see who was there, but he pulled me back,manding "No, stay here!!

    But the pounding continued. "I have to see who is there, Lucien," I said. I was sure was Vivi, If it was Vivi, I''d ask her to call Elias, the puck doctor.

    "Noooo! Auren!"

    I pushed myself off him and rushed to the door. When I opened it, my mouth dropped to the floor Elder Ryna was standing there. She peeped behind me and her face morphed into the weirdest expression, her cheeks turning red as she sniffed the air

    What was she doing here? "El-Elder Ryna?" 1 staminered, socally confused.

    "1c-came to take you," she also stammered.

    Bamboozled. I blinked at her. "But I can''t go." I replied. "Alpha Lucien is-" I turned back to see him. He had got up and was staring at us. His body was tense, like he was being denied something. Every muscle was coiled like a bowstring, ready in inap. Beads of sweat clung to his chest, forehead -where his hair stuck to his skin, and his biceps were bulging. His eyes were hooded and he was breathless, gasping for air. His jaw was clenched and he tightly gripped the nket. His eyes were dark with frustration and something wild. And the worst part was that a shudder racked through him when 1 gaze at him.

    said with agony. "I have to massage him."

    "See, he is so unwell, I can''t go anywhere," I

    "Massage him!" Elder Ryna blushed harder and honestly if the situation wasn''t so catastrophic, I would have found it cute. But I found her expression untoward. She swallowed and taking a deep breath in, she stated firmly, "Auren. I havee to take you to my home."

    1 jerked my head back. Did she not listen to me! "NO!" In a sh of a second, Lucien was right behind me, growling. His body was so hot that the hrat radiating from him felt like I was standing near a furnace. "Upon my dead body. She is not going anywhere," he said in a deep, strained y yer dark voice. His arm shot around my waist and he pulled me close to his body in a vise-Eke grip

    Elder Ryna''s face paled for a moment because of how dangerous the Alpha of the North sounded, but she schooled herself. Letting out a ragged breath, she said, "Alpha Lucien, tonight you will get married to Lady Auren. ording to the centuries old tradition of the Shadowfang pack, the bride and groom are not supposed to see each other for a day. Since I was away, I couldn''t take herst night, but now that I''m here, I take her for the day. You can see her in the evening."

    "I don''t believe in traditions!" he growled, holding at the edge of his sanity. "But Auren isn''t leaving this house?"

    Elder Kyna looked like she was on the verge of snapping "I wasn''t the one who made these traditions, Alpha Lucien," she replied with narrowed eyes. "I wasn''t the one who asked you to go for a grand wedding. This could have been simpler, but youplicated it And that is why we are going to observe every custom, tradition and festivity associated with your wedding. Her eyes traveled to me and then back to him. ¡°So if you will stop behaving like a randy teenager, I''d like to take Auren with me. The stylist wille to my home and dress her up for the wedding."

    Lucien''s chest rumbled so deeply it sent vibrations through me. ¡°She. Is. Not Going." He said a sperato vo To hell with the traditions!" His grip around my waist rightened. He sounded like his favorite toy was about to be watched.

    "Alpha Lucien-"

    "Elder Kynu""

    Goddess. I shook my head and took a deep breath in Before this turned into a full warfare like situation, I turned in Lucien''s arm to look at him. Then I said, ¡°Lucien,

    if Elder Ryna is here to guide us ording to the tradition, then we should honori

    His facial expressions turned to desperation. "But Auren-

    On an impulse, I rose on my tiptoes and kissed him on the tip of his chin. He froze. "Let me go. I''ll see you in the evening."

    He stared in my eyes so intensely that butterflies fluttered in my belly. What was it about this wolf that was so intriguing, so maic!

    "Flease

    12 22 Pu

    He closed his eyes and released me. "If you want it like that he murmured.

    I hit my lower lip, and his hard shot to my cheek. He brushed it with his thunb. "I miss you," he purred,

    Thrand Elder Ryna''s gasp behind me. I sighed, "I miss you too. See you in the evening. And oh My gaze dropped to his crotch. "I''ll send Dr. Elias To see you." Saying that I smiled and walked out of the room

    Elder Ryna''s curled up. "Im so d that you want to follow our traditions" Then she looked over her shoulder af Lucien. "I don''t think he needs a doctor. All he needs is a cold shower

    "What? No!" I gasped. "He''ll get

    11

    Elder Ryna barked augh, and I was bewildered as to why she was so unaffected by Lucien''s suffering. I turned to look over my shoulder at Alpha Lucien, and found him watching me with puppy eyes. Goddess. Did he have to look so cute and needy when I was leaving? Suddenly, I hated leaving him, only if it were for a few hours.

    Elder Ryna''s home was only a few hundred meters away, but the ce was heavily guarded. She chuckled when she saw me observing the warriors "They are all stationed here so that they may report to me if they see Alpha and his Beta over here. The Alpha is not allowed to see you, and I''ve asked Tarian to make sure he is not seen around"

    My cheeks turned red. "I''m sure he won''te here," I said, unsure of myself

    ba was already present there along with her staff. "Lady Auren," she bowed to me. "Please follow me. We have to give you a facial and a full skincare regime.

    Surprised, I looked at Ryu. She grinned. "Alpha wants to pamper you and so I took the liberty to arrange everything for you."

    Asmile ghosted my lips. He was so different aspared to morning. I loved this side of Lucien, but didn''t know how long it wouldst.

    Dahlia took me to a room at the back of the house. Once my facial was over, I

    was about to get a body massage, when an omega carne in.

    "Lady Auren" she said. "Lady Maris is here to see you"

    22

 Chapter 52

    Maris? What was she doing here? I was surprised i

    the omega to not disturb me. But I had an inkling.

    that she came to see me and that too at Elder Ryna''s houset Furrowing my brows, I felt like telling

    Since I was an orphan. Alpha Bram had to walk me down the temple aisle to give me away as a bride to Alpha Lacien. So it was possible that she hade to talk to me about that

    "You don''t have to go. Lady Auren, Dahlia

    ia said when she noticed how hesitant I was,

    I tied the cord of my robe. "No, this is important," I murmured. I hopped off the

    massage table and decided to wind it up quickly. After 1 had rejected Alpha Bram,

    I really didn''t want to do anything with them.

    When I walked in the main room, I found Maris sitting, fury radiating from her in waves. Well, it wasn''t an unusual sight.

    "You wanted to see me?" I asked, tilting my head

    Maris narrowed her eyes. ¡°You ungrateful wench she spat, taking me by surprise. Tvee here to inform you that Bram won''t be walking you down the aisle. You can go fuck yourself! We are leaving now after the way you''ve insulted us. But we will take our revenge. So Auren ¡ª" She gave

    ne her deadliest re. "Don''t even think of stepping into the Crimson Howl pack. Because if you do, our pack wolves will tear you apart into pieces, consequences be damned."

    I stared at her for a second, trying to make sense of her sudden outburst. I felt bad because Alpha Bram couldn''t even give me away as a bride. Was it my built that he rejected me? Was it my fault that Alpha Lucien was treating me better than him'' Or was my fault that I was having such a grand wedding! Did they even realize they threw me toward doom for their benefit'' And yet yet they had the audacity of being jealous of me. These shon-sighted people never saw beyond their greed and selfishness

    The momentary remorse I felt was drowned by hopelessness. For them. I crossed my arms across my chest. "Okay" I breathed. "Is there anything else you would like to say?"

    "Just okay?" she shouted her eyes going wide,

    I shrugged. "What the do you want me to say. Maris?" I asked. "If you think that I am desperate to go back to the Crimson Howl pack, then you''re wrong. I don''t want to go back to that bell hole. So don''t worry. As for Alpha Ikram''s decision to not walk me down the aisle-1 chuckled dryly. "Frankly, I don''t care. If he wants to toss the traditions in fire. that''s his choice. If you think that I''ll beg you to ask him to walk me down the aid, you''re mistaken. I''m so done with this bullshit."

    It seemed that I had enraged her further. She got up and strode toward me like she was about to hit me. "You are such a fucking thankless whore! Now that you''re marrying Alpha Lucien, you''ve suddenly found your voice! But remember, it was us who gave you to him, and we can annul the treaty any time, rendering you homeless once again!" She ced her hands on his hips, standing akimbo. "I think that''s what we are going to do. Anual the treaty and then see how that works for you."

    cocked an eyebrow in surprise. "What can I say, Maris Please go ahead and angul the treaty. But what reason would you give? That you were jealous of the breeder you offered to Alpha Lucien for it? Or that Alpha Brain was hy mute, who rejected me and whose rejection I eperd?"

    She gasped in shock that l''actually answered her. The next mamment, she lifted her hand and was about to strike me hard, when a loud growl from behind rattled the doors and windows, stopping her midair.

    "Lady Maris" Elder Ryna growled dangerously. "I would advise you to leave my house now!"

    Maris turned sharply with rage on her face, but the moment she looked behind her, she cowered. There were warriors nking Elder Ryna, and all of them looked like they were ready to shred Maris into pieces. Flustered, she stomped out of the main hall. It was then that I realized that I was holding my breath. The warriors followed her out to ensure that she truly left

    Elder Ryna came to me and patted my back. "Go back, Auren," she said with a smile. After that, she turned and went back to her room without saying anything else. Maybe she heard it all.

    Though I was trembling inside, I forced myself to go back. Maris knew how to ruin your day. Somehow on the inside, I was sure that this was far from over.

    In the next few hours, I was transformed into something so different that I didn''t recognize myself. My eyebrows were plucked, myshes were curled, rouge was dusted on my cheeks and my hair was tamed into an intricate updo, with a few loose tendrils framing my face. I was wearing the Lacy off-shoulders white gown that was bought from Marion''s boutique. A delicate veil cascaded down my back. I wore diamond earrings and ne.

    I had never been invited to any in my pack, yet here I was, having my own wedding-marrying the Alpha of the North. So what if I was destined to die in a year? For once, I wanted to live in the moment.

    Elder Ryna, decided to give me away, sat beside me in the car. She smiled gently. "You look beautiful"

    12:21 PM C.

    "Thank you," I replied nervously. Would he like me!

    We reached the venue and I stepped on the stairs of the entrance of the temple with Elder Ryna. However, the moment I took a step, from the periphery of my vision, I saw Alpha Bram hurrying toward me. Astonished, my eyes widened when I took his appearance in. His right hand was in

    sling, his left eye was ck, and he had a bandage around his head. "Auren," he whimpered as if in deep pain and offered his arm to me. "It would be my pleasure to give you away" And right behind him was Maris, Her eyes were bloodshot, her hair was disheveled and there was a bruise on her check.

    My mouth dropped open. I didn''t know what happened, but I didn''t argue. They were both lookingical. Taking a ragged breath in I took his arm lightly and he walked me inside.

    My heart was pounding inside my chest when I stepped through the grand entrance. And tonight, the temple of the strongest pack in the realm. looked breathtaking. The stone pirs were wrapped in silken drapes of gold and deep midnight blue. The air smelled of flowers and burning sage. Chandeliers hung high above, illuminated by thousands of lights. A long white carpet stretched ahead of me, leading to the altar adorned with roses and bites

    The crowd fell silent the moment I entered. Hundreds of wolves turned their gazes curious coward me. But my eyes were locked on him.

    Lucien stood in front of the altar, dressed in a regal midnight blue suit, looking terrifyingly beautiful. His sharp jaw clenched and his eyes shed golden, locking onto mine.

    I swallowed hard.

    Comment

 Chapter 53

    Auren POV

    Lucien was a future I was walking toward-one I had never dared to even wish for in my dreams.

    He looked gorgeous. When our gazes locked, the world faded around me. I was mesmerized by him, and impressed not only by all the d¨¦cor and wedding preparations, but by the effortless way hemanded the room.

    His gaze darkened and his fists curled tightly as if he was stopping himself from reaching me. I could feel his wolf prowling beneath the surface when his eyes shed golden for a flicker of a second. There was possessiveness rolling off him in waves.

    I felt my feet moving on their own, as if my body was drawn to him. This was a grand wedding I''d never even dreamed of What can you expect from an omega like me who wasn''t even invited to celebrations in her own pack, let alone being the center of one!

    A bush fell over the crowd as I walked forward. My fingers trembled as they clutched the bouquet of white moonflowers

    When I finally reached where he was standing, without looking at Alpha Bram, he stepped forward. He took my hand in his, hisrge palinpletely enveloping mine. His grip was soft but firm as his dark eyes burned into mine. From the corner of my eye. I saw Alpha Bram walking away.

    Lucien rugged me in front of him. He leaned in and in a rough, low voler said. "You look stunning

    A shiver ran down my spine as his pine and spice scent washed over me.

    He let out a rough exhale. Tve never waited for anyone so much in my life:

    His words made me blush but the truth was that even 1 hadn''t waited for anyone so hard all my life. Thest few hours were spent only thinking about him.

    The altar was beneath an enormous silver arch that was engraved with ancient symbols. The Moon Goddess''s state was only a few steps away from us. The temple''s roof was open and the sky above us was clear with the moon and stars glowing brightly

    The Shaman started the ceremony by chanting sacred words. He raised his hands and his deep voice resonated in the temple. "In the presence of the Moon Goddess, we call upon the sacred bond which ties these two mates cogether. He started chanting incantations as Lucien only looked an me the whole time. After some time, the Shamon said, "May the moois goddess bless this union. May the spirits of our ancestors guard this bond."

    His words reminded me of the morning in the ruins of the Eldermere temple, but I pushed those thoughts aside.

    The Shaman picked up a bowl of sacred water that had petals of roses. "Give your hands," he demanded as he held out a ceremonial dagger.

    Lucien gave his hand first. The Shaman sliced a shallow cut across his palm. Blood pooled and dropped in the sacred bowl. Then I extended my palm. When he pressed the dagger in my palm, my hand trembled. Lucien med his grip on my wrist, his jaw clenching. Blood pooled in my palm and the Shaman brought the sacred bowl below it. My blood mixed with his in the bowl. I gasped when it started swirling on its own and the water turned a deep crimson. Like ink.

    The Shaman was astonished as he stared at the blood, but then he smiled, has face shining with approval "This is a union by the will of the Moon Goddess. Join your hands to seal the bond."

    Lucien took my hand in his, our bloods mixing. The moment our hands met, a strange sensation pulsed through me. I was getting drowned in so much heat that

    I could melt. Lucien''s grip tightened on me slightly, as if he felt the same sensation. Like our hearts were forging.

    When we removed our hands, I was surprised that the cut was healed. "From now on, your faces are forever entwined."

    A shudder ran through me. I didn''t know if I should take those words positively or negatively, My vision became blurry because I really hoped that my life was not sealed with his I was doomed, but I wanted him to live forever.

    "You may exchange the rings," the shaman said

    Tarian, who was standing a few feet away, walked to Lucien with an open red velvet box. I was stunned to see a pink diamond ring in it. Lucien plucked the ring and slipped it on my ring finger. There was another ring sitting in it for me to give him. But I looked at Vivi who was nearby. She hurried toward me with a small cushion in her hand on which sat my father''s ring. I picked it up and slipped it on Lucien''s finger. His surprise was palpable. In a soft, low voice only meant for him, I said. "This is my father''s ring."

    His breath lodged in his throat. In a deep voice, he said, "Thank you"

    "You may kiss the bride," the Shaman''s voice came.

    Lucien leaned in. My breath hitched when he reached for my veil. Slowly, he lifted it, revealing the face of his Luna to the Moon Goddess, and to everyone present. He looked at me intensely and I felt bare under his heated gaze. His eyes settled on my lips and the air between us thickened with tension. He cupped my face, his thumb skimming over my cheek. My heart pounded wildly in my chest and I barely had time to take a breath when he leaned in and his lips pressed against mine.

    1232 PM

    I let out a long sigh, as if I had waited for this moment all my life, I surrendered to the sensation, to him. As he took my lips, his kiss felt iming reverent. I parted my lips and he delved his tongue inside, a rumble ripping off his chest. He gripped the back of my neck tightly as he explored my mouth with his tongue with urgency. It didn''t feel like a kiss. It felt like a vow with unspoken promise.

    Heat unfurled in my chest, spreading through my limbs like wildfire. My knees felt weak. I melted into him as I clutched his coat in order to anchor myself, allowing my world to tilt and spin at a speed that made me dizzy

    The crowd erupted into howls and cheers.

    "Alpha Lucien," someone called us from somewhere. But he didn''t listen and continued to kiss me.

    "A-Alpha" the voice came again. Lucien''s grip on fare only became firmer.

    "Alpha Lucien!" someone said loudly enough to break our reverie. Only this time. Lucien left me, his demeanor morphing to anger. He pulled me against his chest, his eyes shing golden when he snapped his head at the source of the voice.

    Tarian immediately inclined his neck. Meekly, he said. "Alpha Lucien, the ceremony isn''t over.

    Some people chuckled as someughed at their Alpha''s impatience. Goddess I could feel hear blooming all the way to my ears.

    "Okay," Lucien growled in a clipped voice. Holding my hand tightly, he tugged me to the statue of the Moon Goddess.

    As I reached there. I felt like she was looking at me. The Shaman poured the

    crimson water from the sacred bowl over her feet, and as it flowed, a prickling

    sensation sparked across my tattoo.

    AD

 Chapter 54

    Lucien POV

    The moment

    Elder Run

    Ryna took Auren away to her house, my chest felt empty. It was like my soul had left home.

    I was this close toing in my pants. My cock was so painfully hard. Her hands on it had my wolf going mad with Reeds.

    So I protested hard to Ryra, but when Auren insisted on following the traditions, I had to let her go. Before leaving she stood on her toes and kissed my chin. I forgot to breathe. It was just a kiss, but enough to rande my soul!

    She had gone for no more than ten minutes and my restlessness began. I began pacing the room. Remus urged me to break the rules and go to her. I clenched and unclenched my fists, arguing with him to calm down because we were going to see her in a few hours, but the fucker was going crazy inside me. It was difficult to tame a beast like Remus. He was the strongest wolf in the North and has only desire was to be with Auren. Fighting a battle with him was an issue.

    Tarian had warned me via mind link that I

    I was prohibited to meet her and that there were over fifty warriors to stop me at Ryna''s home. As if that would stop me from meeting her.

    I spent the rest of the afternoon pacing my room, going around my house, barking at others for no reason, but I always ended up on the balcony of my room. looking in the direction of the house where Auren was. The wind camed her scent and it was enough to make my body tighten with Jonging. She was so close, yet I couldn''t reach her. It was unbearable. My hands curled into fists and my ss extended, threatening to puncture my skin and draw blood

    "She is ours, Remus growled. "We should be with her. I want to go to my mate

    I reasoned with him "Just a few hours. And then she would be ours forever. But patience was a cruel thing

    Tarian''s voice snapped me from my thoughts.

    "What?" I barked at him. He was at the venue overseeing the wedding preparations.

    "I just came to know from Elder Ryna that Maris visited Lady Auren" And then he told me what all she uid. It hurt me that Auren didn''t say a word about it to me and as usual suffered alone. But not this time.

    My fury returned tenfold greater. Before I knew it, I was marching to my garage, ordering my warriors to follow me to Bram''s hotel. We reached the hotel and I stormed inside with my warriors. The hotel owner bowed, nching. He quickly gave me the spare room keys of Bram''s room. 1 barged inside Bram''s room only to find him rutting Maris. She shricked and picked up a sheet to cover herself as Bram''s eyes widened.

    "What is the meaning of this" Bram shouted.

    I strode to Maris and grabbed her throat with my left hand Lifting her in the air, I growled, "You dared to threaten my Luna!"

    "A-Alpha Lucien she sputtered.

    Before she could speak another word, I threw her across the room. "You told her that you would kill her?" I closed the gap between us, picked her up and hurled her across the room. She screamed as she hit the wall on the opposite side and slumped down, bowling in pain.

    Then I turned my attention toward Bram. He had paled. Good. The bastard didn''t have the guts to save her. I crunched my neck side to side as 1 red at him. ¡°I heard that you won''t be giving away Auren as my bride. Now-" I said in a low, dangerous voice. "Where are your manners? Why won''t you follow the traditions?"

    Before he finished his sentence, I pounced on him, and unleashed my rage with full force. He tried to fight me because he was also an Alpha, but he was no match against me. Ebroke his arm, crushed his skull and dislocated his shoulder. It was just enough to not get heale and walk with Auren down the ais as he remembered my wrath. Plus, I wanted to show Auren how I tackled him.

    Once I was done, I said in a lethal voice, "No one threatens my Luna and gets to walk away. Remember it for your life, numbnut! You will walk her down the aisle and leave this pack immediately after. Don''t even think ofing back. I am sparing you just this time only because of Auren and the treaty."

    With a final nce, I turned to leave, cracking my knuckles as I ordered my warriors to call a pack doctor to tend to him.

    My beast felt better after releasing all his aggression. However, that was short- lived. Back home, I paced for hours until Dahlia''s assistants care to dress me up.

    At the venue, her surprise to see Bram made me chuckle. When she was in front of me, I took her trembling hands immediately, unable to not nouch her even a second longer. And where our skin touched, tingles sparked, warmth spread through my chest, powerful and all-consuming, and both me and my wolf calmed.

    During the ceremony of sealing bond, something inside me shifted. It was like things snapped into ce like a missing piece of my soul had. 1/2

    rriumed. The feeling was overwhelming. She was mine now in every way that mattered. Then something strange happened. For a split of a second, the tattoos on my body prickled sharply, leaving me ruffled.

    The Shaman asked me to kiss her, which meant I should mark her. My wolf growled possessively, Mark her. She belongs to us.

    But I couldn''t. The curse hung over us like a shadow. If I marked her she would die within a year. So 1 clenched my teeth, battling against Remus who was growling, wing inside at my mind, furious and desperate. She is ours. We can''t let her go unimed.

    I know I roared back at him.

    Amidst all the internal banle, I looked at Auren. She didn''t know how close I was to losing control. I couldn''t risk her life. So I lifted her veil. Her lips. parted with a shaky breath. And then I clutched the back of her neck, pulled her closer, and kissed her. My entire body was tense as my blood burned with need. I deepened the kiss, tasting her, savoring her, iming her in the only way I could.

    Had Tarian not interrupted. I would have carried her home. But the ceremony wasn''t over. The Shaman made us do more rituals after which my pack members enapted in cheers. We came to the grand hall where the celebration started. Music yed, people danced, had food and drinks. Everyone came to congratte us. Auren stood beside me. looking overwhelmed. I didn''t let go of her hand. She danced with me, giggling, and realized that she had two left feet. So I picked her up by the waist and danced. It was such a beautiful moment. And my wolf was purring inside me.

    When she was tired, I made her sit on myp not caring of people staring at me in shock. Her body rxed against mine and her head was on against my chest. Even sitting on myp, she didn''t reach my shoulder. I kissed the crown of her head. "Do you want to go home?"

    She yawned cutely. "Yes"

    Goddess, I was so ready to take her to my room. But Tarian came to me. "Alpha, some of the Alphas are going tomorrow. They want to meet you before leaving." Darn it. I didn''t want to go.

    "Go" Auren urged with a beautiful smile, and I yielded. When I returned, I saw that she had paled like a ghost and was visibly shaking.

 Chapter 55

    Auren POV

    I had never witnessed such celebrations in my life, so I watched it all

    mesmerized. I stood beside Latin with our fingers intertwined. The wedding ceremony was over. I was now officially his wife-his Lana. Proud swelled in my chest.

    But even as the sacred bond wrapped around us, I could feel the weight of stares from the audience. I knew there were whispers about me, expectations of how soon I would be able to give birth to an heir, and then how soon I would die. I didn''t want to go there. Alpha Lucien had given me the best gift of my life. Marriage and respect. What else could an orphan omega like me wanti

    Lucien danced with me for an hour, but since I had no formal training in dancing, I stepped over his feet a number of times. Eventually he picked me up by waist in his arms like I was as light as a feather and danced. I couldn''t stop giggling, and he couldn''t stop staring at me intensely. My stomach Buttered, my body tingled, and I felt like I could get lost in the darkness of those eyes.

    am intact on my waist. It was a show of who I

    At the end. I waspletely exhausted. He pulled me in hisp and made me sit there with his as belonged to. My posesive Alpha.

    I watched Tarian also enjoying the celebrations. And I was surprised to see that he was quite a yboy. He danced with several different she-wolves, all of whom were batting eyshes at him, flining openly. I couldn''t help butugh and shake my head. This Tarion was so different from the Tarian I met the first time.

    "Don''t judge him by his face, Auren, Lucien remarked. "He is a Casanova and I''m waiting for the day when a she-wolf will bring him down on his Incel"

    I tipped my y head up

    up and kissed his chin, something I was doing quite a bittely. He stilled once again, his chest rumbling. "T''d love to see that too.

    He kissed me back and asked if I wanted to go home. I really wanted to sleep, so I said yes. However, just as we were about to leave, Tarian came and Lucien had to go with him. I watched him go to where a group of wolves were standing along with Sable and a wolf who looked like her father. That

    must be Rizy Brown.

    While Lucien was talking to that group of Alphas, Sable sauntered toward me. She picked up a ss of wine from a server and sachayed up to me. She gave a smirk, raising her wine ss. "Congrattions! Never thought we would see the day our Alpha would marry. And that too to an omega of a neighboring pack"

    I ciched my jaw.

    She sipped the whole wine in one go and took a deep ragged breath. Then she leaned closer and lowering her voice said, "Your countdown to death begins now, dear Auren. Enjoy this night, little omega. And work hard to give him an heir. Because- She flicked her hair over ber shoulder and winked."-after that, 10 rece you" Raising her empty ss, she added, "May this union bring prosperity. Then she chuckled. "But why am I already mourning?"

    It was then I realized that she was wearing a ck dress. Like she hade to mourn. And it was to show me my ce.

    "So don''t get too cozy or start thinking that you are the real Lama of the Shadowfang pack. The wolves here don''t like you. They hate you and they control themselves to not kill you. Better not provoke them before giving birth to the heir." She let out a smallugh. "Or it would be a sad day for Alpha" Then she walked away, swaying a little.

    I paled. my body trembling at her words. Did she just threaten me? The pack wolves hated me! I looked at those who were celebrating. Most were jubnt but some had their gazes fixed on me, their murderous intent was apparent. I clenched my fix. What else were you expecting, Auren?

    "Auren!" Lucien''s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. He grabbed my wrist, his brows furrowing. "What happened? He pulled me to his chest.

    "N-Nothing," I replied, resting my head on his chest. "Let''s go home." There was no point in telling him about Sable. Her words cut through me like a de, but I wouldn''t let them affect Lucien. He had done so much for me. Was it justified for me to tell him that Sable had already rang my death knell''

    He didn''t say a word for a moment as his eyes tried to read me. When I didn''t say anything else, he lifted me in his arms bridal style. I gasped but he smirked. "You are my wife now," he said in a heated voice and strode toward the exit with me. I curled my arms around his neck and rested my head on his shoulder, allowing his scent to wrap around me and calm down.

    When we reached home, Lucien carried me in his arms through the main entrance all the way up to his bedroom. 1 blushed when I realized that I

    had was supposed to live in his room from now on. As he opened the door, his warmth seeped through my dress. His jaw was tight and his eyes something dark inside. Like he was restraining himself. But why? I knew he had to mark me. He should''ve marked me at the ceremony, but he didn''t. And why was 1 having thispulsive need to be marked by him

    on my waist. He looked at me with his dark eyes that were

    As he set me down to my feet. I wobbled slightly, but he steadied me with a firm grip on n flecked with gold and in a husky voice, asked, "Do you need a shower!"

    I swallowed, nodding. "It''s been a long day."

    His gaze flickered over me, lingering for a second too long. He exhaled and stepped back. "You should getfortable."

    When I entered his room, I was stunned. His room was massive, with vaulted ceilings and intricate carvings on the border of walls. A grand chandeher of ck iron, casted a golden glow over the space. In the center was an enormous bed that could amodate five people easily. One side of the room opened into a massive balcony, with floor-to-ceiling windows draped in heavy curtains. To the right of the bed was a firece. trackling with warmth. The furniture in the room wreamed of wealth at despite all the grandeur, the space had an undeniable loneliness

    I moved toward his bed and be followed me. "Your clothes are already in the closet," he said.

    I blushed again, wondering what to do next. Was he going to force himself on me? The thought was disturbing. I reached for with the pins. I bit my lip, frustrated.

    e my veil, struggling

    "Let me," he murmured and stepped closer. He removed the pins and the veal fell down. Heat curled down my spine. His fingers brushed against my bare shoulders and I froze when they reachedy tation, "What is this?" he asked, autonished. "Moon shackled in thorny vines?¡±

    Goddess. I should''ve told him earlier. Was he going to hate me for it? Tears sprang in my eyes. "This is my birth tattoo," I replied hesitantly.

    AD

 Chapter 56

    Chapter 56 Chapter 56

    I couldn''t help myself not touching Auren. This was the moment hoth Remus I had been waiting for. Even though Remus was howling inside me to mark her. I fought with him. He was raging within me.

    Mark her he growled. She is ours"

    "Not now. Do you want to kill her with our venom" I scolded him, reminding him how fragile our mate was. She was just an omega, and if I marked her, my venom would pass into her blood, and chances were that she wouldn''t survive it. "That''s not how it works, he growled. "She is our mate and she can take it

    I was beyond pissed at him. First, when I dyed the marriage, he went wild. Then, the moment I announced the date, he calmed down. But now that I had finally married her, he was losing control again. And to make it worse, he flooded my mind with images of her naked in my bed, angled in my sheets, wrapped around me, drenched in her scent.

    And did I mention that he secretly cataloged the scent of every wolf who had gone against her or threatened hert To kill them in future. Remus was not only a strong wolf, he was sly and fearless, and that''s what made him dangerous. He had killed people for less.

    Pushing him down with difficulty, I stepped forward to help her take off her veil. Touching was the only thing I was going to allow myself. Maybe sleep beside her, inhale her warm apples scent, kiss her, maybe go down, and ''For fuck''s sake, stop nting those ideas, Remus!

    Her skin was so son that if I sank my fangs in it, they would pierce her like butter. She wouldn''t evene to know. Every muscle in my body was taut with tension as 1 brushed my fingers on her neck and further down on her shoulder. My dingers came to the tattoo on her back and 1 Frore. I was a tattoo of a golden moon shackled in thorny vines Vines that mimicked my own tattoos. When did she ink this "What''s this?" I asked, staring

    at it

    Her fear and shame permeated in the air. "It''s my birth tattoo," she replied.

    "Birth tattoo. You mean

    mean birthmark?" I asked, shocked as hell as I circled the moon

    "Yes," she murmured. "It''s a curse. The Shaman said that it binds me. I don''t know what it truly means

    A curset My brows furrowed as I examined the mark. My heart drummed inside me, Even my Luna was cursed? But what did this mean? My wolf stirred inside me. "This isn''t just a curse, he said. "This feels like it is connected to something much bigger

    My stomach twisted in knots. "Have you spoken about it to anyone?"

    She shook her head. "No, the Shaman asked me to keep a hidden always."

    Tense, I just didn''t know what to make of it. Now I had another problem for which I needed a solution. The only ce where I could find about it without generating suspicion was in the High Council library''s archives.

    "I''m sorry," she whimpered. "Please don''t be angry with me."

    Fuck. Was she crying! I turned her to look at me. She had big tears rolling down her checks Remus whined, "You made or mate cry." I was in sync with him, feeling horrible.

    "Why are you crying!" I asked, wiping her tears. "This is not your fault"

    "I should have told you earlier about it," she said in a shaky voice.

    "Even if you would''ve told me earlier, my decision to marry you wouldn''t have changed," I replied, reassuring her that she didn''tmit a crime by not informing me about u. My eyes dropped to her rosy lips that had parted a little in wonder, and images of them being wrapped around my cock flooded in my mind. Stop it Remus!" I said in frustration

    "But that is not like having sex, he pointed out.

    Damn it

    "I think you need to take a bath." I advised her "Let me help you take off the dress."

    She blushed a beautiful pink again. I turned her around and helped remove tons of pins in her hair. Slowly. I worked the ties loose, my eyes never leaving her neck. Her dress slipped down her body, pooling at our feet. For a moment, neither of us moved. She was in her bra and panties. She curled her hands around her body, embarrassed.

    I turned her toward me, and my pulse pounded. Heat surged through my veins. She was perfection-generous curves, smooth skin and a body made to worship. Remis growled possessively, demanding to pin her, im her. I struggled for control but my fangs were threatening to slip out. She looked up at me with her doe eyes and that beautiful blush. "Auren," I rasped, my voice thick with restraint. If I touched her now, I wouldn''t stop "Go to take a shower."

    She nodded and burned to the bathroom, shutting the door behind her. I could sense her heart racing wildly. The pull the sensed toward me was the effect of the sealed bond at our wedding, and nothing beyond that because I still hadn''t sensed her wolf after Bram rejected her. It meant that she hadn''t sensed me as her mate yel

    When I heard water flowing. I leaned against the doorframe of the bathroom and loosened my tie to ease my suffocating feeling. If I stayed with her. I was sure that my beast would force me to im her sooner thanter. So it was best that I stayed away from her and kept him upied.

    "You won''t be able to separate me from my mate: Remus protested. I sighed because I knew what happened to wolves who couldn''t im their mates. They went moon-crazy. And my wolf was an alpha. His feelings were a thousand times more intensified.

    The door opened after a few minutes and 1 saw her stepping out in a thin robe that reached her thighs. My breath hitched as my eyes raked over her, knowing fully well that she was naked beneath it. Her scent, which was now mixed with that of my soap, created havoc in my head. When my eyesnded on her breasts, her nipples pebbled and my chest rumbled, ws extended and my fangs elongated.

    Being near her and not being able to im her was turning into a nightmare I wasn''t ready for. My body was tense because of holding every emotion, holding my wolf inside.

    Taking a deep breath in. I pushed off the doorframe, "Your closet is there," I muttered. Her presence burned through me as my gaze slowly traveled down her body. She didn''t move, and that made me mad with desire to possess every inch of her body. I took a deep breath, my cock straining against my pants, my balls squeezing light.

    I could hear the irregr beating of her heart. Remus wed his way to the surface and my eyes shed golden. On instinct, I closed the gap between us my attention on her neck. How would she take

    imy Lite

    She backed until she was against the wall. I towered over her, trapping her

    between my body and the wall. My thigh pressed between her legs as 1 braced

    my hands on either side of her head, raging her in. And then she did unthinkable-

    she tilted her neck, offering it to my wolf. Remus growled. "Mark her. Now! É«

 Chapter 57

    Luden POV

    Now, im her now. Remus urged.

    Everything the faded in the world other than my need to rut her, Mark her. For the whole world to see that Auren belonged to me.

    Her hands came to my stomach, slowly going up my chest and gripping my shim. I pressed into her, pushing her against the wall. My fingers trailed to her side, electricity zipping in bolts. I wanted her robe gone, my clothes gone. Wanted to directly touch her skin. I lowered my head to the crook of her neck, licking and sucking her skin. She moped, making sexy sounds as her fingers clutched my shirt tightly

    My fangs painfully slipped out and before I knew it, I pressed them against her skin. She yelped sharply

    Her sound cleared the fog from my mind. Fuck. A menacing growl emerged from my mouth and I immediately stepped back. My eyes wide in horror. I looked at the two soft dents on her skin. What the hell was I going to do? If I had pierced harder- How could I let my control slip so fast! Me, the Alpha of the North, an extremely controlled, ruthless, fearsome wolf. lost control.

    When my mind cleared, I found a breathless Auren staring at me with wide eyes as if confused. She was heaving, her robe parted to the side, showing the side of her plump boobs. I could hear her hear thundering, not out of fear, but out of excitement

    clenched my fists to gain control. I wanted Auren to live, and yet here I was trying to kill her. ¡°I''ll be back," 1 said harshly, opened the bathroom door and walked inside, mming it behind me.

    Without opening my clothes, I turned on the cold shower to calm my nerves, It didn''t help. Remus was wing his way up. My wolf wasn''t in sync with me. Again. He was a powerful beast. And at this rate, he could take control of me for denying his mate. If that happened, he would not only kill everyone who was against Auren, he would not let mee out. That also meant that he could go moon crazy.

    As I took a bath, I wandered if there was a way to mark her and she remained alive? Maybe a potion'' A visit to the witches? Or making her drink vampire''s blood? That would make her strong 1 discarded the idea instantly. If you drank a vampire''s blood, you were bound to him or her forever. The idea made me almost perch.

    I didn''t know for how long, but only when I was sure she had slept, I dried myself and came out. The buttery light of the bedsidemp filled the room in its soft glow. My eyes went to her sleeping on my bed, covered in my sheets, And that somewhat calmed my frayed series.

    1 took out boxers from my drawer and wore them before slipping beside her. Next to me, my linle omega looked so timid. Yet she was my whole world. A fierce need to protect her overwhelmed me. Even from myself, Suddenly, the shuddered as if caught in the grip of a nightmare.

    1 curled my arm around her waist, pulled her flush against my chest, and spooned her to provide her my warmth and assure her that she was safe with me. She rxed in my arms as the bond worked its way through her. I brushed my lips against her ear. "Sleep"

    Then I closed my eyes, and for the first time over the past few days, I drilled off in a peaceful sleep.

    In my human form.

    Auren POV

    I didn''t know what happened but I felt like my whole body needed has touch, like I was waiting for him all my life, like if he didn''t mark me, I''d die. And though the feeling was bizarre, it should''ve terrified me, I only felt excited. I had no idea what happened or how I found myself trapped. between Lucien and the wall, but once I looked at him in his eyes, I was lost. I was needy. Fire burned through me, running through my veins and I moaned, craving for his touch, craving his mark. I inclined my neck away for him to ce his mark, but the next moment he stepped bark, leaving me in utter confusion.

    As he walked away from me to the bathroom, I watched him with disappointment twisting in my chest. What had I done! Did he hate me? I tipped my head against the wall, eyes burning with tears. Either this was rejection or restraint-for reason, only the goddess knew,

    Angry, I scorned into the closet, not bothering to wipe my tears and changed into my night shorts and a tank top. I returned to the bed, breathing unsiradily, pulled over the sheets and went off to sleep

    Nightmares returned.

    I was running through a thorny forest. Branches of tall, ck trees cutting through any skin. The golden moon shone briefly, but did nothing even anthomy vines coiled around me, tightening and piercing my flesh. My back burned like fire in pain. I tried to scream. But strong muscr arms draped around me and pulled me out of there.

    I don''t know how long I slept but when I woke up, morning light streamed through the window. I was tangled in strong arms and warm sheets. Lucien''s leg was draped over mine and his heavy arm rested over my waist. His warm breath fanned against my skin. Slowly, I turned in his hold and found him watching me with his onyx eyes, which were flecked with gold these days, like his wolf was at the surface. His dark hair was tousled and his features more rxed than usul

    My face warmed under his gaze

    "Morning." he murmured, his voice husky, rough with sleep.

    "Morning" I whispered back

    "Did you sleep well" he asked, his fingers brushing my naked waist.

    I nodded. Something on my belly engorged, and before I knew it, the rod-like thing became hot, like iron in a furnace. An animalistic grow! erupted from his mouth, his eyes shed golden, and he grasped me tightly in his arms, grinding the hard rod agairt me.

    "Alpha Lucien!" I said, worried as hell about his situation.

    Hn eyes widened and he jolted away from me, gebing out of the bed immediately. Angrily, he strode to the bathroom, saying, "I have to train my

    warrion!"

    Again he withdrew himself. I bit my lip and looked away, struggling with my tears.

    Alpha Lucien quickly went downstairs without saying a word, I felt empty. 1 dragged myself out of the bed to take a bath, wondering what I had

    done wrong!

    When I came down for breakfast, I found Vivi. Tom and a bunch of staff eagerly ncing at me. They bowed to me. "Luna"

    I stifled a gasp. This was a word I never dreamed I''d listen to "You can call me Auren," I said, blushing,

    "No way!" Vivi replied. "We''ve got a Luna in this house after centuries. Everyone will call you Luna"

    I chuckled, feeling giddy "Did Lucen have his breakfast"

    "Nope!" she sighed. "He has gone to train the warriors!" Then she lowered her

    voice. "Lady Sable is also there for the training."

    What Jealousy crashed through me like a raging storm. Before I knew, I was striding toward the training arena.

    If you''re reading this book, you can follow me on FB ar MishalWrites and IG at AuthorMishakr

    AD

 Chapter 58

    Aumen POV

    My shoulders were bunched up in tensson and depression. I hated bring away from Lucien, a feeling both unfamiliar and unseiding. But I knew that this was mostly because of the bond sealed during the wedding ceremony and nothing else.

    The training arena was filled with warriors, sparring with each other. The ce was impressive. Huge aspared to my pack. There were five rings where wolves trained, and several small spaces on the sides where the young ones were being trained by the more experienced wolves. There was a rack filled with weapons, and some wolves trained with those.

    ¦¶¦¯

    My eyes roamed around to locate Lucien, I found him sparring in thest ring with a wolf who looked as bulky and strong as him. Lucien was clearly dominating. More wolves joined in, and it seemed like he was using the fight to unleash his aggression. The wolves around him groaned and cried in pain as he sent them flying out of the ring one by one.

    1 hade to find Sable, but seeing Lucien fighting like thas had me mesmerized. The way his muscles rippled with every movement, his agility, those powerful thighs, and those biceps-Goddess help me. I was fangirling. He was a piece of art, made by the goddess with perfection when she had spare time. How could one be so beautiful that you could get lost in just admiring his beauty! "What are you doing here, Auren?" avoice snapped me out of my reverie

    tumed my head sharply to find Sable stickering at me. My jealousy returned with full force. ¡°What are you doing here?" I countered, crossing my arms across my chest.

    She chuckled sarcastically. "Being a pack member, I am here for training. I am a warrior, not some fragile omega Luna meant only to breed. Unlike you I have to maintain my position and status in the pack. Not everyone has the luck like yours. Or should I say bad luck like yourd So go away! This is not a ce for omegas."

    Her words were lord with sarcasm and they found its mark. Humtion coated me. But it was enough. I boiled in rage. "My position is something you''ve long dreamed of, Sable. Unfortunately, you''ll never be the Luna of this pack. His mistress, maybe, but not his Luna"

    She seethed. "You-"

    I cut her off. "And that''s Luna Auren for you, not Auren!" Saying that I ambled to where Lucien was still fighting the wolves. I turned my head over my shoulder, and added, "Continue training, Sable, We need good warriors for this pack As if that was thest straw to the insult, her jaw nearly his the floor. I relished the sight it was utterly satisfying

    The moment I reached Lucien''s ring he frore mid-punch and whipped his head to look at me. His eyes shed golden. His alpha mara slipped out, and the ce became silent.

    My eyes widened as I took in his sweat-drenched torso and low hanging training shorts. His hair clung to his forehead, droplets of sweat tracing the hard lines of his body. His muscles were tout, his expression was beautifully fierce, so raw that I stilled a moan.

    Our gazes locked and as if on instinct, he walked to me like a thunder and sat down. The whole world faded around us. My breath became ragged. He took a strand of my hair in between his fingers, brought it to his nose and inhaled it, visibly rxing. His eyes returned to their normal color "Aren''t you afraid of me?" he asked in a rough voice

    "No, I''m not," I murmured.

    You

    should be. Ele wolf"

    My breath hitched. He brought his palm to cup my cheek and I leaned into his touch. My nerves calmed down. Closing my eyes, I replied, "I''m not intimidated by you, even if you are the mightiest hunter on this earth. His touch was bing my drug.

    "What a masochistic hunter I am, he murmured, brushing my cheek with his thumb. He leaned over me and I lifted myself on my tiptoes and before I knew it, his lips crashed on mine in a soft kiss. He removed instantly, and I immediately hated the air between us.

    Alpha Lucien jumped over the ropes of the ring andnded right next to me effortlessly. ¡°This is a dangerous ce," he said, cing his hand on the small of my back. "Let''s go back."

    My eyesnded on Sable who was watching me with hatred, and her earlier words came crashing down. "No" I responded stubbornly

    He jerked his head back, his brows furrowing "What do you mean, Auren?" he asked.

    Jutting out my chin stubbornly, said, "I want to train

    Alpha Lucien was bamboozled. "What?" He chuckled, bewildered, "I''m guessing this is a joke. So let''s go back."

    I shook my head. "No." I moved away from him. "I know that I''m just an conega, but that doesn''t mean that I can''t spar. Given a chance, I can do it"

    Lucien clenched his jaw. He came close to me and in a low, dangerous voice said, "Do you know what a punch from these warriors would do to you! It can put you in a lifetime ofa or worse-it can kill you. So, no training for you. Juste back with me." He grabbed my hand and started to

    walk out, leaving no room for discussion

    But I jerked my hand away from his. "I want to be trained, Larsen. So teach me

    Lucien growled. "Auren, this is ridiculous! Stop being stubborn."

    But I crossed my arms against my chest, meaning business. He narrowed his eyes in ast attempt to scare me. My heartbeat increased in fear.

    "Of fuck!" he rasped. He held my hand and the fear seeped away in his warmth. "Okay, I''ll spar with you today." Then he shook his head. "Not me. I might hurt you" His eyes scanned the entire arena andnded on a wiry boy, "Your" he shouted. "Come here and train with my Luna"

    The boy started trembling as he walked toward use was in his teens and withered under Lucien''s alpha aura. When he came to stand right in front of us, it seemed like he would faint anytime. Lucien towered over him and growled. "You will train with my Luna today. Go easy."

    "Yes Alpha," he replied, quivering

    1 rolled my eyes. The boy looked so frail, that a strong gust of wind could carry him away. I sighed and shook my head, but Lucien jerked his chin to a small ring for him to step in. Once the boy was there, Lucien tumed to me and instructed, "Wait for him to punch you. Try to dodge it Tire him. Once he is tired, hit him, okay?" He walked with me to the ring. "If you feel that you can''t fight him,e out"

    I heard Sable chuckling from the side, and my anger increased. "Okay!" Thuffed. "Don''t interfere." Determined, I stepped into the ring and caught the boy staring at Lucien, his expression tense. It was clear he was receiving instructions through the mind link from his Alpha, surely not to hurt Jne.

    "What''s your name asked as he took his stance in front of me.

    "Max. Let''s get over this," he fumed. "I don''t want to be seen sparring with an omega? he hissed. And without warning, heunched a punch at me, hitting me square on my shoulder.

 Chapter 59

    Auren POV

    I winced in pain. A low growl rumbled from behind me, which was undeniably Lucien, warning the boy. I clenched my jaw and nced at him to stop intimidating my opponent. I wanted to win or lose it at my expense. He must have understood because he crossed his arms across his chest with a scowl settling in his face.

    Max bounced on his feet in front of me, his victory and sneer apparent on his Exce. Like he implied I was a dumb omega to face him. But what he didn''t realize was that I had been beaten so many times by wolves stronger than him that the punch he sent to me was bearable.

    He swung his fist toward me again. Somehow, I ducked and managed to dodge it. Angered, he swung another punch, but I dodged him again by bending back. I looked like he was in a hurry to finish the fight. He didn''t give me time, and lifting his leg, he spun to kick me in my belly. However, I spun to the right, evading him. Max lost his bnce. He fell hard on the ground on lus knees and hands. The audience gasped. I took the chance and kicked him as hard as possible on his butt. He further stumbled, groaning in pain and fell t on the floor. I didn''t give him time to recover. Lifting my leg. I kicked him with all my strength. I expected him to rise and retaliate, but instead, he curled into a ball, whimpering in pain.

    "Help me"" he cried

    There was pin drop silence in the arena as I looked at Max with uneven breaths, wondering what I really did to him,

    Few secondster, Lucien jumped in the ring, Grabbing my waist, he picked me up; bringing me to his eye level. "I''m proud of you, little wolf?" he breathed. From the former of my eye, 1 saw someone helping Max out.

    Before I could figure out what was happening. Lucien crashed his lips on mine and carried me out of the ring. Adrenalin gushed in. Logic tossed out of my mind. 1 kissed him back feverishly, needing it. We continued to kiss until we reached our room. His face dipped to the crook of my neck and I inclined my neck, whimpering with desire. He grazed me there with his teeth. Or were those his fangs? An area between my thighs ached

    Suddenly, he snapped his head back, his eyes shing golden, his nostrils ring. "Stop it!¡± he growled.

    Puzzled, I asked, "Stop what?"

    A shudder ran down his body and he set me on my feet, his eyes going dark. "Nothing" he replied angrily and walked inside our room.

    Stunned by his hot and cold treatment, I felt terrible. "Did I do something wrong? Lasked in a low, cautious voice.

    "No!" he snapped. Running his fingers through his hair, he let out a rough exhale.

    "I have to go to the High Council," he dered. "For a few days."

    I gawked at him. "W-Why?"

    "Personal work." he said mysteriously.

    Lucien went to take a bath, leaving me with a thousand questions. When we both came down for breakfast, I saw Tarian. He bowed to me with a smile. "Luna, Alpha" Since my mood had dipped drastically. I gave him a tight smile and sat down. "You were awesome out there in the ring!" heplimented me. "Have you ever been trained!"

    I chuckled. "Ah no. I just used to watch the warriors fighting from afar Omegas weren''t allowed to fight."

    His eyes widened. "But it looked like you were a trained warrior. I mean your moves were pretty natural."

    I shrugged, my cheeks shing. "I was just lucky."

    "Well, that was impressive."

    Lucien red at Tarian as he listened to the conversation. After a few minutes of awkward silence during which only the crunching of food filled the air, Lucien said to Tarian," be leaving for the High Council tonight and will be back in three days. Take care of Auren, and make sure that she is protected at all times?

    Tarian blinked at him in confusion. "Why are you going to the High Council all of a sudden?" he asked. "Is there something important. This visit wasn''t on your agenda

    I stared at Lucien to listen to the answer, but when his eyes turned glossy, I knew that the two were talking via mind link. It infuriated me even more. What was he hiding? Going to the High Council was something that one couldn''t take lightly. I gobbled my food as fast as possible and stomped out of the dining room, feeling Lucien''s stare at my back.

    Lucien didn''te to the bedroom. From the balcony, I watched him leaving for the office, feeling all the more frustrated. It was in the afternoon that a packet arrived for me. It was from Lucien. Inside, I found a tablet-something only high- ranking members in my pack used. I had always wondered about it. Excitement bubbled inside me, and before I knew it, the entire day slipped away as I browsed the inte.

    In the evening when he returned, he was still looking like a thundercloud. "Thank you," I said, smiling.

    With his brows furrowing deep, he nodded and said, "Auren, 171 be out for a few days. Please make sure that you take care of yourself. Eat well, sleep well and don''t go back to the training arena. If you have to go out, take Vivi with you. If you have to "

    "Why are you going?" I cut him off. "Can Ie with you!" I didn''t know why, but the thought of being apart from him unsettled me. Why was I so

    "No!" he rasped. "You can''te with me. You are safer here."

    I gritted my teeth. "Okay!" I replied stubbornly. If he didn''t want me, neither did L

    He left immediately after. That night I couldn''t sleep, tossing and turning in my bed. Nightmares revisited. In my dreams, there was darkness shthering around me like snakes, suffocating me.

    I shot up with a jolt with my heart racing wildly. Trembling, I swallowed thickly and plopped back on the pillow: 1 curled into a fetal position, hugging my knees.

    The door opened and someone walked in. Perhaps Vivi or another omega. Was I screaming? They looked at me, but I couldn''t make out who they were because my mind was hary. They touched me, asking questions. But without Lucien, I felt vulnerable and didn''t answer them. There were so many things running through my mind, Fragments of everything. "Where''s Lucien?" I whispered.

    "He''ll be back soon

    He needs me." Emired. Or not.

    "He''s fine. Luna Auren."

    "No." My eyes went outside the window where the wanting moon hung over the dark pors

    "You should eat and then go back to sleep."

    How could I sleep? I tried to look at the two wolves through my hazy vision. "I want to go to Lucien They didn''t talk to me. Instead, they made me lie again and after covering me in sheets, they left.

    The next day, when I woke up, I stretched slowly and yawned. My entire body felt like a bulldozer ran over it. I needed to shower and eat something to have some energy, and forget about Lucken. So I went to the kitchen to stay buy. But things worsened.

 Chapter 60

    Auren POV

    Vivi''s eyes widened when she saw me. "Luna, I''m making your favorite red velvet cake. Give me twenty minutes and it''ll be ready. In the meantime I have blueberry pie that Tom has prepared." She took my hand and guided me to the ind table.

    "I know how to make red velvet cake," I whispered, my mind still hazy. "Let me help you." Despite Vivi stopping me, I went to the counter where the batter was and began adding ingredients. I ended up adding twice the amount of sugar and then messed up with vegetable stir fry. In the end, the food tasted like poison. Vivi and Tom didn''t say a word as other omegas only looked at me curiously. I forced some juice down my throat, but it revolted in my stomach. Wiping my face, 1 said. "Im going to the training arena."

    "But Luna, you can''t!" Vivi protested.

    I didn''t pay heed to her and walked out into the corridor toward the arena. Every sound outside-the rustling of leaves, the distantughter-it all felt like it belonged to another world, one 1 wasn''t a part of The idea of carrying on with life felt exhausting. Internally I hoped that the day ended

    fast

    see me in the training arena. ¡°Luna, you shouldn''t be here," he said as he came to stand next to me, scanning me. "You are

    Tarian was not happy to s pale and fragile"

    gulped, looking away, wrapping my arms around my body. "I need a distraction. So just let me train."

    He pursed his Lips, But he couldn''t deny me. He looked around to find a suitable candidate for me. I realized that Max hadn''te. I didn''t ask about him but I was curious as to why he didn''te. My gaze drifted to Sable who stood on the side, talking to two girls showing them some weapons. As if on cue, she turned, a smile curving her lips before the bowed. She walked over to us with the two girls following closely. "I can help her train," she offered.

    There was something sinister in her eyes. And I felt like she was thr gauntlet toward me. I wanted to pick it up, but Tarian growled. "No, not you. You are too advanced for Luna But you" He looked at her right. "Julie is at beginner level. You will train with Luna. And you better go easy." hemanded. "Show her the basic moves and make sure that she isn''t injured."

    As Sable shrugged. Julie grinned. She bowed to me. "I''ll be a pleasure"

    Fighting with Julie was anything but pleasure. She also came from the long line of my haters

    In the ring. Julie circled me like a predator, her eyes glinting with arrogance. She came closer to me and smirked, "An omega in the training arena. Cute" She whirled to stand in front of me as I watched her movemenis. "From serving tea to the warmors to training with them-quite a raise, isn''t

    Clenching my fists, I said, ¡°Let''s just get over

    "Oh, I''d love to?" She lunged first, mming her fist into my ribs. Pain exploded through me, and I staggered. But this pain was better than the internal one. Another blow came to my arm, knocking me back. It was clear that she was attacking. Just like Max.

    She chuckled "Rx Luna'' This is how you learn. Then she swept my legs out from under me. I hit the ground hard, air whooshing from my lungs. Before I had a change to get up, her feet connected with my stomach, making me hasp.

    "Enough!" Tarian shouted.

    I shot a re at him and shook my head once. He stopped near the ring with his fists clenched ughtly. Sable, on the other hand, was grinning, like she was enjoying it

    "You need to toughen up, Luna," Julie said and kneed me in the side, sending me skidding across the floor. "This is for your own good." She let out a lowugh.

    Blood dripped from my lips and my vision blurred. She kneeled, and leaning over, hissed, "Now you know your position, omega?"

    rned red. With a

    Something inside me snapped. Was it Sienna My vision guttural growl, I got up. Surprised, she swung her fist at me, but I ducked. Twisting my body, I mmed my elbow into her ribs. She gasped, her eyes going wide. I followed up with a kick to her knee, forcing her down. The world blurred as I moved on instinct, striking, dodging, retaliating. Lake I was moving in darkness to chase the demons

    "Luna" Tarian''s voice rang from somewhere. You need to stop!" A firm grip seized my wrists, yanking them back and holding them in a tight Kasp

    When my vision cleared, Juliey sprawled on the ground, bloodied and unmoving. I swayed on my feet as my own blood dripped onto the floor.

    1 heard Sable screaming for help. Did I kill her? No, I could still hear her faint heartbeat.

    "You need medical attention, Tarian said.

    I barely registered the fact that I had won when darknes swallowed me whole. Chapter 60

    Lucien POV

    The High Council library''s archivesy buried three floors below, rarely visited. They were protected withyers of dark magic which shielded the forbidden knowledge. Unlike others, Alphas could get inside without permission from the Elders of the Council

    The librarian, a witch called Samantha, gave me an indifferent look. "I won''t be responsible for the oues. What you need may be avable in row ten" She gave me a bell. "For emergencies." Achill ran down my spine.

    The descent into the archives was suffocating With each step I took down the spiral staircase, the air grew heavier, pressing against my skin like invisible hands. Dark magic thrummed around me, humming through the cold stone walls. It felt ancient, alive and watching.

    When I stepped onto the third basement, Remus growled low in warning. The magic slithered against my skin and whispered. "Turn back. Leave

    Determined, I opened the massive tron door with unfamiliar runes. The runes pulsed, daring me to go inside, but I stepped in. Lights flickered on by themselves one by one as I walked in.

    The icy tendrils of dark magic clung to me, trying to prate my mind and body. Sweat beads formed on my forehead, I gritted my teeth. Every step was heavier than thest. Pain grew in my heart and when the magic seeped into the weakest part of my mind, my head exploded in pain. I winced, stumbling and clutching the racks in front of me. "Focus Remus, uid. "We are in this together. For our mate. But Remus remained quiet.

    The magic constantly invaded my mind, trying to break me, shing images of painful memories. It was li

    It was like having nightmares repeatedly.

    Breathe in. Breathe out I focused to keep my mind strong with Remus''s help, and walked ahead until I reached my destination.

    But the library''s magic was too powerful for even an Alpha like me. I couldn''t take it anymore and huddled on the floor. "Rensus, you can do it, I grined. I knew Remus was the most unhinged woll ever born. He hadn''t shown his worst yet. His true powers were hidden. If unleashed, he could alone create a ruthless bloodbath. He was born out of centuries of curse and darkness.

    "Think of a happy memory. Remus advised quietly.

    Happiness! My mind went back to the moment when I saw Auren in her wedding dress.

 Chapter 61

    Lucien POV

    Even though I was trying to focus on my happy moment, the dark magic curled around ine, seeping into my mind, trying to twist reality, bending my thoughts Shadows coiled at the edges of my vision, getting into the fractures of my mind. My breath turned ragged.

    We have to facus, Remus growled inside me ''Auren. Mate

    My mind wanted to reach happiness, so I focused. "Auren." I nummured like she was an anchor to pull me out of this abyss. And there she was. Standing in her wedding dress, bathed in the soft nonlight. My breath hitched. She looked ethereal. Her silver eyes shimmered when she looked at me, piercing through my darkness,

    The shadows around me hissed. I focused harder, remembering how my chest warmed when I saw her that night. She looked untouchable. Mine

    My vision cleared. The tendrils of magic retreated, but notpletely. They still lurked to find my weakness,

    My voice was uncertain as I murmured, "Auren?"

    She smiled beautifully. "You called me?"

    shudder ran through ine. She was standing in front of me, untouched by the dark magic with soft silver moonlight clinging to her. "But how?" 1 reached for her, halt expecting for her to disappear. But she reached for me and intertwined her fingers with mine.

    "You will always find me when you need me," she replied with amusin her eyes. The suffocating thickness lifted off my chest and my mind felt freer, cle "Come," she softly said. "Let''s go somewhere better."

    The world around me shifted and I found myself standing by the river at the pack''s northern border-my favorite ce as a pup. The water reflected the stars above. The air smelled of damp earth and pine. She stood by me, her hand still in mine. "What were you looking for?" she asked as she plucked a lower and smelled it.

    A foliage of herbs appeared in front of me. Moonshade blossom, bloodroot, silverleaf, wolfsbane and Starfire herb. My eyes widened at the array. These were avable at the banks of this river?

    1 let out an exhale, letting my shoulders drop. "You''ve taken me to the right ce. How do you know about this?"

    She grinned and silver from her eyes spilled out on the edges. "Of course I know everything"

    For a long time, we walked along the riverbank as the stars stretched endlessly over us.

    Suddenly, something pulsed around me. Auren''s eyes went wide and pain etched across her face and she fell on her knees. Her pain rumbled through me. "Auren!" I shouted, reaching for her. "Don''t got" The skies thundered and drops of crimson rained on us. Before I knew her wedding gown was covered in blotches of blood. "No. No!" 1 rasped. "Auren!" Goosebumps prickled my skin. And then, just like that, she was gone.

    I slipped back through the inirage into reality and saw that I was half bent over a pile of books, some open, some closed. The dark magic began curling around me faster than before. It invaded me fiercely, pressing hard against my skin. Remus growled in warning. And I pressed the bell.

    Auren POV

    There were shadows all around as I sat huddled in their center. I didn''t want to get out of it, feeling weak. Without Lucien, this was my life perhaps. 1 wished he was here.

    "Auren?" a deep voice prated my mind. I battled with the shadows to see clearer. My eyes widened when I found Lucien standing in front of me. What kind of trickery was my mind ying?

    "How did you find me here?" I whispered, excited.

    His lips curled up "You called for me." He wrapped his hand around mine. ¡°Come,"

    he said. He took me to a riverbank, beneath a sky full of stars. The world was quiet except for the soft mustle of wind and his hand in mine. We walked in silence and I felt better, untouched by the pain that lingered on the edge of my mind

    Suddenly, the wind shifted. A single drop of crimsonnded on my dress. My breath hitched as I looked at him in confusion. "No." I gasped, reaching for him. But he slipped away, dark mist curling around him.

    "Lucien''" I screamed, but my voice was swallowed by the shadows. And then there was nothing.

    I don''t know how long but I heard a faint voice. "Auton." It seemed toe from the sky. "Auren. Was that Lucien!

    3:02 PM

    Strong hands grasped me and tucked them next to a hard, warm chest. "I''m taking her home," he growled.

    As if on instinct. I clutched the shirt of the person holding me in his arms. His pine and spice smell wrapped around me and I immediately calmed down. I surrendered to the warmth I had craved for days. Inhaling deeply. I moaned, and snuggled my face in his chest.

    When I fluttered open my eyes next, I found myself staring into very dark eyes. "Lucien!" I rasped. "When did youe? I-I-"Was this even real? He was there in my dreams. ¡°How long was I unconscious?"

    Lucien stared intensely into my eyes, and my heart flipped. His tousled hair and two-day stubble gave him a rugged edge. All the anxiety and darkness that 1 felt over the past days, lifted, leaving warmth in its stead.

    He ced a finger on my lips. "So many questione," he said as he kissed his finger that was on my lips. "And you were unconscious for one day."

    One day? Did that mean he returned in two days instead of three? I blinked my eyes at him in confusion.

    "But you''re fine now," he added, leaning over me closer. As if he couldn''t stop himself, he rolled over me and pressed me to the mattress. Then he crashed his lips on mine I moaned in his touch greedily. Before I knew it, my legs wrapped around his waist, pulling him closer. My fingers tangled in his hair, tugging him toward me as his hands gripped me possessively.

    I parted my lips and with a deep growl, he delved his tongue inside me, stroking me, tasting me, devouring me like he was starving, like I was the nly thing that could satisfy his hunger. My body melted into his, heat pooling low in my stomach as he grounded himself on me. A shiver ran down my spine when he grazed my bottom lip, sucking it into his mouth. And in this moment, I was his.

    We were both breathless when to my embarrassment, my stomach growled. Goddess, it always had wrong timing. He jerked his head back. "You

    have to eat."

    "What?"

    He shook his head and pulled me out of the bed. I stifled a protest as he held my hand and guided me to the dining room.

    "Why did you go for training?" he asked, changing the topic, leaving me frustrated.

    "I wanted to divert my attention."

    "At what cost?" he said disapprovingly. "You had a lot of blood on you."

    I pursed my lips as my eyes went to my arm where Julie had shed it. But surprisingly it had healed. In one day? There was no bandage which was pretty unusual because as an omega I healed slower than all other wolves taking at least three to four days. "It has healed fast!"

    "Tarian said that you healed within a few hours," Lucien informed me, not believing himself.

    I was shocked. "A few hours! How is that possible?"

    "I have to ask Elias what potion he applies on you." Then he nced at me when

    we were at thending of the staircase. "I heard that you defeated Julie

    I blushed "just lucky, I guess."

    He chuckled darkly but proudly. "Anyway, no more training for you, and tomorrow

    you are apanying me to the hospital in the human town. We have an appointment with the nutritionist."

    "Why?"

    "Because if I have to mark you, you need to be healthy."

 Chapter 62

    Lucien POV

    I had returned in two days from the High Council''s library not because I had found what I was looking for, but because of the vision I saw. Of Auren bathed in crimson blood. The vision was so disturbing that Remus forced me to go back to see her.

    And true to what I had thought, Auren was in the hospital. I rushed there. Seeing her lying unconscious on the hospital bed sent a sharp, visceral pain through me as if someone had ripped out a part of my soul. Her face was too pale and she was so fragile that my savage wolf stirred with a desperate need to pull her in my arms. I clenched my fists to stop trembling.

    "She insisted on training, Alpha," Tarian said, lowering his head. "I wanted her to go back, but she is my Luna. I couldn''t stop her." Then he lowered his voice and added, "And she is stubborn."

    1 growled in warning but I knew that Auren was stubborn. Last time when she fought with Max, she warned not to interfere.

    When Tarian said that she won against Julie, I was astonished. Even though Julie was at the beginner level, she had gamma blood and that was much superior to omega blood. Julie could easily take down Auren. But Auren not only won against Julie, she managed to inflict injuries on her. Julie was in the ward, bandaged and healing with red marks and cuts.

    I felt like killing Julie right on the spot, but controlled myself because if I did that the pack members would raise questions. Remus was going insane inside me to break free and shred Julie to pieces. ''Kill her, he growled. ''She hurt our mate''

    ''I can''t. Auren wanted to fight with her as well.

    ''So what?'' he argued. ''No one gets to hurt our mate!''

    I had to push him down with difficulty.

    I was shocked when Elias said that Auren had healedpletely. He said that by the time Tarian brought her to the hospital, her skin had begun healing. In a few hours she was absolutely fine. Her skin had stitched up. Elias said that she was unconscious because of mental trauma. He also heeded that she might eat a lot of food in order to gain strength once she regained consciousness.

    I couldn''t leave Auren in the hospital, so when I saw her there, the first thing I did was on instinct. I picked her up and carried her back to our house. Surprisingly that calmed Remus to the extent that he stopped demanding for blood.

    True to what Elias said, Auren ate a hearty meal the next morning much to my delight. I watched her stuffing her food into her mouth as she exined how she tackled Julie in the ring.

    "Lucien, I want to go for training regrly. I know I can do it!"

    I shook my head. "No, I can''t risk it anymore."

    "But why?" she whined.

    I didn''t hear her argument at all. "We are going to the human town now," I said, leaving no room for discussion. We finished breakfast and walked to the garage when all at once, I heard Sable. "Alpha Lucien!"

    Ignoring her, I opened the door for Auren to sit inside, extending my hand and helping her in.

    "Alpha Lucien!" Sable called me again. "Are you going somewhere?" she asked. I gritted my teeth. "Human town."

    Her eyes briefly went to Auren. "Can Ie with you? I also have some work."

    "No," I replied gruffly and went to sit at the wheels. "I have to take her for an appointment. Besides, you can go on your own!"

    She gawked at me. "You are taking her for an appointment personally? Someone else can take her."

    I narrowed my eyes on her. "Oh, so now I have to take your advice on how I work? What else would you like Miss Sable? Should I report to you when I return?¡± I asked sardonically, as my thoughts turned darker by the minute. "And how dare you question me?"

    Sable withered under my re. "I''m sorry, Alpha Lucien," she muttered.

    ¡°Be careful of what you say," I growled. "Your father''s position can''t protect you all the time!"

    Sable''s mouth dropped to the floor.

    Angry at her interference, I sped the car out of the mansion. I had to teach this girl a lesson one day. She took advantage ofing to my house on the pretext

    of training in the arena which was situated in my estate.

    Chaper 62

    ghed at Auren who didn''t ask me anything. Instead, she sat in her seat and looked outside as the scenery changed, looking unbothered. Which

    The road to the human town wound through the dense forest, and I loved watching her take in the scenery. My wolf was busy rolling himself in the sweet and warm agysle smell that filled my ck Maybach Now all I wished was she held my hand or better if she sat on myp as I drove. I nced at her wondering if I could take her hand in mine, but refrained. That made my muscles coil in tension, and I clutched the wheel tightly. I didn''t want to Ask Ake a pervert even though all my thoughts were in the gutter.

    "It is at Best time going to a human town. Where are we going?" she asked.

    nan bour, we drove in front of a grand hospital that Auren was stunned to see. "It''s huge!" she rasped.

    I chuckled "Yox my pack keeps giving them donations. That''s why they are so grand. As we walked inside, I couldn''t help holding her hand. Her hand was so small and soft as I covered it in myrge ones. But I felt better.

    There were so many unmated handsome doctors in the hospital that my wolf was already getting restless.

    Told you to mark her already. See what you''ve done! All these doctors are staring at my mate. Should I kill them?''

    Calm down I chided him.

    "Wow she chirped, snapping me out of my murderous thoughts. "It''s beautiful!"

    "Dr. Elias and Dr. Barry did their residency from this hospital and that''s why when

    it is needed, Ie here. But they don''t know we are werewolves

    Oh why?

    There''s a treaty amongst werewolves and humans which prohibits us from revealing our true nature to the humans. We just... co-exist."

    Auren was surprised, but I admired the way she took the information quietly.

    As we passed through the lobby and the corridors, the female doctors and nurses gave me suggestive looks with hearts in their eyes, blushing and greeting me. Remus growled at all of them, feeling repulsed by their reaction. ''Can I kill them?'' I rolled my eyes. All he wanted was to kill anyone who looked or admired Auren-

    man or woman.

    As soon as the receptionist saw me, she hurried to me. "How can I help you?" she asked excitedly, recognition in her eyes, as she nced at Auren and then at our joined hands.

    "We have booked an appointment for Auren Vaslof."

    Auren whipped her head to look at me. "Vaslof?" she mumbled.

    I smirked. "Yes," I whispered, leaning close to her ear. "You''re Lucien Vaslof''s wife, and so your name bes Auren Vaslof." Adding my name to hers was exhrating, like a primal satisfaction. It felt right-like iming what was mine, binding her to me forever.

    But why was she so surprised?

    AD

 Chapter 63

    Auren POV

    Vasko Vaslot. I repeated that name silently in my mind as I scrambled through my memories. Where did I hear it? Auren Vaslot? When recognition hit me the surprise that flickered through me left me breathless. I took a ragged breath in trying to make sense out of things.

    That was the name of the wolf who I had seen in my visions when I was in the Elderemere ruins. He was the one who rejected his moon-mate, Naqia All the time I thought that what I saw was nothing but fragments of my tortured mind. But was it the case? Maybe what I saw in the ruins was true. I did happen in the past.

    Goddess. It was the first time I heard Lucien''sst name and it sounded like it belonged to me, like I was destined to be Auren Vaslof.

    "Auren" he said in a low, cautious voice.

    I snapped out of my thoughts. "Lucien, there''s something I''d like to say!" I replied excitedly.

    "Sure, what is it?" he asked with a frown.

    "Mr Vaslof?" A soft voice interrupted us.

    looked at the woman who was standing in the doorway of a room in front of us. With chocte brown hair that was tied in a ponytail, she looked pretty. She was wearing scrubbers and so I assumed that she was a doctor. Ignoring mepletely, she tilted her head and smiled at Lucien. "I''m Dr. She. I''ve been expecting you. Pleasee in, Sir," she said with a pale blush on cheeks and a suggestive smile.

    My earlier thoughts disappeared,

    Never leaving my hand, Lucien nodded and guided me inside her room. She''s chamber was small but cozy. As we sat across her at the table, her focus remained on Lucien. But the way she eyed him was like he was a candy she wanted to eat. I didn''t like it one bit, but I guess since he was one of the major donors to this hospital, regard for him was natural.

    "You wanted to see the nutritionist?" she inquired. "Unfortunately, she is on a long paternity leave. I''m filling in for her."

    "I see." Lucien replied. "We are here to get a detailed diet n for Auren."

    "Oh, I see," she said dryly. Then she began asking me various questions. I answered all of them right from what I eat to what I would love to eat, but it seemed like she wasn''t listening to what I said. After about ten minutes, she handed me a folder. "This includes the food options for you. Make sure that you read it all."

    As I took the folder in my hand and flipped through the pages, I realized that all this information was avable online. I saw it often on the tablet that Lucien had given me. And one printed paper was like she had downloaded it without research and punched it in the folder. I sighed. What was the point ining here? I could have researched all this on the Inte. But I didn''t say anything to her because that would be impolite. So, I thanked her. "Thanks, Dr. She."

    She waved me off indifferently and turned her attention back to Lucien. And once again hearts appeared in her eyes. "Mr. Vaslof, there''s a charity ball in two days for cancer research in our hospital. People have been asking me if had found my partner for it." She batted her eyshes as if looking for an answer from Lucien. "I was thinking..."

    Ignoring her tantly, Lucien looked at me. "Would you like to ask her anything? Anything specific that you would like to include in your diet?"

    Yes, I had hundreds of questions! I really wanted to ask She as to why she was snubbing me. Was this how she was with all her patients? And why was she eye- fucking? We came this far only to talk about my diet n. The fact that Lucien wanted to mark me was so overwhelming that I would do anything for it-Evene to a nutritionist and follow every diet she suggested. Basically, I wanted to be healthy as a horse to take his mark.

    But I pursed my lips and said, "No!"

    Lucien''s brows furrowed as he studied me. Then he fully turned to me and cupped my cheeks with hisrge hands. His dark eyes stared intensely into my gray ones, piercing into my soul. I felt a blush creeping on my cheeks as my eyes widened. What was he doing? What was he trying to prove? Or was it that he also felt the same?

    "Dr. She," he said, tilting his head. "I don''t think my wife is satisfied with your counseling."

    Wife. The word sounded like a caress to me, my heart filling with warmth. "Wife?" She squeaked. Her eyes snapped to me and she paled. "I-I''m sorry but I gave her the best meal ns." Then she added with a sad expression and a shaky voice. "However, it is natural for her to find faults. Rich wives always do that." Under the fa?ade of her sad expression, it was easy to see that she was panicked because her insincerity was exposed. She looked from me to Lucien.

    Lucien lowered his hands, to take mine in hisrge ones. He turned to She and scoffed, "Don''t you say that to my wife. Your meal n is shitty and judging by the look of it, you probably pulled it off the Inte. Auren kept quiet about it out of politeness. But did you take me for a fool?"

    His words surprised me because he actually noted what I also noted. The thing was that when Dr. She was giving him suggestive smiles, he was 1/2

    3.07 PM

    107

    responding back with a smile. While Lucien was only being courteous, she thought that she had a chance to flirt with him. With his striking looks, muscr build, and status as a hospital donor, how could she possibly let this chance slip away?

    When she saw me beside him, she assumed I was just a one-night stand-too timid to be anything more to Lucien. Compared to me, she was a renowned doctor. With a few flirty smiles and looks, she thought she could win Lucien''s dark heart. But what she didn''t anticipate was that I was his

    wife.

    "N-no Mr. Vaslof," she sputtered.

    "Do you know the kind of donations I give to this hospital?" Lucien growled. "And if this is the output I''ll receive, there''s no point in helping further." Saying that, he got up and tugged me outside. Before leaving, he pulled the folder out of my hand and hurled it across the room to her.

    Use this n for yourself!"

    Dr. She was so stunned by what happened that her face turned ashen white.

    But what happened next was even more bewildering.

 Chapter 64

    out of the hospit

    the corridor.

    stopped with me and narrowed his eyes on hum

    derous. I had to practical ward us. "Mr. Valof" be said loudly.

    rachless and panting as he came to stand in front of us. Tm Dean of the Hospital,

    Dr. Robert Brown"

    (lips as he nced

    "Tim sorry for how Dr. She treated you sh

    You have to apologize to my

    his status. He rwallowed, wondering how he could stoop to

    Lucien put his hands up. "It''s non me who you shoul

    Robert didn''t look at me. He looked my level

    wed at closing his ey

    Robem like a hawk as he caressed my hand in his grip. And then in a surprising gesture, he lifted his hand to his lips and s took a deep breach in

    My beach lodged in my throat as my bean somalted. His gesture was a bold deration that no one had the right to see me in a derogatory

    Pride and admiration warted inside my chest. No one had gren mesomoch respect all my life. His gesture left with so much warmth that spread all across my body. And with those tumorousing that threatened to make me squeal in delight. What was happening to me! Lucie elicited many inexplicable foreign feelings inside me. I felt like a party in his touch

    Lucien

    When I opened my eyes, I couldn''t help but look at her qevering lips. All I wanted was to kiss her im ber right here, right now. Her rouch lingered on my lips, its effect shooting straight to my cock Kissing her here and there wasn''t mough. I really had to mark her. No. I really had to chim her. This way I was torturing my soul

    I don''t know how long we stared into each other eyes, but

    bun in nook all my power to te

    tear my gaze from her and return to Robert

    Dr. Robert looked at my wife, his eyes slightly wide. Tim really sorry, Mrs. Vaso"

    he apologized. "Dr. Sh be discourteous. It was just that-"He pursed his lips, not knowing what else to say

    She is also very

    ry sorry. She didn''t mean to

    She swallowed, wondering if she could ever answer back to a man like Dr. Robert Brown. But I squeezed her hand to assure her that I had her back. She took a deep breath in, like my energy into her seeped and suddenly she was bolder. Such to my delight

    "Dr. Brown" the started. Though I don''t know why you should apologize in ce of Dr. She, she should have been more respectful and attentive. If this is how the is with all the patients, then God help your patients. The advice that she gave me was nothing unique. She handed me popers that she had downloaded from the Inte. Now I am wondering if she passed her i

    Rober''s blood drained from his face. "Dr. She is a g-good nutritionist," he rasped.

    medical coins of DOL"

    She shrugged. "And yet that''s the advice she gave me. I''m sorry, but unless you show improvement in medical services at this hospital, I don''t think we should further extend the donations. She wasted our precious time, made me feel unimportant, and-"Auren nced at me from under her thick eyshes, and a blush crept on her cheeks.

    Was the going to say that She flirted with met My wolf loved as he waited for her to say that she was jealous. But Auren stopped. Why wasn''t she Jealous! Both me and Remus deted.

    Then she added, "Unima you favor Dr. She, I don''t see any reason for you to not sack her

    Yes'' That was like my true Luna. She spoke like someone inmand, someone who knew the world was at hermand. And I would muir sure it stayed that way for her she talked like the belonged to an alpha bloodline that ruled for centuries. She sounded like a queen. My queen. And at that time, I think I imagined her aura spelling out of her. Because she thone. I wanted to wrap her in my arms and kiss her senseless

    Dr. Robert''s eyes widened inplete surprise. He wasn''t expecting that a timid girl like her could give him such a bold reply. Licking his dry lips. be ward. "I will make sure that things change here. Mrs. Vailof"

    Auren nodded tightly: "Very well, then, We''d like to leave." Saying that, she rugged me out of the hospital and mopped only once she reached

    I was really impressed by the way she put Robert in his ce. She threatened hum that we might withdraw our charity if he didn''t work better on improving the work ethics of the ce. She used her authority sincerely in a just manner. Remus''s pride was spelling over to me and he was haskung under it. I know our mate was best

    307 PM c

    Once she reached our car, she leaned against it, trying to calm down her shallow breaths.

    I stood in front of her, holding her waist. Leaning on to her, I said, "You did great out there."

    I did?"

    I replied. She wasn''t just great, she was stunning, dazzling, mesmerizing, I was the luckiest wolf in this world to have a mate like her.

    The only way to reassure her and to calm my excitement was to kiss her. So I pressed my lips to hers and she moaned against me. Her fingers slipped in my hair which she clutched rightly. My chest rumbled with need, and I forced her to open her lips. I delved my tongue inside and

    splored her mouth like I was doing it for the first time, like I was starved of her. She didn''t move away from me, which meant that she was as needy as me. My fangs must have slipped out because she yelped when they grazed her. Immediately, I removed my mouth from hers and realized that blood had smeared on her lips. Horrified, I cursed myself internally for being so impatient with her.

    Twiped her blood with my sleeve. "This is-

    She grinned. "It''s nothing," she said and smiled.

    Goddess. Her lips were swollen because of my rough kiss. She looked so sexy that I think if I didn''t im her right now, I could die.

    "Let''s go!" ! murmured, trying to rein in my dangerous thoughts. As I sped out of the human town, I had one more ce to visit. But for that I had borate n, So I stopped at a diner where I ordered a few dishes, got them packed and hurried to the car where my wife was waiting for me.

    As curved the car toward a road that didn''t lead to my pack, she asked, "Where are we going?"

    ¡°Surprise,¡± I said, smiling. In her presence, I felt like a reckless teenager again, and I had no intention of holding back my feelings now.

    0

    Auren POV

    I was so nervous ever since I warned Dr. Brown about work ethics in his hospital that I was expecting some kind of bacsh from Lucien. However, Lacien told me that what I did was right, and that made me feel better. He didn''t reprimand me for how I talked to the doctor. I just needed his approval. Everyone else could go to hell.

    As he drove back to the pack, silence lingered between us. His kiss-it had helped me settle. Tension dissipated and I felt lighter.

    When he got food packed on the way, my gaze flickered to thein. The smell of roasted meat and warm bread filled my senses. What was he up to? When instead of taking the direct road back to the pack, he veered off the main path and steered us through the thick woods, surprise washed over me. My heart quickened wondering where we were going. When he said, "Surprise", I was thrilled. This was a new side of Lucien-one that I loved. One that washed stayed forever.

    Moon Goddess, please don''t let me die.

    He parked the car and stepped out, grabbing the bags before I could offer help. He took o out a pic basket and a small bag. "Come, let''s go," he said, extending his hand to me. With heat rising to my cheeks, I took his hand. He guided me toward a spot where the trees parted to reveal a river.

    When we reached there. I couldn''t stop staring at the breathtaking view. The afternoon sun glistened on the surface. The golden ripples danced pver thezy current of water. A gentle breeze rustled through the tall reeds that were near the river''s edge. Sunlight filtered through the canopy of trees, casting dappled patterns on the bank.

    "Over there," he said, pointing where the wildflowers swayedzily. Upon reaching there, he spread out the nket on the grass r edge.

    The side of his lips lifted slightly. "Sir," he said.

    near the river''s

    Warmth bloomed in my chest as I sat down. He sat down behind me with his legs spread out wide around me. And in that moment, all that mastered was us. I heard the sound of birds chirping and an asional ssh of a fish when is broke the surface. The world here was serene. I could live here forever with him.

    "Thanks. I murmured, and on instinct, I rested my back on his chest. He kissed the crown of my head and inhaled my scent. I pretended not to notice the way my pulse jumped. For a while we sat infortable silence, listening to the world around us. It felt natural.

    "Hungry?" he asked after a while.

    I nodded and reached the pic basket to take out food, but he stopped me. He opened it, to fixing one for himself.

    took out the containers and handed me a te before

    This was the most beautiful gesture anyone had ever done for me. To say that I

    was overwhelmed was an understatement - I was beyond joyous, my heart overflowing with gratitude. If only I could freeze this time forever >

    He watched me intensely as I ate food. While eating, my mind went to hisst name. ¡°Lucien. ¡°I hesitated, unsure of how to bring up what I saw in the Eldermere Temple.

    His brows slightly furrowed as he sensed my hesitation. "What is it?" he asked.

    I exhaled. "It''s about the time when I was at the Eldermere ruins."

    He stiffened beside me, "You are not going back there."

    I shook my head. "No, I am not saying that. But-" I bit my bottom lip, my eyes

    going to the river. "At the temple ruins, I saw something." I turned to him. "It was like a vision. I hesitated before adding. "In my vision, I saw a wolf named Vasol, who came to meet the High Priests of Ekleremere. They offered him his moon- mate, a priestess called Naqua. He-he rejected her."

    Lucien''s face darkened and I recoiled in fear. The yfulness in his features that I saw only a few moments ago, vanished. "Vaslof you say?" he grated. "What else did you

    1 wallowed hard. "When he rejected Naqia, she was so heartbroken, that she turned into a Shadow Wolf. And along with her all the priests got sucked in an abyss of darkness. The moonstone altar cracked right in the middle and they all disappeared into IL And then-*

    His jaw ticked. "And then whut!"

    I took a ragged breath. "Then she cursed Vaslof some Bride Bane''s

    "Bride''s Bane curse!" he rasped, his eyes wide in surprise. "Are you sure you

    heard that?"

    I nodded. After I revealed it all to him, my heart fel lighter, like I had shed millennia of weight. But I knew that he wouldn''t believe me. "I don''t know what it means, but when the shadows wrapped around me, I felt trapped in it. Like I would never get out of there. Like I would be a part of shadow wolves.

 Chapter 65

    Chapter to

    iso" Immediately Lucien reached out to me. He pulled me in lusp and grabbed me around my waist. He leaned his forehead over mine

    Don''t ever go back there. That ce is prohibited."

    Iculed my hands around his neck I won''t."

    "I don''t know what to make out of your vision, Auren" Looking straight into my eyes, he said, "But the first Alpha wolf of my bloodline was called Valot. Honestly, I don''t know about his history. I mean that is not there in our archives. But if he rejected his moon-mate and that''s what you saw

    Hicletonsa nough breath. "That''s something serious. Maybe that''s the puzzle missing in my bloodline. I don''t know. We always heard about diadau wolves, but never saw them. Our ancestors have forbidden un from going to the ruins"

    shudder ran down my spine and I rested my head on his shoulder, closing my eyes against his nape.

    Tind out about it. Maybe the Shaman knows... I can''t believe that you actually encountered shadow wolves. What was it like?"

    "Lucien hesitated. I exined everything to him and he heard it with rapt attention.

    Dear Food His breath rasped in his throat. "You went through so much?" His hand slid to the back of my neck as his fingers threaded through my nd pulled me in front of him "Because of me." He stared into my eyes and then our lips met, slow at first. He let out a deep, primal growl. My hands listed fi liis shirt, pulling him closer. His tongue traced the seam of my lips, coaxing them apart. I let him in The kiss deepened as heat

    ded between us. His other hand went to my waist where he gripped me tight, grounding me against him.

    A deep he developed between my thighs. All I wanted was to do something I didn''t know what. As if understanding my predicament, Lucien Hipped his hand between us and cupped my sex. I gasped at the new sensation but he didn''t let me pull away. The emotion that crashed through me was fiery. On instinct I started grinding myself in his hand, needing some kind of relief. He knew exactly what I wanted, so he pressed and rubbed on the apex of my sex. 1 mewled in his mouth, needing more, grinding more.

    His nostrils red and he growled deeply. "Come for me, Auren," he said in a rough voice.

 Chapter 66

    Trat coiled inside me, a sensation so intense it stole my breath. His touch on my sex ignited fire that spread like wildfire through my veins. His mouth imed mine, so deep and consianing, pulling me under a tsunami of sensations I couldn''t name. My body arched as I chased something I didn''t understand but craved desperately.

    "Yes, such a good girl." Lucien muntered. "Come for me, baby?"

    The pressure buih, winding tighter and tighter until with a shudder, 1 shuttered. My body trembled is his grasp as waves of pleasure crashed over, Traving me boneless in lus arms.

    My breath came out in soft, uneven gasps and a warmth spread through my veins, leaving me dazed. It was as if I was floating on the clouds. My fingers still chinched his shirt, Trembling as I tried to catch my breath. "What was it?" Tasked. I had never felt this before.

    Lucien chun kled as he brushed his lips against my temple. His breath was hot. In a deep husky rasp, he said, "That''s it, little wolf. Now you know what''s yours to take whenever you want." His thumbzily stoked my naked thigh. "You got your first orgasm. And I was the one who gave it to

    you

    so I closed my orgasm I barely registered his words, because I was still lost in the lingering waves of pleasure. But I felt his pride, which was odd. Because a wolf like him must have brought so many women to pleasure. The thought was enough to dampen my mood. As if understanding me, he tightened his grasp around me- possessive and steady.

    "You''ve given something precious to me. Auren, and I have no intention of letting it go"

    With me in his arms, hey down on the nket. I closed my eyes, savoring his smell and his body. A raw need of something awakened inside me. Like I wanted to meld in him. Like I wanted us to be one. But how?

    He caressed my hair, stroking my back. "Sleep, little moon," he said in the same husky, rough voice with tense muscles. "We''ll do it soon

    i don''t know why but I felt like he was in a lot of pain, and I wanted to take it away. But how?

    Sleep overcame me sooner than I thought. When I woke up, I found myself alone. Panicky, I whipped my head to see where he was. Had he abandoned me already? I got up, my heart thundering in my chest. The pic basket was closed and the ce was neat. My eyes went to the car, which was still standing where it was.

    The sun was setting down, giving way to the moon. Tears stung in my eyes. Lucien had left me. He had shown me a world of his and then abandoned me. Tears ran down my cheeks. How could he do that? But then what did you expect from an Alpha like him? How long would he bear an omega as his bride" Shudders racked through me as I sobbed.

    I don''t know how long I cried, but when I heard, "Auren?" I snapped my head.

    Lucien was standing in just jeans, staring at me with his brows funowed

    "Lucien"" I got up

    up andunched myself in

    myself in his arms. He picked

    picked me up immediately, and I wrapped my legs a

    my legs around his waist

    *What happened, baby?" he asked.

    "Wher did you go! 1-1 thought y-you left me."

    A deep growl emanated from his chest. "Never ever think that," he said, chuching me tighter. "I can never leave you and I''ll ensure that you can''t leave me either."

    his. He carried me to the car, kissing me. When he removed himself, he said. ¡°I

    His words brought so much relief to me that I crashed my lips on h had gone for a run. My wolf, Remus, wanted to break free:

    He set me to my feet. Tucking a strand of hair behind

    my Fear,

    he said tenderly, "Let''s go home."

    Con our way back home, the car was filled with the smell of herbs. Did he pick up wildflowers from the river! And he kept holding my hand all the way back

    It was almost 10PM when we reached home, and by that time I was tired. As he went to his library where Tarian wanted to meet him. I took a quick shower and slipped under the nket. When the mattress dipped behind me, I knew it was Lucien. He pulled me against his chest and kissed me on my neck. Tingles spread along the length of my body and limbs.

    "Soon, linle moon, soon," he mumbled and went off to sleep.

    d by noises. I got out of bed, noticing that Lucien had left. When I came out of the

    Next morning I woke up with a start, hearing a food crash followed by noom, 1 heard Salle.

    307PM

    "Oh God, Tim so sorry

    Vivi mumbled something under her breath, and stomped out of the dining hall. I rushed down the stairs. What the hell was she doing here again! I was surprised to see that she was with Julie. She had recovered!

    Sable looked at me. "Luna" She bowed to me in a mocking way. "I''m so sorry, I broke a ss statue" She pointed at the shattered ss. "But what contil I do?" she added, and bit her bottom lip. "We were reading this magazine." She lifted a magazine in her hand and I blushed seeing the photo of a nude girl on its cover. She chuckled at my reaction. "I thought of giving it to you, but Julie suggested that if I gave it to you, you wouldn''t know what to do with it. She nced at Julie who giggled. "After all, Alpha Lucien hasn''t even marked you or imed you."

    lie and the other girl burst outughing at me. "Maybe he has changed his mind," Julie snickered. "For good!" Then sheughed more.

    ady cheeks heated at their obvious i

    insult.

    h you."

    Sable snuntered toward me. She leaned closer and in a low voice said. "I heard that he doesn''t want to have sex with

    "We had sex!" I countered, remembering what we did yesterday at the river''s edge.

    "Really?" Sable jerked her head back. Then she sniffed me and her lips curled up. "Then tell me did you see his penis? How big is it? Orrrr... do you even know whist penis is?" Saying that, they both burst outughing. "How could an Alpha like him choose an omega like you?" she said sarcastic-fi,

    Leave it, Sable, Julie scoffed. "She''s not in our league. They jeered at me as they walked out, leaving me in utter shame and confusion.

    What was a penis! Either I had to ask him or research it on the Inte. Maybe research it on the Inte and find it on his body.

    Hi, If you''re reading this book, you can follow me on FB at MishakWrites.

 Chapter 67

    Auren POV

    1 had to be very thorough in research so that the next time when I met Sable, I knew what she was talking about. I hated the way Julie and Sable spected at me for not being marked by Alpha Lucien

    "Luna Auren" Vivi''s voice snapped me out of my thoughts. "Should I serve you breakfast?"

    Taking a deep breath in, I said, "Can yo

    "Can you get it to my roman!"

    "Sure," she replied. Then she came closer and took my hand in hers. "Don''t feel sad about what Sable said. It''s no secret that she wants to jump in Alpha Lucien''s bed, but has never been sessful. There''s a reason why she doesn''t like you. She couldn''t get what you have. And she never will," she patted the back of my hand. "Go up and freshen up. I''ll get your breakfast.

    Her words lifted the sadness that was wearing me off. Vivi was like a mom I never lud. Always caring and reassuring me. With a smile, I went back. - TO TITY POLITY Wah a mission in mind-Mision What l''enia?''

    I took a quick bath and by the time I came out, I saw that Vivi had already brought my food to the room and it was on the coffee table. I crossed my legs on the couch as I switched on the tablet, while eating a bacon, egg and cheese sandwich. The moment the first page opened, my eyesnded on the deaded sketches and description "Oh, Mother Moon!" I gasped. As I turned the next page, my breath hitched and my face grew impossibly

    tarmer.

    was the first time I realized that a wolf''s penis was also his pee pee. When erect, it was an average of 14 inches long, and around 6 inches in girth. Some could be thicker or thinner. The purpose? Well, besides urination, it was key to intimacy and reproduction. Now I was left wondering as to how long and thick Lucien''s penis was?

    With

    heart hammering inside. I totally freaked out when I turned the next page. My cheeks were burning, and I thought of closing the tab, but then my determination to take notes and face Sable about it returned. "It''s just anatomy, Auren. Nothing inappropriate," I reminded myself. But why was it that my brain refused to take it that way! I swallowed hard. ¡°This is just research. Important research. Don''t panic. And yet, when I read the section on sperms and ejaction and knot, I let out a strangled noise. My eyes went to a chartparing lengths and thicknesses. "Good God" My entire body flushed. My eyes darted to thergest measurement recorded in the wolves'' history. Thick as my wrist With wide eyes, I squeezed my thighs together, pressing a hand to my burning cheek.

    Focus Auren. This is research. My throat was dry as I took every scandalous information before me.

    Suddenly, the door swung open.

    "Auren, what are you

    Lucien

    My soul left my body.

    He strode toward me with narrowed eyes as I watched him with wide eyes. "What are you studying!"

    "No-nothing" I fumbled and in the process the tablet dropped on the couch. Before I had the chance to shut it, Lucien picked it and when his eyesnded on the title-A Comprehensive Study on Male Anatomy-his brows lifted in surprise. There was a beat of silence.

    And then, that damnable smirk.

    "Interesting choice of study, wide. He remarked in a deep, rough voice.

    I wished for the earth to swallow me whole. Right now

    But my eyes went to his gym shorts and my breath lodged in my throat. There it was-the familiar bulge, which made my stomach twist in ways I refused to acknowledge. However, me being ine, with all my verbal diarrhea, I mumbled. "C- can I see it Shitt "1-1 mean for research purposes. Th- that''s all!" My eyes snapped to his face. "For research. Nothing else."

    He bir his bottom lip, sauntered toward me and came to stand right in front of me. cing his hands on his hips, he looked down at his bulge and word with his hand, "By all incans, Auren. Do your research"

    With trembling hands and heart pounding wildly, my fingers reached the waistband of his gym shorts. I hooked my thumbs under the stic and I opened them, and-"

    Oh my gods."

    3:08 PM ?

    Tucked in a sharp breath as my brain short-circuited when I saw his penis. It was swollen and pointing toward me and twitching. On an impulse, I licked my lips. I was sure this was huger than everyone else''s on this earth.

    "Well!" he asked, staring at me, his voice deep and husky "What do you think of it, Auren?"

    ¡°It''s an anaconda¡±¡± I blurted. Then I got up and sprinted to the nearest drawer

    "What are you doing?" he asked, bewildered.

    -I need to measure it!" I said, searching for one.

    "What?" He let out a low, dark chuckle. "Are you seriously going to measure my cock?"

    I returned with tape in my hand. "Hold still!"

    He let out a deepugh, as his cock twitched and his eyes shed golden.

    I measured its length, feeling the ache in between my thighs, smelling his arousal. "Mother Goddess!" I said in a raspy voice. "It is 15 inches long! Longer than- OMG!" I snapped my eyes at him. "Yours is thergest

    He just starked, his cock twitching more. "What did you expect? I''m the fucking alpha of the North!" He looked like a king presenting his most prized word. "Continue with your research, little wolf. There was so much pride in his demeanor as he stood there, like a proud peacock in full stisy.

    I continued to measure his girth, and pped my forehead as beads of sweat formed. I gulped and sat on the couch, my eyes not leaving his cock Something primal inside me awakened, and my lips parted. "Can I h-hold it?"

    His jaw ticked, his chest rising with a sharp inhale. "By all means," he murmured in a rough voice, positioning it like a goddamn offering

    The moment my palm met his cock, heat seared my skin. It was so hard, covered in velvet. Smooth yet rigid, with a thick vein on the side.

    He sucked in a breath, his stomach flexing. His hands fisted at his sides. "Fuck,"

    he rasped. He cupped my jaw with his hand, pinching it, opening in wider. "Can you take me in, little moon!"

    I didn''t know, but then he brought his cock right in front of my lips. And I closed my

    eyes as he slid his cock inside my mouth. Sensations overwhelmed me.

    (

 Chapter 68

    Auren POV

    "Eyes on me. Auren, Lucienmanded. Thismand was so strong that I had to force myself to stare at him as he slipped his cock inside my

    At that moment, he looked lethal. He was like a deadly dream who collided with my reality. Every dangerous moment was wrapped in this one woll. He was a wolf, but he was much more than that. He was darkness.

    "Tuck," he muttered as his face twisted into a scowl like he was fighting his self- control. Two onyx eyes shed golden. His defined jaw clenched A. our eyes met. I felt like he was stripping me with them.

    My hands went to his thighs where I dug my nails. A growl emanated from his chest. He slid out slowly, his eyes closing only for a moment. When he opened them, he red at me and thrust his cock back inside my mouth, hitting the back of my throat. I struggled to take as much of him as I could. But I wanted to prove myself because at this moment this was what mattered to me. Don''t ask me why? Maybe my body was reacting this way, or I wanted to please him!

    "Such a fucking good girl," he rasped, running his fingers through my hair and clutched them behind my head, gripping them so hard that it hurt, but it hurt so nice. That''s it, little wolf. Take my cock."

    He groaned. That encouraged me. When he slid it deeper, he was slow, allowing my throat to amodate his massive penis. So I hollowed my cheeks and sucked him as hard as I could. He pushed it further down and I moaned around his cock. His hips bucked at my sound and his chest rumbled dangerously. Like he could lose control anytime. Like he hadplete control over me, Control that I was beginning to like. Somehow, I wanted to submit to him,

    When I closed my eyes again as tears threatened to spill out, he gripped my hair tightly and thrust inside, demanding me to open my eye

    He pulled out his cock to give me a moment to breathe and then thrust it into my mouth again, deep and long. I started sucking it immediately. like my life depended on it. I wanted to explore it with my tongue. That hardness beneath the velvety skin. And when I moved my tongue around it he tipped his head up, his chest rumbling with a dangerous growl. When my tongue touched his slit, his eyes shed a fierce golden, and with a roar that rattled the doors and windows, he came inside my mouth as he continued to thrust inside my mouth.

    "Take my cum!" he ordered. "Swallow it!"

    He ejacted inside my throat and didn''t pull out until he had spent thest drop inside me. I could feel his cum, ropes of hot threads down my Throat. And I found myself swallowing it greedily. He watched me with feral interest as his chest rose and fell in short breaths. Once I was done, he didn''t take it out immediately. "I had been fantasizing about those pretty lips around my cock for ages," he said in a voice so rough that it made me want to do more even though my mouth was aching.

    His disheveled hair, stern eyes and sweat covering his body, made him look like a nightmare wrapped in the silk of fairy tales. He pulled out his cock from my mouth and dropped on his knees in front of me. He pinched my jaw to look straight into his eyes. My poor heart hammered against my chest as I noticed the look of satisfaction riched on his face.

    "How did I taste,

    little wolf?

    i swallowed and licked my lips and a moan slipped past my lips.

    He smirked. "My pretty little moon. Can''t even lie. His thumb traced my jaw. "You suck my cock so beautifully that I''ve got addicted to you now." He leaned toward me and brushed his lips against my temple. Dragging them down until they pressed against my ear, he said, "Whenever you want to cuck my cock again, just let me know."

    My cheeks were burning and my throat aching, yet I wanted more. "Yes, I will,"

    As if not expecting my answer, his lips parted in surprise. "Fuck!" he said before crashing his lips or mine. He devoured my mouth, tasting himself in me. When he left me, be sicked my bottom lip, grazing it with his teeth and fangs. "Do you want my cock inside you?" he asked,

    Not knowing what he meant, I whimpered, "Yes."

    He clenched his jaw tight and his muscle tendons became taur with sension. "Til fuck your tight pussy so raw and thorough that you won''t be able to walk for a week, little wolf His hand traced my corbone and rested between my breasts, "But luve patience, bule moon. Because I am teetering at the edge here. If you continue to tempt me like this, I''ll end up-"He didn''tplete the sentence. Instead, he pulled me against his chest and we stayed in that position on the rug. Neither of us wanted to move. It felt like we peeled anotheryer of ice between 18,

    "Mark me, Alpha Lucien," I murmured against his chest.

    He gripped me harder. "Soon Auren, soon..."

    When Lucien

    up, he scooped me up in his a

    armis. I squealed, "What are you doing!"

    "Taking you for a bath. With me!

    1 had never taken a bath with a wolf before. I blushed so hard, but he just growled, sensing my hesitation. "I can''t stop now!"

    He set ine on my feet and removed my shirt and skirt. Feeling embarrassed. I covered my breasts and sex. He removed my hands. ¡°All this is mine. Auren. Don''t shy away from me, baby" 1 bit my lip. He pinched my chin and lifted my face up to see into his eyes. He shook his head slowly, in warning and I felt bolder.

    He opened the faucet. Steam curled around us as hot water rained down, drenching my hair, trailing rivulets down my skin.

    Lucien stepped behind me. "Let me," he murmured in a thick voice.

    His hands brushed my waist, skimming up my waist. Shivers spread through me. Since this was my first experience like this, I should have protested, should have told him that I could wash myself, but my words died when his fingers grazed my shoulders and traced my corbone. before gathering my wet hair. My breath stuttered as he tilted my head to the side, exposing my neck to him. He lowered his mouth to my skin over there and kissed and sucked and licked it, his chest rumbling all the time. When his fangs grazed me there, my knees felt weak. But he gripped my waist tightly to keep me anchored against him.

    He brought his hands to my breasts and every muscle in his body tensed. "Fuck. Fuck. Fuck, he groaned as he cupped them. "You''ll be the death of me" My body arched on instinct for him to do more, do something. His big hand sprawled over my belly and he pressed me back to his body When his body was pressed against mine, the hard muscles met the soft curves and the heat from his chest and hard cock, seared down every inch of my body.

    Suddenly, he went still. Very spill. I whimpered in frustration. I tipped my head up and looked at him, and found his eyes going nk. He was jalking via mind link

    "Shit!" he growled "I have to go, baby. An incident has taken ce in the training arena.

 Chapter 69

    Lucien POV

    I hated leaving Auren like this and wanted to

    d to fucking munder those who created disturbance in my perfect moment.

    1. t. But Tarian said this was an

    I reached the pack bonder on the south and the scent of blood was thick in the air. They must have killed a few rogues. Arge number of warriors were already assembled there. "What''s wrong"" I practically growled at Tarian, my skin lingering with the sweet touch of Auren, my mind still

    flooded with images of her lips around my cock. Damn it adjusted my cock as I walked toward the crowd. I stepped over the rough terrain as the

    warriors parted for me. But my instincts costed av? neared the ce. And then I saw it.

    There was a body sprawled lifeless at the base of a por tree with its limbs pwisted unnaturally. Blond pooled around it, some soaking the earth beneath it. Shocked. I stared at the body. The victim was a male. Max, to be precise. The boy who fought Auren in the ring at the arena. A shudder can down my body: 1 knew that with his murder, the pack people may me Auren. I had to do something and do it quickly

    "Who found him?" asked as I stepped near it,

    "The morning patrol warriors." Tarian said.

    It was unusual to find a dead body in or around my pack, and so this was quite a bold act from someone.

    Hlowered my eyes to his body and studied it. From the looks of it, it seemed like there was no sign of struggle. There were no w marks, no bites not an iota of resistance from him. His ws were intact, which meant that he didn''t have the chance to attack his murderer.

    There was just a single, deep wound shed across his throat. It was precise and efficient, nned

    I clenched my jaw as 1 crouched beside the corpse. I scanned the body in order to find clues. Who the hell had the guts to kill Max and then leave his body on my pack''s border! Rogues weremon and my warriors dealt with them. But this-it felt different Calcted. A message rather than

    "Where are his parents?" I asked Tarian as 1 brushed his throat. The drying blood had caked over there.

    have already informed them. They had gone to meet their rtives in a different pack, Tarian informed me.

    Tense, my eyes ran down his body and I noticed a piece of paper jutting out of his pants pocket. It was so small that it could be easily missed against his white pants. I pulled it out and opened it. I froze when I saw what was drawn on it-a golden moon shackled in thorny vines, bisected by a

    Fuck

    A dangerous growl came out of my throat which belonged to

    d to Remus, and my warriors inclined their neck in submission.

    It was the same mark at Auren''s back. My eyes darkened as all I could think of was to kill whoevermitted this murder. What was that person trying to message me? That he would kill my Auren? How dare he mess with me? I would tear his guts out of his stomach and hang him with that.

    On this tree!

    Something rustled in the breeze, carrying the faintest scent of something familiar. Something I couldn''t ce due to mayhem in my head. I turned swiftly, my muscles sensing, but didn''t find anything. I needed answers and I was going to get them.

    Straightening up, my gare dropped back to Max''s corpse. Remus growled inside my head again. "Whoever killed Max is after our mate. Find him or her. I will kill that bastard" He was getting so aggressive and agitated that all he saw was bloodbath. And I knew if I unleashed him right now, he could kill my warriors.

    "Tonight we run around the border, Remus, I promised him. "We have to mark our territory again..

    Remus was fiercely territorial. Ever since Auren hade into our life, he had be dangerously territorial. Auren was ours. No one could take her away from

    us

    "What do we do with this body!" Turian asked me. He was just as tense. It had been ages since any of our pack members were murdered in such a

    I was furious. How dare they touch my park members Then they had the audacity to use him to send me a inessage!

    "Take him to the morgue," I grilled. "And I want a team of warriors to hunt this murderer. Get every video camera''s feed and study it. For the next three days, other than his parents no one is allowed to leave the pack ore into the pack until the investigations are over!"

    "Yes Al," Tarian replied as I quickly went out from there, my mind into an overdrive of possible scenarios. As I walked to my car, Tarian followed for "When do you think he was killed?" Lasked him.

    "I noticed hirabsence in the training," he said. "He hadn''te for thest two or three days, ever since Luna Auren defeated him."

    To you think he was humihated because her

    ept his defeat from her. Especially because she isn''t a trained warrior."

    nude me went ck What if she was attacked next by one of our own pack members? She wasn''t safe in my own pack! I clenched my harid that my knucklek turned white: "I need full security for Auren at all times. Am I clear!"

    is not to be left alone when she steps out of the house. Ask Vivi to taste every food before she serves it to

    1 to Auren!"

    Taran jerked his head back at my orders. He stared at me like I had grown two heads. I had never been so overprotective about anyone, and so I crise his suspicion. Though he didn''t voice his doubt, I knew that he was going to ask me about it soon. I hadn''t revealed it to anyone that minute. I think I made the right decision. If this was what happened when I didn''t reveal it, what would happen when I actually dered in Achill ran down my spine. She was my only weak spot-my life and my strength.

    Armin would go moon crazy without her. He kept finding ways to go near her. His restlessness was increasing by the day. I was afraid that if I ilelived marking her, he would simply break free and mark her in his beastly form. And that made me nervous as hell.

 Chapter 70

    Lucien POV

    I had already asked Vivi to add herbs to Auren''s food that would prepare her to take my mark. That day when I had taken Auren to the river''s edge for a date. I had found those herbs growing at its edge.

    When I had pleasured her, she was so spent that she slept on me. I cradled her for a long time, savoring her delicate body on me, trying my best to tame my cock. But the fucker was raging and wanted to be inside her. Scared that Fd break her before I even began. I carefully lowered her to the ground. Then I shifted into my wolf and ran into the forest to exhaust my wolf. I returned only to find her crying. Goddess, it broke my heart and soul. I decided that I couldn''t handle a crying Auren and would do everything to make her happy

    I needed to talk to the Shaman about the mark Auren had on her back. She said it was a birthmark. So I veered my car toward his house.

    "Hmmm.." The Shaman took the paper from me and studied it. "And how is this rted to Luna Auren?" he asked, his brows furrowed in deep concentration. My park''s Shaman was an old wolf whose father and forefathers served as our Shamans for centuries. He was one of the most trusted pack members of my pack, and I knew that my secret was safe with him.

    She has a simr mark on her back." Is

    I said. "But no one other than her pack''s Shaman knows about it. So I am concerned as to who else knows it

    Then you should ask the Shaman of the Crimson Howl pack," he replied. "I''m sure he would have some clues, because this is a serious matter."""

    I sighed because I had already sent my spies to talk to him. "What do you make out of this birthmark?" I asked

    He kept the paper on the table in front of him. Looking at my throat where the thorny vine tattoos crawled up, he said. "This could be a sign from the Moon Goddess, Alpha Lucien. It could be anything and then it could be nothing. But-" He looked away, his eyes going nk. "This can''t be a coincidence. Can you tell me more about it? Like how does Auren feel Or-

    "She had gone to the Eldermere ruins," I blurted.

    He gasped. "When! Alone? That is forbidden! How could you allow her?"

    I told him the whole sto

    Hory.

    He appeared to be inplete shock. "Did she say Vaslo?"

    I nodded

    He clenched his teeth. "In that case, grant me the permission to go to the Eldermere temple, Alpha. I want to go there today!"

    "What! Never!"

    "That''s the only way we''ll know about it," he said, shaking his head. "I have to go there."

    He sounded pretty serious and even I was curious. Maybe he knew how to break the curse. "Okay!" I let out a rough breath. "Tlle with you!"

    Auren POV

    Lucien had again gone somewhere without telling me where he was going. I got a message from Tarian that guards were stationed everywhere and if I had to go out of the house, they would apany me. I didn''t know what was the reason for the heightened security around me, and asking Vivi or Tom or any omega seemed futile. No one told me the reason.

    With him gone, I didn''t feel like doing anything. Sadness crept under my skin. The hours stretched slow and heavy. I went down to eat bunch, but I ate one buttered bread and got up, hating the taste. Why was it that I was moving like my day was caught in an endless dull dream. Sleep felt distant and I wanted to curl in my bed and cry. Where was he! How was he doing? Why didn''t he tell me where he had gone! I walked to the balcony to feel better, but even the warmth of the sun on my skin felt cold. I couldn''t take it anymore and broke down.

    The day blurred into evening I walked out of the doorway, staring at the empty spaces, waiting for someone-waiting for him. Every shadow streiched wrong. I felt like a part of me was plucked away, leaving silence and doom in its wake.

    To distract myself from this misery, I found any feet carrying the to the arena. Sure that no one would be there, and I could practice with some weapons, I opened the door. But I was surprised when I saw Sable and a few of her friends in a ring, practicing.

    Rage bubbled in my heart, seeing her. But I stayed calm and made my way to the weapons rack because I didn''t want a useless confrontation. I knew that a flurry of guards had followed me inside and so I knew they wouldn''t attack me.

    As I walked to the rack, Julie snickered, "Oh, look at that the omega wants to y warrior now! Try her luck with the weapons? Careful Luna, wouldn''t want you spraining that delicate wrist. Wouldn''t want Alpha Lucien hunting us down over a little ident, now would we?"

    10PM

    All Der friends, except Sable who only stared at nue with curiosity, startedughing.

    a red at thein and responded, "You be careful of who you are talking to, Juliet It''s a pity that you couldn''t take your defeat well. I''ll definitely tell Alpha Lucien in teach you some sportsmanship and kindness!"

    Ha monent, there was a pin drop silence with julie''s eyes widening, and then the whispers started.

    kie thinks that after defeating you she is qualified to use weapons.."

    just one fucking hacky win, and she thinks she is capable of being our Lumi.."

    fight her again, Julie

    You inust take her down this time..."

    ,,the omega bitch...."

    I crossed my hands across my chest, feeling angrier by the second. "You all are surrounded by my guards. I''ll give onemand and you will be thrown into the dungeons!"

    "Oh, that''s all you can

    can do, omega," julie sneered as she stepped toward me. "If you have the balls,e light with me again!"

    Anytime!" I replied and started walking towards the nearest ring.

    Suddenly, Sable pulled Julie away. "I''m sorry, Luna Auren," she said in a low voice, bowing to me. "Julie doesn''t have the manners or the skill to fight. you. She is being emotional" She looked from me to Julie and back at me. I thought she was going to drill sense into Julie, but then she spilled, "Instead of her, I will fight with you."

    My lips parted in surprise. Sable looked at me with a calctive glint in her eyes.

    It all made sense now. She was the one who wanted to fight me since the first day

    I came to the arena. Or the pack. It all seemed like it was all nned.

 Chapter 71

    D.

    Auren POV

    Tube and the rest of her friends startedughing. "Already scared. Luna" Julie mocked as stepped back. "Don''t worry, Sable won''t fight you. We all chose how weak you are. Her friends Laughed more.

    The guards around me stepped closer to me in order to protect me, their fists clenching. But I stopped them. This was my fight. "1 acrepe." I said with my ch¨²n held high. There was something deep inside me that refused in back down, that wanted to fight with Sable ever since she had started her shenanigans with me.

    *Lama, you don''t have to fall for this, the head warrior said, his voice tense

    1 looked at him and replied, "I fight her, and don''t you dare to mind link your Alpha" He tensed more, having doubts in his eyes, but he nodded and backed away.

    Jube and her friends smirked. They whispered what a stupid fool I was. But the moment I stepped into the arena, the world around me faded. All the whispers, nirks, doubts-1 barely heard them or saw any of it. All I could see was Sable who was standing across from me.

    She flexed her anus and cracked her knuckles as if waiting to fight with me forever. She chuckled. "You should have run away when you had the " chance, with your tail tucked between your legs like a munt," she sneered, rolling her shoulders.

    Maybe I should have. But that thing deep inside me was not allowing me to back down. Sienna was a weak wolf and I knew it, buttely ber guts had been growing more than I had ever known. She was still quiet inside me, but her energy was growing to another level Like she could take down the world, like she was the true Luna of the Alpha of the North.

    I took a steady breath as my fingers curled into fists on my sides. I closed my eyes and focused on my inner self. And I wasn''t surprised when my body felt lighter, and like a string being pulled tight, I was ready to snap into action. I recalled the past fights with Max and Julie, and confidence built up in me.

    itui I hadn''t fought with anyone like Sable. She was a well-trained warrior, at a very advanced level and was also trained with weapons. She was lethal and she was burning with jealousy that motivated her. Misced jealousy. I should have counseled her, but you see I was getting irritated by her by the minute. She thought that I would run. But I won''t going to run.

    When I opened my eyes, the only wolf in front of me was Sable. She lunged first, fast as a whip. I barely saw the punching toward me, and before I could evenprehend, I was on the floor, pain sting in my lungs as air whooshed out of them. My mouth got filled with the metallic tang of my blood. The pain was so bad that it was better to be hit with a thousand bricks.

    I heard Julie and her friendsugh.

    "Hack down, Luna!"

    "She is a mutt!"

    "What an idion!"

    "Come on Suble! Show her who is the boss!"

    I rolled on the floor, got to my feet, shook my head and wiped the blooding out of my mouth. Anger welled

    "Is that all you got, Luna Sable taunted. "Come on, give me your best shot. If you want, I will go slow."

    The stupid thing inside me now wanted to make Sable kneel at my feet.

    Sable lunged at me again. This time my body reacted on its own. I ducked and twisted as unnatural sharpness took over my senses, avoiding herpletely. She was taken by surprise. But she swing again. This time I shifted my feet to the right just enough to let her fist slice past my ear...

    Her eyes widened as she couldn''t believe that she missed me.

    I was so sick and tired of all the shit these girls gave me.

    1. e. This time, I didn''t think. I just moved. It was as if my body knew what to do before my mind caught up with my actions.

    I posled

    my fingers in

    into a tight bat and swung it toward her. My fist coted with her ribs. She let out

    a sharp breath as she stumbled back. I heard gasps from the side.

    But Sle recovered pretty quickly, her eyes shing with rage. How could an omega like me even hit her! She should be trained well enough to take a few omegas like me in one gu.

    With a snarl, she jumped toward ine. She grabbed my arm and twisted it hard, forcing me off bnce. Excruciating pain shot up my shoulder. No No. No. She began pulling arm further. It felt like she wanted to rip my arm. No. No Gritting my teeth and summoning up all my energy. I nned my fout behind hiers and with every ounce of force imile me, I shoved her forward. She gasped as she stumbled. However, she didn''`I fall. There was shock etched on her face but it was momentary She twoted back, directing her knee toward my stomach.

    CH

    de memanded.

    y the sude, and dodged her knee at thest second. I don''t know why but a strange rity settled over me. It was like I could see the gaps in frise. And it was then I noticed slight hesitation before she struck. And I used it

    "I shouted. "Who''s the mutt now?" I challenged her.

    calle struck me next, I wasn''t there. Every time

    time she kicked, I became out of reach just in time. It was as if something buried deep inside me horl been waiting for such moments to surface.

    Asble snarled in frustration. She threw a wild punch at me in desperation. And that was her mistake. I caught her wrist and twisted it sharply: Her body jerked with it, a scream ripping out of her mouth. I didn''t give her a chance to react and mmed my elbow into her jaw hard. I heard a

    the staggered back whimpering in pain, blood dripping from her lips. I saw her hitting the ground with a heavy thud. Her i because there was blood pooling beneath her. I stood there, my chest heaving as I stared down her crumpled body.

    mast

    have cracked

    A stunned silence fell over the arena. I waited for her to get up, but she didn''t. Julie and her friends rushed to Sable, crying for help as I stood there

    a frozen mind and body. I had won. From Sable

    The realization crashed into me all at once. My hands started trembling at my sides and my heart hammered. I had no idea how I had managed to bat someone faster, stronger and a high-ranking wolf.

    1 inoked down at myself and saw that I was also covered with blood. There were gashes on my side and my arms. I turned to walk out as my pulse mared into my cars. A shiver ran down my spine and I lost consciousness.

    Before I hit the ground. I heard a soul-shattering roar. Someone jumped inside the ring and scooped me in his arms. I was wrapped in his pine and spice scent and then I didn''t care even if I died.

 Chapter 72

    Lucien POV

    The Shaman misted that he wanted to go alone to the Eldermere Temple. I was reluctant at first, but he insisted. So I didn''t go with him, but I sent

    leum ni savage warriors with him in case of an emergency

    had let Remus out because after Max''s murder, he was getting edgy. He wanted to mark his territory again. He ran around the perimeter of the Shadowfang pack to reinforce his scent all around it

    He had been running for a few hours, when Taria contacted me via mind link. Alpha Lucien!" he said, sounding panicky. "Luna Auren is in the training arena, and she is fighting with Sable!"

    "What! I was shocked at first, and then anger surged inside me. That stubborn woman. Before I knew it, Remus was on his way, pounding the earth to reach his mate. His rage was palpable in the air and every damn animal hid to find cover lest they would be a prey to his bloodbath lust.

    Toold you to

    to mark her he growled. ''Now look, you''ve put our mate into danger! With our mark, no one would have challenged her

    She shouldn''t fight with Sable," I replied angrily.

    "Why not? Remus shot back. She is my mute, not a muct!"

    When he reached the training arena, he gave way to me. I shifted, wore jeans and rushed to the ring. But I stopped myself. I was unable to process what I saw. Auren was brutally focused on Sable. Her face had morphed into expressions of anger and disappointment. It was as if those feelings were mine. I could feel her lethal intent.

    vous, I stood

    I wanted to reach her, but I knew on the inside that if I did, she would never forgive me. This was her fight. And even though I was nervous, there. And the moment she shouted at Sable to fight her, even Remus paid full attention to thatmand in her voice.

    Auren looked incredibly sexy as she fought with Sable, as she violently pummeled her. This kind of violence wasn''t normal to a girl of omega blood. But here she was. Making me go u

    wild. The fire that spread through my veins made me walk toward the ring and watch her closely.

    The way she moved effortlessly even though she was drenched in blood. The way she maintained control on all her movements, she could easily be the best warrior in my training arena. She fought like she was made for it, like this was her inborn feature. She looked like a fucking sexy warrior. My fangs slipped out, throbbing with need to sink them in her, to put my mark on her.

    Sable tried, but Auren took advantage of every hesitation of Sable.

    She was ruthless. Just like Remus. I realized that she was the mirror image of my beast. Dark and merciless. She was beyond doubt the other half of me. Made for me. Mine.

    Auren didn''t hide the darkness inside her. She used it against Sable fiercely. Remus was ready to go inside the ring to mark her, im her on the spot. But I stopped him because I watched Auren in action. It was like she was making Sable pay for all her humiliation.

    ''Mine, Remus growled.

    ''Fuck yeah!''

    I was going to make Auren inine now. The moment she came out of the ring. I would mark her. I was crazily turned on by my stubborn omega wife. All I could do was watch her. She didn''t fear a trained warrior like Sable.

    "Alpha Lucien, your

    wolf is i

    s trying to surface!" Tarian''s

    pice came to mind. "Your hands are rippling with furt

    I didn''t like his voice in my head, and so I shut my mind link with him. My eyes stayed on Auren as shended the final blow on Sable.

    "Now," Remus growled. "Take her now!

    But my little wolf was bleeding all over. My protective instincts surged with fullforce. Before I could stop myself, I jumped into the ring and pulled her in my arms as I red at Julie and her friends who were crouching beside Sable. "Take her to the hospital," 1 hissed an order at them. "When she is awake, I want her to answer the council"

    Julie''s eyes widened in fear. She wanted to say something, but I walked away from there and I heard her loud wail.

    Al carried my wife to the hospital, all I could think of was how sexy she looked in the ring. My beautiful, delicate, little wolf.

    Dr. Elias was already in the room to attend to her. He was really shocked to see her again. "You Luna has the knack to get involved in fights," he said angrily as he looked at her gashes. But unlike me, he was surprised to see that they were already healing. "How is this possible!" he muttered and started to put healing cream on them. Then he auached her with tubes to machines.

    I stayed there until he had cleaned her and put all the bandages. Once he left, I slept beside her. When I woke up. it was already morning. My eyes snapped to my wife and she wasn''t there. Remus roared inside me. "Find herl''

    CPPME

    Cher 72

    the edge. Where had she gone? I suffed her smell and tracked it behind the hospital, into the woods. She was standing at the edge, Hunting me wat her big blue eyes.

    I knew what she was doing even before she started to run. I chuckled darkly. Didn''t she know that she could neither hide, nor run from me! I let ver run as fast as possible as I walked after her. Reus was raring to chase hier, but the fucker was under control because he too was going to enjoy

    Auren hat ran for some time before she reached a spot near the river, 1 sniffed the air for her fear or reluctance, but other than the scent of warm apples, there was my favorite scent of her arousal. Fuck yeah.

    1 followed her out of the tree line. Her heart was thundering so hard that I could hear it over the roar of the river. From this point, the river rushedd down its path, its waves crashing against the rocks sending up a misty spray.

    Don''t hide from me, Auren, I groaned as my cock swelled. My eyes darted to the trees and rocks. 1 located her behind a boulder and found her standing there, breathing heavily, her eyes full of need. She had recovered fully, just likest time. Her clothes were covered in blood, but she Jooked sexy as hell in them.

    I didn''t know who moved first, but our lips crashed against each other momentster. I picked her up and she wrapped her legs around me as I backed her against the boulder.

    Her scent wrapped around me, coated my insides, fueling and feeding the fire in my veins. All the logic tossed out of my mind and only one thing mattered-to mark

    her

    1 grounded myself against her. She moaned and whimpered. So ready for me. All

    I needed to do was to wedge my cock deep inside her and sink my fangs deep in her flesh. Leave my scent on her for the world to know that she was mine.

    "Alpha Lucien!" Tarian''s irritating voice came back into my mind.

    "What?" I snarled at him.

    "It''s Sable. Her father is creating ruckus in the hospital

    It was only then that the fog from my mind cleared

    I removed my lips from her instantly. Auren wasn''t ready. She had just recovered

    from the wounds inflicted upon her, And I was being selfish! What the hell was I doing in the throes of lust!

 Chapter 73

    Trood, Auren back home where as usual she ate heavily. I had already mind linked Vivi to make all her favorite food. She was not only tired, she had

    nda lot of bleon).

    the day when I saw her first. Thin and starved. Even then, my stomach twisted in knots to see her sa impoverished. In my pack, in was mir who had sent food to her room that first day. I don''t know why but Remus hated that she was hungry. He didn''t let me move away from mtside the door until she had finished rating. Only once she had eaten, dull move, but then the vomited it all out. Seeing that she was so unwell, and that I couldn''t mark a weak girl like her. I postponed our wedding

    But now, seeing her eating like a wolf. I was sandhed. And I felt proud as hell. She had defeated Sable. Like my true Luna

    Alpha Loren. Tirian''s voice sounded in my head. You have toe to the hospital?

    Tgemted my teeth because I didn''t want to go away from my mate as she ate food and as she exined how the attacked Sable. Honestly, I wasn''t listening to because all I had was hearts in my eyes. How could an Alpha like me, fall irrevocably in love with a timid, stubborn little wolf like

    thing my chest as it filled with warmth at the thought. My eyes went to her neck when my mark would sit, I impatiently waited for the day when i would mark her and show to the world that she belonged to me.

    Land then I showed her forward." Sheughed. "And the mumbled!"

    Even herughter sounded like

    ded like bells in a temple. I half-lis

    Thalf-listened to her as all I could see and smell and feel was her

    But if I trusted my instincts, then Auren likely had a bigger target on her back now,

    I needed to go for another run to clear my mind. A shudder ran down my body when I thought that Sable could have killed her, or injured her severely. That thought was enough for me to murder Sable. Remus had killed people for less..

    somehow I could see what she was doing."

    ha Lucien Tarian snapped in my mind.

    Alpha

    When I didn''t respond to him, he said. "You okay!

    I wouldn''t be okay until Auren was mine and she was safe from everyone. As my

    mate, they would try to kill her all the time.

    "Alpha

    God damn it! Can''t you stay quiet? I growled at him.

    tatizy Brown is creating unnecessary mayhem here. Pleasee.

    I clenched my fate. That tw. I got up and kissed Auren''s forehead. "I''ll be back soon, love," I said tenderly as I brushed her jawline. "Take a bath by then." I didn''t tell her where I was going because I didn''t want to worry her. It was something I could deal with myself.

    Fier brows furrowed cutely. "Where are you going?" she asked.

    I couldn''t help kissing her again. So I pecked on her lips and said. ¡°He right back!"

    Then I talked to Vavi through my mind link. Are you adding those herbs in her food?"

    "Yes Alpha. Every day she replied.

    When I reached the hospital, I found Kiev shouting at Dr. Elias. "My daughter is a high-ranking wolf with blood superior to Aurent Then howe March is alorady lucaled while my daughter is still struggling with her wound?"

    Ties out a growl warning

    Everyour prearil over there stiffened. And that''s how Remus liked it. He hated it anyone challenged his authority and loathed it anyone

    fit

    Penedairly clined ht neck in submission "Alpha Lucien," he rasped.

    Tarian staneling in a corner, watching them all like awk. He mind-linked me. This man is going on and on! He is using the doctor of

    sued my arms against my chest and said to Rizy, "What is your problem?"

    Bierfusord. "My daughter is still in the hospital. Her wounds haven''t heard How is that possible Wide Luna Auren is already healthy, Sable is sill unwell'' i am sure that Dr. s has ward better mardivines on Lana Auten!"

    Charter 73

    the contrary, I have used better medicines on Sable, Mr. Brown," Elias said "Luna Auren was already healing when she came here. She didn''t

    medicine

    "Bullshit!" Riry exploded. "I want another doctor for my daughter! You are not treating her nicely!"

    words forced me to think howe Auren healed so fast. Was she really an omega? Because none of her traits showed that. Not even a high- anicing wall with superior blood healed as fast as her Only Remus had the ability to heal so fast. And sometimes, he too had to deal with infections

    ever when severely injured. But Auren-he was turning into a mystery day by day

    In order to cate the situation, I said, ¡°Get Dr. Barry for Sable. And Dr. Elias you can check on my Luna''s health from time

    to time.

    Ray''s jaw dropped to the floor. I scoffed. He thought that by using Elias of not treating his daughter nicely, he would try to expel him from the pack, then he was so fucking wrong. Elias got to treat my woman from now on.

    Rizs had expected moremotion, than what he had already created, but when I annulled the situation, he seemed irritated. I turned and walked out of there as Tarian barked augh.

    Loudly.

    Fucker

    Before leaving. I turned and said, "As soon as Sable heals, produce her before the council. She dared to fight against the Luna of this pack. And I, as The Alpha of the pack, need answers!"

    He winced. To protest, he opened his mouth and then shut it again, resembling a fish out of water. I smirked and walked out of the hospital because I had to see my little wolf again

    Auren POV

    I don''t know why I was eating a lot over thest few days. A cow''s diet paled inparison to mine. Though Vivi was more than happy to feed me as much as possible, I was embarrassed about it.

    As I took a bath, I was astonished to see that my skin had healed quickly. Maybe it was Dr. Elias''s cream that helped me heal faster.

    I had never felt this intensely even for Bram. But my feelings were dampened when I remembered that I would die in the end and someone else. most likely Sable, would take my ce. After all, Lucien needed to have a strong woman beside him, even if she wouldn''t be his Luna. But painnced through my heart when I pictured her being close to him. The pain was so strong that it made me gasp. If this happened when all we had done was steal a few kisses here and there, what would happen if we did more. I pictured how we helped each other to orgasm, blushing hard, and I squeezed my thighs.

    "Open the door, Auren Lucien''s rough voice came.

    Did he smell my

    arousal!

    "I know you need me," he said in a strained voice. When I didn''t open, the door knob rattled. "Open it or 111 break it!" He let out curses, and then with a loud crash, the door came down. Lucien stepped over it as he entered the bathroom with his muscles bulging and his eyes shing golden.

    At that point, I knew that I wouldn''t be able to hide from him. Ever.

 Chapter 75

    The sadness that mmed me two days ago had vanished. Instead, my life seemed bright and sunny. I felt more active and jubnt, Lucien seemed

    be spending more time around me and I loved his attention. It was like we were both waiting for the inevitable.

    He was keeping a keen eye on my diet. Vivi had started giving me juices that smelled like herbal solutions "For your health," she said, winking, the pient day when I asked about them.

    I furrowed my brows and sheughed. "It''s nothing Luna Auren. Just drink it"

    Isaled and drank it. Just as I put the ss on the table, an omega came to me. "Lady Auren, Julie is here to see you."

    Telenched my jaw. What did she want from me? Tho

    Though I had no intention of meeting her, I said. "Ask her toe to the main hall"

    "You don''t have to talk to her. Vivi said in a low voice. "I don''t like her at all!"

    1 parsed my lips because I didn''t like her as well. "We''ll see how it goes, VIL

    I went to the main hall where I saw julie sitting and fidgeting with her dress nervously. As soon as she saw me, she got up and bowed to me. I pursed my lips in suspicion at her sudden change in behavior. Two days ago she disrespected me with her friends. And now this!

    Las

    "What do you want, Julie?" I asked directly instead of getting into greetings.

    "Luna Auren," she said as I said on the sofa opposite her. "You must be very upset with me, but She covered her face with her hands and started crying. "I was forced to act like that in the arena that night with you."

    My lips lifted into a frown. "What do you mean?"

    She wiped her tears and hupped. "All my friends thought that I could beat you easily, but then you defeated me. I won''t deny saying that I was upset. When I talked to Sable about it, she said that next time when a chancees by, I should challenge you and defeat you. However, I wasn''t prepared for what Sable did to you. She offered herself to fight you instead of me. I wanted to protest, but she stopped me using the mind link. saying that it was only appropriate that she fights with you."

    Shock wasn''t even the word that described my feelings at that time. I was puzzled and surprised. "Why did she stop you?" I asked, tilting my head

    Julie shook her head as more tears began falling from her eyes. "I don''t know. She just wanted to fight with you. My friends also stopped me because Sable''s father is a high-ranking wolf in the counsel. I was scared that if I went against her order, she would exact her revenge on me in some other horrible manner.

    My eyes widened in shock. "Has she done that earlier?"

    Julie shook her head. "No,

    but we all know what she is capable of."

    I let out a rough breath. "So why are you saying

    ng this to me?"

    She dropped on her knees and sped her hands in front of me. "I beg you to forgive me, Luna Auren. It wasn''t me. It was my friends who pushed me into doing

    it And Sable. I promise I''ll never go against you all my life. Please, Luna Auren."

    I felt overwhelmed by her admission. Her face was streaked with tears and my

    heart went out for her. "It''s okay, Julie. Thanks for letting me know"

    She immediately wiped her tears and smile lit her face. Thank you, Luna. I knew that you had a big heart. Can I tell you a secret!"

    I cocked my eyebrow as my lips curled

    dup. "Sure."

    "I loved wench

    way you defeated Sabl

    She really deserved it. She is such a proud

    ing my head, I said, "Is there anything else?"

    Though I should have stopped Julie from speaking like this about Sable openly, I barked augh. Shaking my

    "No," she said. She got up and wiped her tears. "Just that you really are the best person I''ve met in my life. Very kind and very strong."

    I was ttered. A blush crept on my cheeks "Thank you!"

    She bowed to me again. "I won''t take more of your time, and take my leas

    my leave"

    After she left, I found Vivi with a bbergasted expression on her face staring at her back. She shook her head when I grinned and went back in the kitchen, muttering-pups these days."

    Lucien POV

    Sood in front of the council with her father, Rizy, on the side, looking like a wounded lion. He was not allowed to sit with us since it was his

    hop who hadmitted the crime of attacking my Luna. His judgment could be biased

    at the head of the table. Remus was growling inside me, trying to break free and kill Sable. Every now and then, he would growl loud rich for all the council members to hear. Tension was thick in the air. All of them were on the edge because all of them were dead scared of

    They knew what would happen if they didn''t submit to him.

    Why did you fight Auren!" I asked in an animalistic voice that partially belonged to Remus

    Sable had recovered, but she was still pale. And that made me feel proud of my linle mate.

    "I didn''t want to," Sable replied, her eyes welling with tears. "I know that it is a crime to fight your Luna. But it was Julie who challenged her, not

    I pped the desk in front of me and shouted, "It was you who fought my Luna! State the purpose."

    Sable winced and all others lowered their heads as fear rippled in the air. Their heartbeats increased, showcasing their dread. That''s how Remus liked. He growled inside me at all of them, cataloguing their scent again as if daring them to go against him. As if waiting to kill them if they went against Auren.

    1-1 offered my-myself instead of Julie," she stuttered. ¡°Because Luna Auren had defeated and injured Juliest time, it took three days for Julie to recover. She hadn''t even recovered fully when she challenged our Luna again. I was scared that Luna Auren would again wound her badly, that''s jwhy I offered myself instead of her."

    I leaned back on my seat as I looked at her darkly. I knew what Sable was doing here. She was trying to be innocent here and say that she sacrificed herself in order to save Julie from my wife''s wrath. A very clever move, but she didn''t know me.

    "So you offered yourself instead of Julie? Why? Did you know that Auren would defeat you?"

    If you''re reading this book, you can follow me on FB at MishakWrites

 Chapter 76

    nes Sible seemed to be on a backfoot, but then she took a deep breath and said, "After Lama Auren defeated Julie and Max, i was sure that she

    Tad some warrior training in her earlier pack. Otherwise how is it possible to fight back wolves of superior blood!"

    Lclenched my teeth. It was clear that she was ying her game to

    And how would you know that?" I asked, leaning forward Didish Auren. But there was no way I was letting her gel away with it. "Oh, really!

    they cook up this time!?

    Kill her. Now Remis growled inside my head

    "Oh, we will. Eventually.

    talk to Alpha Bram about it! Or did you talk to your friend, Maris? What hes did

    Remus didn''t like people who questioned his authority and this fucking woman was insinuating his mate!

    Sable bit her bottom lip, darting a nce at her father, hoping to talk to him via mind link. But my Alpha aura had spilled out in the room the moment Leatered. It was so thick in the air that all the wolves submitted to me and no one dared to talk via mind link without me hearing them. If they did, they would get a fucking severe headache with a possible nosebleed.

    When Rizy didn''t help her, she gulped. "1-1 didn''t talk to Alpha Bram. A-and Maris is not my friend," she stuttered.

    I scoffed. "Really? Maris told me that you are her close friend"

    "N-no Alpha" she denied, shaking her head quickly. "I mean I know her, but not so well"

    "Then how did you assume that Auren had warrior training back everyone sat up ramrod straight, sweat appearing on their faces.

    her pack?" My voice boomed in the room. Windows and doors rattled and

    Sable was so rattled that she dropped to her knees and started crying. "Alpha Lucien, this is my assumption. Look, how she defeated me as well?" She nced at her father again, who seemned helpless. "I am a well-trained warrior who often goes on patrol with other warriors, and she beat me. What other exnation can be there? It is possible that Luna Auren trained secretly in her pack"

    I narrowed my eyes because I knew where she was leading the council. She was trying to convince them that Auren had been hiding her true self all along and was nothing but a fraud. Sable was ying a victim card. "So based on your assumption, you fought with Auren?"

    "Y-yes?" she nodded, wiping her tears.

    "Do you know what an assumption is?" I asked, leaning back on the chair. "Let

    me exin. An assumption is something you believe to be true without having real proof or evidence."

    "Yes Alpha," she replied feeling confident.

    "So in your case, you made a decision on what you thought rather than what you assume it will rain, Sable?"

    Her mouth dropped open in surprise.

    "I cocked my head. "If you''ll see dark clouds, will you

    I let out a slow exhale, indicating others her bullshit as I dismantled the nonsense

    spilling from Sable''s mouth.

    "N-no Alpha. It''s just thut 1-

    I put n

    my hand up to stop her. "So based on your assumption, you fought your Luna"" I said in a dangerous voice, hardly able to hide my irritation

    "Y-yes!" she nodded, snitling

    "And you

    I cut her off again, ¡°Let me get this straight. You assumed that Auren was strong, but you picked up a fight anyway instead of stopping it. As a mature and trained warrior, shouldn''t you be stopping the fight rather than being a part of it?"

    Sable stared at me, devoid of words.

    I leaned forward, my eyes shing. "No Sable, you underestimated your opponent and got your as handed to you. Was this a conspiracy to injure Auren! You had no business being a part of the fight. It is evident that you didn''t fight for Julie. You fought with Auren. If I were you, I would have stayed quict, mitigated the situation and left while I had a shred of dignity left."

    Silence nketed the room. Sable''s lips trembled and her hands clenched into lists. "Alpha Lucien, it is¡ª"

    jejer joj jou sjoweg

    ned to the can

    we start investigating every warrior who win a fight the assumptions?"

    A few chinckles rippled through theme il members. Sable''s face turned red asalutting on his feet, koking like he was ready to live "Vou used the ductor of treating Auren bettern Sable.

    kuten is your luna So yes, she will get better treatment unless you want her in die. And if you want her toodie,

    no Alpha-

    "Second," I silenced him with my loud voice. "You will neverpare yourma with anyone else in this pack? You get that? She is above all"

    Kizy noskled, going pale. "Yes Alpha!"

    Then I turned my eyes to Sable, "I can throw you and your father in the dungeons for life, bur-"I tilted my head and smirked. Tm in a good mood. So III throw you both inside for two days"

    "Noooo" Sable protested, tears streaming out of her eyes. "Please, Alpha Lacien. I''m sorry!"

    I got up, and added, "After two days in the dungeons, Sable will be expelled from

    the pack for a week. Tarian will see to this."

    "What?" Sable''s face became ashen white.

    Alpha Lucien! That''s a very harsh judgment" Rizy protested.

    was in front of hurn in a sh of a moment, my hands on his throat. He grabbed my wrist, wheezing. "You dare to challenge my authority?" I growled, feeling myngs slip out to rip his throat. "No one, and I mean, no one, will fight with my Laina and live to see another day. Lam giving you and your daughter a chate to live!"

    Kazy''s eyes turned red as he gasped for air. Sable whimpered, "S-sorry, Alpha Lucien. We ept

    Her words calmed my wolf and I leh Rizy. He dropped on the floor, gasping for air. I walked out of the room, feeling better that the father and daughter were in ce how However, Rizy''s great-grandfather was in the High Council. I had to be careful. But, I wasn''t going to show mercy

    As I walked back to see my little wolf to smell and touch her to calm my frayed nerves, I knew that I had to dere to everyone that Auren was my moon mate. That way even though she will have bigger targets on her back, at least no one would pick small lights with her. Or would they?

    I heard Sable and Rizy shouting at each other behind me as my guards tackled them and dragged them to the dungeons.

    When I arrived in the main hall, I saw that Auren was in a jubnt mood. That automatically lifted my spirits. My chest filled with warmth, and my day looked brighter. I picked her up and made her sit on myp. Only then did my wolf sit backzily inside me, purring. Touching her, breathing in her scent-it was an addiction I had no desire to break. "What made you so happy today? Is it the aftermaths of the orgasm I gave you?"

    She blushed hard and pped my chest. "Lucien!"

    1 chuckled darkly, and buried my face in the crook of her neck. "Yes, Luna Aur¨¨u?",

 Chapter 77

    Julie came

    Trolit Lucien everything that Julie said to me. He seemed surprised for a moment but then a smile came on in a basking inder some decision he had made, which he didn''t tell me.

    lips. Rather a smirk. It was as if he

    "Alphi Lucien¡± Tarian came in a few minutester, his chest rising and falling. He looked like he had done a lot of work. "I have sent Sable and Rizy to the slingrons!".

    My eyes widened in surgense. I snapped my head & Laucien, "What? Why?"

    He chuckled darkly as he brushes a strand of hair from my face. "Because she dared to fight with my I.

    1 blinked my eyes, my mouth dropping in wonder. Lucien was so dark and possessive about me. My heart swelled at his protective gesture, but kapet tit an extreme measure! I curled my hands around his neck and kissed him on his lips. Tears welled in my eyes but I didn''t let them fall. In a has or voice I said hesitantly. "Thank you."

    He looked right into my eyes, his brows furrowing "Aren''t you happy with my decision?" he asked.

    I nced ar Tarian who sat on the opposite couch. Lowering my eyes, I replied, "I think it was extreme considering that I also fought with her voluntarily

    He cupped my cheeks with hisrge hands. "No one can dare to challenge my Luna. If they do it, it''s a direct insult to me. However, if you would have challenged someone, it would have been a different matter. Besides, they are in the dungeons for two days only. It''s a lesson to them and a message to everyone in the pack that no one can mess with my wife.

    I leaned my head on his shoulder and kissed him where my mark would sit. He stiffened, his hands gripping my know the pack politics or how things work. I''m not a trained Luna. I''m sorry if I talk like a fool."

    "Fuck no?" he rasped. "You talk like my perfect Luna. You''re kind and thoughtful Brave and so beautiful"

    I blushed and bit my bottom lip. Lucien surely knew how to tter you

    He added, "Moon goddess couldn''t have paired me with a better she-wolf."

    I furrowed my brows. What did he mean, "paired"?

    waist tightly. "Thank yo

    you. I don''t

    He sensed my besitation and immediately added. "You are naturally so talented. Never ever think that you are lesser than anyone, okay?"

    His words made me feel empowered. Like I was carving my niche in this rotten world.

    Then he asked, "Have you ever had warrior training? Or secretly trained yourself?"

    I shook my head. "No."

    "Then how did you fight these people so well!" he asked, amazementcing his words. "You are a mystery, Auren."

    "Why don''t we start her warrior training" Tarian suggested. "She''s a natural"

    "No" Lucien growled. "She u too fragile. What if she gets injured? What if she falls down? I won''t let her go there again!"

    I pouted "After all the time I have defeated those people, you are saying that I am fragile?"

    "Baby, it''s just that-Lucien was Bustered. "I don''t want

    "Please." I urged him. "If you will allow me, I can hone my skills and be better equipped when the next challenge arrives."

    He watched his brows, resigning to my demand. Letting out a rough exhale, he breathed, "Okay!" Then he directed Tarian, "Make sure that she is potted against beginner level pups"

    Tarian chuckled "Alpha Lucien, our Luna defeated sable, and you want me to put her against beginner level pups. They have no chance against

    "There would be no discussion on this matter, Lucien growled.

    Tarian became quiet, making a ripping action over them with his finger. But I

    pursed my lips. Lucien wanted me to fight with pups who had just

    (1 was going to kindergarten I didn''t argue, because this was a star. And I needed this to keep me busy

    started. li wakat

    30 PM)

    Has the Shamane back?" Licien asked Tarian.

    tarian nced at me and said, "No, the warriors have informed me

    ed me that he will be staying there for a day or two more. He is uncovering Eld

    "Okay, thanks" Lucien cut him off, and then went on to re at Tarian. His eyes turned nk for a moment and I knew that he was talking to Farian via mund link

    Tartar muttered. He got up and went to the dining hall.

    ¨ª ucien also got up and went to the dining hall with me. I was so shocked that despite having eaten so much, I was eating again. Damn it. At this rate I was going to end up like a fat cow in a few days. I sighed as Lucien filled my te first before filling his. As the two Alpha and Beta went on to talk about their day-to- day pack affairs, I listened to them intently. It was all very new, but very intriguing.

    all

    The next day, I went to the arena feeling very excited. Tarian took me to the area where the pups were pitted against each other. They were young ones no more than fifteen years old. They all bowed to me and smiled warmly. "Wee Luna, please take it easy on us" said one of them. Iughed. Tarian had a chart prepared and paired me against them one by one. While all other high-ranking warriors looked at me me, some with

    unosity and some with hatred, I enjoyed myself.

    "Luna Aurelie called me when I finished. "Hi!" She grinned.

    "Hi I grinned back.

    were at advanced level. "You are way too

    Why don''t you join us over there tomorrow?" she said, pointing to a group of boys

    and girls my age who we good for these poor pups."

    Iughed. "I know, but Alpha Lucien wants me here."

    "Oh, okay," she said. Then she came closer to me. "My birthday is the day after. I was wondering-She hesitated with a blush. "Would you" She again beshated. "I''ll join you," Ipleted her sentence with a smile.

    She beamed. "Thank you, Luna Auren. You don''t know what that means to me!" she chirped. "I''ll be going with my friends to the best eatery in our pack! It''s about thirty minutes from here."

    This was my first ever invitation to interact with boys and girls of my age. The idea was thrilling. But I knew that I had to ask Lucien about it.

    Are you reading this book? Would love to read yourments. Also, there''s a

    small gift icon when you finish the chapter, Would you consider gifting your author to support her!

    AD

 Chapter 78

    Auren POV

    Vy passed with a lot of activity in the house. Not only did I have fun with pups teaching me new tactics, I spent my time in the kitchen with Vivi

    at Tom to make delicacies for Laicirn.

    Hut that day, ever since he returned, he was restless. It was the middle of the night. He was lying beside me, his arms curled tightly around me. "Auren," he groaned. He kissed shoulder

    sed his exasperation and buried my face in hd chest. What was troubling him so much! I wanted to know everything he was thinking, "What''s 11, Lucien!" Burged him. He always hid things fran me. I had no right to ask about the things that troubled him daily, but I hoped that one day he

    -if only to ease his burden.

    would share them with mr-

    "Nothing......" he sighed, and continued to keep me pressed against his body, I don''t know why, but he had been very clingy over thest two days Suddenly, he got up and walked to his closet.

    There are "na going?" I asked, bewildered, looking at him wearing his jeans and a polo.

    "The Shaman has called me," he replied. "There''s an urgent thing that I have to attend to."

    "Can Ie with you?" I asked.

    "No!" he snapped. "You will not leave this house until I return..

    I jerked my face back, wincing because his alpha aura leaked out. Realizing his mistake, he rushed to me and hugged me. "I''m sorry, but I get paranoid when it concerns your safety

    I inhaled his scent of pine and spice. "You think I''m a delicate woman. But I''m not," I told him, tipping my head up as he leaned over me. "I have endured more than you can imagine, Lucien. Try me."

    His lips lifted on one side. ¡°I know that, love. But unless I mark you, my wolf is going to remain in this overprotective mode. Remus wants to mark you badly, urgently, Controlling him is not rasy. So Earn finding solutions to make it easy for you."

    Goddess. My eyes welled with tears. "Why are you so good with me?" I murmured.

    A tear rolled out of my eye. He leaned down and licked it. "Don''t cry, love. I can''t see you in tears."

    My heart swelled with so much love that it could explode. "Be safe.."

    "I won''t die, Auren Resting his forehead on mine, he breathed, "Because I want to

    live for you, with you. Forever." With that, he pressed his lips on mine and I

    opened up for him, having this wild urge to submit to him.

    When he pulled away, I asked, "When will you return!"

    "Hopefully by morning. But I may bete"

    I nodded and lowered my head. How could I go to Julie''s birthday with every minute thinking about him?

    He curled his finger and thumb beneath my chin and said, "Is there something you want to tell me?" It was uncanny how he understood my feelings, even when I dadn''t say a word..

    I nodded. Without looking at him, I said, "Julie has invited me for her birthday party to some eatery that is about thirty minutes away from here."

    A frown came on

    came on has forehead. "When And only you?"

    "Tomorrow. There will be more boys and girls" I said. Then on an afterthought added, "?t my age."

    His eyebrows raised a little high in surprise. ¡°I understand how important it is for you to mingle with wolves of your age. But you won''t go alone The guards will be with you, okay?"

    kay!" i said excitedly.

    "Great" He got up and kissed the crown of my head. Then he gave in a forlorn look. "I''ll try toe back to you as soon as possible. Carry your phone always"

    Lasten left immediately after. I rushed to the balcony to see him leave. He was deep in conversation with Tarian. "They were both surrounded by warriors who too looked serious om alter, they left in their cars. I wished I knew where they were going

    When I returned to the bed, it felt too big. The sheets were creased where hey, but slory were cold. Iy awake, staring at the ceiling, listening to the silence sideteli unl?raraldy. I don''t know when sleep came, but it was riddled with nighinures

    m?ng notanud me to the night forest (if the moon shining hait in the sky, silently watching nor as thorny vines maked ammal my

    empty sheets, I got up and cunted my hands aromel myself. Sometime during the night, I

    had said that he wended scope by me, but he hadnt What was important that kept

    "shit" I saul and goes of bed. Ipletely forget that she had invited me for her birthday "Tell her that I will being down in fifteen

    to thethuman. I got traily in ck puntvand a pink shirt, frostead of wearing sandals, I quickly wore

    Tents" Lajedogired. "Happy Birthday?"

    dima Moren, the said with a warin sinile. "Tin so happy that you''reing with

    for my birtdy. And thank you"

    Not

    surprised,

    thu my car while Julie sat with her friends in another

    When

    cached the diner, she lood suggested, the guards opened the door for me, and I walked inside with Julie and her friends, feeling nervous. ever had a single friend in my life, mul hirne I was - walking with seven. Whin would have known that julie would turn out to be such a lovely

    Her friends formed a dede al as Julie directed me to a private booth at the back of the eatery. The ce was lovely with fairy lights: hanging from the ceiling. It was nestled in a thicket with ss walls all around. I spotted my guards stationed at the door, standing watch.

    As Julie ordered food, the conversation started. Soon the conversation cased out and all "us wereughing and making jokes.

    "Have you studied at all a boy called James, askeil

    My cheeks heated. "Not really" I salil. "I studied until fills grade after which I was pulled out of school by Alpha Bram."

    ity!" Jaruri said, picking up a club sandwich. "No you don''t know anything about shifter history or tracking or pack psychology!"

    "Niger

    "Well, I can teach you Thew''s a great library in our pack. You should ask Alpha to send you there sometimes."

    "I will" Needing to go

    the restroom. I quickly added, "Will be right back, have to go to the restroom."

    Julie stood "The restroom is right there. I''ll walk you," she offered. She led me board it, but nothing could have prepared me for what happened

 Chapter 79

    Auren POW

    The hot afternoon air hit my skin as I stepped into the alleyway. We reached the restroom only to find

    Lit locked

    ¡°[ummit¡± habe cursed. "This ce is always like this. I had called the ownerst night to tell him to fix it because you wereing." She jangled the cham. "And look, he didn''t pay attention! That flipping drunkard"

    I ran my eyes around and only saw dumpsters. There was a distant hum of the traffic. Julie had given me so many different types of juices, stating that each was famous that I ended up having a podgrid dder. "Gosh, is there any other ce? Lasked, irritated,

    There''s one up that alley," she said, pointing to the left, with her hands on her hips, looking equally frustrated. "My y favorite deli is right around theer, she chuckled "There''s a decent restroom inside it."

    Tsighed. "Okay.let''s go "

    The alley were arrow with tall walls on either side, making it appear dark even in the afternoon. The further we walked in, the quieter it became. The distant him of the traffic faded into ceric silence. I could hear my footsteps on the damp pavement. Smell of stale grease clung to the air. The del''s neon sign was barely visible from here.

    We walked to the middle of it when I realized that Julie had stopped. I turned to look at her. "What happened"" I asked.

    Julie clenched her jaw and she snapped her head toward the diner and then toward the deli. I noticed a change in the expressions of her face.

    "Julie" I asked, still unable to understand her hesitation.

    Without saying a word, she dared toward the end of the alley toward the deli.

    ¡°Julie!¡± I shouted in confusion and followed her. I had gone only a few steps ahead when I stopped dead as dread sted in my chest.

    There was a group of wolves standing at the end of the alley. A veryrge group of seven wolves, who had apanied us to the diner. Julie went to stand with them. James put his arm over her shoulder as he mocked me. "You are smart, Julie," heughed.

    I stared at Julie in disbelief. Panic set into my chest. Did she backstab me? How stupid of me to trust her. I shouldn''t have fallen for her innocence.

    The wolves starteding toward me, smirking and passing cheapments. *bloody whare"

    can she be my bed warmer."

    fuck, an omega like her is good for cleaning toilets"

    "There are guards with me," I warned them. "They''ll kill you if you attack me."

    Jamesughed. "We''ve already taken care of those guards. They are lying unconscious."

    A shudder ran down my body as I realized that this was a setup to kill me. An ambush.

    Tackling one wolf was fine. But bighting seven of them! My mind went numb.

    My flight mele kicked in. I spun and began running toward the opposite side. But that side was also blocked. There were two wolves standing over there and right in between them was Sable. She looked disheveled, like she hadn''t slept or taken a bath. There were dark circles under her eyes. Her skin appeared puler The former beauty queen had turned into a demented witch. She started walking toward me with a murderous glint in her

    Ta tune I knew that ! dn''t survive. I started back-walking, trying to think of how I fought with them. But my mind was so numb that I couldn''t think of anything. "If Lucien wille to know about it, he will kill you," I said shakily.

    I am not in the pack"

    She chuckled. "Alpha Darien is the one who has expelled me out of the pack for six days. So ording to him, I am

    My mouth dropped Lucien had expelled her! "He he wille to know eventually. You can''t escape him," I muttered.

    "How will be know?" she snickered. "There''s no one here who would tell him, would they?" Others started tough behind

    hind me, mocking my

    I thought that my life had be so beautiful over the past few days, but here I was-about to face death for the fourth time in the past few weeks. My breath turned shallow and my chest tightened as the wolves closed in. My pulse pounded in my car. I felt my legs rooted to the ground. The air was so suffocating that I couldn''t breathe This was the wrong time to park, but the space around me continued to shrink. A cold sweat broke ever my spin?. My mind scrambled for an escape. "This is a cold-blooded murder of your Luna," I said through clenched teeth.

    Ha len n¨²t a dementedugh, tipping her head up.

    -Lucien''" Tshispered Tears rolled out.

    hear you even if you scream," she snarled. "So go ahead and scream all you can. She took a step forward. "Or, beg from me. Beg for your want to hear you beg before I kill you. You shouldn''t havee to this pack, bitch. This is my domain, and Alpha Lucien is mine!"

    Repulsion surged insoane. I wanted to rip her to pieces when she said that, ¡°He will never be yours." I said through my tears.

    Alpha Lucien is too good for an omega like you," she scored. "He is the Alpha of the North, the biggest pack in the world, and you thought your Could be his Luna! You''re wrong. Auren. I will be by his side. How could you even think that you couldpete with me! You are a fucking omega who forgot her position. Don''t you remember what you did in your pack? Do you remember how Maris treated you? That''s how you should be

    My lips quivered as I stepped back. How did she know how I was treated in my pack by Maris? Was she friends with Marn!

    You are so weak and pathetic. Thest three fights you won were just lucky chances. Alpha Lucien doesn''t want you. He thinks he wants you, but he diet. If anyone will be his breeder, then it will be me." Her eyes went to my shoulder and she scoffed. "He hasn''t even marked you yet, fin''t it clear that he is toying with you?".

    Her words were like knives in my heart. "I love him, and he loves me," I said openly Goddess. I couldn''t believe that I said it openly. I loved him. Ievocably.

    Sable was in front of me in a sh of a moment. I saw her hands lifting in the air and then she struck me hard on the cheek. I cried in pain, stumbling back.

    nt, when he looks at you like you are his world, protects you against the

    "Lucien doesn''t know what he is doing! I hate it when he reeks of your scent, council''s wishes"

    "Why are you confronting me!" I asked. "Shouldn''t you confront Alpha Lucien for it!" This instance was enough to show that Sable only attacked weak people. She was a coward otherwise.

    With a snarl, she swung a fist i ers away

    in my direction. It connected with my ribs. The force was so strong that I

    screamed as I fell on the road, skidding a few

    "You should have run away. Auren, when you had the chance," Sable growled.

    "Because now, I''m gonna shred you into pieces!"

    É«

 Chapter 80

    Auren POV

    de depped toward me and towered over the "You shouldn''t have mrsued with me, Auren," the growled. "With you gone, he is going ompoener tu satiae-lusst. And for that, I am readily avable. No one has ever crossed my path in that pack. Then what are your 1731

    indie fed n?nigdha: with you dead. I''ve not waited for so long just so that some fucking omega breederes and bes my substitute in

    Dusted the nimtu tang of blond in my mouth. Perhaps the ribs that she had cartured did some internal damage. All the wolves around

    she knows what she is worth.

    fucking b.

    Pame way so intense that not only did I feel suffocated, I felt like air had whooshed out of my lungs. Every breath I took was an effon. I tried to

    oneentrate on what others were saying but every word seemed likeing from a distance.

    suddenly, Sable picked me up and with a roar, hurled me toward a wall. I

    screamed as my head hat the bricks, shouting. "Ahhh" Blood ooed out from the back of my skull

    She walked to me and snarled, "You humiliated me so many times in front of Alpha Lucien and others. You think I am going to take your shit?, Fucking trashy moron. You are fit to be a whore. My friends here could use you. Compared to me, you are a nobody. Nothing A worthless piece of trash. It is me who Alplu Lucien wants. Not you. So don''t be under the impression that he loves you. He is the Alpha of the North. He only Jovni power and needs an heir. And someone to take care of his Alpha-sized desires"

    She crouched in front of me and punched me again on my shoulder. Even as pain shot through my body, rage bubbled inside me. This was not how I was supposed to die. I wanted to live with Lucien only if that was for a year. I wanted my own happily ever after, Being subjected to bullies

    Iways, was my life

    Sabile didn''t stop. She continued to send blows upon blows my way. I covered my face and head with my hands, but then also she didn''t stop. I in so much pain that it felt like I would die. Please goddess, just end this. I don''t want a glorified death. I give up on your decision. Of dying in an unknown alley in the Shadowfang pack. Maybe Lucien would find me and bury me honorably. Maybe these people won''t disperse my limbs and body parts in the forest for the wild beasts. I simply give up.

    Pam throbbed through my

    y ribs, my vision blurred at the edges and there was blood all over me, but it was nothingpared to the fire surging mside me when Sable shouted, "He belongs to me!" "Alpha Lucien is mine! He will never be yours. Mine. Mine. Mine! More blows.

    My body reacted to those words in a way that something dark inside me twisted. It was so sharp and scorching that it was like molten iron pouring through my vrin. I red at her as my breaths came in gasps. My pulse hammered in my skull. And the ache in my body faded beneath something stronger, something wild that was wing to break free from me. My fingers curledkinto fists, nails scratching over the pavement, and then bating into my palms. Every sound, every person faded into the background as that dark thing inside me rose its head.

    "No, Lutarn is mine!" I whispered loudly

    Sable''s eyes widened in surprise for a moment. Then herce twisted with anger, and she swung her punch toward my face, but I caught it midair. With her hand gripped in mine, I pushed off the ground, swaying only for a second before I locked my eyes with her. The disgusting smugness in les duappeared as her eyes shed golden, her wolf on the verge of shifting.

    I wasted her hand with all the power I had in me. I heard something crack along with her scream. Not giving her time to register what happened, I lunged at her My fur connected with her chest ated her breath whooshed out. She staggered back with a gasp as shock flickered in her eyes. Using every cr of pain abe indicted on me as fuel, I kicked her brutally, sending her to the side.

    Other wolves hesitated for a moment, but some of them shafted and attacked me. My vision sharpened as my instincts took over. One of them clurged at me. I ducked low in m my fist into his knee. He bowled in pain as he fell to the ground. Another lunged at me from the side. I pivoted, and drove my et into her throat. She whimpered as she went down.

    Anollier woll came to me with a dangerou growl. He swung his ws at me, but I twisted at thest second. His ws managed to graze my arms

    stead of ripping through my stomach. From the corner of my eyes, I saw Sable groaning from where she was lyin

    kicking, retaliating and mming my elbow, kure or head into them. However, how could I take so many at a time! Our of them but me in the thigh and the other

    in my arm. I seamed in pain but I wasn''t going to go down. Not until I spent thest drop of my blood

    these, and making sure that no one called Lucien hos. He was mine. fighting bullies

    "You think you can defeat me?" Sable''s shrill voice rang in my ears he struggled

    to push herself up and suddenly barreled into me. Intense pain murged through

    my body as I crashed into the wall. I couldn''t take it anymore

    unser 80

    st that point I knew that I was

    I was going to die.

    Lurien." I said my final words. "I love you." Then everything turned dark.

    A thunderous growl filled the air. In my heart I knew who that was. Even though I wanted to believe who that was, it was impossible. I was dreaming. He couldn''t have known what was happening to me. He was so far away with the Shaman. Or maybe he was there...

 Chapter 81

    to leave A

    The Shaman had called me on an urgent basisst night. I didn''t want to mystery behind her birthmark, which was very important for me.

    Auren, but I knew that I had to go. He was there to uncover the

    Every day she was near, my craving deepened. It was like an ache that coiled tightly in my y chest. Remus prowled beneath my skin, restless, agitated, demanding what was ours. Her intoxicating scent clung to me like a torment I couldn''t escape. I didn''t want to escape. When her soft gray eyes looked at me, speaking a silent surrender, it took everything inside me not to give in

    It was my fear that gnawed at me. What if she couldn''t take my mark? But the need that burned inside me was unbearable. Every second without me marking her felt like a war I was losing.

    When Freached the Eldermere nains. I saw that my warriors were standing all around it, their faces etched with tension.

    "The Shaman is at the altar, Tarian said as he guided me inside.

    This was the third time I hade here, and couldn''t help feeling the familiar oppressive darkness. It was like it was pressing its cold hands on me. I took a deep breath as I followed Tarian inside.

    The Shaman was standing near the altar, watching something through the dome above it at an angle. "This is what I''ve been thinking," he murmured

    went to stand near him and looked at the open roof from where we could clearly see the sky where the moon hung low. It was bizarre how it had den edges when seeing it from here. It seemed shackled by the thorny vines that surrounded the altar and its columns. Goosebumps lined my skin as it reminded me of Auren''s birthmark.

    "Are you thinking what I am thinking?" the Shaman asked.

    I couldn''t even reply. This could be a great coincidence or nothing at all. But I refused to believe that it was nothing.

    Shaman pointed at the moon. "I was waiting for it to be full before calling you. Can you make out how it looks like it is shackled by the thorny vines! Just like her tattoo! This could be an indication."

    I stepped closer. "Indication of what?" I asked, my eyes going wide as I studied the pattern.

    He took a deep breath in "That Auren is the one. She is key to breaking the curse."

    I went utterly still My breath halted, my world shifting beneath my feet. My muscles tensed. "Auren" I said as my mind warred between hope and fear. I felt violently protective toward her. If she was the answer, then danger lurked closer than I thought. Remus growled inside me, demanding to luck her away, to shield her from my enemies who would stop at nothing. If she was the key, then fate had just painted a bigger target on her back. "How can you be so sure?" I asked, my voice raspy

    "I called the Shaman of the Crimson Howl pack and asked about Auren." He walked away from me, studying the alur, as he circled it. "He said that Auren was found at the steps of the Moon Goddess temple in his pack with a gold chain and a ring. He had given her to a caring couple to take care of her. The couple died while saving their Alpha. The Alpha was kind enough to allow he to study, but when Alpha Bram took over, spiraled down. You know the rest."

    "She is adopted?" I asked with disbelief.

    her life

    "Yes, she was adopted. The Shaman doesn''t know where she came from though he tried to find her real

    parents. She has had that tattoo on her back since birth Apprehensive, he warned her adoptive parents not to reveal it to anyone, because it was a curve"

    to me. I don''t know why

    bur

    I dropped on my knees, stabbing my fingers in my hair. The Moon Goddess sure knew her way around to bring Auren to the taught made my eyes sting with tears. Auren always belonged to me.

    "Now-? Shaman continued. "This is all a spection, but chances are that Auren is the one this pack has been seeking to break the curse. That would mean that she has be the prime property of the pack. She should be protected at all costs. Arul you should mark her as soon as

    "So what other evidence do you ured

    to prove dut it in the truth?" I asked. All I wanted was to go back to her and mark her. To dere the world fat that was my mate. Hemus was growling in my head to run back to her.

    "I want to stay back and see something else. For that I need you. You have to open your clothes and sit in front of the altar."

    "What? Why?"

    ¦£¦§¦°

    "Hecause you have the same tattoo, she has, all over your body" He looked up at the moon. "I can sense spirits here. The shadow wolves. I want to see their re

    Creaction to your tattoos. If what I think will happen, then Auren is definitely the one.

    my jaw because it was taking

    gall my energy to not run to her. But still betaine i wanted to ascertain this fluding, Lagreed. I opened my

    Chapter al

    to appear. Auten had rted to me that they appeared when she was here. I was shes and kat in front of the altar, waiting for the shadow wobers to a but they wouldeback. For me

    ? heard the best loss in less than an hour shadows emerged from the crack in the altar. As Farian and the Shuman stepped back. I stayed there with cien, best fists. The shadows morphed intta sinaky wolves anil walked around me, hisiting and licking me, entering my mouth anul nose. There was =ppers huge in the air. So dark and cold that it felt like it would split my head into two. This was what Auren must have felt

    rejected the thoon bond "they hissed:

    (we want blood"

    Naqia

    The thers came alive. They crawled on my skin, and then all at once, all of them pricked my flesh. I screamed as pain shot through me. They wanted to punish me, hurt me.

    feel the

    [Naqia''s pain.

    VOU ZIT Vir

    My head was swirling with fragments of images I couldn''t understand. Excruciating pain shot through me. I couldn''t move a finger as the shadows swirled around me, drawing out my blood.

    "Cet him out!" Tarian shouted in fear. "He is in pain!"

    The Shaman started chanting incantations. "Imand you to leave!" he gritted.

    The shadows lunged at him. "Go we want blood"

    Scared, he scrambled back. "Alpha Lucien, only you cane out of this m

    mess!" he shouted. "Focus!"

    I didn''t know what to do. This was a big mistake. "Auren.."I muttered. I saw my blood pooling on the ground, my energy seeping

    The shadows wanted to kill me to wipe out my bloodline. No, I wouldn''t go. Not without a fight. I focused on all the happy memories Of Auren 1 didn''t know for how long I sat there, but when the shadows finally retreated, promising they woulde again, I was lying in a pool of my blood

    I ulinked open my eyes to see Tariant''s face hovering over me, stricken with fear.

    It was already a day. "What happened?" Laskes, weakly,

    And then I heard a faint tug through my bond. Like Auren was calling mir. She needed me. She was in nger.

 Chapter 82

    Lucien POV

    "Thave to go!" I rasped as I got up and stood.

    Where"" Taman asked.

    Based on my instincts, I ordered, "Get the warons ready. Ask them to search their Luna NOW!"

    Tarian''s eyes widened in surprise. He stared at me and then nodded. As he opened his mind link to convey my orders to the warriors. I tipped my head up to steady myself. I had lost a lot of blood, but I knew that Remus was going to heal me very soon. He hadn''t shown himself to the shadow wolves because Thad instructed him to stay quiet. Else the shadow wolves have probed deeper inside me to weaken him.

    I need you, Remus, I said to h

    hum. "Are you there!"

    Vesam there, he replied instantly. Let me take over as you heal, he advised. ''I feel Auren is in danger. We have to find our mate"

    because

    With a nce at Tarian. I walked out of the temple ruins. And as I walked, my wounds started healing up. The pain I felt a few minutes ago bes of all the thorns pricking inside my flesh, was gone.

    was stunned and bewildered to realize just how deep the curse ran through my bloodline. We were all born with these catoos, but I never knew they were tied to the curse itself. Some Alpha must have experienced this in his lifetime and that''s why all the Alphus were prohibited from entering the ruins

    I rushed out of the temple and when I was out, I leaped and shifted midair, giving way to Remus. His paws hit the ground with a force that shook the earth beneath him. The moment hended, he was already moving with his muscles rippling as he shot into the forest with a snarl Leaves and branches blurred past through him as he weaved through the trees.

    The bond between Auren and us stretched like a taut wire, pulling me in her direction with an urgency I couldn''t define. It was like she was in grave danger. With each breath, I filled her scent in my nostrils, my body. It was faint as I started but grew stronger. Her pain was so intense through my bond that my chest twisted.

    Where was she? Where were her guards? What was she doing?

    A growl rumbled deep in my throat, and when it came out, the roar sent all the beasts in the forests hiding. I opened my mind link with Tarian.

    ''Did they find her?"

    She had gone with Julie, he replied. "Vivi said that they have gone to a diner with Julie and seven other wolves?

    Suddenly, I remembered the diner Auren was talking about. Tell the warriors to go to Yoyo diner

    I shut the mind link and quickened my pace. The forest roared past me as the winds howled in my cars when I pushed forward feeling desperate as

    hell

    IN BELL

    Remus was faster than any wolf on this soil. He could coverrge distances in a few minutes aspared to others who would take hours. My Tarian, was also one of the fastest wolves, but not faster than me.

    In less than ten minutes, Remus was standing in front of the Yoyo diner. My guards were lying unconscious to my utter surprise. I could see through my heightened vision that the diner was empty. There was no soul even though at this time it was its peak hours.

    Then 1

    nelled it

    Blood. Mixed with her smell.

    My vision darkened with rage. My Auren was hurt.

    1 let out a virusa

    arl and surged forward. This time I wasn''t running. I was hunting.

    The moment I reached the back alley, the metallic scent of blood thickened in the air. Auren stood in the center, surrounded by the wolves, fighting them. Her unall body frame was barely holding upright. Her scent vas filled with pain, fear as she murmured my name. "Lucien_."

    Araw and thunderous growl ripped from my chest, suking the air, stopping the wolves. As soon as they saw Remus, they faltered. Their ears ttened, their tails tucked in between legs. No one wanted to be on Remus''s slut list. But they forgot that he had catalogued their smells already. was grang to make their families pay for what they did to Auren. Some of them turned and ran in a heartbeat. Fucking cowards

    But the ones who stayed made the worst mistake of their lives.

    In the next moment, Auren went down, falling on the ground with a soft thud, covered in blood

    hapter 82

    teral snail, Remas lunged at them, his fangs sinking into the first wolf''s throat. His body went limp before he could even yelp. The second. n) have time to react because I taked any ws in his chest, slicing through flesh and bone with ease. Blood sttered against the wall and ground as I ripped fliem one by one.

    ince they were all dead around me, Remus let out a roar, challenging anyone who was left. He was mad with fury

    Stare. Our mate, I reminded him. He turned to see her. She was lying

    unconscious. Pain mingled with fury consumed me.

    I shifted mid ande and picked her up in my arms. My hands curled around her

    fragile body as the sight of her nearly sent me to my knees.

    Her breaths were too shallow. "Auren." I breathed, pressing my forehead to hers. "Stay with me"

    Tarian and other warriors arrived. "Fuck!" "Tarian was shocked. I could sense his rage.

    "Chase those whos have run away." I growled, feeling her pain through the bond. "Identify all those who did this to her. Bring their families and throw them in the dungeons. I want everyone. Do you understand?"

    Tarian clenched his jaw. "Yes, Alpha

    "And find Sobl. I added with barely contained fury.

    "sable?" Tarian said, but then he sniffed the air and his shock doubled. That bitch was expelled for six

    or six days!"

    Yes. But I can smell her on Auren. Find her and then fucking throw her in the deepest dungeons we have. I will personally torture her."

    Irached the hospital in the car and went to the private ward designated only for me. The doctors and nurses came over to attend to us, urging me to give Auren to them, but I didn''t let go of her, Iy on the bed with my arms curled around my mate. Dr. Elias was attending us.

    Any request from them to take her away to a different room was met with a growl. Any attempt to pull her away was met with a snarl.

    Dr. Elias sighed but he didn''t argue. He worked, cleaning her wounds while I held her close, refusing to loosen my grip. Remus prowled beneath my skin, restless and so protective that he was not willing to let anyone separate us.

    They left us after attaching her to several machines. I continued to stay with her in that position. When Elias returned, he said, "She''s stable now. But you need rest, Alpha."

    I brushed off golden strands of hair from her face. My jaw clenched at how fragile

    she looked. My mate. My breath. My everything

    "I stay with her," I replied darkly. "End of discussion"

 Chapter 83

    Auren POV

    Heavy darkness descended over me. I didn''t know for how long but I opened my eyes to an endless stretch of white. Wait Was I alive? Or was this a ce where wolves went after they died? Everything around me was blinding white. It felt like I was in an ocean of endless white color.

    man with silver gray eyes and unnaturally white hair, smiling at me

    I heard a soft chuckle behind me. I whipped my head and found a beautiful woman

    She was wearing white robes that seemed to make her float on the cloud. I jumped out of the bed and stared at her, totally mesmerized. "Who are you?" I murmured, as I stifled this urge to go to hey, merge with her forever

    She walked to me and cupped my checks. "I''m your mother, Cressida.TM

    I gasped as goosebumps crawled on my skin. "My mother?" My breath hitched

    as shock rippled through me. "But my mother is dead. She died saving her Alpha."

    She tucked a strand of my hair behind my car tenderly "Yes. And this is our home."

    I looked at the endless whiteness. "Am I dead?"

    She chuckled. Then she intertwined her fingers with mine and tugged me to walk with her. "You aren''t dead, Auren," she replied. "But you are on the verge of it. Your body is still deciding whether to live or die.¡±

    I stopped as a tear rolled out of my eye. "I don''t want to die.." I said in a shaky voice.

    Cressidaughed sofily. "Why? Aren''t you happy to be with your mother!"

    I looked at her again. Her soft face was so beautiful that it was impossible to look away from her. "I want to live with you as well. Can youe back with me?" 1 plead

    "No, Auren," she said. "I can''t. Remember 1 died long back"

    "Mother." I started shaking as emotions surged in my body. Tears rolled out in fat droplets. It was a moment of so much love that I was overwhelmed. I didn''t know how to react, so I just lunged at her and hugged her tightly. "Why did you leave me?" I muttered "Why? Do you know what all I have gone through!"

    She let me hold her for as long as I wanted. Only when I stopped crying, did I leave her.

    "I''m so sorry, Auren," she said. "But this is your destiny. You were born to fulfill it.¡± Saying that, she began fading

    "Mother!" I shouted. "Please don''t leave mel"

    "I can never leave you, my child," she said. "Go back and fulfill your destiny. White smoke curled around her. She leaned over and kissed my cheek. "Make me proud, Auren" And the smoke covered herpletely.

    "Mother!" I tried to clutch her, but all I got was smoke in my hands. I turned to look around as to where she had gone. Inky ckness started merging with the white. "No, No? 1 rasped as I stepped away from it. But it wrapped around my legs and then pulled me into it

    My sensei flickered again and when I opened my eyes this time, I heard the sound of beeps. The sharp scent of antiseptic and clean linen stung my nose. Hospital. It was beginning to be one of my favorite ces in the world. I tried to move, but my limbs felt like someone had tied them with weighs 1 felt weaker. Through all the scents of the hospital, 1 sanelled a rich scent of pine and spice. My breath lodged in my throat and without turning my head. I knew it was Lucien

    His warm body was pressed against me, his leg draping my thigh possessively, I turned my head, and my heart raced when I found him asleep beside me. His dark eyshes would flutter sometimes as if he was dreaming. His lips partedslightly as he breathed in deep. He looked exhausted like he hadn''t rested for days..

    I didn''t have the heart to wake him up, so I watched him as he slept. As if sensing my gaze on him, he fluttered open his eyes, those dark orbs Jorking onto my gray ones instantly. Heat red in my heart, but relief red in his.

    "Auren, le rasped, his voice tluck with sleep.

    Before we knew it, we reached for each other. He pulled me dush against hian. He tightened his grip around me desperately, like he was afraid that i would disappear if he let me go.

    Our

    lips crashed against each other with unfathomable hunger. He gripped my waist, anchoring me to him. A needy sound escaped my mouth. His fungur delved into my mouth, sweeping, iming and devouring me. My fingers grasped his silky hair as he kissed use, as I let him kiss mor

    His hands roamed around my body as if to feel me, to memorize every inch of me. My skin burned with desire. His scent surrounded me, drowning me in am

    Chinter N3

    e away from me arul Ischampered at the loss. He pressed his forehead against mine as his hot breath fanned my face. "You scared the hell out

    be normmuted in a rought vous e

    3 swallowest and cupped his face with one hand. "Tom here,¡± I whispered.

    Soure mine," he growled and imed my lips once more.

    Indien loosened his grip on me. Wey side by side on the small hospital beil, breathless.

    It was stupid to assume that Lancien didn''t know anything about the attack. Feeling sad about Julie''s betrayal, I said. "I didn''t know" I shook my

    Helenched his paw. "Thy going to make them a.. pay the by one."

    Sable was also there, I added.

    After a moment of silence, I asked, "How

    did you find me?"

    He stared at me intensely as if trying to say something. "Remember you are married to me?"

    I chuckled: "Makes sense. How long have I been unconscious?"

    "Two days"

    I gasped as I lifted my hands. "And all my wounds have healed?

    "Yes, and i am amazed," he replied as he looked at my hands. "There is not a ce in your body that hasn''t healed. How is this possible?" I didn''t know how to

    ans

    to answer that, so I pursed my lips and shrugged. Images from my dream flooded my mind and I wondered if I should tell him, but I decided against it "I want to go home," I said, insteal "Now"

    "Whenever you say, love," he said.

    Despite Dr. Elias''s p

    protests that we should spend two more days in the hospital, we went home. For the next two days, Lucien didn''t leave my side. I felt weak but Vivi''s food brought

    my strength back. It was on the third day that Tarian came over, saying that Sable and four wolves had gone missing

    311 PM)

 Chapter 85

    Auren POV

    "They have run away, leaving no traces," Tarian said. "We can''t find Sable"

    =what aboni Julie!" Lasked. Her betrayal hit me the most. Though deep down I wanted to kill Sable as well.

    "She was caught before she could escape.

    "Launch a manhunt for Suble," Lucien ordered.

    After I was injured in the wolves'' attack. I was weak. Though I recovered fully within the next two days, I still didn''t have the energy to walk or sit over an hour. I wasn''t a trained warrior, yet I fought with all of them. Lucien and his doctor were amazed at my ability to heal so fast.

    Usually, even a gamma warrior takes about a week to heal," said Dr. Elias. "But you''ve healed within two days. Luna" He blinked his light brown eyes in wonder at me as he examined my wounds. On the first day, the skin had started stitching on its own. On the second day, there were red marks and bevises all over, but on the third day, my skin was just like it was earlier, with no blemishes

    My lips curved up slightly. "It is because of your great medicine, Elias.

    He shook his head. "No, Luna Auren. I have treated so many patients simrly. But you you''re different!"

    I nced at Lucien who was standing by the window with his arms crossed against his chest, watching me like a hawk. He hadn''t left me for a single day ever since he found me in the alley. I had noticed some scars on his torso the next day in the morning, but they had vanished within a few hours

    in old omega

    omega, doctor," I chuckled.

    I''m just the in

    Elias shook his head again. "I refuse to agree." He looked at Lucien, "Can I do her proper blood test! I mean I have done it earlier, but I focused on that time"

    ing infection

    Lucien''s eyes came on me to see whether I approved or not. When I shrugged, Lucien said, "Okay, but you will not withdraw over a milliliter of blood:

    Elias opened his mouth to say something, but Lucien''s stern gaze made him quiet. "Okay!" he muttered.

    After the doctor left, Lucien came to sit by me. "Now sleep," he ordered. "You''ve gone through a lot He nudged me on the pillows after flutting my pillows. Then hey beside me and curled his arm around my waist. He inhaled my scent. Sighing, his eyes drifted close

    For the past three days, we were inseparable. His wolf was overprotective to the level that often I would hear him growl at Vivi or the maid who came to give food or clean our room. Both of them would run away, afraid of him. There were guards everywhere in the house and outside the house, but Lucien was snarling at all of them if anyone approached me. It was like he was seeing them all as a challenge to his wife. I would often find him staring at my neck where his mark would sit. Once when I inclined my neck in submission, he let out a ferocious growl and his fangs slipped. But he controlled his wolf, muttering I was still weak after the deadly attack.

    But that didn''t stop me from pleasuring him oncest night. What could I dot I started with him sleeping next to me in boxers. He was unable to sleep nicely. He was so restless that he was tossing and turning the whole night. I got up, cupped his cheeks and kissed him on his lips. His eyes snapped open.

    "Auren_" I trailed my kisses to his neck, to his chest and then lower, lower, until I reached his cock that was tenting his boxers straining toe out. I lowered his boxers and wrapped my lips around his cock. He groaned and grasped my hair from behind as I sucked him with abandon Laurien thrust inside my mouth hard, rough and with urgency. He couldn''t hold for long and came inside me with a stifled grunt. I swallowed his cum, licking my lips. He pulled me to his chest and kissed me all over. Wrapping his arms around me and holding me tightly in his grip, he drifted off to deep slumber.

    Tarian came in the evening again, "Alpha Lucien?

    Lurien growled, hating the interruption. "Go away, Tarian!" he growled.

    "I wanted to talk about the families in the dungeons"

    Laitien''s eyes mapped open. He got up with a jerk. "What about them?" he asked.

    "Families?" I asked, bewildered. "What families?"

    "It''s none of your concern, Auren, Lucien anapped.

    "Tarian blurted, "Alpha Lucien, the families of the wolves who attacked Luna

    Auren are demanding to see you. They are all crying for merry in the dungeons."

    Guth dropped open in shock. With wide eyes, I looked at Lucien "You''ve thrown their parents in the dungeons

    Lucien got cost of the bed, ring at Tarian as if he had revealed the greatest secret of the world. "Parents and siblings.

    - do whatever it takes for my pack members to learn that no one can attack you. If they harm a single hair on your body, they will face Lepercus,jonis. You are the Luna of the North, not someone to trifle with!"

    "you can''t punish their families for it," I argued.

    "I will punish all their families, Auren," he growled. "And then some more!" Saying

    that, he spun and strode out of the room like a thundercloud.

    My heart raced wildly. I had heard that the Alpha of the North was a merciless, cruel wolf. He acted first and talkedter, but this was the first time I Was witnessing his cruelty. How could he torture the families!

    "Alpha Lucien¡± I shouted as I ran behind him into the main hall to stop him, but by that time he was gone.

    Vivi rushed to me. "Luna Auren, you need rest.

    "Vivi!" I breathed. "D-do you know that Lucien

    know" she replied, nodding "Please don''t bother yourself with it. Knowing him, he really won''t spare them. Their children attacked his Luna You are not only his Luna, you are the Luna of the Shadowfang pack. And that''s a heinous crime. There is a public outrage on this. People are divided. While most didn''t like this bold attack on you, some are unhappy with Alpha''s decision"

    "This is not right, I argued, feeling anxious.

    "Luna Auren." Vivi said in a strict voice. "This happens in every pack. What do you think Alpha Bram would have done had you attacked Maris?"

    I gulped. Images of how they beat me and threw me in the dungeons flooded my

    y mind. "I don''t want this to happen to innocent people," I said. Vivi sighed.

    1. "You''re too kind. But please go back to your room. I''ll bring you chicken soup."

    With a heavy heart, I walked to my room. I waited for Lucien to return, but he didn''t. It was in the evening that a maid came to me. With her hands fidgeting in her dress, she said, "Luna Auren, Julie''s uncle is here to see you

    §±

    was confused as to why he wanted to meet me "Did he say why he wants to meet me?" asked the maid.

    book her head. ¡°He is saying that he will speak with you only"

    Trook asleep sigh and said, "Askin to wait." The maid left and I took my time to understand the situation. He in

    arents who w in the dungeons. When Farised in the small parlor adjacent to the main hall. I found him pacing the room.

    must havee to

    sprak

    With a tall wiry frame, he had a harshy look about himself. The moment he saw me, he bowed to ine. "Luna Auren, thank you so much for seeing

    sering ham made me recall how Julie betrayed me. That filled my heart with rage. Instead of wasting time, I said curtly, "If you''vee to talk

    (parents, then Tandi help you. You have to talk to Alphia Lancien about it." I stepped doser, feeling like something inside me was ne minundate as rage boideid in my bully. "And after what Julie dal to mir, you can''t expect me to sympathize with her, almost hissed,

    emed on ry''s forehead. He dropped on his knees, which took me by surprise. sping his hands in front of him, he said, "Luna Auten, I know what Julie did was horrible. I heard that she led you into an ambush, but how can you me her parents for it! Her mother and

    are uniscent. They slidi''t know what she was doing. And right now, as we speak, Alpha Lurien has challenged her father in the arena."

    ked, bewildered.

    He nodded vehemently, almost on the verge of crying. "Alpha has challenged her father to fight him, saying that he would give him a chance to live. But we all know that Alpha Lucien is so strong that Julie''s father doesn''t have a chance against him. It''s Alpha''s way of hunting his prey, toying with it, before he kills in

    to do.

    My eyes widened and my mouth dropped to the floor, Lurien was really cruel when it mattered. Toollected my mouth, not knowing what to Had he put them in the dungeons, he would have tortured them. But now what he was doing-it was worse than torture. He was so furious by the

    that his wolf wanted to punish everyone involved in it, even if remotely. "Please, Luna Auren," Gary plealed, snapping me out of my thoughts. "Please, help us, Julie was wrong, but you can''t punish her parents because of her. Alpha Lucien is not listening to any of us. It looks like no one can reason with him. We can''t reach him. Only you can help us

    This words brought a sinakler down my body. "Is that sort

    Gary nodded. "Yes," he rasped. Helpolis, Lima"

    I pursed my lips. "Okay!" I said. ''Then I rushed toward the arena with my guards

    following me, Gary was also with me. When I reached there, I was stunned to see that Lucien was fighting with a wolf younger than him. The wolf was literally shivering and unable to stand the blows from Lucien

    "Mercy" the wolf murmured through his dislocated jaw. He sat on the grousel in a pool of blood.

    There was a sea of wolves all around, watching Lucien fighting the wolf. I could- feel Lucien''s rage. It was so much that I almost stumbled at the sensation. How could I feel his emotions so well! But then wasn''t I feeling them all the while!

    "Oh, goddes?" Gary rasped.

    I whipped my head to look pt him and saw pa

    saw pure panic.

    Suddenly, three was a licioming roar that shook the windows and doors of the arena. My breath hitched.

    I think I think Alpha Lacien is going to kill Julie''s father."

    Shut If that happened, I was sure his people were never going to forgive me. He

    was killing her father because of an omega like me, a breeder, who had to fulfil her duty. And who hadn''t even started on that mission. They could start a mutiny against him.

    My heart ached at the thought of him getting into sach colossal trouble. I had to stop him anyhow, I ran across the crowd, pushing them away. Some made way for me, while some had to be pushed. When I reached there, I saw a gigantic ck wall. And my breath lodged in my throat, I had never ever seen such a giant wolf in my life. His teeth and mouth were covered in blood. There was a pin drop silence as wolves watched. No one dared to evene close to the ring for the fear that Heins would kill them in an instant.

    My breathbeled when I saw items in his full glory for the first time. Hewas not beautiful. He was magnificent. Stunning. Mesmerizing. And over six feet tall with a muscr body that winib shume a god.

    "Lawin?" I shouted as I jumped into the ring.

    Remus whipped his head to Kuak at me, his eyes shing golden and a

    dangerous growl emanating from his chest.

    uveheen stared of him. In all I felt was thispulsion to touch him. He opened

    his jaw, bare Ime near lumi. But I stepped charr

    his fangs a

    at me as if warning me ta not

    101 PM: d

    "Please, Remus." I said in a low, cautious voice. "Leave him."

    Remus stared at me with his golden eyes and a few secondster, took a step

    back. In no time, Gary rushed into the ring and dragged his brother away. But the guards surrounded him immediately and took him back to the dungeons.

    And now I was left alone with a gigantic, baddest and merciless wolf in the ring. I

    dropped on my knees, my heart racing like a drummer gone mad with drums. But I wasn''t scared of Rempus. I was scared for Lucien. Remus stepped back with a

    low growl that came out as a warning. He circled the ring as he red at every person in the arena, warning them, challenging them toe near me, unless they wanted to be ripped apart.

 Chapter 86

    - Very flowed made me like hot moltenva. Binne nie veins. I wanted to kill these ludanduwho had co

    charth to pups who attackeil my Autru.

    una, if you haven''t marked ber" Jalie''s father, Harry, shooted, "You have to treat Auten like you treat any

    treat any other member in the

    uit? be and, wheezing and couch

    couching

    "Alpha Imoen!" Julie''s mother begged "Tease leave him. We didn''t know that Jube would do something like this. Trust us, no one knew"St

    Dwhipped my head to look at her. Remus was again growling in my head, giving me a headache. He wanted to kill them already Kill them all?" he sand He was demanding blood and revenge

    I don''t believe that you didn''t know!" I snarled. "My gammas are looking

    ooking into all your phone reconds as we speak

    Her face paled, and she stepped back, crying even more. I turned my face to see Harry again. "Bind him in silver chains!" Imanded my wamon. Two of them rushed aside with silver chains, holding them in gloved fundu

    "Why are you binding me in silver chains?" Harry said, coughing. "I''d rather die like a warrior, Kill me in a fight, Alpha Lucien, I challenge your"

    My lips lified into a smirk. "Any day," I said. Somehow Remus loved the idea.

    The guards carried him to the arena, and I followed, ncing at Julie''s mother, who was now shaking.

    1 pummeled the fucking bastard in the ring. He tried to best to attack me, using various tactics, but he appeared like a fucking jester in Before he could even use all his craft against nie, he was on the floor with a dislocated jaw

    "Mercy" be muttered.

    scotted. Now the fucker plead mercy! But Remus wanted blood. He took over me in an instant. Just as he was about to kill Harry, a voice stopped. hum. He looked up and saw Auren entering the ring I was scared that Reinis would attack her, and gave her a warning re, but then he stepped back on hermund. She was only looking at Remus, scaring the shit out of me. This was the first time she had seen him, and this wasn''t how 1 wanted to reveal him. But what was she doing in the arena? I had specifically asked her to stay put.

    My eyes went to Gary who pulled his brother out of the ring. I opened my mind link with a

    s my warriors to take him back to the dungeons. There wasplete s¨²ence in the ring Remus growled at all those who were present, earning them to stay away from my mate. He circled the ring and snarled at all those who dared to even look at her.

    "Let''s fucking kill them. They hurt my mate, Remus growled. But even as he said it he couldn''t ignore the presence of Auren. She was suning in the center, only looking at lung. Remus was a huge woll with a nt cut that stretched from upper right eye to the nose and stopped. Somehow that cut gever mandeard on my face when I was in human form. That cut along with his thick ck fur and bright, he was like a living nightmare. His jaw was big enough to wrap around and crush a fucking skull

    "Keep your ridiculous notion to yourself, he growled. I''m more handsome than you''

    I gritted my teeth as Remus turned to Auren who was still atung on the floor. He walked to her and she reached her hans for him. No, Auren, no! 1 was scared as hell and pushed Remus to give me skin. But my beast pushed me down. How could be miss this oppsuriunny! He lowered his face lo his tory, tamad mute, who looked like a delicate butterfly in front of him. I was expecting panic, her tunning away, but she touched his jaw softly.

    Remus & thest rumbled with approval as he closed his eyes, basking under the touch of his mate. "She''s so soft, he sand and took a step closer. And taen what he dud next, made my firart leap out of my chest.

    He sat down right in front of her like a puppy. She bought both her hands to him and cuddles fum, scratching his fur on the neck and head God damn it. Remmus was never going to give me my skin back now. He wagged his purring like a xat, basking under the warm feeling that thousled

    Auten wasn''t afraid of us at all.

    -Mute wibrautfid" she breathed.

    My need to mark and nn her turned ferocious. Remus lifted his head and liked her face all over as she giggled. But then he liked her neck and lus cbest cumbird. He bured his fangs to mark ber..

    Reus, shouted at h

    312 PM)

    ill weak. She may dier

    Wine he growled. She''s mine!

    You she is ours!"

    cha Lucien, people

    coole are here from the council."

    ncil." My thoughts got interrupted by Tarian''s voice.

    Auren turned her head to look at the warriors who were standing in a line outside the ring. She grasped my fur, scrambling closer. I smelled her trar, and in hosted my stomach. Remus growled at the warriors and they didn''t dare to enter the ring. He ced his giant paw on Auren''sp as if prot?s tring her.

    Tarian repeated, "Alpha Lucien, messengers from the High Council are here." Hooked at him and my gaze shifted to people behind him.

    by are people from the High Council here!'' Remus asked as he ced another paw on herp. She was now leaning against him, staring at Tarian and other warriors. Goddess, my little wolf was so powerful that she kept me bound to her. I was truly whipped worse than cream, wrapped around her little Enger.

    "I don''t know, I murmured

    Alpha Lucien," a wolf from the High Council, came forward and called me. "We have to speak with you."

    I growled a warning and he stepped back in fear.

    "What do you want?" Auren asked, her fear returning with full force.

    "Miss Auren Vaslof, please step out of the ring. You''ve been charged"

    "Charged with, what?" she asked, her eyes going wide.

    "Something isn''t right, Remas growled.

    The official looked at me and then back at Auren. A muscle ticked in his jaw. "You stand used of the heinous Sable Brown and four other wolves, in in broad

    daylight. We havee here to arrest you."

    crime of

    fcold-blooded murder of

 Chapter 87

    Auren POV

    My breath hitched as the world tilted beneath my feet

    Murder!

    The word crashed into me, robbing me of air. My pulse thundered in my ears as I searched the faces of the wolves from the High Council. "What are you saying?" I said in a raspy voice. "I didn''t kill Sable. Instead, she attacked me." But their faces were painted with grim certainty. It was like they had made up their mind that I was the murder.

    He wanted to rip

    these men to shreds.

    Remus snarled, baring his fangs, warning them to note closer. I could feel his fury inside mc.

    Seeing his demeanor, the High Council wolf said, "You bettere with his Auren Vaslof. If you won''te amicably, we will be forced to use

    Magic? My eyes flicked to the two women standing behind the High Council wolves at the door of the arena. They had glowing purple eyes and a mysterious aura around them. An ceric chill went down my spine. There was a sudden shift in the air and I knew that it was their magic which was trying to reach me, probe me. It serined like they were ready to subdue Remus if Lucien resisted.

    Once again Remus snarled. This time Tarian came forward and stood in front of us with his arms crossed across his chest, like he would fight them if need tre

    "How do you even know that Sable is dead?" he asked in a voice

    in a voice as sharp as a de

    The lead High Council wolf showed that he was unfazed by his words, but his fear was palpable. "Sable and four other wolves have been missing for three days. While your Alpha ordered tounch a manhunt for him, on Elder Peter''s request, the High Council warriors were also dispatched to find her. But there was no trace¡ªno spent, no bodies. Only blood. Scattered across the dense forest,"

    Eemus''s fur bristled as he removed his paws from me and stood up, his ws digging into the ground. It looked like Remus wasn''t letting Lucien

    Tarian said, "And that''s enough to use our Luna?" His voice was deadly calm but I knew that he was talking to Lucien through mind link.

    yes" The High Council wolf snapped.

    "For

    Suddenly, with a dangerous snarl, Rernus gave way to Lucien, but only half way. Like his arms rippled with fur and his voice was animalistic. He

    bared his teeth, stepping closer. "We all know that Elder Peter is from Salle''s family!" His golden eyes darkened with rage simmering in them.

    his doing. This isn''t justice. It looks like a ploy. A calcted move!"

    The High Council wolf remained impassive. "Sable Brown is missing"

    "It was me who attacked her," Lucien cut him off in a lethal voice. "She ran away right in front of me. Rather than Auren, it is Sable who is the culprit. She had no right to step into my pack and attack Auren with ten other wolves because I had expelled her."

    The High Council wolf didn''t even blink. "We have already investigated. You were not prosent when Auren attacked her and other wolves"

    "I came to her rescue! Moreover, Auren is an omegal" Lucien growled. "How can she attack anal kill so many trained warriors?" His hands curled

    Even though Laurien fought for me, I could feel the trap closing around me. I knew I was being framed

    "Like I said, we have already investigated. Many have witnessed Auren''s special ability to fight on earlier asions. She is no ordinary wolf and she can no longer lure under the disguise of invocence. We are going to take her with us. If you won''t allow it amicably, we will use force."

    Lucien looked at Tarian, who appeared tense. They both began talking via mind link again. I stood up and walked behind Lucien, a shiver running down me Goang to the prison in the High Council meant that one could nevere out alive. And even if they did, they were not fit to live in parks, because they went moon trazy. Thuid heard of several who were put to sleep aftering out from the Council''s prison. It was said that the te was rife with dark magk er''s arm, my nails d

    odigging into him. "This is wrong. ¡°I murmured. ¡°I didn''t kill her.."

    urien brought me in front of him and hugged me tily "I know," he muttered, trying to calin me. I started crying. I didn''t want to go, but I knew that if I resisted, they would make Lucien suffer. The witches were already watching us with intrigue from the other side. "I won''t let them take you"

    I shook my firad "No, I won''t let you fight them because i know it will turn into a bloodbath."

    "No" He protested "You are going without a firi i will oppose every fucking wolf out there before I let you gu

    "Lien," Tahl, cupping hit checks. "I am innocent. I didn''t kill Sable, "Truth always wins. So fnd a way for us toe out of it unscathed." My gue dorted to the High Coupe il wolf and to all the pack members who were standing, watching as silently. "I can''t let all of them die for me, love. They 1/2

    A shudder ran down his body as Lucien stared at me. He knew that I was determined. So he looked at the High Council wolf and said, "I''ll go with her" His words were final. Then, without another word, he jumped out of the ring and shifted. He lowered his massive form for me to climb onto

    cand a collective paspas I climbed him. E kijew that I would be riding him all the way to the council. The crowd parted for us as he walked with

    did high toward the High Council guards. As they followed us, I was surprised that all those who were present in the arena, over two

    hunded warriors, also followed us. This seemed like their silent deration of loyalty toward their leader.

    Tended my arms around Remus, holding his thick fur andy down on him. He took off in the dense forest. The High Council wolves and witches. followed in, always cautious of the forceing Ighind us. Tarian also shifted into his wolf and ran along with his alpha

    My heart

    thundering in my cliest as to what was going to happen now. But one thing was certain-there was someone behind this. Someone had yed their game deverly, I needed to find who that was,

 Chapter 88

    Third Person POV

    mate and he thought that it was his right to Bram had been fuming ever since he had returned home after Auren epted his rejection. He was her mate have her back. He made a big mistake by sending her away to Alpha Lucien as a breeder on Maris''s suggestion.

    Every fucking day without her was a torture. His wolf was going mad inside him, often growling and pushing g him on the edge to go back to his mate. But he wasn''t going there because he was bound by a treaty. Still, when he went there, he asked Auren toe back. Instead she just epted his rejection!

    Every day there were fights between him and Maris. He didn''t like her presence near him. Rather his wolf shunned her away. "Why are you sitting in my room?" Bram snapped at her one night when he returned. "Haven''t Frold you to stay in your room"" After Auten left him, a few dayster, be asked Mans to move into the adjacent room on the pretext that he wanted some time alone. Though she moved there, she would practically spend most of her time with him.

    "Huh?" Maris was shocked. She started crying

    ving. "What is wro

    by Have I

    is wrong with you these days, Bram!

    I made a mistake?"

    Bram gritted his teeth. He ran a hand through his hair as his patience thinned by the second. His wolf had almost receded into his mind after Auren epted the rejection. He woulde out now and then only to seek Auren. At least earlier when she hadn''t epted his rejection, his wolf was there. He was a prick, but he was there. Now, Bram felt like he was a husk, Without his wolf, he was more like a human. And his pack was not going to withstand an Alpha without a wolf. It was a matter of time that someone from his pack challenged him.

    "Yes. Maris! You made a mistake," he growled, his voice strained with mental exhaustion. "You convinced me to send Auren away. And now this His jaw clenched. Now, he was paying the price for it.

    Maris gasped, her eyes going wide with disbelief. "You still care for that omega even though she epted your rejection?" Her voice shook with fury mingled with sadness. ¡°After everything I did for you! After everything we nned together? It''s not like you didn''t know what would happen? You wanted a strong mate and you chose me over her."

    Somehow because of her words, his wolf decided to appear in his head. He snarled inside him. "Ask her to go! he hissed. ''I hate her presence. Her smell is repulsive. She umells like a dead rat

    "Just fucking leave!" Bram growled, his eyes shing gold

    Manis winced. She wiped her tears and said, ¡°You''ll regret this, Bram!¡±

    He scoffed. "I already do"

    She collected her dress and rushed out, crying loudly.

    Every night Bram spent with Maris, felt like a slow death. It was an agonizing reminder of what he had lost. His moon mute. He thought that Maris was the right choice-the logical choice. Auren was a weak omega, who he could never ept. But now! The thought of Auren standing with Lucies, thriving without her mate, gnawed at him like a festering wound. And worse she had fucking epted his rejection without a second thought

    If she had returned that night, he would have made her his mistress. He would have markjed Maris and spent the rest of his time with Auren. At lear that way. His wolf had been appeased. But now, that fucker Lucien was marrying his hate? He wasn''t going to allow it.

    Bram had worked hours to find a strategy. And then he cooked a fantastic n. His spies has told hum than Julie had sessfully convinced Auren toe with her for thenthday party. After that, things went ording to his n. So, right now, he was wanting for a phone call.

    It was toward morning that he received the phone

    that he had been waiting for ever since be had formed this.

    than

    "They are taking her, the High Council dungeons," she has kled

    Bram''s lips lifted into a soule after many days of agony. Finally he could see light at the end of the tunnel. Auren was going to be his once anul for all. Treaty be damned. He knew thews well. He had also heard of how she was defeating trained warriors at every chance she fought them. That meant that she was turning into a formidable wall. Right to stay besale him. He was going to get her back and then ask Maris to leave. Or she could stay as his nustrew. Though he was unsure if he would go and amell her rotteli noent

    "Good" he replied "Stay low until I ask you toe out. It is important that you do not show yourself."

    "Of course!" sheughed. "We both have to have what we want

    in the end, right"

    "Yep"" he breathed. Just as he was about to go out and talk to his Beta, Maris caine agalis, her hands curled into t on her sides. "You''re pathetic," she spat, "At host, you asked me to help you throw her out. Now you want her back! I was the one who fortitted that treaty for you, using Muren."

    Bram''s eyes unapped to her. "Shun up, Maris" he said in a low, dangerous voice.

    "No," she shouted. "You don''t get to do this. You air ying a victim card when you were the one who made this choice. Why are you agai obsessed widi Auren?" Her voice brake and she started crying "Luood by you, makin sure that you didn''t end up with that pu

    212 PM

    sind yet you treat me

    e like this

    ''athetic omega?" he snarled at her. "Auren was many things but pathetic! I called her weak only because you instilled that emotion in me, but now the unath sits like acid in my stomach. She was never weak. You were too cruel to her."

    Taris''s face paled. "What? If I was cruel to her, then you encouraged my action! You shouldn''t have done it if you were in doubt"

    "Get out!" he roared, his chest rising and falling as his wolf raged.

    Shocked as hell as his outrage, Maris ran away from there, wailing loudly. "You hypocrite!"

    He took a deep breath. He walked to the window and murmured, "Auren, you thought you could walk away? Thought you would be happy without me? But you are still my mate. The bond didn''t just disappear. I aming to get you back. You''re mine!"

    Bram opened his mind link with his Beta, Josh, and said, "Prepare to go to the High Council. We leave at dawn."

    His real work was

    was going to start now.

 Chapter 89

    Auren POV

    The wind rushed past me as Remus ran fast through the forest. Though his warm fur kept me from shaking, my hands were still cold, my heart was heavy. I didn''t do anything wrong. All I did was to defend myself, so why was I being taken like a prisoner! It seemed like someone was befund all rius Someone powerful and someone who could pull strings at the High Council

    The trees blurred around us. Dry leaves crunched under Remus''s paws. Behind us, the High Council wolves and witches followed. Every now and then I could feel the whisper of magic licking me, feel their sharp gazes on my back, like I was already guilty. Like they were ready to tackle us if Remus decided to do something untoward

    But I felt proud of one thing-Over two hundred wolves ran behind us, the sound

    of their pounding paws filling the forest with a thunder that shook the ground. They were all extremely loyal to Lucien, It felt like they weren''t just following their Alpha, they were making a statement.

    I clung to Remus as he ran, feeling the power of his muscles rippling beneath me. Every now and then he would nce back at me and then at the Huj - Council wolves with unease. I would pat his shoulder often, only to assure him that I was fine. But on the inside, I was a mess

    Hourster when we reached the High Council grounds, Remus stopped and lowered to the ground for me to get down. He shifted once I was standing Tarian rushed to us and gave him jeans to wear. Lucien''s fury was palpable in the air. His pack members surrounded us, growling low,

    rady to fight at one sign from him.

    Hand her to us amicably, Alpha Lucien the High Council leader said,ing near. "Else we w

    we will be forced to use magie"

    "I want to meet Elder Peter." Lucien said in a lethal voice.

    You can''t meet him like this. Let Auren go, else there will be consequences."

    The pack started closing in on the High Council wolves. Tension rippled in the air. The witches also started closing in, chanting something silently. Suddenly, their hands crackled with white and purple lights.

    bought her.

    Lucien stepped toward the High Council wolves. "You know that she is innocent. Elder Peter knows that she is innocent. Yet, you have caught This is corruption of the highest level. I demand to meet the main Elder of the High Council"

    The High Council wolves were unfazed. Their leader said, "There is a process to it. The main Elder is going to announce when the trial wouldmence. Until then you have to wait."

    "I refuse!" Lucien shouted.

    "Then we will use f

    force!" the wolf growled back. He nodded at the witches.

    "Nooo"" Lucien shouted.

    Something shifted in the air, making me shudder. I snapped my head left and right to understand what was going on, but I couldn''t. All at once, a silvery barrier formed between me and Lucien, crackling with dark energy. Lucien snarled and lunged toward me, but the magic pulsed, sending him stumbling back.

    "Lucien" I cried, fear bubditing inside my chest.

    "Let her god" he roured.

    The witches didn''t even flinch. The High Council warrior who was trapped inside the barrier with me grabbed my arms and dragged me forward.

    "Leave me I gasped as I fought and twisted, but the magic began pressing on me, draining my strength.

    Lumen and others couldn''t go past a certain line. I looked behind only to see him shouting my name. Tears ri

    ran down my eyes as I murmured his

    rume "Lucien "

    The warriors dragged me to the dungeons in the basement. We walked for a few minutes and then I was shoved into a coll, stone cell. They mmed the beavy iron-barred door shut behind me. I ran to the door, shouting, "Leave mel" But all I heard were their retreating footsteps

    Medaily exhausted. I slid to the floor, subbing "Piras, leave me What have I done?" It was so cold that I curled my hands around my knees,

    A few minutester, a suffocating weight sended on my body. Like the air turned thick with dark magic. I felt as if something was pressing against my skin. They felt like inviuble chains, though there were no chains in the prison. It wasn''t just the cold that made me shiver-it was the presence of heavy magic that was trying to wraken me mentally and physically. "The magic slithered around me, licking and touching my skin, entering into my cars and nantils, probing my mind with his cold tentacles. That something inside me whimpered. I could feel its restlessness because of the

    They wanted torak me. But whyt Or was this how every prisoner of the High Council was treated How long was I going to stay here! How could I get out of here! Goddess, tyw me a way.

    1.11 PM

    I closed my eyes and focused on something that would cheer me up. Lucien. Could he feel me? Would hee for my rescue in here? I tried to distance my mind from my body by thinking of a happy memory. When I was getting married to Lucien. How he kissed me, how he stared at me. and how he protected me every time.

    At first, I was surrounded by a blinding white light and then Lucien came into view. "Lucien?" I asked, unable to believe what I was seeing

    He nodded. "Yes, love. Come to me," he said, opening his arms.

    got up and ran into his open arms. Was I dreaming!

    He chuckled as he kissed the crown of my head. "Stop thinking much. Auren. Just

    stay

    with:

    me, okay?"

    I nodded, already feeling better. If I was dreaming, then I was going to dream of him. "How did you find me!" I asked.

    "I would always know where to find you, baby," he said, his voice just above a whisper. "He held my hand and said, "Would you like to walk with

    "Yes," I murmured, taking his hand.

    He tugged me toward the whiteness that now morphed into the temple where we got married. We walked around it for a bit and then sat on the steps. I ced my head in hisp as he stroked my head gently. "Stay strong, Auren," he said tenderly. "With you by my side, I can fight this world."

 Chapter 90

    Lucien POW

    Like a wild beast. 1 paced outside the barrier created by the High Council witches with my hands clenched into hats. I wanted to kill those wiches like yesterday. They have no right to be in the werewolves teritories. Yet here they were. Binding us, controlling us. They had seated the prison - with dark magic, making sure that no one, inchading me, could teach her

    Frustration burned in my chest. Remus was growling restlessly mside me. "Let''s tear through the council walls and get back our mate, he snarled

    ''And then what?'' I argued, my nails digging into nly palms. Fight every damn witch and warrior here! They''re expecting that, Remus. They want

    me to lose control"

    I don''t care! Remus

    apped. She is alone in

    Auren was there, but just beyond

    in there, suffering!

    offering! We should be by her side, not pacing like caged animal"

    His raw rage mirrored mine. The bond that I felt between us throbbed painfully. It was a constant reminder that A out reach.

    want to burn this ce to the ground?'' I growled. But if we go in blind, we lose. And if we lose, she loses

    "You think I don''t want

    Remus went silent for a moment, his anger pulsing through me. Then he said. Then do something. Because I can''t take this waiting

    I exhaled sharply as I ran a hand through my hair. He was right. I just couldn''t stand here while she suffered alone in that prison where I knew they had dark magic.

    I turned to Tarian who was watching me with tension in his eyes. "What do you want me to do. Alpha?" he asked. ¡°Should I call all our pack members to attack these bastards?"

    "I want you to find out everything about Elder Peter. This can''t be his work alone. If he sent his dogs after Auren, who he doesn''t know at all, then he must be in cahoots with someone. I''m sure it is Rizy, but that dimwit is in our dungeons, and wouldn''t dare to approach Peter. Then who is it that has helped Peter into framing Aurent If Sable and those wolves are dead, then where are their bodies?"

    "I''ll put our trackers on task, Alpha Tarian said. "But I think we should also talk to Rizy about it. Maybe he had nned it all along?"

    I let out a rough breath. "Maybe!" I felt Auren through the bond, a faint tugging sensation. Like she was calling out to me. I grinted my teeth when 1 sensed the pain she was in. It was so deep that it chilled my bones. I couldn''t stand it. "Tarian,¡± I said in a rough voice. "Take charge. Handle everything. Auren needs me."

    w the

    His eyebrows shot to the hairline. "What do you mean?" he asked. "How do you know? Can you go inside and see her! Or you are thinking s needs you

    "You won''t understand." I replied. "It''s-I shook my head. How could I say that Auren was my mate! There were too many wolves around me.

    Tarian''s eyes widened inplete shock. "She''s your She is Auren- Oh, my goddess!"

    Damn it. It seemed like he heard what I was thinking. I should be more careful with my thoughts. Thankfully, my mental shields were so good that unless I wanted no other pack member could listen to me. Other than Tarian of course.

    I closed my eyes and tipped my head up. "Yes," I replied. "But don''t you fucking utter a word to anyone!"

    to stare at me. "Why di

    ''didn''t you tell me earlier?"he hissed, hirprotective instincts

    Shocked, bamboozled, totally out of his space, Tarian continued to surging for his Luna.

    "Well, now you k

    know," I grunted

    "You, arrogant prick!" he cursed me.

    "Look, she needs ine. So handle everything, okay!"

    He nodded, clenclung his teeth. "Do you know how serious this has suddenly be? Do you understand the gravity of the situation?"

    "I do!" I snapped. "I am going. She is in trouble. So keep a watch on every activity and disturbs me only when needled!" Saying that, I turned and walked toward the forest to fund a solitary ce. I could feel his eyes boring into my back. Though I knew that he would never reveal it to anyone, he was going to give me a good one when we returned. Maybe he would challenge me just to release his pent-up frustration. Maybe I''ll lose to him.

    Estalked through the trees until I found a small cave ludden beneath a rocky overhang. "Perfect!" I entered the cave and went to sit in aer. I Closed my eyes and allowed my mind to drift. It pushed past the physical world and slipped into the bond. I searched for her through all the whiteness that surrounded me. And there she was. Waiting for me in the temple where we married. "Come here," I said, feeling relieved and opening my arms. She ran into my arms. "Auren."I murmured as I wrapped my arms tightly around her. Fuck. This was all I ever wanted in my life. My happily ever after.

    We spent time together inside the temple, exploring it as we talked to each other. We reached the statue of the Moon Goddess and offered our 1/2

    3:13 PM.

    motyers. Why was it that I found her smiling and looking at Auren? My mind really yed a lot of tricks. She giggled andughed. I just cherished

    bet, li?tughter sounding like bells in the temple.

    "Don''t leave me," she said.

    "I won''t"

    I don''t know how many hours passed, but a voice pulled me back. "Alpha, wake

    up!"

    I growled, hating the darkness that bubbled inside my beautiful dream in the form

    of Thrian''s voice. "Go away!"

    "Don''t go, Lucien, Auren begged. "It is cold out here?

    "Alpha Lucien, please wake up, he breathed. "The trial will begin in an hour."

    Surprised, I snapped open my eyes. "What?"

    "The trial is about to start," he said.

    "How long was I sleeping?"

    "Two days!"

    Whoa!

    Tarian added, "You need to hurry up because Alpha Bram is also here."

    Fury like a thousand volcanoes have erupted, returned, "What the fuck is he doing here?"

    ¡°He hasid im to Auren, dering her as his mate."

 Chapter 91

    Dickness began bleeding in my beautiful dream, staining it with its ck ink. "No, Lucien, don''t go!" I said in a raspy voice. But his features began

    sting and soon he disappeared. The oppressive magic again pressed on me and I whimpered,ing back to reality.

    The door of my prison opened and a guard walked in. "The trial begins today. You are wanted upstairs," he said in a stern voice. He had a curious look on his face as he scanned me from top to bottom.

    H-how long have I been here?" I asked as I stood up shakily. He came to me and helped me stand up.

    "Two days" he replied, the curiosity in his gare intensifying. "How are you feeling?" he asked inquisitively

    I shot him a re. What was he expecting That I''d be dancing around! "Great" I said through gritted teeth.

    He nursed his lips as if stopping himself from speaking further. He grabbed my arm and took me upstairs. We walked through a stairwell and then through a corridor. I was hoping that I would go to the main hall to face the trial, but he took me to a private chamber. He knocked on the door lignih and announced us "I''ve got the prisoner. Elder Peter."

    "Come in," a rough, weathered voice came

    The guard opened the door and I found myself facing an elderly wolf who was bald with a white beard sitting at a long mahogany desk. His brown

    f?rd on me as he jerked his head to signal the guard to leave.

    A man sat opposite to him on a chair, his face away from me. His familiar scent hit me. I clenched my teeth

    Alpha Bram

    My pulse thrummed in my car and I had this urge to attack him and kill him. That something inside me wanted him dead. Right now

    Bram wiveled his chair and turned to look at me with his lips tilting up. "How are you doing. Auren?" he asked.

    I didn''t reply to him, but I wondered what his connection was with Elder Peter. Like what was going on? Elder Peter sized me from top to bottom as if wondering how I was still in one piece. Howe the dark magic didn''t affect me!

    instead of bowing to him, I lifted my gaze to Elder Peter and fumed,

    1. "You used me of something I didn''t

    He tapped his finger on the table. "You killed Sable and four other wolves. Auren. You will face the consequences."

    "I didn''t" I growled.

    He ignored me. ¡°There''s a way out of this whole situation though."

    ''I asked with trepidation cruising through me.

    der Peter took a long breath in "Alpha Bram can help you with it. He has a n. If you listen to him, he will save you from your impending death artener. Hown-" He upped his fingers again on the table. "If you won''t, I will personally ensure that you are hanged to death."

    A shudder ran down my body when he said those words so coldly. I knew that he knew I was innocent. It was clear that this was a setup and he was awahed. But how was Bram linked to this? The only way for me was to y their game if I wanted to know the depth of the conspiracy. So I stayed quan and nced at Alpha Bram who had a smirk on his face. Oh, what I could do to wipe that smirk off his face.

    When I didn''t reply, Elder Peter leaned forward. It was then I saw a flicker of worry y on his face. Like if I didn''t go with their n, he could be in jeopardy Or maybe I was imagining. "Do you want to live or not?" he asked. "It''s better that you listen to Alpha Bram before the trial begins."

    I looked at Bram and found him watching me as if assessing me, waiting for me with tension his shoulders.

    "Okay. Fd like to hear about ""

    B?der Teirr and Bram, both let out a sigh of relief. Their gazes mei. Elder Peter nodded and got up. He walked out of the rooms. "I''ll leave you two alone. Don''t try to run or attack him, Auren," he warned. "Herause my guards are stationed outside. They will throw you back in the dungeons"

    As soon as he closed the door behand him. Bram walked to me and wood right in front of me.

    Freling repulsed, I shoved him away. "Don''t!" I growled. "Don''t you dare to touch me!"

    His eyes softened and he hugged me unmediately

    has eyes went werde, but then he started Laughing "I understand that you are mad at me. But dur''s okay. You have the right to be angry with me because I rejected you," be sand and sat back in his u He ubed his head and measured ine from top to bottom. Then he said. "I was hoping that two days''in the prison was going to break you but you look just as strong as you were"

    amber. I epted your injection. Now what do you want!" Lasked, bating every moment aloner with lilin.

    raucht to the point, like that. You are fit to be my Luna"

    "Introue derama" I retaluted.

    sty eyes

    1. ed. "No, not in my dreams. This will soon be a rality"

    as widened in surprise Tam married to Lucien. We haven''t divorced. Nor do I have intentions of divorcing him"

    "Lorc_Abren Auren." He dunk his bead "Tknew you would way that. But sweetheart, this is how it will go. Up there when the trial begins, you will debately

    be charged with murder of Sable and orber four wolves The High Council is going

    to sentence you to death the paused."-you.

    have a chance to save yourself".

    "How?" I asked, doubting his intentions

    I havee to help you with this? he said as if sacrificing himself for my sake. ¡°I will tell theon that you are my mate, and there is now that has. the prower to separate mates. Mates are revered in our sonjery because they are rare. The High Council will have nurther option but to drop their charges against you. Obviously, they will get all the papers signed to stop you from killing others, before you will be released, However, this

    freedom at a price."

    He got up and came to stand in front of me again. Taking a strand of my hair in his hand, far brought it to his nose and inhaled its scent. His eyes Bashed golden as if his wolf was trying to surface. A satished unile came tochusps. He tucked the strand behind my ear and added, "You have toe back with me to the Crimson Howl park. There we will marry in order toplete the process of making you my Lana''

    Potent hatred sted in my chest. I wanted to p him so hard that his jaw dislocated. "You''re insane?"

    He stepped back. "Of course, it''s your choice. You can choose to walk away and embrace death"

 Chapter 92

    4 son as 1 walked out of the cave, I saw that my pack members had increased. Tarian had called more of them and I could sense a total of five Imanfred wolves from my pack. And they had surrounded the entire High Council

    My

    heart swelled with a warm feeling. They were all not only loyal to me, but they showed their loyalty to their Luna. And 1 knew that it was mostly because they had seen a D in centuries. Even Elder Ryna and Shaman were here.

    I opened my mind link to all of them and instructed them to stay quiet, and not vandalize or attack anyone unless I signal them. Yes, this was what I was going to do. Fight the entire High Council and their fucking witches with muge in order to get my Luna back. They didn''t know who they were

    Bemus was the mightiest wolf in the nonth. And he wanted blood. How could they take away his mate?

    When Than said that Bram hade here andid his im on Auren as his mate, all I wanted to do was rip him into

    to pieces.

    "How dare he growled as my ws slipped from my fingers. "Does he have a death wish?" I started to walk out of the cave to fucking kill the bastard.

    Tarian stopped me "Alpha Lucien, don''t make the mistake of killing him at this time. He has dered that Auren is his mate, which means that he knows thew. The High Council is going to spare Auren''s life in exchange for signed documents that will prohibit her from going anywhere"

    ou saying. Tarian?"

    I don''t fucking understand"" I retorted. "What are you say

    Tarian clenched his jaw, inclining his neck as my alpha aura slipped out in rage

    "Alpha Lurien, calm down. We have to go about it intelligently, he breathed. "With Bram dering Luna Auren as his mate, the High Council will spure her life. But the repercussions are that she will have to go back with him. The Council will ask her to sign papers ording to which she won''t be allowed to leave the Crimson Howl pack. Do you realize the extent of nning!"

    My face contorted with so much rage that I punched a wall, cracking it at the point of impact. "So am I supposed to sit here and watch them? Besides, he was marrying Maris. What happened to that? He rejected Auren. I am her second chance mute. How can be even im her like this?"

    Tarian gritted his teeth. "You haven''t marked her. No one knows about it. How can you prove that you are her second chance mare? As for Maris, I am surprised that she hasn''t apanied him. So obviously, their rtionship is not going well"

    "I haven''t marked her because she is too fragile!" I retomed. "Can''t you understand that it''s an everyday struggle for me not to mark her? By marking her. I will sign her death warrant. Of all the people, you should be knowing it!"

    Tarian shook his head. "There''s more to it that meets the eye. Anyway, we have to do this cautiously, okay. Right now, let''s watch them. At the end of the day, if the High Council gives au untoward judgment, we will attack them, consequences be damned!"

    I wasn''t sure why.

    but I strode to

    eto Tarian and pulled him into a firm hug. "Thank you," I murmured, needing

    Taran also embraced me back like a friend. "I''m always with you. Lucien¡± form of support

    A few minutester, I went to the High Council grounds along with Tarian, Elder Ryna, our Shaman and a few gammas.

    bram was there with his Beta. He looked at me and smirked, like he had the situation under control. I felt like punching him, but I clenched my tist to calm myself and my wolf

    From the left, I saw Aurening out with four guards around her. Our gazes met. Her eyes filled with tears as if trying to convey something to me. I gulped the ball of emotions in my throat. She mouthed sorry and nced at Bram. I frowned as to what she meant. Did she know that Bram had dereds im on her? My heart raced wildly. What was she going to do! Ominous feeling seuled on my shoulders. Was she going to ept tum? Remus let out a growl in my head, pacing restlessly inside me. Fuck! I looked at Bram who confidently walked imade the main trial room.

    I didn''t know what would happen, but one thing was sure-Brain had all the cards up his sleeve. And from where I stood, it seemed like he would

    With a heavy heart. I entered the main hall. I saw Auren timing in the dock. My emotions were all over the ce. Tarian grabbed my shoulder from techiel "May calm." he murmured.

    The High Council Elders entered the hall. We all bowed to them before unting in our seats. I was right behind Auren. My eyesnded on Elder

    Peter. He seemed rullra

    Trawas Elder Vincent who presided over the trial. He looked at Auren and said, "You are used of killing Sable Brown and four other wolves in the codd in broad ylight. How do you plead-guilty or not guilty""

    "Not guilty," the replied with betonens

    High our bond, I could feel her fe

    ther fear, but she was braving it.

    Elder Vincent raised his eyebrow. "Okay, then how would you like to proceed! Do you have someone who will argu

    3/13 PM

    She lowered her face and chuckled. "One-eighth of the Shadowfang pack is here for me, but I will pick their leader, Alpha Lucien?

    How did she know! Pride swelled in my chest. She picked me. Not Elder Ryna, not Shaman, not Tarian. She wanted me to defend her. And that''s what I would do. I stood up and bowed to Elder Vincent.

    "Step forward." Vincent said. "You may start."

    I didn''t waste time and started. "Auren is wrongly used of murdering Sable Brown. In fact, it was Sable who attacked her with ten other wolves. I am a witness to it. She wanted to kill Auren. And this wasn''t the first time. She attacked Auren once before as well"

    "Do you have any proof?" he asked. "Because from what I know, Auren defeated Sable and injured her badly in that fight."

    My eyes widened. How did he know! I snapped my gaze at Elder Peter. He looked away instantly. It meant that Rizy had already prepared him for the trial. This was longing to me.

    "Yes, Elder Vincent," I replied. "Auren used her agility and presence of mind to save herself."

    "You threw Sable into dungeons for attacking Auren andter you expelled her!"

    "Yes. Sable couldn''t handle her defeat and so she lured Auren into an ambush.

    "But Auren killed wolves there also," he pointed.

    "No, it was the who killed those wolves," I snapped. "It ismon in the packs to kill all those who attack their Alphas and Lunas." I looked at Auren, my Adam''s apple bobbing. "She is not a trained warrior. How could she defend herself against ten trained wolves? When I came to defend her, Sable ran away along with four other wolves."

    "Do you have a witness?"

    "Yes, Julie. The girl

    rl who lured Auren into the ambush

 Chapter 93

    My gaze went to Bram who was still sitting on his chair in a rxed way. I wanted to tell Lucien what he told me,

    hut for that I needed some time alone. However, bway sure that they wouldn''t give me any time alone with him because they had already made up their mind about the judgment. Morcover, with corruption of this level, it was clear that Ehler Peter and Bram had some solid connection. But what was that!

    It seemed like Lucien was fighting for something he would lose anyway. My heart sank with every minute in the trial room. But when he said that he had light Julie with him, my hopes rose.

    "Call her in the court Elder Vincent said.

    "Silence!" Elder Vincent''s voice boomed in the room, making her wince

    She was brought to the witness box, handcuffed. "Alpha Lucien, you can question her," he said.

    Lucien walked to her, his chest rumbling with a growl, like his wolf wanted to kill her. "Did you invite Auren for your birthday?" he asked.

    "Yes," she gritted.

    "And then you led her to the bathroom?"

    "The bathroom was locked and you led her to a back alley. And there all the wolves were waiting for her."

    "No, I was taking her to another Deli where the bathroom was open. But I don''t know why suddenly she attacked me. I cried for help, and some wolves rushed into the alley to help me

    I froze, watching her lie through her teeth. "She''s speaking lies!" I blurted. "She led me into an ambush."

    "Silence!" Elder Vincent roared. I happed my mouth shut,

    king in my ce.

    Lucien looked at me with a plea. He pursed his lips as if to ask me to remain quiet. When I nodded, he took a rough breath in and turned to Julie. "The wolves that came included Suble Brown

    "Yes," Julie said in a low voice. "She always looks for me. She must have heard my cries, so she ran for my help.

    "When did she arrive?"

    *In a few minutes. She''s always so helpful...

    Lucien tilted his head. "Tell me one thing, Julie. How is it possible that Sable heard you, when I had expelled her from my pack Wasn''t she out the park''s territory! And the Yoyo diner is about an hour from any of the borders of the pack."

    This time Julie''s blood drained from her face. "She-she must have been there!"

    "So what you are saying is that Sable defied my orders and stayed in the pack without my permission. And on top of that, when you were taking Auren to the bathroom, she rushed to help you? Like she knew that you were going to be attacked by Auren in that alley in just a few minutes!"

    of

    Julie licked her lips. "I-I don''t know," she stuttered. "Sh-she was there for me. When Auren attacked me. I was injured. It was Sable who saved me. but in the process, sise was attacked by Auren"

    "Elder Vincent, Laien chuckled. He walked to Tarian who g

    ? gave him some documents. He took them to the Elder. "These are Auren Is seconds from the hospital, She was the one who was brutally attacked and injured by ten wolves, whose leader was Sable Brown. You can also see hospital records of Julie. She had minor scratches because she wasn''t attacked at all she stood on the sidelines, watching her."

    Lurien red at Julie, who averted his gaze, going pale. He asked her, "How is it possible that Auren attacked you and you escaped with just scraiches while Sable who came to save you ended up getting wounded?"

    "Yes! Sable came to save met julle pointed at me and started crying "she attacked her horribly! Sable couldn''t take her attack and so the ran away

    Bu say here"

    "Oh?" Lucien mused, "So Auren didn''t attack you. Were you just watching when all this happened! And how were you discovered in the alley! 1 inran who discovered you!"

    Julie''s brows furrowed. "You discovered us. Alpha Lucien."

    ter 93

    miun -miled. Thanks for letting us know that. So I stand as a witness to this incident." Then he turned to Elder Vincent and said in a loud voice.

    Chen breached the alley, I saw Auren being attacked by Sable and ten other wolves. I rushed to save my Luna. Some wolves were killed in self- ssictense while some ran away. And Sable was the one who ran away!"

    Julie''s mouth dropped in shock as her theory got refuted. Hope blossomed in my chest that the Elders would see his point. It was a wonderful

    "gument with no loophole.

    Eider Vincent looked at julle and shook his head. "You can leave, but you will not leave the High Council premises," he said with a sigh. As soon as Julie left, he faced Lucien "Is there anything else you would like to say in your defenser"

    "No, Elder Vincent," Lucien replied. He walked back to his seat with a triumphant smile on his lips. He gave me a reassuring look and for the first time in days, I also smiled. Then I gave a disdainfil) look to Bram.

    Elder Vincent scratched his brows. He flipped through the hospital records and then gave them to other Elders to look at. "The evidence in these records suggest that Auren was indeed attacked. But the problem is-" He paused as his eyes roamed around those in the room. "Sable is missing along with four wolves. And it''s been quite a few days since she''s missing. Several search parties were sent to look for her." He looked at Alpha Bram. "Even Alpha Bram sent his trackers to search for her, but with no result. How far can an injured wolf go! Therefore, it is assumed that she is dead. But it is to be ascertained as to how she died! We can give benefit of doubt-

    "Elder Vincent!" Bram got up, cutting him off. ¡°I''d like to say something here.¡±

    Elder Vincent clenched his jaw, not liking the interruption. "What is it?" he asked sharply.

    can we give benefit

    Bram circled past the desk he was sitting at and came to stand in front of the Elders. "Since Sable Brown is assumed dead, how of doubt to her killer! All the evidence points to Auren killing her. But in my opinion, both Auren and Lucien killed her together!"

    "What?" Lucien shouted.

    "Maris, the she wolf, who I n to marry, is Sable''s friend. She always said Auren hated Sable, and she instigated Lucien to cast her away from the pack." He turned to nce at us and smirked. "Though I can''t put this gossip as evidence in this trial, there''s something I''d like to point out. Before Kiry was taken by Lucien''s warriors and thrown in the dungeons for what his daughter did. Rizy contacted Elder Peter, and he conveyed his fear about his daughter to him, saying Sable isn''t safe in the Shadowfang pack. You can ask Elder Peter and confirm it." Shock surged through me like a lightning bolt.

 Chapter 94

    Auren POV

    words were such a shock that I felt earth shifting beneath my feet. I whipped my head to look at Lucien who was also staring at Bram. Confusion and anger warred inside me and it was palpable in the air.

    Elder Vincent raised his eyebrows as he turned his head in look at Elder Peter. "Is there something you would like to add, Elder Peter!"

    Peter coughed in his hand, his demeanor turning awkward. Then he nodded and said, "Yes. Kizvralled me a few days ago. He expressed his concern over how his daughter was being treated by the Shadowfang pack. He said that Luna Auren hated Sable and was looking for ways to either humiliate her or injure her. Ruzy was afraid that Sable might die at the hands of Luna Auren for no reason, and Alpha Lucien wouldn''t say a word." Saying that he took out a folder from his bag and pulled out a few paper. "These are phone records between Rizy and me. You can verify them" He gave those papers to Eller Vincent, who appeared to be bewildered by this sudden change in the direction of the case.

    Vincent flipped through the call details as I stared at him with knots in my stomach. I just couldn''t understand what Bram was doing. He had said

    as going toy his im on me that I was his mate. But why was he implicating Lucien!

    Vincent shook his head. "Yes, these call records say that Rizy was indeed scared for his daughter''s life" Then he looked at Lucien. "Alpha Lucien, I hope you know thew that killing a pack member without fault is a punishable offence. Your Alpha title can be stripped.

    It was then I realized Bram''s game. He was going to hit two birds with one stone. He would not only stake his im over me, but he was going to make sure that Lucien loses his position

    Lucien froze. For a moment he was quiet as his mind processed what Elder Vincent said. Then in a controlled voice, he said. "Elder Vincent, I am aware of that but firstly, Sable is not found as yet. So we can''t assume that she is dead. Secondly, I already proved that in the alley, it was Sable who attacked Auren, and not vice versa. As for my pack members, I don''t control their thinking. I wasn''t aware of Rizv''s fear. There were many instances in which I should have banished Sable earlier, but I didn''t I was lenient to her on many asions, and-" He held his chin high. "I regret not taking

    action earlier

    Vincer exhaled roughly, shaking his head. "This is not helping your case," he gritted. "It is already proven that since Sable wasn''t found anywhere. she is assumed dead along with four other wolves"

    Tears stung the back of my eye. We came back to square one. Lucien tried his best to help me out of this situation, but Bram was winning.

    "Elder Vincent," Bram interrupted. "While I know that what Auren did was heinous, but-" He looked at me tenderly. "I can''t let her die or rot in High Council prison.¡±

    I felt Lucien stiffening as I waited for Bram''s final blow

    Sind how are you going to save her?" Vincent growled. -

    Bram''s lips curled up. He dered loudly, "Auren is my moon mate.

    A collective gap erupted behind me. All the Elders were shocked. Murmurs bubbled in the air.

    or rot in the

    bram continued. "And so I beg you to release Auren Moon males are rare. Please give Athen back to me. I can''t live without her. I know that thew

    allow you to kill a moon mate" He turned to walk toward me confidently with a victorious smile. Til take her back with me. If you want. I

    wtaichi would protubat her from going out of the Crimson Howl pack for entire life Give Auren back to me"

    My blood as cold as my stomach twisted in revulsion at his words. The way he spoke, as if I was a possession he was bartering. It made me sich "No" Iberathed, but any voice was drowned out by the murmurs that rippled in the council hall.

    Lucien''s grow] shuttered the y

    space "Over my dead body," he snarled, stepping between us. His muscles tensed, and his eyes burned with fury: "She

    "She was mine brut" Bram countered stoody "Thews are clear. The moon mate bood prevails above all. You took what was mine, and now I''m here to take her back "Hu gaze flickered in Lider Vincent. "What is your verdict, Elder?"

    aurent stroked his beard. "Thew does protect moun m

    e papers

    moun mates. And so I pardon Auren. She will return to Alpha Bram Prepare the papers.

    with victory in has eyes, with that gleam, with that smug face, I felt like my heart was cleared in two. My chest constricted in pator Thick. Aures, tank. I couldn''t go back with Bram. Not after he rejected ine. Not after Lucien came into my life. But there was one thing I

    walk toward zur, korking. "Didn''t I tell you

    tell you this will happen

    Suddenly, I dared no Jucien and hugged him Lucien beld me tightly against him

    as he glued at Bram. "Tacien," I murmured, desperation Lacing

    cien jerked i

    tark ror!" Imanded him.

    restated, his jaw locked tight. "Auren" his voice was hoarse, tortured. He picked

    me up in his arms and I wrapped my legs around his waist.

    "What are you doing?" Bram shouted at me.

    pressed against Lucien, tilting my head, baring my neck. "Do it," I whispered. "Before he takes me away.

    Something inside him snapped. With a possessive snarl, he grazed my skin and then sank his fangs into my flesh. "Mine, Mine. Mine." He growled.

    stifling my scream. My body trembled as the bond red to life, searing through me like wildfire,

    Areazingly, my fangs also slipped out of my gums and without thinking twice, I marked him. He snarled, realizing what I did, cupping the back of my head and pressing it hard on his neck. Lucien reluctantly removed his fangs from me and licked over the mark, sealing it. I did the same with

    Godden. Now the emotions

    ms that su

    surged through me were so primal.

    He set me on my feet and we turned to Bram. Lucien''s eyes glowed gold, primal

    and fierce. "She is mine," he growled. "I''m her second chance

    mate

    His words shocked me. My second chance mate? But it felt natural. My gaze locked onto Bram''s stunned face, I said in a loud voice for everyone to hear. "You seem to have forgotten. I already epted your rejection several days ago. And until those papers are signed, I''m still Lucien''s wife. But

    now I''m his mate."

    Bram''s face darkened, rage shing in his eyes. All the Elders stared at us. bewildered as hell.

    Lucien pulled me closer and smirked, "Guess you''ll have to find another mate. Suddenly, all the phones in the hall chimed together. A video surfaced.

 Chapter 95

    diem sank los fangs inim any neck, something inside me twisted and snapped. A sharp, electric jolt pulsed through me. Thest

    i hranu severed di fvil a violent chain was yanked from my wad and left a hollow ache in

    way so hence, wrapping mound my heart rapidly like wildfire that iturned away any trace of por My linyadi lun lual as warmali tunded my chest, my st. Frembled in Lucien''s liodd "Mate. Hreathed, Inow belonged to him.

    The dumme many tattoo prickled for a split second before releasing me. They had ckled any soul for so long, but that suckie vanished, and I felt dier Euplion What was happening? I didn''t knom. I didn''t want to know. Hot I wanted to low in this feeling. Forever.

    ai pidied mound in as the bond snapped into its ce. People around us froze, and silence lnketed the trial room

    The vi thundering in my chest, I looked at him with wide eyes, realization dawning upon me. His eyes had that knowing look. "Wes

    "Why sludict yonu tell me?" I asked in a lone voice. He was my second chance mate, Hat he didn''t tell me about it, and kept suffering alone. Why didn''t I nevognize him as my mute! Because thest tennants of my boud with Bram still had me tethered to him? Or was it because my wolf retreated?

    That samething inside me surred, like it woke up from slumber, like the chains that bound it, broke

    What the fuck h

    hove you done?" Bram rare, interrupting us. "You chrated!"

    I looked at him still amazed. Shaking my head, 1 said, ¡°No Brain. I daln''t cheat. It was you who rejected me. Remember! It was you who sold me as beredet to Alpha Isicien in under to secure a treaty for an alliusce. Yai del all this because you didn''t want to murry an omega, even though 1 was vasut muson mate, because you wanted to marry someone with superior blood-Maris. Both you and Maris crafted this n to get rid of me. You harred me like I was amodity for your benelit, even though you knew that Alpha Lucien was cursed. Any bride he would take was going to

    His eyes burned with fury. "You belong to me, Auren!" he shouted. "You are mine!"

    Bram. That ship has sailed. I looked at Lucien tenderly. "Hat Moon Goddess gave me a second chance mate in the form of none other than Alpha Lucien. He is my true male. And I thank the goddess for granting me a wolf like him."

    ¦°¦§¦£

    Beata was an furious that he stormed toward me with a growl, but before he could reach me, Tarian and other wolves came in between us.

    1. us. Tarian''s fangs slipped ous. He caught Brani''s throat and growled, "If you touch my Luna, I will make sure that you no longer exist in this world!"""

    growled back, but it felt like he didn''t have the same ferocity he exhibited earlier. Also how was it possible that Tarian, a beta, was able to hold huncarrongly by his throat. Surely, as an Alpha, Brain was stronger and shouk? face him. the Hiram managed to remove his hand with difficulty

    is throat and stumbled back. I don''t know why but, on an inst, I felt like he was weaker. Or maybe I was insagining

    You-you are going to pay for this?" Bram threatened me. "You killed Sable, and the council is going to throw you in prison. And if they don''t, then you will die within a year; he cured

    I chuckled dryly. "At least I will die an honorable death, and not as a ve in your pack!"

    "I should have known that you were nothing but a fucking lowly, backstabbing omega. I regret helping you. All I wanted was to save you, and look how you treated me?" Bram fumed. "Maris is so much better than you!"

    we are standing in the grounds of the High Council!"

    say one more thing about my mate from your

    shiny n

    mouth, and I''ll forget

    om the periphery of my vision, I saw that all the High Council guarch surrounded usadong with witches because the situation turned tease.

    All at mare, there was a chime on everyone''s ne. Lucien took his phone out and his brows furrowed when he tapped on the message. It was a video I noticed that everyour was now looking at their cell phones.

    lile on every screen, illuminating dirin shisked faves.

    Elder Vincent''s loud voice boomed in the room. He was hating whatever was happening in his trial. I was sure that this was the ibut time he experienced so much i haos. Even his mind was whirling with what was going on. A staff member walked to hlin hurriedly with the

    memuted ahing in his car and Vument watched the video in stunned silence. What is it I asked, feeling sparben

    au ieri''s jawadropped as he looked at the video. "Fuck!" he rasped.

    "What is it!" I was now in the eilge.

    "Loni at it" he said, giving it to me...

    in the video. Sable was lounging in a dimly lit room, swirling a ss of wine. Around her, the four supposedly dead wolvesughed as they clinked their sses and raised them in a mock toast,

    sable sipped her wine and smirked. "Did you see how I tricked them all? The High Council, Lucien, that pathetic Auren. All of them are so sure that

    dead" She let out a delighted chuckle, tilting her head. I yed them like fools."

    One of the wolves leaned forward, grinning. "You think they''ll figure it out?"

    She scoffed "Please. They can never. I had help, of course.

    urse. Without them, I wouldn''t have-

    "But how did you manage to manipte them to the level that you even sent this case to the High Council?" another wolf asked, leaning back

    On

    Sheughed and shook her head. "Well, I asked my father to talk to Elder Peter beforehand. I had this all nned out much in advance. After ! amarked Auren in the alley, she fucking injured me. I ensured that the news traveled to Elder Peter as fast as possible. After that, he filed the case against Auren, and the ball rolled beautifully"

    All the wolves looked at her with astonishment. "Wow, Sable, You''re awesome!"

    She did a mock bow and shrugged. "Of course, I am! That sick bitch, Auren, is nothing in front of me. She dared to

    I''ll do to her. She will rot in the High Council prison""

    "But who helped you?" the first wolf asked.

    Lake

    my ce. Now look, what

    She raised her eyebrow and opened her mouth to say something, but the video went static. The screen went ck. Silence hung heavy in the air before chaos exploded in the room

 Chapter 96

    The council hall exploded into chaos. Gasps and murmurs filled the air as the video ended. There was a stunned silence thatsted Then all at once, voices shed in outrage.

    "she''s alive!" Elder Vincent eximed, rising to his feet in shock.

    "She tricked the High Council" another Elder shouted, mming his fist on the table.

    "She framed Luna Auren for murder?" a Shadowfang pack woman shouted. "How could we be so blind!" Tarian growled, his ws extending in fury "Fucking bitch!" Lucien snarled, his face twisting with fury.

    "The High Council was deceived: Our justice system was made a mockery of An Elder on the right, growled.

    Lonly a heartbeat.

    Shouts ovepped. Suddenly, the whole ce was a chaotic storm of rage and disbelief. The High Council warriors exchanged uneasy nces as they waited for orders from the Elders. All the wolves murmured among themselves. Rage was evident on their faces. Some of the warriors who had apanied Tarian to the alley that day had embarrassment etched on their faces. The betrayal ran deep. Sable had not only fooled them all, but she made them her puppets. Her n was so perfect that it led the Council to believe that she was murdered even though she was alive and enjoying herself at a remote location.

    ¡°I fucking find her even from the depths of hell and kill her. Slowly and painfully." Lucien growled as he pulled me closer to his, grabbing my

    As for me- was stunned. I could never believe that Sable would go to such lengths just to prove that she was superior to me. It was her blind ambitions that led her to her downfall. "But where is she?" I asked, "And who sent this video?"

    Lucien clenched his teeth as he watched the video again to make out her location. "The video was shot in a cabin. There are thousands of cabins in this part of the country" Then he looked at the number. "It''s unknown number." His brows furrowed. ¡°It looks like the sender has done a great deal to hide his number. He was scared that if his name was revealed, he would be hunted."

    1 sighed and looked at the Elders. My eyes went to Elder Peter, and I was surprised to see that he, who had stood so confidently against me moments ago, who had called me in his chamber to talk to Bram, turned ghostly pale. His hands trembled as he clutched the edge of the table. His eyes d

    darted around like a trapped animal. Then suddenly, he bolted toward the exit "Stop him"" Elder Vincent roared.

    Guards reacted instantly. Four warriors caught him by arms and shoved him to his knees. He struggled, but in vain. He couldn''t escape as the witches immediately came and shackled him with their magic.

    My eyes went to Bram, who stood frozen. The smirk that he had was gone. It was reced by a look of sheer horror. His fists clenched, his throat bobbing as he swallowed hard. I chuckled because I was sure he wasn''t expecting this. Oh, how the tables turned. I leaned over to Lucien and said, "Bram met me in Elder Peter''s chamber."

    "Why"" Lucien looked pissed off

    "He offered me a solution to be free. He said that he was going to tell them all that he was my moon mate."

    "This bastard!"

    by marking

    I chuckled. But what Bram didn''t know was that I was waiting for him to help me be free. Once he did that, I asked Lucien to mark me. By me. Lurien became my moon mate.

    I''m going toin about him," Lucien growled as he red at Bram.

    "No, Lucien," I stopped him. "He will deny meeting one."

    Just then Elder Vincent dered, "This changes everything. The case against Auren is officially dismissed. Sable Brown is alive, but she is hiding sewhere Funder the High Council warriors to search her and get her here as soon as possible. She is now the culprit of the High Council Issue nattice on my behalf to all the Alphas to hand her over to High Council if they find her. Else, an action will be taken against them for harboring her."

    Relief crashed over me like andal wave. I was free.

    Elder Vincent looked at me, his eyes softening "We apologize to Luna. Auren. She is

    Emotions choked in my throat as our pack members cheered all around us Goosebumps lined my skin. Lucien picked me up in his arm from my waist and crashed his lips on mine. I opened up for him, curling my arms around his neck, slipping my fingers in his silky hair. Goddess, I missed lum so much. But dus kiss was much more than earlier. It felt like he wanted to im me And I wanted hun to im me, I didn''t care if I died after 1/2

    hinter 96:

    1. u. but I wanted to die as his

    When he finally put me down on my feet, he rested his forchead on mine. "I love you. Auren 111 always love you. I started loving you the day I saw you." he breathed.

    Love you, too. Lucien?

    Once again, the crowd around us erupted in cheers. "Long live, Alpha and Lunal"

    As Lucien held my hand firmly and walked out of the trial room, my gaze went to Bram. He was staring at me, looking defeated. Josh, his Beta, was murmuring something in his ear, but he was focused on me only. I flipped my hair over my shoulder and walked out.

    We didn''t know who sent the video, but it saved us. I wanted to thank the person who sent it. But one thing was sure-whoever sent it didn''t like Bram. And I knew this was far from over.

    As we stepped out of the High Council''s building, the weight of trial finally lifted from my chest. The cool air kissed my skin. I felt relieved but i could sense through the bond that it did nothing to douse the fire that burned in Lucien''s chest. His grip on my waist was so firm and possessive. like he feared I would disappear if he let go of me.

    e murmured.

    "We''re going home," he

    Home. For the first time, the word felt real. It wasn''t just a ce, it was Him. My Alpha came with me to the High Council and was returning back with me. I suspected that if the trial continued, he wouldn''t have left me at all.

    My chest filled with pride and warmth as I leaned on his shoulder during the journey back to the Shadowfang pack. He picked me up in hisp Lucien hadn''t spoken much all the way, but his grip on me never loosened.

    When we arrived at the house, the guards and omegas bowed, murmuring, "Alpha, Luna,¡± in reverence. Vivi was there with moist eyes. The way they addressed me, sent a thrill through me, but I barely had time to dwell on it before Lucien swept me inside the bedroom, and mmed the doors shut

 Chapter 97

    As soon as he mmed the door shut, Lucien turned to me, his chest rising and falling. His eyes were wild and his muscles were taut as if he was barely holding himself. ¡°She is out there. That fucking piece of shit, Sable, is out there! She thought that she would win! But I will hunt her down!" The exhaled sharply, his hands clenched into fists. Im going to make her curse the day she was born!"

    I stepped closer to him and pressed my hand to his chest. "We''ll find her." I said in a reassuring voice. "But let''s celebrate this little win. I have a thousand questions in my mind to ask you. Hut those questions jumbled up when I looked at my mark he was carrying

    His guze locked with mine, so dark and intense that my breath hitched. "I will tear the world apart for what she did to you. Auren." His voice was raw, filled with emotion. "Buttonight. I can''t think of her. I''ve finally found my mate, marked her. The Moon Goddess must be benevolent to me"

    I swallowed as he cupped my face. His hand skimmed over my bottom lip. I could feel his restraint slipping, and the mate bond pulling us together

    like a force of nature.

    "I need you so badly, Auren," he rasped. His forehead rested against mine as his warm breath fanned my face. "I''ve been holding back far too long

    After all the hardships we''d been through, we both needed each other. And I wanted him to guide me to whatever was going to happen between us The hear between us was suffocating, even electric. My heart pounded in my chest as his fingers brushed my waist. How was it that his touch set my

    kin ame

    Tonight, we won''t think about Sable," he said. "Tonight, we are just us."

    Oh goddess

    The air between us crackled with raw and untamed energy. His breath turned heavy as his eyes shed golden with dark desires. I barely had a second to brace myself with what wasing ahead when he crashed his lips to mine. He held me firmly against him with trembling hands,

    You''re mine," he growled against my lips, holding me tightly as if trying to merge our bodies together.

    My pulse raced, "Lucien."

    He silenced me with another kiss, deeper this time. His tongue imed my mouth, demanding submission. I melted against him as his fingers thread through my hair. He grabbed them and rugged hard to the point of pain as his tongue explored my mouth. He groaned as his body pressed. me against the wall. The heat radiating off him sank into my bones, igniting my veins with fire.

    His hands were everywhere, like he was starved of my touch-sliding under my dress, gripping my thighs and pulling me closer until I could feel every rigid muscle in his body through his clothes. Suddenly, he lifted me effortlessly and my legs wrapped around his waist. He walked us toward the bed, his lips never leaving mine.

    "You drive insane," he rasped as he grazed his fangs on my bottom lip. I whimpered in response. "You have been mine since the moment I saw you. His grip on my hips tightened as he pressed deeper. "Mine to touch. Mine to ruin. Mine to worship." In his frenzy, he bit my bottom lip. "You can''t escape me, Auren. There''ll be no one ebel And tonight.."his voice turnedraugh. "Tonight, I''ll im you"

    He pushed me gently on the bed. I shivered as he tore at my dress, unable to contain hinkelf. The fabric slipped off my shoulders. He ran his hands. over my bare skin. Over my neck, my chest, my breasts where he rolled my nipples. My body bucked toward him. "Ahhh!"

    "Say you''re mine," hemanded.

    "I''m yours, Lucien," I whimpered, meeting his g

    His gaze dropped to my breasts. He dropped his mouth to them, wrapping his lips around them. A moan escaped my lips when he started sucking them "Lucien!" I moaned as he sucked them roughly. My thighs clenched as juices dripped out. His hand reached between my thighs and be rupped my sex. A growl came out of his throat as he continued to suck my breasts with abandon. ?le removed his mouth from my nipple only to go to the other one. He sucked them so hard that his fangs must have scraped my skin over there. I cried as pleasure coiled tight in my stomach. I arched into hn, gasping, my fingers gripping his hair as he devoured me inch by h

    "You''re so soft, so perfect," he said in a voice strained with the effort of holding back. His rough hands roamed around my bare skin as if he was memorizing every curve of mine. "I should''ve never waited this long"

    When he released my nipple, I was a hot mess. I needed him to do something. Panting, he pulled his shirt out and then removed his jeans. Goddess. His musive erection hung right in front of me. I licked my lips, and it twitched Stroking it, he said, "I know you want it in your mouth, baby. But tonight I have other ns." I whimpered when he spread my legs, the thickness of him pressing against my

    "Lucien, please." I said, my body trembling.

    Tell ane you want this," lir growly, now barely restrained,

    "Yes, please," I punted. "I want

    Chimer 97 er:97

    dural growd tore from his throat as he thrust deep inside me in one swift, iming stroke. A strangled cry escaped my lips as I stretched around

    (kiny body struggling to amodate his size. Pain and pleasure mingled as he filled mepletely.

    "Fuck," he snarled. He pressed his forehead against mine as he gave me a moment to adjust. His breaths were ragged, his body covered in sweat, his control hanging by a thread. "You can take it, baby," he said needily. "You can!"

    clung to him for life, my nails digging in his flesh as I swear beads formed in my body. His cock was thick, unrelenting I needed him so badly. I closed my eyes and allowed his girth to adjust inside me. Goddess. He didn''t move, knowing fully well that he was in a virgin pussy.

    "Are you okay?" he asked in an animalistic voice. Sweat dripped from his body because he was unable to control himself. His eyes shone golden because his wolf wasn''t going down. Remus wanted this as much as he wanted it. And it warmed my heart how Remus, his beast, was controlling

    When I nodded, he pulled back only to m into me again, deeper, harder, sending pleasure spiraling through me. "Ah!" My nails raked down his back as waves of pleasure built inside me. This time the pain was less

    And then he began moving. Slowly at first, and then fast. Lucien became relentless, thrusting deep, his elbows caging me on either side. "I wanted you so badly. Auren," he groaned, his voice rough with emotion. "I wanted to do this the night I saw you wrapped in a towel like a present."

 Chapter 98

    My eyes rolled in my head as he mmed his cock to the hilt, his balls hitting my sex. He stretched me, owned ine, took me apart piece by piece. The room filled with the sound of skin meeting skin, desperate minans and raw, primal growls of a wolf lost in his mate.

    He angled his haps, hitting a spot inside me that made me cry. My body writhed beneath him as he drew pleasure from me. His lips crushed mine,

    wallowing every whimper, every gasp as he drove me higher, Laster toward the edge of a cliff. Suddenly, he let out a painful groan and the head of his cock swelled into what felt like a knot. He stilled, locking us together, "Fuck, Fuck, Fuck. Remus!" he growled, clutching me tighter.

    The knot started growing inside me. "Wh-what is that?" I gasped.

    "Fuck, baby!" Lucien rasped. "Remus is knotting inside me.

    The knot swelled further and it stretched my pussy to the level that I screamed.

    Just a hiile more, he said in an animalistic voice. "Be with me. lovel

    I screamed but he clutched me tightly, and then suddenly, he tipped his head up. With a roar and his body shuddering, he spilled his seeds inside me, iming the in the most primal way.

    He stared at me with intensity, his eyes still golden, and I knew that it was Remus who pushed him to knot inside me. Territorial wolf. Goddess, I loved him

    The pain subsided as hot jets of his ejaction filled my womb.

    Lucien wasn''t done. His mouth found my neck, and this time he brought it to where he marked me. He sucked me over there as he continued to thrust inside me, spilling more. Pain and pleasure fused into something unbearable, something so intoxicating that I cried out his name and then shattered all around him, my body wrung dry. "Luciennnn!"

    "Fuck, baby! I love my name on your lips" he said in a hoarse voice, licking my mark, soothing it. "Now, there''s no escaping me, Auren. You belong to me, and I''ll never let you go

    I shivered at the raw promise in his voice.

    Lucien wasn''t just my husband now. He was my Alpha, my mate, my everything. And nothing-not even fate itself, would take him from me.

    Breathless, he finally pulled out from me and slumped beside me. His heavy arm draped over my waist, he pulled me flush against his chest. Our bodiesy sangled in the afterglow of orgasms. My skin was slick with sweat and my legs felt weak from the way he had taken me. It was so possessive, unrelenting that I couldn''t help but crave for it more. Even though I felt that I was torn apart.

    He buried his face in neck, his lips brushingzily over the mark. "I should have done this sooner, he murmured, voice rough with satisfaction.

    I shivered and tilted my head to give him more ess. I loved it when he licked me over there. "Mhhmmm "I moaned. Smuggling against his chest, I said, "You were afraid that I would break."

    He gritted his teeth. "You were so fragile."

    "I''m not fragile anymore,id with confidence.

    He chuckled. Then he brought his finger to my ass and pressed it there. "I''ll take this hole as well one day. I''m going to spill my cum everywhere on your body and smear it with you I want every fucking wolf to know that you belong to me."

    My checks heated up but I found myself waiting for that day. Sull catching my breath, I traced my fingers over his chest. My fingers froze as 1 noticed something. The dark thorny vines tattoos that curled over his skin, looked lighter, Failed. I blinked as I stared at it to get a better look. "Lucien_" I said, my voice low. "Your tattoos they are-

    His brown furrowed. "What about them!" he asked.

    I ran my fingers over die thorny vines around his chest and then around his biceps. I saw

    some edges weren''t as dark as before. "The-they

    went still. A muscle ticked in his jaw. "That is not possible. He looked down as his chest and arms and his golden eyes that had darkened, went ade. "What the fuck!"

    He got up with a start and checked his body everywhere. He sprang out of bed and stood in front of the mirror. "Gods abover" he inuntered. "They have farled. "How is this possible!".

    "I don''t know," I replied as I also soud up and walked behind him. But he pulled me in front of him and numed me so that my back was in front of him. He traced my tattoo and gasped. "What" I asked.

    "The thorny vines of your tattoo have also faded. Like a lot?"

    "Really:"Shocked. I turned my back to the mirror to examine it. He caught my waist to steady me as I examined it. It had really faded. "How did this happen!"

    "I don''t know." he murmured as he stared at my tattoo. "We have to ask the Shaman."

    We stayed like that for a little while after which, Lucien cock poked into my belly again. "It''s time for another round, baby," he said and picked me

    1. up.

    1 giggled, swatting his chest. "Leave me, you monster!

    He growled and pounced on me the moment he tossed me on the bed. I''m your monster, darling

    Oh, yes. He was mine.

    Lucien made more love to me and it so happened that we didn''t leave the room for the entire day. His roars apanied with his orgasms were enough for the windows and doors of the house to raile. And I was sure that every omega or guard in the house knew what we were doing. Their Alpha was iming their Luna By the time it was night, I was ravenous. I think he heard the way my stomach was protesting because he jumped out of the bed immediately. "Wait here. Don''t go anywhere." Then he wrapped a towel around his waist and walked out proudly with a... grin?

    Iughed, shaking my head. I got out of the bed, my body aching deliciously, and went to the bathroom to take a nice, hot bath. Needless to say. Lucien joined me.

 Chapter 99

    Despite all the Sable that I had to deal with, despite all the she-wolves who wanted to be in my shoes, and despite all those who hated me, I wanted in de Lucien''s. I wanted to surrealer to him, sudamit to him and be his in every possible way.

    his mate Initially, I was so insecure, but he teassured dis own way, slowly and carefully. He suffered on his own by not revealing that I was even thunigli le knew it the day fepted fram''s rejection. My beautiful, beautiful mate. He did it all for me because he didn''t want to push ine, because he knew that I had suffered a terrible rejection and because I didn''t have it in me to ept the moon goddess''s fate.

    I wasn''t the perfect looking girl. A thin, starved omega, who had so many ws. Yet he never saw those ws. He always found me beautiful.

    We hasn''t stepped out of the room because he hadn''t had enough of me. The moonlight spilled through the curtains bathing us in its beautiful. calming glow. I was tucked against his chest. My lingers idly traced the lines, the indents of his muscles while he buried his face in my hair, inhaling deeply every other minute.

    "You smell like me." he murmured in a voiceced with satisfaction.

    I chuckled, still breathless for what we had done a while ago. He had bound my wrists to the metal bar of the bed and taken me from behind. Goddess. This wolf was insatiable and knew so many positions to have sex. "Obviously." I replied.

    hed my chin up and brushed his lips over

    He chuckled as his arms tightened around me. "No, you don''t get it, baby. You smell like mine" He tipped my mine in that soft,zy, indulgent way. "Say it"

    My cheeks warmed, "I smell like I''m yours."

    His chest rumbled with pure satisfaction

    I tried to get up, but he snaked his arm around me and yanked me right back into his chest. He smirked at me, looking utterly satisfied. "Where do you think you''re going!"

    I rolled my eyes. "To the bathroom, you beast."

    He trailed his fingers down my spine, leaving shivers in their wake. "Not yel "Lucien, I have to!"

    He kissed my lips and then grinned in pure arrogance. "You can''t walk yet, can you?"

    Damn it. I red at him, because my whole body was aching in all the wrong ces. It felt like I was torn apart, and then pieced back. There was an ache in my pussy which he had impaled every damn time he had the opportunity. "This is where I can live for the rest of my life," he had said once. But I think he wanted to impregnate me. Like on every whim he would take ne. I had barely slept, feeling exhausted, when I woke up with a jerk. finding hum devouring my pussy. "You sleep, baby," he instructed me. "I''m just drinking nectar

    So, here I was unable to move without feeling that delicious ache between my legs. But when he asked if I couldn''t walk, how could I admit, I shot him a re. "I can walk!" He cocked an eyebrow smugly and released me. When I tried to sit up, my legs wobbled.

    Lasien, beamed. The arrogant prick actually beamed!

    "That''s my girl!" he said and scooped me in his arms,

    "What are you doing?" I asked, wrapping my arms around his neck.

    Taking you to the bathroom, baby. You''ll need my help for the next few days."

    Trantion for the next few days, he was going

    g to continuously

    dy have

    sex. The wolf was surely trying to make me pregnant.

    1 blushed deep. But he only smirked and set me on feet in the bathroom.

    "Get out," I hissed.

    "Why?" he asked. "You''re mine. You can pee in front of me.

    "Mi Lucien Vasol," I growled "Get Out

    Heughed, "Okay, Mrs. Vailof." The stepped out, closing the door behind him.

    Lucien POV

    taking a boath, but no amount of washing was going to erase my siel

    ell of her. Not that she was trying in, but I wanted to think like that. I delt sooriin ly prace in un life. Even Hemis was literally purring inside me, wagging his tail every time she smiled at us. The fucker had Jamtest hamiselt uude her. The werewolves kuoited inside ilteir mates and only when they wanted them to be pregnant. Well, what could I say! Then Unanteil Muren pregnant with my pups. And that led the to auther thought.

    understanding what I was thinking, Auren cante out of the bathrooms, and said, "We must go to the Shaman to talk about the tattoos, Lucien¡± -bu puked up my discarded son and wise it,

    All my thoughts alsoal Shamais tossed out of my titul. "Hmm." I replied as I watched how beautiful she looked in it. She was practically swallowed

    But the fact that she wasn''t wearing anything beneath my shirt made me erect. My little brother had actually developed its own mind when it

    "M) seent was all over her. There was a subtle change in her scent. It happened when wolves marked each other. I was so afraid that she wouldn''t be abde to take my mark because it wasn''t easy to bear the mark of a wolf like Remus. Our venam was strong. But look at her-not only my mark sat in her proudly, she appeared to be hearing it without repercussions. I think it was those herbs that helped her or was it that she was meant for me!

    She belonged to me now. In every possible way, Umm. except one. I intended to take her ass one day, Soon.

    I was pretty sure

    everyone

    in the m

    manor and in the pack, heard when we had done. The werewolves had sensitive noses and ears. The fact was that I wanted them all to hear that I was iming Auren.

    "Come here," I said, watching her intensely.

    "What Not

    I narrowed my eyes and lunged at her. She squealed and ran away. Ah, so the little wolf wanted to y with me? "Come here, sweetheart. Because if I catch you. I''ll fucking impale you on my cock. Don''t test me."

    She bit her bottom lip and backed away further, teasing me. "No," she said defiantly.

    I took a ragged breath. Rensus loved some chase. It thrilled him. I got up and stalked toward her, Just as I got near her, she spun and charged in a different direction with a squeal. But I lunged at her and caught her by the waist, picking her up in the air, I whirled her and she let out another squeal withughter. I took her to the bed and pinned her down.

    We were both breathless from this forey. Estraddled her thighs and started opening the buttons of her shirt. I became impatient after two buttons and yanked it open, forcing the buttons to rip and fall away. Her plump breasts came into view and I stared at them. My gaze went lower, lower.

    "What?" she asked.

    "Just admiring my work." I said, tracing

    doing all my

    love bites on her skin.

    I lowered my face to hers and seized her lips. She gasped when I rolled with her. When she was on top of me, I picked her up and impaled her on my raging cock. A growl ripped from my chest. This was never going to get ?ld.

 Chapter 100

    Lucien POV

    The next morning, I had to take an urgent meeting. But I didn''t want to go.

    "You''re gettingte! Auren chided me yfully as I kissed her again.

    "Do we have to go?" I asked her. "This is our honeymoon and I''m sure that honeymooning couples can stay naked in their room for weeks. No one is going to disturb us. Saying that, I ground my already raging cock on her belly.

    Her eyebrows shot to her hairline as a blush crept on her cheeks. "Alpha Lucien, have you forgotten that you have to run the pack''s business? And you really need to see the Shaman"

    The shaman again. Yeah, I had to talk to him about the tattoos. And I think I had to visit the Eldermere ruins again. I don''t know why but I felt like it was calling ine.

    "Revides, I want to meet the pack members," her words snapped me out of my thoughts. There was trepidation in her voice.

    I curled my fingers beneath her chin and tipped her face up. "You''re my mate, Auren. They''ll not mess with you."

    She sighed, "I''m still an omega.

    Remus growled inside me like a maniac. "We will hunt all those who treat her badly

    "We will

    As I walked out of the room for the first time in two days, I felt lighter, like someone entirely new, better and so satisfied that I didn''t give a shit to my enemies or the world. Auren was mine. I grinned harder.

    I was sure that everyone in the house knew what we were doing. So as I walked down the stairs with that shit-eating grin, all of them watched me.

    all of the

    Good, they should all know.

    Just as I was on thending. I called her. "Why don''t youe down? I''d like to go to the meeting with you?"

    "Are you sure!" she asked, puzzled

    "Of course!"

    The door of the room opened immediately and she rushed out, looking so beautiful in her pink shirt and denim skirt. Her shirt had a round neck, showing the mark on her shoulder As she came down, she became aware of how people noticed her. She blushed. feeling embarrassed. I should be feeling sorry for her but I grinned more.

    I grasped her hand and intertwined my fingers with hers. Together we walked to the meeting room with my grin intact. I felt like I was in a hare. All the war that Remus had waged inside my head had gone.

    Auren gave me the shirt ile was carrying with her. "Here," she said. "You should wear it f¨¤g

    the meeting"

    I took it from her and tossed it behind us, making her gasp. The guards opened the door of the meeting room and I walked at the head of the table, slintless. Everyone-the council members, Tarian and Elders, stared at me in shock. But Elder Ryna smirked knowingly.

    Well, I wanted the deep scratches on my back, given by mate while we had sex, on full disy. They were red and raw, standing out against my muscled frame. No one had the audacity to leave such marks on me. So yeah, they were my mate''s gift to me.

    I made Auren sit beside me on the right. She turned rigid as people stared at us, and flushed deeply

    Tarian, who was now sitting on the left, coughed awkwardly. "Alpha Lucien, do you need to-ah-put on a shirt?"

    I grinned as I stretchedzily, the muscles in my shoulders rippling. "Why?" I asked with amusement. I tilted my head toward Auren and smirked. "I got a few marks on my back. They need air."

    Auren''s face burned and her eyes widened as if saying. You''re an absolute menace!

    Tayian dudn''t say anything after that and sat in his seat, shaking his head. I heard Elder Ryna chuckling as other council members hid their faces tough or chuckle.

    And I grinned again. Taking a deep breath in, I dered, "From today onwards, my Luna, my mate and my wife, is going to be a part of all the important decisions of this pack. She will head every event that a tanu should. Any insult to her, will be considered a direct insult to me. I roamed iny eyes on all those who were in the meeting. "Is that clear/"

    "Yes. Alphia," fiey replied in unison.

    100

    Lets joj jou ide

    ant a bull report of Brany''s

    ste sliscussed sorte other important

    int topics and during all that time, I had my handan Auren''s thigh. It was as if I

    couldn''t stay without touching

    Olin said "Sunce Auten is our Lana, it is vital tho

    that we get her official warring training

    icial warrine train

    thes, 1''ba, & that," another council member and. "She should know how to skillfullybat with enemies if need be,

    Tid love 10" Auren blurted.

    Not only that, if it is okay with you. I will assign  experienced she woll to train her about her duties as the Lama of the pack," Elder Ryna suggested

    (surn. Elder Ryna" I replied. Training her as the Luna was vital for arge pack like mine.

    When the meeting got over, along with Tarian, we went to the traming arena. All the warriors paused mid-fight, their eyes darting to us. The reason! I was in nothing but my ck cks, my mark on full disy and her iming scratches decorating my back, biceps and chest. I knew exactly what I was doing.

    Tarian chuckled, shaking his head. "You''re ridiculous"

    I smirked as I rolled my shoulders, making sure the w marks were obvious. "What? It is just a little reminder that I''m very taken"

    Auren red at me, horrified. "Do you have to parade yourself like this? she hissed under her breath.

    I leaned in my breath fanning her ear. "You''re the one who marked me so deep,

    little wolf. I''m showing off your handiwork."

    Her mouth fell open. "Cocky bastard!"

    "Luna Auren, let me take you to the head gamma warrior who will train you," Tarian said.

    "Thanks Tarian," she smiled at him

    Ugly head of jealousy rose in my head as I watched her leave with Tarian. They both talked amiably.

    "Luna Auren" Walter bowed to her. "I''ll be a pleasure to train you"

    1 gritted my teeth 1 stored to her rand tried my best to act casually by wrapping

    an arm around her shoulders from behind, and pulling her into my chest my handnded on her mating mark. My lungers caressed it possessively in a low and deliberate manner.

    Walter used, wisely stepping

    Auren was shocked. She grabbed my arm

    y arm with both her hands. "What at

    are you doing?"

    I said. "Baby, love I mentioned how good you look imed!"

    tur elbowed me, her checks zing. ¡°Lurien, we are in public!"

    Ichuckled, ignoring her protest. I rubbed my thumb over the mark again- deliberately. She shuddered against me. I loved her reaction. Leasing

    I whispered "Tknow. Let them all see. Then I looked at Walter and scowled. "She

    will begin her training from tomorrow. And if 1 ser a fucking brune on her body, Fil

    pununel you."

    over her car,

    Walser

    flinched. "Y-yes Alpha"

    Auren shook her head, but I had enough. So I caught her by wrist and tugged her

    out of the arena. "We have to visit the Shaman."

 Chapter 101

    Auren POV

    The journey to the Shaman house was quiet, filled with tension. Tarian was with us as we went to his house. Lucien seemed to be preupied in his thoughts as we sat in the car

    I took his hand in mine and kissed his knuckles. "What are you thinking?" I asked.

    He sighed. "Thest time I went to the Eldermere ruins, it was-" He clenched his teeth."-disastrous!"

    "Why, what happened?"

    "You wouldn''t want to know he t

    he replied, his eyes going to the forest outside. "The Sharlow Wolves circled me, and-"His breath becamebored

    and be shuddered

    "I was horrible" Tarianpleted his sentence. "They circled him for several hours. They kept whurling around him, as if punishing him for something he never did. It was impossible for us to reach him. We all thought that-Tarian shook his head, his body shaking at the memory. thought he would die."

    Immediately my grip on his hand tightened, fear settling in my bones. "What Goddess! Why didn''t you tell me? Please tell me what they do to you."

    Lucien covered my hand with hisrge one. "The shadows entered my body and grasped me in a way I couldn''t move. It seemed like they were punishing me for the mistake my ancestor made. The thorns in my body dug in my flesh, drawing blood. Had it not been for Remus. 1 would have sumbed to the injury. By the time they left me, I was lying in the pool of blood."

    I gasped, sapping my mouth with my hand. Tears stung my eyes. "Why did you do that, Lucien!" I asked

    He looked at me with tenderness. Cupping my checks he said, "I did it for you, baby, I wanted to find a solution to mark you"

    I couldn''t stop my tears this time and they slipped "Oh, Lucien!" I rasped and hugged him tightly. "Why would you do something so reckless¡°¡°I scolded him. "Promise me, you won''t do it again" My emotions were all over the ce. The feeling of helplessness was huge. Because of me, he had suffered a lot. And my poor Alpha didn''t even tell me about it, choosing to suffer alone.

    "Stop feeling guilty. Auren," he said softly as he stroked my back. "You are my mate, and I''ll do anything to have you. You can''t understand how I was feeling all those days for not being able to mark you. But now- He kissed the crown of my head. "There''s a bigger problem."

    I tipped my head up to look at him. "What problem!"

    He swallowed hard. "The Bride Bape''s curse. I''ve marked you, and-"He closed his eyes as a pained expression came on his face.

    Tunderstood him. "Alpha Lucien, even if I''m here with you for a year, it is worth it."

    He clutched me tighter. "No, I don''t want you to leave me. And if you will, I''ll follow you. I can''t live without you. Ever."

    I buried my face in the crook of his neck. Because now I had to find a way for him to keep going on with his life after me. After everything that happened in the past- the exposure of Sable, the chaos of the trial, Bram''s evil ns going down, and our return as victors-this moment felt heavier than everything else.

    "Never say that again." I murmured. "I want

    it you to live and live long."

    "There''s no life without you, darling.

    The Shuman''s home was nestled deep in the heart of the woods in the north of the park''s territory, I was an ancient wooden hut Vines curled around the weathered walli. Surrounded by a fence, it had a lovely garden with various flowers gently swaying in the breeze. From the looks of theve, kurw they were mostly berlin and not decorative nts. I was surprised that he stayed in such a humble abode when he could have stayed within the park and in luxury

    A shiver ran down my spine as the Shaman opened the heavy wooden door. "Alpha Lama!" He lowed to us, his wrinkly face bursting in a sanile.

    Tanan followed us inside a room where the air was thick with incense and herbs burning in a brazier Shelves lined the walls well dried herbs at algerts Lcouldn''t

    name.

    that were stacked withi

    feel that you are already changing, Alpha

    "Please ut he wild, waving at a bench on the side. As we sat down, he kept his

    curious gaze on us. "I can feel

    Laren tense beside me. "What do you mean?"

    The Shaman''s lips curled into a small, knowing smile. "I can see that those tattoos are fading, Can you show me the markus

    Lucien removed his shirt without hesitation as if hoping for some miracle, revealing the dark thorned vines that curled over his arms, chest and shoulders. The Shaman''s sharp gaze flickered with surprise.

    "Can you show me your mark, Luna Auren?" he said in a gentle voice.

    I looked at Lucien who nodded. I turned slowly and opened the first few buttons of my shirt to reveal my back. Lucien gasped as he touched me over my birth tattoo "What is it?" I asked, trembling slightly. He traced the spot where my golden moon tattoo was

    "It''s gone!" he rasped.

    "G-gone?" I was totally confused. "You mean the tattoo is gone?"

    "No, the thorny vines!"

    The Shaman''s breath caught. "Impossible!"

    "What?" I asked, my voice uncertain. "What''s impossible? And how can there be a change in

    ver the

    my tattoo?"

    Shaman came near to me. He brushed his fingers over space where my mark was. "The thorny vines havepletely disappeared. Alpha Lucien And- and I believe that this mark is rted to your curse." He stepped back, his eyes widening. "This golden moon on your back-it looks exactly like the moon I saw over the altar. It looked like it was shackled by the vines. Goddess! This can be groundbreaking. This is amazing! Is Auren a curse-breaker of the Shadowfang pack?"

    "Me!" It was such a ridiculous thought. "That curse is ancient. Unyielding. How can I be the one?" Not possible, I was an omega

    Silence shrouded the room as everyone looked at me with wonder, as I felt like this was bigger than any of us.

    Lucien''s hands tightened into fists, his anxiety palpable through our bond. "Does this mean the curse is breaking? Does this mean that Auren one who the Alphas of the Shadowfang were waiting for!"

    The Shaman didn''t answer right away. Instead, he moved closer to Lucien. His fingers hovered over the fading dark vines on his torso. There was a wolf tattoo on the right of his chest with a small moon over it. It was all ck when I noticed it earlier. But now it was mimicking the one I cared

    on my

    back. It had a soft golden glow, Excitement surged through my body as I stared at it. Before I could speak, the Shaman spoke.

    "Yours, too, is fading. But the vines haven''t fadedpletely" He traced a single thorn curling over Lucien''s shoulder. "Some of it remains. It clings 10 you."

    "So what does it mean?" Tarian asked, equally bewildered. "Is it not over? Or is it over?"

 Chapter 102

    Auren POV

    The Shaman hummed, stepping back. "Not yet. He went to a chest that was ced in the corner of the room. He opened it and took out a pile of old, crumbling scrolls. "After we returned from the Eldermere ruins, I went to our archives and found these in an abandoned rack Carefully, he unrolled a parchmeni, ¡°I read about this curse in it. And it says that the Bride Bane''s curse can only be broken by a bride of an Alpha. He looked at me. "And so far, in all these centuries, you are the only bride a Shadowfang Alpha has taken.

    His words were like weight crushing my chest. I was puzzled. How was this possible? "I-I don''t think I am the one," I said hesitantly. "How can an omega like me be a curse-breaker? There has to be a mistake." My lips quivered.

    The Shaman looked at me with a soft smile. There can be no mistake in Moon Goddess''s work. You are Alpha Lucien''s mate

    Mates are rare. And to think of it that your first chance mate rejected you. What would have happened if he hadn''t rejected you! What would have happened if you had nevere to this pack?" He kept the scrolls carefully on a table and walked to me. Taking my hands in his, he said. "You could be the one we''ve been waiting for centuries. So don''t underestimate your value. You''re not an omega anymore. You are the Luna of the strongest pack of the North. the Shadowfang pack"

    me to him. The wright of

    I didn''t realize that tears were streaming down my face until Lucien wrapped an arm around my shoulders and pulled me to Shaman''s words fell on me heavily "What do I do now?" I asked with quivering lips.

    Lucien nudged me to sit down on the bench and held me close to him. When I met his gaze, there was reverence in it.

    Tarian made a sound that seemed like a squeal. When we gazed at hian, he appeared excited with wide eyes. He was looking at me like I was the prized possession of the Shadowfang pack. "Alpha Laicien. I think I will increase the protection around our Luna"

    Lucien chuckled. "Do what you want to." Then he kissed the crown of my head. "I know you are feeling unsented because of all this

    I pursed my lips and nodded.

    it a secret. You can''t reveal it to anyone until we are all

    "See, I understand your anxiety, Luna Auren," the Shaman intervened. "But we have to keep it a se sure about it."

    "So how do we ascertain it?" Lucien asked.

    "There is only one ce where we can understand more about it," he said. "Eldermere ruini"

    I exchanged a nce with Lucien as he stiffened beside me.

    way to sever the

    The Shaman looked between us. "The shadow wolves will recognize your marks. They will know what has changed. And if there''s a way to cursepletely, they will be the ones to reveal it."

    I swallowed hard "What if they don''t"

    Then you must be prepared for what they demand in return."

    A cold chill shot down my spine.

    "We have to go there on the next full moon" Shaman said. ¡°But this time both of you must go together."

    A tense silence settled on all of us. Eldermere experiences were bone chilling

    After a few seconds, Lucien exhaled sharply. His hand rested on my lower back. "We will go

    The Shaman nodded once. "Then may the Moon Goddess guide you, Al, and your mate" He picked up the scrolls and kept them in the chest. "The next full moon is a week away. I''ll remind you then"

    We all returned with excitement, anxiety and so many emotions cruising through us that we didn''t know what to talk about. We all sat in silence. Except that I was in Lucien''s lip. He had wrapped his arms around me like I was a treasure he had found after years of struggle. Tarian would keep ncing at us every once in a while, through the rear view mirror. There was a gleam in his eyes and he would mutter something under his breath

    By the time we reached home, I saw that there was an army of guards sprawling all across thewns. Not only that, there were warriors in the house. Mandat every dour. The canegas looked terrified, but Lucien opened his mind link and said, ¡°The warriors are for your Luna''s protection"

    Did 1 past hear him or was it my imagination2"

    "There is no need to worry, he added, putting a hand on my lower back to guide me to our room.

    I stopped. "Lucien, aid you say it aloud that these guards are for me?" I asked with a frown.

    He raised an eyebrow. "No, I opened my mind link and-

    He stopped, bunking at me.

    The

    0

    I blinked at him. Once. "I could hear you!"

    He gulped, his chest rising and falling. "You could?

    When I nodded, he stared at me. Can you really hear me, Auren?'' he asked

    without moving his lips.

    "I can! 1

    can hear you!"

    "Fuck!" he rasped. Then he picked me and whirled me withughter bubbling from his throat. "You can listen to my thoughts

    I squealed,ughing along with him. When he set me on my feet, he cupped my face. "This is awesome."

    suddenly, my mind filled with so many different conversations that I shut my ears with my hands. It was like I heard all the warriors. omegas, gammas, pups, everyone in the pack. "Stop! All of your 1 shouted,

    Silence followed. Like everyone in the pack became quiet. Lucien''s eyes widened in surprise. "Fuck, youmanded them all?"

    "Did I" Oh my God. "I didn''t mean to," I said in a shaky voice.

    But Lucienughed. "My Luna," he said proudly. Then he guided me to our room. As soon as he shut the door, he said. "This is getting intense, Auren. Now everyone knows that you canmunicate with them via mind. So you have to learn how to block people. Otherwise, they know what you are doing all the time."

    I flopped on the bed. "That would be an invasion of privacy!"

    Exactly" he said and came to sit in front of me. "I''ll teach you how to block. Don''t worry!"

    I let out a rough exhale. So much was happening with me. But for the entire day, Lucien didn''t go to attend his pack business. Instead he taught me how to shield my thoughts. It wasn''t easy.

    The next day. I went for training. Walter was present in the arena. He bowed to me. ¡°Luna Auren, I am going to start you with basic training first."

    My muscles burned. Sweat trickled down my spine. I granted as Inded on the ground with a harsh thud. I gritted my teeth, pushing myself back onto my feet. Proper training was an entirely different ballgame,

    "Again" Walter ordered, his arms crossed over his chest

    Ladjusted my stance. He had been relentless over the past three days with endless drills,

    s, sparring matches and painful corrections. There were many bruises on my body, but I didn''tin..

    Tlunged at him. He deflected my attack. Twisting my wrist, he sent me sprawling onto my back.

    "Too slow," he criticized.

 Chapter 103

    Auren POV

    y do you hesitate before striking Walter said in a harsh tone. "Your enemy won''t give you that chance"

    Why

    I clenched my fists as frustration bubbled in my chest, "Tm trying!"

    "Trying won''t keep you alive," Walter responded. "Come on, show me your best," he said, taking a stance with his curled fists in the air.

    1 lunged at him with force and managed to strike his ribs. He grunted and punched me back, but I spin and his punchnded on my upper arm. I chuffed in pain as I stumbled back. I knew that this was going to bruise for the entire day.

    "See. I told you, you aren''t fast enough, Walter stated.

    Before I could respond, a deep voice cut through the air.

    "She is improving."

    I stiffened, my head snapping to the side. Lucien stood at the edge of the ring, his arms folded over his bare chest as he watched me with that fierce expression

    My checks heated.

    Walter huffed. "Maybe, but i

    not enough"

    Lucien narrowed his eyes. He jumped in the ring and strode to me. Then he looked at my arm where the bruise had begun to be blue. "You hit my Luna" he said to Walter as he examined my injury.

    "Alpha Lucien. I-"Walter paled.

    "He is teaching me the moves, Lucien," I said, removing my arm. "This is going to happen."

    "Alpha with all due respect-Walter intervened.

    "I said, that''s enough, Lucien said in a silky smooth voice, but I could tell from the look in Walter''s eyes that he felt themand in his bones,

    more ser to go."

    I met his eyes with my angry ones. "Lucien," I huffed. "I still have one mo

    tine like you

    He smirked as his eyes traveled down my body, lingering on the thin sheet of sweat coating my corbone. "And yet, here you are, looking like are ready to copse into my arms. Seems like a good time to stop."

    I rolled my eyes. This wolf was just too much. "I''m fine. Don''t you have other pack businesses to attend to?"

    Ignoring myst sentence, he winked at me. He stepped closer and brushed his knuckles over my jaw, his other hand selling on my waist. "Are you fine! Because to me, you look like you need a break" His lips quirked. "Maybe even some attention."

    Heas red in my cheeks. "Lucien!""

    "Auren" My name rolled out from his tongue in a far 100 sinful way for

    the middle of a training arena.

    Walter cleared his

    is throat. ¡°Alpha Lucien, if you''re going to steal my student, at least let me know if I shoulde back tomorrow or not."

    Without looking at him. Lucien said, "You should, but I''ll decide how you will teach her."

    1 gaped at him. "You''re not going to-

    "Yes, Lam," he said as he traced circles on my waist,pletely unbothered by the people around us. Some of them were chuckling now "Your well-being is my priority"

    I narrowed my eyes. "You''re just using

    u''re just using that excuse to hover. Mease attend to your pack business and not

    me. Thank you very much" I stepped away. but he tugged me closer.

    "Hover?" He leaned and brushed his lips over my ear. "Sweetheart, I''m not hovering. I''m keeping close what''s mine."

    "Go Lucien. You''re distracting me Gosh, I think my ears were on fire.

    His lips grazed my temple as he whispered, "Aren''t I a lovely distraction"

    My breath bitches as a shiver ran down my spine. Why was it that my body developed its own mind in his vicinity?

    "Walter has to teach me a bit more, I did firmly though I was shaking inside. Lucien narrowed his eyes. "Let''s see if you can win against me, he drawled,

    I froze. "You want to fight with me?"

    He stepped back a little, cracked his neck and rolled his shoulders. "Why not? If you are so eager to fight, fight me."

    It was my time to narrow my eyes on him. He was jealous of Walter, "Why are you here, Lucien?" I asked.

    He took a stance and curled his index finger in a gesture to call me

    You''re just looking for an excuse to manhandle me, aren''t you?"

    His grin was pure sin. "Would that be a problem?"

    My pulse skittered, and 1 so wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.

    "Fine," I said, stepping back into position. "But no holding back."

    He chuckled, "Oh, darling. I wasn''t nning to."

    Waher jumped out of the arena, muttering something about newly mated mates and their insufferable need to show off.

    1 lunged first, aiming to strike his ribs. He sidestepped effortlessly as if he was expecting it. I pivoted and sent a punch toward his head, but he ducked, closing the distance between us in a blink. Before I could react, he caught my wrist, twisted sharply, and had me pinned against his chest.

    "Too slow," he murmured against my ear

    I shiver ran down me Grunting.

    I elbowed him in the stomach and broke free. His eyes red with amusement, pride and desire.

    Iunched into another attack, keeping my movements swift and precise, but he simply kept dodging them like it was a child''s y for him. Frustration burned through me. Gritting my teeth I snapped. "Stop holding back, Alpha Lucien." He smirked. "As you wish, little wolf.

    And then he moved. It was a blur of motion. Too fast for me to understand. Before I could react, he grabbed my waist, lifted me and twisted my waist midair. And suddenly, I was falling. I shrieked, bracing myself to hit the ground. But instead of hitting the ground, Lucien shifted beneath me. taking the impact himself. Inded on top of him, sprawled across his hard, muscled frame with my hands braced against his chest.

    With my eyes wide. I sucked in a breath as my pulse beat wildly. "What the hell!" I growled as I tried to n

    move.

    His hands slid over my hips, holding me in ce."

    "Well,¡± he said with amusement. "Isn''t this an interesting position?"

    My face ined. "Lucien," Lhissed, trying to push up, but his grip tightened as he

    kept me exactly where he wanted me to be.

    He brushed my jaw with his nose, and then bucked his hard erection in me. "I need you now, he murmured.

    "Oh, my goddess!" I blurted.

    All at once, be rolled and I was beneath him as he pressed my body to the ground. I failed, but he grabbed both my wrists and pinned them above my head and pressed my lower borly with his thighs. "And now you''re defcated," he smirked

    "You cheated!" I grumbled. "You used your body to distract me." The way his body caged me, the way his scent wrapped around the was unable to think straight.

    He grinned wickedly. "I know."

    e like a drug-l

    1 opened my mouth to argue, but his lips seized mine. A spark of heat shot through my belly. Once he left me, he chuckled darkly. He buried his nose in the crook of my neck and whispered, "I think you want me now, Auren. I can smell your arousal

    "i don''t?" I did "You

    ou have a problemt

    "Maybe," he shrugged. "But so do you, love." His lips brushed the corner of my mouth in a teasing way. "Careful, lutte woll," he said "Challenge une ton much, and I just might take you right here in the middle of the training growind." Oli. My Goddess. "Shameless*

 Chapter 104

    Her face burned as she shoved at my chest. "Get off?"

    Iughed but obeyed her. As 1 stood up, I offered her a hand. She took it and stood up as well. Her arousal was now thick in air and the werewolves around us must have sinelled it already, Baus Iloved that it was me who elicited that fucking intoxicating arousal Fuck, I wanted hier so much, so hadly that I had to adjust my bulging cock

    My gare followed her as she dusted herself. I couldn''t help smirking and I was utterly unrepentant.

    "Another round?" I asked, my eyes gleaming with desire.

    She narrowed her eyes. "You''re infuriating!"

    "And you are adorable when you pour."

    She grumbled, but her face heated up more deliciously.

    Over the next day, though she went for training to the arena, I couldn''t help myself and would go and watch her. She was so fucking sexy when she sparted

    My focus on the park business was dwindling. All I wanted was to rut her. Remus was going insane about her ever since he had marked her. Initially, he was not happy and restless when he hadn''t marked her. Now he was restless because he wanted to rut her all day long. He had knotted in her, but the fucker was demanding to knot again.

    "We have to make her pregnant," he growled. "I want my pup in her!

    "Be patient, Remus, I tried to reason with him. ¡°Let her get into heat

    "You don''t understand!" he snapped. "We have to be around her. There are so many unmated wolves. Auren is so beautiful that they all try to seduce her

    "You''re paranoid" I said, rolling my eyes.

    I don''t care! I want to go to my mate and knot inside her

    it with me, he was

    The shameless bastard didn''t even hide his intentions. In front of her he was like a puppy, purring while wagging his tail. But always in his alpha mode. Well, these days, fucking her brains out had be my new hobby. There was no way that I could stay in the office or handle any park matter. To be honest, I wanted to put my pup inside her womb.

    So when I reached home, the first thing I did was to go to the bedroom and fuck her. But she wasn''t there. Her scent lingered strongly in the a followed her and found her in the kitchen with Vivi and Tom. She was making lunch for me, looking satisfied. Auren loves cooking. And I wanted to see her pregnant and barefoot in my kitchen or home. Remus purred as he pushed me to her. Despite the audience. I grabbed her waist from behind and kissed her ear. "I need you, Luna"

    She giggled, turned and covered my face with batter. Fuck her. I picked her up in my arms and she wrapped her legs around me. As I carried her toward our bedroom, she licked the batter off my face and if I wasn''t inside her instantly, I was going to cum in my pants. So 1 closed the door shut ripped her clothes, and opened my zipper, I prated her pussy holding her against the door. Fuck. I watched her face going ck as I fucked her senseless. My bely was covered in sweat as the room filled with the sound of mur sex pping against each other "Come for me, baby." I said in a rough voire. On mymand, she pussy fluttered all around my cock and it was my undoing. I shot ropes of cum inside her.

    Shut, I need you so much," I said, desperationcing my voice.

    Usually I blocked my mind, but when Tarian tapped on the shield, I opened it for him. "Alpha Lucien, there''s a ruckus in the dungeons, Julie has gone wild and she is alemanding an audience from Luusa Auren."

    Ask her to go fuck herself,'' I growind as I lowered Aurei

    "What is it about Auren asked through the mind link

    My eyes widened because I had forgotten that she could now hear us.

    "Girl, you need to keep your shirkd up!" I warned her.

    by sometimes. Actually all the time she shrugged.

    Talways keep it up, but I can hear what you say

    My eyes bulged, "Really?"

    "Yup! So now why does Julie want to see me

    she needs your audience, Luna, Tarian said through mind lik

    My patiener was thinning like a stretched ware when it came to the traitors. And Julie-she was the biggest of them

    Before I could say anything. Auren exhaled slowly. "I''ll meet her"

    "You don''t have to. Auren. I protested. "I don''t like her, and I intend to fucking kill her!"

    Auren clenched her teeth. "I want to listen to her."

    My stubborn Luna.

    Twenty minutester, we were in the meeting room with council members, Julie walked into the room with guards, her wrists shackled. She looked disheveled, yet her eves burned with fury. A growl ripped from my throat, forcing her to look down.

    "What do you want from me?" Muren asked stubbornly

    Julie said. "I want to invoke the Ancient Trial of the Dungeons."

    The rooms fell into stunned silence.

    as a trial

    i clenched

    ed my jaw as I froze. Thatw hadn''t been used in centuries. In it, if a prisoner could defeat the Luna, they could walk free. It was at meant for war-era captives, not for traitors who plotted against their Alpha

    "I won''t grant it!" I shouted. "In fact, I am going to fucking kill you now!"

    Julie flinched and stepped back. "This is my right. Alpha Lucien," she murmured.

    "You''re saying you want to fight me?" Auren asked, her voice cool and calm, but I could feel fire underneath it through our bond.

    Julie''s eyes lit up. "Yes"

    A muscle ticked in my jaw. "I won''t allow this. She isn''t fighting you. If she has to fight, she will fight me?"

    "That''s not how thew works." Julie blurted.

    My vision turned red. I was this close to snapping her neck.w be damned, but

    before I could, Auren stepped toward her. "I ept"

    The room crupted with protests

    I turned to Auren, furious as hell. "No"

    She met my gaze with confidence. "She challenged me." Then she looked at

    Julie. "See you in an hour, Julie."

    Julie''s Lips curied up wickedly. "See you.

    Lun

    As soon as the left, I growled. "This is archaicw. It can''t be used now!"

    "The thing is that we never had a Luna before, that''s why it has gone unnoticed,"

    a council member pointed out. "But Julie has gone too far. You have to punish her. She just can''t challenge our Luna!"

    I wanted to go to the dungeon and tear her apart. I punched the table in frustration.

    "Don''t worry about me. Lucien," Auren said stubbornly, "I can take care of myself."

    At the end of the hour, we were all in the front garden of my house where Julie chose to fight. Auren looked impatient. Fierce, untamed, mine. My ryes went to Julie who stood opposite to her, her eyes fixed an Auren, filled with hatred. Keinus prowded beneath my skin, restless and angry. How did Julie know about thisse? It was a forgotten Law,

    It should''ve been me doing this But my Luna! She wanted to. And fuck if I wasn''t drowning in pride and rage all at once.

    Infuriated. Tarian volunteered to referee it. Both Auren and Julie came to the center of the garden. Tarian said. "By invoking the ancientse, you both acknowledge that Julie will walk free Do you ept?"

    They both nodded.

    Tarun dropped his hand. "Begin?

 Chapter 105

    1 knew that if Lucien wanted, he could have easily killed Julie on the spot for challenging me. But she invoked the ancientw. There were council members sining around us. If Lucien had killed her after she invoked the ancientw, then I knew he would be extremely unpopr, not because be protected me, but because he didn''t respect thew of our ancestors.

    I looked at Julie from across the garden Waller was with me, standing behind me with impatience. Lucien was standing along with other council members and the Elders right in front on a tform from where they could see us. Through the bond, I could feel his restlessness.

    As soon as Tarian left, Julie hissed. "I was waiting for this opportunity, you imposter And she lunged first, fast and brutal I knew that she was a strong, trained wolf, but I knew me,

    I dodged her, twisting fast, my hair whipping around me.. Julie let out a snarl and her ws came out. She swung them at my throat, but I moved back escaping the impact by a few inches, I didn''t give her the time to understand what happened and I moved,nding a sharp kick to her ribs. On impact, 1 heard a crack that echoed through the air. The audience gasped, which was swelling by the minute.

    Julie staggered but she caught herself. Blood came out of her mouth. She

    seethed and wiped her mouth. "Not bad. Luna. But this is nothing. You aren''t as good as me!"

    She came at me again, but this time she feinted right before twisting left. "You don''t learn, do you?" I blocked the first strike, but the next one hit my ribs. That something inside me raised its dark head. My hands curled into fists. I was going to rip Julie apart. I absorbed the pain, gritting my teeth. I shifted my weight as Julie prepared for another strike. Sheunched herself at me in hope to barrel in on me, but I sidestepped and she stumbled on the floor. This was the moment when Julie realized that she had messed up.

    I smirked, and then I attacked. As if I was not thinking, my body moved fluidly with urate strikes. I didn''t give a chance for Julie to recover. I dominated the fight. Julie''s defense crumbled bit by bit as I forced her back, step by step. I didn''t know when my ws hade out until I saw w marks raked across Julie''s arms, belly and thighs. Her breath tuned ragged as surprise flickered in her eyes,

    When she attacked me again, I could sense she was tired. She staggered in front of me. ¡°Is this really all you''ve got?" I hissed. "You said you

    ou will kill

    me! Come on, traitor!"

    Julie snarled. "I''ll kill you. And when you''re dead, Alpha Lucien

    en will weaken. It would be so easy to kill him. Guess what? There are wolves here who will take him down immediately like a mutt!" she spat, her eyes filled with hatred.

    The whole ce went still. My entire body locked up as my heart hammered in my chest. How could she even think of killing my mate? My mate! A shiver ran down my spine and I was filled with so much loathe for her that something inside me snapped. The air shifted. A guttural growl ripped. from my throat. It was deeper and feral. Something I had never experienced. The air around me trembled. It felt like Sienna was taking over. And 1 allowed her toe out without thinking.

    There was a sh of light.

    Bones cracked and reshaped.

    Power ruptured through me

    Fur rippled

    A scream ripped from my throat.

    And then Sienna broke out from my skin.

    She let out a snarl, I didn''t know how, but Sienna appeared taller than before. I looked at my paw. It was covered with silvery white fur. I heard gasps from all around. Her presence feltmanding, raw and untamed.

    Sienna looked at Julie, who had paled. Her blood drained from her face as she scrambled back. Sienna growled again in a menacing way, challenging Julie,manding her to shift Julie tried to shift, feeling Sienna''smand to her bones, but she couldn''t fully shift.

    With a growl, Sienna pounced. Julie wasn''t even able to put her hands up in defense. She let out a blood-curdling scream when Sienna''s ws tore into her. Blood sttered on the ground, julie screamed again, trying to run away, but Sienna showed no mercy. She was ruthless and lethal. She lunged at Julie, pinning her beneath her paw. Her fangs gleamed and in a sh of a second, she mped them down on Julie''s throat, snarling

    "Merry-" julie choked.

    But Sienna mped her tight, in no mood to spare the traitor. There was a sickening crack and then Julie''s body went limp.

    Sienna left her and lifted her head to look at her mate with her muzzle stained red. Silvery eyes met the dark ones. Lucien looked at me with so much pride that he shifted into his wolf, and leaped in the air to join Sarnnu.

    The two of us stood tall in front of all who were present. He licked Sienna, purring Sienna licked him back. The crowd erupted all around them "Alpha Loma!"

    649 AM

    People cheered.

    "Goddess, she is so beautiful!"

    "So graceful!"

    "Our Luna has a wolf!"

    "Look at her fur! Silvery, shimmering like liquid moonlight!"

    Remus came to stand close to Sienna, his head held high in pride.

    Tarian must have heard what Julie said about some wolves that were present in the audience, ready to kill Lucien. He ordered the warriors to strip search every wolf out there and then interrogate them.

    Remus nudged Sienna with his muzzle to walk inside, but she wanted to go for a run. With onest look at Julie who was lying dead in a pool of blood, she leaped toward the forest surrounding the pack. She didn''t feel any remorse for the traitor. Instead, she felt victorious. With Julie gone. she felt like a weight had lifted off her mind.

    Remus followed her and when Tarian tried toe as well. Remus stopped him. The two of us ran toward the forest because I knew that Sienna wanted to be with her mate alone in her wolf form. This was the first time she had shown herself to him.

 Chapter 106

    Third POV

    The moment they we

    were deep into the forest, Sienna slowed down her pace.

    §±

    Remus couldn''t help but look at her, mesmerized by her silvery coat that shimmered in the light, and her silvery eyes that seemed to be glinting. It was thereal, our worldly, and a stark contrast to his massive, dark form

    She turned to face his Remus also stopped in front of her. His molten honey eyes were burning with possessiveness. He had watched his mate in her hieman form from within Lucien for so long. felt her presence all the time, and had craved her nearness. But now here she was, standing in all her wild beauty. Her scent was wrapped around him, calling him. And all he wanted was to roll himself in her scent. His chest rumbled with an approving grow

    Sienna''s ear flicked back slightly as she whimpered, acknowledging her beautiful woll mate for the first time. Rermis was taller than her and his dominance was rolling in waves. It would have been suffocating for any other wolf, but for her she wanted to submit to him. She wasn''t afraid of him. Instead, his persona, his dominance brought a spark inside her. She took a step forward and brushed against him. Her muzzle trailed along his thick, silky ck fur.

    Remus stiffened because he had never been touched by a she-wolf in such an intimate manner. He hadn''t allowed any she-wolf toe near him But now, he was retraining himself for the fear that he might scare her away. He let out a deep growl. When she nipped at his nk, he nipped ar

    ser scruff. Sienna whimpered and he froze, restraining himself to the level that his body trembled beneath the force of his own need.

    So the big, bad, massive wolf had finally fallen down And he loved it Craved it. Was proud of it

    Sienna responded with a yful snap of her jaws. She darted around him as if testing and teasing. Remus let out a sound that was more of a chuckle than a growl as he watched her closely circling around him, challenging him, inviting him. Then with onest look, the darted off toward deep forest as if asking him to follow her. And Remusplied.

    They ran for hours with Rernus always behind her, watching her carefully. There was not a beast in the forest who would dare to attack his beautiful mate when he was with her. They ran until evening gave way to night.

    The night air was crisp as it carried the scent of pine and damp earth. Sienna leaped over a fallen log. Remus followed her. They ran together. weaving through the towering trees and thick underbrush, over the stream and over the dried leaves. The world around them blurred

    This was the first time Sienna felt so free. The wind whipped through her fur, cooling the heat from the moming event.

    They sprinted deeper into the wilderness, onto the rolling hills. Freedom never felt this good. At the crest of a hill, she paused, allowing herself to take the breathtaking view. Her senses were never this sharp. She could smell the river that was winding at the foot of the hill with the moon glowing on its surface. The tall grass swayed in a gentle breeze.

    Remus came to stand beside her. Not once did he urge her to submit to him. He nudged her yfully, wondering if she was tired and wanted to go back home. But what she did next took him by surprise.

    She turned to him and lowered her front in a yful bow. He lunged at her. Their bodies collided in a heated tangle. She twisted beneath him with a yip. Remus pinned her easily, hisrger form covering her. He grazed his teeth along his mark in a possessive gesture. She whimpered beneath him in pure submission

    He growled low, barely able to hold himself back. Sienna turned back. She walked a few steps, then she looked back at him ever her shoulder and presented herself to him

    A deep guttural growl rumbled from his chest. He walked to her and mounted her, thrust his hard and raging penis inde her. Sienna let out a low whimper as her mate filled her. He began thrusting in and out of her, unable to retrain himself. This was the first time he was making love with his mate in his bestial form. The thrill was too much for him to bear. His thighs shook, his body trembled as he pinned her beneath him and fucked her with abandon. In and out in and out.

    Inside her, he stilled for her moment because on an instinct, his knot swelled. This time. Sienna didn''t writhe in pain.

    When his knot hand swelled fully, he couldn''t hold himself anymore. He caught her scruff with his teeth and then with a deafening snarl, he released inside her. She whimpered in ecstasy.

    He retracted from her, his body trembling at the force of their union. She turned on her back to face him. He licked her lovingly, purring, as his tail wagged. He was the luckiest wolf in this world.

    They didn''t return immediately. They stayed in the forest, undisturbed by the people around them, in their own blissful world. I was rare that they had such moments. But it was their first time in their wolf formas, and so this was special, this was something they were both looking forward to.

    He took her two more tines and both times. Remus was, after all, on a breeding spree. He wanted his mate to hear his pup because ever since he had seen her, he was obsessed with making sure that she was his in every possible way. He decided to knot inside her and keep her stufed. There rounds weren''t enough. He didn''t leave an opportunity to innuint her. Toward dawn, Sienna was pretty tired. So when she stopped between tall grass on soft earth and sprawled on it, he in sat down beside her. But as she slept, he didn''t fall sleep, keeping a guard on her

    6:50 AM

    They returned long after the morning sun had spilled its golden rays in the sky. Remus guided her back in their room from the back side of the manor, When Sienna shifted, giving way to Auren, his chest filled with pride, seeing his cum dripping down the inside of her thighs. He walked to her and nudged his snout to sex to smell her. Aurenughed, swatting him away. Remus growled and pressed his snout, warning her not to remove him from what was his

    He inhaled her deeply over there and knew that he had to intensify his efforts in making her pregnant

    Suddenly, Auren caught her belly. She dropped on the floor, her body convulsing with intense heat and pain.

 Chapter 107

    Bram was being in his denly hit room, clenching and unclenching his fists. He felt suffocating, wrapped in bandages. Restlessness and anxiety had be constant in his bite now. Just a few days ago, ever since he had returned from the High Council, one of the powerful wolves in his council had challenged him, because he had sensed that Bram''s woll was no longer woh him Bram had difficulty in fighting off the council members. Even without his wolf, he was strong, but he had so many injuries all over his body that he knew that it would take at least a week before he recovered.

    His well, his ever-presentpanion, was gone. He vanished the moment that vicious, evil bitch, Auren, let Lucien sink his fangs into her neck and mark her Shock wasn''t even the word to describe what he felt at that time. He was stunned Lucien happened to be her second chance mate?

    A feral snarl ripped from his throat, but it didn''t have the power it used to love. It was empty, hollow Sering Auren marking him was thest straw to his wolt. His wolt was already slipping away growing weaker with each passing day with Auren defying me. When he had gone to meet her for the wedding at Lucien''s pick, she seemed to paill away from him. It hurt his wolf a lot. But now! Now his woll hailpletely retreated. There was nothing inside hum. The absence of his wolt had given way to silence, Silence inside him was deafening. There was no restless pacing, there were no primal instincts and no talking to him. It was like his soul had left h¨²n leaving him like a hunsk

    He loathed Auren. Once an omega, now she was reigning queen of the Alphus. She was the Luna of the Alpha of the North, an Alpha who everyone wanted to ally with. Not only had she outsmarted him, she had humiliated hum in front of the High Council members, in front of the Shadowfang pack members and his own Beta. The momem she marked Lucien, he knew that it was something real. He knew that he had lost her. And he had Jost has woli

    Auren should have been his. But now she was

    e was someone else''s

    His stomach twisted with rage. He was enraged with Elder Peter, with Sable, with Lucien But he was mostly furious with Auren. How dare she reject lum! How could she easily rece him! His lips curled into a sneer. "If I can''t have you, Auren, I will see to it that you suffer. And I''ll be the one who will make you suffer. I''ll drag you back to the Crimson Howl pack with your hair!" His thoughts went dark as vengeance simmered in his chest. That fucking omegasas smarter than him.

    A sharp knock at the door snapped him out of his dark thoughts.

    "Enter," he growled, furious that earlier he could smell who was at the door, but now he didn''t know who it was

    With so many injuries in his body, he winced even when he turned his face to look at the person who came in.

    Maris stepped inside. "Bram, how are you?" she asked, hurrying to him. But the look in her eyes wasn''t that of worry. Instead, her eyes gleamed with satisfaction. Like she was happy. She was dressed in a red dress, the color of which matched the color of blood and bruises on him.

    "Poor, poor Bram" she purred, as she came closer. "You look positively pathetic!"

    He grashed his teeth. He knew that she hade to make a joke out of him. "What the fuck do you want, Maris?" he asked.

    She tsked, sitting at the edge of his bed. "I told you not to go there, but you didn''t pay attention to my words. Now look what has happened to you? You are no more an Alpha. You don''t have a mate. You don''t have a wolf. Your future bleak. There are many wolves who now want to challenge you. Including your Beta, Josh."

    He wasn''t surprised. It was a matter of time. "Did youe here to insult me?" he growled. "You may leave!"

    She sighed and shook her head. "Still so arrogant." She looked straight in his eyes and said, "You still have une way out of this mess."

    His eyes narrowed. "Spit it out." He really wanted to go back to what he was, and he was desperate.

    She chuckled. "Marry me"

    His body stiffened. She was thest woman on this earth who he wanted to marry. But that was before Auren. He had shunned her before leaving. saying that when he returned, he would be with Auren. So he was sure that she hated him. And the only reason why she was in his pack until now was because she wanted to ser his downfall. Hut this-he never expected her to uller this solution. So naturally, he blurted, "What?"

    She leaned in, trailing her hingers over his leg. Think about Bram Without your wolf, will you be able to survive in this pack. You don''t have the strengths to challenge anyone in your pack, let alone challenge Lacien" She dropped her voice and added, "Not that you would win against him" She phed ber bead "But with me? With my connections, my resources, you can rise again."

    He clenched his jaw. He didn''t like Maris at all because it was her who had pushed him to trade Auren for an alliance. She was like a viper, who slithered where there was power. And she was ready to strike when it suited her ambitions. But she wasn''t strung alone. She always needed an

    sauce. And without his woll, lie was as good asdead.

    When he didn''t reply, she said, "Face it, fram. You need me. You need the power thates with me because I am the daughter of the Alpha of the Iron Fang pack."

    He studied her as his mind raced. He knew that what she was saying was the truth. But what he could''t understand was why she was interested in marrying someone who didn''t have a wolf. Well, it wasn''t his problem as long as she was interested. Marrying her was a meant to an end. Even

    had taken every

    e from him, he didn''t want to be cast aside like a rogue.

    Hi" he said, his lips lifting into a frow

    unded. "A second chance to be a tona"

    anned to be his Luma. Well, he would y her game for now. But in the end? He would have his retribution.

    Even it

    meant setting the entire world on fire

    He couldn''t waste an offer that was lying at the table. He wasn''t so stupid. "Okay!" he breathed

    She chuckled her face showing victory "Great marry you in two days from now. It''s stupid to wait for the full moon"

    He gave her a tight nod. She got up and came close to him. "I hope you heal in two days. Bram" Saying that she leaned over him and kissed his check. Then she turned sharply and exited

    As she left. Man''s chest Elled with satisfaction. She yed her game well

 Chapter 108

    Auren POV

    Remus was more shameless than Lucien. He buried his nose in my sex and then licked me over there.

    I swatted him away, giggling but he let out a low warning growl and licked me more. I guess he liked that I was dripping with his. However. things were happening inside me

    I could barely make it to the bedroom before the first wave of pain hit me. I thought it was simple exhaustion. When I shifted, it started as a dull ache in my core. I thought it was manageable, bit within seconds, it turned into fire. My knees trembled and a jolt of fire shot up my spine. I gasped, clutching my stomach. My nails dug in my skin as another wave of heat rolled through my body, leaving me breathless. I screamed as pain intensited and my vision blurred at the edges.

    Remus let out a deep, menacing growl as he watched me.

    "Lucien." I called him. But Remus refused to shift. His fur bristled as his amber eyes locked on me

    Vivi came running in the room. "Luna Auren¡°¡± she raped. Remus growled at her as well. She froze, her blood draining from her face. "Alpha Lucien," she said in careful words. "Luna Auren needs help" Remus studied her with his head dipped low, like he could rip her into pieces if the touched me

    "Please Remus."I begged "Let here...

    Remus growled again but he stepped back. Vivi didn''t dash to me, not wanting to challenge Remus, Very slowly, she made her way to me. "Luna Auren let me help you" She took my arm and circled it around her shoulder, helping me to stand up.

    "Ah!" I groaned

    Juste with me," Vivi said and helped me to bed. Once I was settled, I realized that I was covered with sweat. Vivi clenched her jaw.

    "What is happening to me. Vivi" I asked. "Is my stomach upset or what? There''s a terrible pain""

    She chuckled, which I found very odd. "Luna Auren," she said. "You are on heats." My eyes widened in surprise. "Heats?"

    She nodded and then nced at Remus who was watching us ferociously. Then in a low voice she said. "This is the time when she-wolves have periods. They are most fertile after it, and it is possible that you may feel changes in your body. But one thing is for sure. Alpha Lucien won''t leave by your side and if any other male woll, mated or unmated,es your way, he is going to kill them."

    I gasped. "What?" My eyes darted to Remus who growled dangerously. He heard what Vivi said, but why did I feel like he already knew I was on heat. His primal instincts would drive him to be possessive about me.

    Remus''s thoughts puhed through me, though too animalistic to form into words, but they meant. ''You are mine."

    "I''ll get a nice chicken soup for you."

    ou," Vivi said. "I''d suggest that you take a bath. It''s going to help you. You are covered in sweat"

    Gosh, I needed a bath so badly. "Okay!" As Vivi left, I darted a look at Remus and said, "I need to talk

    to Lucien

    But he didn''t shift. It was like he refused to give control to Lucien, refused to leave me unprotected.

    Lucien POV

    She was Vuliverable, weak from her heat-and in this state, she was a lieacon to every inmated wolf in the pack Though they wouldn''t dare toe close to lier, but I knew the wolves. The moment they smelled a shie-wolf was on beat, their instinct to mate with her made them crazy. Some could dullenge me just to have a chance to mute with her.

    I wanted toe out and be there for her, bait Remus just wouldn''t let me. The fucker had gone all feral the moment he realized that out mate was on hear Auren asked lina for nie, but he just pushed me down further. His primal instincts were to chase away any fucking mule wolves even though none would dare to couur in his vicinity of Auren''s. He was pressing me so down that I had difficulty in opening my mind link with Tarian.

    "Make sure that no wolf is allowed in the house," I said. Auten is on heats, Remus has gone feral

    Whoa! Larian responded. "What do you think will happen to an alpha wolf like him when his mate is on heats? he chuckled. Till remove the gands from your home!

    When Auren went to take a bath, Remus stalked around the perimeter of the house. Muscles coiled as he snarled at anyone whole remotely thought of as a challenge. By the time an hour was over, every inale wolf in and around the house had fled.

    Chapter 108.

    The scent of her hear was thick in the air. It was brady, intoxicating. Remus forced himself to breath through his mouth to dull his instincts to rut her take her, but his instincts had red They were at their prime

    Rut her. Take her. Fuck her. Breed her.

    He came back to the bedroom where he found Auren on the bed, sleeping after taking a bath. She was sleeping. So he came to lie down beside her. She needed him. As if on instinct, she turned toward him and curled into him. He put his paw over her, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. There was no sleeping today or tonight. He didn''t know for how long she would remain in heat, but he was not going to leave her side. Or give way to me.

    This was his time. No one else could touch her. Except Vivi.

    No one else would hear the sounds she made.

    No one else would fill her.

    Auren whimpered as another wave of pain hit her. "Nest... I need to make a nest." she said.

    Remus couldn''t understand what she was saying but he licked her to alleviate her pain. Let mee out, I urged Remus.

    "No, he growled at me. "My mate is in heats. I will stay with her.

    Don''t be mad. Remus?'' I growled at him.

    "Don''t challenge me, Lucien he snarled at me. This is the first time my mate is in heats. We have to breed her. Lwant my cum inside her.

    200

    I could feel how strongly he was retraining himself. Often, he would shudder, restraining his primal instinct to take her.

    I saw many

    were flushed.

    things in my life. Wars, betrayal, death. But nothing had prepared me for the sight before me. She was a mess. Her cheeks w eyes ssy and her lips were swollen from her teeth biting down in frustration. It was almost night when she finally got out of bed. Remus watched her as the looked around the room murmuring, "nest..."

    It felt like she wasn''t thinking. She was acting on primal instinct. Her body was guiding her, preparing a ce.

    Fuck. Something snapped inside me.

    My mate had stripped our bed of every single pillow, every nket. She pulled the furs from the chairs and dragged them into the middle of the mattress. She whimpered softly, clutching the pillow to her chest before adjusting it on the side in the growing pile. She looked unsatisfied. "It''s not enough," she muttered. "It''s missing something

    Auren POV

    Remus was more shameless than Lucien. He buried his nose in my sex and then licked me over there.

    I swatted him away, giggling but he let out a low warning growl and licked me more. I guess he liked that I was dripping with his. However. things were happening inside me

    I could barely make it to the bedroom before the first wave of pain hit me. I thought it was simple exhaustion. When I shifted, it started as a dull ache in my core. I thought it was manageable, bit within seconds, it turned into fire. My knees trembled and a jolt of fire shot up my spine. I gasped, clutching my stomach. My nails dug in my skin as another wave of heat rolled through my body, leaving me breathless. I screamed as pain intensited and my vision blurred at the edges. Remus let out a deep, menacing growl as he watched me.

    "Lucien." I called him. But Remus refused to shift. His fur bristled as his amber eyes locked on me

    Vivi came running in the room. "Luna Auren"" she raped. Remus growled at her as well. She froze, her blood draining from her face. "Alpha Lucien," she said in careful words. "Luna Auren needs help" Remus studied her with his head dipped low, like he could rip her into pieces if the touched me

    "Please Remus."I begged "Let here...

    Remus growled again but he stepped back. Vivi didn''t dash to me, not wanting to challenge Remus, Very slowly, she made her way to me. "Luna Auren let me help you" She took my arm and circled it around her shoulder, helping me to stand up.

    "Ah!" I groaned

    Juste with me," Vivi said and helped me to bed. Once I was settled, I realized that I was covered with sweat. Vivi clenched her jaw.

    "What is happening to me. Vivi" I asked. "Is my stomach upset or what? There''s a terrible pain""

    She chuckled, which I found very odd. "Luna Auren," she said. "You are on heats." My eyes widened in surprise. "Heats?"

    She nodded and then nced at Remus who was watching us ferociously. Then in a low voice she said. "This is the time when she-wolves have periods. They are most fertile after it, and it is possible that you may feel changes in your body. But one thing is for sure. Alpha Lucien won''t leave by your side and if any other male woll, mated or unmated,es your way, he is going to kill them.¡±

    I gasped. "What?" My eyes darted to Remus who growled dangerously. He heard what Vivi said, but why did I feel like he already knew I was on heat. His primal instincts would drive him to be possessive about me.

    Remus''s thoughts puhed through me, though too animalistic to form into words, but they meant. ''You are mine."

    "I''ll get a nice chicken soup for you."

    ou," Vivi said. "I''d suggest that you take a bath. It''s going to help you. You are covered in sweat"

    Gosh, I needed a bath so badly. "Okay!" As Vivi left, I darted a look at Remus and

    said, "I need to talk

    to Lucien

    But he didn''t shift. It was like he refused to give control to Lucien, refused to leave

    me unprotected.

    Lucien POV

    She was Vuliverable, weak from her heat-and in this state, she was a lieacon to

    every inmated wolf in the pack Though they wouldn''t dare toe close to lier, but I knew the wolves. The moment they smelled a shie-wolf was on beat, their instinct to mate with her made them crazy. Some could dullenge me just to have a chance to mute with her.

    I wanted toe out and be there for her, bait Remus just wouldn''t let me. The fucker had gone all feral the moment he realized that out mate was on hear Auren asked lina for nie, but he just pushed me down further. His primal instincts were to chase away any fucking mule wolves even though none would dare to couur in his vicinity of Auren''s. He was pressing me so down that I had difficulty in opening my mind link with Tarian.

    "Make sure that no wolf is allowed in the house," I said. Auten is on heats, Remus has gone feral

    Whoa! Larian responded. "What do you think will happen to an alpha wolf like

    him when his mate is on heats? he chuckled. Till remove the gands from your home!

    When Auren went to take a bath, Remus stalked around the perimeter of the house. Muscles coiled as he snarled at anyone whole remotely thought of as a challenge. By the time an hour was over, every inale wolf in and around the house had fled.

    Chapter 108.

    The scent of her hear was thick in the air. It was brady, intoxicating. Remus forced himself to breath through his mouth to dull his instincts to rut her take her,

    but his instincts had red They were at their prime

    Rut her. Take her. Fuck her. Breed her.

    He came back to the bedroom where he found Auren on the bed, sleeping after taking a bath. She was sleeping. So he came to lie down beside her. She needed him. As if on instinct, she turned toward him and curled into him. He put his paw over her, his mind a whirlwind of emotions. There was no sleeping today or tonight. He didn''t know for how long she would remain in heat, but he was not going to leave her side. Or give way to me.

    This was his time. No one else could touch her. Except Vivi.

    No one else would hear the sounds she made.

    No one else would fill her.

    Auren whimpered as another wave of pain hit her. "Nest... I need to make a nest."

    she said.

    Remus couldn''t understand what she was saying but he licked her to alleviate her

    pain. Let mee out, I urged Remus.

    "No, he growled at me. "My mate is in heats. I will stay with her.

    Don''t be mad. Remus?'' I growled at him.

    "Don''t challenge me, Lucien he snarled at me. This is the first time my mate is in

    heats. We have to breed her. Lwant my cum inside her.

    200

    I could feel how strongly he was retraining himself. Often, he would shudder, restraining his primal instinct to take her.

    I saw many were flushed.

    things in my life. Wars, betrayal, death. But nothing had prepared me for the sight before me. She was a mess. Her cheeks w eyes ssy and her lips were swollen from her teeth biting down in frustration. It was almost night when she

    finally got out of bed. Remus watched her as the looked around the room murmuring, "nest..."

    It felt like she wasn''t thinking. She was acting on primal instinct. Her body was guiding her, preparing a ce.

    Fuck. Something snapped inside me.

    My mate had stripped our bed of every single pillow, every nket. She pulled the

    furs from the chairs and dragged them into the middle of the mattress. She whimpered softly, clutching the pillow to her chest before adjusting it on the side in the growing pile. She looked unsatisfied. "It''s not enough," she muttered. "It''s missing something

 Chapter 109

    Lucien POV

    The scent of her beat drenched into every fiber of Remus. I wanted her from inside Remas

    "Remus, I know what she is missing! I goaded him. But he continued to look at her, his chest rumbling with a growl

    Auren lifted the nket on the Ich side and folded it to even out the nest inside. She ran to the wardrobe and took out another pile of bedsheets, She ced them in the center. Her hair clung to her forehead because of vercat. Suddenly, she clutched her stomach and then cried in pain, flopping on the bed. "Remus." she whimpered. "Remus."

    Immediately. Remus jumped on the bed beside her. She chuched his fur and curled into him. Tain." she rasped. Remus didn''t know what to do except he licked her all over again. "Remus" she criest

    My body pounded with the need to pounce on her, to get on that bed and bury myself inside her, scenting every piece of fabric she touched. But I held back growding and growing restless inside Rensis. Because I knew at this moment, she wasn''t just searching forfort. She was preparing herself for me. The awareness sent a molten hear through my veins.

    Using his powerful paw, Remus pulled her closer, like saying,e here little mate

    Sometimes she would try to pleasure herself because of her over stimted state. She would rub her clit and squeeze her breasts. Often, the would try to hold Rensis''s cock and grind it against her belly, trembling for relief. Remus was holding hack, growling, wanting to rut her. He forced excellent control over himself, not giving into his beastly needs. Because he didn''t want to hurt his lule mate by rutting her in his wolf form. But Auren was relentless. She would climb him and rub her pussy on his fur. Her scent was driving him mud. He feared that if he didn''t take her, he might go moon-crazy

    Auren remained in heat for three days, and in that time, Remus didn''t shift back. He remained in his protective mode. He circled his re

    rooth his house and would sniff every room just to double check if there was another male wolf. His Reta, Tarian, had done a good job in keeping them all

    It was on the third day, when Auren was sleeping, that he gave way to me. And oh fuck-I was breathless, shaking with raw desire and possessiveness

    She opened her eyes and a smile ghosted her lips.

    "Oh, baby," I said and hovered over her, my massive f

    frame enveloping herpletely.

    Her lips parted making a breathy sound as our gazes locked. And fuck, that was all I needed. I dragged her against me, inhaling the scent of my heat-drunk mate, my female, the one who was created for me.

    *I missed you.... the nest.-

    "Yes, baby"

    Our next was perfect. My hands traced her curves, worshiping every inch of her heated skin. The nest she had built for us, cradled us. The scent of her heat mixed with my own primal need was thick in the air, intoxicating. My chest rumbled with primal desire. When her flushed face tied up to meet my eyes, my eyes darkened with need. I cupped her cheeks, my thumbs stroking their softness. Her breath hitched as i pressed my forehead to her. Our mouths were so close that our hot breaths mingled. My thick, hard shaft nudged at her entrance.

    When her fingers dug into the flesh of my shoulders, I thrust inside her roughly, in one go. Only when I was hall deep inside her, I stopped. A shudder wrecked through me and a soft whimper escaped her lips.

    "You''re so fucking perfect," I groaned, gripping her harder. I rolled my hips, the motion sending a wave of pleasure through her. Her body arched.

    to ukeel indie

    I thrust again inside her. "Keep your eyes open, Imanded when she fluttered them close. The bond between us pulsed like lightning had cruised through it. "I want to see you fall apart. Feel every inch of you wrap around me."

    ty thrusts deepened, growing rough with desire. Our forehead remalized pressed together, our bodies locked in perfect rhythm.

    My

    Her lingers tangled in my hair. Her thighs tightened around my waist. "Lucien," she moaned.

    My name on her lips sent a feral thrill through me. I pressed my mouth on hers in a rough kiss, swallowing every whimper and moan she made as I rocked into her.

    I wanted to imprint inyself inside her soul.

    Her pussy clenched me tightly as if trying to squeeze the life out of ane. I groaned and allowed Remus to knot inside her. Her pussy stretched when our knot swelled inside her. She cried in pain, but I held her close, pressing more kisses, to soothe her. "You can take it, baby," I encouraged her "I''m going to spill my seeds inside you"

    she dared not move as she noelded. When my knot had fully swollen, a roar ripped out of my chest. I tipped my head up and with a roar, my koot exploded my seeds inside her, "Fuck. Fuck Fuck" I continued to thrust inside her until I had spilled every drop and then some inore.

    6:50 AM

    Breathless and panting. I pulled out and then slumped beside her. 1 until I know you''re carrying my pap

    My hand smoothed over her stomach possessively. "I''ll fill you again and again

    Auren let out a shaky breath, her hands on my chest. Then don''t stop," she whispered.

    I let out another deep growl and tightened my arms around her. "I won''t be gentle, baby." Not when I had to breed her.

    I don''t want you to be."

    Gme n

    Auren was so exhausted that she went off to sleep in my arms. I allowed her sleep, but I was restless. I wanted to get inside her again. Sleep c bits and pieces. In the morning, the sun rays filtered through the curtains, casting a golden light on her bare skin. Her warm body was pressed against mine. I slid mynd over her belly. She murmured something. I trailed a line of kisses on her neck, her breasts. She was half-asleep, but so god-danin sexy. She gasped when I thrust inside her. A deep, satisfied groan rumbled from my chest as I buried myself inside her hear. "Couldn''t wait." I groaned and started rocking slowly at first. Then I fastened my pace, thrusting deeply.

    both reached the orgasm together. Once we were done, I began thrustingzily inside her for I had no intention ofing out..

    "Mmm... good morning," she said.

    "Morning love. Ready for another!"

 Chapter 110

    Muren POV

    Lucien was relentless. He was pounding in me at every chance he got. On the fourth day, I finally had the opportunity to get out of the room and eat breakfast normally. However, during that too, Esicien made me sit on hisp. Like he would start fucking me right at the table. His need to breed me was getting intense by the seconil

    ''I have to talk to you Alpha Tarian''s voice came to my mind when Lucien was feeding me grapes,

    Lucien ignored his Betapletely. I wanted to say something but I waited for his response. Tuck off, he growled at Tarian through mind link. making me stifle a chuckle. How could you deter a wolf like Remus from bring away from his wife who was in hears!

    Alpha Lucien Tarian said with urgency. There is something about Sable. I have to talk to you!

    "Sable!" I said, with my brows drawing together.

    Let her go to fucking hell!'' Lucien growled agam. I am with my mate, and you are not allowed toe here! His grip on my waist tightened.

    Tarian frustration was evident in his voice when he said. I am not evening there. Alpha. I am deep south in the forest toward the human town. Our chief tracker, Waher, has smitted Sable here. We want your instructions on what to do? This was enough to get Lucien''s attention. Where is she?'' he asked.

    "We haven''t found her. But we are closing in

    aming. Gave me your location!"

    "No, Lucien"" I protested. "Let Tarian find her. "You can''t go there now. They are near the human town.

    ......on and it is

    far from here."

    He pressed a kiss on my t

    temple. "I am getting that bitch. She is mine to kill!"

    My breath lodged in my throat. Lucien was determined to go after her. He nudged

    me and I stood up. "Please Lucien. I don''t think it would add value."

    But before I could say much, he was on his way out of the house. "I am going there, no matter what!" Saying that, he shifted into his wolf and leaped out into the garden and loped into the forest

    Frustrated. I stomped my way to the bedroom. He had gone alone and I hated it. Remus was a formidable wolf, but going alone in uncharted terrories was dangerous. Worry gnawed at my soul. I just couldn''t think of anything else. He had rushed so suddenly that I was left furning

    The pain associated with beats had dulled, but my need for him hadn''t. By the time it was evening, I found myself pacing the length of the house, still angry at the argument we had in the dining hall. He returned after dinn. The whole ce was quiet with every omega gone. As soon as he came inside, I stormed to stand in front of him. "You''re reckless!" I span. Whileing back, he informed me that Sable had eluded them. "Charging their alone! What were you thinking. Laicien! And you went alone? There are so many rogues out there!"

    He stood in front of me with his arms crossed over his broad chest, watching me with an lofuriating calm face.

    "How

    Could you

    throw yourself into danger?"

    "I know how to handle things. Auren," he said in a low voice.

    "You luve a whole pack at your beck and call. And yet you went alone." My throat choked with einotions. "You can''t just "

    Lucien moved. One second, I was standing in front of him, and the next, my back was pressed against the wall. My breath whooshed out of my lungs as he caged me. He grabbed my wrists and pinned them both above my head as with the other hand he gripped my waist

    Startled. I gasped "Lucient"

    His lips brudard over my car, making my pulse jump. My stomach tightened with the way he looked at me with a heated gaze.

    "Did you miss ane, little wolf?"

    My thighs clenched, but he pressed air knee between them, parting them "Leave me!"

    His lips ghosted over mine. "Really?" The next second, his lips crashed over mine, and I lost all control "Mine," he growled, his voice thick sath. need. I barely had time to react when he lifted me, wrapping my legs around his waist. The cold wall behind me was nothingpared to the beat

    of his body

    After he imed me in a desperate kiss, he brought his fingers to my junties and fore them apart. He led his cock with my core and in a sh, he was inside me. I cried but he seized my mouth, swallowing every cry and every sound I made. He began thrusting roughly, madly. His knot swelled

    in no time, locking us together. Within seconds, he burst inside me, groaning, snarling

    For the next two days, there was not a surface m the manor where he didn''t take me I was bent over the tables, pinned against floors and walls, chairs, bathtub, and even the gardens at night. Lucien wasn''t bothered who saw us or not. All he wanted was me. The thoughts of Salile escaping bum didn''te even once in his mind. I wanted to ask, but every time I opened my mouth, it was for his cock.

    He was feeding me relentlessly in between breeding me.

    I woke up one morning only to find that I was restrained, Lucien was sucking my clit. Orgasm hit me instantly and I arched my body, but I couldn''t move much because the metal cuts that bound my wrists above my head, held me firmly. "Ahlil I cried. This was new, but this was so good. Was 1 into a kink!

    Lucien didn''t stop. He growled. "Don''t move baby. I love to suck your clit and sleep. It''s like my personal pacifier"

    Gosh. His dirty words made me whimper. He spread my legs wider and lowered his face to my core. A moan tore from my throat as he Lapped me up over there with his sinful tongue. Once he was done, he crawled over me with my juices glistening on his mouth and said. "Gonna fill you up

    With that, he pushed into me, stretching my pussy. But this time I couldn''t touch him, couldn''t drag my nails down his back or tangle my fingers in his hair. All I could do was take what he gave me.

    with deep thrusts, he breathed, ¡°You were made to carry my pups, mate!¡± His eyes darkened when I whimpered. "You want to be swollen with my pups, don''t you

    "Yes,"I gasped, my head falling back as he thrust harder, chasing my release.

    With my words, his knot swelled inside me. In seconds he roared his release inside me. Hot jets of cum filled me. And when he pulled out, some of in dripped down my thighs.

    Goddess, help me.

 Chapter 111

    By the time my heats were over, 1 was thoroughly fucked by Lucien, The wolf had a strug face whenever he looked at me. I smelled of him and his tothe extent thus I knew wolves could stuell him on me from miles away.

    His interise need to put a pup in my belly had nothing to do with the fact that lie wanted a breeder for his bloodline. It was because he wanted to have has psiju, to procesie. It was his basic nature

    tutost in front of the mirrot examining the bruises and marks and hickeys he left everywhere as hezily sprawled on the bed with just a sheet covering his bilge. And he had an imitating smirk on his face. His eyes raked down my body like he was appreciating his handiwork on me.

    "Sup oghing" I hwnd.

    He chuckled darkly: "Even if you take a both, my smell will linger on you."

    "Ves of mume"" I rolled my eyes. "The amount of cum you have filled in me is equal to the amount of cum of all wolves in this world. I can practically feel it swamining inside met"

    He shrugged: "Just the way I wanted,"

    Shameless bastard

    A knock rapped on the door. It was Vivi. "Alpha Lucien, the Shaman wants to speak with you?"

    Lucien''s browes knitted. "Ask him to sit in the main hall."

    I turned sharply "Does he want us to go to the Eldermere ruins! It''s full moon today"

    Lucien''s brows jumped to the hairline. "Oh right! I forgot about it." He tossed the sheet aside and quickly got dressed. Kissing my temple, he said,

    "Should Ie with you?" I asked, leaning into his touch.

    "No, stay here." "Saying that, he left hurriedly. However, when he returned, he had

    a somber expression, ¡°Shaman is asking us to visit the ruins. He

    it is an excellent opportunity"

    was confused.

    "Excellent opportunity of what?" I was

    "I don''t know?" Lucien breathed. "But we will go at night when the moon is full in the sky.

    The thought of going there again rattled me. Thest time I had gone, it was not exactly a friendly meeting. The shadow wolves hated me. There was so much darkness over there that it seeped into my bones. With Lucien too, the meeting was horrible. A shudder ran down my spine. "Should we drop 10" I asked, wary of

    it.

    He came to me and cupped my cheek. "I know you are scared, love. But this is important for me and my pack. Who knows that the

    enda

    1 took a deep breath and nodded lightly. As the Luna of the pack, I felt responsable. And as the first bride of an Alpha of the Shadowfang pack in centuries, it was my duty.

    Tarian called during the day, saying that lie was returning from the hunt along with Walter. There was no point inbing the area when Sable had run away. He also informed us that Alpha Bram was inarrying Maris.

    "That''s surprising"" Lucien chuckled.

    head. After how Alpha Bram came after me, I thought he had discarded Maris. But this was definitely a shocker. "They both deserve

    Laien booked at his phone and opened a picture "They have invited us for their wedding."

    Lacoffed "Laminat going. If you like yost may"

    "Cicoane, goal" Lucien growled. "They can go to fucking hell, for all I care!"

    Haughed. "But you''ve signed a treaty with them," I reminded them.

    "Sol he daugged "111 serid Tarian Wait. No. Ell send Walter''s dog''s per

    "When I ghark

    "pascall, no one is going. I doubt how many people will amend his weddling, now that they are on my shut the

    I lowered my Dice to msp. "I feel that Beans worst sit quiicile. He wille up with something-

    "Ausen, he won''t do anything to you now. He knows that you are well protected in my pack If anyone harms you, it will be his neck that I''ll grab Best. So don''t worry, and focus on yourself"

    I took a ragged breath: I knew that I ucien had increased security around use. All the Alphas of his ally packs had loyalty toward me. So Bram wouldn''t have the guts to go against me. But he was a viper, slowly sluhering and ready to strike when he got a chance.

    "What about Sable" I asked, feeling restless.

    "That bich managed to run away. We caught one wolt who was with her, but the rest of the ran away. I''ve put my people to track her"

    Along with shaman, we both left for the Eldermere uns past midnight. The moon was high in the sky. When we reached there, I saw the ruim They loomed ahead, cloaked in mist. The air was heavy, thick with the presence of ancient. It prickled against any skin. Lucien held my hand as Shaman led us to the altar

    "Stand there," the shaman ordered. Lucien''s grip on my hand tightened as we went near the altar

    was surprising to see that the thorny vines over there had dried and were now falling off the pirs. The moon looked beautiful through the altar. Golden and dazzling

    "Take out your shirt," the Shaman ordered Lucien

    Lucien unbuttoned his shirt and tossed it aside.

    "Take out your dress, Luna," he said.

    Lucien stared at me as if expecting me to deny it. But I removed my dress and stood in my bra and panties in front of him. He took both my hands in his and said. "Don''t worry, I am with you."

    I clenched my jaw to stop my teeth from chattering as the cool air hit my skin.

    Then, they appeared. The shadow wolves. There was a hiss from the crack of the altar and at first a shadow swirled over it. A shudder passed through me. Sensing my sincase, Lucien pulled me against his chest and wrapped his arms tightly around me.

    Emerging from the darkness, the shadow wolves flickered like living smoke. Thest time I was here, they had been restless, their howls tearing through the night. They were hostile. But this time as they surrounded us, something had changedi

    They surrounded us, forming a silent circle. My breath caught when a massive form of a shadow wolf circled around us, its translucent fort, streaching and folding like mist. It sniffed the air, its golden eyes gleaming.

    Laucien''s muscles coiled around me and his neck muscles went taut with tension. I could sense Remus pushing close to the surface. Lucien let out a low growl in warning.

    The shadow woll''s form disintegrated. Another shadow came to circle us. The way it slithered over my skin, I felt like it was licking me. It entered my nostrils, withdrew, and then curled around my stomach. It hissed as it rose to my back and pressed me against my tattoo. It felt like it was reading me, understanding me. Then it left me and slithered around Lucien. After a moment of inspection, it retracted to the altar

    More shadows followed, circling us, slithering. Lucien kept me tight in his embrace, teme. Suddenly, we felt a ripple of movement and with a burst,

    all the shadows in the dar list out

 Chapter 112

    The shadow wolves swirled around us in a vortes of darkness. I whimpered as I closed my eyes and pressed my face in Lucien''s chest. A chill crawled over my skin as they slithered around us. My breath got lodged in my throat, and instinct screamed at me to run, to shift, to fight, to do something. But my body refused to

    move.

    They circled my belly in eerie silence. My heart pounded so loudly that I could hear it in my ears, anticipating that they would attack me. But there: was no attack. Just a cold inspection.

    And then the shadows hissed.

    he epted."

    he epted the lowly wolf

    bride bane''s curse.

    Nagia"

    *

    Lucien Vaslot and Auren Vaslof_"

    The shadows left our bodies and retreated. They gathered over the altar, billowing like a living entity

    "They have sensed in the Shaman murmured as he watched them. The bond between you. It''s strength. They had expected the Alpha to reject his lowly omega mate, to cast her aside as Vaslof had done before to Naqia. But you didn''t. You chose her, Kept her imed her. And now, the shadow wolves see her as your Luna."

    Lucien took a deep breath in "So as the curse broken?" Lucien dared to ask.

    My chest tightened with raw emotion as I finally looked up at him, All I found was pure joy and pure devotion. Then something else caught my eye His thom-vine tattoos. They had once wrapped around him in dark, jagged lines, the ones that had mirrored mine on the back.

    Shock sted inside me. "Your tattoos!" I rasped. He also looked down at his body. "They are mostly gone?" I couldn''t believe what I was seemne Most of the thorny vine tattoos had gone, leaving fair skin in their wake. The only tattoo that he had now was that of a wolf covering his right chest and a few thomy vines there. That wolf was his real birth tattoo.

    He also looked at his torso. "Goddess! They are gone." A shudder passed through his body. I sensed relief and exhration through our bond. It felt like he experienced a century of relief. For a long while, his eyes were glued to his body as if searching for tattoos, but apart from the ones around his tattoo on the right ones, there were none. He traced his fingers over the loos on the chest. The thorny vines out there seemed to move a line. His breath lurched and he stopped.

    The Shaman took a step toward us, but stopped when the shadow wolves hissed toward him in a sh of a movement. "The curse has mostly broken," he said, careful of the shadows. "But I don''t know why some of it still remains?" He appeared irritated as the shadows swirled around his

    They inspected him, rendered him useless and then retreated to billow over the altar as if waiting for something

    I was to caught up with Lucien''s tattoos that I didn''t pay attention to them

    "I think in time for us to leave," Lucien murmured.

    "That''s right," the Shaman said. "It seems they are satisfied for now. But we have to wait a

    and see when th

    thest rentuins of the curse

    At his words, the shadow wolves husses again. They billowed furiously over the ahar and then disappeared in the crack below.

    1 let out a rough exhale. Laicten handled me my clothes and once I was dressed, we headed out. The temple was still covered in thick mist, giving an omninous vibe, and I realized that it was because of the presente of the shadow wolves. And for the fist time, it felt like they were waiting to go

    "Don''t talk about Auren''s tattoo to anyone, Latin warned ine and Shaman. "Tin not sure how things will go now"

    j all user

    the

    ce and was feeling oddly light-headed. I didn''t feel

    A weekter, I sat in the main hall, not feeling well. In the morning I had porked.

    like going for training or had the energy to stroll in the garden.

    "We are going to the hospital. Lucien growled as he touched my head.

    The "Interes, sighing

    Vos bonight hot and sour soup for me. She ced it on the table and said, "Luna Auren, you smell different."

    Loocked an eyebrow "What do you mean?"

    She hesitated and added. "I mean, you smell like.." She looked at Lucien who

    was ring at her for no reason."like Alpha." She blushed heavily

    1 blushed heavily as well because in the morning Lucien had filled me up with his cum. Gritting my teeth, I nced at Lucien and he had this smug look on his face. Goddess, I wanted to wipe that look.

    "Maybe, you should go to the hospital, Vivi said in a low voice.

    Yes, I am taking her there," Lucien announced. He got up a and called Dr. Elias to fix an appointment

    An hourter, Lucien cut through the training ande to take me to the hospital. When we reached there, Elias made me go through a variety of tests. At the end of it, when we were sitting in his room, he smiled as he read the test results. His next words made my world shift.

    "Congrattions, Luna. You''re pregnant."

    My eyes widened, Pregnant? I was carrying Lucien''s pup. Goosebumps lined my skin. A soft gasp left as my fingers trembled. I pressed my hand against my belly. The knowledge that a life-our life-was growing inside me filled me with indescribable emotions.

    In a sh of a moment, Lucien moved. He let out a yelp and was in front of me. He dropped to his knees before me as hisrge hands cupped my

    "Now I know why you smelled different," he said, his eyes moist with unshed tears of happiness. His fingers slipped under my shirt. He brushed reverently over my stomach. "You''re carrying my pup," he murmured in awe, possessivenesscing his voice. He pressed his forehead against my belly and encircled my waist with his arms as if he wanted to shield both and our pup from the world.

    My fingers went to his hair, which I stroked gently, lovingly. "We are going to be parents," I said.

    He lifted his head and nodded, his throat bobbing. "And I can''t wait to see my pup." He got up and gave me his hand. I took it and he tugged me up. Then he looked at Elias and said. Thanks Elias. You''ve made my day!"

    As Eliasughed, we both left. It was a beautiful day for both of us. Yet, through our bond, I could sense his restlessness. After our encounter at the Eldermere ruins with shadow wolves, we were both hopeful and cautious about our future. Was it possible that the curse lifted?

    If you''re liking this book, you can follow me on FB at Mishakwrites.

 Chapter 113

    Third POV

    Sable ran hard in the forest, panting, her boots crunching against the damp forest floor. Twigs snapped beneath her and her borly was covered in sweat. She was exhausted and her body was screaming in pain, but she couldn''t stop. Because if she did, it meant death. Alpha Lucien''s hunters and trackers were on her trail. She didn''t know how they found her. She was hidden deep in the forest after she had ambushed Auren and injured her sessfully. Her friend had helped her in it. Julie had to take all the brunt, which was fine. After all, someone had to be a scapegoat for greater good. Better her than she

    Sable was being chased for so long that if she ran even a few hundred meters more, she was surely going to copse. So she removed her clothes. tied them in a bundle and then shifted into her wolf. Her wolf picked up the bundle and started running

    After she left Auren bleeding in that alley, she was sure that she had won. She thought that she had taken back what was rightfully hers. Her father always told her that she was meant to be Lucien''s Luna meant to rule beside her and not be cast aside like trash. Even though Lucien never really gave her attention, she was always there, lingering on the periphery, making sure that he noticed her. She was ure that in front of Auren, who was a fucking low omega he would see her worth, see that she had superior blood than the omega. But the fucker fell for the omega''s innocence. ording to Sable. Auren wasn''t unocent, she was a moron. Despite her beautiful n, despite how beautifully she had crumpled Auren beneath her ws, fate had twisted against her.

    Her escape was seamless. Her friend had easily gotten her out before anyone could realize what happened. She was standing at the periphery of the border, waiting for me and my friends. They all hadughed as they fled from the Shadowfang pack. She had been thrilled imagining Auren''s cold, hiteless body. But what she didn''t anticipate was that Alpha Lucien woulde. He attacked her and injured her severely. But nothing was lost. He was just feeling guilty of leaving Auren alone. Once she died, Sable knew that he woulde to her begging like a munt.

    Her friend helped her spread the news that she was dead, and had gone missing. But all the while, she was hiding in a cabin that belonged to her much farther away from where wolves could reach her.

    Sable had then yed her own game. She had contacted Alpha Bram and asked him to meet Elder Peter. The n was perfect. Everything was going in perfect harmony. She was sure that at the end of the trial, the High Council would pass a judgment against Auren, thought they would throw her in their dark magic-ridden dungeons forever and kill her, and then finally she would return to her pack, victorious. People would be shocked to see her alive, but at least Auren would be dead. Then Lucien would have no choice other than marrying her.

    But everything went to hell.

    no food, no money, nothing

    Instead of victory, she found herself holed up in a cabin after her friend stopped sending help to her. There was no

    She just couldn''t figure out what happened in the meantime. Why had her friend suddenly be so cold and distant. She wasn''t even picking her phone. Bram also stoppedmunicating with her, which was strange. She waited for the news that Auren was dead, that Lucien would finally wee her back to the Shadowfang pack as his rightful partner. But none of that happened.

    Inscad, a video leaked.

    She still remembered the moment she saw it. She stared at the screen as her heart pounded in the chest. It was a video sent by Bram to her phone that showed that she was alive and kicking, and he had asked her who filmed this video and leaked it to the High Council

    Someone had recorded them in the cabin. Her hands clenched into fists because she didn''t know. How had they gotten that footage! And worse- how did in spread so fast on the day of the trial!

    Instead of returning home, Sable was going to be hunted. And Auren beaded back home with more dignity than ever.

    A few hours ago, she smelled Tarian and his gammas. The bastards had already found her. She knew that they were going to take her for Lucien to

    She had to run away from here as soon as possible. But it all these friends also ran with her, she was sure that they would be caught faster. She knew how this would end if she didn''t act fast. On the pretext of going out for hunting, she stormed out of the cabin.

    She heard faint snarl and roars far in the distance and she fled into the dark. She didn''t look back. She didn''t care. Her friends were dead weight. and she wasn''t going to let them drag her down.

    She ran for what felt like hours in her wolf form. She waspletely exhausted and wanted to rest. Her wolf had also slowed down. When she finally energed from the depths of the forest, she saw a human town. Tall buildings, bright lights, the buzz of cars and voices,

    She had sessfully escaped. She shifted into her wolf, wore her clothes and headed to the nearest building.

    But in her heart, this wasn''t over. Not yet. She had lost her pack, her family, her home. Auren had humiliated her. Lucien had turned against her And for that, they would pay.

    "I will return!" she said, fury in her chest. "And when I will, I will kill Auren and burn your world to the ground, Lurien!"

    Tired and hungry as hell, she made her way to the other side of the highway. There the hid in a back alley of a hotel. She saw humans discardang

    THE

    food in the dumpsters. As soon as they went away, she hurried to the dumpster, opened the lid and fished out the leftovers. She ate it all greedily as she sat ma summer. Onsor she was full, she leaned against the wall and thought of her next n. She had to entice someone to take her in, so that the could rest well and n revenge. She also had to find out why Bram stopped talking to her.

    Har until then she had to keep her identity a secret. For there were hunters hidden amongst the humans

 Chapter 114

    Three monthster.

    I was getting bornit

    Lucien had stopped me from going for training. I went for the pack events only where my presence was required. However, I excused myself from

    the rest.

    Usually a Luna was supposed to go and bless every new pup that was born. But with me also being pregnant, Lucien had limited that tradition and ordered that all new moms would gather in the pack house on one day when I would bless them all. It was a relief for me.

    The pack members were very respectful toward me and with time, things sorted out. They looked at me with reverence as their new Luna. It was odd at first, but I felt like I was falling into the role naturally. My protective instincts for my pack members were growing each day.

    However, amidst all this, the threat of me dying a few monthster loomed. The bride hane''s curse hadn''t fully gone. It was evident from the thomy vine tattoos that Lucien still had on his chest. The Shaman had toki us that the ancestors of Lucien were born with these tattoos and they were linked to the Bride Bane''s curse. And that was why after Lucien married his mate, who was a lowly omega, the tattoos disappeared slowly. The curse was partially broken. However, he couldn''t understand why some tattoos still remained. What were the shadow wolves now resting? Were they hot satisfied with our mating? What did they want now!

    took a ragged breath as I closed my next romance novel, Wuthering Heights, and decided to go to the trait

    training arena, only to watch. Not to fight or

    When I arrived in the main hall, I heard Vivi and Tom fighting with each other as usual in theirmonnguage. I shook my head and continued to walk toward the training arena.

    I stood at the edge of the

    arena as I watched the warriors spar. My lingers

    itched with the urge to join them. Two young fighters were circling each other, their muscles tense as they waited for an opening. The first warrior lunged forward, aiming at the ribs of his opponent. But the second warrior dodged him. He pivoted and brought his leg up to strike the first one''s thighs. The first one hit the ground with a grunt.

    "No. No. Not" I blurted. "You are all wrong!" 1 addressed the first warrior. "You left his left side open when you shifted your stance. Instead you should have rotated your shoulder inward instead of leaning back. That would have kept your bnce"

    The wamon looked at me with astonishment. "Luna" They both bowed to me. "You''re right," the first warrior admitted..

    But before I could say further, a deep, rumbling grond vibrated from behind me.

    "You''re not thinking of doing what I think you are, are you?" Lucien''s dark voice came with a warning.

    1 tumed to see his striding toward me, his powerful frame radiating authority, Covered in sweat, he looked like sex on gorgeous legs. Like a thundercloud His dark eyes narrowed at me as he assessed me. I just couldn''t stop myugh seeing how he was on police mode with me.

    "Alphu Lucien, I was just watching." I said as he came to stand in front of me.

    He wrapped a possessive arm around my waist and pulled me closer. Tucking a strand of hair behind my ear with the other, he muttered, "That''s how it starts. The next thing I know is you are using those weapons."

    1 rolled my eyes. "You do realize I''m not made of ss."

    He ignored me and guided me out of the arena. "If youe here again, I

    I shot him a re. "Lucien!"

    you in a nket anal lock you away for the next six months."

    heard others giggling behind us. Walter was standing near the ring, watching us with a smirk.

    Ignoring all of them, he pulled me closer and syed his palm over my belly. "You''re carrying my heir. No risks." Then he spokelly for Walter to hear. "If I hear even a whisper of her trying to train behind my back, someone is losing a limbt"

    Walter roughed ufortably. I smacked Lucien''s arm. "Stop being dramatict" He pressed a kiss to the top of my head. "Watch me, love.""

    I sighed, but the way his protective and hence attitude made me feel warm-it made my heart ther

    Later shat evening. I lounged on our bed, reading my unfinished novel. I was wearing one of Lucien''s oversized shirts with my haar open. Hoved wearing his shirts these days because they were sofortable and soft and smelled like him. It calmed my frayed nerves. I had stopped puking a week ago, but in the morning today. I had puked again. Goddess, having babies wasn''t easy. My boobs had started feeling heavier

    652 AM

    Lucien emerged from the bathroom with a towel draped around his neck. His eyesnded on me and he padded over to me. He settled beside me and lifted

    my feet into hisp. He began massaging them. His cock was already bulging and rested against my legs.

    I sighed i pleasure. "Mmm... that feels good."

    "You should rest more, wife, he murmured as he kneaded my sole.

    "That''s what I''ve been doing. I wasn''t allowed to train, remember?" I said in a teasing

    I in a teasing voice and pressed his cock with my leg.

    He scowled. ¡°Damn right. That''s how it''s going to stay" He moved his hand up my

    calves, my thighs and in between my sex. He rubbed my clit there, drawing a moan from me. He kissed me over there. "You smell intoxicating now that you''re pregnant."

    A shiver ran down my spine as he trailedzily up. "Lucien_"

    He brought his hand to my belly and kissed me there as his hand roamed over me gently. "You''ve made me so proud, Auren," he murmured. "I can''t wait to see my pup

    I brought my fingers in his hair and raked through them as I watched him looking at my belly with pure love. "I''m waiting for you, little wolf," he said to our pup. "Here''s an update. Your nursery is getting ready. I have bought a few more toys, have looked through best schools in werewolves" packs and also across the world, and I''ve ordered some designer onesies for both of us."

    I chuckled. "Designer onesies?"

    "Hush," he silenced me. I''m talking to my pup. Stop interfering!"

    Twenty minutester. I gave my Alpha a blow job, because he was bing too clingy. After he released, he grinned and slumped beside me in a deep slumber. "I love you, Auren," he murmured and cuddled me in his arms.

    I let out a silent prayer to the goddess. Please let me live. I want my happily ever after.

    The next day we were all shocked by the news Tom, the cook, gave us

 Chapter 115

    Auren Pot

    The next morning. I was seated at the dining table. There was an argument going on between Vivi and Tom in the kitchen. I shook my head. These two were always arguing but since yesterday, they had a lot of heated exchanges. I really couldn''t understand much, but it seemed like she was mally upset about

    something

    Vivi stormed out of the kuchen holding a tray of drunk, shrimps and avocado sd

    in one hand and tes in the other. "He is insane" the gritted.

    I served myself shrimps and chuckled. "What''s wrong. Vivi?

    She shot a look toward the kitchen but didn''t say anything. She just ced the te on the table and went back in. There was another round of argument between them and this time, I felt like I should go and look into the matter Just as I was about to go there. Lucien came. He dropped a kays on my head, and said. "What''s wrong with these two today?" He picked up shrimps from my te and popped them in his mouth befor sliding in the chair next to me.

    I shrugged "God knows" 1 murmured. "But they have been arguing since yesterday"

    Lucien looked pizzled as he listened to them Vivi and Tom were in tus manor for decades, so he didn''t mind them shouting at each other. So he also started having breakfast with me, though I knew that he was hearing them

    Five minutes

    Later.

    Tom came into the dining hall and bowed to us. "Alpha Luna"

    Lucien turned to him with a frown. "What is going on, Tom?"

    Tom nced at me and his lips curled up in a gentle smile. "My Alpha, I wanted to inform you that I wanted to step down from my duties"

    I gasped. "Tom, why! Are you feeling unwell'' The hospital in our pack will take care of you free of charge." From the corner of my eye. I saw Viviing out and standing with her arms crossed across her chest. Her eyes were moist like she was about to cry

    Tom chuckled "No, my Luna. I am doing well" He shifted on his feet "Tm-I''m just getting too old for all this running around. I feel it''s

    for

    No I rasped, my throat choking with emotions.

    Vivi''s tears slipped out. "You old buffoon, who is going to take you in at this age! You don''t have a family. Where will you even go

    Tom lowered his face, an expression of worry crossing his face. "I have a nephew who lives in the human town, two hundred miles from here in the rait. I''m nning to visit him"

    Lucien frowned. "I didn''t know you had a nephew in a human town.

    Tom smiled sadly. "He is from the Iron Fant pack, but he is wolf-less. Since he couldn''t be of any help to the Alpha of the pack, the Alpha expelled him. Heartbroken, he came to me for help. I asked him to stay in our pack, but he simply didn''t want to be around werewolves. So he went to the human world and has made quite a fortune. Last week, he called me, saying that it was time for me to retire. He wanted to take care of me."

    His words made me so emotional that I put my hand on my heart. "He really loves you, Tom," I said through my choked throat.

    He took a ragged breath in. "He is a nice boy"

    I could sense Lucien''s sadness through our bond, but he kept his face straight.

    He nodded solemnly. "If you want that you can go. You''ve served this park well. Tom. You will always have a ce here."

    "And I''m going to min you." I uid as I stood up and hugged him. "I think all of us will miss you"

    Viri let out ag

    cout a gasp and then rushed into the kitchen unable to stop crying

    "I don''t think we will be able to find your recemera," I added.

    Tom removed himself and said. "Oh don''t worry, Luna Auren. I took the liberty to

    find someone new to take my ce. She is a talented omega"

    "Who?" I asked, bewildered.

    Lucien still looked calm. He really trusted Tom and sod

    did I.

    "Mirabe Ber" "Torn shouted

    A joune omega stepped out of the kitchen. "She is a talented young omega, Luna Auren, Tom said, stepping aside to reveal her.

    Mirabelle wat striking. Her short hair was dyed purple with yellow streaks. Her jamane scent was delicate but potent. Her eyes were a striking

    6:52 AM &

    green. She had piercings on her lip and eyebrow. There were tattoos on her left arm that climbed up inside her sleeve and peeked from her neck. She had thick eyshes, and had dabbed a lot of foundation to hide her pimples on left cheek. Her lips were painted a cheery red. Wearing ck jeans and a red shirt, she looked like a rebel kid off the block.

    But despite her appearance, she bowed deeply before us. "Luna Alpha," she greeted us with wless submission. She kept her eyes averted in proper deference.

    "She is not from this pack, Alpha Lucien, Tom said, turning to him. "But she is extremely talented. I found her working in an inn in the Blue Moon pack. She had made divinesagna amongst other dishes. So I offered her the job over here. Tom pursed his lips. "Though I took the liberty to get her here, you are more than wee to send her back."

    Lucien studied her carefully, "Does your Alpha know you''re here!"

    "Yes. Alpha Lucien. It will be an honor to serve you and the pack. I vow my loyalty."

    Lucien nced at Tom. "Tom speaks highly of you."

    Mirabelle lowered her head further. "He is too kind. I only wish to be useful in any way I can

    Lucien looked at Tom. "She will have to go through the verification process."

    "Of course, Alpha." Tom replied.

    Lucien went silent for a second, and I heard him calling Tarian through mind link. Tarian came in a minuteter, Mirabelle''s eyes flitted over to him briefly, lingering just a second longer than necessary. Tarian stood at the door, silent as he stared at her. He inhaled deeply as if caught off guard, his body tensing

    Even if Mirabelle noticed, she didn''t react. Instead she turned to Tom and said, "Thank you for giving me this opportunity. I hope I deliver."

    Tom chuckled, shaking his head. "You''ll do just fine, Belle."

    Lucien looked at his Beta and let out a low hum. "Interesting"

    I also turned to look at Tarian. He was staring at Mirabelle as if the moon had just descended from the sky and taken human form. red and his sharp eyes darkened.

    My lips twitched. Oh. Ah okay

    This was going to be interesting

    nostrils

    Tom has rmended you personally. You

    I turned my attention to Mirabelle. "Wee Belle. I''m sure that you are an exceptional cook because Tom has can start your duty as soon as Tom leaves." "I''ll be leaving in two days, Luna," Tom informed me, catching me by surpriss, Lucien intervened. ¡°Mirabelle, make sure that my Luna gets the best diet. As you can see, she is pregnant. And if I see anyg on your part, you''ll be thrown into dungeons. No questions asked. Do you understand?"

    Mirabelle clenched her teeth. "Yes Alpha"

    "You may leave, Lucien dismissed her

    She turned and hurried to the kitchen with a huge sigh of relief.

    Lucien got up and gave a bear hug to Tom "We''ll miss you, old man. Then he opened his mind link with Tarian. "Verify her

 Chapter 116

    Auren POV

    After Tom left, the new cook, Mirabelle, sented well in her position. Vivi was having a hard time adjusting with her. I have no idea but Vivi didn''t like how poised Belle was. She whispered to me one day that Mirabelle acted like she was superine to all others. She barely talked with people around her.

    But she makes good food," I said to Vivi "Besides, if she doesn''t want to talk to others, it''s fine. She is doing her job well, isn''t it?"

    Vivi broiled. "You don''t understand, Luna Belle doesn''t talk to us because of her nature. It seems like she feels she is much above us to even interact. It''s like she is walking with her move high every time!"

    I couldn''t helpughing. "Vivi." I said lightly. "Please give her time to adjust. You are so used to Tom and him arguing with you for every little thing. that you don''t want to ept Belle, Seriously, you are just driven by your hias"

    Vivi pursed her lips. She shook her head stubbornly and went back to the kitchen. I picked up my romance novel and began reading it. Lucien had gone to a neighboring pack for some pack business and so I was really getting bored and irritated.

    It had been a week ever since Belle hade. She was fast proving to be a good cook with impable manners. Her chocte pastries were to die for. And these days with all my cravings growing. I loved what she prepared for me. I felt like she pampered me a lot, but in her own way.

    She was a no-nonsense girl, which was good, and kept to herself. Vini had mentioned before that Belle didn''t make friends or talk to other omegas didn''t join their small parties or go shopping with them. But those were her character traits. How could you judge someone for their reserved nature! Besides, Helle was thoroughly verified by Tarian. She came from the Iron Fang pack, and her Alpha was aware of her job here. However Tarian ensured that she severed her connection with the Iron Fang pack and inducted her in ours.

    A soft knock on my room''s door snapped me out of my book. "Come in," I said. The door opened and I was surprised to see Belleing in. She had changed the color of her hair. They were green now. But the more interesting part was her green lipstick and green nail polish. Even her eye kohl was green. Like she was in some green revolution.

    She stepped inside and bowed to me. "Luna, if 1 may, can I suggest something?"

    1

    I cocked an eyebrow. Usually no omega had the audacity toe and talk to me. They stayed away from me unless I needed them. The guards would send them off Only Vivi was allowed to meet me. But I guess the guards must have thought that she was no threat and they allowed her toe to my floor. Besides, Tarian was showing a lot of interest in her, so that would exin her preferential treatment. Not that I mind it

    "Sure," I said.

    Her lips curled up as her hands fidgeted with her apron. "It''s been a week since I have joined, but I don''t see you going for a pic. I mean-" She licked her lips nervously, "I mean I am no one to make suggestions, but still."her voice trailed off.

    It was a great idea. In fact, I was so bored all the time that I couldn''t help but agree to it. However, I knew that Lucien would create a huge ruckus if I went without informing himh. Thanks for your suggestion, Belle," I said politely consider it. Honestly, I was so excited on the inside, but I kept

    a calm exterior

    Belle bowed to me and left. I liked that she didn''t pester me about it.

    When Lucien returned in the evening, I asked him whether I could go for the pic or not.

    "No. 1

    do, you can''t!" he growled. "I won''t risk you going anywhere!"

    "Lucien, this isn''t fair. I feel so bored all the time. A pic is going to rx me. I also need an outing. Some way to unwind. Sitting here all day long with a book in hand is not my idea of rxing. I love to cook, but you''ve stopped ine from that as well. What should I do?"

    Lucaen blinked at me in surprise because this was the first time I really snapped at him. Striding across the room, he closed the gap between us and sat on his knees in front of me. "Baby, I''m sorry if I''ve made you feel like that. But I''m worried about our pup. That''s all."

    "Pregnant women go everywhere. They work, they cook and they enjoy! Not like me who keeps sitting in her house?" I whined.

    He tied

    This head as if wondering what had gotten into me.

    I cupped his cheeks and said, Please Lucien. This is a small request. Let me go

    for a pic. I''ll go to a ce of your choice."

    His shoulders slumped in defeat. "Okay, love. If that makes you happy. But you will go to the nearest meadow

    I squealed in joy, and kissed him on his lips. "Thank you!"

    He shook his head as he chuckled. Then he took his phone out and called Tarian "Tomorrow. Auren will be going for a pic, Make sure that she isn''t alone. Ask the wives of the council members to join her, And also sad Vivi and some pegas with her. There should be tight security around dradea Try to create at least threeyers of security. And I want you to go with her".

    "Yes Alpha." Tarian replied. There was a hesitant pause. Then he said. "Can we take Belle with us!"

    Lucien''s eyebrows shot to his hairline as 1 startedughing. Tarian had never asked for a girl in his life. I mean he had never talked about his personal "girl" preferences with us. So this was really surprising

    "Yeah, you can.." Lucien said, totally astonished.

    1

    The next day, the house was buzzing with excitement when I came down. I wore a yellow sundress, a hat and sunsses for the day. I saw Vivi chatting excitedly with a group of omegas while Belle stood at the side with her head lowered. Today her hair was again purple with yellow streaks. She wore dark purple lipstick and ck clothes. She reminded me of a gothic doll.

    ¡°Luna!¡± Vivi walked toward me with a big smile. All the girls were in their casual clothes and were really thrilled about the pic. It looked like no one had ever gone for one before. "We all are so ready!" she chirped.

    Iughed softly. "Then let''s go!" I nced at Belle who looked at me and smiled.

    An hourter we all reached the venue, and I wasn''t surprised to see that the ce crawled with numerous warriors under Tarian''s supervision. Tents were set up for us. Tables were lined with cutlery and flowers decor. I sat in one of the tents along with the wives of the council members as omegas arranged food, while some of them danced Overall, it was such an interesting outing. Ladies talked about their pregnancies, how their husbands reacted, praised Lucien, and also how to take care of pups. But no one talked about my past, which was a relief. We listened to the music and danced. Honestly, it was so beautiful that I thought we should have more of such outings.

    From the corner of my eye, I saw Tarian talking to Belle. But why did she seem nervous and reluctant to talk to him?

 Chapter 117

    Auren POV

    I didn''t make much out of it, and resumed talking to others. When it was lunch, Vivi announced it louilly. "Come on, arrange the tables, girlst

    Belle rushed toward Vivi to help her in arranging it. I noticed how Tarian watched her like a hawk as she came toward us. I couldn''t help smiling seeing his protective behavior. Was she his mate? If she was, then why was she so hesitant around him? It seemed like she wanted to run away from him. Maybe because Tarian was a herce Beta. He was stronger than several Alphas

    Vivi was instructing all the girls toy out the food on the table. Other women apanied me to the table. I sat at the head of the table and watched them with pure joy. I couldn''t help thinking about Bram and Maris. They had married and they were rather lowkey these days. There was a rumor that Bram had lost his wolf. Though I wished that happened, I was sure that they were just rumors. Maris wasn''t the type who would marry a wolf-less Alpha

    "Did you hear about Mary?" I overheard a conversation between two women.

    "No, what happened to her?" asked the other one in a lushed voice

    The first one chuckled. "She went to the human town to get herself checked. It''s been three months but she hasn''t be pregnant yet. Alpha Bram is on his edget"

    The second one let out a lowugh. "She is a ville bitch! Her father was on the verge of expelling her from the pack. But she was saved in time when she named Alpha Kram

    Belle came over with an assortment of pastries. "Luna Auren," she said with a soft smile. "I made some special pastries for you." She kept the te in front of me. "Would love it if you would eat them"

    My mouth watered the moment my eyesnded on them. There was a red velvet pastry, chocte pastry, fresh pineapple pastries and several others. "That''s really nice of you, Belle," I said, wondering if I was drooling visibly, Just as I was about to pick up one, Vivi stopped me.

    ¡°Wait, Luna¡°¡± she rasped and hurried toward us.

    My brows drew in a frown. "What''s it, Vivi?" I asked, not liking her interference

    Vivi nced at Belle and said, "Alpha Lucien has asked me to get your food tasted before you consume it."

    My mouth dropped in shock. "What?"

    Vivi pursed her lips nervously. "He wants me to test all the food before you consume it."

    Goddess. Lucien had really gone too far. Clenching my jaw, I muttered. "And how will you do it?"

    Vivi looked at Belle who had for some reason paled. "You eat it first. Once you''ve eaten, and we have waited for ten minutes, only after that, Luna

    "This is absolute nonsense!" I shouted.

    Vivi shifted on her feet, but didn''t dare say a word. Tarian also joined us in themotion "If Alpha Lucien has ordered it, then we willply with his order. He looked at Belle and said. "With a spoon take a bite of each of these." I could sense his anxiety as he said those words to Belle

    Belle nodded. She picked up a spoon from the side, carved a small slice from each cake and ate them. There was tense silence for the next ten minutes as we all watched Belle. When nothing happened, Vivi said, "Now you can eat these, Luna"

    There were tears in Belle''s eyes. I felt so horrible that I wanted to shout at Lucien for his stupid orders, Who would have the audacity to potson me? my Alpha mate was always on the edge when it came to my safety. Seriously, it was getting a bit too much and I intended to talk to him about it.

    But

    "Thanks Belle," I said as I ate the red velvet pastry: "It is the most delicious pastry I''ve ever had in my life!"

    I think my words lifted her mood. She grinned and blinked away her tears. I heard an audible sigh of relief from Tarian. Ah yes, I had to talk to

    Tariat as well

    The rest of the day went by so beautifully. In the evening, I was totally tired when I returned home. Lucien had arrived from his tour. And when I was alone with him, I addressed the issue. "You are being paranoid about my safety, Lucien, Why did you order the omegas to taste food before my

    consumption!"

    Lucien was extremely tired. He let out a rough exhale. "I ordered is for your safety, he replied.

    "But who would dare to posun me?"

    6.53 AM

    "Nothing doing" he snapped. "My orders are stark and clear. No one will mess with my orders. Not even you!"

    I flinched, swallowing down my throat. Seeing my reaction, he came to me. He lifted me in hisp and said. "I''m sorry for snapping at you, love. Had a long day. But my orders remain"

    I curled my arms around his neck and buried my head in the crook of his neck. "Darling, they all know that I won''t be alive in a few months. It would be foolish of them to-

    He ced his finger on my lips. "Hush" I don''t want to hear that from you. You will long. You can''t leave me alone. Besides, our tattoos are gone!" There was so much pain in his eyes that I felt horrible for hurting him.

    I''m sorry." I said to him, but the truth was right in front of our eyes even though we weren''t acknowledging it.

    That night as we slept, thoughts of our tattoos continued to bombard my mind. I was restless. At midnight, I got out of bed while Lucien was still asleep, and walked to the balcony. The cool night air did nothing to calm my thoughts.

    My thoughts were interrupted by rustle of leaves and a low growl. It felt like a wolf was rolling on dry leaves. But when I pierced my vision through darkness, I saw a girl running quietly toward the forest. She looked over her shoulder with caution and then disappeared into the forest. It felt odd because the girl was none other than Mirabelle

 Chapter 118

    Tuy a monoena I trane as 1 watched Mugabelle Leanol Basher over the baboy railing and stared at her as she dated into the forest, the dark ters

    Gwing her she had og reason to sneak anound like that. And especially not at midnight. Even though my inntlictoscreamed, and Lilon 1

    Str. pulse qua kened. What should I do? I should have gone back hocheil, Eshould have woken up Lucien, Lau taida''t. nobe trom the chair Lachen stimes is the best, shilling slightly to the other side, but he didn''t make op

    simpulse, I grabbed iny.

    Can''t pesked me, but I knew that if Frold him, he would let me out of his sight. And what if I was just being paranoid? Nevertheless I had to follow

    As 2 paddles, silently down the stairs, I saw that the lights were mostly cut and other than a few guards on the night patrol, there was no one. I query slipped out me the cold night through the bk dow of the kitchen

    The forest loomed ahead, thick and dark I hesitated for assets, Ind then my feet Hovedl than being guided by my logic. I sniffed the air ton the scrnst of Jasmine: It was there, but faint

    own. I was guided by my adrenalin rather

    As entered the forest, it was erly quiet, soft breze stured the leaves overhead, I chung my role to my body. The ce was so quiet that even the trickens had gone silent. I moved carefully, my feet crusching softly on the fallen leaves, I uniffed the scent of Junine, which still hung faintly in

    She had gone this way.

    There was a soft rustle abeail. Lerouched behind a thick tree trunk. 1 perkeid ainul it cautiously and froze.

    (was ahead of me, following Mirabelte. And he was shirtless,

    Taman wa

    Damn it. How embarrassing! How could I misjudge this? It seemed like Tarian wanted her, and I felt like a bone in the soup. My cheeks warned and 1 hoped that Taman didn''t look at me or sniff nie. But I guess Dicas wrong. He stopped his bead behind to look at me. I quickly ducked in an underbrush, and rubbed some leaves over me to hide my wrist. He let out a growl, atul I realized that his eyes were shing golden and his ws were out I felt like a douche, trying to pry in his love life. I prayed to the goddess to send him away from ine,

    For a moment there was no sound, but then I heard him running away from me, I breathed a sigh of relief and then hurried back to my bedroom.

    Obviously when I arrived in the room. Lucien was fully awake. And he looked feral

    "Where did you go!" he growled.

    First, I said. "I''m sorry. I sneaked out" And then I went on to exin what I did.

    I me up art

    At first, he narrowed his eyes on me as if very angry, but then he too burst out Lughing. ¡°You nosy liule prick!" he said as he picked me

    kosed my cheeks.

    Gosh. I blushed so much. I didn''t know about Tarian, okay! I mean who the hell goes into the forest and has sex?"

    Lucien took me to the bed. He lowered his voice and winked. "Forest sex is out worldly. Have you forgotten how Sienna presented herself to Kerus in the forest" He emphasized on the word forest.

    I smacked his chest as my head flooded with those images. "Shut up! We were in our woll forms!"

    His eyes shed golden as his wolf reacted to my thoughts. Heughed and nudged me to lie down beside him. "Drian is interesting" hemented. "He has given me ideas."

    1 gued my teeth. Laicien wasn''t going to let me forget this for a long time.

    For the next month, my diet incrased drastically. Lucien loved to feel my boobs that had grown heavy and painful. One night while sucking them. hr seid. "I hope they remain like this forever."

    I rolled my eyes. "You''re a pervert. C

    Once the baby is born, they recede

    "Hmm..." he sucked them hard. "In that case, I will have to put more pups in Goddam youted and he bugled

    Belle was making such good food for ine that soon she gained our trust. Even Vivi seemed to rx around her. Sometimes Vivi would take two or three days off because she could fall upon Belle. As for Tarian, he was getting more and more worked up. it had been two months since Belle had joe but it seemed like she wasn''t lening Tariane wear her. I wondered if I should talk to her, but Lucien stopped me.

    6:53 AM

    "It''s not your ce to talk. Auren," he said. "They both are adults and need to sort our this issue."

    they are mates!" I pointed out.

    Lucien shook his head. "I don''t think so. Tarian is attracted to her madly, but I don''t feel they are mates. It''s like he has fallen in love with her."

    "Poor guy." I sighed.

    Lucien diverted my attention by cing more mashed potatoes on my te. ¡°Eat. And forget about them. You have an appointment at the hospital tomorrow." We were both sitting in the bedroom

    "Any news from Crimson Howl pack?" I asked.

    He chuckled "Both Bram and Maris are unhappy with each other. Bram wants an heir, and Maris is trying. So.." He shrugged. "Not that I care, but I hope they get as lucky as me." He leaned over and kissed my forehead."

    "What if we have a girl?" I said. Because I knew that the Shadowfang pack needed a male heir.

    "Then she''ll be as pretty as you, and as intelligent as me to be the next Alpha

    1 red at him and pped his chest. "Did you just say I''m duli?"

    What!" He barked augh. "You''re reading in between the lines!"

    We heard a creak on the floorboard outside the room. Lucien paused and his brows furrowed as he waited for the knock on the door. Instead, we heard retreating footsteps. He got up and dashed to the door to open it. Jasmine scent hit my nostrils. But by the time he went to thending. Belle had gone. He returned, scratching his head. "Strange girl"

 Chapter 119

    Third POV

    After the entire day''s work, she went back to her quarters, which were at the end of the line of the servant quarters. She chose this one specifically because it was a little secluded and close to the line of the forest

    As she walked there, she noticed for the hundredth time how Alpha Lucien had given nice amodation even to his omegas. Something she would change soon. She would destroy them all.

    It was topen and she was tired. She stepped in her room, she looked at the gauzy curtains through which moonlight filtered in and sighed. She locked the door behind her. The smile she had donned all day vanished the moment thetch fell into ce. She locked the door, turned the key twice and pulled the heavy curtains closed. The moment she was alone, her posture wilted. She had to change her entire demeanor, her persona to fit in the role. It wasn''t easy, but she was driven by the revenge in her heart.

    To reach this stage, she had done a lot of work, hoodwinked many and suffered all day long, every day.

    The room was silent except for the faint clicking of the old clock on the far wall. She moved toward the vanity in the corner. Her fingers trembled as she unpinned her ck scarf and set it aside. Her lips pained as she removed its ring.

    She sat on the stool and stared at her reflection, She was still Belle-the girl with gothic vibes and jasmine scent. Her purple lipstick hid her dark Jips, which were once rosy. Then she removed her eyebrow ring. She had beautiful shapely eyebrows, which were now swollen. Her once curvaceous body was now lean.

    She leaned forward and reached out for the jar of cold cream. She applied one stroke, then another. She smeared a thick paste across her face, down her jawline and her neck. Then she wiped it clean with a linen cloth. The skin beneath was still smooth, glossy, stic. With a small exhale. she gripped the edge of her face-just beneath her jaw-and peeled. With a squelching sound, the thin silicone mask lifted, revealing the woman

    beneath.

    Sable stared at herself in the mirror for a long time, her chest rising and falling with fury that consumed her every waking hour. Her n was perfect, but Auren had squashed them all. Being amongst the enemy was risky, but she took it. She was going to destroy everyone. Including Lucien

    To get to this stage, she had to reduce her weight, alter her appearance. Her face was leaner, cheekbones sharper and eyebrows less arched. She rested her hands on her thighs, her knuckles in tights fists, "Soon, I''ll tear your perfect world apart. And you''ll never even see iting" she hissed. "And when you are begging for mercy, I will sink my ws in your belly and kill that fucking heir of the Shadowfang pack,"

    She opened the small wooden case, took out a small vial of a witch potion she had bought from the ck market, and drank it.

    The witch had warned her of side effects. The potion is going to change your scent, make it authentic, but it will have side effects on your body. Your hair color may change every time you drink from a new vial. Your lips gay turn dark, and your eyelids will be puffy. So you better be careful

    And that''s what happened. The moment she drank it, her green hair turned purple with yellow streaks, her lips turned a darker shade. Soon she was sure that they would becogne ck, just like her soul. But what she didn''t notice was that a patch of her skin on the side of her neck had turned red

    with hidrous ck veins.

    Sable had gone to the human town, and for a week she was hunting to find someone who could take her in. She was ready to sell her body for that. She knew that as a werewolf, she had a better body than humans and she could use it to her advantage. She worked as a stripper in a nightclub, where she learned how to conceal her real identity with makeup. With whatever money she made, she started buying things that would hide her real face, including the potion

    As luck would have it, she met Fred Danby. He was wolf-less, shunned by his pack, and living as a model in the human town. And he had made quite a fortune. His looks, his wit and his body were much better than humans. Girls drooled over him all the time. When their gazes met at her stripper club, he took an instant liking for her.

    Sable didn''t see back after that. She used her body to charm him, and quickly moved into his house. But all the while, she hid her original identity and scent. Even though she was with him, she plotted on how to get back to Lucien and Auren. Because of them, she and her family had suffered a lot. She lud to returns and exact revenge.

    An opportunity came when Tug, the cook at Lucien''s house, came to meet Fred, who turned out to be his nephew. Tom wasn''t feeling well, and she heard that he wanted to retire

    "Why don''t you take a rest. Uncle Tom!" Fred said. "You cane here and live with me. You''ve done so much for me. I''d love to have you here"

    This was her golden chance. She suggested to Fred that she could work instead of Tom. She had learned how to cook exotic dishes from her mother. Only to be a good partner to Lucien, If she couldn''t be his partner and cook food for him, then she could use her skills like this

    Tom chuckled "Ti''s a high-pressure job, Mirabelle."

    ESTAM

    "I know." she said. "But I can do it. Besides, I''ve been living off Fred for a long" "Shut up!" Fred said and kissed her check. "You aren''t going anywhere."

    She gritted her teeth, but she didn''t say anything However, she mixed a drop of wolfshare in Tom''s whiskey that night, and he became ill A satished smile came to her lips. She knew how to seize the right opportunity

    Fast forward. Two dayster, Tom took her to introduce Alpha Lucien and Auren. They were surprised by her gothic appearance, but they hired her Idiots. They were fooled so easily.

    Everything was going on perfectly, until Tarian came into the picture. The bastard got lured by her scent.

    That night she had gone to the forest to buy more potion from the same witch, who was passing through the forest and had called her. She hade to the forest, but Taman followed her. He had sensed the presence of a witch in the forest. Sable had to run away from there using all her strength. She narrowly escaped Tarian. The witch was gone and so was her chance to buy it. Now she had to take a holiday and go to buy it.

    Sable was waiting for the right opportunity to attack Auren. She was forming ns on how to separate her from her pack. But the bitch had a lot of security around her. Even her food was tested before she ate it. Lucien had gone crazy over protecting her. And why was it that Lucien''s tattoos were missing?

    One day when she was serving the warriors in the training arena, she couldn''t help asking a pup about Lucien''s tattoos,

    Oh that," the pup drawled. "We heard that he got a patch up job over them because his Luna didn''t like it."

    She scoffed. Soon his skin would be marred with scars.

 Chapter 120

    Auren POV

    Next day when I came down along with Lucien to the dining hall for breakfast, I saw Tarian. He was looking slightly perturbed

    Lacien sat at the head of the table after he made me sit on my chair. "What''s wrong. Tarian?" he asked as he served roasted chicken to me.

    Tarian shifted on his feet. I sniffed a witchst night at the edge of the pack''s territory"

    "What?" Lucien growled as his eyes widenes in shock..

    fter Belle, not a witch

    1 jerked my head back, shocked as bell myself. He had gone inside the forest after

    Tartu took a ragged breath. He shook his head as he sat beside Lucien "I was on my usual right patrol at midnight when suddenly our chief tracker, Waber, smelled dark magic outside the north border. He called me on an urgent hasis informing me about it, I thought he was asking me to go toward Eldermere ruins, because that''s where we smell magic, but he called me toward the north wing of your manor. When I reached there, he pointed at the forest. We split up and followed the scent, but by the time I reached there, the witch was gone. Even he couldn''t find her. It was like she disappeared into thin air."

    I clenched my fists in myp. Nothing was making sense. I exchanged a nce with Lucien and he asked me through the mind link to stay quiet,

    How can you be so sure that it was a witch" Lucien asked.

    Tarian ran his fingers through hair. "Walter was sure that there was a witch. But yes, the smell of dark magic-like that of embers and smoke mixed with herbs was thick in the air. I sniffed the scent and followed it, but I guess the witch was too clever. She must have detected us and took off!

    A muscle feathered in Lucien''s jaw. Then he looked at me and called Vivi. "Vivir"

    Vivi came rushing in "Yes Alpha" she asked, wiping her hand on her apron. "Send Belle here." he growled.

    Vivi sulled for a moment sensing his anger, but she bowed and left.

    Tarian''s brows furrowed. "Why are you calling Belle!"

    Before Lucien could reply, Belle came in. She looked nervously at the three of us. "Yes Alpha?" she asked.

    Another surprise rocked me. Yesterday her hair was green, but today they were purple with yellow streaks. How was she changing her hair color so fast? Did she go to her quarters and spend hours dying her hair! And where were her lip and eyebrow rings?

    "Why did you go to the forest yesterday?" Lucien asked directly.

    Belle''s mouth dropped as she paled. "A-Alpha, I-I-" she stammered. Her gaze darted to Tarian and for a second I thought she looked at him usingly, but the emotion changed immediately.

    "Answer my question!" Lucien growled.

    Belle nched. "I went after Beta Tarian!" she blurted

    Tarian''s checks colored pale pink and he rubbed his nose, lowering his eyes. Did Beta of the Shadowfang pack just blush Why did it feel like he was hiding something?

    "But you didn''t know that Tarian was there, or did you?"

    She looked at Tarian again. ¡°I¡ªI saw him going there," she said, wringing her hands.

    Lucien cocked an eyebrow. He turned his gaze to Tarian and said, "Did you see her in the forest?" My that he was seeing a connection between Belle and the witch. Which was ridiculous.

    by husband was very

    very intelligent.

    It was possible

    Tarian shook his head. "Nu." he scratched the back of his neck. "Hut her scent clung in the forest. So I did go after her after I realized that the witch wasn''t there" Then he looked at her, and in a concerned voice added, "You shouldn''t venture alone out at night. It''s dangerous."

    "Yes, Beta Tarian," she mumbled.

    Lucien poked his tongue in his cheek. "You may leave," he dismissed her. Helle literally ran away from there. Poor girl.

    1 let out a deep sigh, shaking my head.

    Lucien instructed Tarian. "Increase the patrol on the north side of the manor. Make sure that Walter takes rounds every day. Employ our best

    suffers for the job. If the witches again, I want her caught!"

    "I will" Tarian said. He got up, daned a nce toward the kitchen and walked out "This is concerning I breathed

    Lucien huffed. "Strange things keep happening around here." He served me sliced fruits. ¡°There''s a meeting in twenty minutes. Will youe with me to attend it?"

    "Yes, sure,¡± I replied. These days he was taking me to every important meeting. I was chiming in my ideas to the council. Some of them were good. some not so good. But I was learning.

    Belle came out from the kitchen again with a cup of herbal tea. She had a worried expression on her face. "My Luna," she prepared this calmingvender tea for you. Would you like to have in?"

    She looked at me with expectant eyes. I pursed my lips and wondered if Lucien would allow it.

    "Have you tasted it before giving it to Auren?" he asked in a harsh voice.

    Vivi came out and said, "Yes Alpha. She had a sip of it in front of me before offering it to Luna"

    On her words. I took the tea and had it. It was sweet and it was superb. Ten minutester, we walked into the meeting.

    e said in a low voice. "I

    But I don''t know why, the words of the council blurred into a dull hum as I sat beside Lucien. My hand rested on my belly. A sudden wave of dizziness swept over me, and the world tilted in a heartbeat. I gripped the edge of the table tightly. Lucien''s hand was at my back instantly. "Auren?" he rasped in concern

    I''m fine." I whispered as I forced myself to take a steady breath. Just a little dizzy."

    "Perhaps you should take a rest, Luna," a council member said. "You''re pregnant and you might be exhausted"

    Lucien''s jaw tightened. He turned to the council and said, "This meeting is over." Through the bond I felt his panic. Was this the beginning of my doom! Hispanic washed over me as well, and I looked at him with anxiety in my eyes.

    No one dared to protest

    Lucien helped me up, and he guided me out of the meeting room. As we walked, my head against his shoulder, I caught the faintest whisper behind

    that''s the Bride Bane''s curse taking root.

    -poor one_

    she isn''t fit to be our Luna."

    yes, I hope she gives birth to the heir properly.."

    * until then_

    My heart clenched. I turned slight, and all the council members became quiet.

    That night, I tossed and turned in bed. Lucien was curled protectively behind me,

    his hand syed over my belly. The words of the council. members echoed in my mind until then_

    Lasked Sienna about our pup. "How is he, Sienna

    She stirred awake in me. She was protecting our pup

    u from

    y harm. He is fine, Auren, she replied sleepily. But you should take care"

    every

    Tears lined not of meer ever. 111 this all the beginning of our doom)

 Chapter 121

    Auren POV

    Over the next few days. I started feelingzy. I didn''t want to attend the meetings and even Sienna was sleeping more inside me A sluggish feeling settled over me. Sometimes I would sleep through the afternom, only to wake up when Lucien returned home. He was begging to get worried. ti felt like the curse had started to work.

    Tiscard the end of the sixth month, my belly had swelled and I looked positively pregnant. But something bizarre w

    was also happening with mr. I had started seeing spiders around me. Often, I would see two shadows with whips in their hands. Reya and Hyra. Maris''s minions. They woulde to me and lift their whips to hit me. The moment I screamed, their shadows would disintegrate and everything would disappear. One such. night. Lucien pulled me into hisp and rocked me until I fell asleep. He didn''t leave me until morning, and only then was I able to take a good

    "What is happening to me?" I asked him with my face buried in his chest.

    He stroked my hair and back. "Nothing," he said, but through our band I could feel his anxiety, his desperation. "You''ll be fine, love."

    Water sshed over my cheek. Surprised, when I looked up at him, I found him in tears, "Lucien!" I said, wiping his tears

    "Oh, Auren!" he said in a hoarse voice and pulled me closer to him. "I love you so much. I don''t want you to die. Tell me what should I do to break this fucking curve?

    Emotions choked my throat. "Nothing. Just raise our pup." I murmured. Goddess, I loved him so much, and I wanted to live with him Forever.

    "No" he shook his head, his heart clenching with misery. "Il follow you wherever you go. I can''t-I just can''t think of living without you"

    "Lucien "I couldn''t tolerate his misery that was flowing in waves through our bond and started crying. "If you''re going to be weak, imagine what would happen to me?"

    That morning both of us stayed curled into each other. The weight of the curse was finally settling on our shoulders.

    He helped me with the bath and said, "Do you want breakfast here or would you like to go down with me?"

    I took a deep breath in "Yes, I wille down" Staying inside the room was dreary.

    As soon as I was down, Belle came over. ¡°Luna, I''ve made chamomile tea for you.

    I see that you''re not feeling well these days. This will rx you."

    Her sea did rx me. I nodded and she ced the tea in front of me. Belle''s tea therapy was working great with me. It calmed me a lot. I was losing my appetite and this was the only thing I liked. "Thanks Belle. Your tea is great."

    She offered a small smile, lowered her head like a sweet omega and went back to the kitchen. Vivi came out with trays of breakfast. "I''ve made special chicken sd for you, my Luna" she said as she ced it in front of me. This contains sprouts, cucumber, spinach, yoghurt and mozzare cheese You''ll love it! I could see that she was pushing me with a smile through her worries.

    I chuckled. "Thanks Vivi

    I had the tea first and then took a spoonful of sd. As I pushed the sd on my te, I fell a strange sensation. Like ants were crawling over my body. I looked at my arms and saw big red ants crawling up. I screamed. "Ants!" Lucien jumped up and came to me. I pointed at my arms. "There

    "Where?" he asked with a confused expression

    I started scratching my arms as the ants bit me."

    , "Here!" I shouted, "Can''t you

    There is nothing. Auren" he said, his face contorted with worry

    All the winegas came out and stared at us.

    is wrong with

    "Auren?" he said, touching me. "There''s nothing baby

    I revoiled in his touch. How could he be so stuje to my misery? And why could he see the ants? I scratched myself, drawing blood. "Remove these!" shouted as they but me. I got up and ran upstairs with Lucien running after me. I dashed into the bathroom and dived into the tub opening the faucet and the shower overhead over the, as I continued to scratch myself. Lucien had to restrain my hand to stop me.

    He opened his mind link and called Dr. Elias. I want you here right now!'' he lurked.

    After about twenty minutes, the ants retreated. I sank the shower with scratches on my neck, and arms. Crying, I looked up at lum. "Th-they''re

    6:54AM &

    gone

    Lucien stared at me with helplessness from outside the tub. "There was none, love. What is happening to you?"

    I clung to his thighs and let out a sob. "I don''t know. I don''t know! Is our pup safe?

    I hope I haven''t harmed our pup"

    "No, you haven''t," he reassured me.

    Elias came immediately after. Lucien dried me with a towel and took me to bed. Elias asked me various questions as he applied cream to my arms and neck. "Since when did the hallucinations start?"

    1 flopped on the pillow. "A month ago."

    "What Why didn''t you tell me?" Lucien asked, both astonished and angered.

    ut I''m tired of it. Lucien Save

    I shook my head. "It started with spiders raining on me, and now this. Earlier I thought it was all a part of the curse. But I''m me. I whimpered.

    He sat at the edge of the bed and held my hand. "You''ve been suffering for a month and you didn''t bother to tell me about it?"

    "I-I didn''t want to add my worries to your life. You know this has to happen, right?"

    Shut up!" he seethed. "You are my priority. Above everything else. If you''re there, I''m there! When the fuck will you understand it?"

    "And what else do you feel?" Elias intervened.

    ¡°I feel sluggish all the time, Dr. Elias,¡± I said in a wary voice. "It''s got nothing to do

    with your medical science. It''s the curse...

    if I do a blood test?"

    He sighed. "Is it okay if

    I nodded. "You may, but I''m fine."

    "You don''t look fine to me, Luna Auren," he replied with a rough exhale. "Can you tell me what all you are eating?"

    As I told him the things I was eating, he drew my blood. "I''ll send the results of the

    test by evening. Until then, I suggest that you only have fruits"

    I found his request odd, but I said, "Okay but I insist that this is all about the

    curse. Your medical science can do nothing" Misery coated my soul, and I broke into a fresh bout of tears. I was dying in three months...

 Chapter 122

    Third POV

    6

    Patience was the key to what she was doing. Over the past 6 weeks she had gained trust. Disguised under the perfect persona of Belle, the well-mannered omega, every smile, every "good morning" in the halls and her gothic appearance was like a coiled serpent who was biding its time. The moment hade to act. She was not only going to destroy Auren and her pup, she was going to destroy Lucien as well. And only if she wanted, she might spare Lucien. That too, if he showed her some loyalty after Auren''s death.

    Over the past weeks, she had been slowly giving hallucinogens to Auren in her "special" tea. Auren used to feel calm, but when the hallucinogens worked, she would scream and act weird. It was enough for her to nt seeds of doubt in the minds of omegas and guards that she was unwell, that the curse was taking its root, and that she was going to die in a few months.

    But Sable was curious to know about all the tattoos that had disappeared from Lucien''s body. Though the omega had said that he had got a patch up job done, she wasn''t convinced. Secretly, she checked his hospital records and didn''t find any procedure rted to the tattoos. That''s how she wondered if the curse was lifting. Then she heard rumors that Auren was Alpha Lucien''s mate. Fury sted inside her chest. If that was the case, it was possible that the tattoos disappeared for they were bound to the legacy of the Shadowfang Alphas. And if that was the case, surely Auren would survive the birthing of her pup. Thatplicated everything.

    Sable had to do something, and do if fast. As she stood before vanity in the omega quarters, she applied a dark concealer over the ridged edges of her mask. She had practiced it a lot because with one wrong stroke, someone might see the fine seam near her jawline.

    Two days ago she handed Vivi a fabricated letter in which she asked for a leave citing "a personal family emergency." Vivi had asked her if she needed help to go to her home, but she had declined it politely. She was granted two days off and it was enough time for what she needed to do. A smirk appeared on her lips when she remembered how Auren acted like a moon crazy woman, imagining ants on her body.

    It wasn''t easy to mix hallucinogens in her tea, because Vivi would ask her to taste

    it before giving it to the Luna. So she would make it, taste it in front of Vivi, and then while on her way to give it to Auren, she would quickly add a drop of moonshade in her tea. It was risky, but it was worth it.

    It was evening. The sun had dipped low in the sky. She journeyed out under the disguise of visiting her ailing aunt in the Iron Fang pack, but instead she slipped into the human town where she was going to meet Fred, her boyfriend.

    Fred was already waiting for her at the bus station. "Mirabelle!" he said and picked her up. He kissed her tenderly and grinned. ¡°I missed you babe. Have you really left that job?" he asked as her put her down.

    She gave him a soft smile. "Yes. Too many weirdos in that ce. I told them I quit and walked."

    Fredughed. Holding her hand, he brought it to his lips and kissed her knuckles. "Good. You deserve better, and you can stay with me forever."

    She cooed softly. She wrapped her arms around his neck and pressed a kiss to his cheeks. He sighed as he leaned into her. "I have a small request though," she said, resting her head on his chest.

    He hugged her tightly, feeling emotional. "Anything for you, sweetie."

    "Don''t tell Uncle Tom about it. He will be heartbroken. I mean I didn''t exactly give my employers a chance to find another cook."

    Fred cupped her cheeks and lifted her face to look at him. "I won''t, sweetie. You think so much about us." Then he pressed a kiss to her lips. "I''m lucky to have found you."

    She giggled and pped his chest. She let him take her out for dinner. As she sipped orange soda, she pretended to listen about his modelling assignments. Everything was perfect. All she had to do was go to the shop where she had ordered her "stuff" and then return in two days.

    That night when she went to Fred''s quarters, she saw Tom. "Good evening, Uncle!" she chirped. He looked pretty ill, walking slowly, shuffling toward the main hall with a walking stick in his hand.

    "Mirabelle!" His eyes gleamed. "How are you? What a lovely surprise!"

    She giggled. "I''m well. How are you, Uncle Tom?" She went and hugged him, but

    in her mind, she was cursing him. If he talked to anyone at the Shadowfang pack that she was here, her web would start to unravel.

    "Old man woes," he chuckled.

    She removed herself. Adjusting her scarf, she said with the sweetest smile she could muster. "It''s lovely to see you!"

    His kind eyes crinkled "What are you doing here, Mirabelle?"

    She looked at Fred with a forlorn expression. "I missed him. So I came to meet him."

    "Aww... that''s sweet of you

    3:15 PM

    "Say... would you join us for tea?" she said, her voice sugary.

    "Of course!" Tom said with enthusiasm.

    +50

    "Give me a minute!" she said and rushed toward the kitchen. She heard Fred and Tom talking eagerly in the main room. As she made tea, she took out a small green pouch secretly, looking over her shoulder to see if anyone was watching. She emptied the contents of the pouch-nightshade and monkshood-a slow- working poison into Tom''s tea. It would make it look like he had caught a severe infection after he drank it. In one day, he would be feverish, confused, and sweating. Then he would copse in his bed, never waking again.

    She served them all tea, and sat with Fred. The three of them talked about the Shadowfang pack andughed and remembered stupid things. For the next three hours, nothing happened as Sable watched Tom keenly. Then she sighed, "I''m tired, sweetheart."

    Fred kissed her on cheeks. "You should sleep." He took her hand and they went to his bedroom. She heard Tom also retiring to his bedroom. As soon as they were in, Fred pinned her to bed, and soon they were having sex. She allowed him to have sex with her because she was also feeling like she needed it. Fred would do for now.

    In the morning, when she woke up, she grunted, looking at her phone.

    "What''s wrong?" Fred asked sleepily.

    "The Shadowfang pack wants me back!" she said, tossing her phone away.

    Fred got up. "Don''t go."

    "I don''t want to, but they are saying that ording to my contract, I have to give them at least a month''s notice before leaving."

    Fred gritted his teeth. "Fuckers!"

    She covered her face with her hands. "If I don''t go, they will p me with a

    500,000 thousand dors penalty!"

    "Goddamnit!" Fred rasped.

    She looked at him with a sad face. "I have to go... Like now!"

    "But you just came, baby," heined.

    She hugged him tightly. "I''ll be back soon." She got out and walked to the bathroom. "Give my apologies to Tom for not being able to meet him, okay?"

    An hourter, she was standing in the witch''s shop. To buy rune explosives.

    AD

 Chapter 123

    Third POV

    By the time Sable returned to the Shadowfang pack that night, she had ensured two things. One, Tom would be dead in the next two days, and so her secret would remain intact. Two, Fred wouldn''t suspect a thing. He might call her, and she would pick up the phone, but she had already thought about what she would tell him. She would convey her condolences to him, but she wouldn''t inform Vivi or others at the pack about Tom''s death.

    From the witch''s shop in the ck market, she had bought the potion that would keep her smell intact, and she bought rune explosives. She was going to nt then and the next day, she would prepare its anchor.

    50

    A smile came to her lips as she felt that she was tightening the noose around them finally. The pieces were shifting ording to her n.

    She didn''t waste time and moved like a ghost toward the training arena. It was dead in the night and apart from crickets and an asional howl of a patrolling wolf, the ce was silent. When she reached the training arena, she made her way toward the main ring, her eyes scanning the ce. She had studied the ce all her life, but over the past two weeks she had memorized the patrols in order toe here unhindered. She had located the weakest wall and the dry fountain beneath it. That fountain was alive once, but because Alpha Lucien had to expand the training arena because more pups joined in for training, he had to cover it up. There was a staircase that led down to the fountain. She went down, finding just enough room to crawl beneath and ce the rune.

    She reached into the small pouch at her waist. From there she pulled out the explosive ruin she had bought from the witch. It was very expensive and she had to dole out a lot of money for it. As she held the t obsidian metal disk in her hand, she could feel its magic. The way it hummed softly. All she had to do was to recite the ancient incantation the witch had given her. And the destruction would follow. She wanted chaos, smoke, mes, which would be enough destruction to divert Tarian as she focused on her main task. To kill Auren.

    She slid beneath the structure, sweat coverin her forehead. The scent of damn moss and wood permeated the air. As soon as she reached the most vulnerable spot, she ced the metal te on it. It hummed and stuck to the wall like it was a part of it. She whispered a spell that the witch had taught her and activated the seal.

    "Tick. Tick. Tick." She murmured under her breath as her lips curled into a sinister smile. "Just enough for you toe running here, Beta Tarian," she chuckled. "And who knows, you might die?" She brushed her hands.

    After looking at it and smirking with satisfaction, she slithered out of that ce. As soon as she came out, she stood up and scanned the ce. There was no one. Satisfied, she made her way to her quarters. Her time was measured now. Calcted. She had to be somewhere when the explosion rocked Alpha''s house. Her next stop was to lure Auren away into a ce where she could kill her.

    The next day in the morning, Sable couldn''t hide her excitement. Vivi asked, "What''s up with you, Belle?"

    She hesitated. "Oh, nothing. I talked to my boyfriend! That''s all!"

    Vivi chuckled. "Hope he''s fine."

    "He is!" she replied. Just then she received Fred''s call. She gave a tight-lipped smile to Vivi. "It''s him. Can I take this phone outside?"

    "Sure," Vivi replied and went on to do other work.

    Sable ran out of the kitchen to the backyard. When she was in a secluded corner, sure that no one was listening to her, she picked up Fred''s call. "Hey sweetheart," she said. "I''ve joined the duty. They are going to find my recement soon. And then I''lle to youuuu!"

    "Belle," Fred''s voice was above a whisper. "Uncle Tom isn''t well. I am calling from the hospital."

    "Wh-what happened?" she asked with mocked worry.

    Fred sounded low. "I don''t know. It began with some infection in his belly and then

    a fever. Now-now he is just in aa. I don''t know what is going on

    "God" she rasped. "But he was absolutely fine when I was there."

    Fred sighed. "Yes. And that''s what I am wondering. What could happen in a day''s time?"

    "Fro so sorry to hear about him. Fred," she said while smiling. "Do you want me

    toe there?" It was hard to act sad when you were so happy

    "No, no,¡± he replied "You are also in a lot of trouble. I handle it here"

    "Oishi swertree," she said. "I''m so sorry But sending you hugs from here. And stay strong I''m sure he will be okay soon"

    3.15 PM

    "I hope so too," Fred replied. "It was finally my time to take care of him, and now this..."

    She talked to him a little more, giving assurances and then went back to the kitchen, her feet practically bouncing.

    The rune was set. The trap wasid. She gave a fluttering smile to the omegas in the kitchen who were talking. Then she went on to prepare the chamomile tea for the Luna.

    "Your tea, Luna Auren," she said with a smile as she gave it to her.

    Auren was sitting at the table alone. Lucien was nowhere to see. What could be better than this?

    Auren smiled at her weakly and said, "Thanks Belle. But I won''t be having tea. Vivi has brought me fruits. I''ll have them."

    Sable''s smile dropped. "Oh, why? If you don''t like this tea, I''ll make some other."

    Auren chuckled. "No, it''s just that I don''t feel like having tea. Having acidity. Want to eat something lighter."

    Sable stared at the fruits in front of her. If Auren didn''t have the tea, she wouldn''t hallucinate today. If she didn''t do that, the omegas and guards who were watching her closely would feel that everything is alright. No. No. No. She had to do something. "Should I bring more fruits for you?" she asked. At least that way she would add the drug to the fruits.

    "No!" Auren replied. "I''m fine."

    Sable licked her lips, not knowing what to do because her n got a setback. But calmly, she turned around and walked back into the kitchen. Soon her n was going to roll out at a great speed. What would she do now?

    She clenched her jaw and decided to go for the next part of her n. She waited for an hour. By that time, Auren had gone back to her bedroom, and the omegas were as usual cleaning the house. Vivi had gone to her quarters to take a bath. Using the opportunity, she went to Auren''s bedroom and knocked at the door.

    "Come in," Auren shouted.

    When she stepped in her room, she found Auren sitting on the bed, reading a book. "Luna," she bowed to her.

    Auren tilted her head. "Yes Belle?"

    "My Luna," she said with a mocking sweetness. "Sorry to bother you, but I really wanted to tell you something."

    Auren cocked an eyebrow. "What?"

 Chapter 124

    Third POV

    She chuckled. "It''s nothing great actually. It''s just that I found a journal of rare wolf myths in the library a few days ago. It also contained information about some Bride Bane''s curse on Shadowfang pack."

    Auren''s eyes widened in shock. "What?"

    Sable gulped. "It is not my ce to tell you about the curse, but the entire pack knows about it. I thought I might help you if I could with whatever info I found." She started wringing her hands in front of her to appear innocent and flustered. "If you don''t want, I''ll¡ª"

    "No! I want to know about it," Auren said. "Where is the journal?¡±

    Sable smiled sweetly. The trap wasid. Hook, line and sinker. "It''s in row twelve of the library. I can take you there."

    Auren got up immediately, excitement showing on her face. "Please do!"

    They were on their way to the library, which was mostly empty. No one other than the cleaners visited it for dusting and keeping it clean. Sable opened the door for Auren. She led her to row twelve. "It''s right there," she pointed. "I''ll guide you to it and then leave. Vivi is calling me for some

    work!"

    "Oh, it''s fine," Auren replied. "I''ll find my way. You may go."

    Sable smiled and bowed to her before leaving. She walked out of the library and locked it from outside quietly so that Auren wouldn''t hear the click.

    50

    And now she waited for the chaos to begin. As she walked casually toward the kitchen, she recalled how the witch had helped her not knowing her true intentions. Bless the ck market. She had found her by chance when she was a stripper. The witch had given her potions that not only helped her alter her appearance slightly, it also helped her change her scent. But she didn''t just depend on the potions, she used a prosthetic mask on her face. She had reduced her weight. No one could recognize her-even the mighty Alpha of the North. Her decoy was perfect.

    She rubbed her hands in excitement and recited the spell the witch had told her, just before she reached the kitchen. The first explosion boomed, rattling the windows and doors of the manor. Chaos ensued. People screamed and ran out to see what it was. She saw Beta Tarian sprinting toward the training arena. Lucien was in his office, so it was going to take him some time to reach. She had exactly ten minutes to kill Auren.

    "Run, run!" she shouted to the omegas. The omegas screamed and ran out of the manor. Even the guards ran out to check out what was going on. She chanted another spell. More explosions took ce. The kitchen was empty now. Sable made her way to the knife stand, and drew two butcher knives. Then she headed back to the library.

    She walked down the corridors soundlessly, watching everyone. She had concealed the twin butcher knives beneath her apron. Pure bem had descended on the manor. There were shrieks, hurried boots, andmands. Though she couldn''t see the mes that were now engulfing the training arena, she could smell the smoke. Her heart pounded with anticipation.

    This was the moment she had waited for ever since her ns to pull down Auren at the High Council had gone awry. Ever since the High Council had released a red alert for her.

    Atst, Auren was alone. She was trapped. Unaware of the mayhem outside. Exactly as nned.

    Sable chuckled as she thought that Auren must be reading the journal,pletely oblivious of what was happening in the manor. She was going to take her by surprise. Kill her smoothly. She knew that Auren''s wolf hade out. She was huge and powerful. But fate was on her side. Auren wouldn''t shift into her wolf because she was pregnant. Pregnant she-wolves never shifted because they protected their pups. Shifting would cause change in their body shape, which pups couldn''t handle.

    As she walked through the corridor that led to the library, the heavy scent of smoke seeped in the air. She liked it because it was a smell of distraction, of opportunity. She reached the library doors, which were locked from outside. She looked to her right and left to scan if there was anyone. There was no one. She opened the lock softly and entered the library.

    Inside, the library remained as calm as she had left it. The chaos outside hadn''t touched this part of the manor. Slowly, she took out her knives and padded her way toward where Auren was sitting.

    Auren wasn''t where she had left her. The journal was lying on the table. She gritted her teeth, hating it. She snapped her eyes to the right to find her. She picked up her smell and padded toward a row beyond row twelve.

    There Auren was. Standing at one of the back shelves, totally unaware of the storm brewing in the manor, and the one behind her. She was flipping through the pages of another book.

    Sable''s smile twisted.

    Cautiously, she took out her knives. She crept forward, de gleaming under the light, boots silent on the carpet. But her heart thundered in her 1/2

    3:15 PM d

    chest with every step she took. It wasn''t out of fear though. It was her rage as she remembered how Lucien chose Auren, a pathetic omega over her. Of Tarian hunting the witch in the forest. Of Lucien throwing her family in dungeons. Of her running like a criminal. Of Tom, dead now, like a bug she squashed under her foot.

    When she was only a few feet, she raised the first knife and aimed it at her throat. She kept the second one aimed at her chest.

    But just as she took that final step, Auren turned. Their eyes met.

    Auren froze for a moment as air thickened between them. Her brows drew in confusion. "Belle?"

    Sable''s jaw tightened. She didn''t speak.

    Auren looked at her knives and narrowed her eyes. "Or should I call you, Sable?"

    Sable''s eyes widened. "H-how do you know?"

    Auren didn''t give her a chance. She spun on her heel, bolting toward the inner row of shelves, knocking over a stack of books and old tomes as she went. She disappeared into the darkness at the end of the library.

    Sable hissed. "Stupid bitch!" She lunged forward, leaping over the toppled books. She shouted, "You think you were meant to be Luna?" She shed her knives through the air. "Lucien was mine! The pack was mine!" She was a werewolf and she could see through the darkness where Auren was. "Did you think you could hide from me, wench?¡± She stalked closer, a maniacughter bubbling inside her chest. "See how beautifully I have trapped you?¡±

    Auren was stered to the wall, her eyes wide, her heart pounding. "You deceived us," she rasped. "You deceived the High Council!"

    "Fucking coward!" Sable seethed and lunged at her.

    Just when she lunged at Auren, she moved and the wall behind her shifted.

    If you''re reading this book, you can follow me on FB at Mishakwrites or IG at Authormishakr.

 Chapter 125

    Auren POV

    The wall behind me groaned as it slid open with a grind over the stone. A burst of cool air hit my back and dim light spilled from the hidden passage behind me. It illuminated the darkness I was in. A dangerous growl erupted and Lucien stepped out. The moment he was there, I couldn''t help hurling myself in his arms. He wrapped his left arm around my waist and pulled me closer. My legs were shaking. I buried my face in his chest, clutching him as if I''d never let him go. When I looked over my shoulder at Sable, I saw that she had paled. Her mouth dropped wide open and her arms hung loosely around her with knives in them.

    "H-how did you get here?" she asked bewildered as she stared at the wall behind

    us.

    Lucien looked over my head as his eyes locked onto Sable. His fury was palpable through our bond. I could feel that he wanted to rip her apart. "Through the passage," he said. "A secret only the Alpha of the North knows. You really thought we would let you roam unchecked?"

    Without a warning, Sable lunged at us, her knives lifted high in the air. But before she could reach me, Lucien shoved me behind him and ducked. Using full force, he swung his fists at her ribs. On impact, Sable cried loudly as she flew in the air and crashed on the shelves behind her. Books and journals dropped over her. Next instant, she pushed past those books and emerged, shaking on her feet with madness in her eyes. "But... how? How did you find out?" she asked, unable to believe that we had foiled her ns.

    Suddenly, the door burst open and Tarian walked in. Before Sable had a chance to turn, he twisted her arm behind. She let out a shriek as she dropped her knives. Then Tarian caught her throat and peeled off her prosthetic mask. "I knew it!" he rasped.

    Sable snapped her head at me. "You fucking bitch, you think that you have won. No. I have made sure that there is mayhem in this entire pack!"

    "Oh, we know!" I said, straightening up. "Dr. Elias insisted on my blood test. And guess what? The results showed a rare hallucinogen, which is banned in the market, but it is avable in the ck market." I continued as I took a step toward her. Lucien was beside me like my protector. "We wondered how I was poisoned. And the only way was to add it to the food. The guards searched all the omega quarters. And when we reached your room-" My lips curled into a sneer. ¡°The same drug was found hidden in your dresser. After that, everything that has happened here, Belle," I spat her false name. "You thought you were trapping me, but all this time, we wereying the trap for you."

    "You don''t know me!" Sable hissed. "You don''t know what I''ve done. You have only scratched the surface of my n. It goes so deep that you can''t even fathom!" She smiled wickedly. "Even if you kill me, this entire ce, this house, the omegas, the training arena-they''ll die. I have nted rune explosives everywhere. You''re all going to burn!"

    I gave her a cold smile. "We know what you''ve done, Sable," I said.

    Her eyes widened as she froze. Tarian stepped back and crossed his arms across his chest. He could have snapped her neck anytime, but I wanted to tell her that she took us for fools, but she was the biggest fool.

    "We tracked your movement over thest two days," I said. "We watched your every step. The explosives you are talking about? Walter disarmed the one near the training arena, and nted them in the prison which holds your family instead. The explosion you heard came from the dungeons. Your family must have toasted by now."

    "No!" she rasped, trembling like a waif. "No! NO!" she screamed, rage overtaking her. "You''ll pay for this!"

    Without a warning, Sable shifted. In a few seconds, her wolf stood in front of me, lips peeled back in a vicious snarl. My throat turned dry.

    ''Sienna, I said. ''Can I shift?''

    "No!'' her panicky voice came. ''Our pup!''

    Sable''s wolfunched herself at me. But she never reached me. Beside me, Lucien exploded into Remus. His transformation was shockingly instant. One moment he was standing next to me, and the next, his ck wolf stood before me as he intercepted her mid-air with a thunderous crash of bodies colliding.

    They both crashed down on the ground with jaws and ws snapping at each other. She tried to move past him to reach me, but Remus was sharp. He caught her movements. He struck her. One heavy swipe of his paw knocked her to the ground. When she tried to get up, he bit her on her shoulder, lifted her with his jaws locked in her flesh, and threw her across the room. She let out a yelp as she crashed on the wall. She got up and headed out, but this time she had to face Tarian who had also shifted into his wolf.

    Scared and trembling, she was now between the most fearsome wolves of America. Suddenly, she dashed at ny degrees to them and came for me. But Remus was faster. He attacked her, his jaws sping around her neck. I heard a squelch of flesh. And Sable was hanging limp in Remus''s jaw with his fangs sunk into her.

    With a deafening snark, Remus padded to me andid dead Sable in my feet as if offering me in reverence. And then he tipped his head up and let out a thunderous roar Everything and everyone went silent for a moment.

    With shaky hands, I stepped over Sabie''s wolf and reached my beautiful mate. I curled my hands around his neck, digging my nails in his fur as tears spilled from my eyes. His chest rumbled as he stood there with my face buried in his neck.

    3:15 PM

    0

    +50

    "Thank you, Remus," I said in a voice choked with emotions. This was all my n. To trap Sable like this even though he just wanted to kill her right on the spot. "Thank you... It''s over..." And then I cried as the weight of what happened came crashing on me.

 Chapter 126

    Auren POV

    The manor was inplete chaos. Smoke billowed from the cracked windows. The explosion was huge. The dungeon walls had fractured on the impact. Afraid that the rest of the prisoners would run away, the warriors scrambled to not only put out thest of the fires, but also make sure that the prisoners didn''t escape.

    Tartan barked onders sharply as he organized the cleanup. He was the best Beta in the werewolves'' world. The kind of precision he showed was excellent It only came for a long-standing loyalty and experience. His face was marred with tension, and something like but I knew what it was. It was the loss of the woman who he got immensely attracted to. Sable''s fake scent had stirred his wolf. He really liked her, but it was a painful realization that the woman he liked was an imposter and enemy number one of his Alpha and Lun

    Inside the library,y Sable''s lifeless wolf form. The guards had alreadye. Tarian nodded at them. "Get this ce cleared Burn her remains, he ordered grimly. ¡°She will not receive the honor of being burned in the pack''s territory. Take her outside!"

    Lucien hadn''t shifted back. Remus remained in his ce, his golden eyes softening as they looked at me. I stood up, shock still cruising through as I looked at Sable''s body and the wall that had shifted. My breath was shallow and my hands trembled as I grabbed Remus''s fur. "Lucier." 1 whispered.

    Remus let out a quiet whine and lowered himself to the floor.

    My legs were giving out soon. I stepped forward and I climbed up slowly onto his broad back. I buried my face in the thick fur of his neck. He made a low sound-a soft rumble. My fingers curled into his coat.

    No words were needed at this moment. He got up and carried me through the halls of the manor towards our bedroom. He gently nudged open the door to our room. Inside, it was peaceful-untouched by the madness outside.

    Remus crouched low and I slid down into the bed. Remus climbed the bed in his wolf form. I tangled my hands in his fur and curled against his massive chest He ced one paw on me and pulled me closer to him and leaned his head over mine gently I really needed him, needed to feet that I was safe and secure, that no one could ever try to kill me. Sable had trieil her best to make me look mad, and she nted seeds of doubt in other people''s minds that I was hallucinating, which meant that I was nearing death. When in reality, she was drugging me with hallucinogens. She was slow-poisoning me. She wanted to kill our pup. What kind of twisted world did she live in?

    I don''t know why but a fresh bout of tears came. Remus licked me, whimpering as if in pain, as if asking the not to cry, as if saying that he''s got me. Eventually, my tears slowed, and my eyes were heavy with sleep and exhaustion. I curled into him like I used to when he woulde into my room unannounced, and drifted off to sleep.

    Lucien POV

    I knew that Remus wanted to stay with her. He was overprotective of his mate. It was understandable. After Sable tried to kill her, he wanted to alive her and unalive her again and again until he was satisfied. The moment I came to know that wax Sable behind drugging my tama, I wanted to kill her that moment. But it was Auren who asked me to wait and see what Sable''s full n was. So I asked Tarian to keep a check on Sable''s movements. And to our horror, she had nted rune explosives near the training arena where pups trained. Had Tarian not seen those explosives, the morning would have been different. We would have had several pups lead,

    Auren''s sharp mind not only averted a great danger, we eliminated Sable''s entire family. The rune explosives were nted in the cell where her fannly was lodged

    Sable thought that she could kill my Luna because she was innocent and a fool. But she didn''t know how strong and sharp my Luna was. Auren and I were alwaysmunicating with each other via mind link. When Sable closed her in the library, Auren had told me about it through the mind link. I was there in the manor, but hidden to keep Sable in blind.

    Every one of us was ready to trap Sable. Sable thought that she had trapped Auren, when in reality it was Auren who had trapped her.

    Auren was still shaken from the incident. Remus was extremely worried and so he didn''t let me shift. Ite licked her when she cried, silently asking her not to. When her tears slowed and her breath evened out, she curled into him and went off to sleep. Remus stayed awake long after she had drifted off, holding her close as the moon rose higher in the sky, its silvery light filtering through the curtains.

    Morning came quietly.

    When she woke up, Remus had already given me my skin. She stirred in the sheets around her, blinking. I had still tucked her securely against my chest. My arms were wound tightly around her. I lowered my face and watched her intensely. "Ahr you ogling at me, Mr. Vaslof?" she mumbled groggily.

    My hips quirked up with a smile. "I''m checking to make sure that my pup is doing fine inside you

    "You''re the worst doctor," she whisperest, her voiceced with affection.

    3:15 PM d

    "And you''re a terrible patient," I replied as I brushed my thumb over her lips.

    "Which is why you''re not leaving this bed. Not today, at least."

    "Oh no," she said dramatically. "Am I your prisoner now?"

    "Yes, you are," I replied firmly. "But you''re being held hostage with breakfast and-"

    I nuzzled into her hair. "My naked body is also at your service,"

    She pped my chest and I burst outughing. It was so good to see her bantering with me.

    "So what would you like to have for breakfast, Mrs. Vaslof? Eggs, toast orrrrr... my cum?"

    "Oh. My. Goddess!" she rasped, blushing hard. "You''re a pervert!"

    "That is a im, I won''t refute," I said proudly. "I''m a pervert for you." I tipped her head up and ced a kiss. "What will it be? Because I am ready) to give you both." I grinded my hard cock against her thighs, letting her know of my intentions clearly.

    She narrowed her eyes, tipped her chip up in that stubborn way and said, "Eggs and toast."

    I gritted my teeth. "Damn it! Okay, but I''ll have to force a vor of me."

 Chapter 127

    Lucien POV

    She giggled as she blushed hard. I kissed my wife. I wanted her to forget all the horrible things she had experienced in her past. With Sable gone, our life was going to start afresh. I didn''t want her to remember even one day of how terrible her life was. But I couldn''t help thinking that being my mate and my Luna, there were unseen repercussions. Almost every she-wolf in our society wanted to be in her shoes. Not only that, every parent behind that she wolf would go to extremes to eliminate her. Look what Rizy did to his daughter?

    I pushed myself up and said, "Stay here. I''m getting breakfast for you."

    "You don''t have to," she said with a beatific smile. "I''lle downstairs to the dining hall."

    I shook my head. "Did you forget that you''re my prisoner for the day?"

    She bit her lip, then with a grin, she flopped on the bed. "Okay," she said with mischief in her eyes. "You know I eat a lot. Like a lot, lot! So you better buckle up and feed me." She chuckled.

    I winked. "Absolutely, love. I will feed you well." I nced at my cock that was already raging hard and pointing toward her. "This one is already ready to offer his juices."

    She threw a pillow at me, blushing again. "Get lost!"

    Iughed as I caught the pillow and hopped off the bed. I wrapped a towel around me and went down to the kitchen. Almost everyone out there gasped. My towel was tenting and the fucker was nowhere in control. But what could I do? "Vivi," I said, "Where are the eggs? Auren is hungry?"

    Vivi gulped. "Alpha Lucien, you may return to your room. I''ll prepare breakfast for Luna."

    "No." I growled. "I''ll do it. Get me eggs."

    Vivi was so bbergasted that she picked an egg from the fridge and gave it to me. After that I ordered several other things, and started making an omelet. It didn''te out as well as I thought it would, but it was the taste that mattered, not the looks. I took two pieces of bread, toasted them, sliced a few fruits, and arranged them all in arge tray. When I was satisfied that she would love it, I walked out of the kitchen with omegas gasping at me. Or were they reacting to the mayhem behind me? What? Only a few pots and pans and egg shells were strewn. Fruit peels as well. Okay. Some vegetables also.

    When I took it all upstairs, I proudly ced the tray on the side table. Auren stared at it, then back at me. "This is a crime scene."

    I clenched my jaw as I slipped beside her. "I fought a war for you. You will eat my toast!"

    Auren burst outughing and curled into me, shaking with it. "In that case, you are the Alpha of Fluffy pancakes," she snorted.

    I sighed. "I liked it better when you cried and clung to me."

    "Well, too bad," she said as she tilted her head up and kissed my jaw. ¡°I''m healing"

    We spent the rest of the morning tangled in sheets as we ate breakfast like two people who hadn''te face to face with death just hours ago. It was all kisses between bites. We yfully teased each other. And weughed because we survived the worst attack possible on us. If Auren was dead, I couldn''t even think of a life with her. I would have followed her after death.

    By afternoon, we had taken a bath. Of course, together. And after that, Auren was itching to go somewhere. I really didn''t want her to go because she needed rest. She was pregnant.

    I had gone down to take a report from Tarian and when I returned, I saw hercing her boots. "No," I growled as I leaned against the door frame with my arms crossed. My eyes dropped pointedly at her belly before flicking back on her face. "You aren''t going outside."

    She snapped her eyes at me. "I''m pregnant, not cursed."

    "That''s debatable," I muttered under my breath as I strode forward. I kneeled right in front of her. "Give me your foot."

    "Lucien-" the protested

    I didn''t wait and ured her boot with an irritated sigh. "You are not going to walk out with swollen ankles and a tiny pup growing inside you." I started rubbing her arch with my thumb, leaving no room forpromise. "You can stay inside. Read, Paint, re at me lovingly. You know, all safe things" I just couldn''t help it. My instincts to protect my mate were at their highest. Remus was already prowling in my head, only wanting to be close to her. Her anger was palpable through the bond, but what could I do? I was scared that there were still people outside who might harm her. A shudder passed through my body, remembering what Sabie tried to do to her.

    She arched her eyebrow. "You just want to keep me locked up.¡±

    #

    I looked at her and shrugged. "Correct"

    She tilted her head. "Oh, should I write poetry sitting at the ledge of my tower window, and weep intoce handkerchiefs?"

    I paused and then smirked. "Only if you''re barefoot and sign my name dramatically,"

    Auren picked up a pillow and snacked me with it. I caught it and pulled her straight into myp. My one hand was on her back and the other one rested protectively on her bump. "You''re glowing, love," I whispered, kissing her temple. "Give yourself some rest. Please,

    "Lucien."

    I buried my face in the crook of her neck. "You smell like home, like mine..."

    She leaned into me,ughing softly. "Okay fine. I''ll stay indoors."

    Recip

    "And tomorrow," I added helpfully, "And possibly the day after

    "Don''t push it, wolf!" she growled, and I zipped my lips.

    It was going to take a lot more than my brilliant banter to keep my mate in the house,

 Chapter 128

    Auren POV

    Lucien wanted me to stay in the room because of what I had undergone. I was truly shocked and every time I sat alone, I would remember all that Sable did to me. Every dot was connected except some. It seemed like even though she was dead, there was something lurking out there, and I was truly not out of danger.

    For example, what about the video that was sent to all of us in the High Council? Who sent it to us? Tarian and his team tried to find it, investigate it, but they always came to a dead end. It was like the person who sent it was a ghost.

    Lucien had gone for another important meeting with his gammas. It was a sunny afternoon and I sat alone in the bedroom.

    Too many thoughts made me dizzy, and tension set in. My stomach gurgled and I rushed to the bathroom to puke. "Goddess!" I rasped as I leaned over the counter, my legs shaky. Amongst all the chaos, I haven''t had time to think about my pup''s future, about my future, about our future.

    I waddled into the bedroom only to find Lucien rearranging the couch cushions like for some royal guest. He snapped his head toward me and his eyes widened. ¡°Did you just puke?" He came to me and helped me to the bed.

    "What are you doing?" I asked, looking at the cushions. "I told you I''m fine."

    I told you I''m nesting," he chuckled. "The Luna is with my pup. So this seating arrangement must reflect her status."

    My throat bubbled withughter. "You''re nesting?"

    He settled me on the bed. Looking utterly serious, he said, "I read it in a book."

    "You read a book on pregnancy?"

    "And I''m an expert now," he assed with a haughty sniff.

    I blinked at him. "And now you are suddenly an expert on pregnancy?"

    "Well, i read two books!"

    "Goddess, help me!"

    Lucien sat down beside me and with a smile said, "I also bought you ten different herbal drinks. I''ve rearranged your closet by color. I hope you are feeling supported. If not, I can build a throne for you."

    I copsed into the cushions behind meughing so hard that I had to clutch my bump. "Please build me a throne."

    Lucien knelt in front of me, He slid his hands around my middle like it was a sacred offering. "Whatever you want, love," he whispered. "I''ll do everything I can for you and for my pup." Then he leaned in and kissed my belly. He rested his head on myp and I ran my fingers through his hair lightly.

    "Stop worrying so much, Lucien," I said. ¡°I don''t like it when you are tense."

    He didn''t say anything and closed his eyes, feeling my fingers run through his hair. Together we were calm, settled and felt anchored. Without each other, depression set it. This was how mates were? I sent a silent prayer to the moon goddess. Goddess, thank you for giving me a second chance

    mate.

    It had been two weeks since the incident. Dr. Elias was keeping a strict watch on me. We were sitting in his chamber at the hospital as he looked at the reports. "Everything is fine, Luna," he said with a gentle smile. "You have entered the third trimester, and so you have to be precautious. This is a very delicate time for the mother and the pup."

    I took a ragged breath. "Yes," I murmured.

    He nced at the reports again. "Your blood test is positive. There are no traces of hallucinogens left in your body. And frankly, I am surprised that they flushed out so soon. Your wolf is amazing. She really helped you. Honestly, you are in pink of your health!"

    I smiled and nodded. Sienna was really the best wolf one could have. She had protected our pup from all the hallucinogens that Sable was giving. She would reel under the effect of the drug, she never let it pass to our pup.

    Is there anything else you''d like to add?" Lucien asked, his brows furrowed.

    Elias shook his head. "Nope! She is perfectly fine and other than taking more rest, she shouldn''t bother about anything" Then he rubbed his forehead with his fingers. "From the seventh month, you may feel movement in your belly. You know, the pups love to y ser in your belly. Since this one is the heir of the Alpha of the North, I''m sure he would have a field day in your belly."

    3:16 PM

    At his words, I giggled while Lucien grinned, looking so smug and satisfied like he wasn''t expecting less.

    That night, as Lucien and Iy curled together in our bed, the moonlight painted silver shadows across our room. His hand was syed protectively over my belly. Our fingers were linked between the curve of my hip and his palm.

    "I think the pup kicked today," I murmured.

    He tensed. "Where? When? Why didn''t you tell me?¡±

    "Because it was probably gas," I replied sleepily.

    He growled softly. "If our pup moves and I missed it, I will start keeping my hand on your belly 24/7."

    I smiled and pressed my forehead to his chest. "What about your pack''s business?"

    He kissed me softly on my head. Then he curled his finger and thumb beneath my chin and lifted my face. ¡°I already told you, love. You and my pupe first.¡±

    I sighed and stared into his beautiful dark eyes before he pressed a kiss on my lips. Then he kissed me until all the fire and smoke of the past felt like something that never happened.

    Tomorrow we were going to think of other problems. Because today, we dreamed of tiny feet and moon-blessed futures.

    At the end of the seventh month, Lucien announced the onset of the Harvest Festival in the pack. We all had fallen back into our roles and duties. I followed our new event coordinator, L, through the main hall toward the garage. As soon as we sat in the car to head toward the venue, the guards also sat in theirs and followed us.

    This year, Lucien had asked me to oversee everything for the festival. As the day of my delivery wasing near, he was getting even more jittery. It was like he didn''t want to leave my side at all, scared that I would disappear if he left me. Often, he would simply curl in me and stay lying beside me for hours, his eyes closed, but without sleeping. Sometimes, he would check his tattoo on his chest where some thorny vines still remained.

    When we reached the venue, I saw that the garden was transformed into a riot of colors. Gands were strung between trees. There were barrels of apples and oranges stacked beside the crates of honey. There was a long wooden stage where the younger wolves would perform in the evening. It all looked... magical.

    "What are your next instructions?" L asked in a sweet voice. She was a sweet she-wolf whose father was a gamma in our pack. She had short hair and her fashion sense was a walking contradiction. She wore over oversized blue sses with a neon green shirt and ck pants.

    I walked to the honey crates. "We can put these in two ces," I said. Wolves loved honey. It was a myth that only bear shifters loved it. Okay, the main reason was we had invited the bear shifters as well along with their Alpha, Alpha Magnus

    ckwood.

    000

 Chapter 129

    Auren POV

    0

    I tried to pick up the crate, but suddenly from nowhere Lucien came in three

    seconds. He let

    "I told you not to pick it up!"

    I sighed. ¡°Then please put it over there, Alpha Lucien," I teased.

    He carried the crate to the spot I pointed.

    out

    00

    growl and took the crate from me.

    6

    He was just being so protective that I wanted to smack him. If I reached for something too high, he was there. If someone walked too close, he was by my side with a possessive hand at the small of my back. It was ridiculous, but I knew that he was being protective after Sable''s betrayal. He was still unable to process

    it.

    He ced the cat and suited. If you pick up something or limb something gun, a gluing your to the ro

    ground."

    I rolled my eyes. "That''s not how glue works."

    He leaned in and kissed my temple. "I''ll make it work."

    I blushed.

    The preparations continued smoothly, and in the evening when I was getting ready for its inauguration, I heard from Tarian through the mind link that Alpha Magnus had arrived.

    As I hurried down the main hall, I couldn''t help thinking how Lucien behaved in front of Alpha Magnus thest time. He was so rude, but then maybe there was a problem between them. As I sat in the car, I found L alsoing in. She was looking gorgeous in her brown shimmery dress. and stilettos.

    "May Ie with you, Luna Auren?" she asked expectantly. "Yes, sure!" I said.

    She smiled and slid beside me in the rear seat. Lucien had already gone to the venue to wee Alpha Magnus. On our way to the venue, L spoke nonstop about the event and how excited she was about it. "This is the first event I''ve organized in this pack."

    Iughed softly. "It''s going to be fine."

    But her nervousness was palpable,

    When we reached the venue, I saw how it shimmered with golden lights. Scent of roasted meat wafted in the air. I smoothed my pale blue gown, trying to lookposed. My eyes searched for Lucien, but they fell on Alpha Magnus ckwood. The massive, brown-haired bear was talking to a group of young she-wolves with a voice so deep it rumbled like distant water. In his navy trousers and button up brown shirt, he looked gorgeous. Just thest time I saw him. He was here with his pack members, about six of them. And they all looked ferociously gorgeous.

    "Auren," Lucien''s voice came from behind. He came to stand directly in front of me. Like very directly.

    "Yes baby?" I said as I shifted to the left to get a better view of Magnus and his entourage. Lucien shifted left.

    I tried to step forward. Lucien, like my oversized shadow, moved as well.

    "Lucien!" I whispered loudly, ncing up at him. "Why are you hovering?"

    "I am standing," he muttered with a tight jaw,

    "You''re looming!"

    "I''m not," he replied dryly, but why did it seem like he was trying to tell everyone- especially Magnus-that I belonged to him.

    "Are you trying to stake your im on me in this party?" I asked, surprised at his reaction.

    Tam making sure that our guests know who you belong to," he said shamelessly, his eyes fixed on Magnus.

    "Are you crazy?" I chided him. "Alpha Magnus hasn''t dered a duel for my hand!"

    A muscle in his jaw feathered "If he does that, I''ll kill hum in an instant. But I don''t like the way he is looking at you."

    3:16 PM d

    Across the room, Magnusughed. "So I told the wolf, if you''re going to borrow

    my den, at least don''t snore louder than the waterfall!"

    The she-wolves swooned. Behind me, L giggled. I snapped my head back to

    find her standing at a distance, her cheeks going pink.

    Lucien narrowed his eyes. "That fucking bear shifter isughing too much."

    "Well, unlike you, he likes making peoplefortable," I replied.

    "He is making ME ufortable," he growled.

    Magnus''s gaze flicked across the room, andnded directly on me. He nced behind me and then winked.

    Lucien gasped.

    50

    "The fucker winked at you!" he hissed. "I''m going to wring his neck!" His muscles bulged in aggression. I could see his ws slipping out. "Why the hell did I invite him as the chief guest? I swear to the goddess, he will go back in a body bag!"

    "No, he didn''t wink at me," I replied. "He was looking at-

    He cut me off in the middle. "He is trying to court my pregnant mate and that too at a diplomatic dinner," Lucien snarled. "I gave his pack the money when he needed it most. And this is how he pays me back. He''s either brave or very, very stupid."

    let out a sigh. Even after he had marked me, imed me, knotted in me and put

    his pup inside me, Lucien was at the edge. "You''re getting ridiculous, Alpha Lucien. Quit it."

    But he continued to re at Magnus. Magnus made his way over.

    Oh, goddess, no. No, no.

    In an instant, Lucien wrapped an arm around my waist and pulled me closer.

    "Oh Lucien, behave," I whispered through a smile.

    Magnus approached us with a charming grin on his lips. "Luna Auren," he greeted and bowed to me. Then he gave a respectful nod to Lucien. "Alpha Lucien."

    Lucien''s grip tightened on me. "Magnus."

    Magnus''s gaze came back to me. Again he nced behind me, and said, "You shine brighter every time I see you."

    Lucien growled. "Let me remind you, she is taken, and is with a pup."

    "She is taken?" Magnus raised a brow in surprise. "Who is the pup''s father?"

    Lucien kind of lost it. "What the fuck do you mean, Magnus? She is with my pup!"

    Magnus''s jaw dropped. His eyes flitted to me and for a moment I saw pity in them. Then he coughed and kind of faltered.

    "L-Laina Auren," he said in a low, cautious voice. "A-are you aware of it?"

    I blinked at him. "Yes, I am. Why?"

    "And you allowed him?" Magnus was petrified by now.

    I blushed. "I didn''t have much say in the matter- I mean-" I blushed heavily.

    "Magnus!" Lucien snapped. "She is my wife. How dare you ask such an outrageous question?"

    "How

    The

 Chapter 130

    Auren POV

    "What do you mean?" Lucien practically snarled.

    +50

    Magnus whipped his head toward me and then back at him. "Alpha Lucien, you shouldn''t have treated Luna Auren so horribly. Sh-she is pregnant with your pup. And with what you''ve done, I feel she deserves better. Had it been me-"

    "What the fuck are you saying?" Lucien snarled. He was halfway tounching himself at Magnus. His nostrils red and his eyes were glowing with wild fury. He rolled his sleeves up his muscr arms, and the tension in the air was so thick that I felt suffocated.

    Why was Magnus speaking like this? What had Lucien done? I just could

    understand what was going on as I looked at both of them like a ping pong, with wide eyes and a mortified expression. I tugged at Lucien''s sleeve, trying to calm him down, but he barely noticed.

    Magnus raised both hands, his voice rising in panic. "I-I meant no offense!"

    "Are you trying to steal my Luna?" Lucien growled in a barely contained rage.

    "What?" It was Magnus''s turn to widen his eyes in shock. "I would never dream of-of stealing your Luna!"

    Lucien growled again, "You literally just asked who the father of her child is!"

    Magnus blinked. "Yes, because I thought you had-" he looked between us, totally baffled. "Wait a second." His gaze flicked past me, behind me where L stood.

    I followed his gaze and saw that L stood there, glued to her ce, visibly mortified, and pink from the ears down.

    Lucien just growled at Magnus, his hand shooting to this throat. Magnus was petrified.

    "Wait!" I shouted.

    *Auren, this bastard is trying to take you away from me!¡± Lucien snarled in protest as he held Magnus''s throat. Silence bracketed the room.

    I rolled my eyes, understand the whole situation. I so wanted tough seeing Magnus''s face, but I stifled it and shook my head. "Alpha Magnus is not talking about me, you overgrown, oversized, buffoon!" I snapped and pulled Lucien''s hand away from Magnus''s throat.

    Magnus jerked his head back. "I was talking about you as well!"

    Gods above. If only men had moremon sense, the world would''ve been a better ce to live.

    I sighed. "Magnus isn''t talking about me. He isn''t flirting with me."

    "I wouldn''t dare to!" Magnus interjected. "I don''t have a death wish!" he said, ncing at Lucien.

    I pointed with my thumb over my shoulder. Lowering my voice, I said, "He is talking about L."

    A beat of silence followed.

    Lucien narrowed his eyes. "Wait. What?"

    I bit my lip, trying not tough. "He was talking about L this whole time. He thought that you impregnated her as well as me!"

    Magnus stared at me. "Yes, that''s what I thought!" Suddenly, he smacked his forehead and a blush rose on his cheeks. "Oh God! I thought he was saying that L is with his pup."

    "Are you fucking insane!" Lucien shouted.

    "But you agreed to it when I was looking at L!" Magnus said in his defense.

    "How am I supposed to know that you were looking at L?" Lucien said, his brows furrowed. Thankfully, his ws had retracted.

    Magnus blinked once. Twice. Then he nodded slightly as he scratched his forehead. "I guess there was a mistake in understanding."

    "Yes!" Lucien growled. "For an Alpha of bear shifters, you are birdbrains!" Magnus looked offended but he didn''t say anything. "Sorry..." he muttered. "But it''s not my mistake alone. It''s your mistake as well. You just thought that I was flirting with your Luna." He looked at me and smiled. "While I do believe Luna Auren is beautiful, I was never flirting with her

    Lucien narrowed his eyes. "Before I wring your neck, Magnus, go away from here. Take your L anywhere, but don''t youe into my field of

    vision!"

    Magnus clenched his jaw. He bowed to Lucien and quickly left. And then I burst intoughter. Iughed so hard that my eyes watered. "You both are fools!" I remarked. Honestly, I felt that they both were good friends because by now if it had been any other Alpha, Lucien would have already been fighting with him.

    Lucien looked at me, then at L and Magnus who were going out. His expression shifted from suspicion to reluctant realization and then something like embarrassment flickered in his eyes.

    "I''m going to kill someone," he muttered.

    "Please don''t kill Magnus," Iughed. Then I patted his chest sweetly. "See? He wasn''t trying to seduce me. Come on, the pack members are waiting for us to start the celebrations!"

    Lucien and I walked to where we had to cut the ribbon for the festival''s inauguration. The whole ce erupted with cheers and music started as soon as we cut the red ribbon. And just like that the festival started.

    Lucien and I walked hand-in-hand through the entire venue watching children dashing between stalls, their cheeks painted like foxes and owls, giggling as they bobbed for apples or chased after floating candles in the air. All the Elders sat in a tent around a massive bonfire, trading stories of past harvests and old pack legends. ¨¦lder Ryna looked at me and smiled, lifting her ss of wine. I nodded at her with a smile.

    Lucien hadn''t left my side, his hand resting protectively on my lower back, his eyes flicking with sharpness every time someone stepped too close.

    Later in the evening, dance began under the full Harvest Moon. Around one bonfire, I watched L twirling around, with her hand caught by Magnus. Tarian joined us as we stood watching them.

    "Are they mates?" I asked, confused.

    Tarian chuckled. "No, but they both scratch their itch when needed. When Magnus was herest time, he and L hit it off."

    "Oh!" I was surprised. I couldn''t imagine a bear and a wolf being mates.

    Third POV

    Beyond the circle of lights, a shadow stood, staring at Lucien and Auren, hidden among the trees. All the joy of the festival didn''t reach him. His eyes, burning with jealousy and emotions, tracked every movement of Auren as sheughed with him. When Lucien leaned in to kiss her, resting his hand possessively on her belly, his jaws clenched. His nails bit into his palm and rage festered in his chest. He wasn''t just watching. He was waiting. Waiting for the right time.

    He turned and walked away toward the forest quietly. "Soon, Auren, soon," he muttered.

 Chapter 132

    Third POV

    The morning sun filtered through the window of his bedroom, but the lights did nothing to warm the frost between Bram and Maris. It had been two months of their marriage, and yet Bram couldn''t think of anyone other than Auren.

    +60)

    On their wedding night, Maris had insisted that he marked her in front of every pack member to show that this marriage was solid. He marked her, but ever since, he just couldn''t bring himself to im her.

    Maris was happy in her own bubble. At least she was marked and now she was the Luna of the Crimson Howl pack. Her father was off her back, and her reputation was better in her pack. It took her several days to settle into the role of being a Luna. She loved ordering omegas, punishing them when needed and also asserting her superior position on everyone. Bram was least bothered about it because he was busy with pack business. With Auren''s wedding to Lucien, their treaty was in ce. So the pack was protected. Life couldn''t be better. All she needed was an heir. And to keep her

    secret, a secret.

    She sat on the edge of the bed, brushing her glossy red hair that she had dyed recently. She hummed softly to herself as she brushed them, while Bram stood by the window with his arms crossed across his chest, and his jaw clenched.

    She lifted her gaze to him and said, ¡°You should smile more. Your Alpha position is secure, and you have everything you wanted."

    He didn''t respond. His gaze remained fixed on the treetops that swayed beyond his house. He wanted to tell her that everything he wanted had slipped through his fingers the day Auren epted his rejection and then marked Lucien. He wanted to tell her that she smelled like a dead rat and that every time he was near her, he wanted to vomit. But how could he say all that? Considering his situation, he was in a fix.

    He was still the Alpha of his pack, because he was married to her. Because she was the daughter of the Alpha of the Iron Pine pack. And because she could give him powerful heirs. The problem was that he was not ready to im her. Every time he thought of sex, all he could think of was Auren. Her beautiful gray eyes and those lustrous golden hair.

    Maris rose from the bed and walked to him, the silky hem of her robe brushing the floor. She went and stood behind him. She trailed her red painted nail along his bare arm. "You haven''t imed me since you''ve marked me, Bram. People talk. They wonder if our bond is real."

    His muscles tensed beneath her touch. "I don''t care what people wonder," he replied, angercing his voice. Though inside he knew that his pack members were looking for his heir.

    "But I do," she snapped, dropping her sweet voice. "I didn''t fight to be Luna just to be ignored by you."

    "You didn''t fight," he snapped. "You schemed. Because of you 1 rejected my true mate."

    Maris''s eyes darkened. "So what? Sable schemed too. And look where she is now-killed."

    That earned her a hard re from him. "Don''tpare yourself with Sable. She was better than you in many ways."

    Jealousy stabbed in her heart but she ignored it. She smiled slyly, stepping in front of him. "I''m smarter than Sable. I know when to push, and how much to push. I know how to use that opportunity for the best. And what about you?"

    "What about me?" he asked, his brows furrowed.

    She kissed him, siowly on his jaw, then on his cheek. Bram didn''t kiss her back because of her horrible smell. "You used to love me. We used to have sex every day when Auren was here. And then some after she left. But now-after the wedding, you aren''t interested. What has gone wrong, baby?"

    He closed his eyes and tipped his head up. All he could think was Auren. He had sneaked in the territory of the Shadowfang pack two months ago during the Harvest Moon festival. He had taken great precaution to keep his scent away. Even though he did it at the risk of being killed if Lucien or Tarian saw him, he still went there. All he wanted to do was see Auren. And she looked beautiful. The way her hair shone, the way her skin gleamed -she looked so beautiful that his breath hitched. But then Lucien ced his hand on her baby bump. Jealousy like nothing reared its head inside him. He wanted to kill Lucien, wanted to pluck that pup away from them, and take his Auren back. That should have been his pup in her.

    "Give me an heir, Bram," she lowered herself her knees, and opened his zipper. ¡°Make me proud." She kissed his shaft and then started sucking it. Bram imagined that to be Auren. With his eyes closed, he wrapped her hair around his hand, fisted it and shoved his hard cock inside her mouth. She whimpered, gagged, but she sucked him hard.

    "Fuck!" he rasped. "I knew you would be so good!"

    Maris removed her mouth and got up. She held his hand and made him lie on the bed. Then she opened her robe and removed his pants. Once he was naked, she slid on top of him. "Fuck me, Bram," she said in a hoarse voice as she moved up and down on him. She increased her pace and he came inside her with the name of Auren on his lips.

    Maris clenched her jaw and felt like pping him, but she knew that if she did that, he would nevere back to her. He missed Auren, but that wasn''t her concern at all. All she wanted was his heir. Things would be normal again.

    3:16 PM

    As theyy together in silence after that, Bram stared at the ceiling with Maris curled into him. There was no fire, no spark, just emptiness.

    He went for his training duties as Maris handled his house. Later that day when they were having dinner, a warrior came in. He bowed and said, ¡°Alpha, a message hase from Shadowfang pack."

    Bram''s heartbeat increased. Was Aurening to visit them? "What is it?" he asked.

    The warrior hesitated before speaking as he nced at Maris. "Luna Auren has gone intobor."

    Maris stiffened as Bram clutched the edge of his table, his vision turning red. She was having his pup. Before he could control himself, he got and with one hand threw everything on the table on the floor.

    Maris screamed as she ran to the side. Bram strode to the warrior and grabbed him by his throat. "You fucking bastard!"

    The warrior started sputtering. "Alpha, I¡ª"

    THEIR

    Bram was so furious that he hurled him away from him. He stabbed his fingers in

    his hair. Auren was giving birth to Lucien''s pup. The ache in his chest twisted

    deeper. He started pacing the room as the storm inside him raged.

    As for Maris, she ran away from there to her bedroom. And began to n.

    AD

    Lucien POV

    I hadn''t slept in days. The tick of time felt louder than usual. Each second was like another drop of dread in the pit of my stomach. Auren''s scent surrounded me. It was calming and maddening all at once. I looked at her, sitting at the edge of the bed. She was glowing. She was so radiant, round, and impossibly beautiful that every time I saw her, my heart went out for her. She was just a few days away from delivering our pup.

    But me¡ªI was a wreck. I had asked Remus to contain my emotions so that our mate wasn''t affected, and my wolf did a fantastic job at it. How could I tell Auren the full extent of my fear? I just couldn''t. Not when she smiled at me with so much trust, not when she didn''t once think of the curse looming over us as she hummed while folding baby clothes that we had bought together or when she pressed my hand to her belly to feel our pup kick. How could I dim the glow in her eyes? Sometimes, I would just spoon her from behind as she slept and watched her for the whole night, praying to the goddess that please don''t let these be myst days with her. I wanted to spend my entire life with her, get old with her, and tell stories to our children and grandchildren. Please goddess, please. I''ve never begged you, but I''m begging now. Tears would swell in my eyes and I cried many nights. Every night, I would put my hand on her belly when she was fast asleep, whispering into her skin. "It''ll be fine. You;ll be safe. I''ll keep you safe. Please, Moon, don''t take her from

    me."

    Inside me, the curse coiled like a serpent. I''d broken so many pieces of it, but was it enough? It had broken so many pieces of me, and it didn''t seem enough. The curse had stolen every she-wolf who carried the heir of the Shadowfang pack. Would it take her too?

    Thad seen tattoos on my father''s body when I was a pup. He had those exactly like mine. The one on our chest of that of a wolf was what we were born with. But the thorny vine tattoos appeared slowly on our body as we grew older. By the time we were eighteen, they fully covered our body. When my father died, he still had those tattoos, and I knew that when I would die, I would have them on my body. But after they disappeared partially, hope built in my chest. Sometimes, I would try to scratch away or wash away the remaining ones, hoping against hope that they were just useless ink. But they fucking remained.

    Food lost all meaning. I didn''t feel like eating at all. Tarian hadmented that I looked like a ghost. I didn''t care. I couldn''t leave her side. I wouldn''t. When she forced me to cat, I would eat, just to appease her.

    I sat at the edge of our bed, elbows on my knees, staring at the floor like it held answers I couldn''t find in the stars, while she hummed.

    Suddenly, she gasped. Her body stiffened. I snapped my gaze at her, heart mming against my ribs.

    "Lucien..." she said. "It''s happening."

    Panic surged like wildfire. I tried my best to stay calm, but my voice cracked when

    I called for help. I opened my mind link. "Get the car ready! Auren is inbor!" My hands trembled as I wrapped my arms around her and lifted her. "I''ve got you," I said, holding her close. "I''ve got you. I''ve got you."

    Her fingers clutched the front of my shirt as I carried her out of the manor, down to the porch where the car was. Tarian met us halfway, wide-eyed and pale. Vivi was rushing beside us with a basket that she always kept ready

    "Get the car. NOW!" I barked. As soon as the car was there, Iid Auren down as gently as I could in the back seat and crawled beside her.

    *Lucien!" she cried, her breathing in short bursts.

    Remus howled inside me, frantic as hell. The big bad wolf who would kill so many at the drop of a hat, was whimpering inside me like a pained kitty. I held her hand, not letting it go for a second. "Everything''s going to be okay, love," I said, over and over. I didn''t know if I was telling her or to myself.

    Tarian drove the car, not allowing any other driver to drive it. The ride to the hospital felt like forever. The moment we arrived the doctors came rushing. They tried to separate me from her for delivery, but I growled at them, "I''m not leaving her," I barked in a razor-sharp voice, making other

    wince.

    "She''ll be okay, Alpha Lucien," Tarian said, trying his best to steady me.

    But he didn''t know. No one knew. Not the way I knew. The curse hadn''t whispered anything in months. And now at this time, I feared it the most. Please, Moon Goddess. Let me keep her. I''ll do anything for you.

    As I carried her to thebor room, I saw that Elias was already waiting over there

    for us. I made her lie on the bed. Her contractions wereing faster now. It seemed like our pup really wanted toe out fast.

    Elias examined her belly and said, "It should take at least an hour for the head to

    form."

    "Okay..." I murmured as I looked at him helplessly.

    "Would you like to have coffee?" he asked.

    I scowled at him. How could he think of having coffee when my Luna was in so

    much pain? He winced and backed off. Tarian came to me. "Alpha Lucien, pleasee out with me."

    I knew why he was asking me toe out. I would have torn the ce down

    because I couldn''t bear seeing Auren in pain.

    But when we were out of the room, I ced my hands on his shoulder and said, ¡°I

    trust you with life, Tarian. When we both are dead, take care of my pup."

    Tarian''s eyes widened in shock.

 Chapter 133

    Lucien POV

    Tarian looked at me in shock. "What are you saying, Alpha Lucien?" he said, clearly getting angry by the minute.

    I swallowed. "This curse-"I couldn''t speak through my choked throat. So I swallowed again. "This curse-if it ims Auren, I don''t think I''ll be able to live without her."

    0

    "Shut up!" he growled, his fists tightening. "You can''t say words like these. No one is going anywhere. Your curse has mostly gone, and I believe that everything will be fine."

    1 shook my head. "It is still looming on us, Tarian. So listen to me carefully because I won''t repeat it. If the curse takes Auren away from me, I swear to the goddess, I''ll follow her. I won''t let her pass the Fade alone. I know I sound selfish, but we are mates. I can''t¡ª" Tears welled in my eyes. "I can''t leave her alone. She is my everything."

    "Alpha Lucien...." Tarian ced his hands on my arms.

    "Tarian, I know you are a powerful Beta. You can protect my pup and see to it they get their rightful ce. I have too many enemies lurking in the shadows. All of them want to usurp my position. You have to protect my pup. Promise me, you will."

    JAlpha Lucien..."

    "Promise me!" I sped his shoulders tightly.

    After a while of hesitation, he nodded. "I promise," he said in a hoarse voice.

    Only then did I release my breath. "Thank you."

    ¡°I''ll be right back,¡± Tarian said and quickly left. I noticed how he wiped a tear from his cheek. Sorry, my friend. But my mate needed me more than this world.

    While Auren was in tremendous pain, I paced the hallway like a caged beast. My jaw was clenched so tightly that I thought my fangs would crack. Auren''s cries from thebor room twisted through my chest like a hot de. My wolf howled beneath my skin. He wanted to tear down the doors, wanted to take away her pain in some way, to do something. But I could do nothing.

    An hour went by. Vivi and other omegas were standing at the side, waiting silently. Tarian said through mind link that many of my pack members had started pouring in the hospital premises.

    I took a deep breath in as my palms went cold. My heart raced so hard that it was a wonder it hadn''t leapt out. Every second felt like a countdown. Not just to the birth of my pup, but to the moment when the curse would finally strike.

    Would it take her away from me now? Or would it wait for a few more days? Rlease, Moon Goddess, at least let her nurse my pup. After everything she had gone through, after surviving betrayal, and des and broken bonds, please don''t take her. I sped my hands in front of me and whispered. "I''lle to meet you, shadow wolves. But let her survive."

    Finally, when I couldn''t bear more, I went to stand in front of her door. Elias was sitting in front of her. Her legs were wide open. "The head is about to form!" he shouted at the nurses. "Get me scissors!"

    "Lucien!" Auren cried loudly. "Where are you?"

    I just couldn''t hold myself, and bolted in. She was sweaty, pale. Her lips were trembling as she clutched the sheets as another contraction rolled through her. As soon as her gazended on me, her lips parted in a shaky smile. "You''re here," she breathed.

    I clutched her hand, and said, "I never left, love. I''ll never leave. Gods, Auren..." How could she not think of the curse? She was so boldly facing it just to give birth to my pup. Why the fuck did I put her through so much trouble. I hated myself, hated the Elders, and most of all I hated my bloodline.

    She reached up to me with shaky fingers. "Why are you crying? Aren''t you happy that we will be parents?"

    I didn''t realize that I was crying. I brought her hand to my face. "I''m scared,

    Auren," I confessed. "I''m scared I''ll lose you."

    Through her pain, she gave a soft, tiredugh "Lucien, we''ve walked through hell.

    Please don''t let fear steal this moment from us,"

    I kissed her hand. "I don''t know how to be without you, love.*

    "And you never will be the whispered. "Our pup-" A scream ripped from her throat. "Ahhhhh!"

    "It''s time?" Dr. Elias rasped as he focused on her.

    I stood beside her, gripping her hand, letting her crush my fingers. I whispered everything I could to encourage her, to sail through this pain. "You''re so strong, how brave, I love you so much."

    Until-

    0

    A tiny cry filled the room. I froze as Auren gasped.

    Elias lifted a red-faced, squirming little bundle into the air. "It''s a boy."

    For a long moment, as I watched my heir, my pup, I couldn''t move. My throat was choked with so many emotions that nothing came to my mind. I heard Auren sobbing,ughing and exhausted. However, just as she thought it was over, another scream tore through her throat. "Ahhhh!"

    Elias handed the pup to the nurse and focused on her again. "Gods above! There''s one more pup inside."

    I gasped as I watched Auren screaming. All at once, two minutester, I heard another tiny cry.

    Elias held the pup and lifted into the air. "It''s a girl!"

    Oh. My. Goddess.

    "Many congrattions, Alpha Lucien," Elias said with a grin.

    had twins. With my eyes wide, I stared at my daughter whose cry had turned fierce now. "Fuck me!" I rasped.

    Auren let out a raspyughter. With my heart racing, I leaned over my wife and pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You did it, my love. You brought our pups into the world."

    "We did it," she whispered.

    By this time, the nurse had brought my son to me. I stared at him, watching his tiny feet and hands in wonder. Remus was wagging his tail. ''Our pups!''

    After a few minutes, the nurse handed me my baby girl. As I cradled her in my left arm, I noticed how small, perfect, pink-cheeks were my beautiful pups. ¡°Both had stormy gray eyes. While my daughter had Auren''s hair, my son had my hair. Perfect blend of their parents. I looked at Auren, feeling ecstatic, and forgot everything about the curse.

 Chapter 134

    Auren POV

    The pups were born past midnight.

    56%

    +23)

    I was shifted to a private cabin two hourster after they had stitched me and cleaned me up. The pups were still in the nursery at the hospital because Elias was taking extra precaution. I was so exhausted that I closed my eyes thinking I would just rest a little, but when I woke up, it was already morning, and I found myself in Lucien''s arms.

    The morning sun spilled gently through the hospital room window. Its golden rays nced over Lucien''s forehead. I turned my face and kissed him. He stirred awake immediately. "Auren," he murmured and kissed me back. His lips curled up. "We are parents now."

    I chuckled warmly. "Yes."

    Just then a nurse came in with both our pups. Goddess, I had never been this happy in my life. She gave me one pup while Lucien took the other one. "They need to be fed now, Luna," she said with a smile, and then with a bow she left.

    I nestled my son against my chest and offered him my nipple. He just didn''t know what to do, but eventually, he grabbed it and started suckling. I looked over at my husband who had our daughter who was curled in a swaddle in hisp, her tiny fingers wrapped tightly around his pinky finger.

    "They''re perfect," he said, his voice rough with emotions, as he stroked her hair gently. "You''ve made me a father of two pups, Auren. I can''t think of a better day in my life."

    "Whaatt?" I said dramatically. "I thought your best day was when you

    married me!"

    He looked like he was caught in between me and my pups. He scratched the back of his head and said, "That was the best day, but this is better than that. So-" I smacked him on his chest and heughed. ¡°But they are just what I had imagined them to be," he added proudly.

    "They really are perfect," I breathed, looking at them. Thank you, Moon Goddess, for giving us such beautiful pups. And now I could die peacefully. Tears welled in my eyes, but I didn''t let theme out because I knew what Lucien was feeling all these days. He was depressed and if I also started talking about the curse, it would have added to his misery. After our pups were born, he was so happy. How could I take away his happiness?

    "We need names," Lucien said softly, kissing my temple. "And I want you to choose."

    I blinked up at him in surprise. "But-¡±

    He interrupted, shaking his head. "You carried them for nine months. You brought them into this world. I''ll protect them with life, Auren. But their names... that is your honor."

    My gaze drifted to my son first. "Bradley," I whispered. "My father''s name was Bradley. He was the one who raised me until he could, until he died."

    "Bradley," Lucien echoed. Then he exhaled as he looked at the ring I had given him during the wedding. It belonged to me.

    I turned my gaze toward our daughter. Lucien followed it, as he brushed his thumb over her soft cheek. "And what about her?"

    I smiled. "Tamara. After your mother."

    Lucien swallowed hard. She died soon after giving him birth. "I''m sure she would have loved that."

    We remained like that for a while admiring our pups, as the weight of their names settled around us like magic, like chains.

    Brad had his fill and was now fast asleep. Some of the milk trickled down his lips. I brushed it with a soft towel and gave him

    21:57 Mon, 14 Apr MB

    350%

    to Lucien as I took my daughter. I didn''t know how, but we both acted on our instincts, like we were prepared to be in this role. Lucien helped Bradley burp before settling him in hisp. As Bradley slept, his father couldn''t help brushing his soft

    hair.

    "My heir..." he murmured.

    Tamara also had some difficulty in wondering how to suck, but she also eventually found my nipple and started sucking immediately. I chuckled how ferociously my pups suckled. And I was even more surprised by how much hungrier I was. Like it was twice more than what I used to feel when I was pregnant with them.

    The nurse brought two cradles for both of them and settled them, covering them with nkets. "The doctor says that you can leave tomorrow morning," she informed me.

    For the rest of the day, council members and other important members of the pack came to meet us, but Lucien didn''t allow anyone toe in and meet us. However, he met them outside the room.

    By evening, Lucien stepped out of the room, into the balcony with a pup in each arm-Bradley cradled against his chest, Tamara tucked snugly in the crook of his elbow. I rested inside as I watched him with a hand on my heart. Once again tears welled in my eyes, and this time I let them flow out.

    Lucien looked at the pack members who were all standing in the garden of the hospital just below our balcony. "Heirs of the Shadowfang pack!" he said, his voice booming with pride.

    Cheers erupted from the crowd below. Warriors roared, omegas pped and sobbed, the Elders bowed deeply, and the children danced.

    "Our Alpha and Luna have brought new life to Shadowfang!" Elder Ryna called.

    Lucien lifted both babies gently for all to see. "Bradley and Tamara,¡± he announced, pride zing in his eyes. "Children of the moon. Our future."

    And the pack rejoiced. The rest of the night was a blur of music,ughter and reverence. Tarian was so proud and happy for his Alpha that he was also rejoicing with the pack members. "I''m gonna spoil them as hell!" Iughed as he brushed the cheeks of both my pups. "And I am gonna protect them with life." He looked at Lucien after he said those words, and Lucien swallowed.

    Through the bond, I felt his depression all over again. He came to me and wiped my tears. "Don''t cry, love. Everything is going to be fine..." There was no hope in his voice, but only love. Like he was never going to leave me.

    The next evening after Elias had dered that I was doing fine, we returned to the manor. Vivi and all other omegas were so excited that there was a huge confusion. All of them were prancing around us to take a look at the pups. I hadn''t seen so much positivity in my life. It was infectious. I couldn''t helpughing as I watched them cooing the babies.

    Lucien took both of them to the bedroom where two cradles were already in ce.

    "I thought you had made a nursery for them," I teased.

    "Hush," he said, scowling at me yfully. "I won''t leave my pups even for a minute!" He made them lie in the cradles and covered them with fluffy nkets. Then he came to me, and made me lie as well, tucking me in our hand. "Rest, love," he said. "You won''t lift a finger. I mean it."

    I smiled. "Yes, Alpha."

    That night as we settled with the babies, Vivi came to us. "Alpha Lucien," she said

    in a quivering voice. "The Shaman is here to meet you."

 Chapter 135

    Lucien POV

    at 04/01

    I clenched my jaw because I didn''t want to meet him at the moment. What was the urgency? Could he not wait for a day or

    two?

    ¡°Go and meet him,¡± Auren said, noticing my hesitation.

    Irritationcing my thoughts, I hurried downstairs to see him. The Shaman was wearing dark robes, like he hade straight from a sacred worshiping ritual. I folded my arms tightly across my chest as I looked at him warily. My pups were only a day old and I didn''t like visitors. At least for a week. "What is it?" I said sharply.

    He raised an eyebrow, caution etching on his weathered face. "Alpha Lucien, I havee to talk about the curse. I feel that it still clings by its final thread to you. I strongly believe that the shadow wolves of the Eldermere hold theirst say in it."

    Tension bunched in my shoulders. What else did the shadows wanted? They were about to take away my wife, my mate. "What do you mean?" I asked.

    He let out a rough exhale. "The shadow wolves must see the heirs. Only then will the curse be fully broken."

    A growl rumbled deep in my chest. "You want me to take my pups-my newborn pups-to a fucking graveyard which is haunted by monsters? Where I was almost dead, lying in a pool of blood? Where my mate was lying unconscious? Now you want me to take my pups there to sacrifice them at that altar? You must be out of your mind!" Remus growled in my head. He was so angry that he wanted to break free and go on a rampage.

    The Shaman held his ground. "I don''t think that the shadow wolves will harm the pups," he insisted. "It is possible that by seeing your heirs, they will free the Shadowfang pack from the Bride Ban''s curse."

    "No!" My voice boomed in the manor. "I won''t risk the lives of my pups for a ''maybe""

    The Shaman bowed his head with sorrow in his eyes. "Then the curse may never break."

    I stood still with my jaw clenched as fear rooted deeper than any logic. But I wasn''t going to risk the lives of my pups. Over my dead body. The Shaman left and I went back to my wife and children. The moment I saw them, everyst bit of fear and anger disappeared.

    "What was it?" Auren asked, looking worried.

    I closed the gap between us and held her closely against my chest. "It''s nothing," I murmured, burying my face in the crook of her neck. Please goddess, keep her with me. I know you''re listening to me.

    My mother had died within a month of giving me birth. I remember father talking about how the curse took its toll on her. Every day she sank deeper into depression. Her health just went downhill. So I had braced myself for the worst. If Auren died, I would go with her. Willingly. Every hour after the birth of our pups, I watched her like a hawk-waiting for her color to fade, her scent to sour, her warmth to dim.

    As days passed, I started preparing a will, making sure that none of my wealth went into the wrong hands. I refused to leave her side, barely sleeping, barely breathing. When she needed rest, I was there to take care of the pups. I wanted to live this short time with them to the fullest. When she slept, I loved it. When my pups cried or giggled, I cherished it. This was all I needed. Ever.

    But as the days passed, none of my apprehensions materialized. Instead, Auren nursed back to health. The dark circles under her eyes softened. Her cheeks regained their color. She felt better. Often, I saw her cooing to the pups, and thenughing at them, ying with them. It overwhelmed my heart. She looked at me with so much light and happiness in her eyes that it made my heart ache.

    There was not a sliver of sickness in her. There was no pain. Nothing that I could feel through the bond. In contrast, my bond pulsed with life. I tried to find a whisper of death or a fading link. There was nothing of the sort.

    13:24 Tue, 15 Apr M

    3.04%

    A fortnightter, she was sitting by hearth, at night. Both the pups were cradled by her. Bradley was suckling the left breast while Tamara the right. My pups were ferociously hungry all the time. The sound of them slurping milk was loud in the room. I looked at them with so much tenderness that it ached. When our eyes met, she said, "You''re staring again."

    I walked over slowly to her and dropped on my knees beside her. I watched our pups and then when my eyes traveled to her face, I said, "You are glowing, love."

    She chuckled. "I feel amazing. Hungry all the time though."

    I brushed her golden hair back. "You are feeding two werewolf babies. You are allowed to eat the whole kitchen."

    Sheughed. Tamara was already full. She went back to sleep but Brad was still drinking, clutching to her breast like it would disappear. I took Tamara, burped her and made her sleep in the cradle. By the time I returned, I saw that Brad was also asleep. I took him from her and settled him in the cradle. Sometimes, I wondered how a big bad wolf like me had be so domesticated? Auren had changed mepletely, and I loved the feeling.

    I returned to her and she still hadn''t closed the buttons of her nursing gown. I rested my head on herp and she brushed my cheeks softly. Her breasts were so heavy and glorified. I cupped them and before I knew my cock pulsed straining against my pants. With one hand I cupped her neck and pulled her nipple low to my mouth. "Fuck!" I groaned as I sucked her. "Fuck, fuck!" She was amazing. I squeezed her breasts as I grazed her tits with my fangs. She moaned in pleasure.

    Before I knew it, she was pinned beneath me on the rug, my thighs on either side of her legs. She wasn''t ready, and so as I sucked her, I grounded my cock against her belly. I think it was all so pent-up inside me that with three measured thrusts, I came on her belly. "Fuck!" I groaned as I spilled my cum on her. I stayed there with her for a few minutes, kissing her, saying thank you to her for bearing up with an ass like me. Later I cleaned her up with a towel andid beside her on the rug as the fire crackled in the hearth.

    I leaned in and kissed her temple. My heart thundered in my chest. I couldn''t help but ponder as to why wasn''t the curse acting fast on Auren? It felt like she wasn''t affected by it. Was the curse meant for me then? Because some of my thorny vine tattoos still remained. Ridiculous!

 Chapter 136

    Auren POV

    ???? 84%

    Lucien had deferred the party that he was supposed to give to the pack. He didn''t want to risk exposure to his newly born. He was an extremely protective father, there for them all the time. I hadn''t expected this from the Alpha of the North, but look where was he? My heart swelled with warmth and love seeing him cooing to Tamara. She was the apple of his eyes. He felt like she needed more protection aspared to his son. I wouldugh at him, but he said that his daughter was the princess. There hadn''t been a single female born in the Shadowfang bloodline. So Tamara was a precious child.

    "The Elders want to see you, Auren,¡± he said as wey side by side. He curled his fingers around mine and was examining our joined hands against the light of the fire.

    "Why?" I asked sleepily.

    "Goddess knows!" he rasped. "These Elders have their own mind."

    "I''ll meet them tomorrow."

    "You don''t have to, if you don''t want it."

    I chuckled. "It''s not like they will kill me. It''s just a small meeting, Lucien."

    "Okay..."

    The next day, the Elders arrived in the afternoon. Elder Ryna and On. I had got the pups downstairs for them to see. they were so happy, with warm smiles etched on their wrinkled faces.

    "A..." Elder Ryna breathed, bringing her hand to her heart. "Look at them!"

    Elder On leaned in to peek at the twins in my arms. "Bradley is so strong. And already full of life."

    Bradley had grown more than Tamara. He looked dominant at two weeks.

    "And she is so beautiful," Elder On remarked with a kind smile to Tamara. "The first female in centuries of the Shadowfang Alpha line." He sped his hands. "I hope they aren''t troubling you so much."

    "They kick like wolves," I said with a small grin. "Lucien''s convinced that they will shift early just to terrorize him."

    The Eldersughed, but soon Elder Ryna''s eyes turned serious. "And how are you, Luna Auren?"

    And

    "I''m... good," I replied. "Actually really good." I looked at them. There was no pain, no sickness. In fact, I felt stronger than I thought I would."

    Ryna and On exchanged a nce. "That''s surprising," On muttered. "Given the nature of the curse..."

    Lucien shifted in his feet beside me, his tension pulsing through our bond.

    I gave

    the pups

    to the nannies who took them upstairs. Then I turned to the Elders and said, "I thought the curse would... do something. But look-" I took my hands up in front of me. Turning my palms, I said, ¡°I feel more alive and healthier. Vivi is feeding me a lot!" I chuckled.

    There was an awkward quiet in the room. After a while, Ryna gently said, "I hope that the mate bond between you reverses

    the effects of the curse."

    "I hope so too!" Lucien muttered under his breath.

    But he didn''t sound convinced. He looked worried as hell. And his worry was a cause of deep concern for me. I took his

    13:24 Tue, 15 Apr Me

    hand in mine and said, "Lucien, I am well. Stop worrying so much, okay?"

    He just pulled my hand up and kissed my knuckles in answer.

    Lucien POV

    barked by thorns. They were the phantom calls of the

    84%

    11

    For thest one year, the bond between me and Auren had been shadow wolves.

    I felt the chills down my spine. But all of them had gone and the one that remained on my chest did bring shes of pain now and then. At first, I thought that it was Auren who the Shadow wolves were after, but as the next week got

    was after my life. It was like either me or her. over, the pain in my chest intensified and now I firmly believed that the curse

    Our bond was quiet. It pulsed steady and strong. Auren''s joy and warmth was overwhelming. There was not an iota of fear.

    It forced me to wonder if the curse was over? Did the curse spare her? If that was the case, then I was a happy wolf. We would both stay with our kids, watch them grow.

    However, my happiness was short-lived. It began one quiet evening. Tamara had just finished feeding. I took her from Auren and nestled her against my bare chest. The soft breaths vibrated against my skin. She was so beautiful, like she was spun from moonlight. I inhaled her scent and a smile spread on my lips. Three weeks had passed without anything untoward.

    I made her sleep in her cradle. Bradley was already sleeping. I chuckled as to how my pups were only interested in sleeping, having milk and doing potty. They had started recognizing their mom pretty well though. So whenever she cooed to them, they would talk back to her.

    Just as I got up, I felt a sharp sting in my chest. I flinched. It was a single prick right over my tattoo near my heart. He ced my hand over my heart to stop it. It was like a ghost of heat. At that time, I didn''t pay attention and went to the bed to sleep beside Auren. However, over the next few days, it grew worse. The thorns, kind of twisted. They didn''t just sting. They fucking moved. It felt like they were crawling beneath my skin. Some nights I woke up in a sweat as pain gripped me hard.

    But I didn''t tell it to Auren. Though she was worried and would keep asking me what was wrong, I didn''t tell her anything. She looked so happy. I couldn''t burden her again. Not after everything we had been through.

    But the fucking pain wasn''t fading. It was only building.

    Our pups were a month old today. I was thinking of giving a party to my pack members. It was a quiet morning. Sunlight

    party as I walked to her. "Here, let me also-" spilled on the floor. She was talking excitedly about the p

    Suddenly, white hot, blinding pain shot through my chest. My knees buckled. My arms seized mid-motion. Auren screamed, lunging forward. "Lucien!"

    flesh. But I hit the floor before she reached me. I copsed onto my side, a terrifying tremble coursing through me. My breath turned shallow and uneven. Right where my tattoo was, it felt like embers burning into my

    "Lucien- Lucien! What''s happening?" she cried, her voice breaking. "Vivi! Tarian!" she shouted.

    I looked at her, my vision blurring fast. I couldn''t breathe or answer. If I thought that the curse had forgotten us, it had just

    And it wanted to im me. Not Auren.

 Chapter 137

    Auren POV

    Lucien just got straight after putting Tamara in her cradle. He looked at her with a tired smile on his face, but suddenly his smile disappeared. His eyes widened and his body stiffened like something hard had hit him. He gasped.

    63)

    "Lucien?" I said, confused. Over thest few days he was looking paler than usual. I tried to search for his problem through our bond but there was nothing. "Lucien?" I got up, feeling worried as hell.

    He didn''t answer, and his eyes went nk. Then he stumbled, dropping to one knee. His other hand pped on his chest. Before I could understand, he copsed fully, t on the floor, shaking.

    "Lucien!" I screamed, my voice breaking. I rushed to him. "Lucien!" But he didn''t respond. His eyes went glossy, and he closed them.

    The pups started crying, sensing something was wrong.

    "Help!¡± I shouted toward the hallway. "Someone, help! Please!" I lowered beside him, even as the babies cried. My gaze dropped to his chest where he had pped his hand, and to my horror I noticed that the thorny vines out there were not just moving, they were trying to reach inside him, dig into his flesh. "No, no, no!" What was happening? Did the curse show again? Was it on its final course? A shudder went down my body. I felt like my whole world was crumbling down in seconds. "You can''t do this to me!" I screamed at Lucien. "You can''t!" I screamed at the shadows. "Don''t you dare to steal my life!" I begged or I shouted. I didn''t know.

    The door flew open. Tarian burst in, followed by Vivi, two omegas and a few guards.

    "What happened?" Tarian demanded as he rushed to my side. He looked ashen white. His hands were trembling as he looked at Lucien with wide eyes.

    "I-I don''t know," I cried. "He just copsed."

    "Fuck!" Tarian rasped. He turned to look at Vivi. "Call Elias!" he said in panic, but then he opened his mind link and informed Elias.

    Lucien wasn''t moving. His breathing was shallow. I pressed my hand to his cheek. It was cold. A sob broke out of my throat as the bond between us felt like it would break. "No, Lucien, no!" I cried. "I can''t live without you." Tears streamed down my eyes, seeing him like this. My heart felt like someone had hammered it with an anvil. Like a knife was plunging into it slowly, painfully.

    The guards along with Tarian, lifted him and carried him outside where the car was. Elias was already there. There wasplete chaos in the manor. I asked Vivi to take care of the pups before I sat in the car with Lucien in the rear seat with Elias. As the driver sped to the hospital, Tarian followed with his team.

    "How did this happen?" Elias asked. He was shaking as he looked at Lucien It was evident that the Alpha bond between Lucien and his pack members was weakening.

    "I don''t know," I rasped.

    El¨ªas ced his hands over Lucien''s heart and said, "His heartbeat is slow. That''s worrisome. Was he having any trouble earlier?"

    "I don''t know," I cried, unable to stop my tears and panic. "He never said a thing."

    El¨ªas clenched his jaw. "Damn it, Alpha!"

    We reached the hospital and just as they were about to take him inside, the Shaman appeared. "Where are you taking him?" he almost growled.

    3 84%

    +63)

    I gulped. What was he up to? "He is not well, and he needs medical attention, Shaman. He doesn''t need magical intervention." I turned to Lucien and asked Elias to continue, frustrated at Shaman''s untimely interruption.

    The Shaman shook his head. "No, Luna Auren. I warned him," he said in a grave voice. "I warned him not to ignore the call of the ruins. I told him that he should go to the Eldermere. The curse is at its peaks. The shadow wolves have already sensed that, and the curse is responding now. They are beckoning him."

    I turned to him, my eyes wild. "What do you mean?"

    The Shaman stepped closer to Lucien. His gaze went to the thorny vines that were now moving restlessly. "It''s the curse. The shadow wolves must see the pups. I told him about it, but he didn''t listen. He didn''t want to risk the pups'' lives at the ruins."

    My gaze dropped to Lucien''s chest. And that''s when I saw. Droplets of blood oozed out. Thin ck vine tattoos, curled and twisted under his skin. They pulsed as if trying to tear their way out.

    Earth shifted beneath my feet. My head became dizzy and I thought I would pass out. The thorny vines were digging in his flesh and making him bleed. "Oh, dear goddess!" I cried. "This is a catastrophe. What should I do?" Another sob ripped from my throat as I looked at Shaman for help. And it was then I realized what Lucien was doing. He wasn''t telling me about his pain because he was afraid that the shadow wolves would harm his pups or kill them. He was protecting us with his life. A whimper tore from my throat. "No, Lucien, I won''t let you do this to me." I looked up at the Shaman and said, "I can''t wait anymore. I will go to the Eldermere ruins now!"

    "But Luna!" Tarian protested. "He needs medical attention."

    I ignored Tarian''s words. "We don''t have time to waste. Go back to the manor and

    get the pups to the ruins. I am heading there." Then I said to Elias. "Come with us with

    your best team."

    Lucien was dying. If I had to save him, I had to face the darkness myself. And I had to bring my pups as well.

    "But Luna-"

    I cut off Tarian. "I''ll face whatever is there-but Lucien is not dying today." With that, I turned and ordered the nurses and guards to take us back to the car. I couldn''t waste a single minute more. The Shaman followed us.

 Chapter 138

    Auren POV

    Tarian ran to get the pups. I sat next to Lucien in the car along with Elias and the Shaman. His head was heavy in myp. His face was pale and his lips were slightly parted as he took shallow breaths. Right now was not the time to panic. But I was panicking. How could I not? My mate, my love, my husband was on the verge of dying. My bond was weakening by the minute. It felt like sand slipping through my hands. I brushed my trembling hand across his cheek. "Just hold on. Please hold on." Once he was fine, once he woke up, I was going to fight with him. And that made me cry more.

    The car rumbled through the forest. It bumped along the gravel and dirt road which led to the ruins. The closer we got, the heavier the air became with magic. The same dark and oppressing magic. It felt like the trees were watching us. They were whispering of our doom.

    As soon as we pulled up to the edge of the Eldermere ruins, I felt the ancient magic thick around me. "Take him to the altar," I said to the guards.

    Along with the guards, Elias carried Lucien to the altar as guided by the Shaman. In their arms, Lucien looked so helpless, so pale that I wanted to curl into him, to give my body''s warmth. I had never felt so hopeless and desperate.

    The moment we were close to the altar, I sensed the magic around me, not threatening-but waiting.

    Tarian hade by then along with Vivi with both my pups in their arms bundled in soft nkets. They handed me the pups. Tamara and Bradley cooed and squirmed in my arms, like even they could sense something was wrong around them.

    I stood in front of the altar with my babies nestled against my chest. Then I looked

    at the Shaman and waited for his instructions. He asked the guards to ce Lucien at the foot of the altar. Once they ced him in front of the altar, they all backed away.

    "Call upon the shadows," he instructed me.

    I nodded tightly, clutching my pups tightly. This was it. Either we all lived, or we all died. To hell with this world. If the Moon Goddess didn''t appreciate her own creation, then there was no point in living.

    I closed my eyes and from my heart I said, "Please," I whispered into the silence. "Please, I''ve brought them. I have also brought your heirs. If there''s anything left of this bond, if there''s anything sacred about it-please save him." My pups started getting agitated in my arms. They both opened their eyes and I expected them to cry anytime. This was too much for us, then imagine what it would be for the pups?

    The altar in front of me vibrated. Shadows began to rise out of it, stretching from its edges, curling and twisting like smoke made solid.

    I pressed my lips and allowed them to reach us. My knees wobbled, mimicking my courage. "Don''t take him from me," I implored them. "Not after all this. He didn''t reject his mate. He always stood by me despite numerous hurdles. He even gave you heirs."

    The shadows hissed, and then they began to rise. They slid out from between the cracked altar. They pooled and twisted around us as they made their way toward us. They weren''t in a hurry. Instead, they moved slowly, like they were curious. Like they were testing us.

    One long shadow crept across the floor, brushing over Lucien''s leg. It didn''t hurt him. It just watched him. I held my breath as I stared at it. Lucieny motionless in front of me, his head lolled to one side. Blood was still trickling out of his chest as the thorny vibes pulsed. But they had slowed down, like they responded to the shadows.

    One shadow curled around my leg. I stiffened as I clenched my teeth, panic coursing through me wildly. It slithered up and reached Tamara. She squirmed in my arm and my breath caught. Goddess, please help me-I sent a silent prayer.

    The shadow brushed over her delicately. Tamara let out a tiny yawn and her eyes opened fully. She saw the shadow in front of her and without fear, she reached out for it as if it was a toy. Her little finger closed around the tail end of the shadow. A

    12:50 Thu, 17 Apr

    soft gasp escaped me.

    30/%!

    The shadow wriggled to get free, but it seemed like Tamara was holding it tightly. My panic morphed into surprise. Tamara could actually feel the shadows? Were they so thick that she caught them?

    Bradley was curious and quiet in my other arm. And suddenly, he reached out too. His pudgy fingerstched onto another shadow that had slithered over me. I was expecting the shadows to whirl around us, creating chaos, but they were ever so gentle.

    When Bradley''s fingers closed around the shadow, the shadows froze. I watched inplete disbelief as the ancient spirits whimpered. They whimpered like pups. They didn''t hiss anymore like they used to. Instead, they... wagged.

    It seemed like the shadow wolves¡ªthose ancient, cursed creatures, were ying with my babies. Surprise red through

    1. me.

    One curled around Tamara''s leg like a ck, smoky ribbon, and she kicked yfully, cooing. Another one draped over Bradley''s chest like a nket. He just blinked up at it, wide eyes. He brought his hand over the shadow and tried to grab it, lifting it in front of his face. He darted his tongue out as if to taste them. I gasped. The shadow retreated, whimpering, as if not liking the idea of being tasted by my pup. My pups started moving their hands up and down in a motion that looked like they were using the shadows like whips. And both of them giggled as they did it, while the shadows whimpered or hissed. It seemed like the shadows were getting irritated by the pups'' antics. They tried to wriggle away, but my pups weren''t leaving them.

    More shadows rose and moved slowly toward Lucien.

    "No," I cried out and knelt beside him. "Please spare him," I implored them. "He didn''te earlier because he was protecting me and his pups."

    I was expecting the shadows to strike him onest time and take him away from me. But what happened next shocked me.

 Chapter 139

    Chapter 139 Chapter 139

    Auren POV

    "No!" I cried out, kneeling beside him with both Tamara and Bradley.

    The shadows hissed and snapped right in front of my face. I jerked my head back in horror as my eyes widened. While one shadow stayed right in front of me, the others circled all of them, slowly, touching us here and there. I could feel the oppressive magic, the cold slither. Scared that they would affect my pups, I ced them on the ground carefully. They looked at me as if wondering what their mommy was doing, but then their attention was caught by the shadows they had caught in their hands. They started to y with them again, giggling. They were just not afraid.

    My eyes went to Lucien over whom the shadows had crawled over. His body was now covered with them, bits and pieces emerging when the shadows moved. "Please," I begged them. One then stilled right over his heart. Suddenly, it rose sharply about a foot tall. "No, please, no!" I screamed, scared as hell. Was this my mate''sst day? What was his mistake? "He was only trying to protect me," I said. No, I begged. "Please be merciful. He has always respected you. Don''t take him away from me!" I tipped my head up toward the sky as tears streamed down my eyes. All at once, the sun was covered with dark clouds. Thunder pped far in the distance. It felt so ominous, so final. My lips quivered. "Please, Moon Goddess. I have just found happiness. Let me stay like this..." I sped my hand and prayed to her hard, like my life depended on it.

    My gaze returned to the shadow that was on Lucien''s chest. It started morphing into a shape. Like that of a woman. My breath hitched when a face appeared. It was that of a woman. I was petrified because I had never seen such an urrence in my life. She looked at me with fiery eyes that burned orange. "Wh- who are you?" I stuttered, unable to believe what was happening.

    She hissed, "Naaa-qiiii-aaa."

    I gulped as I stared at her. Her eyes went to my pups who were still giggling as they yed with other shadow wolves. The embers in her eyes turned into emeralds as she watched them fondly. Few momentster, she turned to Lucien. I was expecting her to strike, but the strike nevernded. She lowered her face over his chest, and licked the blood from his skin.

    Naqia rose to her full length, the ckness of her shadow turning misty white. She glowed-the soft golden light spilling all around her. My gaze went to Lucien''s chest from where all the shadows began receding. And it is then I saw. The vines began to recede. They disappeared. I choked on a sob as my hand rested on his chest.

    Naqia looked at the pups and glided back toward the altar, her face toward us. All other shadows followed her except the ones who were caught by my pups. They wanted to break free as they whimpered and wriggled, but my pups were not in the mood to leave them.

    All of them gathered around her in the shape of wolves. Her voice echoed through the air, through my bones.

    "The blood has been tested. The line has been redeemed. The curse is broken."

    Excitement buzzed through me. Really?

    Then she looked at the twins.

    "The heirs are untouched by betrayal. The chain ends here."

    Oh. My. Goddess. Was this really happening? I watched them all with wonder in my eyes. Was the centuries old curse finally lifting?

    The shadow wolves turned, curling back to the altar, as I watched them mesmerized. They slithered into the middle of the altar inside the crack. But thest two still remained. The shadow wolves looked up at me with their smoky eyes, as if begging me to rescue them from my pups'' tiny but relentless grip. Tamara moved her hand rapidly, giggling as she thrashed the shadow wolf with its tail in her hand left and right.

    I couldn''t stop smiling. Slowly, I pried open her hand and then Brad''s. Thest two shadow wolves quickly slithered to the altar. But they paused in front of me.

    12.30 Inu, 17 Apr

    "Protect them," they whispered in unison. "The bnce has shifted."

    ? 67%u

    And with that, they crept inside the altar. As soon as they had all gone in, miraculously, the stone of the altar started shifting back in its ce. It groaned as

    it came back to its original ce. I watched it incredulously with my breath lodged in my throat.

    Lucien stirred beside me, groaning softly. He blinked open his dark eyes, dazed. "Auren?"

    "Lucien!" I sobbed and kissed him hard. "You''re back!"

    He smiled weakly as I leaned over him, my hair falling around his face. "What happened, love?"

    Iughed through tears. "We are free."

    His brows furrowed. "Free? From what?"

    I leaned my forehead over his as I just couldn''t stop crying. This felt like the greatest victory of my life. Nothing-Sable, Julie, Rizv, Bram, Maris-nothing was bigger than what happened today.

    My pups let out a cry from the side. I snapped my head toward them and lifted them in my arms. I kissed them all over as Lucien got up. Tarian, Shaman, Vivi, and all others gathered around us. The Shaman was looking at me with

    reverence.

    "You''ve done it, Luna Auren," he said, his voice choking.

    Tarian and Vivi also looked at me with awe.

    "What happened?" Lucien asked as he looked around him, his eyes widening when he realized that we were at the Eldermere ruins. "Why are we here?"

    I was so relieved by it all that I handed my kids to Tarian and Vivi and then hugged Lucien tightly. "Silly, you wanted to leave me? Did you think I would let you go?" Then I peppered kisses all over his faces as he still looked surprised. I just wanted to be sure that he was still here with me. He wrapped his arms around me as I kissed him nonstop. I heard Vivi chuckling but she walked out with my pups in her arms.

    When I was done kissing him, I cupped his face. "The curse is broken," I said in a hoarse voice.

    His eyes widened in surprise. "Broken? How?"

    I ced my hand on his heart. "Your tattoos are gone."

    His gaze snapped to his chest and his surprise was over the roof. "How did this happen? There are no thorny vines left!"

    I kissed him again on his cheek. "I''ll tell you. Come home." I got up and gave him

    my hand. He took it and stood up. I nced at the Shaman, and thanked him silently.

 Chapter 141

    Third POV

    A month ago.

    Bram had never known rage quite like this. After he had heard that Auren had got intobor, he was enraged as hell. He stormed out of his room and went to his library where he sat alone. He didn''t want to see Maris or hear her voice or smell her scent of dead rats. All he wanted was to be with Auren or think of her.

    He waited for the next update from his spies. Maris came to him a few minutes ago and asked him to have dinner. But he was on his fifth ss of whiskey. Just then his spy entered and said, "Luna Auren has given birth to twins."

    The moment he heard that Auren had survived the birth and had given Alpha Lucien not one but two pups, something inside him snapped. He upended the whiskey ss in his hand. It shattered across the floor. Then he grabbed a heavy chair and hurled it at the wall. The crack of splintered wood echoed through his house.

    "They should have been mine!" he growled, pacing the library like a caged beast. "My pups. My legacy. Not his." He mmed his fist on the table. "That bitch is going to pay for this!"

    Maris sat on the chair in the corner near the hearth with her arms folded across her chest. With an icy expression on her face, she watched him with narrow eyes. She hated how he thought of her all the time. "She will die," she said coldly. "You know the curse, Bram. It ims every she-wolf who had given birth to Shadowfang heirs. She has only a few days left, maybe less."

    Bram stalked toward her. In a blink, his hand closed around her throat. He lifted her slightly, and sneered. "If you ever speak of her death with glee again, you will be the one six feet under!"

    She wed at his hand, wheezing. His wolf was gone, but he was still enough to tackle her. He let go of her and she copsed onto the floor, gasping for air.

    "How can you do this to me?" she snapped. "After all that I have done for you?¡±

    "What you have done for me was out of pure selfish reasons," he snarled. "Had you note into my life and poisoned me about Auren, she would have been with me. My wolf would have been with me!"

    "It''s not like you wanted to be with her!" she shouted as she cried. "I didn''t do anything you didn''t want."

    "Get out!" he shouted. "Get out, before I kill you!"

    Maris got up and ran out of the library, crying. "Bastard!" she muttered as she went back to her room. She called her maids. When Reya and Hyra fluttered around her, rubbing ointments on her bruises, Reya whispered poison in her ears. "You are so much better than that lowly omega, Luna. You are smarter, prettier and you are a born Luna. Alpha Bram will realize it one day."

    Hyra chimed in. "He is caught in the past. Once the curse ims Auren, there will be nopetition left."

    Their words made her smirk. "The curse will soon take her," Maris scoffed as her bruises darkened. "Then Bram will regret what he did to me!"

    When Hyra left, Reya came close to Maris. "There is one thing I wanted to say," she said, ncing at the door.

    "What?" Maris asked, lying down.

    "Beta Josh wants to see you. In private."

    "What for?"

    "I don''t know," Reya replied with mischief in her eyes.

    12:50 Thu, 17 Apr

    30/%

    Maris cocked an eyebrow. After a moment of pause, she said, "Ask him to meet me after midnight on the hill behind the pack''s territory."

    That night after Bram slept, intoxicated heavily, Maris sneaked out of the house. When she reached the hill behind the pack''s territory, she saw Josh over there. He was wearing only cks with a bare chest. She walked to him and looked at him with lust in her eyes. "You wanted to see me, Josh?"

    Josh''s chest rose and fell as he stared at her intensely. "You''ve heard about Auren?"

    She couldn''t help it and brushed her fingers lightly over his chest. "Yes......"

    He caught her wrist. "What do you n to do now?"

    "Depends on how you treat me," she said suggestively.

    With a low snarl, Josh grabbed her by the waist and picked her up. She curled her legs around him. "No panties," he said, cupping her ass. He pulled his pants down and before she knew it, he impaled her on his cock.

    Days passed and both of them continued having sex whenever and wherever they could. Bram was too busy mourning his loss, hating Lucien and Auren.

    More days passed. She eagerly waited for the news didn''t wither. She flourished. Auren''s demise. But nothing happened. Two weeks passed. Auren

    The reports came from the spies that Auren was seen in the balcony,ughing with her pups, with Lucien, strong and healthy. The cursed bride had survived somehow.

    Maris was shocked. One night as shey naked beside Josh, she said, "Why isn''t she dead?"

    Josh shrugged. "I don''t know... Something is strange though."

    A month after the pups were born, the truth dawned. The curse was broken. This time Bram descended into another fit of rage, which was worse than thest. As Maris watched him with horror, destroying every piece of furniture in their room, and as he shattered the mirror with a punch, blood trickling down his hand, she knew he was getting insane. Was he slowly getting moon crazy?

    She watched him quietly. And then that night she went to Josh. In his house. "I think he will soon be moon crazy," she said to him as he took her from behind. Sex with him was proving to be so good. Addictive. She was taking all precaution to mask his scent on her.

    He scoffed. "Let him. I''m here for you!"

    "No," she breathed. "There''s something else."

    He finished inside her with a grunt. When they were lying side by side, she said,

    "If fate didn''t kill Auren.... I would."

    Josh snapped his gaze at her. "That would be risky. Lucien is going to destroy all of us."

    "Then what do I do?" she cried.

    "Kill Bram?"

    And for the first time in days, her lips curled into a smile.

    But she didn''t know that Bram, too, was nning.

    He wasn''t looking to destroy Lucien or Auren. He had other things in mind.

    Lucien POV

    I stirred awake to a sharp ache in my head and behind my eyes. And to the familiar scent of home... Auren. "Auren?" I murmured, sure I was dreaming. My body was heavy. It felt like I had been dragged through fire and ice all at once. I felt so numb that for a moment I couldn''t move. I blinked at the dark clouds above, and turned my face to see the broken walls and pirs on Eldermere ruins around me. And then I saw her. My Auren.

    She was sitting beside me, eyes red as tears streamed down her cheeks, face riddled with exhaustion, sobbing and happy all at once. Her hair was tangled. Her dress was wrinkled and stained by my blood. And yet, I had never seen anything more divine.

    My mate. My Luna. My salvation.

    got up slowly, gasping as I ignored the pain in my back and the burn behind my eyes. "Auren?"

    Her lips curled up into a grin. "You''re awake!" she rasped. "Thank the goddess."

    I looked around and saw the Shaman standing a few feet away. There was some activity going on in the background, and I tried to make sense of it. "Where are the pups?" I asked. We were at home only a few moments ago. I remembered the sharp pain in my chest, and then copsing.

    "Oh, Lucien!" she said and hugged me tightly.

    When she pulled away, I reached for her and cupped her face with both hands. My thumbs brushed the tears on her cheeks. "What did you do?" I asked, my voice rough. I didn''t want toe to Eldermere. "What happened to the pups? How did we get here?" Anger and fear warred inside me.

    She gave a shakyugh. "The pups are fine. I dragged your stubborn ass through the forest to the ruins. With the babies." My eyes widened. "What?" I almost shrieked. "What did you do? Do you know how dangerous it is toe here?"

    "I know," she replied. "And I also know that you wanted to take the beat of the curse to protect us."

    I swallowed. "Auren..."

    She pointed at the altar. "Look over there."

    When I looked at the altar, I was in for a surprise. The crack in the stone had disappeared. Like it was never there. "H-how?" Even the thorny vines had dried and shriveled up. It seemed like the ce was never affected by the curse. The thick magic in the air was no more. The unusual, oppressive feel of magic was not there. My throat tightened. "I just don''t know how-"I didn''t know what to say. She chuckled. "The shadow wolves have left for good. The curse-" She pointed at my chest. "It''s gone."

    I looked down at my chest. The tattoos out there had gone. Not even the faint lines or the scars remained. I blinked in surprise as I stared at my chest. Other than my Alpha tattoo, there was nothing. The tattoos which were crawling over there had vanished. Like they were never there. Goosebumps lined my skin. Those tattoos were a part of my bloodline from centuries ago. My father and forefathers bore it always until thest day of their life. And they were gone? No longer alive?

    "The curse is broken?" I asked as I brushed my finger over my tattoo incredulously.

    "Yes!" she chirped. "We''ve done it!"

    My eyes lifted to meet hers. The curse was gone because of her. I was so stupid

    to not believe in it. I was blinded by my fierce love for my family. "It''s gone because of you," I said as I pulled her into my chest. "You... you defied the shadow wolves. You risked your life. And you carried me here."

    80%

    12:25 Fri, 18 Apr

    She nodded against me as she buried her face in my chest. "I had to. I couldn''t

    lose you."

    I held her tighter, pressing my lips to her hair. In a rough voice I said, "You saved me, Auren." A tear escaped my eye. My mate had done it again. She had proven that she was more than what the eye met. She was a powerful wolf with so much courage. "I love you!"

    "I love you, too," she cried softly. "How could you think of sacrificing yourself for us, silly?"

    I just wrapped her in her arms and both of us remained there until we were assured that it was all over. After a while, when I stood, I was shaky on my feet. I looked at the Eldermere ruins around me, the altar that once had cursed our bloodline. And now, my mate had turned it into the ce where she saved me.

    "Come, let''s go home," I said to her. I lifted her face and kissed her on her lips. "And when we return, we will celebrate."

    The Shaman who was standing a few feet away, said, "From now, you will be known as Auren, the curse breaker of the Shadowfang"

    The warriors standing around us cheered. "Long live the Luna!"

    "Long live the curse breaker!"

    They all seemed so excited as they looked at Auren with reverence that my chest

    filled with pride. I took Auren''s hand in mine and proudly walked out of the ruins, wondering if I wanted to step inside them again. When we came out, I saw Vivi and Tarian holding one pup each. Tarian nodded at me, his eyes filled with loyalty and love. Vivi was crying as she looked at me, murmuring something about Alphas, moon and curse.

    I still couldn''t believe that the ancient curse was broken, that the shadow wolves

    had left us forever.

    As I sat inside the car, Tarian and Vivi gave us our pups. They were both sleeping like there was no tomorrow. Did they even get affected by the shadow wolves? I was angry that Auren got them here. It was too risky. But then I stopped myself from going in that direction because all was well that ended well. Tamara opened her eyes briefly, smiled, and then again went off to sleep in my arms. With one hand, I cradled her as with the other, I circled Auren''s shoulder, pulling her closer to me. She had Bradley in her arms. She ced her head on my chest with a beautiful and satisfied smile. We were all going back home. With no fear, no threats and a promise of beautiful life ahead.

    I silently sent a prayer to the moon goddess for being so benevolent to me. I didn''t

    deserve Auren, or a family so beautiful, but she still blessed me with it. Her ns were so mysterious...

    After reaching home, I announced to the pack that we would celebrate the birth of

    my pups in two days.

    0

 Chapter 142

    Chapter 142 Chapter 142

    Lucien POV

    380

    This wasn''t just a celebration for my newborn pups. No, it was something much bigger than that. For the first time in generations, in centuries, the Shadowfang bloodline was free. The curse that had haunted my family-killed every woman who bore heirs-was gone. I could finally breathe without fear of losing Auren. I could hold my mate and know that she would live.

    The day in the evening when the celebrations started, it was only joy everywhere. The full moon hung like a jewel in the sky. It was a new moon that cast its soft glow across my pack''s territory. The celebrations were going on at the clearing in my pack''s territory. Firepits were lit, long tables were stacked with roasted meat, spiced vegetables, fruits and warm bread. Overhead,nterns were hanging from the branches of the trees. Laughter filled the air. Music rose from speakers. It wasn''t just a celebration. It was homing.

    Our people weren''t just cheering for my twins. They were cheering for hope. For freedom that eluded us.

    My heart, my love, stood beside me, her hand tucked in the crook of my arm.

    Dressed in silk blue and silver gown, she held Tamara in her arms while Bradley rested in mine. Her scent was stronger, full of life. She had mentioned that the coppery scent in me that usually lingered, vanished. And I knew that the curse had disappeared from my soul.

    My pack people couldn''t stop looking at her with awe. She wasn''t just their Luna, she had be their legend. She was a silent warrior, a bearer of new life and the mate of their Alpha who broke the curse. She was the woman I would worship forever.

    As my pack members gathered around me, I said, "Shadowfang wolves, today is not just celebrating survival, it is about family, about faith and about the woman who carried me through the darkest times, who carried all of us through the dark times and emerged victorious."

    Cheers erupted.

    I nced at Auren, who was blushing. Her eyes shone and her lips curved with a soft smile.

    I lifted Bradley slightly. "Our future. Shadowfang''s future!*

    A unified how rose from the wolves. The Elders pped as they looked at Auren, Vivi and other omegas dabbed their eyes, while many others smiled, watching Auren and me with reverence.

    As the cheers faded, I asked them all to enjoy the night to the fullest. Once all of them were gone, I leaned down and whispered in Auren''s ear, "Once this is over, I am going to worship your body. And I''m not done spoiling you yet."

    She flushed and I chuckled. Even though the curse was broken, my obsession with her was not. I looked at my pack members. As Alpha, I had led them through storms. But Auren? She ended one. Tonight, every howl, every song and every fire that burned brightly... it was all for her. I knew it on instinct.

    It was difficult to believe that a year ago, she hade to my pack as a trade deal, to be my breeder and to give heirs to the Shadowfang pack. And now she stood next to me like a queen. She fucking owned me. I loved her body and soul. Vivi came to us for the babies. Auren had already fed them and so they were sleeping tight. I watched Tarian. He was looking happier than ever. Like a weight was lifted off his shoulders. He nced at me and nodded with a grin, and then went to talk to others.

    As the evening matured, the fires thinned, glowing softly like sleepy eyes. The pack members danced slowly as they drank wine and talked in hushed tones.

    Auren was sitting in between my legs as I watched them. I got up and wrapped my arms around her waist. Resting my chin on her shoulder, I murmured. "Tired?"

    14.27 Sun, 20 Apr

    She ced her hands on arms. "Yes," she whispered. "But I''d never been so happy."

    I pressed a soft kiss to her neck. ¡°You''ve given the greatest gift of hope. And you have given me everything"

    42 58%

    She leaned away to give ess to her neck. Like a greedy wolf, I kissed her more, licking and sucking my mark. She shivered in my arms. Under the stars and moon, I wanted to make love to her. Slow and long. "Care for a dance?" I asked.

    When she nodded, I got up and pulled her up. We walked to the nearest firepit. I held her by her waist. We swayed together. Just us. No weight of the world. Just a man and his mate, holding forever.

    I couldn''t stop myself anymore. I picked her up in my arms.

    "Lucien!" she squealed.

    I looked at her intensely as I carried her away.

    "Where are we going?" she asked.

    "Somewhere quiet. Somewhere I have you for myself."

    She tucked her head in the crook of my neck as I carried her to a hilltop, away from the celebrations. The moonlight bathed the hilltop in silver. It was quiet. I set her on her feet and intertwined my fingers with hers. From here, we could see the celebrations. It looked like a sea of flickeringnterns.

    "It''s beautiful," she murmured.

    My eyes were on her. "Yes," I sighed. She looked at me with a question in her eyes. But before she could say it, my lips were on hers. The next I knew was that I was removing all her clothes. She looked ethereal in the moonlight. Her skin glowed under the moon. The curves in her body had be fuller. Both her ass and her breasts were rounder and heavier.

    "You''re beautiful!" I said in a hoarse voice as I straddled her. I lowered my mouth to her breasts and suckled them, gently at first, and then hard. She cried as she buried her fingers in my hair, her body arching. I released her nipple with a pop sound andtched onto the other. Sweet goddess. She was so fucking sexy. I went lower to her belly where I kissed and sucked her skin, leaving my marks along the way.

    When I reached her pussy, I just couldn''t stop myself. Itched onto her clit. She moaned. "Lucien..." Fuck. The way she said my name. It made me hard as a rock. I opened the zipper of my pants and removed it. Then I pulled out my shirt and sucked her pussy like a wolf gone thirsty.

    I couldn''t hold myself. I was in a hurry to sink myself deep inside her. Positioning my cock at her entrance, I thrust inside roughly. "Ah!" she moaned. My eyes rolled in my head. She was divine. Her pussy was weeping for me. I started thrusting hard. It was like if I didn''te inside her, I''d die. So I increased my pace. Harder, harder, and with a roar, I came inside her. Following my cue, her pussy fluttered around me and she also came.

    "Fuck!" I rasped. "This will never get old!"

    She chuckled as I rested my head over hers,zily thrusting inside her. I had only just begun.

 Chapter 143

    Auren POV

    MÌ– 58%ïˆ

    Days passed fast and before I knew it, my twins were six months old. Lucien and I were nning on a quiet dinner to celebrate their six-month birthday. I had turned neen a few months ago. Summer had descended and there were blooms everywhere. The pack had beautiful meticulously crafted gardens with a variety of flowers. And the air was thick with the intoxicating fragrance of these flowers.

    The morning light filtered through the windows of my bedroom. Tamara and Bradley were ying on the rug, I had ced a lot of cushions around them. Giggles echoed in the room as Tamara, who was dressed in a sky-blue romper, sat wobbly on the plush rug, and she was pping her hands with delight after chewing a wooden wolf toy. Beside her, Bradley sat quietly, studying a wooden ring toy with intense concentration. He curled his fingers around it and flipped it to study it like it held answers to life.

    Iughed. "Tam, don''t eat that," I said as I picked up the drool-soaked toy from her mouth. Both my pups had started teething. And they were biting everything they could sink their teeth in, including my breasts. While Bradley was showing, signs of having wee fangs, Tamara wasn''t. She squealed in protest as I took her toy and wobbled forward. She toppled gently on the cushions. Iughed and lifted her into myp, pressing a kiss to her soft golden curls. "You don''t need it, sweetheart," But Tamara picked up another soft toy and started chewing it. Sigh...

    Lucien entered the room shirtless. His hair was damp after a quick bath. He was holding two mismatched socks in his hands. "Our daughter has flung these across the hall, bedroom and garden. Did you know I found one in the kitchen as well?" Tamara loved to remove her socks when sitting anywhere. She would remove them and y with them. Often, the maids had pulled out the socks from her hands before they entered her mouth.

    "She is testing her throwing arm. I do believe she is a warrior-in-training," I replied with a grin.

    He came to me and dropped on his knees. He leaned down to kiss me and then brushed his fingers against Brad''s cheek. "And this one? He looks like he is solving a riddle."

    I chuckled. "He is probably plotting how to overthrow his sister''s sock rebellion."

    We were both six months into parenthood, and nothing ever felt moreplete. I had forgotten about my past in the Crimson Howl pack. Bram and Maris existed somewhere on this. I didn''t care.

    All these months, there were moments of exhaustion, of confusion, of wailing cries in the middle of the night, of times when my breasts ached with milk overflowing, when I just wanted to wean my pups away. But then there was alsoughter, warmth, a bond that grew stronger between Lucien and me. We loved every moment of spending time with pups. Every little action caused happiness.

    Outside, the pack members had started treating my pups as treasures. Sometimes, they got gifts. The warriors bowed respectfully whenever I passed with my pups in my arms. At the heart of it, I no longer felt like the omega no one wanted. 1 felt like the Luna of my pack.

    Once when Lucien had taken the pups to the training arena, some of the warriors and younger wolves took a break only to coo at them. I stood behind them, enjoying it in silence.

    Sienna loved how things turned out. Myzy wolf sprawled and tossed around in my mind happily, wagging her tail. Sometimes, she went for a run with Remus and invariably, she would return riding on his back like a queen. And Remus- he loved to pamper her. He would proudly get her back home on his back.

    I had put the pups to sleep in their cradles and gone down to have lunch with Lucien and Tarian. While we were talking about the pack business and that two alphas wanted to meet Lucien, Vivi interrupted us. "Alpha Lucien, someone is requesting an audience with you."

    "Who is it?" Lucien asked, swallowing down the pie.

    "Tom''s nephew, Fred Danby," Vivi said with a choked throat.

    14:27 Sun, 20 Apr 92.

    47501

    I exchanged a nce with Lucien and nodded. He stood up, wiping his hands on

    a napkin "Ask him to meet me in the main ball

    Tarian also got up and followed Lucien in the main hall. I finished my lunch and curious, I also followed them. A man stood waiting for us. Lean, with auburn hair and familiar green eyes that poked at my memory, Vred looked like a model walking out of a fashion magazine.

    As soon as he saw us, he bowed. "Alpha Lucien," he said, ncing at me. "I''m Fred Danby, Tom''s nephew

    Lucien stared at him with surprise. He waved at the sofa behind him. "Please sit"

    As we settled into our seats, I found Vivi watching Fred with a nervous expression.

    "How''s Tom?" I asked. "I hope he is feeling well"

    Fred''s eyebrows jumped to the hairline. "You didn''t know?" When he saw our puzzled faces, he added, "He died a few months ago. Didn''t Mirabelle say anything to you?"

    Shock rippled through me as my eyes widened. "Died? Mirabelle? What are you talking about?" Goosebumps lined my skin. I whipped my head to look at Lucien who had narrowed his eyes as he stared at Fred.

    He said through the mind link. ''It was Tom who had rmended Mirabelle aka Sable!

    Fred nodded gravely, "Yes, Luna. I''m sorry toe without notice, but I''ve been searching for someone. My uncle had put a girl instead of him as a chef in house, Mirabelle. Belle came here and just two dayster my uncle died. I am looking for her,"

    Vivi gulped audibly. "Tom died?"

    I tried to search for a hint of maliciousness in Fred. There was none. What was going on?

    Lucien leaned forward, and said, "Fred, can you tell me more about Mirabelle and Tom''s connection?" He looked lethal, like he would kill Fred in an instant.

    Fred looked pretty flustered, but he revealed everything. Right from how Mirabelle met him to how she got in contact with Tom, who helped her join as our chef.

    "After Uncle Tom died, I contacted her. I asked her to leave her job ande to live with me, but she said she had promised you that she would find a recement and then she woulde. I waited a few months. She didn''t call. I thought she moved on. But now I can''t shake the feeling that something bad happened to her. Since she was your cook, I thought... maybe you know where she is?"

    My head reeled as my thoughts raced. Mirabelle. Belle. Sable. The mask. The disguise. Memories of that terrible night of fire and betrayal, of knives and blood, flooded my mind.

    Fred continued, "I really can''t get over her. Please, if you know about her, tell me." He was getting anxious.

    Tarian took a deep breath in. "Fred... you may want to drink water." He looked at Vivi who was already crying silently. She nod

    "WI

 Chapter 144

    Auren POV

    Tarian stood and crossed the room to him. He sat down beside him. "Belle never told you who she was?"

    Fred looked at him with a frown. "I met her at a stripper''s club in human town. After that we just hit it."

    K58301

    Tarian took a deep breath in as Lucien continued to watch Fred with suspicion in his eyes. Tarian said, ¡°Belle... she wasn''t who she said she was."

    "What do you mean?" Fred asked sharply.

    "She was someone dangerous, someone who tried to kill Alpha and Luna," he said in a low voice. "Her real name was Sable, and she was the daughter of one of the councilors in Shadowfang pack, Rizv Brown. She wasn''t Mirabelle."

    Fred''s mouth dropped open.

    "She used that name and that identity to get close to us."

    Fred''s face paled. "You mean she pretended to be Mirabelle?" He took his phone out and showed a photo of Mirabelle.

    "Yes, that one," Tarian sighed. He took his phone out and showed him the video of how he removed Sable''s mask that day. Fred was mortified.

    "Goddess!"

    Tarian put his phone back. "I''m sorry, Fred."

    There was an awkward silence as I tried to fit the puzzle pieces. It seemed like Sable had fooled him as well for her nefarious activities.

    "How did Tom die?" Lucien asked him.

    Fred hadn''t recovered. His hands were shaking. "She betrayed my trust," he murmured. After a while, he looked up at Lucien and said, "He had a heart attack.

    It was bizarre because he was healthy one day and gone the next."

    "I''m sorry about your uncle," Lucien replied. "If you want any help from us, let us know. We are here for you."

    He nodded slowly, his eyes glinting with unshed tears. "Thank you, Alpha. I''ll take my leave now." He got up, still dazed, and I felt pity for him.

    Tarian walked him out, murmuring something reassuring. I took a rough breath, staring out at him. Lucien came to me and held my hand, and took me back upstairs. "Really sad..." he murmured. I felt really sad for Fred. He was duped by Sable in so many ways that it was impossible to fathom his disappointment and how betrayed he must be feeling.

    However, something pricked at the back of my mind. How did Tom die in just two days of Sable''s departure? I sighed, shaking my head. My mind was full of doubts when it came to Sable. Now that she was no more, I was still disbelieving her intentions.

    Third POV

    Bram hadn''t been able to sleep that night. He was avoiding Maris all the time. It was impossible for him to have sex with her. She tried to cajole him initially, but now she didn''te after him. Perhaps she saw her worth now. She could go to hell for all he cared. She wanted power as the Luna. She got it, and she seemed happy.

    Sitting in his library, he finished his bottle of whiskey and got up to go to his room. He knew Maris would be asleep. He would silently slide in the bed and sleep with his pillow on his head so that he didn''t smell her disgusting scent. In the

    14:28 Sun, 20 Apr 5.

    morning he would wake up before her and leave.

    58%2

    It had been six months since he came to know about Auren''s twins. His rage was at an all-time high. He wanted to take revenge. It was time he acted on his n. The problem was that he wasn''t finding a gap in Lucien''s security. So every day he sketched his n in detail, hoping to find somecuna in his security. His spies were in constant touch with him. He wanted to smell Auren, inhale her scent, be with her in some way. Even if he was able to inhale her scent once a week, it was enough for him. But it wasn''t happening. His mind was slipping into craziness. He was afraid that he would eventually be moon crazy. So what was the best way to keep him sane?

    As he staggered to his room, he walked through the corridor. At the dead of the night, he was surprised to hear the giggles and murmurs filtering through one of the rooms. Maris''s scent was thick in the air. He followed the scent, and realized that it was mixed with a deeper, more masculine scent that wasn''t his. It was that of... Josh.

    His hands curled into fists as fury sted in his chest. Before he knew it, he was standing in front of the door from where the smell wasing. He pushed the door open. It mmed against the wall.

    Maris jumped off the bed, clutching the sheet against her body. Josh stood as well, looking pale. Bram''s eyes flicked between them. Maris''s hair was tousled and her cheeks flushed. Bram sniffed the air again and growled. "You were having sex!"

    Josh''s chest was rising and falling like he had been caught sprinting.

    "What the fuck is going on here?" Bram demanded.

    Maris stammered, "It''s not what it looks like!"

    "It looks like you were fucking my Beta!" Bram roared. Josh bared his neck instinctively. Even though Bram no longer had a wolf, his Alpha presence carried weight. But Bram knew the truth-if Josh ever challenged him now, he would lose. Shoving that fear aside, he hissed, "You forget your ce, Josh. You''ve been fucking your Luna. Do you know what I can do? I''ll fucking throw you in the dungeons!"

    Josh looked at Maris. "I didn''t mean to disrespect you, Alpha."

    "Get out," Bram growled, a n forming in his mind. "And wait for my orders."

    As soon as Josh left, Maris blurted. "It was a mistake. I was just... felt neglected." Bram strode to her and clutched her throat with his hand. "Neglected? You married me for power. Don''t act like you''re the victim." Tears gathered in her eyes, but Bram shoved her on the bed and turned away. "If I tell this to my pack members, they will shred you two into pieces!"

    "No!" she shrieked. But Bram mmed the door behind him and went to his bedroom. A satisfied smirk came on his lips. Maris had given him the opening he needed.

 Chapter 145

    Bram got up early in the morning, able to sleep well with his arms crossed against his chest as he stared out at the pack grounds below He was excited, he was angry, but he didn''t stop strategizing. Even though the morning was quiet, his mind wwe chardic. He knew that now the time hade to strike, but he had to be precise. He couldn''t afford mistakes.

    It had taken everything in his not to kill Maris when he saw her with Josh in apromising position. But had he not controlled his anger and thought of how he could use this to his advantage, he wouldn''t have calmed down. Standing in this toom, he knew exactly what he needed to do

    Maris hadn''t returned to the bedroom, scared of him, which was good. He needed to keep that image. The door opened fly and the walked in. He nced back at her, standing in the center of the room. Her eyes darted nervously and her hands twisted together. He scoffed as to how fragile she looked, like who had gotten too deep into something. He exhaled sharply, and turned his head back to the

    grounds.

    Without looking at her, he said, "You know what happens if I reveal your betrayal, right?¡± His voice was low, controlled, but it had an edge that made the hairs on the back of her neck stand up.

    Maris flinched "1-I''m sorry, Bram"

    He chuckled darkly, "Sorry?" He turned to look at her. "My pack members will kill you."

    She lowered her gaze to the floor. "I swear, Bram, I won''t do it again." She was on the verge of crying.

    Je walked toward her slowly, savoring this control. In a cold voice he said, "I can have you killed before you even have the time to blink"

    Her eyes widened in terror. She opened her mouth, but words caught in her throat. She knew that he wasn''t bluffing. She closed her mouth with her hands as tears started rolling down. He continued to watch her, feeling happy for the first time in ages. He didn''t know that he would be so happy to see her miserable.

    "I''ll do anything, Bram. Just please-" Her voice trembled, and a sob escaped her mouth. "Please don''t kill me."

    Bram studied her for a long moment, enjoying her fear. It was intoxicating. He would have continued to make her live in fear, but he had other ns. He needed her to do exactly as he told her.

    He stepped closer and locked his eyes on her. "You''ll do anything?"

    She nodded as she looked at him. "Anything."

    He tilted his head as if to assess her. He narrowed his gaze and said, "Then you will go to your father and convince him to oppose Lucien."

    "What?" Maris was shocked.

    "You have to convince your father to use Lucien of using dark magic. Magic that''s forbidden. The kind only the High Council has the power to wield."

    "But Lucien doesn''t-"

    "I didn''t say he does," Bram interrupted in a stormy voice. "I said that you have to convince your father he does. My spies say that his wife has survived the curse. How is that possible unless he has used dark magic? Auren is an ordinary omega."

    Maris was horrified as she stared at Bram.

    He continued. "If your father believes it, we have the leverage we need to take him down. But your father should have in confidence at least two more alphas who will believe him and are ready to rally against Lucien. Once you do this, I''ll free

    14:28 Sun, 20 Apr 5.

    you. I promise, I wouldn''t say anything to anyone. Your secret will remain a secret. Forever."

    Maris''s mouth went dry. "Bu-but this is dangerous, Bram. What if they don''t believe me?"

    58%

    His lips curled into a cold smile. "Then you have to make them believe. And not only him, you have to get at least two more alphas on our side. If four alphas rally against Lucien, we can shatter him."

    Maris hesitated, her fear gnawing at her. She knew that there was no escape. If she didn''t help Bram, he would reveal her infidelity to everyone. And if she helped him, there was no guarantee that he would keep his promise. She needed time to think about it. To counter his ns to take her down. For that, she nodded slowly. "I''ll do it. I''ll make them believe."

    Bram''s eyes gleamed with satisfaction. "Good," he said. "Go to your father today. I need this done asap!"

    She nodded, her face pale. She had no other choice. If she wanted to survive, she had to do this. ¡°Okay!¡± she said in a shaky voice. ¡°But I have to tell you one thing, Bram. You''re a bastard! If you think you will get Auren by whatever shenanigans you''re ying, then know this-I won''t let here here."

    Bram shot her a deathly re. He lifted his hand and pped her hard across her cheek. She shrieked and fell on the floor with her hand on her cheek.

    "Fucking bitch!" he growled. "You go around my back and cheat on me, and you have the audacity to tell me not to get my mate?" He leaned in front of her. "Remember, this is your only chance. Fail, and you would lose your life. You''ve already made your bed, Maris. Now lie on it."

    His words were final. She felt suffocated, but she didn''t have a choice.

    "Now get up, and get ready! Your car will be waiting in an hour." Saying that, he left the room, his mind racing with the next steps of his n. Once the seeds of doubt were nted, Lucien would have to face the consequences. But he had to do everything cleverly. He couldn''t afford to rush, now that his n was seeing the silver lining.

    Maris left in less than an hour. Later that day, when she sat with her father, her heart pounded in her chest. She told him everything, just as Bram had instructed. She used Lucien, iming that he used forbidden dark magic. Her father was shocked by the news. "That is horrifying!" he said. "Really, how did that omega survive the curse?"

    After hearing her out, he made the call to reach his allies. Two of his allies were convinced, while the rest of them didn''t want to mess with the Alpha of the North, so they refused outright.

    By the middle of the next week, as Maris stayed at her father''s ce, the alphas came to meet them. They formed a strategy and demanded a meeting with Lucien.

    "I am calling Alpha Lucien," her father said. "If this is proved that Alpha Lucien has used forbidden magic, then we are seeing a heavy case on him. But in my opinion, the case at the High Council is going to take ages to reach a verdict. We should attack him!"

    The Alphas agreed with him.

    When Maris sent this news to Bram, he chuckled. "Ask them to meet me here."

    Tho

 Chapter 146

    Bram sat at his desk in the office. His mind was spinning with more ns and possibilities because his first n was sessful. It had been two weeks since Maris had gone to her father and convinced him She did her part well to spread the word about Lucien''s supposed use of dark magic. He knew that the seeds of doubt were nted, but he needed more. He had to do something which would force Lucien to be distracted. Only if Lucien focused on something else, it would create the opening he needed.

    With that in mind, he called Maris''s father, and said politely, "If possible, let''s meet at your ce, instead of mine. Your ally Alphas have packs closer to your pack."

    "Sure son!" his father-inw replied. "You are very considerate."

    As Bram disconnected the call, he smirked. "Foolish, old bastard!"

    The main reason for him to go to the Iron Pine pack was that he had nned something sinister, and it had to be done quietly. No one could know what he was going to do next. It didn''t matter if everyone knew what he was doing against Lucien, but his main n had to stay hidden. Josh was already away on the borders of the Shadowfang pack with a team of five wolves. Away from his wife. He didn''t want his Beta to stick his nose in his ns.

    As he traveled to the Iron Pine pack in his car, he stopped midway where he had to meet a few rogues. These were Maris''s acquaintances. He chuckled. He didn''t know that they would be so useful. The rogues were all hiding in the ces he had asked, so as soon as he was in the middle of the forest, they came over to him. He handed them fifty thousand dors and said, "You know what you have to do. Do it nicely and don''t falter. Get everyone who you know to help you. I will send you more money."

    The rogues nodded. They took the money and disappeared into the forest. Bram watched them, leaning against his car. He had withdrawn his pack''s treasury money, which was ultimately embezzlement. But he didn''t care.

    As he made his way toward the Iron Pine pack, the sky turned dark. He knew that the rogues would be close to the Shadowfang pack by now. He was tense, wondering if this would work. It was a risky move, but it had to work. He had to divert Lucien''s attention just long enough to make the rest of the alphas attack him. And then he would carry out his final blow. A smile spread on his lips.

    Maris came inside the room, and I had to stop my gag at her horrible smell. ¡°I hope things are going ording to your n."

    "Yes," he replied. "Your father has called his allies. We will have a meeting soon."

    She nodded tightly. "You kept your promise, right? You didn''t reveal my secret to anyone?"

    He gave her a hard look. "Of course, I haven''t. Why would I? As long as you keep your side of the bargain, Maris."

    She swallowed hard. She pursed her lips and then went out. She knew that her marriage was on rocks. Where was Josh? Only if she could convince him of doing

    it.

    The meeting with the Alphas took ce in the evening. It was decided that they would''attack Lucien in four days. Since he was a powerful Alpha, and since they would be breaching the treaty, the attack had to be sudden. They had to take Lucien by surprise.

    After the meeting, Maris returned to the Crimson Howl pack along with Bram. They didn''t talk at all during the ride. However, as soon as they returned, Maris went to Hyra.

    "I can''t contact Josh. Do you know where he is?" she asked, panic rising in her chest.

    Hyra whined, "Alpha has sent him to the borders to the Shadowfang pack to monitor the activities there."

    14:28 Sun, 20 Apr.

    58%

    "What?" Her heart skipped a beat. Did Bram want Josh to be killed in the attack? That fucking cunning bastard. She wouldn''t let him kill Josh.

    "I have to contact him," she said, giving her a mobile. "Go to him, and give it to

    him. And tell him to wait for my orders!"

    ¡°But Luna, this is risky!" Hyra rasped.

    "Just do what I''ve asked you to, okay. And be discreet, okay?" The mobile had a

    secret number which only she knew about.

    Hyra nodded out of fear, and left quickly.

    Lucien POV

    "Some traders have arrived at the pack''s main gate," Tarian informed.

    "Traders? What traders?" I asked as I changed Bradley''s diaper.

    Tarian shrugged. "You know those gypsy kinda wolves. Their trucks are filled with supplies. They want toe inside the pack''s territory."

    "No!" I growled. I wasn''t going to let them enter my pack. "They can go to hell. We don''t need traders!"

    Tarian chuckled. "They are saying that if you won''t allow them toe in, can they sell their goods outside our pack''s territory?"

    I finished wrapping the diaper around my son and lifted him in my arms. "Tarian," I said. "What is this nonsense? Ask them to buzz off!"

    Heughed. "They are saying that they will be here for no more than a week. I have tried arguing with them, but they are saying that the Shadowfang pack is thergest pack. Selling their goods here will help their families."

    I was cruel as hell. Would kill them at the drop of a hat if they posed a threat to my pack or my family, but I wasn''t heartless. I sighed, "Okay! But I''d like to meet their leader. Get all their identity cards. The guards need to keep a watch on them at all times."

    "Sure," Tarian said as he smiled.

    "Where are they putting up?"

    "West border."

    "Double the patrol that side for theing week."

    Tarina nodded, and left. I took Bradley back to the bedroom where Auren was sleeping with Tamara. My daughter was so lovely that I knew she would be a heartbreaker. But I wasn''t going to let her marry some random wolf. Maybe, I would hold apetition for her prospective grooms. Hmm... I had to start preparing for the tests that I had to give them. From now onward.

    ''th me

    I

    war

    Comment

    nt back "I said

 Chapter 147

    Chapter 147 Chapter 147

    Lucien POV

    Along with Tarian and a few other gammas, I went to the ce where the traders were waiting for us. Their leader, a burly wolf with brown long hair, was pleasantly submissive. He showed me around his trade vans. There were families, women arranging food, and pups who yed around like there was no tomorrow.

    A smile came to my lips when I saw how carefree they were. Some stopped to stare at us with fear in their eyes. I knew that look. These gypsy wolves were sweet souls. They meant no harm. They rose from one pack to another. They couldn''t be categorized as rogues because they were former rogues who came together and got into this business model to sustain and live a better life.

    "Okay!" I breathed as I wore my sunsses again. "But you can camp only for a week"

    "That is more than enough, Alpha," the leader said with a bow. "We will clear after a week and you won''t hear anyints. We mean no harm, and we are just hoping to sell our wares to the local packs."

    "Good, because if I hear a singleint, I won''t guarantee that my warriors won''t attack. Pack members will keep watch. So stay outside the borders, and we won''t have a problem."

    The leader flinched at my threat, but he still bowed. "I agree."

    The next day, I stood on the balcony as Auren and pups were sleeping inside. My life was so quiet these days that it felt surreal. But then why was it that my gut told me to be cautious. Probably I was overthinking.

    Inside, I heard Auren stirring as one of the pups woke up. I walked in, hoping to cuddle her back to sleep, but Tamara wanted to have her morning breakfast, and she looked at Auren from her cradle with interest. I chuckled as I picked her up. "You''re such a naughty girl!" I chided her, cing her next to her mother. I opened Auren''s gown and gently held Auren''s breast, and pushed the nipple in Tam''s mouth. Immediately, she started suckling. I watched the two of them with so much love that it was overwhelming. I slid behind Auren and spooned her as she fed Tamara.

    Later in the day, I went to the office. As I was discussing finances with one of the council members, Ta urgent look on his face. He gave me a letter. "From one of our allies."

    n came in with an

    The council member got up, bowed to me and left. Tarian perched on his chair. I opened the letter and its contents immediately caught my attention. "What the fuck!" The letter was from one of our allied packs. It said that a few alphas were going to go against me about my curse. It sent a sharp jolt through me. And these fucking alphas were my allies. So they were breaching the treaty. "Find out who they are!" I growled, tossing the letter toward Tarian. "I will fucking smash their heads before they can blink!"

    "The letter ims that you used dark forbidden magic to break the curse and that the High Council needs to intervene!¡± Tarian rasped. "The fucking audacity!"

    My fists tightened, my jaw clenching. "Who could have started this rumor?" I stood up, frustration rising within me. "They are using the curse against me, iming that they used dark magic to break it? They want to start a fresh stir amongst the alphas in order to challenge my authority!"

    "We can strike them first," Tarian replied, his brows furrowed. "We can move quickly and hit them before they have time to rally the other packs."

    "No," I shook my head. "This letter doesn''t say who all are against me. So it would be wrong to strike without a reason. Unless they give us a reason to provoke, we wait. Let theme to us. I''ll deal with it when the timees." I turned to face him. "But find out who all are involved. Send your spies. Go to meet this alpha and ask about his resources."

    Tarian didn''t argue. He knew that rash action could lead to a useless war. We had to y it carefully.

    By the time it was evening, I was restless. Sitting at my desk, I tapped my fingers on the surface. My mind was finding ways to counter the threat. The first thing that came to my mind was to write a letter to the High Council. The words came easily.

    23.41 Mon, 21 Apr Chapter 147

    X85%

    58

    Everyone knew about the curse. So I exined how the curse was broken, how the bond between me and Auren created the right conditions and how it was the birth of pups that finally lifted the curse. There was no dark magic involved. The High Council had Elders from my pack as well in the past, and so they were well- versed with the curse and shadow wolves.

    I sent the letter off, my mind anxious if the High Council would believe in me. But the response from the Council came faster than I expected. The letter arrived in two days.

    The letter began. "It''s not for us to look into it. We have no reason to interfere with your personal matters. Congrattions on lifting your curse. We were aware of the events, and no further action is required. As for your query regarding other alphas using you of using forbidden magic, we know that you haven''t. Our witches immediatelye to know where forbidden magic is used. They''ve known about the shadow wolves for centuries, and that magic is beyond them. Even they were afraid to face it. So we know that you haven''t used dark magic, because it can''t counter a curse so ancient."

    A shudder of exhration went through me. The High Council knew. They hadn''t interfered and made it clear that it wasn''t their problem. My lips curled up. Now the rebel Alphas coulde and I will unleash my wrath upon them.

    That night my warriors sounded urgent when they reported me. Presence of enemy wolves was detected. It felt like they wereing closer.

 Chapter 148

    It was a peaceful morning. One of those rare moments when everything felt calm. Like the world outside hadn''t caught fire. I chuckled as 1 hummed a song and covered my pups with a nket. They both were asleep, their tiny bodies curled up in their basss.

    My man had a voracious diet for sex. Justst night, he asked me to put a gag on his mouth so that he didn''t grunt as he came inside me. "I feel like we should have more babies," he whispered as he slipped beside me and pulled me over his

    chest.

    ¡°No.......¡± I hummed, and closed my eyes, drifting off to sleep almost immediately.

    I looked at Lucien who was also sleeping, snoring a little, after having three rounds of sexst night. When I went to ce a kiss on his forehead, he stirred awake. He grabbed me by my waist and pulled me over him. The sheet barely covered his groin where his erection was again bulging.

    "Mr. Vaslof, no more sex!" I yfully smacked him.

    "Kill joy!¡± he grunted and crashed his mouth on mine.

    I moaned at his assault. Had he not broken the kiss, I would have given up and probably rode him all over again. This wolf was so charming and persuasive when it came to sex.

    But there was something wrong. I could sense it through our bond. "Lucien?" I said, brushing his hair from his forehead. "What happened, baby?"

    He stared into my eyes and a secondter, turned his head away. "Nothing..."

    I cupped his cheeks and made him look my way. "Tell me."

    His eyes met mine, a hint of irritation shing in his gaze. "Some Alphas have grouped together and they are using me of using forbidden magic to break the curse."

    "What the hell!" I was shocked. "Which Alphas?"

    "I don''t know..." he said. "But nothing to worry about. I have the situation under control."

    I got up and red at him. "I''m your wife, not a child. So don''t give me that, Lucien."

    He sighed. "I contacted the High Council and they said that they knew about breaking the curse. At least I am covered there just in case these alphas decide to go there."

    "Well, this is just fantastic," I muttered under my breath. "Who the hell are these Alphas? Do they think that you have a magic wand tucked under pillow? Dark forbidden magic? Really?"

    He grunted in annoyance, his hand running through his hair. "I''ve sent my spies to find out who they are. But that''s not all. My warriors detected the presence of enemy wolves in the east border. So I am guessing that whoever these alphas are, they are already on the move."

    "Goddess!" I rasped.

    "I feel I will go insane chasing ghosts all the time," he muttered, running a hand down his face. "I''m getting tired of the constant issues about my family. Every fucking time I think things are settling down, something like this happens. I will just put an end to this nonsense once and for all, the moment Ie to know about the rebel alphas!"

    My heart sank at the sadness that rippled off him. I lowered my face and kissed his lips. "Well, then. How about a little

    distraction?"

    23:41 Mon, 21 Apr AA.

    His expressions softened. "A distraction, huh? What did you have in mind?" (+58)

    Before I could answer, there was a loud cry from one of the basss. Bradley had woken up. He reached out his tiny hands, demanding his lunch. I sighed and went to pick him up. "That''s all I have be. Breakfast, lunch and dinner!"

    As I brought him back and gave him my breast, Lucien chuckled. "I can also be your breakfast, lunch and dinner."

    I narrowed my eyes on him. "Shut up!"

    He came closer to me and said, "Do you know the benefits of eating your partner''s cum?"

    My eyes widened. "Lucien!"

    Heughed. "There are many. One, it is loaded with protein, two-"

    I smacked him right across his chest. "Goddess, you are so shameless!"

    Hisughter roared in the room. But he sat behind me, his arms curling around my waist as he watched me feeding Bradley with his chin resting on my shoulder. "You look beautiful," he whispered as he fondled my other breast.

    "I think I should wean them now," I said.

    "What? No!" he growled in protest. "My pups will have your milk until they turn one, and then more if they want it."

    "You''re mad." I deadpanned.

    "Nope! I''m in love."

    "I''m nning to move them to their nurseries that you had so meticulously created for them."

    He raised an eyebrow. "They are fine right where they are, Auren. Why would we move them?"

    ¡°Because they are six months old, Lucien. It''s time we give them their space. They need to start developing their own routines."

    He shook his head. "No, I am in no rush to part with my pups."

    "Lucien, they are not fragile. You have to-"

    He cut me off by squeezing my breast. Some milk oozed out. "Ah!"

    He collected the milk on his fingers and put it in his mouth. "They aren''t going

    anywhere. Yes, at some point they''ll have their own room, but not now."

    "You''re a big softie!" I rolled my eyes. "You would have them sleep in our bed until they are ten if I let you."

    He chuckled. Before he could reply, there was a knock at the door.

    "I guess Vivi is here with breakfast," I sighed.

    After Lucien left, I decided to finally go and see the gypsy wolves. I had been procrastinating. I wanted to take Tamara, but she was cranky. So I took Brad with me. Lucien knew about my travel ns. When I walked to the car, I saw a bunch of his warriors in two cars to follow us.

    When we reached the gathering spot outside the pack, I saw that arge number of our pack members were there. Laughter, loud brawls, grunts and cheers echoed across the field. I couldn''t help but smile as I stepped into the ce, clutching Bradley in my arms. Immediately, the warriors surrounded us. They red at anyone who tried toe to me.

    I must have walked only a few meters, when a group of young pups rushed over, their face full of excitement. Brad''s eyes

    23:41 Mon, 21 Apr

    ??5%

    (+58)

    widened as he saw them. I allowed them toe near us. They cooed and made faces to get his attention. In response, Bradley giggled, reaching out for one and grabbing his hair. The gypsy childrenughed, fascinated by us. From the periphery of my vision, I saw their leader, who immediately bowed.

    It was an afternoon well-spent and I wished I had got Tamara, but maybe another

    time. The gypsy wolves were going to leave in two days.

    When we arrived home, everything was usual. However, when Lucien didn''t return

    at 10PM, I became worried. I called him but he didn''t pick up his phone. So I called Tarian. "Where is he?" I asked.

    "Luna, stay alert. We found five enemy wolves closing in. He has gone to tackle them."

 Chapter 149

    hallenge Him

    Third POV

    Maris was pacing her room back and forth. Her mind was racing with the weight of what Bram had made her do and also that he had sent Josh to the borders of the Shadowfang pack. She knew why Bram had done it. He wanted to kill Josh because what was the point of sending him with only five wolves? What would he achieve with such fewer wolves? Would they attack the Shadowfang warriors? Or would they spy on them? No. The main purpose was that Bram wanted to kill Josh.

    If she didn''t act soon, she would lose everything. She would lose Josh. He was the only wolf who made her feel intimate. She had sacrificed so much for Bram, but he treated her like scum.

    She had sent Hyra to give a cell phone to Josh. It was evening and she was sure that Josh had the phone with him by now. Without a second thought, she rushed to a secluded space in the garden outside and with her fingers shaking, she dialed the number. The phone rang once, twice, and on the third ring, Josh picked it up.

    "Maris! What''s going on?" His voice crackled,ced with worry.

    "Josh, listen to me," she urged. "You need toe back. Now."

    There was a long pause on the other end of the line. She could feel his hesitation through the silence. But how could she me him? She was asking him to do something dangerous. If Bram came to know what she was doing, he would never spare Josh for betraying him. But she didn''t have a choice because the situation was spiraling out of control. And she had to take a stand.

    "I don''t know if I can, Maris," Josh finally replied in a tense voice. "Bram''s not the type to let me walk away if Ie back. He will throw me in the dungeons."

    "I know," she said quickly, ncing around. "But here''s the n." She lowered her voice further and said, "Ever since Auren rejected him, he has be weak. His wolf has left him. He is wolf-less. I already told you. He is not as strong as he pretends to be. He can be beaten."

    There was a shocking pause. His voice dropped, he said, "You''re asking me to challenge him?"

    She took a deep breath as she tipped her head up. "I''m asking you to take control of the chaos going on here. You should take what is rightfully yours. And with a wolf-less Alpha, the Crimson Howl pack is headless. Prove to the pack, prove to everyone that you''re stronger than Bram. This pack needs you, baby. Juste."

    There was a long silence again in which she felt that he wouldn''t agree.

    He sighed in resignation. ¡°You''re right," he muttered. "But when I defeat him, will you marry me?"

    Challenge kan

    "Yes, I will," she said softly. This was what she wanted "Come home soon."

    "I''ll be there as soon as possible. Hopefully by tomorrow morning.

    With a triumphant smile, she disconnected the call. She nced around and then quickly walked inside the house, little knowing that Bram had heard her. He had followed her. His lips curled up in disgust. Josh had to die soon. But even if he didn''t.

    his ns were intact.

    Josh was standing at the outskirts of the Shadowfang territory. After talking to Maris, he felt better. With only five wolves with him, he knew that Bram had sent him in a deathtrap. But he couldn''t argue because as the Alpha of the pack, Bram could throw him in the dungeons at the drop of a hat. He was going to return to the Crimson How! pack, challenge Bram, and then kill him. After that he would ascend to the position of Alpha and marry Maris. A thrill ran through his body at the thought.

    Suddenly, out of nowhere, the Shadowfang warriors attacked them. "These are the spies we got information about!" said one of them.

    Josh froze. How did theye to know so fast? He heard heavy footsteps of the warriors approaching them. "Fuck!" he rasped as he looked around. His wolves were just as terrified as he was.

    "What do we do?" asked one of his wolves.

    "We fight back!" hemanded.

    The Shadowfang warriors descended on them. Josh stepped back as his wolves fell into defensive formation. The enemy warriors struck them, but Josh knew what was best. He carefully stepped further back, watching them fight with his wolves. They were outnumbered and so defeat was evident. But if he sacrificed those wolves for his sake, he would be the Alpha. So he turned as his wolves fought with the Shadowfang warriors, and fled. He shifted into his wolf, and kept running even as he heard battle cries behind him.

    Bram chuckled as he watched Maris having her dinner nervously. She would look at the door every now and then.

    "Are you waiting for someone?" he asked casually.

    "N-no!" she blurted.

    He leaned back in his chair. He knew that Josh was headed here to challenge him, but before that, his n was all set. His ally alphas were already positioned. He was going to go to them and order the first wave of attack. Josh was nothing but a fool. Stubborn ass, who thought that he was controlling it. But in reality, it was Bram who was controlling the situation. His end purpose was near and he couldn''t make mistakes.

    Challenge Him

    "Then eat your dinner, Maris," he said. Then he wiped his face with a napkin, stood up and walked out. Just before leaving, he said, "It was nice with you until it wasn''t." Then he closed the main door behind him, mming it shut.

    Before Josh would challenge him, he would be in the Shadowfang pack. He veered to the left toward the ce where his warriors were gathered. "Let''s go!" he ordered them. On hismand, some shifted into their wolves while some remained at his side. He got in a Jeep with three guards and they all headed to the south of the Shadowfang pack where his allies were waiting. He smirked. Lucien was going to be confused as hell.

    In the east, he would think that there were more spies, so some of his warriors would be busy there.

    In the west, the traders were there, who acted on Bram''s orders.

    In the south, he would attack with his allies.

    Mayhem would follow. And he would take advantage of it.

 Chapter 150

    Don''t

    Third POV

    While they were zipping through the forest toward Shadowfang, he saw a blur of movement. It was a brown wolf heading back to Crimson Howl. That was Josh.

    Bram couldn''t helpughing. While Josh thought he was going to challenge Bram, he was actually going there for nothing. He thought that Josh would stop, but he was actually running with his tail between his legs. It seemed that he abandoned his warriors and was returning home after the attack. How perfect for Maris.

    As he neared the spot where all other alphas were waiting, hemanded his wolves to take positions. Then he met all of the alphas and said it was time. He had distracted Lucien from all points and they could strike him. He said that some of them were chasing Josh, some were going to suspect the traders on the west, while the remaining would confront them. The alphas were impressed by his tactics, not knowing his real n.

    Their attack was not taken by surprise because Lucien had increased patrol on every side of the border. Bram hated how well-prepared Lucien was all the time, but even he was prepared.

    The alphas attacked together along with his wolves. He was with the alpha, but as they advanced, he slowly stepped back. When he was pretty far away from them, he heard distant cries of the warriors. He was never interested in the fight. All that he needed was the warriors to be distracted as he carried out his next n.

    Like a shadow, he moved swiftly through the underbrush and slipped past the defenses of Shadowfang. With calcted moves, and a focused mind, he silently moved toward his destination. The chaos outside provided him the perfect cover. Every wolf in the pack was fighting the enemy wolves.,

    Just beforeing here, he had asked the traders to disappear. And when they disappeared, just as he predicted, a chunk of Lucien''s warriors went after them. It was too good of an opportunity to waste.

    His destination was clear. His purpose was clear. Auren and her pups. If he was able to pluck one of them out of the equation, the rest would be easy. Determined, he pulled the strap of his bag closer to his chest as he moved as he checked his loaded

    gun

    that he had slid on the back of his waist.

    His lips curled into a cold smile as he neared the main house. He knew that she would be in the bedroom. Lucien must have instructed her to stay in the house with the pups. Thest she would be expecting was him. Especially not with the battle raging outside.

    He slowly came to stand below the balcony of her bedroom. It would be suicidal to go through the main door because there were some guards. Lucien was smart. He still

    Don''t

    stationed some guards around his house to protect his family.

    He looked up and climbed the pipe near it and jumped onto the rain on the balcony. Taking a deep breath, he steadied himself, feeling excited. Then he opened the balcony door to the bedroom and slipped inside.

    Auren knelt beside the bass, humming softly to Bradley.

    Auren POV

    My mind was in a thousand ces. Lucien had asked me to stay in the house. The attack was from Bram and his allies. The bastard couldn''t sit quiet even after so much humiliation. It was as if he had made it his mission to disrupt my peace. I had asked Lucien to kill him once and for all or if not, he would bring him to our pack and throw him in the dungeons forever.

    I had asked Vivi to bring me hot soup after I had fed Tamara. She was already sleeping peacefully. Then I had taken Brad and fed him. Once he was asleep, I ced him in his cradle. I was humming a soft luby when I felt a shift in the air. I tensed, my instincts ring. I could smell him before I saw him. It was the scent of Bram.

    I stood up and spun on my heels. And there he was, standing in the doorway, his eyes gleaming with cold satisfaction.

    "Auren," he said in a low voice as he stepped inside. "It''s been a long time."

    My heart pounded and I opened my mind-link with Lucien. ''Lucien!'' I called him.

    ''Auren?'' he shouted back.

    ''Where are you? Bram is here!''

    ''The fuck!'' he sounded shocked. ''I''m on my way!'' But I knew that he was at least an hour away.

    "What are you doing here?" I asked, shock and terror warring inside me. How did hee here? Nothing made sense. Wasn''t he supposed to fight Lucien?

    -He walked slowly, his eyes darting to Tamara and Bradley. "Such lovely pups," he murmured.

    "Get out!" I growled, my voice filled with a menacing tone.

    He chuckled as he raised his hands in mock surrender. "I''m not here to fight you,

    Auren."

    My muscles coiled in tension and I stood between him and the pups. I was going to protect them with my life/l opened my mind link with Vivi. ''Come quickly!''

    His gaze darted toward Tamara as his nostrils red. He inhaled my scent and his eyes gleamed. "Only your scent calms my nerves, Auren. Anyway, I''m just here to talk." I didn''t trust him for a second. "Talk? With you? You are nothing but a viper. Get out! You''ve crossed the line bying here." Why did he have a backpack with him?

    Don''t

    He smiled, stepping closer. His gaze flicked to where Tamara slept, oblivious of the danger. "I''m just offering you to make things right," he said. In a sh of a second his hand went to his back from where he produced a gun.

    My heart stopped. "What are you doing?" I asked, petrified. "Leave. Now. Before Lucienes here."

    "Oh, he won''te here soon," he said, licking his lips. "You see, I have ensured that he is busy fighting!" He brought his gun to point at me. "Now move!" he growled.

    "Are you mad?" I shouted at him. "What are you doing?"

    "I don''t want to kill you, Auren," he snarled. "I will make you suffer for your life, the

    way you made me suffer!"

    "Bram!" I shouted. "Don''t!"

    Just then the door opened and Vivi came inside. She froze. "Luna!" she whimpered.

    "Vivi, call the guards!" I shouted.

    But Vivi lunged at Bram. Bram easily dodged her and she fell in front of Tamara''s

    crib. " You fucking wench!" he shouted.

    She got up and, in a frenzy, she picked up Tamara, shouting, "Help! Help!¡±

    Bram''s eyes widened as he got confused. Taking advantage, I picked up Bradley and dashed out to the door to raise the rm. The guards came rushing in. However, just as I was about to go down, I heard a gunshot. "Noooo!" I shouted, fearing the worst. With Bradley in my arms, I darted upstairs only to find that Vivi was lying in a pool of blood with a gaping hole in her belly. And Tamara was nowhere. The balcony door was wide open. My heart stopped. Time seemed to slow as I reached for Vivi. "No..."

    "Th-the bullet..." she said in a frail voice. "P-poison..." And then her lips turned blue

    within seconds.

    The warriors entered. I lunged forward toward the balcony. "He has taken Tamara!" I shouted at them. "Get him!" The warriors rushed after him, shifting into their wolves.

 Chapter 151

    Standoff

    Standoff

    Third POV

    Bram focused his sharp eyes as he scanned the Shadowfang perimeter where he had run to in the north. He had cradled Tamara close to him. The pup was crying

    constantly and he was getting impatient.

    She was so small and so vulnerable that it was a perfect leverage. He was going to take her to his hiding ce in the human town, and then trade her with Auren. Simple. He had nothing to do with the pups. Lucien could keep them. As long as Bram was concerned, it was a fantastic idea. A win-win situation.

    He knew that the Shadowfang warriors were scattered. Mo

    of

    on the southern border, fighting off the Alphas who hadunch them were focused

    their attack. He

    smirked at how easily he fooled the alphas. They were all fighting for him for his selfish reasons-which they didn''t know. It was the perfect distraction.

    He noticed that there were a few patrolling guards here and there in the north. He

    could use that.

    With a deepth, he cooed the little pup, who became distracted, and then gave her a pacifier. Distressed, she took it immediately and became calm. He shifted silently on his feet, moving like a ghost. His mind was calcting, plotting, on how to get out. He took out scent-masking herb from a small pouch in his cks, crushed it in his palm and rubbed it against his clothes and a little over Tamara. The powerful scent Tamara. The powerful scent immediately hid his and Tamara''s scent, blending it with the natural smells of the forest. Even if a warrior passed near, he would go undetected.

    He crossed the territory and started running as fast as he could, holding Tamara close to him. Her smell, though mingled with Lucien''s, soothed him a lot because it also carried Auren''s scent. He didn''t care what would happen after Auren came to him for her pup''s sake, but he was going to take her away and hide her forever. And she would be only for him.

    He came across a stream, a ce he knew well. He moved swiftly, keeping low. He followed the stream down. The rush of the water kept her soft cries muffled. He came across a narrow bend of the stream, crossed it, and moved as fast as possible into the forest. Luckily, he didn''te across any of the warriors. He stayed hidden under thick foliage for a few minutes, scanning, listening carefully. Though he could hear asional cries of the battle, there were no warriors on patrol this far into the

    northern side.

    It was beginning to get darker. Since he couldn''t shift into his wolf, he knew he had to spend the night in a safe ce. He kept moving until he came across a path that he remembered, and which led to a secluded cave. Tamara had begun crying again. "Can you stay quiet?" he growled. He knew the pup was hungry. He had a milk form

    Standoff

    ready for her to drink, but for that he needed to go to the cave. His hand tightened around Tamara as he moved, the only sound in the dark of the night was the crunch of leaves underfoot. The human town was only a few hours away, but he was going to wait before going there because he knew that Lucien would have already sent his warriors to that side.

    Finally, he reached his hideout for the night. A perfect little cave. Carefully, he walked inside, checking for the beasts if any. There were none. The pup was growing restless. He checked on her, her tiny form in his arms, and she looked tired. He sat down on the floor, resting his head against the wall. He didn''t have the time to rest for now. He took out the baby form from his bag. Adding water, he made the milk out of it and then gave it to Tamara in a bottle he had bought. She took it greedily. As he fed her, he tipped his head up, resting it against the wall.

    And then he allowed himself a moment to breathe. Closing his eyes, he just imagined one thing to be with Auren again. He had no use of the pup. She was his liability only until Auren was his again. Even though he knew that he couldn''t afford to rx, sleep overcame fast. As soon as Tamara finished her bottle, he made her lie next to him and covered her with nkets. "Tomorrow..." he murmured before he went off to sleep.

    At night, he couldn''t sleep well. He checked his gun and the bullets in it. They were all poisoned. Since he couldn''t get silver bullets/because they were banned in the market, he poisoned the ones he got using every poisoned herb he could get hold of. That was why Vivi died quickly. The mix of poison spread in the body with rapid speed, giving instant heart attacks.

    A soft cry echoing through the cave woke him up. He got up groggily, wondering what happened. The morning light stretched inside the cave, illuminating it.

    Then with a sigh, he shifted, gathering the baby into his arms. He made another milk form for her and fed her, holding gently as she drank it greedily. As he held her, he couldn''t help smiling. What if the pup was his? He chuckled, brushing her soft hair. Then he inhaled her scent but his nose crinkled. "You''ve made a mess, little wolf!" he said and went on to change her soiled diapers removing her bottle.

    The pup was just like her mother. With golden hair and gray eyes. With one tiny hand, she held his pinky finger and he froze. He felt weak. But he couldn''t allow the moment of weakness. He focused on his end game and steeled himself. If Tamara could bring him so much calmness, imagine how life would be if Auren would be with him.

    Once she was content, he set out, determined to reach the human town. However, as he neared the town, he heard the sound of heavy footsteps and ferocious growls behind him. He turned, only to find himself facing Magnus, the Alpha of the bear shifters, and five of his warriors.

    Bram clutched Tamara to his chest, blood draining from his face. His eyes went to

    a little boy beside him, who watched Tamara with wide eyes.

    The standoff was inevitable.

    214

    "Where are you taking the little pup?" Magnus growled, his muscles bulging.

    »Ø

    Subscribe

 Chapter 152

    Promise

    Third POV

    Two hours ago.

    "I don''t want to go back!" 10-year-old Matt whined as he looked at his uncle. His uncle, Magnus, was his favorite and his mother''s brother. He hade to spend his vacation with his uncle. In his pack, he was away from the constant nagging of his mother and father, who were Alpha and Luna of another bear shifter pack. Over thest year, the infrastructure of bear shifter packs had improved a lot. Matt loved staying with his uncle because he was a witty bear with a big heart. That being said, Magnus was a ferocious Alpha.

    Magnus chuckled as he tousled Matt''s dark hair. He looked in the same blue eyes as his and said, "Your school will reopen. You cane back in summer."

    Matt pouted, crossing his arms across his chest. "I want to stay with you, uncle."

    Magnus couldn''t help but lift him from the ground and held him in his arms. "You are going to be the Alpha of your pack one day. There''s a lot of responsibility on your shoulders. For that you better study well and train well.¡±

    The little boy sighed. "When can I see you again?"

    "I''lle to meet you in two months."

    "Promise?"

    "Promise,¡± Magnusughed. He loved his little nephew. He was so beautiful and strong that he wondered what he would be like as an Alpha? He was really proud of Matt.

    They started in the morning, all packed in his Jeep. There were three warriors along with him. As the Jeep traversed through the forest, Magnus nced at Matt time and again, and found how he was staring and listening to nature. "I wish you could shift, uncle Magnus," he said. "I love riding your fat back."

    "I''m not fat!" Magnus growled. "Just a little... poofy."

    "Yeah sure!" Mattughed. His warriors also guffawed at the joke. Magnus shot them a re, silencing them.

    The atmosphere in the forest seemed calm, yet Magnus felt a tinge of unease. He didn''t know what it was, but it was at the edge of his senses. Suddenly, he saw a flicker of movement. He brought the Jeep to a sudden halt.

    "What''s wrong?" a warrior asked.

    Magnus got down, raised a hand, signaling others to stay quiet. They immediately paused, but Matt grew restless. The quiet rustle of leaves seemed louder now. Magnus scanned the area, listening to anything unusual. And then he heard it-a faint sound, like something was moving. His eyes flicked toward the path ahead of them where the trees thinned a little.

    "Something''s not right," he murmured.

    Matt sensed the shift in the air. "What is it uncle?"

    He didn''t answer immediately. The movement grew closer. His senses red. "There!" he growled in a low, dangerous voice. He detected a familiar scent- Bram. What was the wolf doing in this part of the forest? He was moving swiftly through the forest. With a small bundle hidden in his arms. At first, Magnus didn''t pay much heed, because he wasn''t going to confront a werewolf, but when a cry rose from the bundle, he knew that it was a baby. His suspicions rose when he noticed how Bram was carrying the child, with urgency. There was something wrong. He stepped forward as he inhaled deeply. The scent of the pup hit him- Lucien''s pup. "Fuck!"

    His stomach twisted and on instinct he knew that Bram had stolen her. The realization hit him like a bolt of lightning, anger sting in his chest. He had to save the pup. Considering that Bram was alone, it would be easy.

    He whipped his head toward Matt. "Stay here. Is that clear?" Matt nodded.

    He indicated his warriors to shift, and follow Bram. They got close to him and when they were only a few meters away, he

    let out a warning growl. Bram froze for a moment. He looked over his shoulder and his eyes widened.

    "Where are you taking the little pup?" His muscles bulged. "Hand her over."

    Bram''s expression turned cold. "I don''t think so, Magnus," he replied, his eyes darting to his warriors.

    Magnus stepped closer. "Give her back, Alpha Bram. Lucien won''t like it if he knows you have kidnapped her."

    Bram chuckled darkly. "Lucien already knows. So back off before I kill you." Magnus only stepped forward. "Don''t do this."

    "You don''t understand, Magnus. This is far beyond your piss-poor chance to stop me. I won''t let anyone stand in my way."

    The tension between all of them grew thicker with every passing second. Magnus could feel his bear wing to get out. But if he moved too hastily, he could risk the child''s safety.

    Promise

    Taking advantage of his hesitation, Bram moved back. But Magnus quickly moved behind him, positioning himself in a way that he plugged his escape route.

    "You''ll never get away from me," Magnus growled. "Give the pup back, and I''ll let you leave without a fight."

    Bram''s eyes flickered with irritation. "No Magnus. You step back."

    When Magnus didn''t move, Bram made a sudden, sharp movement, ready to run. But his warriors were already in motion. They blocked Bram''s path.

    "Hand the pup to me!" Magnus shouted.

    Bram gritted his teeth, his fingers grazing the gun holstered at his side. "Don''t me me for what happens next," he growled.

    A warrior lunged forward to seize the baby from Bram''s arms, but it was toote. He pulled the gun from its holster with lightning speed, his fingers on the trigger. The first shot rang out. The warrior roared in pain as the bullet hit him and he slumped to the ground, his limbs capsizing.

    "Fuck!" Magnus roared. He lunged at Bram, shifting midair in his bear. Another shot rang through the air, hitting Magnus in his shoulder. He didn''t go down. Instead, he charged at Bram with full speed. Bram fired again, striking Magnus. However, the remaining two warriors came closer and snatched the pup from him. With a frustrated growl, Bram shot at them. The baby rolled on the ground, crying loudly. He was about to pick Tamara when all at once, he saw ws through his neck. Bram''s eyes widened as blood spurted out of his mouth. He staggered on his feet and then copsed, a heavy weight falling on him and burying him to the ground.

    Bram''s vision turned blurry as death descended. Through his blurry eyes, he saw the little boy rushing to pick up the pup. He ran toward them, crying. And then darkness surrounded.

    Matt cried loudly as he clutched the pup in his arms. "Uncle Magnus!" he rasped as he came near him.

    With everyst bit of energy left in him, Magnus killed Bram to protect Tamara. This was how he paid back Alpha Lucien for all he did for him and his pack members. He was now slumped over Bram''s body in his human form.

    "Uncle Magnus," Matt cried.

    Magnus opened his eyes lightly. "Tam... Au... Luc... protect her... promise..." And then he was gone.

    "Unnnncle!" Matt shouted as he watched the scene unfold in front of him in stunned silence. The pup in his arms began crying. He couldn''t understand it. Why had his uncle died protecting a pup he didn''t know? A baby he didn''t recognize? But Magnus had asked him to protect her. Confusion swirled in his chest along with grief. His favorite uncle died. He looked at the baby. Hatred swelled inside him. He had to protect a baby because of whom his uncle died.

 Chapter 153

    Tam AuLuc

    Matt POV

    My mind was numb. The forest was too quiet, and I felt like I could puke. I wanted to puke. And go to mom and dad. Uncle Magnusy dead in front of me, his lips and body turning blue fast. Cries of the little baby echoed in the forest, mingling with my own. "Uncle..." I sobbed hard. I couldn''t help thinking that my uncle, Magnus, had been killed. He was shot dead and he was lying in the forest, covered in blood, and all because of me... and her. Tam.

    I had no idea who she was, or why my uncle had protected her so fiercely with his life. All I knew was that he died and he told me to protect her. Made me promise to protect her. I wanted to go back to mommy and daddy, and leave her like this. Alone. Helpless. The beasts could have her. I wanted to break my promise because she was the main reason why uncle was killed.

    But here I was-walking through the woods with Tam. She was a heavy pup. It was difficult to carry her in my arms. Sol made a sling of Uncle''s shirt, and tied her to my back, making sure that she was safe. She was so small that if I didn''t keep her close to me, she could get cold soon and die.

    As soon as Tam was on my back, she stopped crying miraculously, and that was good because it didn''t attract the attention of the wild beasts. Before the night fell,

    I had to reach my pack. I had been through this path many times, so I remembered it. At first, I thought I should go back to uncle''s pack, but I just wanted to go to mommy. "Mommy... Daddy..." I

    sobbed.

    I wasn''t even sure if I was doing the right thing. Why did my uncle care so much about her? Just thinking this, made me mad. He was the Alpha of the bears, and he died for this pup? A pup that I had no idea about.

    The forest was alive, full of sounds. My heart raced as I heard the asional rustle of something big moving in the distance. I knew that the forest was home to not just wild animals, but wild beasts as well. I kept looking over my shoulder, making sure that no one was following me. Sometimes when an overhead branch woulde in my way, I would duck immediately, and the damn pup would giggle. She was ying with my hair all the time, grabbing and eating them. Sometimes, her tiny fingers would tickle the skin of my neck.

    Had I been in my uncle''s Jeep, I would have reached my pack in less than two hours, but now I didn''t know how far I had to go to reach it. But I knew I had to get there. I moved carefully, stepping over the fallen branches. Every now and then, I would nce at Tam, who was clutching onto my shirt tightly. All I wanted was to give her to my mom and get rid of her. Images of my uncle fighting with that man flooded my mind. More tears came out. It became difficult to walk as my breath turned shallow. I stopped and leaned on a tree with my arms, and started crying again.

    I expected Tam to throw a fit and cry again, but she was surprisingly silent. When I looked over my shoulder, I found her watching me with her gray eyes, her curly golden hair framing her face wildly. "Ga-ga," she said as if offering her words of sympathy, before putting her thumb in her mouth. I shook my head, wiped my tears and continued walking.

    After a while, I reached a small clearing. Though I recognized the area, my instincts told me something was wrong. I slowed down and crouched. In the distance, I saw a group of five rogues. All were drinking and looked intoxicated. They were wild, intoxicated and dangerous.

    "Stay quiet, Tam," I whispered. "I think these are rogues." But I guess she had fallen asleep because there was no movement. I quietly backed up and moved into a thicker bush to hide. I stayed there for what felt like hours until thest of the

    rogues ttened out on the ground. Eventually, I got out and ran past them as fast as possible. None of them stirred thankfully.

    The sun was high up in the sky when I reached the edge of my pack''s territory. Relief flooded over me as I realized that I was close to safety. My heart pounded as a fresh wave of tears assaulted me. My stomach twisted with worry. I felt like stopping and puking, but I had to keep moving to reach my parents.

    Finally, when I saw my parent''s house, I ran inside. "Mommy! Daddy!" I shouted, surprising Tam. She got up with a jerk and began crying.

    My mom, She, came out of the kitchen, wiping her hands on her apron. Her eyes widened in shock. "Matt? What are you -?" Her eyes went to Tam who was now crying incessantly.

    "Take her off me!" I shouted.

    My mom came to my aid immediately and took Tam from me. She cradled her in her arms, looking stunned as he Where is Magnus? Who is this baby?"

    Daddy came out then. I just threw myself at him Sessfully unlocked! his waist. And then I couldn''t stop myself. I sobbed hard. In a shaky voice, I said, "Uncle Mayrius

    ... The ye. Te iu mne to protect her." I had no words left. My chest was tight, and I

    felt like I might explode from all the emotions that had built inside me.

    My father lifted me in his arms as he looked at Tam and me in shock. Then he took me to the sofa and cradled me. "Tell me everything, pup."

    Tam AuLuc

    I narrated everything to them. How my uncle fought, how that man shot him with bullets and then how uncle killed him. "I don''t know who she is, but her name is Tam AuLuc. Uncle Magnus said that''s her name." I remembered the way uncle had whispered it to me.

    "Maybe the man was a hunter," my father mused. "This pup could be a shifter baby. Sometimes, hunters steal shifter pups for experiments."

    A shudder ran down my body.

    Mom''s eyes had thick tears as she gently rocked Tam in her arms. "You did the right thing, Matt."

    I shook my head vehemently. "I hate her! My uncle died because of her. Return her to her pack. I don''t want to see her." Daddy ced his hand on my shoulder. "I''ll send my feelers to see if any bear pack is missing their pup." Then he looked at mom. "You may want to go to your brother''s pack. I''ll call the council members and tell them about this unfortunate incident."

    I stayed away from Tam the whole day even as I itched to see how she was doing. I don''t know why I wanted to see her, but I restrained myself, knowing that it was my hatred.

    Later in the night, mom came to daddy from the kitchen with a worried look on her face. "Teddy, there''s chaos in Magnus''s pack. Some of the bears are fighting to take his position!"

    "What the fuck!" Father shouted. "Magnus has just died! Have they even brought his body back?" Mom cried. "No..." she muttered.

 Chapter 154

    Matt POV

    "This is outrageous!" Father roared. "How dare they disrespect Magnus?"

    Mom was crying hard. "What do I do, Teddy?" she asked.

    My father gathered her in his arms and kissed her temple. "Don''t worry, She," he said to her in a soothing voice. "I''m going there tonight."

    "I''m scared," she sobbed.

    I couldn''t imagine her grief. Not only was her brother dead, she was going to send

    her husband to a pack that was now rife with mayhem.

    "Stay here with the pups," he instructed her. "Onlye when I ask

    you

    to."

    "You be careful, love," she whispered.

    My father didn''t waste any moment. Along with his warriors, he rode to my uncle''s pack that night. He also ordered his people to bring Uncle Magnus''s body to our pack, where he kept it in the morgue.

    I didn''t know what happened after that. But in two days he didn''t return, my hatred for Tam only increased. While she was yfully having milk in her cradle, my father was in a battle he shouldn''t have been in. Had my uncle not taken me back that day, had he not met that man, and had Tam not been with him, things would have been so different, right? I think Gods yed with us. Once when I was six, I watched a puppet show in which a puppeteer was moving the dolls with threads tied to them. That''s what Gods did to us.

    My anxiety increased on the second day when daddy didn''t return. Mom was talking to some people, and she was outside in the porch. I sneaked a peek where Tam was. She was ying with a toy, eating it, to be exact, and kicking her feet up in the air. Slowly, I approached her, hating her, wondering how she could be oblivious to all the misery that consumed our lives. Because of her everything was out of control.

    She looked at me with her gray eyes, removing the toy from her mouth. Her eyes focused on me as if she remembered who I was. "Remember me, little Tam," I whispered. "For if you don''t leave this pack, I will be your greatest tormentor.¡± She giggled and extended her hand. I wanted to swat away that tiny hand, but the moment I brought it near her, she caught my pinky finger. I clenched my teeth and immediately removed my finger from her clutches. She giggled again and went on to eat her toy.

    When I came out in the porch, my mom looked happy, even though she was crying. "Your father-" she said. "He has won the war. And now he is the Alpha of Magnus''s pack also."

    "Really?" I said, shocked.

    My mom nodded and cried. She hugged me tightly. "He has won. He is alive.".

    I couldn''t help but hug my mother tightly, relieved that my father had won. Along with me, mother rode to uncle''s pack to be with father. She didn''t take Tam with her, leaving her in care of a nanny. My father was named as the undisputed Alpha of both the packs in the ceremony. I heard that many of the previous warriors who rebelled were killed. Daddy ordered the warriors to bring uncle''s body from our pack. He gave him the funeral he deserved, burning him in his pack. The moment was filled with heartbreaks. He was my favorite uncle, and I vowed that I would make Tam''s life miserable for all that she did

    to us.

    When my father returned to our pack, he sent word to other bear-shifter packs, trying to find out who Tamara was. But we waited for weeks, and received no answers. No one seemed to know who she belonged to.

    The days seemed to stretch endlessly. Every moment reminded me that the world was slipping away from my grasp. Tamara was gone. I failed to protect my pup. The guilt gnawed my soul with so much ferocity that I felt suffocated. My eyes went to the crib that was now empty, the space where Tamara once slept and yed. Bradley was sleeping peacefully, and I just couldn''t think what was happening to my little girl. My hands trembled as I reached out to touch her soft nket. I picked up the nket, smelled it as tears streamed down my eyes. Closing my eyes, I let out a shaky breath. "Where are you, Tammy?"

    I had to believe that she was alive else I would lose my mind. The thought of something happening to her was more than I could bear. Everything in the house felt suffocating.

    I turned and nced at the window, where the rain fell in sheets. It looked like the goddess was mourning because ever since her disappearance, it had been raining incessantly.

    My gaze went to a figure crossing the garden anding toward the house. Lucien. Ever since Tammy''s disappearance, he had been distant. I knew that he felt like he couldn''t protect us. I didn''t know if I could me him or not, but I didn''t want to talk to him.

    He was drenched, the rain soaking himpletely, yet through it, I could see the tears in his eyes. He tipped his head up for. them to drown, but there was no denying that my big, bad Alpha was crying. He missed Tamara more than me.

    He came inside, his eyes red. "We found Bram''s body," he said in a hoarse voice.

    "It was rotting on the forest floor in a puddle."

    "And what about Tamara?" I asked, steeling myself for the worst.

    He shook his head. "She wasn''t there."

    My legs gave way and I dropped on my knees. A sob ripped from my throat and I covered my face with my hands. "My beautiful baby," I cried.

    Lucien came by my side immediately and hugged me tightly. "She''s fine, Auren. She is fine. As long as we don''t find her body, I know she is fine."

    "Then where is she?" I shouted. "You failed. I failed! Where is my baby? Get her!"

    Lucien buried my face in his chest as I continued to sob. When I stopped, he said in a low voice, "I''m going to meet Maris."

    My eyes widened. "I''ming with you! I want her dead if she is a part of it."

    He nodded. "Yes, Auren. I''ll kill her myself. It was her father who went against me with his allies. Do you think I''ll spare them? I''ve killed all those Alphas, including her father. Now it is Maris''s time!"

    We reached Crimson Howl pack with a bunch of our army. Maris was inplete shock when we barged into her house. She was sitting with Josh in the main hall, and the moment we entered she knew what was wrong.

    "Alpha Lucien!" she rasped, her face turning white as she nced at me. Next to her Josh stood. "I swear this was all Bram''s n. We don''t know where he is! Please don''t kill us."

    Lucien gritted his teeth. His muscles bulged as he took her in, hatred rolling off him in waves. "Bram''s body is rotting in the forest. I''ll give you the location, but trust me, other than his bones, you won''t find anything. Because the beasts have feasted on him." He stepped toward her menacingly. "Now tell me, where is my daughter?"

    "Your daughter?" she croaked, surprise flickering through her. "I-I don''t know."

 Chapter 155

    Auren POV

    Lucien''s voice thundered in the room. "What do you mean?" he shouted. "Bram kidnapped my daughter, and you are acting innocent?"

    Maris''s shock was so huge that she not only started to tremble, her face was white as that of a ghost. She opened her mouth and closed it, like a fish out of water. With her pace pale and her usually sharp expressions dulled by her fear, she darted her nce between Lucien and me.

    The transformation from the confident, calcting woman I had once known to this trembling, pleading figure was impossible to believe. The amount of pain she had caused, all the destruction and mayhem-it was beyond redemption.

    Her voice cracking, she begged, "Alpha Lucien, 1-I don''t know. Bram never told me anything about your daughter. I have no idea what you are talking about."

    In a sh of a moment, Lucien was in front of her. He grabbed her throat tightly, lifted her in the air and tossed her to the opposite wall like she weighed nothing. Josh gasped and rushed to her as she screamed, her assnding on the floor.

    "Have mercy," she cried as Josh helped her sit up. "I swear I don''t know about your daughter. Bram didn''t mention a word about her." She looked at Josh, and he too, shook his head. "Please don''t destroy me or my pack. I''ve finally had a chance to live peacefully. I know I-I''ve made mistakes, but I never meant for it to go this far." She got up with Josh''s help, but she remained in her ce, scared ofing near Lucien. Lucien didn''t budge, his gaze cold, hard and anger rolling off of him in waves.

    "Tell us about Bram," I demanded. "Tell us everything you know!" I was seriously getting impatient.

    She looked at me, her eyes filled with genuine fear. Then suddenly, she dropped on her knees. It felt like she was desperate. "I know you''re angry, Alpha Lucien, Luna Auren. But trust me, it wasn''t me. It was Bram who orchestrated the attack. He was the one who made all the moves, caused all the chaos. He manipted everything he used me... I did whatever he asked me to do."

    "What did he ask you to do?" Lucien shouted again, his fists rolling on his sides. Maris flinched and grabbed Josh''s upper arm tightly. I narrowed my eyes at the point of contact. It seemed possessive. What was going on?

    Maris gulped. Then she started, "Alpha Lucien, after Auren rejected Bram, his wolf disappeared. Bram was living a miserable life. I offered him to marry me because I also needed a stable life." She darted a nervous look at me. "However, after marriage, he was hesitant to mark me. And he-" she pursed her lips as her cheeks turned red.

    "What happened?" Lucien growled. "If you don''t tell me everything, Maris," he said in a chilling voice. "I will wipe out your every fucking pack member, rip this Beta into pieces and burn you all to the ground."

    "No, please!" she spoke. She licked her lips and continued, "He didn''t want to mate with me," she blurted.

    My eyes widened. Because of her, Bram rejected me, and he didn''t want to mate with her? After marriage also? What was going on?

    Maris''s eyes came to me, and something like hatred flickered through them momentarily. "I knew that he hated me. Often when I tried to go to him, he wouldpare me with Auren. Then over thest few months, hepletely avoided me. Got deep into drinking. He didn''t want to talk about the pack or the pack business. It was Josh and I who were always looking after it. I got fed up with Bram''s negligence, and in desperation turned to-" her gaze went to Josh. "To Josh"

    It was my turn to gasp. Maris and Beta Josh?

    Maris lowered her face. "Josh and L.." She pursed her lips.

    "Maris and I had rtions," Josh filled in. "Bram was being an asshole. We tried to drill sense into him, but he just spiraled down into insanity. We were both sure that he was going moon-crazy"

    Guilt wrapped my soul. Was I responsible for Bram''s miseries? Sensing my feelings, Lucien closed the gap between us and pulled me in his embrace. "You are not guilty, okay? He rejected you, remember? For Maris."

    I nodded and took a rough breath. It was all in the past. I didn''t want to think about

    it. So I turned to look at Maris and Josh. "Then what happened?" I asked.

    "One day, Bram caught us," Maris said, her cheeks reddening. "He threatened me that if I didn''tply with his wishes, he would reveal to everyone that I was unfaithful.¡± She clutched her dress nervously. "You know how pack members are if theye to know of Luna''s infidelity... They would have ripped me into pieces. Josh too...."

    "Why should I believe you?" Lucien growled. "You''ve only manipted everyone around you! You even manipted Bram!"

    She let out a whimper. "Alpha Lucien, whatever I did, I did for myself. I may not be justified in your eyes, but I am in my eyes. Brampelled me to go to my father and ask him to go against you. Yes, I confess that. Bram asked me to manipte my father and tell him that you used dark magic to break the curse. Bram threatened me that he would kill Josh, and throw me in front of his pack members. I didn''t have much of a choice." She caught Josh''s hand. "I am in love with him. He treats me like no one else has."

    "Do you even know what you''ve done in the process?" Lucien said menacingly, his fangs slipping out. His eyes were dark with anger, and he looked like he was barely able to control. "I will fucking kill you!"

    She was shaking now. Her grip on Josh''s hand tightened. For a brief moment, she looked small. In a final, desperate attempt to save herself, she spoke in a trembling voice, "Alpha Lucien, before you do any such thing, you should know that I was the one who saved you and Auren at the High Council."

    My breath lodged in my throat. "What?" I rasped.

    She nodded. ¡°I... I was the one who sent the video of Sable to the High Council."

    My mouth dropped to the floor as Lucien looked at her with disbelief sting in his chest.

    "I thought... I thought that if they knew, they would act, and maybe stop Bram."

    "You knew about Sable?" Lucien asked.

    I couldn''t believe how twisted, maniptive and selfish Maris was. Sable was a good friend of hers. And she betrayed Sable. Not that I cared because it worked in my favor. Still...

    She nodded. "Sable hade to Bram after she attacked Auren," she said, ncing at me sheepishly. "She asked Bram to hide her for a few days, mentioning that she was going to get rid of Auren fast. Then he could have Auren. They had nned it pretty nicely.

    I narrowed my eyes. It felt like she was lying, and that she was a part of it. "And what did Bram do?" I asked.

 Chapter 156

    Auren POV

    "Well, he hid her in a remote location" Maris shrugged. "But I had heard of the conversation. Josh knew where Bram had put her up. I asked him to help me and he helped. He recorded Sable''s video that night when she was revealing her ns to herpanions. He sent me the video and I sent it to you all" She bit her bottom lip. "I did it to save my rtionship? "But you said that you are with Josh!" I growled. "Stop lying!"

    "I wasn''t with Josh at that time," she protested. "I was with Bram and wanted to save my rtionship with him. He was hell bent on getting you back. What do you expect from me? I had spent a good number of years with him, did everything he wanted, and yet what did he do? He went to the High Council and tried to im you? Do you realize the kind of stress I was in? I could have lost everything-my position, my prestige and my ce in my family. I was fucking desperate!"

    She let out a cry and Josh embraced her in his arms. "Hush..."

    I looked at Lucien with confusion, irritation, guilt and a number of other emotions. He narrowed his gaze on her.

    Maris shook her head. "He didn''t listen to me, so I did what I had to. I got that video and sent it to all the Council members and also to you all. Basically to everyone I could get hold of using an unknown number."

    At her words, I let out a rough exhale. She practically saved me from Bram but in doing so she actually saved her rtionship with Bram. The revtion was like a punch in my guts. I didn''t know whether to be happy or sad. "It was you who sent that video?"

    "Yes," she nodded. "I saved you from him that time."

    "Stop saying like you are the victim here," Lucien snapped. "You saved yourself as well."

    "I did,¡± she replied, shaking her head. "But it did bring peace for a long time, until I realized that Bram was pushing toward insanity. He missed his wolf and the only person he ever wanted was to be with Auren." She lowered her head to the floor. "Honestly, I am happy that he is no more..."

    There was an awkward silence in the room for a long time as each of us tried to process her words. "So what now?" I asked finally. Seriously, I didn''t know where we were standing at this junction of life.

    "The question is where is my daughter?" Lucien growled, snapping. "Bram kidnapped her. So I am sure you know about it!"

    "I don''t!" she pleaded. "All I know is that-" She nced at Josh again. "After I returned home, I wanted to talk to Josh, but Bram had sent him to spy on your border saying that he had gone for a very important mission."

    Lucien''s eyes went wide in shock. "Fuck!" he cursed.

    I realized that Bram had used Josh to divert our attention.

    "Yes," Maris said. "I don''t know why or how he kidnapped your pup, because he had gone for a war with you. I called Josh a few nights ago, asking him to return and challenge Bram as an Alpha of the Crimson Howl pack."

    Lucien stabbed his fingers in his hair as he sat on the sofa behind him. Our minds were flooded with a thousand scenarios now as Bram''s scheme unfolded.

    Maris added, "Bram had gone to fight alongside other rebel Alphas against you. Not once did he mention that he was going to kidnap your pup! I mean do you understand what I''m trying to say? If I knew that Bram would return with your pup, why would I ask Josh to marry me?"

    Lucien''s jaw ticked with frustration. "You are marrying him?"

    "Yes," she nodded. "I swear, I have no hand in your daughter''s abduction. I didn''t know what Bram was nning."

    "I know what he was nning," I said, plopping on the seat beside Lucien. Helplessness covered me. It was so strong that tears ran down my eyes. "He schemed just to get my pup, just to avenge me." I covered my face with my hands as a sob wrenched out of my throat. "He took away my baby! He was a twisted animal."

    Lucien wrapped his arms around my shoulders, and pulled me close to him. "Auren..." he said as he ced his head over mine. Both of us sat there together for a long time, not knowing what to do. I felt hopeless and sad, like I was sitting in a paper boat in a stormy sea, which was tossed, torn and was directionless. It was trying to fight with waves too big for its size. Lucien and I felt... defeated.

    "Alpha Lucien," Josh said in a low, cautious voice after some time. "I will do everything in my capacity to find your pup. I promise that."

    Lucien whipped his head to look at him, his eyes shing golden. "If you think I am going to spare you, then you''re wrong!"

    Josh''s face turned sheet white. "Please Alpha Lucien," he begged. "We have no idea what Bram was up to. And with the treaty, you can''t¡ª"

    "The treaty stands null and void!" Lucien shouted. "I will not have any rtion to those who have proved to be my enemies!"

    Josh swallowed. He looked at Maris who was also scared as hell. Then he turned his face to Lucien and said, "Okay, Alpha Lucien. The treaty is null, but please spare us. My pack people haven''t done anything. They were guided by Bram''s blind rage and revenge. I am taking over as their next Alpha. Trust me, we won''t even look at you for anything. We just want to leave everything in the past and move on."

    I don''t know why, but I could feel genuineness in Beta Josh''s words. He did want

    to make amendments in this pack. I felt like they should be given a chance. Taking

    a deep breath in, I said, "Let''s go, Lucien..."

    "But Auren-" Lucien protested.

    I shook my head. "They really don''t know anything about Tamara."

    "No!" he said. "I want to look in all of Bram''s private files."

    Though Josh appeared shocked, he nodded. "Of course, I''ll show all of them to you."

    For the rest of the day, Lucien read every paper and file in Bram''s office and library. There were many papers, but none was relevant to Tamara''s kidnapping. It seemed like he had nned extremely carefully. There were files about the best herbs to mask your smell. And that made some sense as to how he could go undetected. He masked his and Tamara''s smell using those herbs. And since it had been raining continuously over thest one week, all the smells were washed out. That was the reason why we couldn''t trace Tamara despite sending the best of our trackers. Every trail went cold.

    In the evening, when nothing else could be found, we left the pack, but not after warning them of severe consequences if we found out what they said was a lie.

    "Where are you, Tamara?" I murmured, clutching her wood toy to my chest. Sadness coated

    my soul.

 Chapter 157

    Auren POV

    Lucien''s voice thundered in the room. "What do you mean?" he shouted. "Bram kidnapped my daughter, and you are acting innocent?"

    Maris''s shock was so huge that she not only started to tremble, her face was white as that of a ghost She opened her mouth and closed it, like a fish out of water With her pace pale and her usually sharp expressions dulled by her fear, she darted her nce between Lucien and me

    The transformation from the confident, calcting woman I had once known to this trembling, pleading figure was impossible to believe. The amount of pain she had caused, all the destruction and mayhem-it was beyond redemption.

    Her voice cracking, she begged, ¡°Alpha Lucien, 1-I don''t know. Bram never told me anything about your daughter. I have no idea what you are talking about."

    In a sh of a moment, Lucien was in front of her. He grabbed her throat tightly, lifted her in the air and tossed her to the opposite wall like she weighed nothing. Josh gasped and rushed to her as she screamed, her assnding on the floor

    "Have mercy," she cried as Josh helped her sit up. "I swear I don''t know about your daughter. Bram didn''t mention a word about her." She looked at Josh, and he too, shook his head. "Please don''t destroy me or my pack. I''ve finally had a chance to live peacefully. I know I-I''ve made mistakes, but I never meant for it to go this far." She got up with Josh''s help, but she remained in her ce, scared ofing near Lucien. Lucien didn''t budge, his gaze cold, hard and anger rolling off of him in

    waves.

    "Tell us about Bram," I demanded. "Tell us everything you know!" I was seriously getting impatient.

    She looked at me, her eyes filled with genuine fear. Then suddenly, she dropped on her knees. It felt like she was desperate. "I know you''re angry, Alpha Lucien, Luna Auren. But trust me, it wasn''t me. It was Bram who orchestrated the attack. He was the one who made all the moves, caused all the chaos. He manipted everything.. he used me... I did whatever he asked me to do."

    "What did he ask you to do?" Lucien shouted again, his fists rolling on his sides. Maris flinched and grabbed Josh''s upper arm tightly. I narrowed my eyes at the point of contact. It seemed.....possessive What was going on?

    Maris gulped. Then she started, ¡°Alpha Lucien, after Auren rejected Bram, his wolf disappeared. Bram was living miserable life. I offered him to marry me because I also needed a stable life." She darted a nervous look at me. "However, after marriage, he was hesitant to mark me. And he- she pursed her lips as her cheeks turned red.

    "What happened?" Lucien growled. "If you don''t tell me everything. Maris," he said in a chilling voice. "I will wipe out your every fucking pack member, rip this Beta into pieces and burn you all to the ground."

    "No, please!" she spoke. She licked her lips and continued, "He didn''t want to mate with me," she blurted.

    My eyes widened. Because of her, Bram rejected me, and he didn''t want to mate with her? After marriage also? What was going on?

    Maris''s eyes came to me, and something like hatred flickered through them momentarily. "I knew that he hated me. Often when I tried to go to him, he wouldpare me with Auren. Then over thest few months, hepletely avoided me. Got deep into drinking. He didn''t want to talk about the pack or the pack business. It was Josh and I who were always looking after it. I got fed up with Bram''s negligence, and in desperation turned to her gaze went to Josh. "To Josh." It was my turn to gasp. Maris and Beta Josh?

    Maris lowered her face. "Josh and I..." She pursed her lips.

    "Maris and I had rtions," Josh filled in. "Bram was being an asshole. We tried to drill sense into him, but he just spiraled down into insanity. We were both sure that he was going moon-crazy."

    Guilt wrapped my soul. Was I responsible for Bram''s miseries? Sensing my feelings, Lucien closed the gap between us and pulled me in his embrace. "You are not guilty, okay? He rejected you, remember? For Maris."

    I nodded and took a rough breath. It was all in the past. I didn''t want to think about

    it. So I turned to look at Maris and Josh. ¡°Then what happened?" I asked.

    "One day, Bram caught us," Maris said, her cheeks reddening "He threatened me that if I didn''tply with his wishes, he would reveal to everyone that I was unfaithful¡± She clutched her dress nervously. "You know how pack members are if theye to know of Luna''s infidelity. They would have ripped me into pieces. Josh too...

    "Why should I believe you?" Lucien growled. "You''ve only manipted everyone around you! You even manipted Bram!" She let out a whimper. "Alpha Lucien, whatever I did, I did for myself. I may not be justified in your eyes, but I am in my eyes. Brampelled me to go to my father and ask him to go against you. Yes, I confess that Bram asked me to manipte

    Cost Confess

    my father and tell him that you used dark magic to break the curse. Bram threatened me that he would kill Josh, and throw me in front of his rock members.

    I didn''t have much of a choice." She caught Josh''s hand. "I am in love with him. He treats me like no one else has

    Do you even know what you''ve done in the process?" Lucien said menacingly, his fangs slipping out. His eyes were dark with anger, and he looked like he was barely able to control. "I will fucking kill you!"

    She was shaking now. Her grip on Josh''s hand tightened. For a brief moment, she looked small. In a final, desperate attempt to save herself, she spoke in a trembling voice, "Alpha Lucien, before you do any such thing, you should know that I

    is the one who saved you and Auren at the High Council."

    My breath lodged in my throat. "What?" I rasped.

    She nodded. 1. I was the one who sent the video of Sable to the High Council."

    My mouth dropped to the floor as Lucien looked at her with disbelief sting in his chest.

    1 thought... I thought that if they knew, they would act, and maybe stop Bram.*

    "You knew about Sable? Lucien asked.

    I couldn''t believe how twisted, maniptive and selfish Maris was. Sable was a good friend of hers. And she betrayed Sable. Not that I cared because it worked in my favor. Still....

    She nodded. "Sable hade to Bram after she attacked Auren," she said, ncing at me sheepishly. "She asked Bram to hide her for a few days, mentioning that she was going to get rid of Auren fast. Then he could have Auren. They had nned it pretty nicely.

    I narrowed my eyes. It felt like she was lying, and that she was a part of it. "And what did Bram do?" I asked.

    Subscrbed

 Chapter 158

    Null and Void

    Auren POV

    The hid her in a remote location" Maris shrugged. "But I had heard of the conversation. Josh knew where Bram had put her up. I asked him to help me and he helped. He recorded Sable''s video that night when she was revealing her ns to herpanions. He sent me the video and I sent it to you all" She bit her bottom p. 1 did it to save my rtionship "But you said that you are with Josh 1 growled. "Stop lying"

    7 wasn''t with Josh at that time," she protested 1 was with Bram and wanted to save my rtionship with him. He was hel bent on getting you back. What do you expect from me? I had spent a good number of years with him did everything he wanted, and yet what did he do? He went to the High Council and tried to rm you? Do you realize the kind of stress i was in? I could have lost everything-my position, my prestige and my ce in my family. I was fucking desperate"

    She let out a cry and Josh embraced her in his arms. "Hush..."

    I looked at Lucien with confusion, imitation, guilt and a number of other emotions. He narrowed his gaze on her

    Mans shook her head. "He didn''t listen to me, so I did what I had to. I got that video and sent it to all the Council members and also to you all. Basically to everyone I could get hold of using an unknown number"

    At her words, I let out a rough exhale. She practically saved me from Bram but in doing so she actually saved her rtionship with Bram. The revtion was like a punch in my guts. I didn''t know whether to be happy or sad. it was you who sent that video?"

    "Yes," she nodded. "1 saved you from him that time."

    "Stop saying like you are the victim here, Lucien snapped. "You saved yourself as wel."

    1 did she replied, shaking her head. "But it did bring peace for a long time, until I realized that Bam was pushing toward insanity. He missed his wolf and the only person he ever wanted was to be with Auren." She lowered her head to the floor" Honestly, I am happy that he is no more..

    There was an awkward silence in the room for a long time as each of us tried to process her words. "So what now?" I asked finally. Seriously, I didn''t know where we were standing at this junction of life.

    The question is where is my daughter? Lucien growled, snapping. "Bram kidnapped her. So I am sure you know about it? 1 don''t!" she pleaded. "All I know is that- She nced at Josh again. "After I returned home, I wanted to talk to Josh, but Bram had sent him to spy on your border saying that he had gone for a very important mission."

    Lucien''s eyes went wide in shock. "Fuck?" he cursed.

    I realized that Bram had used Josh to divert our attention.

    "Yes," Maris said. "1 don''t know why or how he kidnapped your pup, because he had gone for a war with you. I caled Josh a few nights ago, asking him to retum and challenge Bram as an Alpha of the Crimson Howl pack."

    Lucien stabbed his fingers in his hair as he sat on the sofa behind him. Our minds were flooded with a thousand scenarios now as Bram''s scheme unfolded.

    Maris added, "Bram had gone to fight alongside other rebel Alphas against you. Not once did he mention that he was going to kidnap your pup! I mean do you understand what I''m trying to say? If I knew that Bram would return with your pup, why would I ask Josh to marry me?"

    Lucien''s jaw ticked with frustration. "You are marrying him?*

    "Yes," she nodded. "I swear I have no hand in your daughter''s abduction. I didn''t know what Bram was nning"

    1 know what he was nning" I said, plopping on the seat beside Lucien. Helplessness covered me. It was so strong that tears ran down my eyes. "He schemed just to get my pup, just to avenge me." I covered my face with my hands as a sob wrenched out of my throat. "He took away my baby! He was a twisted animal.*

    Lucien wrapped his arms around my shoulders, and pulled me close to him. "Auren...." he said as he ced his head over mine. Both of us sat there together for a long time, not knowing what to do. I felt hopeless and sad, like I was sitting in

    a paper boat in a stormy sea, which was tossed, torn and was directionless. It was trying to fight with waves too big for its size. Lucien and I felt. defeated

    "Alpha Lucien, Josh said in a low, cautious voice after some time. "I will do everything in my capacity to find your pup. I promise that."

    Lucien whipped his head to look at him, his eyes shing golden. "If you think I am going to spare you, then you''re wrong" Josh''s face turned sheet white. "Please Alpha Lucien, he begged. "We have no idea what Bram was up to. And with the treaty, you can''t-

    "The treaty stands null and void! Lucien shouted. "I will not have any rtion ***

    Nu and Moi

    Josh swallowed. He looked at Maris who was also scared as hell. Then he turned his face to Lucien and said, "Okay, Alpha Lucien. The treaty is null, but please spare us. My pack people haven''t done anything. They were guided by Bram''s blind rage and revenge. I am taking over as their next Alpha. Trust me, we won''t even look at you for anything. We just want to leave everything in the past and move on.*

    I don''t know why, but I could feel genuineness in Beta Josh''s words. He did want

    to make amendments in this pack. I felt like they should be given a chance. Taking

    a deep breath in, I said, "Let''s go, Lucien..."

    "But Auren-Lucien protested.

    I shook my head. "They really don''t know anything about Tamara."

    "No" he said. "I want to look in all of Bram''s private files."

    Though Josh appeared shocked, he nodded. "Of course, I''ll show all of them to you."

    For the rest of the day. Lucien read every paper and file in Bram''s office and library. There were many papers, but none was relevant to Tamara''s kidnapping. It seemed like he had nned extremely carefully. There were files about the best herbs to mask your smell. And that made some sense as to how he could go undetected. He masked his and Tamara''s smell using those herbs. And since it had been raining continuously over thest one week, all the smells were washed out. That was the reason why we couldn''t trace Tamara despite sending the best of our trackers. Every trail went cold.

    In the evening, when nothing else could be found, we left the pack, but not after warning them of severe consequences if we found out what they said was a lie.

    "Where are you. Tamara?" I murmured, clutching her wood toy to my chest. Sadness coated my soul.

 Chapter 159

    Keep Her Away

    Matt POV

    A few monthster.

    Mom and Dad had sent messengers to every pack to find about Tam AuLuc. But there was no one who could identify. They finally gave up and decided to raise her until they found who she belonged to. And we had no idea why she wasn''t smelling like a werewolf, a bear or a human. She smelled like... warm caramel and chocte. Cinnamon cake.

    The Shaman of our pack determined her age to be around seven months. So my mother decided to celebrate her birthday five monthster after she had found her. Mom''s fascination for Tam was beyond my understanding.

    Today we were celebrating her first birthday. No me. My parents. While I was detesting every minute of it.

    Tam had grown up and now she could crawl and walk, but not without falling. That afternoon, I was ying with Xbox when she came half crawling-half running toward me. I gritted my teeth as I avoided her. Her small hands reached for mine. "Mat! Mat! Toy, pwease."

    I looked at her, irritation bubbling up. I was always frustrated these days and thest thing I wanted was to deal with her. How could mom care for her so nicely when she knew that Tam was responsible for her brother''s death? She adored her. Dad was neutral. He didn''t hate her, but he liked what mom liked. So there you are.

    "Tam, go y with your toys!" I muttered, and pushed her away. She fell on her bumps and looked at me with those impossibly big gray innocent eyes.

    "I wan'' it, Mat!" she said, her eyes filling with tears. She crawled to me and grabbed my hand. ¡°y Mat,¡± she babbled. She couldn''t even speak my name properly. Her T sounded like T in the name Tatiyana.

    I bit my lip, removed her fingers from my hand. ¡°Not now," I snapped. "Go y somewhere else."

    Her face fell and her eyes filled with tears. I don''t know why but every time she cried, my heart twisted. But she wasn''t my responsibility. So I averted my gaze and started ying with the Xbox. She turned and slowly crawled her way back to her room. Veles! Reluctantly, I got up, went to my drawer, pulled out some conches and shells I had collected at the local riverbed and gave them to her. I had intended to make a ne out of those, Veles knows why. "Here you can y with these!" I snapped, depositing all of them in front of her in her room. Her eyes lit up, and suddenly my day looked up as well. Ignoring the stupid feeling, I went back to my Xbox, leaving behind a giggling Tam.

    That evening, mom and dad celebrated her first birthday in a low-key way. After Magnus uncle''s death, father had to travel a lot between our two packs. Everme and the Coldmane packs. He had to leave just after the celebrations. After my father left, me and a few of my friends yed ser with me outside in our garden. Our house was located near the edge of the woods because often my father would shift into his bear and run there along with mom. Tam hade out to watch us. She was sitting on the porch in her pink frock, her curly golden hair a mess around her face, her cheeks sttered with cake and cookies, looking impossibly adorable. I tried my best to not see her.

    A friend kicked the ball directly in my chest. I muttered as I tackled the ball and before I knew I was too focused on defeating all of them with vengeance. Suddenly, we heard a low growl. I snapped my head only to see that a rogue bear was creeping closer to Tan who had somehow managed to walk up to the edge. My heart stopped as I paled.

    Without thinking I rushed toward Tam, shouting at her. "Stay back!" I yelled at her as I rushed to her.

    "Matt!" My friends shouted. "Come back!"

    Did they even understand the danger? The bear could easily maul Tam. As I approached her, Tam looked up at me with confusion. "Mat, bear. y."

    I stood between her and the rogue, my hands clenched into fists as I red at the bear. It dipped its head and let out a growl. My body became tense with anger. Just as I was about to attack him, my mother, and a few other warriors arrived. They charged at the rogue and drove him away as I picked up Tam and ran inside the house.

    I put her in her cradle and shouted, "Who the hell asked you toe out?" I resented my actions. If I didn''t want her, I could have let her there. But I wasn''t able to fight this intense urge to protect her. I guess, this urge was there in me for everyone. I would have done the same with any other of my pack members. Tam started crying, but I strode out of her room, frustration mounting inside me. "The sooner you go, the better!" I muttered and mmed the door shut.

    One day, when I had juste home from school, the house was unusually filled with Tam''s giggles andughter. It was as if she wanted to drown my house with her giggles. Before I knew it, my feet carried me to her room. And I saw something strange. She was holding up to a... shadow. I stared at her fist, which she was moving. A shadow was moving with it. It was like she had caught a tail of a shadow and whipped it around. It wasn''t anything solid, just the outline of something that seemed to pulse. "What do you have?" I growled. She looked at me, blinked, and when she looked again, it disintegrated. Like it was gone. I swallowed, sure that it was my imagination.

    Tam followed me all the time. So when the next Sunday, she was ying with the dirt with her nanny, near our training ground where I was sparring with my friends, irritation bubbled inside me. "Gini!" I shouted. "Please take her back home!"

    Keep Her Away

    One of my friends, Jace,ughed as Tam painted her face with mud and looked at me with her gray eyes wide. "What''s with the baby? Always tagging. She''s so weird. I bet she is a witch,"

    "Shut up, Jace!¡± I snapped before I knew it, my tone sharper than I intended. ¡°She''s just a pup, and she''s not bothering anyone."

    Jace raised an eyebrow. "She seems to be bothering you all the time. She''s just-¡±

    I stepped in front of him, interrupting him. "I said. Be. Quiet. You don''t get to talk about her," I growled. Although my Jace and my other friends went silent, I could feel their surprise. And my anger rolling off in waves. I stomped out of the arena and walked straight to mom with Gini following me with Tam. "Why do you have to send her around me?" I shouted at her. Mom jerked her head back in surprise. "I didn''t."

    Gini intervened with a shaky voice. "Sorry, Matt. Tam wanted to go to you, so I got her." "You will not get her around me, okay?" I shouted at Gini. "Keep her away!"

 Chapter 160

    2 yearster.

    We had celebrated Tam''s second birthday a few weeks back. Mom had grown to love her so much that she would keep buying cute clothes and toys for her. Many of our pack members also started loving her. She was an adorable pup, but I couldn''t pluck out the images of how my uncle was killed because of her. I wish I knew who that man was who killed him because I wanted to wipe out his family.

    "Mat! Mat!" Tam squealed, snapping me out of my thoughts.

    "Go away," I muttered when she tugged at my sleeve. It irritated me how she clung to me. "Go y with Gini," I said, pulling my sleeve away from her, and walked out.

    She pouted her lips and followed me. "I wuv you, Mat," she said. ''Mat, pway!"

    "Oh Veles!" I growled at her. "You are pretty annoying!"

    She blinked her eyes at me and then rushed inside to my mom. "S, Mat say, I pretty!"

    Mom''s lips curled up. "Really?" She picked her up in her arms.

    "What? I never said that," I hissed. "I said she is pretty annoying."

    Tam giggled. "But Mat say, I pretty."

    While mom barked augh, I gritted my teeth and walked out. As soon as I was on the porch, Dad''s Beta, Curtis, came." Some bears are here from a faraway pack," he said. "Where''s Alpha Teddy?"

    My instincts immediately went on high alert.

    An hourter, my father invited them all to his library. Their Alpha, Kael, was an imposing bear, only a few years older than me. He was in the house along with three other bears. Dad called mom and me, and asked mom to get Tam also. I didn''t like it that she took Tam, but who could go against dad''s orders? Though mom seemed calm, I could sense tension in her stance. Even daddy was tense.

    As soon as Kael saw Tam, his eyes glinted. "Alpha Teddy," he began. "It''se to our attention that you''re looking for Tam AuLuc''s family." He looked at Tam and his eyes gleamed again. I wanted to punch his face. "I''ve heard shifters talking about her beauty. I-my pack-believe she is destined to join us. She is a key to a prophecy in my pack."

    What bullshit! I immediately tensed up, my teeth gritting. "Key to a prophecy?" I hissed. "What nonsense!"

    Kael ignored my words. He turned away from us to look at my father and gave him a smile.

    "You mean to say that you want to take her away?" my father said.

    Kael nodded. "She belongs to us. She''s the future of our pack, and it is our right to raise her in our care. She is our destiny."

    I felt myself at the edge. This was ridiculous. "She''s just a child!" I spat.

    "Matt, step back, my father ordered.

    My father said in a very firm, calm and controlled voice, "Alpha Kael, if you think you can just walk here and take her, you''ve got another thinging. You can''t throw a prophecy on our face and tell us that she belongs to your pack. There''s no proof of any prophecy. If there''s any, show us!"

    Kael was on the backfoot immediately. Prophecies were sacred to us, but they didn''te by just like that. I had no idea what was in Kael''s mind, but this was ludicrous.

    "Our Shaman said so!" he replied.

    My father narrowed his eyes on her. "We will not be swayed by your threats or by your fictitious prophecies, Alpha Kael. You may leave, and don''t bother doing this again. Else I will take it as an act of war!"

    Veles!

    Kael clenched his fists, but he knew it better not to mess with my father. "I''ll bring the proof that the pup belongs to us." With that, he bowed and left.

    But the whole incident left me shaken. Why was it that he wanted to take away Tam? It felt strange.

    Several other bear shifters came forward to im Form it was bing absolutely outrageous. Once a few rogues came over, camped at the pack''s border, and imec Sessfully unlocked!ot only that, there were some wolf shifters as well who wanted her.

    Over the years, Tam''s beauty became the talk of themunity. At an early age, she caught the attention of so many shifters that it was getting on my nerves. Even though dad threatened them all to back off, the situation escted when they just kepting.

    At fifteen, I felt like my bear wanted toe out. He wanted to show his strength and was pushing forward. I had no reason why, but whenever people came to im her, he pushed forward, wanting to protect her. The growl that rumbled in my chest was deep and menacing.

    Mom put her in the kindergarten of our pack when she was five. It was attached to our high school. I didn''t know if it was a relief that I couldn''t see Tam at that time. I guess it was a relief because I spent a lot of time with my friends now. Out of sight, out of mind.

    I made girlfriends. They swooned over me. Honestly, I loved the attention. I used

    to find Tam watching me with them, her innocent eyes taking it all in. Not that I cared.

    3 yearster.

    It was my birthday, and I was excited because at midnight, I was supposed to have my first shift. Though my bear wanted toe forward all the time ever since I turned fifteen, he decided to show himself today.

    Mom and Dad were very happy. There was a lot of buzz in the house and the pack. Everyone wanted to witness my shift. Heck, I wanted my bear toe out. Tam hadn''t returned home from school. She was a brilliant girl. Over so many years, when people tried to im her falsely, my dad had be too protective of her. He had stopped anyone from advancing to im her. I kept my distance from Tam as always, but only looked for her when she was in danger. I barely talked to her, keeping close to my friends. But at school, no one dared to bully her, even my girlfriend, Tulip.

    At night, I stood in the clearing with many of our pack members. I looked at all of them and realized that Tam hadn''te.

    "Where''s Tam?" I asked mom, trying to sound casual.

    "Oh, I can''t risk her toe here in front of your bear," she replied. "Yours is an alpha bear. What if he tries to attack her? He can be feral, considering your history with her. You clearly dislike her."

    I swallowed. Why did my heart dete? I clenched my teeth at the unreasonable emotion, and I focused on what was ahead. My shift.

    Hi all, you might have noticed that this is Arc 2. I''m rushing the story to get us to

    the main content. If you want to know more, you can join me on FB at Mishakwrites.

 Chapter 161

    Tam''s Parents

    Matt POV

    As I walked into ss, I could feel all eyes on me instantly. Girls started whispering, speaking my name in hushed tones. Did they think I couldn''t hear what they were saying? They made such lewdments on me that included words like, bedding, presenting, biting, marking-Veles! Some girls stared, some blushed and then talked about my recent shift, about Torben. They swooned over me, calling me the perfect Alpha heir. So manypliments poured in, about my strength, my appearance, and my bear. It was all ttering, but why was it that I missedpliments from one person that mattered the least to me?

    "Come sweetie!" Tulip guided us to our seats as he flicked her hair over her shoulder. She gave a withering stare to every girl who dared to look at me, but that didn''t stop them frommenting.

    "She''s acting like she is his mate!" one of the girls scoffed.

    Othersughed. "Lol. She is so boring. What does Matt see in her?"

    "How embarrassing," said one of them. "She had told everyone that once Matt shifts, he will recognize her as his mate."

    "But he didn''t!" said the other and they all startedughing again.

    Tulip gritted her teeth, ignored them all, and sat with me majestically.

    Tulip stuck to me like glue all day, her hand always on my arm, her eyes constantly scanning the room. She was possessive, and almost clingy. When she wasn''t around, other girls immediately started flocking to me, eager to talk about my bear andpliment me on my shift. Their eyes would linger. It made me feel-like I was some prize to be won.

    Tulip''s jealousy was obvious, and she didn''t even try to hide it. My frustration grew with every passing minute. I didn''t want the attention, yet I was expected to handle it, to y the part. It was exhausting. Veles, show me a way. I was desperate to get out of it all. Desperate to go back home. My instincts were screaming, like something really bad was going to happen, like things were going to change forever. For good or for worse. I didn''t know.

    I was barely able to focus on the sses. As soon as it was lunch, I rushed to the dining room of the school, where I scanned the entire ce to look for the little menace. But she wasn''t there. My stomach twisted with more anger. Did she not have her food? Was she nning on staying hungry? What was more important than eating food? And why the fuck it bothered me so much? It didn''t bother me so much before I shifted. Even Torben was restless inside me.

    Her absence gnawed at me. I clenched my jaw and pushed the feeling away to focus on the conversation between my friends. But the irritation built with every passing minute.

    "Matt!" Tulip''s voice snapped me from my thoughts. She was holding a piece of steak in front of my mouth. When my eyes focused on her, I found her frowning. "What''s wrong?"

    "Nothing," I muttered and ate the steak she offered. Shit. This was what I should look forward to. Tulip. She was my future. As the school day came to an end, I found myself waiting at the parking lot as I leaned against the car and chatted with my friends. My eyes kept darting to the entrance. Atst, she appeared, and I huffed a sigh of relief. I waited for her toe to the car impatiently, but instead, she walked with her friend, her head down, straight for her friend, Aiden''s car.

    A sharp surge of anger flooded through me. I strode to her without thinking. "Where do you think you''re going?" I growled. Tam looked up at me with her stormy gray eyes. "I''m going with Aiden," she replied. "We have to do our homework together." "You areing with me!" I snapped. I grabbed her by her upper arm. "You just can''t go with anyone without informing me!" She looked at me with hatred in her eyes. "Matt!" she shouted. "The teacher wants me to help Aiden. I will go with him!" Her gaze darted to Tulip, who was looking at us with wide eyes full of shock. "You can go with her."

    The sting of her words burned hotter than I wanted to admit. I red at Aiden, who recoiled and stepped back. Then I pulled her with me to the car even as she squealed her protests, and hit me with her small fists. ¡°Leave me, matt!" she shouted. But I opened the car door for her, shoved her in, and before she could get out, I sat in the driver''s seat and zipped off home. How dare she defy me? Anger inside me was like hot moltenva, ready to pour out even at the slightest provocation. I didn''t bother how Tulip and Seth looked at me,pletely stunned. All that mattered was Tam inside my car. She had avoided me the whole day. The girl who ran after me, now avoided me? The gall!

    The drive home was silent, suffocating, but I felt better. The silence between us was oppressive, and neither of us seemed willing to break. Tam didn''t speak as she fixed her gaze out the window. Even though I wanted to talk to her, I was still seething, unable to shake off the anger that had built inside me since morning. I wondered if I should apologize to her. But why? She was the one at fault. She should be apologizing. Moreover, my pride kept me silent. Honestly, I couldn''t figure out what to say to her anymore. She could distance herself for all she wanted to.

    By the time we pulled into the driveway, though my anger hadn''t faded, unease settled in my gut. I could sense it before I even stepped out of the car. Strong smell invaded my nostrils. Of wolves.

    I stepped out, gripping Tam''s hand in mine, and walked toward the house. Outside, a group of wolves stood. As soon as

    Tarris Parents

    they looked at Tam, their eyes glinted with excitement, and murmurs started.

    My stomach tightened and shoved Tam behind my back. My bear tried to push forward, and I let out a growl of warning. They all stopped but their excitement didn''t die down.

    I reached inside the house, keeping Tam close to me. And there I saw a couple. Wolves. Their eyes instantlynded on me, and then on Tam. My gut twisted. Because the she-wolf looked exactly like an older version of Tam.

    "Matt!" my father said with excitement in his demeanor. "These are Alpha Lucien and Luna Auren from the Shadowfang pack. Tam''s parents."

    My stomach dipped.

 Chapter 162

    Good Riddance

    Good Riddance

    Matt POV

    My heart thumped erratically as I stood there frozen. There was so much tension in the air that one could slice it with a knife. With my jaw clenched, my eyes locked on Alpha Lucien and Luna Auren. And they were only looking at Tam, who was standing beside me. I hadn''t seen them before, but my stomach churned at the resemnce of Tam with Luna Auren. Tam

    was a wolf.

    The same golden hair and gray eyes. Same nose and slightly stronger jawline like that of her father. I had heard that Auren was the most beautiful she-wolf in the world, but because Tam also had Lucien''s features, Tam was even more beautiful than her mother.

    "Matt," my mom''s voice was soft beside me. "There are Tam''s real parents," she said with a smile and tears in her eyes. Auren and Lucien. And Tam''s real name is Tamara."

    When Aurenid eyes on Tam, it felt like a dam breaking. Her emotions crashed down all at once. Her eyes brimmed with tears and for a moment, she couldn''t move. It looked like Tam''s presence was overwhelming. Tears finally spilled down her cheeks as she whispered, "My baby..."

    Tam watched her with wide eyes, clutching the sleeve of my shirt. I didn''t know what to do except shove her behind me. Tam peeked at them from behind me.

    Auren stepped forward. "Tamara,e to me baby," she cried. "We''ve been searching for you for years!" Tam''s curiosity increased, but she still came out from behind me. Auren looked at her with so much tenderness that Tam seemed to melt. And that look of tenderness passing between them made my stomach twist again. My hands clenched into fists at my sides.

    "Her real name is Tam AuLuc," I protested. Even as I protested, I knew it was sounding weak. Tam smelled like her parents." That''s what Uncle Magnus told me when he was dying!"

    This time Alpha Lucien stepped forward. He swallowed thickly as he nced at Tam. "Her name is Tamara, not Tam AuLuc. I think Magnus was trying to say our names as well. Au for Auren, and Luc for Lucien."

    The moment he spoke, everything hit me like a ton of bricks. I wanted to argue, but I didn''t know what to say. Images of Uncle Magnus dying in front of me flooded my mind. My chest tightened. Torben wanted to tear out, protest, but I knew his emotions were misced. He wanted to protect every one of his pack members.

    As if understanding my emotions, Auren said, "We understand this is hard for you and your family, Matt."

    On the side, my mom was already crying softly. Dad had wrapped his arm around her shoulder to support her.

    Lucien said, "She is our daughter and we havee to take her home."

    Veles! My breath lodged in my throat. I pushed Torben down. This was the best for my mental health as well. Tam had to leave. After she left, I wouldn''t see her face, and I would focus on myself. I won''t remember my uncle''s untimely death. How he was shot dead just to save her. It was a weight I carried for eight years. It was finally time to get rid of it. So I stepped away from Tam.

    Tam nced up at me, her stormy gray eyes wide and unsure. I knew that she didn''t fully understand what was going on. Auren dropped to her knees as anticipation was thick in the air. "Come here, baby," she said.

    Tam stepped forward, her small hand outstretched as if she hoped that I would take it, but I had my fists clenched on my sides. She looked at my parents, who encouraged her to go to her parents, to bridge the gap between them. To increase the gap that was widening between us. It had to. There was no other way out. "M-Matt?" she asked hesitantly. "M-Mommy, Daddy..." she trailed off, unsure what to do. She looked scared. Torben pushed me to go to her andfort her, but that was the stupidest thing he had said to me. But this was his constant emotion ever since he hade out. It was then I knew that Torben was an emotional mess. Nothing else. I had to tame my beast to be more feral.

    "Matt..." Tam said again.

    "Tam," I whispered under my breath. "Go!"

    The hurt in her eyes cut through me, but I maintained a cold look. "Go," I insisted. "They are your parents!"

    At this Tam turned to her real parents. Auren''s arms were outstretched for her long-lost pup. She was crying so hard that the emotion in the air turned somber.

    "Come baby," Lucien said, his impatience showing clearly.

    "Go..." My mom urged her.

    Tam took a few steps toward her parents. Suddenly, Auren grabbed her hand and pulled her against her chest. Tam squealed but Auren gripped her tightly, peppering kisses on her face. Lucien too, sat on his knees in front of his wife and

    Good Riddance

    daughter and wrapped them in his bear hug. Though Tam was flustered, I could feel that slowly her tension dissipated. It had to because the bond between the family red to life. She felt bonded to her parents. She stared at them with confusion, with a thousand questions in her eyes, but it seemed like she had already begun to ept them. But why did it feel like she was betraying us?

    It was a moment of emotions. After a long time when Auren stopped kissing her daughter, Lucien picked her up in his arms. He looked at my parents and said, "I can''t thank you enough for what you''ve done. And I have no words to thank Matt. He saved her when she was a little pup. Please let me know how I canpensate you. I''ll do anything for you." His words were full of genuineness. My parents smiled. They asked him toe to the library where they would hand over her papers and other things.

    But me? I red at Tam, my anger bursting. As if on instinct she looked at. When our eyes locked, I said, "Good riddance!" And before waiting for her to react, I turned and ran out. When I was in the forest, Torben tore through me with vengeance. And we ran. Away from the maddening crowd.

 Chapter 163

    Taking Her Back

    Auren POV

    For eight years, we had been crazily trying to find Tamara. For eight years, I had dreamed of this moment-of seeing Tamara again, of finally holding my daughter in my arms. After Magnus''s death, every lead went cold. But we didn''t give up hope. Even though Lucien focused on his pack and Bradley, he never stopped searching for our daughter. We traveled to every ce including human towns, but for all our efforts, she remained out of reach.

    It wasn''t until one day Alpha teddy came to Lucien for help that the breakthrough came. After Magnus''s death, he was struggling to keep two packs going well and alive. His pack business wasn''t doing so well because he had invested it into two packs. Knowing that Lucien had previously helped Magnus, he hade to him seeking mary support to prevent his packs'' copse.

    When Lucien met Teddy, his sharp senses immediately caught the familiar scent of Tamara. It was unmistakable. Before Teddy could speak a word, Lucien growled at him. "Teddy, who else have you been around?"

    Teddy was startled. He hesitated, but after a moment of silence he said, "I''m sorry, but what do you mean, Alpha Lucien. I''m not a traitor."

    Lucien couldn''t help himself. He walked over to him and sniffed him. "That smell," he said, his eyes glinting. "Do you know of a pup named Tamara?"

    Teddy''s eyes widened in surprise. "I know Tam, and-" Teddy stopped midsentence, and leaned in to smell Lucien. "Fuck!" My insides screamed because I wasn''t believing where this may all lead to. Was the goddess being kind to us again? Teddy jerked his head up to see Lucien in his eyes. "Tam. We found Tam eight years ago. I mean-I mean my son brought her to us. By Veles! Tam... she''s my adopted daughter. She''s been living with us... but... she''s yours, isn''t she?" The moment of truth was out, and everything fell into ce.

    And now standing in Teddy'' house, I felt a whirlwind of emotions crashing inside me. Relief, fear, joy and guilt. I couldn''t help notice how Tamara had grown into such a beautiful girl. Suddenly, I realized how much I missed out on. I envied She and Teddy for the time lost. But would Tamara remember me? Would she ept me as her mother? Those words were making me edgy.

    Tamara left us and walked to She. She climbed herp and hugged her tightly. "Mom..." she cried.

    She hugged her and kissed her on her cheek. ¡°These are you parents, Tam. They love you." Her voice wavered from all the love and care. "And even if you''re their daughter, you are still our girl, too."

    "Mommy!" Tamara cried.""

    "Oh, my baby!" She sobbed.

    It was a heavy moment, and I waited patiently. I just couldn''t pluck Tamara away. She needed to be with her adoptive parents. And I was thankful to the goddess that they took such good care of my baby.

    Finally, after a long time Teddy handed all papers to Lucien, and when all of Tamara''s things were packed, we headed to our car. I darted my eyes to find Matt, but the boy had gone missing. He seemed to behave oddly, like he was protecting my baby, but I was overreacting. It was obvious that he had grown attached to my baby over thest few years. After all, he was the one who saved her.

    Tamara was in my arms when we came to the car. She blinked as her small hand rested on my chest. "You''re my mommy?" she asked in a soft voice, tinged with uncertainty. She nced at She and back to me, clearly torn between the life she had known and the strange new reality unfolding in front of her.

    My heart broke. I brushed a strand of golden hair from her face. "Yes, baby," I said

    in a soft voice. "I''m your mommy, and I''ve missed you so much."

    Her lips trembled as she looked at She and Teddy, tears slipping down her cheeks. "I don''t want to leave them."

    "I know, sweetie," I said. "I promise you that I''ll bring you here to visit them."

    At that, Tamara''s eyes lit up: She wiped her tears. Then she looked at She and said loudly, "Tell Matt that I don''t like hint But I wille to meet him again."

    Sheughed, shaking her head. "I will."

    Sessfully unlocked!

    My lips curled up. I looked at where She and Teddy were ord said, the you for everything."

    Teddy gave a solemn smile. "It''s what parents do, Luna Auren. We take care of our own."

    Lucien''s throat bobbed as he tried to contain his emotions. He shook Teddy''s hand. "Let me know how I can help you, Teddy. I''ll do everything in my capacity to bring your packs back to old glory." Lucien had already sent a million dors to

    Taking Her Back

    Teddy''s pack business ount, and he was nning to send more. I suggested that he set up a trust fund for them, which he liked very much.

    "Thank you," Teddy replied. "It means a lot to me."

    Once we sat in the car, Lucien put Tamara in hisp. His joy was limitless. He couldn''t stop looking at his daughter. Every once in a while, he would turn his face away and I would find him wiping a tear on his cheek. At first, Tamara was reluctant to talk to us, which was natural. But my husband had learnt all the tricks by now. He had been secretly practicing on how he would cajole his daughter when he met her again. He never gave up hope that she was alive.

    An hourter, Tamara was giggling at his antics. Can you imagine that Lucien even learnt small, chest magic tricks to wheedle her? The car filled with Tamara''sughter, and both of us rxed, letting the moment wash over us.

    I turned my face out the window and it was then I noticed a golden brown, majestic bear running through the jungle as if trying to keep up with the car. He was a blur of motion through the trees. As tall as Lucien''s wolf, and beautiful. My breath caught in my throat as I stared at it for a long time. But soon he came to a stop when we reached the pack''s border, and watched us leave.

    He was on patrol, I guess. Ignoring him, I returned my thoughts to Tamara and Lucien, who were nowughing like they were old buddies.

    I took a sigh of relief and closed my eyes as I leaned back. I wondered how Bradley would take his sister in. Well, for now, I leaned on Lucien''s shoulder and heard my pup giggling.

 Chapter 164

    Twins'' Bond

    Auren POV

    All the while in the car, I couldn''t let my gaze drift from my pup. She had grown into such a beautiful baby that my heart felt like it was both breaking and healing at the same time. After eight long years, I couldn''t believe she was finally in my arms. The happiness I felt was something I thought I''d never feel again. But at the same time, there was this pain in my chest for missing so much. Those years without her, without seeing her grow, without holding her, made the joy feel bittersweet. And I knew that Lucien felt the same.

    Through our bond, I could feel his overwhelming instinct surging through him. It was a

    fierce protectiveness that he couldn''t control Neither of us could. When Tamara slept

    in hisp, he murmured, "I want to shield her from everything and everyone who hurt her, Auren. From the world that had kept her away from me for so long."

    My heart squeezed for my husband, who had suffered silently for so long. Even though I told him that it wasn''t his fault, he med himself for Tamara''s disappearance continuously. For the first year, Lucien and I couldn''t speak properly with each other. However, now seeing him gently brushing her hair as she cradled in hisp, my heart swelled with relief, feeling that the worst was over. She was safe, she was with us, and we would protect her with our life. She was finally home, and we would never let her go.

    When Tamara woke up, she was wide eyed, hesitant and even though I knew that the bond between us was ring to life, she was reluctant to open up. It was natural. "I miss mom and dad," she said in a low voice, as if scared.

    "Do you want to talk to them?" I asked.

    "Yes," she replied, nodding and judging us.

    Lucien immediately took his phone out and gave it to her. "You can talk to them," he

    said with a soft smile.

    Tamara grinned, and Lucien beamed. Even a small reaction of Tamara was enough to make him ecstatic. He dialed Teddy''s number and gave it to her. Tamara quickly took the phone, got out of hisp and climbed over the seats to sit in the front seat. Lucien chuckled watching her. "Monkey," he muttered yfully.

    Tamara pressed her head to the window as if hiding her conversation from us. "Daddy!" she said excitedly.

    "Tammy?¡± Teddy''s excited voice sounded from the other side. ¡°How are you? Are you okay? Is everything alright?"

    "Yes," Tamara said. "I miss you..."

    "Oh baby..." Teddy said in a hoarse voice. There was a pause on the other side. Then

    VA

    Twins Bond

    he added, ¡°She wants to speak with you."

    "Tammmyyy!" She squealed. "How are you? I am already missing you!" She let out a choked sob. "You wille and meet us, right?"

    "Yes, mommy," she said. "I''lle soon." She let out a cry.

    When she addressed them as mommy and daddy, my heart wrenched. I won''t say that I wasn''t jealous, but I couldn''t do much because this was natural. How else was she going to address people who looked after her for eight years with all the love and affection one could think of? Lucien held my hand and squeezed it. "Give her time, Auren," he said in a soft voice, understanding my predicament.

    We reached the Shadowfang pack soon after. Tamara looked out the window with pure fascination. The pack had turned into a town of about six thousand wolves over the past few years. Lucien''s responsibilities had increased. The pack had all the modern architecture. We had integrated thetest technology that the human world boasted. And we had more connection with the human world now.

    In fact, our newest member, Annie Jones, was a human, and she was our IT and Robotics chief. She had joined only a few months ago and knew about werewolves, and so it was easy for her to gel with us. But she was a hunter initially. I don''t know how or why, after she met with Tarian, she changed quite a lot. I wondered if she and Tarian were mates, but none of them spoke about their feelings. A few months ago, she had captured Tarian. Lucien hadunched a massive hunt for his Beta. He had found both of them in an abandoned building. The battle that took ce between hunters and Lucien''s wolves was intense. Tarian was finally brought back to the pack in a heavily injured state. Annie was brought as a captive.

    The car screeched to a halt. "We''ve reached home!" Lucien said, jumping out of the car. He immediately rushed to open Tamara''s door.

    Tamara''s eyes widened when she took the manor in. "Is this a pce?¡± she asked.

    Lucienughed. "No, love. This is your new home."

    She swallowed and stared at it. I held her hand and guided her inside. All the omegas were fascinated by her as I walked with her inside. Lucien followed us. Bradley must have heard using. He burst inside the main hall with eyes beaming with excitement as he looked at his sister.

    "Tamara?" he asked her.

    Tamara blushed. "Yes. Hi!"

    Heughed. "Goddess! Mom, she looks like you!" he grinned.

    I couldn''t helpughing, feeling proud. "Tamara, this is your brother, Bradley."

    "Hi, Bradley," Tamara said again.

    "I got a lot of things to y, I mean, I''ve arranged a lot of stuff. Would you like toe, and see?" he asked her.

    21/A

    Twins Bond

    Tamara bit her bottom lip, unsure of what to do. Lucien nudged her. "Go on. Brad

    has been waiting for you. He has a good collection of games."

    Tamara smiled. "Do you have an Xbox?"

    "Of course!" Brad said proudly. ¡°I got thetest one.¡±

    "Oh, lovely!" Tamara sped her hand. "Matt never let me touch his.¡±

    "Who''s this nut?" Brad asked as he turned to leave and Tamara followed.

    As the two left, talking to each other, Lucien pulled me close and curled his arm around my shoulders. "I think they will soon be best buddies."

    I sighed, watching them as they talked nonstop. "They are twins. I don''t expect anything less." It was such a beautiful moment that both of us just remained standing there until the pups disappeared. I couldn''t help remembering Vivi. She had lost her life to save my baby.

    dead in surprise when I heard loud

    Lucien and I went to our room where we freshened up, but when I came out of the bathroom, I saw that Lucien had gone. I jerked myughtering from Brad''s room. It seemed like my husband and pups were together. Unable to stop myself, I quickly put on a sundress and walked to their room. And there they were the three of them were ying some game on Xbox,ughing and trying to beat each other. I leaned on the doorframe my arms crossed across my chest. This felt normal. A tear slipped out of my eye and I didn''t wipe it.

    With

    I knew that Tamara would take some time to adjust to her new reality, but she will

    be

    fine.

    "Luna Auren."

    I whipped my head behind only to find Tarian standing there, smiling. He was still

    an standing there, smiling. He was still

    recovering with bandages around his chest and wrists. "Can I see Tamara?"

 Chapter 165

    Tarian and Annie

    Auren POV

    "Of course," I chuckled as I stepped aside for Tarian.

    It was good to see him alive and well. I hated Annie with all I had initially for capturing him and doing those experiments, but what I didn''t understand was why Tarian allowed it? He was a powerful werewolf and if he gave us one signal, we would have been there for his help. When we brought Annie as a captive and threw him in the dungeons, it was him who wanted her toe out. Why? That was a question he wasn''t answering. Goddess.

    Tarian entered the room and sat with the kids and their father. Soon, the whole manor was filled with theirughter. Emotions choked me. A few minutester, I found myself sending snacks to all of them.

    The first time I saw Tamara and Bradley y together, it felt like the world finally started to make sense. In just a few days, she became a big part of our lives. It amazed me how quickly she adjusted to our world. She was with bear shifters earlier, but with werewolves, she gelled with natural ease. Her connection with Bradley was amazing. It seemed like the twins bonded well.

    I always felt that Brad was waiting for Tamara. Like he missed a connection. But now that she was here, he had her by his side. He was protective of her in the way only a brother could be. He always made sure she was okay. It made me smile how gentle and patient he was with her.

    At first, Tamara was shy, but now, I saw her starting to shine. She had joined the elementary school in our pack. She had opened up a lot to Bradly and us. When theyughed together, it was so pure, so real. It was a sound I loved, I had longed since the day she was taken from us.

    The twins spent time running through the backyard, ying with their friends, climbing trees like monkeys, sometimes they would race to the edge of the forest, only to turn back and giggle. It seemed that Tamara loved it all.

    At school, she was nervous first, but with Brad on her side, she settled in pretty well. Her ssmates were eager to make friends with her. I could see how much she enjoyed going to school. Slowly, my baby was turning into a smart girl, and it made me proud to watch her grow. Lucien was also so satisfied. His pups were his world. Justst night, he asked if we should have one more pup.

    "One more?" I snapped. "Don''t be mad!"

    "Come on, Auren," he said, thrusting inside me with abandon. "It is high time. Having one more shouldn''t be such an issue. You are-"

    I pped his arm. "Stop it, wolf. And focus on fucking me!"

    Tarian and Annie

    And he did focus. Damn it. His focus went on till morning, until I was exhausted. I seriously couldn''t walk properly that day. Goddess, my Alpha. I wouldn''t have worried that much, but he knotted inside me after eight years. And that scared the shit out of me. I was about to go in my heats. I wouldn''t get pregnant, right?

    Five monthster, Teddy and She came to visit. Tamara was excited to see them again, and as soon as they stepped through the door, she ran to them, throwing herself into their arms.

    "I missed you!" she said, her voice joyous.

    "We missed you too, Tammy," She said, picking her up in her arms. Teddy also looked at her with tenderness. But even as they united, I couldn''t ignore the pain on their faces. I understood. Tamara had been with them for so long. It wasn''t easy to just let her go. They stayed for dinner.

    "How''s Matt?" Tamara asked. "Why hasn''t hee? Is heing to visit?"

    "Matt''s been busy," Teddy said gently, but there was hesitation in his voice. Like he didn''t want to hurt Tamara.

    "You can call him," She said with a smile when she looked at Tamara''s disappointed face.

    Tamara happily called Matt from She''s phone. She waited for him to pick it up, but the call went to voicemail. She tried again, but the same thing happened-he didn''t pick up. Her face fell. There was a quiet sadness in her eyes. She missed Matt. But it seemed like Matt didn''t miss her. Maybe, he was happy that the girl he saved at the cost of his uncle''s life, was finally gone. But who was going to exin that to Tamara?

    At night, after Teddy and She left, I told Tamara, "Don''t worry, sweetheart. We can go to meet him whenever you want."/

    "No!" she snapped. "I don''t want to meet him. Ever!"

    I was surprised by her reaction, but I respected it. It wasn''t for me to decide who my baby wanted to meet or not.

    Next day, I had to go to Lucien''s office for a pack meeting. As I stepped in, I couldn''t help admiring the ce. It was a vast space, with greenery everywhere, and cameras. There was sleek, modern furniture and thetest technology lining the walls. Large windows overlooked the grounds. My gazended on two figures inside the room. And he was looking at Annie intensely.

    Seated across from him, she looked strikingly beautiful. Dark hair framed her face in soft waves. Her eyes were light green. Her skin was pale, features delicate, almost like she didn''t belong to this ce.

    I couldn''t help feeling skeptical about her. Annie had been here only a few months, and yet Tarian was fascinated by her. It was as if his usual calm was always disrupted in her presence.

    Tarian and Annie

    I opened my mind link with him. ''Tarian, are you really so invested in her? Remember she hunted you, she did experiments, and yet you favor her. If it would have been me, I would have killed her by now!''

    He didn''t turn to me but sighed. A faint smile came on his lips. ''There''s more to Annie than you think, he replied. ''And I''m trying to figure that out!''

    I rolled my eyes. Initially, Lucien didn''t want her anywhere near, but the human climbed fast in the ranks with her sharp brain. We came to know that she was a nerd, who topped her university exam, but was pulled into hunting werewolves by her father. Her dead father. ''I hope you don''t regret it. You are all moon eyes on her!''

    Tarian chuckled. Annie lifted her gaze at him, and blushed.

    I rolled my eyes again.

    Oh, did I tell you that Maris married Josh?

    Hi all, if you''re reading this book, doment. You can also join me on FB at

    Mishakwrites or IG at Authormishakr to know more.

 Chapter 166

    No College

    No College

    Matt POV

    Everything felt off. I have no idea why.

    Mom and dad had returned after meeting Tam. She called me when they were there, but I didn''t pick up the phone. Not because I was with Tulip, but because Tam was history. Past. I wanted to focus on the future. My college. Tulip. Friends. My breakfast, right now. I knew that I would get over those nightmares soon, especially with her gone. It was a relief. A tremendous relief to not see her around the house, or listen to her stupidlyughing and giggling at everything and anything. Ugh. I hated those days. Of hating her. Of not wanting her around me. Finally, I was free. So yeah, when she called, it was obvious that I didn''t pick her phone.

    But as I sat at the breakfast table, listening to mom and dad about her, I could barely focus on anything. My mind was all over the ce. I wanted to forget about her, ignore the feeling bubbling inside me, but no matter how hard I tried, my parents'' talk would bring me back to her. My mind felt like it was spinning out of control as anger mmed inside me along with confusion.

    "Enough!" I shouted. "Can you just stop talking about her?"

    Both mom and dad looked at me with surprise. "Matt?" Mom said. "What happened? We were only talking about Tam."

    "I don''t want to talk about her, or listen about her!" I shouted. "Can you understand?"

    My parents stared at me like I had grown two heads. They exchanged a nce and fell silent. Good. At least this way! would handle the mess I was stuck in.

    "Okay..." my father said. "Have you thought about college? There''s a very good one at Shadowfang pack. Alpha Lucien has thetest-"

    "No!" I snapped. "I will not go there."

    My father was again surprised. "Matt, what is wrong? Alpha Lucien is going to take good care of you."

    I clenched my fists. "I don''t want to go there!" I growled. "I have been epted at three Ivy League colleges in the human world. I''ll join one of them."

    Father looked flustered, but he didn''t say anything. But mom said, "We were hoping you would join that college Matt. That way you will be near us. Your father wants you to take charge of the Everme pack when you graduate. And being near us would mean that you could help him while you are in college as well."

    "No!" I snapped. Throwing the napkin on the table, I got up and ran outside, unable to understand why things just felt...

    wrong.

    When I reached the tree line at the edge of our territory, I gave way to my bear. Torben had been restless for a long time. He broke free, pushing through me dly. And then he darted into the deep forest. And before I could stop him, he was heading toward the ce I was strongly against. The Shadowfang pack. I didn''t understand. I didn''t want to understand his stupid fascination.

    ''Go back!'' I screamed at him. This is wrong. I don''t want to be here.''

    But Torben was a powerful beast. His instincts were stronger than mine. He kept pushing forward. Eventually, I had to threaten him to not let hime out for a week if he didn''t turn back, and then only he turned back.

    Three monthster as I sat at my desk in my room, staring mindlessly at the eptance letters of universities, I felt like my mind was going in circles.

    "Matt?" Father''s sharp voice cut across my thoughts.

    I straightened in the chair. "Yes?" I asked, putting the letter down.

    He came to sit on the edge of the bed. "So which college have you decided, son?"

    I shook my head. "I don''t think I want to go to college," I replied in a low voice, keeping my head low.

    "What? Matt, you should focus on your future. College is a good start. You have been epted at Yale. You should go

    there."

    I shook my head again, barely looking up. "I''ve decided I won''t go to college." I could feel tension rising in the room, in my chest. "I''d rather help you with the pack. That''s where I need to be right now."

    I was expecting my father to blow up, but his face softened. He sighed deeply. He was clearly disappointed, but not angry." Are you sure?" he asked and paused as his eyes locked onto mine. When I nodded, he said, "Alright then. If you''re not

    going to college, you will take charge of the Everme pack. You will be the Alpha of that pack, taking the ce of your uncle Magnus,"

    The words hit me like a punch. "What?"

    No College

    He nodded. "You''re 18 now, Matt. It''s time you stepped up, if you are not going to college. I help you, but it''s time for you to take reins. And if in future, you feel like going to college, you can always go. I will support you in your decision." "Daddy." My throat choked with emotions. How could Veles give me such wonderful parents? I didn''t deserve them." Thanks...

    He chuckled and got up. I also got up with him. Suddenly, he pulled me close to him in a bear hug. And for the first time, I closed my eyes and felt happy. ¡°You''ll do well, son," he said, patting my back. "I have full confidence in you."

    I felt the weight of the responsibility settle on my shoulders. "I don''t know if I''m ready I admitted

    "You''ll learn as you got he said with a smile. "You''re stronger than you think."

    Taking charge of the Everme pack independently wasn''t ever in my dreams. But

    it felt right. Like I could finally do justice to Uncle Magnus.

    Mom entered the room and when she heard my decision, she was not happy at first. However, when my father reasoned with her and assured her that I could join college whenever I liked, she grunted, but she agreed.

    1 think you will do well as an Alpha; she finally chuckled. "Why don''t you take Tulip with you? She can help you with day-to-day work

 Chapter 167

    3:28 PM d

    Matt POV

    The ceremony of my ascension as the Alpha of the Everme pack was short but significant. I stood before the pack as the Shaman carried the ritual.

    He was surprised to see me taking over, but he smiled and said, "I''m so happy that you are taking over as the Alpha of the Everme pack, Matt. Alpha Magnus loved you a lot."

    ¿Ú

    The mention of his name brought back so many childhood memories that a lump formed in my throat. I swallowed it as I gave him my hand. He sliced it with a knife and allowed my blood to drop in a sacred bowl in front of Veles''s statute. Once the bowl was half-filled, he asked every pack member in the clearing to add their drop of blood to it. When finally every pack member did it, the Shaman offered it to Veles. As the blood dropped on his feet, and disappeared in the ground below, connection with the pack members mmed into my chest. It felt heavy, like I was weighed down with a thousand responsibilities deep inside.

    The Shaman raised my hand which was already healed, and said, "Your new Alpha, Alpha Matt!"

    The crowd started cheering for me. My parents watched me with pride in their eyes. And I knew that from today onward, I would concentrate on what was ahead of me instead of dwelling in the stupid, ugly past.

    My parents left soon after. Though Tulip was with me for the ceremony, I asked her to leave because I wanted to focus on my pack''s business. Being Alpha was what I had to do. Over the next few months, I did my job well. I handled everything efficiently. But handling rtionships? That was another story.

    Girls constantly threw themselves at me, admiring my status, my looks, my power. It was thrilling. They wanted me, and I think I wanted them. There was a new girl every night I was alone-brief moments of escape from a feeling that I wasn''t able to escape. Was it loneliness? Ah no! I couldn''t be lonely. There were so many things to do.

    Sex had be a great distraction from my pack business. It was tiring to be an Alpha. There was so much to do all the time. Yet, there were answers I was searching for, always. But what were the questions?

    7

    yearster.

    Seven years had passed on. A few weeks ago, I turned twenty-five. In some ways, all these years as an Alpha had felt like a blur, and in others, it had dragged on endlessly. My pack had flourished under my regime. Alpha Lucien had generously donated to us and he helped us on many fronts. However after three years, I asked him to stop with his help because we were sufficient and efficient. Father''s pack was also doing very well.

    Ye:. life seemed to be moving around me, but I felt like I was stuck. Like I was on autopilot, trapped in a loop that I couldn''t break. I had everything I had ever imagined. Tulip finished college and joined me. She was a valuable asset to my pack. Everyone knew that we were going to marry.

    She was always there ever since she arrived. She was beautiful, charming, and everyone loved her. She was the perfect partner for an Alpha, the kind of girl every pack member expected me to settle with. Easy to talk to, always smiling, always eager to please. After she hade to my pack, I had stopped my dalliances. Tulip made meugh, made me forget the weight of my responsibilities for a while. Sometimes I thought I loved her, but other times I wondered if I was simply doing what I expected of myself.

    It was a sultry evening of a week I wanted to forget the most. I was watching out the window toward the forest. In the morning I had trained the new pups. With a whiskey ss in my hand, I took a deep sigh as I tilted my head up and closed my eyes. Tulip had taken a bath after we had intense sex. She came behind me and wrapped her arms around my waist.

    "What are you thinking?" she asked.

    "Nothing" I replied absentmindedly.

    She kissed my shoulder. "I don''t believe you. You have been so pensive the past few days. What''s wrong?"

    1 took a shaky breath. "It''s nothing. Tulip," I said firmly. "You should sleep. It''s past midnight. I want to go for a run in the forest. Torben wants it." Veles, my bear was really pushing me to break free. Even after all the training in the morning, all the pack business, and intense sex with Tulip, he wanted to run. There were so many pent-up emotions. A good run was going to settle him

    She made me turn toward her. "Can I ask you something?" she said in a soft voice, her dark eyes fixed on me.

    "Sure." I said, a frown pulling at my lips.

    She pursed her lips as a pale blush formed on her cherks. "I know this will sound hopeless, but I wanted to know where our rtionship

    3:28 PM J

    stands?"

    A crease formed in my forehead as I narrowed my eyes on her. Tension bunched up in my shoulders. "Why?"

    She licked her lips. "We both are twenty-five, and I''ve known you ever since we were pups. I think it is high time we take decisive action."

    I clenched my teeth, not liking the direction of her talk.

    She continued, "I can''t wait forever for you to ask me to marry me, so'' She let out

    a rough exhale. "Will you marry me, Matt?" she asked in a hopeful voice.

    I parted my lips, Marriage? But then didn''t I want Tulip as my mate? She was a strong woman, and I knew her well. My Beta, Seth, often suggested that I should marry her. He used me of suffering from loneliness. Bull fucking shit.

    Torben growled inside me. ''No, refuse her.''

    But how could I refuse her? My core shook violently, leaving me breathless. Like I betrayed myself, like I was suffocating. Yet this was the right thing to do. I couldn''t let Tulip guess about our marriage.

    Torben became as restless as I was, but neither of us knew how to fix it. All he said was a big ''no''. I couldn''t. It wasn''t right. I could have asked her to give me time. But on the inside, I knew that I had taken forever. She was really on the edge.

    Tears came into her eyes. She lowered her head. "I didn''t know you were-

    "Yes!",1 blurted. "I''ll marry you!" Veles, why did it feel like I was wing my heart? "Really?" she squealed.

    "Yeah!" I nodded.

    "Veles!" she shouted and hugged me tightly, "Thank you!"

    I stood there numb. This was right. Yes. When she removed herself, she wiped

    her tears, and said, "I''m going to inform everyone!"

    I watched her bouncing on her feet as she took her phone and went out of the room. Something heavy mmed in my chest. I drank my whiskey in one go, and then picked up the entire bottle and drained it. The numbness inside me increased.

    The next day, there were a thousand calls from everyone, but one invite caught my attention. It was from Alpha Lucien. They invited me to Tamara''s fifteenth birthday. My heart skipped a beat. That''s why I hated this week. I hated her existence.

    27.27.

    AD

    Comment

    Send gift

    No Ads

 Chapter 168

    Tam''s Birthday

    Matt POV

    The drive to the Shadowfang pack felt like it was taking forever. I kept my eyes on the road as my hands gripped the steering wheel tighter than necessary. Tulip was sitting next to me, chattering away as usual about the grand wedding ns she had, but I could barely focus on what she was saying. My thoughts kept going back to the one thing I didn''t want to think-the fact that I was about to see Tam after seven long years.

    Seven years felt like a lifetime ago when I hadst seen her, when I thought it was good riddance. I had pushed her out of my mind as best as I could. After she had left, I was buried with confusion and..... emptiness. But I knew the reason. It was mostly because she had spent eight years with us as a family. Maybe this time I would bid her a proper goodbye and move on. So yes, in a way I was looking forward to seeing her. I needed closure. However, the invitation from Alpha Lucien had opened a floodgate of memories.

    "Matt?" Tulip touched my thigh. "What are you thinking about?"

    I nced over at her, wondering what she was saying. Dressed in a sleek blue dress that hugged her curves, her dark hair styles perfectly, she was the picture of elegance. I knew everyone would be fawning over her. "I-" I licked my lips. "What were you saying again?" Why was it that I felt disconnected?

    She sighed. "I don''t know what is going on with youtely." She crossed her arms and pouted. "I was wondering if I should wear a white gown or a red one at our wedding."

    "Whatever you like," I replied nonchntly.

    She sighed again and pursed her lips. "You are of no use!" I chuckled. "When do you want to fix the marriage date?" she asked. "The Shaman said that the next full moon is auspicious."

    Taking a deep breath in, I ran my fingers through my hair. "That''s too early for me, Tulip. Let me think it over."

    "But how will it matter?" she whined. "You will go back to your day-to-day activities after the wedding."

    I replied as politely as I could. "I need some time."

    Though she didn''t argue, she seemed upset.

    When we finally arrived, I let out a rough exhale in order to calm my racing heart. Tulip smiled, clearly excited. She took my arm and we both walked inside the venue. The moment I entered, my eyes searched for her, and there, standing in the middle of the room, was Tam. Stunned, my breath hitched. I felt like I was punched in the gut. Torben growled inside me, pushing me to go to her. ''Down boy!'' I hissed at him.

    Tamara was no longer the girl I remembered. She had changed. Grown up, beautiful, graceful, mesmerizing, and radiating. She stood there like she owned the world. Her long curly golden hair shimmered in the light, and those same stormy gray eyes were full of life. Even at this distance, she was like a me, attracting moths who wanted to burn.

    Tulip nudged me to move. "Matt," she chided me.

    My throat had turned dry, but I swallowed down this confusing reaction, and moved forward. With every step I took toward Tamara, all my hatred for her seemed to wash away.

    Our eyes locked. When she saw me, her face lit up with recognition.

    Tamara was nked by two twin boys, both standing close to her protectively. One with curly blond hair like hers and the other with dark hair, both with dark eyes. And they both looked distinctly like Alpha Lucien. Alpha Lucien and Luna Auren stood beside them,ughing and talking to others.

    The hall looked like stars had descended on earth. There were tall chandeliers hanging from the ceiling. Flowers adorned every surface along with scented candles. borate meals were stacked on a long table on the right. Servers moved around carrying trays of champagne and other beverages. To ease down the storm inside my chest, I picked up a champagne ss as I walked toward them. Before I reached them, I had downed it. It did nothing to ease me down.

    "Matt!" Tam eximed her voice high with excitement.

    "Happy birthday," I said as I gave her a bouquet.

    She grinned. "Thank you!"

    "Alpha Matt!" Alpha Lucien''s warm voice broke through my thoughts, making me realize that I was staring at Tam.

    "Alpha Lucien," I said and bowed to him.

    He pped my back. "It''s been too long. I''m d

    Sessfully unlocked!

    I shook his hand. "It''s good to see you, Alpha Lucien." I nced at Tam. "It''s been a while."

    Her lips curled up in a grin.

    "Luna Auren," I said and bowed to her. I nced at the twins who were no more than six years as they stared at me with

    Tam''s Birthday

    narrowed eyes. I chuckled. "And you both are...?¡±

    Luna Aurenughed softly. "They are my sons, Oscar and Hans," she said.

    I jerked my head back in surprise. When did they have these two?

    "It''s good to see you, Matt," she added. "You know I keep telling everyone that you are the one who saved Tamara years ago."

    "Yes," Lucien chimed in. "You remind me of your uncle, Magnus-loyal, strong, and willing to fight for everything right."

    My chest tightened at the mention of my uncle, and all the negative emotions mmed back. Before I could recoil and go back in a corner to drown my grief, Tam interrupted.

    "I didn''t think you woulde," she said with amazement in her eyes-one she had whenever she looked at me when she was just a pup.

    "I''ve been busy with my duties as an Alpha," I said in a hoarse voice. The excuse didn''t feel like enough, but I didn''t care. "I get it," she said quickly. "But you should have visited. I wanted to see you."

    I felt my chest tighten as the words I wanted to say stuck in my throat. Before I could answer, Tulip nudged me. I snapped out of my haze, and introduced her. "Do you remember Tulip?" I asked her.

    Tam''s eyes snapped to Tulip. "Y-yes," she said, her voice breaking when her eyes went to our joined hands.

    "Tulip is my fianc¨¦e."

    Tulip grinned and bowed to Lucian and Auren, while I saw Tamara''s face change. Her excitement faded, and her expression became distant. "H-hi Tulip," she said. Then her eyes dropped to the floor, and her lips pressed together in a tight line. "Happy birthday, Tam!" Tulip said.

    "Th-thank you..."

    I could feel the tension in the air. The twins came forward, ring, and crossed their arms across their chest as if to ward

    me away.

    "Congrattions!" Luna Auren chirped. Alpha Lucien also congratted me.

    "Congrats," Tam said in a small voice. I could feel the pain in her voice. It was clear that she didn''t know how to react to seeing me after all this time, especially now that I was engaged to someone else.

    In an attempt to break the awkwardness, I asked, "Where''s Bradley? It must be his birthday as well."

    Alpha Lucienughed. "That brat is over there," he pointed at the corner. When I looked over there, I saw Brad with a bunch of his friends. He had turned out to be so handsome, just like his father but with the gray eyes of his mom. "You can go and meet him," he encouraged me.

    I nodded and walked away. Suddenly, Tulip froze. "What''s it, Tulip?" I asked.

    She clenched her jaw and stood there, staring ahead.

    "Tulip!" I said loudly.

    With her eyes wide, she jerked her head at me, and bbered, ¡°M-Matt, I-I''ll be

    right back!" Saying that she hurried out of the room.

 Chapter 169

    What IF?

    What IF?

    Third POV

    Tulip had always wanted this. Power. To be surrounded by powerful people.

    The birthday party was everything she had expected. Alpha Lucien and Luna Auren had gone all out to celebrate Tam''s birthday party. Guests mingled,ughter filled the air, and she knew that she had to make connections. This was a lifetime opportunity. Alphas of various packs were here. Unmated Alphas. Though she wasn''t going to flirt with them because she had to behave like Matt''s perfect fianc¨¦e, still...

    Matt was perfect, but deep inside, she ignored that feeling. Ever since Matt had shifted, she thought that he would be her mate. But the connection never came. Seven years ago, when Matt first shifted, and when his bear didn''t im her, the rage had consumed her. fury, jealousy, and disbelief had mmed through her. In front of him, she suppressed her emotions, but inside she hated Torben. She had stormed back home, and torn apart the house, throwing objects, wing furniture with her ws and shing curtains. Her parents had a hard time calming her.

    And now that Matt didn''te out as her mate, the depth of her jealousy against Tam reached new levels. She loathed how he was possessive toward her, how fiercely protective he was of the girl. The way he acted toward her made it feel like she was the only girl he cared about.

    Though he hated her on the outside, Tulip noticed how he looked at Tam with that softness. It infuriated her that wherever he was, he would make sure that Tam was doing well, that she wasn''t bullied. In fact, he had gotten into a horrible fight with his friend, Jace, when Jacemented about Tam. He had never done this for her. He was there for Tam when she was hurt, when she missed her meals, when she was scolded by others.

    She had hoped that he would go to college with her, but he became Alpha. She went to the college alone. And that''s where she met Harrison, an omega bear. Her mate. Sparks flew and before she knew what was happening, she was living with him. She tried to keep her distance, to resist the temptation of him, but the mate attraction was too strong. When they had sex together, the world seemed to stop. He was gentle and devoted to her. But he was an omega. Not as powerful or rich as Matt. As much as she liked Harrison, she knew that she couldn''t let go of Matt.

    Harrison dropped out of college, stating a family emergency. He asked her toe with her. But she didn''t. Harrison couldn''t offer her the same power and status that she had always dreamed of. She declined his offer. Harrison left that night feeling horrible.

    After college, Tulip went back home. And in that time, she once didn''t see Harrison again. On Teddy''s request, she went to Matt''s pack. To join him in his pack business. He was the safe choice. She hid everything from him, pretending that nothing happened. She became the sweet fianc¨¦e, all smiles and affection, urging him to marry her, dreading that one day Harrison mighte back. She regretted not rejecting Harrison.

    However, at Tam''s birthday party, things shifted. As she was going to meet Bradley, Lucien''s elder son, a sense of unease crept up her spine. And then, she smelled him-the unmistakable scent of Harrison. He was standing there-behind the bar, a server. Staring at her. She couldn''t believe it. She froze, her jaw clenching as she stared at him. If he revealed that he was her mate, then her perfect dream would shatter in a few seconds. It was like she had seen a ghost. Blood drained from her face. Of all the ces, she found Harrison here?

    "What''s wrong, Tulip?" Matt asked.

    "M-Matt, I-I''ll be right back!" she said and hurried out of the room. She motioned Harrison toe out.

    A few minutester, she found herself standing behind the hall in darkness, hyperventting. Harrison came soon after. His eyes widened when he saw her. "Tulip!" he said and hugged her tightly. "Veles! I missed you so much. It''s impossible to stay without you." He kissed her on the temple as his hands reached her hips.

    Even though she felt great to be in his arms, she collected all the emotions, and pulled away from him. "What are you doing here?" she demanded, her voice filled with anger and disbelief.

    He smiled softly as he held her wrists, his eyes shining. ¡°I''m working part-time here for the party. My manager said he would give me five hundred dors for this job. But I didn''t know you would be here." He looked at her from top to bottom Look at you. You look even more beautiful! My cock missed you. I tried to contact you so many times, but you blocked me Why did you do that, Tulip?"

    Tulip''s breath caught. "You shouldn''t be here," she hissed. "You''re nothing to me." "What?" he jerked his head back.

    "You heard me!"

    He narrowed his eyes, and then pulled her to him. His lips crashed on hers desperately, urgently. Before she knew it, she was clinging to him, his hands were

    all around her body, inside her panties. She whimpered at the touch.

    "You''re mine!" he growled.

    What IF?

    Her eyes widened, and she pulled away. "I can''t be with you," she spat.

    "Why?" he asked, bewildered. "We are mates."

    "Hush!" she said furiously. "You can''t say that. I am Alpha Matt''s fianc¨¦e"

    Harrison''s eyebrows jumped to the hairline. "Are you fucking insane? Reject him. You''re my mate."

    She gritted her teeth. "No!" And then she did what she had nned. ¡°I, Tulip Montana, of the Coldmane pack, reject my mate, Harrison from this day onward!"

    Harrison stared at her in disbelief, his body and mind going numb. "T-Tulip... n- no... he rasped as he dropped on his knees with one hand on his chest.

    Sweat broke on her body as her heart felt like it was shattering into pieces. She staggered away from him saying in a shaky voice, "ept the rejection because if you ever try to contact me again, I''ll make sure you die. Do you understand?" Harrison didn''t say a word. He just sat there, watching her going, hurt hammering his chest.

    Tulip returned to the party after going to the washroom and calming herself. Now she had to be even more careful. Not only because of Harrison, but also because she saw how Matt reacted to meeting Tamara after all these years. She was fifteen. In three years she would be eighteen, and shift. What IF she sensed him as his mate?

    "Fuck!" She gripped the edge of the counter in the restroom, panicking. She had to keep him away from Tamara, and marry him as soon as possible. Right now, they didn''t understand their feelings. She had to take advantage of Matt''s guilt and uncertainty.

 Chapter 170

    You Can Do It

    You Can Do It

    Third POV

    Tulip returned to the party, trying to gather her emotions that were all over the ce. Her heart was racing, her body still tingling from the encounter. Suddenly, the world looked bleak. Depression set in and she felt like she was going to die, but no matter what she felt on the inside, she schooled her expression.

    She walked back to Matt, and acted like nothing had happened. He was talking to group of Alphas. He was the only Alpha bear in the group, the rest being werewolves. And the reason why he was being given such respect was that Alpha Lucien liked him because he saved Tam''s life. While that was an important thing, she couldn''t let Tam ruin her life. And especially not now since she had rejected her mate. She had to take control of herself, of the situation, and how to deal with Matt''s feelings toward Tam. She had to sweetly take him away from her. And she had to do it from today onward. Sweet poisoning. That''s what she had to do.

    Alpha Lucien had a lot of money and he helped Matt and Teddy initially, and even though the bear n was pretty well-off, she couldn''t cut off the flow of money in case of emergency or friendship with someone as strong as Lucien. Weeding Tam would need tact.

    Tulip took a deep breath in and smiled at Matt nervously.

    "Everything okay?" he asked, his voice warm, oblivious to the storm inside her.

    "Of course," she replied, smiling sweetly. "Just a little overwhelmed. It''s Tamara''s big day after all."

    He gave her a tight smile and then introduced her to the group of Alphas he was talking with. They all fell into afortable conversation, but Tulip couldn''t help notice that Matt would nce at Tam once in a while. And so would Tam. She gritted her teeth, her mind racing on how to start poisoning Matt against Tam. From the periphery of her vision, she saw Harrison who was now standing at the bar, looking paler than usual.

    When they were having dinner alone, she leaned toward him and whispered, "When I had gone to the restroom, Tam was also there."

    Matt clenched his jaw. "So?"

    She touched his hand lightly. "She was talking to her friends. She said that she really hates you for the way you keep ignoring her. Like you think no end of yourself. She said that even though her father helped you financially,pensated you heavily for saving her life, you act like a douche. Like you are entitled to it."

    Matt''s eyes went wide as he stared at Tulip with disbelief.

    Tulip nodded, faking sadness. ¡°I''m so sorry, baby. I didn''t know that Tam would be like this. Maybe you should talk to her politely, and then her impression about you would change?"

    Matt picked up the ss of wine in front of him and drank it. He red at Tam who was sitting with her parents and brothers with so much fury that it could melt the world.

    Tulip let out a sigh of relief. First mission aplished sessfully. She also picked up her wine ss, and sipped from it while smiling at all others.

    They finished dinner and in less than an hour, they were going back home. Matt took early leave from Lucien, his mood sour. Well, it was just a start.

    Auren POV

    I seriously didn''t want pups. Two were enough, but my husband did everything to have more. He knotted inside me over a dozen times as soon as I went on next heats. I had bought special condoms for him, but he punctured every condom ( which I came to knowter), before pulling it over him. Not only that, he bought a few sex toys to enhance the sexual experience, to coax me, to lure me, and when I was at the pinnacle of my orgasm, he would release his seeds inside me.

    After Tamara came back to us, we had another set of twins. This time both boys. And goddess above. They were a carbon copy of their father. Lucien was one proud father of four pups. The way he showed them off to everyone, and even said he put them inside me, was too cocky. There was not a day when he wouldn''t y with them. Though I knew that he wanted a baby girl because he had missed Tamara''s growing years, he was content with boys.

    Bradley had be overprotective about his sister and brothers. He was turning into such a handsome boy that I couldn''t help feeling proud of him.

    On their fifteenth birthday, Brad and Tamara looked beautiful. Brad had grown taller and I knew that by the time he was eighteen, he would be as tall or taller than his father. Thankfully, Tamara was already my height.

    I was happy to see Matt and his fianc¨¦e, Tulip. He hade to meet us after seven long years. I think Lucien and Matt met on earlier instances as well, but he met Tamara after so long. I don''t know why Oscar and Hans were so protective of their sister when Matt talked to her. They were both a puzzle to me, and it was Lucien who would handle the two brats. Bradley

    You Can Do It

    was such a sweet, responsible, intelligent boy. Why were my younger twins such imps?

    "What are you thinking?" Lucien wrapped his arms around my shoulders. I leaned into him and sighed. The party had gotten over, everyone had gone home, and I was in our bedroom, looking over the dark forest.

    "Matt acted weirdly today," I said, voicing my thoughts.

    Lucien kissed my temple. My man looked like a silver fox now with a little gray hair on his temple. And that only added to his beauty. "He hade after seven years

    to meet Tamara. The awkwardness was obvious."

    "Hmm..." I replied, closing my eyes. "I''m tired..."

    Lucien picked me up in his arms and carried me to the bed. He made me lie down and then came on me, pressing my body into the mattress. He brushed a strand of hair from my forehead and said, "I know how to make you feel good, but sleep for now, love. I''ll eat you up in the morning."

    I smacked his arm. "Pervert!"

    He chuckled and crashed his lips on mine. I moaned, opening myself to my mate, my love. This would never get old.

    At least he wasn''t asking for more pups.

    When he removed himself, he leaned over my ear and whispered, "When Brad and Tammy go to college three yearster, Oscar and Hans are going to miss them. They would need morepany. It''s high time we have more pups." My eyes widened in anger. "What? Lucien!" I shouted.

    He grinned. "Trust me baby, you can do it."

 Chapter 171

    Hidden Powers

    Auren POV

    I pped him on his chest. "Alpha Lucien, we are done with babies. If you want more pups, better adopt, but I won''t be having anymore!"

    His lips downturned. "No, Auren, you-"

    I pped my hand over his mouth. "Shut up, and sleep!"

    That night, as I drifted into sleep in Lucien''s arms, a vivid dream engulfed me. I stood alone under a bright, glowing moon in a clearing. The scent of roses and jasmine filled my senses. I could feel the thick magic in the air. Like it caressed my skin, slithered around me like a lover and then left me. I whipped my head to look around, a strange sensation of D¨¦j¨¤ vu overwhelming me. Why did I feel like a familiar presence was somewhere around?

    From the shadows of trees in front of me, emerged a beautiful silver-eyed woman. Her face was still as beautiful as the day I saw her first. I gasped, remembering who she was. She smiled gently as she came near me.

    "Auren, my child," Cressida whispered softly, her voice like wind through trees.

    My heart raced, my breath catching in my throat. "M-mother?" I stammered, taking a step toward her.

    Her eyes fixed on me, she took my hand. "I know you''ve birthed a beautiful daughter, Tamara. The blood of the Moon Goddess runs through both of you. You are not alone. Her power is awakening."

    My eyes widened in disbelief. "Whose power? What are you saying? Mother, don''t leave."

    She took a step back, andughed softly. "I''m always here when you need me." Then she stepped back into the shadows, fading like mist.

    I jolted awake, my heart pounding as the echo of Cressida''s voice lingered. She had visited me after so long. After a gap of fifteen years? What was the meaning of it? But a strange warmth spread through my chest. My eyes went to the moon hanging over the pors. It felt like something ancient was stirring.

    Next morning, Dr. Elias came to meet. He seemed excited. "We have to talk about this in private!" he said to Lucien. "It''s about Luna Auren and Tamara."

    Things had be crazy after he had found out that my blood group was unusual. Like he hadn''t found them inmon wolves. Not only that, when Tamara was born, her tattoo on the back that resembled mine was very faint. I thought that it would go away with time. When she returned to us, it was still faint, almost like a pink circr faint marking. But as and as she grew, her tattoo only became bolder, and on her fifteenth birthday, it was as bold as mine. It surprised the hell out of me, and Tamara asked me questions about it, but I didn''t have

    answers.

    I raised my eyebrow. "What is it, Elias?" I asked.

    Lucien was preparing to go to the training arena along with Brad and Tamara. "Sure, what is it?" he said, gesturing to the children with his chin to carry on. "I''ll join youter."

    Elias had been trying to find out my legacy for a long time, but he was not sure. Now with two she-wolves with the same tattoo on their backs since their birth, he was all the more intrigued and confused.

    He took a paper out of the folder andid it in front of us. He pointed at some arrows and diagrams. ¡°I''ve tried to trace Luna Auren''s blood and even took Tamara''s for the same purpose. I''ve done gene mapping, trying to find if their blood belongs to any werewolf ns on this earth. You know it took so long, but-" He let out an exasperated sigh. "There is no n that matches Luna Auren''s blood. Like not one. Tamara''s blood matches yours, of course," he said, looking at Lucien. ¡°But Luna Auren is a mystery!"

    I chuckled. "Maybe my father didn''t have any rtives."

    Elias stabbed his fingers in his hair. "I have been hunting for your rtive, and I found none. It''s like you''ve dropped from the stars!"

    At that Iughed out loud. "Who knows? Maybe?" I shrugged my shoulders cockily.

    After Elias left, Lucien went to the training arena, calling me an alien. I walked into the garden. Since it was early morning and chilly, I wrapped the shawl around me.

    I couldn''t shake the strange sensation that had settled in my chest aboutst night''s dream. My thoughts were broken by Tam''s voice.

    "Mom!" She came toward me, sweating like a pig, grinning.

    "What are you doing here?" I asked as I hugged Sessfully unlocked!

    She chuckled. "I was going to do that but when I saw you here, i came.

    I tucked a strand of her hair behind her ear. Goddess, she was so beautiful. "Let''s go inside," I said, holding her hand. As we walked, Tam''s eyes fell on a wilted flower by the path. Without thinking, she knelt down and reached out, her fingers brushing the delicate petals. To my astonishment, the flower''s petals turned from dull gray to violet, like it was blooming

    Hidden Powers

    again.

    Tamara gasped. "What the hell?" she murmured, dropping the flower, stepping back in shock.

    I stared at the flower which again turned gray.

    "I didn''t do this... I just touched it," Tamara exined, shocked.

    I inspected the flower. "Maybe it was some kind of... weird trick of light?"

    "Shit!" Tamara rasped.

    I snapped my head to her only to see that she had a small cut in her finger with which she held the flower. I reached out, gently cupping Tamara''s hand. The cut healed immediately, leaving no trace of injury. Just like usual.

    "Strange things are happening," Tam responded as we both walked inside the house.

    "I''m sure..." I muttered. "Don''t talk about it to anyone, okay?"

    "Okay," Tam nodded, nervous.

    I talked about it to Lucien that day, and he too made us promise not to reveal our powers to anyone. Mine was that of healing quickly, and also helping others to heal quickly. Tamara''s being bringing life to wilted flowers.

    Life went on smoothly and I never got that dream again. And before I knew it, it was Tamara and Brad''s eighteenth birthday.

    "You may smell your mate after you shift," Brad teased her, waggling his eyebrows.

    Tamara rolled her eyes. "Who knows you will smell yours, eh?"

    Brad tied his shoce and let out a forced evilughter. "No, I haven''t felt that connection. I will know when I will see my mate. She is going to be a powerful she-wolf, just like me. She will beat me in training."

    "Oh puhlease, Brad!" Tamara retaliated. "Your mate is going to be a human who will beat your ass!"

    Lucien and Iughed at our kids. Both had grown into beautiful wolves. Tonight they will be shifting for the first time. Both were excited as hell. But I knew that on the inside, both were nervous.

    A weekter, they were going to attend college in the human world, since school was over. They decided mutually that they

    needed to explore the world for now. Lucien had made it clear to both of them that they will attend the pack''s college from next year onward.

 Chapter 172

    Angel

    Tamara POV

    Eighteenth birthday was aing-of-age birthday in our pack. All the pack members were excited for the celebrations. They were not just excited for Bradley, but for me too. Ever since I had returned, the amount of love I received from all them was overwhelming. Also, tonight, I would be meeting my wolf for the first time. Inside I was exhrated, just like Brad, There were murmurs that Bradley was stronger than my dad, Alpha Lucien, for he as the male heir of true mates. Didn''t that apply for all of us siblings? Well, the way my dad and my brothers treated me like a delicate flower, I wondered if they ever felt I could take them down inbat. Especially Oscar and Hans. They were born after I returned, and felt like they had a birthright over me as far as control went. They acted like fierce little wolves around me. And my parents-they loved me from moon to back. Father pampered me crazily even as mom tried to leash him. There was not a day I thanked the goddess for giving me a family as lovely as mine.

    I had returned from the Coldmane pack ten years ago, but Matt''s memories were always fresh in my mind. I have no idea why I felt this strange pull toward him, like he was my earth. It was ridiculous, and logic-less. Sometimes I felt like a douche about my feelings. He was so protective, but at the same time hated me. I couldn''t me him. He saw his uncle getting brutally murdered by Bram while saving me, and to top it all, he had to save me. Which ten-year-old would be able to take that kind of trauma?

    I felt guilty for making him go through all that in an age when he was supposed to have fun. That incident scarred his mind forever. It would be a lie to say that I didn''t want to see him after I returned to the Shadowfang pack.

    She and Teddy loved me despite me being the main cause of all their problems. They epted me unconditionally. So whenever they came to meet me, I was happy. But Matt never apanied them. My heart wilted because I knew that he had gone on to like other girls. I always thought I''d be able to show that he meant a lot to me, but he never gave a chance. Slowly, I was beginning to dislike him for being so stubborn and close. Thest straw was when he attended my fifteenth birthday and introduced Tulip as his fianc¨¦e.

    That day I felt like my heart cleaved into two. He made it very clear that he hated me from the core of his heart.

    Or maybe I was wallowing in my own misery. Did I ever exin to him how I felt about him? No.

    Anyway, that was my cue to move ahead in my life. To hell with Matt or Tulip. They could live their fucked-up life together for all I cared.

    Mom and dad were already at the tree line in the west where the forest began. Dad was giving instructions to Brad, while mom was instructing the omegas. Other pack members milled around them. Dad called me. I rushed to him.

    "I know you both are excited about it," he said in a somber voice. "Just go with it. You may feel excruciating pain during transition, but don''t resist it." He looked at Brad, and took a deep breath in. "Don''t attempt to leash your wolf. He is the powerful Alpha of the North. I''m extremely sure that he is even stronger than me. Make sure that you understand your feral side."

    Brad nodded, shifting on his feet.

    Dad turned to me. Lowering his voice, he said, "Tamara, you and mom are special. I feel that only the females of our bloodline carry the golden moon tattoo on their back, because I didn''t see it on Brad, Oscar or Hans. So I am really looking forward to your wolf. It will be special."

    "Yes father!" I said, anxious as hell. From the periphery of my vision, I saw my twin brothers. They squealed as they ran to us and lunged forward to dad. He picked them up in his arms, kissed them and called them monkeys.

    "We will ride you when they shift," Oscar said to my dad.

    He smiled. "Of course! You both can ride me. Don''t bother your mom."

    Goddess, how much he loved mom was beyond me. Well, they were mates. What else would you expect? I hugged them all as Brad stood there with a grin, watching us.

    "Are you conspiring against me?" Mom''s voice came from behind.

    "Yes!" Brad said, hugging her. "They are conspiring. I always love you,

    Momughed. "And that''s why you are my favorite."

    mom."

    The rest of her pups whined, and the area was filled with boomingughter.

    our heads. I could feel something stirring

    It was close to midnight. The moon was full into Sessfully unlocked! inside me when the moonbeams fell over me. My tacu anu my gaze went to Brad. His chest was rising and falling as he looked at the forest ahead of us. Everyone around us was silent. Waiting and watching.

    All at once, I heard a low growl. I whipped my head and realized that it came from Brad. Before I knew it, his body was

    transforming. "Goddess!" I rasped. Excruciating pain mmed inside my body, and I doubled over. "Ahhhh!"

    Angel

    "Go with it, Tammy!" Dad shouted. "Don''t resist!"

    How could I not resist? The pain was unbearable. It felt like all my bones were fracturing. My skin stretched and every organ in my body was on fire. Minutester, when I opened my eyes, I looked at the world differently over a snout. Shocked, I looked down and found myself standing on my paws. Silvery gray paws. I gasped but that came out as a purr. I was in my wolf form, and the ecstasy I felt was crazy. It was surreal.

    I looked to my right where Brad had transformed into a beautiful, massive ck

    wolf who was as tall or slightly taller than Remus. I was my mom''s height.

    Remus was standing beside us with Oscar and Hans on his wide back. Sienna was next to him. They both looked so beautiful together.

    ''Tamara?'' a voice echoed inside me. ''I''m Angel, your wolf.''

    Wow. ''Hi Angel,'' I replied. ¡®It''s so good to meet you!

    She chuckled. ''Ready for a run?''

    ''Yes!''

    And she took off, charging toward the forest. Oh. My. Goddess. She was a beautiful, agile wolf. Brad ran with me and my parents were behind us along with a few pack members.

    The whole world felt different. Wind brushed through my fur wildly, every sense was heightened, my vision was a thousand times better and I felt I could conquer this earth. Letting your wolf out for the first time was the best experience of my life, even better than looking at Matt all the time like he was my everything.

    I had veered left away from my family and so had Brad. He had run farther away from. My parents allowed us because they knew that our wolves needed their own time. As I ran inside the forest, jumping over logs and streams, I suddenly became aware of a presence. Like it called me.

 Chapter 173

    Mate?

    Tamara POV

    I stopped in my tracks, and snapped my head to where I sensed it. Since I couldn''t see it, I slowly approached it, but the more I neared it, the further it went. Before I knew it, I was chasing it, sniffing it, feeling that strange irresistible pull. It reminded me of Matt. My heart ached for him, but I knew that it wasn''t him. He must have got married to Tulip and they probably had a few pups by now.

    After he left on my fifteenth birthday, he never returned. Not once. He didn''t even call me. It was like he ghosted us all. Father was pretty amused by his behavior. Teddy and She also never visited us. It felt like they wanted to sever the connection with us. It was odd, but how could I question it? She stopped picking my calls. It was bizarre.

    I don''t know how long I chased it, but I never saw it. Feeling defeated, I gave up in the end, and returned home because it was already dawn.

    With Angel inside me, I felt like my life had taken a beautiful turn. I had apanion who would stay with me always. Her presence made me feel full.

    A few omegas were standing at the door. They offered me clothes, since I was butt naked when I shifted back to my human form. I took a robe and wore it. As soon as I entered, I saw mom.

    "Tammy!" she said excitedly as she jumped from her chair. "How was it? Your hair looks like birds haveid eggs. What''s your wolf''s name? Where is Brad? I''ve been waiting for you. Oscar and Hans have already slept with your dad!"

    Iughed and hugged her with all the dirt I was covered in. She didn''t mind at all and hugged me tightly. "Her name is Angel."

    Mom pulled away as she looked at me with adoration. "What a lovely name..." She kissed my cheek. "Take a bath. I''m sure you''re hungry."

    "Ravenous!"

    At breakfast, I came to know that Brad''s wolf''s name was Keir.

    A weekter we were standing in the admission office of our college in the human world along with Dad. He made us read the treaty between wolves and humans until we remembered every word of it.

    "Bradley Vaslof, Tamara Vaslof?" thedy at the admission office looked at us. We went to her. She smiled and handed us Our wee kit. "Here''s the keys to your dorms."

    "Oh, that won''t be necessary," Dad said. "I have bought a house for them near the campus," he added proudly. What he didn''t say was that the house wasrge enough to have a dozen warriors guarding us. But I wanted to go to a dorm because I wanted my privacy. Soon...

    Thedy grinned. "That''s good," she blushed, looking at him, and I rolled my eyes. That was the effect my dad had on all the human women. "I''m yet to see people as beautiful as you are," she blurted. "You all are going to be very popr."

    While my dad chuckled, both Brad and I snorted, understanding what she meant.

    She continued, "Bradley is great at football, and the college has already integrated him in the team. And Tamara, you are in the beachball team."

    "Beachball?" I said, shocked. "I wanted basketball."

    She shrugged. "You can talk to the Dean about it."

    Gritting my teeth, I stomped out of the office.

    "Hey, stop being such an ass!" Brad admonished me. "It''s a great start."

    "I wanted to-"

    "It''s okay, Tammy," father said. "You can always leave it. As such, next year, you both will be transferred to the pack''s college. You are here only for a year." I huffed as we all walked to the car park.

    Father returned to the pack after two days as we tried to settle in the college. While I had taken herbology, psychology, history, and art as subjects, Bradley had taken math, English, martial arts, andputer science. Yeah, he was a genius without even trying hard.

    Honestly, the main reason why I wanted to get out of my world was because I wanted to be away from ces which reminded me of Matt. And because I wanted to fall in love and do away with the feeling that festered in my heart. I wanted normal...

    Sessfully unlocked!

    A week went by and making human friends in the ss was bing difficult by the day. I didn''t know it would be so difficult to adjust. Another weekter, I couldn''t stay in the same house as Brad and the warriors. So I took up a dorm and moved all my belongings there. It was a different thing that Brad asked the warriors to keep checking on me and guarding

    1. me.

    Mate?

    Three weekster, I felt lonely, bored, and pined to go back home. So when a group of girls and boys looked curiously at me in the history ss, I wondered if I should talk to them. "Hi!" I waved at them nervously, boldly.

    "Hey there!" said a brte, waving at me.

    Cautiously, I made my way toward them when all at once, I tripped over someone''s feet, falling t on my face, but before I could fall down, strong arms gripped me and steadied me against a solid chest. Warm smell of honey and ginger wrapped me, making my mind go dizzy. My knees wobbled and my world started spinning so fast that I was breathless. My heart thundered as tingles spread all over my skin.

    ''Mate, Angel growled inside my head.

    Amazement wasn''t even the word that would exin how I felt. All I wanted was to hug him like a ko, like he was the honey I wanted top with my tongue from

    a tree. "Th-thank you." I turned to look around and craned my neck to see him. Shock coated my insides as disbelief sted my chest. My eyes widened, surprise washing over me.

    "Are you alright?" he asked with a lopsided smile.

    "You?" I snapped, taking a step back from Alpha Matt of the Everme pack. "What are you doing here?"

    Matt was my mate. Goddess above. How was this possible? All my life, I had looked up at him like he was my everything. Then he went on to marry Tulip, and now this? Confusion, anger, disbelief and a thousand other emotions warred inside me. My heart raced wildly, threatening to leap out of my chest.

    Before he could answer my questions, the professor came in. I bit my lips, and we all settled in our seats with Matt sitting right next to me like he was attending the ss with me. He took out hisptop and smirked.

    His legs spread in front of him and his one arm was thrown behind my chair. Like he owned me. What was happening here? Where was Tulip? Why wasn''t she with him? How could I smell him as my mate, if he was already married to Tulip? Or wasn''t he?

    Boys and girls who were smiling earlier were astonished. And the girls-they stared at Matt like he was Adonis. Well, he did look like a Greek God with that built, dark hair and beautiful piercing blue eyes. I wanted to w their faces. But no. This was weird.

    As soon as the ss was over, I grabbed his hand and stormed out to a secluded area to have a tete-a-tete. As soon as we reached behind the building, I stopped and hissed, "Are you posing as a student, or is this some midlife crisis cosy? Oh wait, you are Professor Wrinkles, right?"

 Chapter 174

    Reject Her

    Reject Her

    Matt POV

    Although I had agreed to marry Tulip, after seeing Tam on her fifteenth birthday my resolve seemed to falter by the day. But it was not the right thing to even approach her, so I restrained myself as much as I could. Often, I would ask Seth to lock me up in the dungeons of my pack with silver chains to stop my bear, Torben, from going to the Shadowfang pack just to see her. I was sure that I was going insane. And the only way to stop this insanity was to restrain Torben in silver chains. It hurt so much. I had bruises on my body, but there was no way I would go to meet her.

    Tulip told me how Tam spouted poison about me to everyone. At first, I was so fucking upset that the only emotion I ever felt was fury. Tulip would keep feeding me info about Tam''s usations once in a while. It aggravated me. I wanted to confront Tam about it, but what was the point? Slowly, I came to terms with it. The fact that I needed to stay away from her was more important, no matter what rumors went by. If Tam felt good using me of taking money from her father to stay away from her, it was fine. She could use that hatred for me. It helped my purpose.

    Tulip would insist that I marry her as soon as possible, but I didn''t want her to suffer because of me. I had to get Tampletely out of my mind, and then only I would marry her. She would get upset and go away for days altogether, which was fine. Because when she returned, she was refreshed, looked brighter. It was different that she always went into some hiding, where even her parents couldn''t trace her.

    For three years, I restrained Torben from going toward the Shadowfang pack. All the restraint in silver chains didn''t affect my beast. He was as strong as ever, as ferocious as ever, and then some more. However, it was on Tam''s eighteenth birthday that he broke it all and just ran toward the Shadowfang pack like a bat from hell. I struggled hard to make him go back, but he didn''t.

    And it was then I care to know what was the reason. When he reached there, he stood in the shadows as if waiting for a miracle. And then he saw Tam''s beautiful silvery wolf. She was running through the forest in the silvery moonlight, looking like a goddess, looking like life.

    ''Mate.'' Torben growled. ''Mine!''

    Fuck me. I forced Torben to give way to me. As soon as I was out, I rubbed myself with. foliage and wet mud to hide my scent, because I knew that if she saw me and recognized me as her mate, she would instantly hate me, reject me for all I had done to her. For the way I had ignored her all my life. Realization mmed inside me. I had never hated her. I had tried to, but failed at every instance. Tears welled in my eyes. I had treated her so badly. There was not a moment when I hadn''t loved her. My feelings for her suddenly made sense. Veles knew it. He forced me to save her that day when I could have abandoned her. My love and protectiveness were wrapped in

    Reject Her

    As if on instinct, Tam''s wolf started running toward me. No. I turned in the opposite direction and ran away. This was not how I was going to meet her. Like a stalker, like someone she would reject immediately. Veles! I couldn''t even think of that scenario. It made my heart cleave into two.

    But now, I had a bigger problem. How was I going to tell Tulip about it? She had to know. Despite the rumors that Tam spread about me, I was going after her. They were nothingpared to what I did to her. She was my mate, and there was no force on this earth who would part me from her.

    However, I had to deal with it carefully. In a way that I was close to her, had the opportunity to woo her while she still had interest in me. I knew that it was a difficult. task, but not impossible. There was a chance that she''d reject me, but I had to take

    that chance.

    Oh, thank you, Veles! If she epted me, I was going to construct your temple in my pack and worship you forever.

    I confronted Tulip and said, "I have to break this engagement." I took the ring out

    of my finger, suddenly feeling so light and ecstatic that I grinned.

    "What do you mean?" she asked with a frown.

    I gave her the ring back. "Tamara Vaslof is my mate," I said directly.

    Her blood drained. "What?" she barked.

    I shrugged, feeling smug. I had found a mate. And that too in Tamara. I was going to move mountains to be with her. "You heard me. Tamara is my mate, and I am going to get her."

    After a shocked pause, Tulip''s face turned red with anger. "How dare you?" she hissed. "How dare you say that to me? I am your fianc¨¦e. You are supposed to marry me. Reject her. NOW!"

    I jerked my head back. "Why will I reject my mate, Tulip? Veles has been kind and bestowed me with a sacred mate. I would rather die than reject her!"

    She stormed toward me and raised her hand to p me. A growl escaped my lips. I caught her wrist midair, and pushed her away. She fell on the floor, shrieking.

    "Don''t you dare to do that again!" I growled. My warriors came inside to tackle her, but I raised my hand to stop them.

    Tulip started crying. "You can''t do this to me, Matt Erikson! I have waited to be your wife and Luna for so many years. Now you suddenlye and say that you have a mate. And that too, a bitch like Tamara?"

    In a sh of a second I was on her throat. "You say one wrong word about Tam, and I''ll rip you into pieces." Her eyes widened in fear as she gripped my wrist, struggling to

    Reject Her

    break free. Feeling pity, I left her and she scrambled back. ¡°Tam is my mate, and I won''t hear anyone messing with her. If they mess with her, they mess with me. I''m leaving you now because of our association, but don''t test me."

    She screamed, "Tamara has spread so many lies about you! Even your parents don''t like her after I told them what she''s been doing. And still you want to go to her?"

    "Those are your words Tulip, no one else''s," I retaliated. "Besides, if you had a mate, would you reject him?"

    Her eyes widened and it seemed like her breath hitched. "I would... for you..." she said.

    "Then you are fucking insane," I spat. "No one in their right mind would reject their

    mate."

 Chapter 175

    Reasoned

    Matt POV

    I stared at Tulip for a second before adding, "I can''t reject her. I am sorry, but so I have to ask you to vacate my house as soon as possible." Saying that I turned to walk away, my heart feeling lighter. There was a bounce in my steps, and I couldn''t help chuckling at the risk of looking silly.

    "This isn''t over, Matt!" Tulip shouted behind me. "I will not let you go. Reject her!"

    I just walked away. Only my death would part me from my Tam. Even if I had to grovel in dirt to get her, I would. This would be my redemption. I would do everything she''s asked me to do. If she would put a leash around me, I''d happily be her mutt. My heart swelled with euphoria. All I wanted was to go to Tam, and coat myself in her

    scent.

    However, I was in for a shock when I went to the Shadowfang pack. Alpha Lucien and Luna Auren were shocked to know that I was their daughter''s mate. It took a day for

    them to sink it in.

    "But you can''t meet her," Alpha Lucien said the next day.

    "Why?" I raised my eyebrow. "Because I''m a bear shifter?"

    He shook his head. "Who am I to intervene in what goddess has chosen for you and her? You can''t meet her because she is attending a human college." After that he told me where she had gone to attend it.

    Three weekster, after taking Alpha Lucien''s help, I took admission in the same college and in the same course as hers. What could be better than being with her all the time? Wooing her was going to be a gargantuan task I was willing to undertake happily.

    The shock on her face when she saw me in her ss was a Kodak moment.

    So, right now standing in front of her, shouting at me, knowing fully well that she had recognized me as her mate, was like nirvana. I watched her shouting at me like a lovesick fool.

    "You, old geezer!" she spat. "I/don''t want you near me. Let me live my life for once! I''ve had enough of you. I want to move on." She ced her hand on her hip and cocked her hip. "And how could a twenty-eight-year-old man join college in my year?"

    I tilted my head, amused by her reaction, attracted by her insane beauty, crazed by her warm caramel and chocte smell. "I''m not that old," I replied to her. "Besides, all the other males in your ss pale in front of me, I am the most handsome."

    Her jaw dropped. "I don''t want you anywhere near me. So stay away! You get that?"

    "I can''t," replied. "Alpha Lucien agreed that there has to be someone to protect you all the time, even in your ss. The warriors he sent to guard you can''t enter the building

    Reasoned

    without looking like they''d kill students. So I was the best choice, and since I hadn''t

    had a chance to study in college, I joined yours. Basically it serves two purposes at the same time. Intelligent, isn''t it?" I grinned.

    "Like you don''t look intimidating?" She said, rolling her eyes. Then she paused and shook her head. "But why?" she asked bewildered. "I mean how did you-"

    stepped toward her and she stopped talking, her breath caught in her throat. I took a strand of her hair in between my thumb and forefinger. Rubbing it, Ipleted the sentence for her, "-know that you were my mate?" When she nodded, I leaned over her ear, and whispered, "I saw your wolf that day in the forest when you first shifted."

    She gasped, realization dawning. I could feel her trembling in her ce, and all I wanted was to wrap her in my arms, but I stopped myself for the fear of her pushing me away.

    "It was you..." she said, her chest rising and falling.

    "Yes..." With a lot of willpower, I managed to step away from her.

    She gritted her teeth and looked away. Then she breathed, "I don''t need any protection. I''m a trained warrior and can take care of myself. Most importantly, I don''t want you. After all the bad blood we have between us. "And where''s. Tulip? Aren''t you married to her?"

    "No, I couldn''t marry her. She''s out of my life. Forever."

    She pursed her lips, tears welling in her eyes, but she didn''t let them fall. "Look, I want to fall in love with someone-" She paused when I red at her. "I-I want to feel normal."

    I would never allow her to fall in love with anyone but me. And the only reason being that I didn''t want to kill people. She hated me for now, but that would change. "No, Tam," I replied firmly. "There is a lot of danger that lurks around in this college."

    "What kind of danger?" she bristled.

    "Boys! There are a lot of boys," I blurted out, anger bubbling inside me. "Can''t you see how they look at you?" I grabbed her upper arms tightly. "It''s like they are lusting after you. They don''t seek your love." I was going to gouge their eyes. "Men are like wolves and bears, stalking their next prey, itching to pounce on innocent and beautiful girls like you."

    "What the hell!" She looked confused as she stared at me.

    I think I got carried away in my fury, and dropped my hands. "I''m here to protect you, Tam. From those lustful boys," I reasoned.

    "I can''t believe that my father agreed with your stupid proposal!" she hissed. "Anyway, newssh, I don''t need your protection. I am good at protecting myself from humans. And now listen to the most important part I. don''t. Need. You. Around. Me. Capisce?" Saying that she spun on her heels and walked away, swaying her hips like a siren,

    Reasoned

    looking so attractive that it messed my head. If she looked so attractive when angry, how would she-

    I leaned on the wall behind me, taking deep breaths to calm my racing heart. This was our first quarrel. A smile spread on my lips. I was going to remember it forever. It was a great start. I rubbed my hand over my chest asking it to calm down. The fucker wouldn''t.

    Since the herbology ss was next, I rushed after Tam, but before that I walked in the history ss to pick up my bag andptop. The moment I walked in, the ss went silent with everyone''s eyes on me. I snapped my gaze up only to find them looking at me suggestively. Rolling my eyes, I strode out of the ss to be with Tam.

    However, when I arrived there, I was in for the shock of my life.

 Chapter 176

    Joking

    Tamara POV

    It had only been a few minutes since I hade to know that Matt was my mate, and in those few minutes, Angel was prancing inside me like she hadunched a circus. But me¡ªI was furious as hell. If you bottled my fury at the moment, it could charge a bloody thermonuclear nt.

    Matt had ignored me, disliked me, kept me at distance every moment of our lives together. And when I had gone back to my parents, he didn''t bother to meet me? Like hell I would ept him now. I was deeply hurt. I needed a new start, away from his toxicity.

    But this damn mate bond. It was pulling me to him like a ma. My heart was tugging me toward him, and Angel wanted to roll in his scent. Geez, I needed a solid n to keep away from him.

    When I entered the herbology ss, I sat down near a group of boys and girls. The entire row was full and so Matt had to find another seat. This was the n. I would stay away from him as far as possible. With so many students around me, he wouldn''t mess.

    I smiled at the students beside me nervously, and to my astonishment, two boys who were beside me also smiled. "Hey beautiful!" said one of them.

    I collected my mouth before it dropped to the floor. "H-hi!¡± I said nervously.

    "I''m James, and you?"

    Before I could say anything else, the professor entered. I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear and looked forward. But the shock that followed was like a lightning bolt. My professor was none other than Tulip Montana. Oh. My. Goddess. What the hell was happening here? Matt was my student, and Tulip my herbology professor? I gaped at her as our eyes met. She stared at me for a moment with eyes full of disgust. Please goddess, don''t make my life turn from bad to worse. What did I do to you to deserve these two in my life?

    Just as she was about to start, Matt stormed into the ss. He froze in his spot seeing Tulip, his face looking like a wrecking ball crashed through his stomach. Tulip''s lips lifted into a smirk, and she gestured to him to join the ss with a delicate wave of her hand.

    Matt took a deep breath, shook his head, and his eyes searched for me. The moment theynded on me, his lips lifted, but the next moment, he let out a low growl when his eyes went to the boys beside me. He strode toward me, and my belly coiled in tension as to what he would do next.

    Before he could reach me, Tulip said to him, "Hurry up! You can sit in one of the seats in thest row. I have to start with the ss."

    Ignoring herpletely, Matt came to me. He red at James who was sitting next to me. James got so flustered by him, that he collected his books, mumbled something and walked to sit in thest row, while Matt coolly perched beside me on his seat, a grin spreading on his face. Then he sprawled himself, like he owned the ce as he threw one arm behind my seat and threw a smug look at Tulip. Why did it feel like he wanted to make a statement to Tulip? I really needed to know what was going on here.

    A blush rose on my cheeks as I heard giggles from the students. "What are you doing?" I hissed at him as Tulip red at us with her arms crossed across her chest.

    "Sitting beside you," he replied with a smirk. "Saving you from those vultures," he said, jerking his chin toward James. James hardly looked like a vulture. If at all, he looked like a rabbit eating grass.

    I sighed, "Look-"

    "If the little drama is over, should we start with the ss?" Tulip''s voice interrupted

    me.

    A few snorts and giggles followed and I snapped my mouth shut. Tulip, or should I say, Professor Tulip started with the ss. Entire time she was more focused on Matt and me, and less on the subject. Unaware of what he was doing, Matt brushed my shoulder with his fingers, ensuring that for the whole time, jolts of electricity sparked in my body, and also ensuring that Tulip saw this. It was like he was staking a im on me.

    Keep your hands to yourself, I growled at him in a low voice.

    "Hmm? What baby?" he said in a loud voice. "Did you not follow her?"

    Heat rose to my cheeks and I flushed hard. "I did?" I mumbled. But I knew what he was doing. He took strands of my hair and rubbed them between his fingers, often smelling them. My heart raced wildly. I strongly needed to focus on my studies, but all I could feel was Angel dancing inside me, wagging her tail, and purring. I let out a rough breath of exhale. exasperated.

    As soon as the ss was over, Tulip picked in her

    frin-s

    Joking

    "Sorry, I was rudely interruptedst time," he said, chuckling and ncing at Matt. "Jesus, she is beautiful!" his friend eximed. "Did you win some beautypetition, girl?"

    Matt''s expressions darkened. His hands curled into tight fists, and it seemed like steam came out of his ears and nostrils. I ignored him andughed softly. "No, I didn''t."

    Jamesughed too. "So..." He nced at Matt. "Are you guys together?" Whoa! I didn''t know what to say, but I guess this was my chance to make friends. I opened my mouth to say something when Matt interjected with a solemn face, "Yes, we are together. Like very close. We actually grew up together. We stayed together all the time. So yes, we are together and we know each other pretty well. More than you can think of." He got up and leaned forward so that his face was close to both of the boys. In an intimidating voice, he added, ¡°By the way, my name is Matt Erikson, and I''m very good at warding off devils from Tammy. Even if I have to use fancy methods."

    James lifted his eyebrow. "Tammy?" he said, taking a step back. "And what fancy methods are you talking about? Are you threatening us?" He was genuinely intimidated.

    "Stop it, Matt!" I plead, cing my hand on his forearm.

    Matt calmed down immediately. His lips curled up and he straightened. "Well, fancy methods are not needed." He curled his arm around my shoulder. Then in a 180-degree turn, he said, "I''m only joking. Rx."

    It didn''t look like a joke. "Matt!" I snapped.

    He looked at me and winked. "As long as Tammy likes you, I like you."

    James gave me a tight nod. Then along with his friend, he walked out of the ss, muttering, "Nutcase!"

    As soon as they were out, I jerked away from Matt. "Wacko! What the hell do you think you''re doing?"

    "What I should have done all the time," he replied simply.

    1 huffed, picking up my book andptop, and stormed out of the ss. Obviously, Matt followed me. However, I stopped in my tracks when I saw Tulip standing only a few feet away.

    "Matt Erikson," she barked. "I''d like to see you in my office!"

    Matt narrowed his eyes at her, as ugly jealousy rose in my chest.

 Chapter 177

    New Style

    Matt POV

    I was beyond shocked when I saw Tulip as herbology professor. But it took me only a few seconds to realize her intentions. If she thought she was going to stay close to me and be able to arm-twist me into going back to her, then she was in for a rude awakening. My beast growled the moment he sensed her presence near Tam. It was like he wanted to challenge her into a fight, kill her and shred her into pieces. I had to exercise great control over Torben to stop him.

    And then I did what I wanted to do for a long time. I sat right beside Tammy to show Tulip I belonged to my mate. And she could go to hell. Fucking bitch.

    She asked me toe to her office. I wasn''t anticipating that move, but I had to follow her orders because she was my fucking professor. How the hell did she even get here as a prof?

    Tulip strode away from there like a woman on mission. I gritted my teeth and looked at Tam who was watching Tulip. She seemed... flustered? No. My mate bond said otherwise. The look on her face was akin to... jealousy. Veles! My bear preened inside me. ''She wants us, he purred. ''Our mate wants us!''

    I couldn''t help grinning from ear to ear. "If you like I won''t go to meet her," I said to Tam.

    She jerked her head to look at me. "What? Hell no! You can go wherever you like. Not that I care!" Saying that, she turned and stormed off.

    I sighed as I watched her swaying her hips with vengeance as she stormed out of there. We had an hour''s break after which we had the art ss. I wondered what she was drawing these days.

    Tulip''s office was on the second floor of the admin building. It was a small cubicle for which I was thankful. She whipped her head to see me as soon as I opened the door of the office, and continued to watch me until I reached her cube. Narrowing my eyes, I growled, ¡°What do you want?"

    It looked like she was waiting for me. She crossed her legs, rxing on her chair. "You were extremely rude to me in the ss."

    "You can fucking report me," I snapped.

    She chuckled. "No, I am not going to report you, Matt. I havee here to drill sense into stupid that brain of yours." Someone passed by and she smiled at him. Then she lowered her voice. She hissed, "Tamara is too young for you. I am your age and you should ept me. Can''t you see the two of you are just ipatible? She hasn''t seen the world! She doesn''t know anything about your needs. You are an alpha bear, and only I can fulfill your needs. Not Tamara!"

    I wanted to strangle her throat, but then I recalled the treaty between humans and us super-naturals. So I closed my eyes to calm myself. I opened them again only to see her smiling, like I agreed with her. "Professor Tulip, you should know harassing a student for sexual favors is forbidden, illegal. It will not only make you a felon, it will strip your title as a professor forever. So-" I leaned in slightly, my fangs slipping out. "If you ever say Tam''s name from that filthy mouth of yours, I''ll fucking make sure you be a rogue. You will receive punishment beyond imagination!"

    She red at me as her chest rose and fell. "Don''t you fucking intimidate me, Matt. I''ll make your life a living hell. This is not Everme pack where you can order me or threaten me around. This is the human world and we live here by humanws. So watch your back, and if you don''t do what I say, you will find yourself in prison, not me."

    My hands curled into my fists. "Stop dreaming. I will never be yours!" Saying that, I stormed out of the office without sparing a nce to her. Fucking hell. I had to keep a watch on this bitch and also on boys who were attracted to Tammy like moths to me.

    group of boys and girls. Boys mostly.

    It didn''t take me much time to locate her. She was in the cafeteria, surrounded by "Hey, let''s exchange our numbers," James said with a smile, his dimple showing. Tammy was looking anxious, chewing her lower lip. As soon as our eyes met, she visibly rxed. She immediately averted her gaze and lowered it to her tray where she hadn''t touched her food. As I approached her, she grew all the more flustered. i loved how she squirmed in her ce under my intense gaze. A blush dusted her cheeks. It was impossible to stay away from her. So I ced my bag beside her and sat down. Brushing her cheek, I addressed James, "I can give my number." James'' eyes widened when he saw me. "Not necessary!" he sneered.

    "Oh, you can take my number!" Tammy said, much to my irritation. I knew it was only to annoy me. Baby girl, you could do that. I was all in. She gave her number to Jame

    Sessfully unlocked!

    "Are you two dating?" asked a girl who was only appea fluttered her eyshes at me. "We can hook up sometime, you know?" She gave me a suggestive smile..

    , aren''t, I''d be d to have your number." She

    "Hard pass, I replied nonchntly. All others around meughed.

    "You''re too conceited!" she huffed.

    New Style

    "Hey, this weekend we are all going to the Phi-Kappa house party. A new boy, Bradley, has joined the football team. The party is in his honor," a girl interjected. "Join us there!"

    I looked at Tammy who shifted in her ce, feeling ufortable. "I-I can''t," she said, shaking her head.

    "Why not?"

    "Because Bradley is her brother," I filled in.

    "Oh, my God!" several girls shrieked. "Please then you must join, and introduce us to him.''

    Nervous, Tamara looked at me from under hershes, and I felt like cupping her cheeks and kissing her senseless. But I knew the better of it.

    Our next two sses went by smoothly with loads of theory. We returned in the evening back to our dorms. When I came to college, I thought Tam would stay in the same house as Brad, but she chose to stay in a dorm because she didn''t like the invasion of her privacy by the warriors that were there all the time. I respected her choice, and so I also decided to stay in the dorm rather than buying a house for myself.

    I hadn''t met Bradley ever since I came, so I nned on meeting him tonight. However, I couldn''t. Because Tam was in her dorm, and hadn''te out for dinner. I needed to see her, touch her, feel her and inhale her intoxicating scent and most importantly feed her. Moreover, I knew college dorms were not off- limits. Sometimes, boys sneaked in. That made my blood boil. So instead of meeting Brad, I found myself walking toward her dorm. Her room was on the first floor, which made it easy for me to sneak in through her window.

    "What are you doing here?" she drawled, smelling my presence. She was wrapped in a nket. Through the bond I could sense she was sulking.

    I sat at the edge of the bed. "Why are you sulking? Is this your new style?"

    "Can you cut it down?"

    "I''ll do anything for you to cheer up. What do you want?" When she didn''t reply, I couldn''t hold myself any longer. I slid beside her, wrapped my arms over her nket, and spooned her.

    "Heyyy!" she protested. "Let go of me!"

    "Never," I whispered.

    Subscribed

 Chapter 178

    Volleyball

    Tamara POV

    Though I returned to my dorm, I couldn''t help thinking what Matt and Tulip were doing together. I really didn''t want to have a single thought about them, but my mind was flooded with their disturbing images. What if they kissed each other? What if Tulip was seducing him? "Noooo!" I shrilled, much to my confusion.

    Stop resisting Matt'' Angel said. He is our mate''

    No I snapped. He was the one who wanted to stay away from me. I''m only returning the favor."

    Don''t be a fool! Angel growled inside me. I want him. I want to coat myself in Torben''s scent

    Despite what Angel wished for, I wasn''t going to see what he was doing with Tulip. And that''s why I was sulking. I tried to think of everything I could, but my thoughts went back to them. I was so pathetic. All my life, I craved Matt. There was this inexplicable pull I felt for him. Little did I know that I would be his mate. Well, too bad. It waste now.

    My thoughts were interrupted when I heard the window sliding open, and without looking at him, I knew it would be Matt. Hising into my dorm didn''t surprise me, but the way he slid beside me on the bed surprised the hell out of me.

    1 froze. Angel purred. Tingles danced all over my skin. And on top of it, he spooned me. Against my better judgment, my body developed its own mind. I wanted to turn and curl into him, maybe merge myself with him. But no. What the

    hell. I wouldn''t.

    "Let go of me!"

    "Never!" he whispered.

    His words fell on my ears like a balm to my restless soul. Using every ounce of self-control, I scooted away from him. "They called me weirdo because of you!" I snapped.

    He chuckled as he looked at me with his head resting on his palm. "So what? They must have forgotten it by now. Stop caring for such trivial things."

    Gods above. His eyes were so beautiful. Dear goddess, why did you have to make him so beautiful and irresistible? "I care!" I retorted. "I want to make new friends, can''t you understand?" In my heart, I knew that I hade this far away from my pack not to explore the world. My own problem was the main part of my decision. I convinced Bradley that we should explore the human world. Though he was happy to stay in the pack, he apanied me because he was concerned about me. Honestly, I wanted to stay away from the painful memories of Matt rejecting me every time he saw me. But even going to college that far from home I was still-

    "Tammy," Matt''s voice interrupted me. "Why are you worrying about things which others wouldn''t notice or forget fast? You know you''ve got this habit-" He paused as he got up, picked up my pillow and squeezed it in his arms. "You tend to think

    about small insignificant details and peel theiryers one by one. It''s useless. Free yourself."

    "Free myself? I am free!" I retorted. And how did he know about my issue? Did he observe me so finely? "You are the one who has confined me!"

    I was expecting him to be shocked, but what he said shocked me.

    "I''m happy that youmitted that, baby," he said. He shifted toward me and leaned over so close that our breaths mingled. Our lips were merely a few millimeters apart. If I moved, he could kiss me on my lips. And I wanted to move, but my senses were so overwhelmed that my mind was paralyzed, like he had cast some hypnotic spell on me. He added, "And just so we are clear, I''m never going to free you. You''ll always be my prisoner, and I''ll be yours. I''ll prove my determination, but I won''t ask you to prove yours."

    I stared at him, my breathsing out shallow. Then he leaned over a little more and kissed the lobe of my ear. Lightning jolted inside me. I started trembling.

    "I want you to always be happy, Tam. I''m on your side, not against you." He kissed me again, and I closed my eyes because I couldn''t resist this mate bond. "If you''re thinking that I was intimate with Tulip, let me be clear-the only person I have ever loved, and will love until the day I die is you. There''s no one else who cane in my life. Yes, Tulip tried toe near me, but I refused her outrightly."

    I gulped. He confessed that Tulip wanted him. But he was on my side?

    He pulled me in his embrace, wrapping his strong, muscr arms around me possessively over my nket. "You''re so cute!" he chuckled.

    "Get off!" I shouted, pushing against his chest. The sensations that crashed into me were like a tsunami I couldn''t handle. "

    I''m not a child!".

    He let out a boomingughter and moved back to lie down on my bed.

    "What are you doing?" I asked as I got out of the bed. "Get out of my dorm! If anyone sees you, they will report you."

    Volleyball

    "I''m here to take you out for dinner."

    Despite all my resistance, I found myself dressed in a tank top and a pair of shorts with sneakers, walking with him to the nearest cafe which was open at this time. The appetite 1 had lost only a few hours ago, came back with vengeance. I ate greedily until my stomach could take no more. And Matt-he watched me eating like this was his favorite sight. Once we had dinner, he took me back to my dorm. I was about to say goodbye to him when a message came on my phone. It was from my beachball coach

    Sorry Tamara, you aren''t in the beachball team anymore. Your position was filled by another student who had better credentials. But, there''s a ce on the volleyball team. You can join there.

    "What the hell!" I rasped. "How can they do this to me?"

    "What happened?" Matt asked as he took my phone and read the message. "This

    is absurd!" he growled.

    "I don''t know how to y volleyball!"

    He narrowed his eyes, gritting his teeth. I shook my head. "If I decline this, it

    would be such a shame."

    "It''s like beachball," Matt said. "Don''t worry," he said and left.

    I went inside my dorm, sulking again. What was wrong with me? I flopped on the bed with my sneakers, and curled into a fetal position. Why was my heart feeling... empty? "Volleyball. Think about volleyball!" However, I couldn''t. I closed my eyes and went off to sleep. At night, I felt something warm and huge and furry. I clutched onto it, snuggled in the fur, and drifted off into a dreamless slumber. The best I had in all my life. When I woke up, I heard water flowing in my bathroom. Scared, I jumped out of the bed and was ready to attack when the familiar smell of warm honey and ginger assaulted my nostrils. "Matt, what the hell are you doing here?" I shrieked.

    The water stopped. "Taking a bath, baby. Join me." He opened the shower and continued taking a bath. "Last night, you were curled into me."

    "What! Never!" I shouted. Really? I did feel like... Damn! He was in my bedst night. How dare he? Wearing my sneakers, I stormed out of my dorm. "Volleyball! Volleyball!" I muttered as I headed toward our house to meet Bradley.

    Subscribed

    1 Likes

 Chapter 179

    Piece of Art

    Auren POV

    Brad was sleeping, but the warriors were all sprawled everywhere. Somehow, two even followed me out of nowhere. I knew they were all lurking around my dorm, and none dared to confront Matt because father had already approved of him. "Bradddd!" I pounded his door, but the wolf was fast asleep. Even an earthquake wouldn''t be able to wake him up. "He came backte today," a warrior, Tate, informed me. "He is very tired."

    I gritted my teeth. "Do you guys have any breakfast ready?"

    "Of course," Tate smiled. "The omegas have prepared a delicious meal for all of us."

    I sighed. Dad had to send the omegas to make breakfast for all of them? When I entered the kitchen, I found two omegas working tirelessly for a dozen people.

    "Lady Tamara!" one of them grinned as she bowed to me. "It''s so nice to see you."

    "I''m starving!" I replied. Seriously, something has been going wrong with me since yesterday. I felt like eating and eating

    more.

    They quickly arranged tes of sd, cereal, roasted chicken, mashed potatoes, milk, honey, and pastries. I think I had all of them, and headed toward the room where Brad kept his sports equipment. I fished out his ser ball and came out where the warriors were training. "I have to practice volleyball," I said. "If any of you can help me learn it, I''ll be grateful."

    Three of them eagerly came over. "Of course! We can help you."

    "I don''t know much about it though," I confessed. "I just want to know enough so that I can add value to the team." Two warriors stood in front of me, while one of them was with me. We started ying. Everything was going well when all of a sudden from the periphery of my vision, I saw Matting. He red at my two opponents and stood with his arms crossed across his chest, watching us like a hawk.

    "Are you ready?" said one of them and shot the ball toward me.

    With my attention diverted, I didn''t take the shot, and the ball hit me on my face. Before I knew it, Matt was onto that warrior. He kicked him hard on his butt. "What the fuck do you think you are doing to Tammy?" he shouted as he grabbed cors of the two warriors. "Are you trying to kill her? You can''t hit the ball so hard." He threw them both on the ground and kicked them harder. "The ball has to be thrown softly! If she gets injured, I will fucking throttle you both!"

    "Matttt!" I shouted.

    He picked up the two harried warriors easily, and crashed them together. They groaned as they fell back on the ground." She is a delicate flower, and you are treating her like she is a hardened criminal. Who the fuck even ys like that with flowers? You want her to wilt before she blooms?"

    "Wilt? Bloom?" The warriors groaned as they trembled in front of him.

    "I''m going to get my bears here. You wolves don''t know how to treat your princess!¡± He started kicking them.

    "Enough Matt!" I literally shrieked.

    Matt froze. He stopped kicking and after a moment of calming down he turned to look at me. "They hit you Tammy," he said in a low voice.

    How could I tell him that he diverted my attention? "Matt, I need to better myself in this game if I have any chance. If you keeping in between, I will never be able to master it! So stand at the side."

    "You should y with your teammates."

    "And be ridiculed? No thanks. First, I have to practice." I looked at the two wolves. ¡°Come on, we''ll y again." The warriors got up, groaning, wary of Matt, all bruised up, but they stood opposite me. We began ying. I was frustrated by the number of missed shots, but every time I took a shot, it went well. However, the ball hit my face again, and Matt being Matt! He kicked the warriors again. "Careful with her!" he growled. "If I see you hitting her again with that fucking ball, I will turn you both into a ball and send your sorry assess back to Shadowfang."

    Geez. "I think it''s time we head to college."

    The two warriors were helped by others to go back inside.

    The first ss was that of art. I hated art.

    Sessfully unlocked!

    Okay, that''s not true. I loved it, mostly because i gave me a chance to see something that spoke to me. When I reached the ss two hourster with Matt on my side, Professor Rivers was in the middle of announcing today''s exercise.

    "Alright ss! Today, we have a special treat!" she pped her hands excited, ncing at us. "We are going to work with a live model, and I''m pleased to say that one of our very own will be stepping up to the task." Her eyes flickered toward Matt,

    Piece of Art

    and a wicked smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

    Matt swallowed, looking puzzled. "Wait, what?"

    "You," she said, pointing directly at him. "Come on up, Matt. You''re going to be our model today."

    I couldn''t help but roll my eyes. Of course, he would be chosen. He had that perfect, chiseled body that everyone fawned over. The guys and girls in the ss couldn''t hide their excitement.

    "He''s a piece of art," someonemented.

    Matt scratched the back of his head, looking smug. He nced at me, smirked and moved across the room to stand in front of us all.

    I walked to my ce, anger bubbling inside me. Clenching my jaw, I took out my sketchbook and charcoal pencil. "Let''s get started, shall we?" Professor Rivers said. "Matt, go ahead and take a seat on the tform, and we will begin." As Matt took the seat with a smirk on his lips, and gaze fixed on me, I couldn''t help listening to the girls and boys who whispered about how they could lick him if he took his clothes off. Though it was silly, a part of me hated how every girl''s eyes followed him.

    "Take off your shirt!" Professor Rivers said. When he took it off, my breath hitched and half the ss gasped. "Alright," Rivers said in a low, husky voice, taking a deep breath in. "Everyone, I want you to focus on the angles of Matt''s body. Try to capture the movement, the strength."

    I furiously started sketching him in my book, but my gaze kept drifting to him. When our gazes met the shameless bear-he flexed his arms, his muscles rippling under the light as he shifted lightly. My throat went dry seeing his beautifully carved abs. Hair dusted in the middle of his chest, disappearing in a thin line under his cks. The pull I felt toward him-I hated it. The girls in the ss giggled and whispered as they stared at him like he was Adonis. They were all too busy fawning over him as they drew angles of his body.

    I clenched my jaw, sketching furiously, but I couldn''t. I swallowed and stole a nce at him. He was only looking at me. The moment our gazes met he smirked. And I swear, the entire room disappeared. He didn''t say anything, but there was this silent exchange between us. His eyes darkened in a way that made my heart skip. The bastard knew exactly what he was doing, making sure I was looking at him, making sure he had my rapt attention.

 Chapter 180

    An Idea

    Tamara POV

    With my breath lodged in my throat, I dropped my gaze to my sketchpad. I remembered every angle of his body, having known him for so long. But over thest ten years, Matt had grown into a beautiful, muscr beast with every muscle crafted perfectly.

    As I sketched, heat built in my chest. There was an electric tension between us whenever I looked at him. My traitorous body wanted to touch him so badly, that I stifled a whimper, clenching my thighs. I think I wet my panties.

    His nostrils red and his expressions darkened. My eyes dropped to his pants where I saw a bulge forming. My lips parted in a rough exhale as I found myself craving to touch him. And then, just as u thought I was about to break, I heard a voice I hadn''t expected.

    "Matt"

    I froze, snapping my head. Tulip stood at the doorway with her eyes zeroed in on Matt.

    Matt''s reaction was immediate. He stood straighter, his smile gone as he was taken aback by her presence.

    Tulip''s presence shattered the moment between us. I took a deep breath in, wanting to remove the feeling of chest tightening.

    "Professor Tulip," Matt said in a guarded voice.

    Tulip stared at his body for far too long, and I couldn''t help but get burned in this uncalled-for jealousy. Her gaze flickered to me and a faint smirk curled her lips. She walked past the students, walked past me like I wasn''t even there as she headed straight for Matt. She went to stand in front of him almost possessively. Matt clenched his jaw and wore his shirt.

    "How may I help you, Professor?" he asked, his voice barely restraining his anger.

    It hurt so much to see them together, that I looked down at my sketch of Matt. It was a mess. I couldn''t finish it. The energy was gone. The connection that had been there was now broken, reced by something cold and bitter. Tulip had ruined it. But again, it wasn''t like I wanted to be with Matt. I reminded myself of the whole n of my life. To be normal, and seek new love. Or maybe not.

    Professor Rivers'' voice broke through the air. "How can I help you, Professor Tulip?" she asked with hesitation.

    With a knowing smile, Tulip looked at Matt, and then turned to Rivers. "Matt is also my student, Professor Rivers, and I have to talk about something very important to him."

    Rivers looked flustered. She nodded reluctantly. "Matt, you can talk to her but please take this conversation out." Then she turned her eyes to Tulip. "But I don''t like this interruption, Professor Tulip. My ss hours are limited."

    "I''m sorry, Professor Rivers," she replied. "I''ll be careful next time."

    I watched them leave. Matt nced at me, giving me a look that said that he would be back in a minute. Not that I cared.

    As soon as they walked out, I couldn''t help but focus on their conversation with my hypersensitive ears even as Professor Rivers talked about the theory.

    "Matt, there''s something important I need to talk to you about," Tulip said. "It''s something that can''t be avoided and you have toe to my office."

    Matt''s irritation red up. He lowered his voice, and muttered, "I don''t have time for your games. So what is it, Professor Tulip?" He emphasized the word professor.

    Her voice hardened. "It''s regarding your project for Herbology. You missed yourst assignment, and you know the Dean''s rule. Two strikes and you are out. If you don''te to my office to discuss it, I''ll have to report you."

    My stomach sank. Matt had missed his assignment? A failed report could cost him much more than just grades. He could lose his seat in the college.

    "Fine," he snapped, his voice low. "I''lle!"

    Tulip giggled. "See you after this ss, Matt. I have a lot to discuss with you. Make sure you are free for at least two hours." "But I have the history ss next!" he hissed.

    "I don''t care," she replied. "Be there!" With that she turned and walked down the corridor, her heels clicking on the floor. Why did it feel like she was harassing him? Or was I overthinking?

    When Matt returned, he resumed his position as the model. However, I felt the weight of the tension in the air. Finally, the ss was over after an unbearable fifteen minutes in which I couldn''t help thinking about Tulip and how she forced Matt to meet her in an hour. It felt like the world had paused. My hands shook out of anger as I packed my things. But I knew that the emotions storming inside me weren''t real. They were there because of the bloody mate bond. I felt so suffocated that I needed to breathe. I grabbed my things and walked quickly toward the door, feeling Matt''s burning gaze on me.

    An Idea

    "Tammy!" he shouted as he came after me.

    I picked up my pace, frustration boiling in my chest.

    "Tamara, wait!" His voice reached me, but I didn''t slow down. I had to get away from him, from everything.

    He caught up with me. "Tammy, what happened, baby?" he asked, grabbing my upper arm.

    "Nothing!" I snapped, and jerked away. "You should go to Professor Tulip!" Saying that I just ran away from there, hating that those words harmed me more than him. I really had to reject him before my world turned upside down.

    I skipped the history ss and went to the cafeteria instead, feeling the sharp stirfg of tears that I refused to let fall. I pulled out my phone, calling Bradley. "Hey!" he eximed.

    "I''m at the cafeteria. Can youe?"

    There was a small pause. "I have a better idea. Come to the woods behind the economics building. That ce is secluded." He understood me more than anyone else. I was sure he sensed my gloom.

    I was there in minutes, and when I saw him approaching, I felt better instantly. He saw my face and stopped dead in his tracks, his brow furrowing. "What''s wrong?" he asked with concern.

    "It''s nothing..." I muttered. "I just wanted to see you."

    "Come on, Tam," he said, sitting next to me on the fallen log. "You look like you''ve lost everything."

    I clenched my jaw, wondering whether to tell him or not. I closed my eyes. "It''s Tulip," I whispered. "She''s our professor for herbology."

    Bradley''s eyes widened in surprise. "What the fuck? Tulip Montana?"

    I nodded slowly. I further exined to him as to what happened, and he was stunned. ¡°She''s a fucking maniptive bitch!"

    I swallowed. "What do I do?" I wanted to help Matt, but not because he was my mate. Because he was my friend. That''s all. Nothing more than that. I was only trying to do my duty here.

    "I have an idea," Brad said with a twinkle in his eyes.

 Chapter 181

    Ashroot

    Ashroot

    Tamara POV

    Brad didn''t say much, but from the look in his eyes, I knew that he had a n. I hoped it wasn''t mischievous. I dreaded his ns often. Since I was too exhausted mentally and emotionally, I followed him as he led me towards Tulip''s office.

    "Where the hell do you think you''re going?" I said, my mind swirling with frustration as I stopped in tracks.

    "You know very well," he replied, grabbed my wrist, and pulled me. "And stop sulking You look like a moron?"

    "You''re a moron!" I snapped.

    "Oh, please!" he waggled his eyebrows. "Between the two of us, I''m the smarter one."

    "Can I hit you?" I hissed.

    He just dragged me all the way to the admin building.

    "It will look so fucking crazy and desperate," I said, feeling this tight knot of anger and confusion building inside me. "And what if-" I swallowed. "-th-they are doing something with consent?" Goddess, the words I spat felt like they would burn my tongue. I so wanted to get over this nonsense. Yes. Once this was over, I was going to reject Matt. I just couldn''t handle this emotional turmoil anymore.

    "Shut up!" Brad snapped back at me. "From all that you just narrated to me, it seems like Tulip is harassing him. So even if you''re not with me, I''ll fucking go and save Matt. I know he is your mate, and that is all the more of a reason for me to save him."

    ¡°I''m going to reject him soon,¡± I muttered under my breath.

    "The hell you will!" Brad growled.

    We reached Tulip''s office cubicle only to see that she wasn''t there. My stomach twisted. Brad enquired about her, but he didn''t have to. He sniffed her smell and followed it. In the next ten minutes, we found ourselves standing in front of a room, which was at the end of the third floor''s corridor. He leaned over to me and whispered.

    "What?" I whisper-shouted.

    "Just go, okay?" he whisper-growled.

    I clenched my fists. "No violence! Don''t do anything rash."

    "There won''t be." Saying that, he knocked on her door.

    I turned and quickly walked away, muttering, "You''ve got to be kidding me!" Tulip POV

    It would have been stupid of me to take advantage of him in my cubicle, so I asked one of my colleagues to spare a room for me to talk to a student who was about to fail his assignment. He gave me the space easily.

    "I missed you so badly," I said when Matt came over. Leaning back in the chair, I couldn''t help remembering his beautiful body. Oh, how I missed him? When I was with him after engagement, I used to go to Harrison all the time. He hadn''t rejected me, and pined for me. Well, it was good for me because Matt refused to have sex with me, always saying that he would rather wait for it after our marriage. I satiated my needs with him, and Harrison- he gave me the best sex of my life.

    I suspected that he waited for Tamara to be his mate, and I did everything to seduce him, but the bastard was just too fucking adamant.

    Now I had the perfect opportunity for my revenge against that bitch. I would force him to fuck me or else I''d fail him. I would make sure that Tamara suffered the most.

    It was so difficult to be a professor of herbology in this college, but I managed by sleeping my way here. But I also had a good academic record. That helped. "What do you want, Tulip?" Matt shouted the moment he entered the office. "Close the door behind you," I said with a smirk. "Lock it."

    "I won''t lock it!" he growled. "As for the assignment, I''ll submit it by night. If there''s nothing else, I''d like to leave. And don''t you fuckinge over to my ss again and threaten me like that."

    I was expecting that outburst from him. So I leaned forward, hooked my finger and gestured to him toe to me. "Let''s deal quietly with this, Matt," I said in a sweet voice. "I know that you''re angry, but anger won''t lead you anywhere. If you dare to cross me, you will have to bear the repercussions. I''ll make sure that you are expelled from the college. And then-" i leaned back and grinned. "No Tamara for you. So you either do what I ask you to, or get out. What do you choose?"

    "I won''t be intimidated by you!" he growled again.

    I sighed and pulled out my phone. "I''m filing a report against you, which I''ve already typed. It says that you have failed to

    Ashroot

    submit the report, threatened me with dire consequences and is least bothered about the sses. You are a danger to the students, and the main reason being. I lifted my eyes to him "Tamara"

    "You"

    I chuckled, shaking my head. "Nowe here, like a cute little bear. I just want to teach you herbology Nothing else." I pointed at the chair opposite to me. "Sit down and rx. It''s not like I''m raping you." Veles. However, I''ll allow you to do that to me, if you behave like a good little fuck boy for me."

    His chest rose and fell as his bear tried to force out of him in defiance.

    Iughed. "Would you risk Tam''s future?"

    Matt clenched his jaw. He narrowed his eyes and walked to the chair where he sat with vengeance Good I got up, circled the desk and came to stand in front of him. "Take off your shirt."

    "Why?" he asked, bewildered.

    "Because I will teach you where various herbs act on each part of your body."

    "You''re insane!"

    "Take it off, now!" I insisted. "For Tamara." Veles, how I wished that bitch to be here and see me with Matt like this. She was a little child in front of me. A fly I would throw out of my life soon enough. She was going to reject Matt, and I would

    ensure

    that.

    Matt swallowed and took off his shirt. I let out a deep sigh as I clenched my thighs, sure he had smelled my arousal. 1 brushed my fingers over his shoulder, his corbone and his neck. He flinched under my touch.

    "Don''t touch me!" he pped my hand away.

    I walked behind him. ¡°Let''s talk about Ashroot. If used in apress, it can-" I took my fingers to touch his columnar neck. *-cause temporary stiffness and extreme fatigue in humans, werewolves and bears." He leaned away from me, but I leaned with him. When my lips hovered over his ear, I said, "Do you know what it looks like?" His scent was doing crazy things to me. I parted my lips to lick his skin, when all of a sudden there was a knock on the door. My eyes widened in fear. Before I could step away from Matt, the door opened and Bradley walked in.

 Chapter 182

    Hrious

    Tamara POV

    "Dean Smith," I gasped, as I tried to catch my breath. "Professor Tulip-

    I had rushed past his secretary, who tried to stop me, to enter his room. Dean Smith was sitting behind a huge mahogany desk, reading a document. He jerked his head up, his brow furrowing. I licked my lips as every thought inside my mind vanished. What the hell was I doing?

    ''You''re doing it for Matt, Angel growled inside me. ''He is our mate. Say it!

    ''No, I will be rejecting him.''

    ''Don''t say that,'' Angel whined.

    "What is it?" Dean Smith asked, clearly angry with the way I stormed in his office unannounced.

    His secretary opened the door behind me. "I''m so sorry, Dean," she said. "She just barged in! I tried to stop her."

    Dean Smith lowered the document. He stared at me, with narrowed his eyes, his bald head shining in the light. "What is it about?" he asked, the crinkles around his eyes bing prominent.

    I swallowed. "Professor Tulip is in dire emergency. I¨CI think she is having a s- seizure. She was teaching herbology to Matt Erikson because he had missed an assignment."

    Dean paled, his weathered face looking older. He got up from his chair. "Where is she?" he asked as circled the desk and

    came to stand near me.

    "On the third floor."

    With long strides, he covered the distance to the door,manding, "Come on, girl! Show me where she is." Then he turned to his secretary. "Call the medical team immediately!"

    Internally, I flinched. This was the biggest lie I''d ever spoken and I swear I was going to give Brad a boot on his head if things went down. The secretary nodded, looking like she had seen a ghost, and went on to inform the medical team of the campus. I rushed out of Dean''s room, toward the elevator. We reached the room where Tulip with my fingers crossed, If this went down, I was going to be suspended.

    I let out a silent prayer to the moon goddess. Goddess, save me this time. I will be very docile, sweet, and keep my head low. Not only that, I would offer you flowers every day.

    Dean Smith didn''t bother knocking the door. He simply barged in, and stopped dead in his tracks as he stared at what was happening. I collided with him and he stumbled a bit.

    "What the fuck are you doing?" he shouted. But at whom?

    I peeked from his side, my heart beating wildly. My eyes widened in shock when I saw what was happening. Bradly was sitting on the chair, shirtless, in his boxers, as Tulip hands were on his neck and back. He was blushing heavily. His clothes were lying in a heap near him. Matt was standing in front of them without his shirt, looking amused.

    Bradley whimpered, "Help me..."

    I wanted to bleach my eyes, my mind and everything in between.

    Tulip whipped her head to look at us. Blood drained from her face and she practically jumped back from Brad, like she had touched burning rock. ¡°D-Dean Smith!" she whimpered as she nced at me.

    From the looks of it, it seemed like a professor was inappropriately touching Bradley, who was her student, and that too when he was bare. This was horrible. Like sexual harassment horrible. I had to bite my lower lip to stop smiling or bursting intoughter.

    Dean Smith clenched his fists on his sides. "How dare you do that to a student?" he shouted, his spit flying everywhere.

    "I didn''t do anything!" Tulip cried as she darted her gaze between all of us. "I-I was just teaching herbology to Matt. H-he has skipped his a-assignment."

    "That''s what I heard too!" Smith barked. "And you had to teach him behind closed doors, and that too without his clothes

    on?"

    Tulip gulped, looking like she would faint now. "Th-this is not Matt," she stuttered. But Dean Smith was mad. His face turned red. "Come to my office immediately, Miss Montana!" Saying that he pivoted and strode toward the door. However, he turned to look at me and said in a low voice, "I''m sorry. Report to my office in an hour. He red at Tulip, who was now fumbling with her books and purse, and walked out of the room. Just then the medical team arrived. Great. More witnesses. They blinked their eyes at the scene unfolding in front of them. "Sorry, false rm," Dean grunted and walked past them. The medical team muttered something amongst them and hurried away.

    Tulip was so flustered that she dropped her books. None of us went to help her. She picked up her books. Watching Brad

    Hrious

    picking up his clothes. As she ran after the Dean, she threw a hateful gaze at me, which said this isn''t over i shougged and she huffed as she exited the room.

    The moment she was gone, Matt burst outughing. Brad threw his shirt at him as he wore hes clothes with a gen. "Yoga such a deadly fucker Matt said, his shoulders rolling withughter "Of, Velev I''ve never seen something as hitaron a this." He wore his shirt and shook his head.

    "Eww Brad," I muttered. "How did you manage to pull that stint?" I walked to him to collect his bag as Mart also collected his bag and books.

    Brad grinned as he put his arm around my shoulder. "It was simple" he said. When I came in, Tulip was on the backtoo already. She asked what I was doing here. To which I replied that I wanted to speak with Matt urgently She said that I had to wait outside, but I was adamant. And then I pulled Matt out of the chair, took my clothes off, much to her shock, and sat on the chair. I told her that she can use me as a model for exining the effect of poisonous herbs as Matt watched"

    "But that was a gamble! I chided him. "What if the Dean hadn''t?

    "Well, we were prepared for that too, Brad said as he guided me out of the room with Matt following us. I nced at Mart, and he looked... rxed. Like a weight had lifted from his shoulders. And somehow that made me happy. He watched the two of us with adoration in his eyes.

    "Tulip won''t stop," I grumbled. "She will definitely retaliate."

    "We know," Brad said. "We are not stupid to think that she will stay quiet after today''s incident. But how did you manage to get the Dean here?¡±

    After Brad asked me to call Dean and somehow convince him to get here, I had thought of a thousand excuses. I doled out the most convincing. "I told him that Tulip was having a seizure." But now I was sure that I would be scolded for speaking lies. Would he expel me from the college? Just thinking that made me

    nervous.

    Matt came in front of me suddenly. He took both our bags and said, "Stop worrying. Nothing will happen. Dean saw what we wanted him to see."

    But his assurance didn''t stop me from worrying. An hourter the three of us stood in front of Dean Smith in his office

 Chapter 183

    . When daddy trained us as a warrior, he taught us how important it is to deceive your opponent if necessary. Nothing is ck in and white in this world. There are shades of gray where you would tread one day. The intelligence lied in your tact.

    It was impossible for me to eat food even as Bradley had his chicken burger carelessly. "You worry too much," he said, stuffing his mouth with another bite. "Eat something. And if you won''t, give your steak to me." He extended his hand toward my te, but Matt squatted his hand away.

    "Let her eat it," he growled at Brad. ¡°She is hungry."

    I huffed. "I''m not hungry," I said, passing the te to Brad. My brother happily ate it all. However, Matt didn''t touch his te either. He was sitting beside me and his eyes were fixed on me. His hand was draped over the back of my chair. I turned to him, crossing my arms across his chest. "It''s all your fault that we are in so much trouble!" I just couldn''t help thinking if Tulip touched him or not. Anger simmered inside me all the more at the mere thought.

    "My fault?" he said, raising his eyebrow.

    "Yes, you should have submitted your assignment in time."

    He lowered his head. "I should have submitted my assignment in time, but you

    can''t me me."

    "What do you

    mean?" I hissed.

    "I mean¡ª¡± He looked into my eyes in a way that made my knees wobbly. Goddess, this mate bond was creating havoc inside me. He took a deep breath and brushed his finger on my back. Jolts of lightning sparked across my spine. "My attention was diverted by someone."

    "Get a room!" Bradley scowled.

    But I didn''t- couldn''t pay attention to him, captivated by the dark eyes of a certain bear.

    Matt continued, "Why didn''t you have dinnerst night? If you had your dinner, I wouldn''t have to feed you, and would havepleted my assignment."

    "Oh, so this is also my fault? I never asked you toe and feed me."

    He smirked. "You were sulking. That was my trigger."

    I clenched my jaw. "You are only making excuses, Matt!"

    He chuckled. "I''m not, baby. I was so focused on you that I couldn''t do anything else."

    "Goddess above!" Bradley hissed. "I''ll fucking puke if you continue with this convo!" His phone buzzed. "Oh, we are being summoned!" he said, stuffing the remaining burger in his mouth.

    In less than ten minutes, we were standing in front of the Dean. Tulip wasn''t there. But there was one more professor sitting with him. The Dean looked at the three of us. Then he pinched the bridge of his nose and shook his head. "Look, this is really bad. I fully understand the way Miss Tamara manipted me into going to see what Professor Tulip was doing. I can expel you for lying to me," he warned. Ground shook beneath my feet and I felt dizzy. "But," the Dean continued. "I won''t be doing any such thing. The crux of the matter is that even though you lied to me, you wanted to expose Professor Tulip. What she did was unimaginable." He paused for a while as he nced at the professor next to him, who nodded as if encouraging him to continue.

    "I''m sorry, Dean Smith," I murmured.

    "No, I understand you, Miss Tamara. You saved your brother, and you also saved Matt. This was necessary and I don''t hold you responsible for your behavior. You only protected your brother and your friend. However, make sure that doesn''t repeat. I''ll punish you for speaking lies next time."

    "Sorry," I muttered.

    "What about Professor Tulip?" Matt asked, his jaw clenching.

    "That... Well, we request you to stay quiet until we find another professor for herbology. Until then, she will continue to teach you. We''ve given her a strict warning about it."

    "You should suspend her job," Matt said through gritted teeth.

    The Dean raised his eyebrow. "Don''t teach me what to do, Mr. Matt Erikson! Now get out before I take back my decision."

    I touched Matt''s hand as he opened his mouth to retaliate. But the moment I touched him, he snapped his mouth shut. The three of us came out. The moment we were out of the building, I breathed a sigh of relief. "That was close!" I rasped.

    "He should have thrown her out!" Matt responded. "Then I would have taken a strict action against her."

    "You can take action against her now as well," Brad suggested.

    "Yeah!" he growled. "I''ve asked Seth to release an official statement that Tulip Montana doesn''t belong to my pack now. Not only that, I''ve asked my father not to take her in."

    "That''s harsh." Brad said, not meaning it.

    The weight of the incident was heavy on us. While Brad left for his math ss, we both went to the psychology ss. However, it was after the ss when two girls approached us.

    "Hey, are you on the beachball team? We are practicing. Do you think you can join us?" said one of them.

    "Umm... I was shifted to volleyball," I replied.

    "How is that possible?" said the other one. "I saw your name in the list this morning."

    My eyes widened in surprise. "But the coach messaged me that I was shifted to the volleyball team."

    "That''s crazy," she said.

    As soon as they left, I said, "I saw the schedule for my practice. It''s in fifteen minutes."

    "Wait, so are you going there? Like now?" Matt asked.

    "Of course!" Saying that I rushed to the volleyball court that was another fifteen minute walk.

    "What about me?" Matt said.

    "You can go back to your dorm and finish the assignment," I deadpanned, Matt scratched his head sheepishly. I made him turn and pushed him. "Go!"

    The volleyball court was buzzing with activity. The coach and students were talking excitedly about some uing match. I approached the coach. "Hi, I''m

    Tamara Vaslof!" I said excitedly as I nced at the girls in the team.

    The coach furrowed his brow. "So?" he shrugged. "Why are you here?"

    Taken aback by his reaction, I said, "I got a message from the coach of the beachball team that I was supposed to join the volleyball team."

    He jerked his head back. "What nonsense? Howe I don''t know what changes are happening in my team?" He looked at the chart in his hand and read the names. "There''s no Tamara Vaslof here."

    My mouth dropped. "How''s that possible?" I said, bewildered. I pulled out my phone and showed him the message from the coach. "I received this two days ago."

    He frowned as he read the message. "Are you sure this isn''t a prank? Because if this is, I''ll make sure you don''t y any games on this campus!"

    Dread washed over me. Why were so many things happening in one day? "Y-you may verify it from her," I said. All the other girls looked my way, like they were hoping for some kind of drama.

    "Of course, I will," he said and took his phone out. He walked away from me and talked to the beachball coach. He muttered words into

    the phone, nodded, and then disconnected the call. "You aren''t in the volleyball team, Tamara Vaslof. In fact, your coach is angry with you for not showing up for practice for two days. And this message-she didn''t send it! Is this a ploy toe to this team or to taint a good woman?"

    My mouth dropped. "N-no," I muttered. "Why would I do that? I acted upon this message."

    "Stop wasting my time!" he shouted. "Go to your practice!"

    What the hell just happened?

 Chapter 184

    Tamara POV

    Confused, I hurried over to the beachball practice area. The beachball practice area was set in a spacious park, just a short walk from the main campus. It was an open, t patch of grass near the edge of a sandy field. The ground was smooth enough to keep the ball bouncing steadily, but there were a few patches of uneven terrain. Arge stretched across the field, marking the boundaries of the practice area. Laughter of the team as they tossed the ball back and forth sounded as I neared them.

    On one side, a few benches lined up where some of the team members gathered. Some of them sprawled out on the grass, chatting idly, while others stayed focused on warming up or stretching.

    Coach Dana stood in the center, her arms crossed tightly across her chest. As soon as she saw me, her expression hardened. "Tamara Vaslof?"

    I nodded. "Y-yes. Good afternoon."

    "You''rete," she snapped, ring at me. "Do you have an exnation for that?"

    I swallowed, pulling out my phone and showing her the message from the coach. "I received this two days ago from you. I thought it was real," I stammered, my hands shaking as I handed her the phone.

    She read the message, and her frown deepened. "This isn''t from me," she said tly, throwing the phone back into my hands. "Who did this? Why would you try to mess with the team like this?"

    I froze, not knowing what to say. "I-I didn''t¡ª"

    She cut me off, her voice cold and sharp. "I don''t want to hear it. You think this is some sort of game? You think you can just waltz in here and make a joke out of the team? You''re wasting my time, Tamara."

    Tears stung my eyes, but I fought them back. "If you haven''t sent me the message, then who sent it from your number Coach Dana?"

    "How am I supposed to know?" she said, getting impatient.

    Dread ran down my spine. The thing was turning mysterious by the minute. But one thing was there someone was messing with me big time. And I had to find out who that was.

    "Get in line, and don''t ever do something like this again," Coach Dana grunted. "Do you know I can report you for using me wrongly?"

    I walked over to the side of the court, joining the other girls. They looked at me with judgment in their eyes. A couple of them whispered to each other, and I could hear the snickers. "She''s such a mess. She is using the coach of such a huge issue," one of them muttered. I tried to ignore them, but it felt like the world was closing in on me.

    The practice dragged on, and every time I missed a pass or messed up, I could feel their eyes on me. They weren''t kind eyes. They weren''t the eyes of teammates. They were the eyes of people who thought I didn''t belong. And maybe they were right. I so wanted to get out of this ce.

    I fumbled with the ball again, my hands slick with sweat. I could feel my face turning red, and I tried to shake off the embarrassment, but it stuck to me like a second skin. ¡°Come on, Tamara," one of the girls muttered, "Try to keep up."

    I wanted to scream on them, but instead, I just focused on the ball, pretending I wasn''t hearing them. My mind was spinning. Everything was going wrong today. First the situation with Tulip and Matt, then the message, then the way the coach had looked at me, like I was some kind of failure.

    After practice ended, I grabbed my things and rushed out of the park. I needed to talk to someone, figure out what was going on. But ! wasn''t sure who to turn to. The idea of facing the coach again made my stomach churn.

    I made my way to the admin block, hoping to get some answers. When I arrived, I was directed to the office for the athletic director. The office was clean, sterile-too cold exining a lot about the person who sat here. I knocked on the door and waited for permission to

    enter.

    "Come in," a shrill voice sounded.

    When I opened the door, the director, a woman with short gray hair, nced up at me. "Can I help you?"

    ¡°1-1 hesitated, unsure of how to even begin. However, mustering up the courage, I told her my issue. Then I requested her, "I wanted to ask if I could switch from the beachball team to the basketball team. I''ve had some trouble with practicetely, and I think basketball might be a better fit for me."

    She raised an eyebrow, her expression unreadable. "We don''t usually allow mid- season switches. You''ve alreadymitted to beachball. You need to see this through, Tamara."

    I felt my heart sink. "But I had applied for basketball in my college application form."

    The director frowned. She went to herputer, asked me for details and checked my particrs. Taking a deep breath she looked at me with a touch of sympathy. "I understand your frustration, but you signed up for beachball. It''s clearly written here. If you want to try basketball next season, we can discuss that. But for now, you need to stay with yourmitments."

    I left the office in a daze, my frustration bubbling over. Nothing was going right. I was lost in a world of confusion, and it felt like no one could help me find my way. I needed to talk to Brad. Or Matt? No, not Matt.

    By the time I got back to my dorm, I was furious. Furious at the coach, at the other girls, at myself and furious at Matt for God knew why. "Why is this happening?" I muttered to myself, mming my door behind me. I walked to my desk and sat down, trying to focus on my assignments. But even as I did the work, my mind kept wandering back to Matt, to Tulip, to Coach Dana and the events of the day. It felt like I was chasing shadows, trying to hold onto the short end of the stick. And

    on top of that, I couldn''t stop thinking about Matt. The way he looked at me, the way he seemed so distant. "Why does he treat me like that?" I asked aloud. My heart ached, but I didn''t know why. Was it because of the bond we shared? Or because he''d been avoiding me for the past few years? Either way, I couldn''t seem to shake the feeling that something was missing.

    ''He is our mate, Angel sighed in my mind. ''It''s impossible to resist him.''

    ''No, I will reject him soon. In fact I will reject him tonight!''

    ''No, Tam, no. Please...'' she whined. ''Give him a chance.''

    ''I am in this constant turmoil because of him!''

    I finished my assignments as quickly as I could, but my mind still wasn''t at ease. I nced at the clock. It was almost time for dinner. Just as I was about to leave, a knock came at my door.

    *Tamara?"

    I froze. Matt. I wasn''t expecting him. He was suddenly standing at my door. Well, good. The moment I see him, I would reject him. I strode to the door with a mission in my mind and opened it rather furiously. "Matt Erikson!" I growled, staring into his eyes, and then every word that was in my mind, vanished.

    He lifted his hand, showing me that he was holding dinner. His usual easy smile was reced by amusement. "I thought you might want some food."

    I stood there, staring at him. For a moment, it felt like time had stopped. I wanted

    to say something, but I didn''t know what. Finally, I stepped aside, allowing him to enter.

    "Thanks," I muttered, still unsure of how to act. I wouldn''t reject him today because I was really hungry. Maybe tomorrow.

    As he set the food down on my desk, I felt like going and hugging him. But that would be so stupid. Hugging him? Never. I think it was my mental state which was making me such a putty.

    He turned to look at me and I realized that I was standing too close to him. I craned my neck up to look at him. And immediately I was swept in this crazy tsunami of attraction. My lips parted when my gazended on his lips. Goddess, hoot how to brew could one have such full and firm lips.

    I was so captivated by him, by his scent that I forgot how to breathe. He brushed my cheek with his fingers as we stood there in silence. His fingers came to my lower lip, which he touched softly. "You look tense," he said in a low voice. His fingers reached my neck to the point where my neck met my shoulder, where he would put his mark on me if I- What the hell was I thinking? I stepped away from him, and the moment shattered.

    I walked past him and walked to my desk to take the food out. "I''m back in the beachball team, and I hate it!"

    "Howe?" he said as he sat on the bed.

    I handed him his container and a fork as I took mine and sat on the chair. He had brought Chinese noodles and dumplings. As I ate it, I told him everything. He listened to it with rapt attention.

    "That''s strange," hemented. "I''ll try to find out about it."

    I sighed. ¡°Nah, leave it. I''ll y beachball..." We sat in silence for a few minutes, and I felt better, rxed. It wasn''t because he was here, but because I shared my anxiety with him. A smile tugged at my lips. "Any news about Tulip?¡±

    He tensed. "She was given a warning by Dean Smith, but he didn''t take any action on her. Probably because of the institution''s reputation." He rolled his eyes. "Buttt-" he said, leaning forward with a smile. "I''ve bought a house near campus. I hate seeing you staying in a dorm this small."

 Chapter 185

    Tamara POV

    My mouth dropped for the second time. Bought a house? "Bought a house? What do you mean? Were you purchasing a house when you should be doing your assignment? And why did you buy a house? You are staying in a dorm!"

    Heughed as he took the box out of my hand and ced it on the desk. After that, he held my wrist, pulled me to the bed and made me sit down next to him. I scooted away despite the bond working strongly. His lips tugged up into a beautiful smile. God, why was his smile so lovely? Like I could forget the world when I looked at his lips.

    "That dorm is too cramped for me, and this one is too cramped for you," he exined.

    "Whoa!" I rasped. "Wait here, Mr. Erikson. I am not moving with you anywhere. I''ll be staying right in this dorm. If I had to stay.

    house, then I would have continued to be in the house my father bought for us. So better don''t keep your hopes up."

    In a sh of a moment, Matt was in front of me. He grabbed the back of my neck, and tilted his head in a way that his lips were only a breath away from mine. "My hopes will never die," he said against my lips. "One day you will move in with me. And that day wille soon." Saying that, he leaned over and kissed the side of my lips. My heart stammered in my rib so hard that I felt like it would jump in my mouth. I had never let anyone kiss me in my life, and I have no idea why. It was like I was waiting for him.

    I stifled a moan. I wanted him to keep kissing me, hold me in his arms, and never leave me. But this was not what I had nned. I pushed him against his chest, but it felt like I was trying to push away a mountain. "You''re dreaming," I managed to speak through the haze of my muddled-up mind. "I''ll nevere to you. Thest thing that can happen to me is you."

    His lips hovered over mine as his eyes drank my face, like he was trying to remember each and every line, every contour. "No, baby. I''m the best thing that will happen to you. I''m never going to leave you." He leaned over my ear, and kissed my earlobe. Jolts of lightning bolted across my body. "And you know that you''re mine."

    Angel was practically prancing inside me. ''Our mate is so handsome. He loves us so much,'' she purred.

    I clenched my teeth and inclined away from him. "High hopes, bear!" I moved away from him and got up, my body was covered in sweat. I just couldn''t let this happen anymore. I jumped out of the bed and grabbed my meal box to finish my food. We sat in silence for a while.

    The night had turned colder, and I was still sitting there, eating my food furiously as Matt watched me. He''d made himselffortable on my bed. The way he sat, casually propped up against my pillows, made me feel unsettled, even though I knew it was innocent. He took out hisptop, wore his sses and switched it on. My breath lodged in my throat, seeing him in sses. How could one look so magnificent in his sses?

    ¡°So,¡± I asked, breaking the silence, my voice filled with curiosity and something I couldn''t figure, "How did you manage to buy a house so quickly? You''ve only been here for a couple of months."

    Matt shrugged, his eyes still on the screen. "I''ve had my eye on it for a while," he said casually. "Saw it when I first got here. Perfect ce, close to campus, and I knew it was right for us. Just had to make sure everything was in order."

    He made it sound so simple, but I couldn''t stop wondering-how had he gotten everything in ce so fast? Buying a house was no small thing, especially without making a big deal out of it. But of course, it was Matt. When he set his mind to something, he always found a

    way.

    I leaned back against my desk, crossing my arms. "Well, good for you. I''m not moving in with you," I muttered, more to myself than him. "This dorm is my home. I like it here." I really needed him to understand this. I. Won''t. Move. With. Him.

    Matt paused, turning slightly to face me. There was a quiet intensity in his eyes that made my heart skip ¨¤ beat. "If you won''t move into the house with me," he said, his voice low, "Then I''ll just have to stay here with you. In the dorm. You know that I won''t stay in my dorm."

    My eyes widened, and I could feel my face heat up at the thought. "What?" I asked, trying to sound more confident than I felt. "You can''t just stay here, Matt. This is not allowed. This is my dorm."

    He grinned, looking utterly pleased with himself. "Why not?" he said, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world. "I''ll make do. It''s no problem. But you''ll have to get used to it. I''m not going anywhere, Tamara. Not until you say yes. And you know that most boys sneak in here to be with their girlfriends after dark."

    That was true. I had seen many boys sneaking in all the time. "You''re impossible," I muttered under my breath, trying to act unaffected. But inside, I could feel my resolve crumbling. Every word, every look, every smile from him was like a weight I couldn''t escape. The pull between us was undeniable.

    I sighed, rubbing my temples. "Fine. But you''re staying only for tonight," I said reluctantly. "We''re finishing these assignments, and then

    you''re out of here."

    my

    Matt chuckled, his voice soft but full of affection. "Deal." He returned to hisptop, but not before giving me a wink that made heart race again. I knew that there was no deal when it came to him. He did things his way. After all, he was the Alpha of his pack. Very dominant, very possessive.

    As we worked through the assignments together, I found myself feeling strangelyfortable. I could feel the weight of the day lifting off my shoulders as the quiet of the room settled around us. I felt... rxed. All the anxiety in me vanished.

    Then, to my surprise, Matt stretched out on my bed, making himselffortable again. He patted hisp as if offering it as a cushion. "Come on," he said with a yful smile, looking at me through his sses. "You look exhausted. Why don''t you rest your head for a bit?"

    I looked at him, my heart skipping. "I''m fine," I said, but my body was already moving toward him, too tired to argue. I settled down next to him, my head gently resting in hisp. The softness of the fabric under my cheek made me close my eyes for a moment, letting his scent and warmth surround me.

    His fingers gently ran through my hair, and I couldn''t help the soft sigh that escaped my lips. It was nice, this quiet moment. Too nice. His touch was soothing, his presence feltforting, like I was finally home. "You know," he said softly, breaking the silence, "You''re such a baby. Keep resisting me. It won''t work." blinked, staring up at him. The connection between us, the bond I kept trying to deny, seemed to be growing stronger, undeniable with every passing minute. "It will," I whispered, the words slipping from my lips before I could stop them. His eyes softened, and he leaned down, pressing a gentle kiss to my forehead. ¡°I''m just here, Tamara. Nothing more, nothing less."

    But it wasn''t nothing. It was everything.

    I closed my eyes again, trying to ignore the warmth spreading in my chest. I could feel his heartbeat, steady and reassuring through our bond.

    And that scared me more than I wanted to admit.

    I don''t know when but I drifted off into a deep sleep, the soft clicks of hisptop fading away slowly. The moment I drifted into a dream, everything became blurry, like being lost in a haze. I couldn''t make sense of it. But there were shes of moonlight, dark shadows moving swiftly in the distance.

    Then, a voice-soft and clear-called my name.

    "Tamara..."

    I tried to focus, but the voice came again, louder this time.

    "Tamara, child of the rnoon..."

    I turned around, searching for the source of the voice. A woman stood before me, cloaked in moonlight, her silver eyes glowing in the dark. Her face was serene, filled with love.

    "Who are you?" I asked, my voice trembling.

    "I am Cressida, your grandmother," she said. "You carry my blood, child. Your destiny is intertwined with your mother''s. Find your people..."

 Chapter 186

    Just a Friend

    Tamara POV

    My heart stuttered in my chest. "My... mother?" I whispered, still unable to grasp

    it.

    The woman in my dream smiled softly, leaving me mesmerized. "Yes, and the Alpha bear is part of your journey. You cannot fight this."

    Nothing but shock rocked me. I wanted to ask more questions, to ask her to exin, but the dream faded, and I woke up with a start with a heavy breath. My chest felt tight. The dream looked so real, like it had reached deep inside me.

    What was that?

    I looked around the room. The moonlight was streaming through the windows. The world was sleeping, but why did I feel like something was happening? Something I didn''t understand, and I wasn''t sure if I was ready for it.

    Matt was sleeping right behind me, his arm thrown on my waist, shirtless. When did he go shirtless? I tried to remove his arm away from me, the bear let out a growl even in his sleep and pulled me smug against his chest, murmuring, "Mine..." And then as if to make sure that I wasn''t going anywhere, he threw his heavy leg on top of mine, caging mepletely.

    I didn''t have the energy in me to move away because his arms, his proximity, his scent-everything worked as a balm to my frayed nerves. I felt... safe, secure. Like no one could harm me. As for the dream, I was going to talk to mom about it. It was weird, but thest time when my abilities showed themselves, things were not the same. There was a reason why I didn''t touch dying flowers, or go near trees or bushes that were dried up.

    I closed my eyes and drifted off into deep slumber, but with a resolve. I wasn''t allowing Matt toe to me tomorrow. I was a hundred percent sure about it.

    When I woke up, the light of the morning poured in the room. Goddess, I had never slept like a log in my life, but with Matt I always slept like that. Except the nightmare I had. It was bizarre. Matt was my destiny? I blew out, rubbishing the stupid dream.

    The room was quiet except for the soft rise and fall of Matt''s breathing. I turned my head slowly, only to realize he was still sleeping right next to me, his arm thrown across my waist, his chest rising and falling with each deep breath.

    Great, I thought. Here he was, still next to me. I couldn''t decide if I was angry or relieved. I decided to get up and go to the bathroom to freshen up. So I carefully slipped out from under the covers, trying not to wake him. As I moved quietly toward the door, I caught a glimpse of his body. Matt was shirtless, his muscles defined in the dim light of the room, and I felt a rush of warmth flood my cheeks.

    But then, I noticed something else. There was a slight bulge in his pants, making me freeze in ce. I quickly turned my gaze away, my heart suddenly racing. God, howe he was erect even when he was sleeping? I quickly walked into the bathroom, doing my best to ignore the wild thoughts racing through my mind. Get a grip, Tamara. He''s just a guy, who I would reject today. Like for sure. I steeled myself, remembering how he rebuffed me all those years. And now that he knows I am his mate, he ising after me? Well, you got news, Matt Erikson! I''m not going to marry you. Not today. Not tomorrow. Not ever.

    Gritting my teeth, I sshed some cold water on my face to clear my thoughts. I know it was his proximity or the bond we shared that was pulling me toward him. That''s why I couldn''t ignore it, but I would. Soon.

    After my bath, I was drying myself off, when suddenly I heard a knock on my door. I wasn''t expecting anyone, so I tensed up, half-panicked. I didn''t know who it could be. And what if they discovered Matt in my room? They would report me immediately to the warden. Damn it. I knew Matt was still in the bed, asleep. I would cover him with loads of sheets to hide him.

    "Coming!" I called out as I hurried to grab my clothes and wrap the towel securely around me. But the moment I stepped out, I froze.

    Matt was standing there, shirtless, with his hand casually resting on the

    doorframe, facing whoever there was on the door.

    I gasped in surprise, eyes widening as I stared at him. He looked like he had

    walked straight out of my deepest, most secret dreams-his muscles, his confident stance, and the casualness in his posture.

    "Matt!" I almost shrieked, my heart pounding in my chest.

    He whipped his head to look at me and I flushed deep. His gaze darkened. He didn''t even seem to care that he was standing there,pletely exposed and making my heart race.

    I spun around, rushing back into the bathroom. Matt chuckled, crossed his arms across his bare chest and turned to my gusts.

    I peeped out only to see three girls from the beachball team had shown up. They

    were giggling and fawning over Matt, clearly enjoying the view of him.

    "H-hi!¡± one of them said, her eyes widening as she looked at him with lust.

    Just a Friend

    The girls looked from him to me and back to him. They all looked curiously at us. "Hi," Matt replied casually.

    "Matt," I hissed. "Come back." But the bear wouldn''t budge from there. His tall and muscr body filled in the entire frame

    of the door.

    "We came here for Tamara," said the captain of the team, Lexi, fluttering her eyshes at him. "Sh-she is called by the coach for urgent practice!"

    I clutched my towel tighter, trying to steady my breathing. This was not how I imagined the morning going

    Matt, being Matt, smiled charmingly at them, clearly not understanding the tension in the room. He seemedpletely unaffected, while I was losing my mind just trying to keep myposure "What time?" he asked, stretching his arm behind and resting them both on top of the door frame.

    I think the girls half-fainted. As for me, ugly jealousy rose in my chest. I wanted to smack him hard and gouge the eyes of the girls who were eye-fucking him. But Iposed myself. If I was going to reject him, I had to allow other girls toe near him.

    "You are the most handsome guy I''ve met," a girl blurted. "I mean-" All others giggled. Then she corrected herself. "I mean, why don''t youe with Tamara to watch us? You can

    What. The. Fuck.

    Anger mmed in my chest. Angel growled. Clutching my towel tightly, I walked out of the bathroom, and stormed to Matt. I stood in front of him, as if my tiny body would hide him. Stifling my emotions as best as I could, I almost snarled, "I will be there soon. You may leave now!"

    Lexi''s eyes widened at my rudeness, but the moment they were having with Matt, broke.

    "You better be there on time," she spat, spun and went away.

    I mmed the door shut and when I spun, I mmed in Matt. He steadied me

    with a heart-breaking smile. "Were you jealous of them?"

    "What? Hell. No!" I scoffed. I poked his chest. "But why did you open the door? Now they will report me to the warden." "They won''t," he replied casually, studying

    me.

    Suddenly, I became aware of me standing naked, wrapped in a towel, and my cheeks heated. I stepped away from him and stuttered, "I-1 h-have to g-go for practice. Please leave."

    Matt stepped back immediately, and I felt... empty. He turned to collect his things and without a word left.

    My throat dried, as I watched him leave. Was he mad at me? The moment the door closed behind him, dejection set in. Like my life was going to be so dull now. "Control yourself, Tammy!" I chided myself. "This is just the mate bond."

    I changed into my skirt and tank top, wore my shoes, but everything felt like I was on an auto. Why didn''t he say a word? He argued with me, he wooed me and then some more. But the thought that there were other girls clearing fawning over him, made me mad. Was he thinking of going to them? Like, why not? I didn''t give him any reason to stay with me. Why would he go and talk to them?

    "Good!" I assured myself as I got out of my room and locked it. That''s what I wanted. I was also going to look for new friends. New boyfriends.

    But why did it feel like I was convincing myself more than being resolute? I tried to shake off those thoughts. They were guing me like hell,

    When I reached the practice area, Lexi looked at me with a smirk. She came to

    me, "Tamara,e on, tell us more about him," she cooed. "He''s so handsome. Is he your boyfriend?"

    I wanted to shout "He''s not! He''s just my friend!" but the words caught in my throat. I wasn''t sure if I was lyin myself.

    em or to

    "Oh, wonderful!" Lexi eximed her eyes gleaming. "I knew you guys had a one-

    night stand. Please tell me more about him. Can you

    introduce him to me?"

    "I''m not your personal tour guide," I snapped, anger bubbling inside.

    I grabbed my gym bag, my heart thudding against my chest, and rushed to the

    court when suddenly from the periphery of my vision I saw Matt walking toward

    us.

 Chapter 187

    Tamara POV

    As soon as other girls saw him, I could hear the girls whispering behind me, clearly gossiping about Matt.

    I was so frustrated I could barely focus on anything else. My mind kept reying the image of Matt standing there, his bare chest glistening, with his hand on the doorframe, like he was some kind of God. Like he owned the ce. Commanded the air and demanded the attention of one and all. And now he was here?

    He came to sit on the benches nearby, kept his bag on the side, and sat back to watch us. I mouthed him, ''what are you doing here?'' He raised an eyebrow and shrugged. He mouthed back, ''Watching you.''

    I pursed my lips as I turned away, feeling heat rising to my cheeks. He was watching me so possessively that my heart hammered in my chest.

    "Come on!" Coach Dana hollered us, ciapping her hands. "We don''t have all day with us. The match with the Dolphins is tomorrow!" Dolphins? Blood drained from my face. The Dolphins were the best team, not just in the county, but in our state. Why would we have a match with them? And why wasn''t I told before? Like was it a joke?

    Seeing me, Coach Dana grunted. Other girls chuckled.

    "She''ll be on the benches soon," one of them snickered.

    At the beachball practice, I was immediately bombarded by the team again. The same girls who had been all over Matt were now pushing their way around me. They swarmed around me, their eyes glinting with disdain. They made no effort to hide how much they were enjoying seeing me struggle.

    One of them, Sarah, tossed the ball straight at me with a little too much force. "Tamara,¡± she said with a sneered with a challenge in her voice. The ball came hurtling towards me-too fast, too hard. I barely managed to get a hand up, but it bounced off,nding out of bounds.

    Laughter rang out from a few of the other girls, and Sarah smirked. "Nice try," she mocked. "Maybe you should stick to running away from your problems, huh?"

    The others giggled as the sting of her words rattled me. Before I could gather myself, another ball was passed my way-only this time, it was a deliberate shot aimed straight at me,ing at me like a speeding bullet. I tried to dodge, but my foot caught on the sand, and I tripped,nding hard on the ground.

    "What a mess," one of them muttered, just loud enough for me to hear. "Guess she''s just clumsy, huh?"

    I pushed myself up, my palms stinging from the sand. My face burned with embarrassment as my eyes went to Matt, who had narrowed his eyes on us.

    Coach Dana''s voice cut through the noise. "Tamara! Focus!" she snapped in a harsh voice. "Stop making excuses. This is a game, not a ce for you to sulk. If you can''t handle it, maybe you shouldn''t be on this team."

    I flinched at her words. The next y came, and I was ready for it, or so I thought. Lexi passed the ball directly to me again. I went to catch it, but it was too high, and the ball mmed into

    my face.

    "Oops, sorry," Lexi said sarcastically, giggling quietly with others.

    Coach Dana''s eyes narrowed as she walked toward me. "Are you even trying, Tamara? This is embarrassing. You''re making us all look bad. We are going to lose because of you?"

    I felt a rush of anger and humiliation.

    "Focus, Tamara!" Coach Dana shouted again. "You''re wasting time. If you can''t get it together, you''ll be benched for thepetition."

    I swallowed the lump in my throat, trying to control tears inside me. I tried to push

    forward. But the snide remarks from the team kepting.

    "She''s such a joke."

    "What is Matt seeing her?"

    She can''t even catch a ball. Are you sure she has his balls in her hands?"

    "If we lose, it will be because of her."

    Theughter from the other girls was like a p.

    I wanted to scream at them. I looked at Matt and his face had a hard expression. Was he also hating the way I was ying?

    "Tamara," Coach Dana''s voice snapped me back into reality. "I don''t know what''s going on with you today, but get it together. This is supposed to be a team sport, not a circus act. Focus!"

    I nodded, biting the inside of my cheek to keep from breaking down right there on the court.

    Once the practice was over, Coach Dana announced that we would be going for the match to another college at 7AM tomorrow.

    As I picked up my bag, I noticed how Sarah and Lexi rushed to Matt and surrounded him.

    "Matt, howe you''re here?" Lexi asked, practically batting her eyshes. She leaned toward him, showing her cleavage, swaying suggestively.

    I clenched my jaw, trying not to roll my eyes.

    "I''m here for Tamara," he said in a clipped voice as he stood up.

    Lexi''s face scrunched up. "Oh," she groused. "Really?"

    I couldn''t help myself and walked to where they were.

    Lexi didn''t know that I had heard her. I was a werewolf and had a sharp sense of hearing. She immediately changed her stance. "Oh, Tamara, you''re so lucky to have a guy like him around!" Lexi teased, ncing at Matt, who came to stand with me,pletely oblivious to the tension he was causing.

    I was jealous. And I hated that I was jealous. Matt wasn''t mine. He never had

    been. And yet, here I was trying to stake my im on him.

    "I mean-" Lexi scorned. "With that faulty game of yours, you

    I watched in silence as Matt clenched his teeth. But just as he was about to

    answer, I felt my heart twist, the jealousy bubbling up inside

    1. me.

    I need to pump-up

    your

    game. I''m sure Matt could teach you a few tricks."

    Matt smiled and shook his head. "I''m not interested, sorry," he said, before turning back to me. And I knew what he meant. He rejected Lexi and Sarah even before they began. My spirits immediately lifted, and I felt confident.

    Sarah and Lexi walked away. Lexi shouted at others, "We''ve got apetitioning up in two days. I expect everyone to focus on the game and stop worrying about your love lives." She shot me a look as if saying that she was going to make my life hell.

    Matt caught my wrist and said, "Let''s get out of here. I know you''re hungry."

    I sighed because I was so hungry that I could eat a boar like Obelix. All of it. And then maybe carve some menhirs, just to rx my raging emotions.

    As he tugged me to the hostel mess, I allowed to just drift with it. The feeling that settled over me was like a calm after a storm. His touch was calming, and I felt like purring. When we reached there, we sat in a quiet corner. He went to grab breakfast trays for both of

    1. us.

    "You did good, Tamara," he said as he sat beside me.

    "Really?" My chest tightened. I didn''t want him to see me like this, but there was no avoiding him now.

    "You okay?" he asked, his voice soft, but with an edge of concern.

    I forced a smile, trying to mask how badly I was feeling. "Yeah, just... just some

    bad practice."

    "That didn''t look like ''bad practice," he said, his jaw tightening slightly as he tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. "You did great."

    I picked up a steak and sandwich and gobbled it. Why the hell was I so hungry these days? He just watched me eating with satisfaction on his face. "Youshouldalsoeeet," I said through my stuffed face.

    He chuckled, and wiped the grease from my chin. Then he picked up his burger

    and ate it. "Stop worrying about the match. Coach Dana knows that our team doesn''t have a chance against the Dolphins. Even Sarah and Lexi know about it."

    "But it seems like they will lose because of me," I said, feeling sad.

    Matt kept his burger back. He wiped his hands, turned to me and cupped my cheeks. "No, they won''t lose because of you. They will lose because they are no match against the Dolphins." He leaned over and kissed the corner of my lips, licking me as he backed.

    The moment his lips brushed against mine, my entire body froze. A jolt of heat ran through me, as if a switch had been flipped. The kiss was quick, but it lingered on my lips, reverberating in my chest.

    When he pulled away, he was still cupping my cheeks. Lightly, he brushed my cheeks, and winked. My throat turned dry, and I swallowed. I didn''t have the strength in me to stop him.

    "So stop ming yourself," he added, backing away.

    I somehow reined my wild heart and together we walked to the herbology ss. Our fingers brushed each other''s as we walked, and I didn''t realize when Matt held my hand in hisrge ones. It felt so natural. I couldn''t help smiling despite all my resolution to reject him. Well, I won''t reject him today at least. I deserved this happiness for the day.

    When we arrived in the herbology ss, we entered hand-in-hand. Tulip was there, staring at our joined hands. If res could kill, I would have been dead a thousand times by the time I reached my seat. Just to show her more that I wasn''t affected by her, I pulled Matt to a seat in the end. And when we settled, I moved closer to him. Then I looked at her smugly.

    Tulip''s face crumpled. Did she cry all night?

    she

    She shouted across the ss at Matt, "Where''s your assignment, Matt Erikson?"

    Matt replied softly, "I emailed it to you, yesterday night, Professor Tulip. Haven''t you seen it?"

 Chapter 188

    Matt POV

    Tulip looked like she could murder me. Or Tamara. I was waiting for her to take action. Any action. And I would go full on feral on her. My objective was to annihte her after what she did to me, after how she tried to force me into submitting to her. I had to, for Tamara. But the way Brad and Tamara saved me, now I had to leash on my anger toward her. So, yeah, I was waiting for one fucking mistake from her, and I would find the perfect excuse to snuff her life.

    ording to my instructions, Seth had already passed an order to expel her from my pack. I knew that she would go back to her pack to her parents, but I had taken care of that too. I had talked to my father and told him about her misdemeanors. Father was more than furious. He wanted to send his warriors to kill her for threatening me. But it was my mother, She, whose kind heart overruled my father''s decision. In anger, Daddy expelled Tulip from the pack.

    She was practically a rogue in our packs, and no one would dare to take her in. So I knew that she had no home to go to except this college. If she fucked up again, she was going to be in so much trouble. Basically, Tulip was cornered. And I liked my prey cornered. I''d fucking wrench her neck and rip her apart limb by limb if she attempted to harm Tamara. She thought that had the upper hand. She didn''t know that soon I would bury her six feet under.

    The ss went well, not because of the way Tulip red at me, but because Tamara was sitting close to me. Too close. I knew that she was doing it more to show to Tulip rather than because she wanted to be, but it was a wonderful feeling. And me? I shamelessly put my hand over her thigh, or prushed her cheek, or whispered nonsense in her ear, making her giggle. It was different that my heart was hammering in my chest like it had gone wild. All blood rushed to my cock. The fucker wasn''t going down. Torben wanted to break free.

    ''im her. Rut her.'' He pushed me incessantly.

    I had to push him down using all my strength because I wanted Tamara toe to me. If I jumped on her, I knew I would lose her.

    In the evening, Tamara went to meet Bradley. The omegas had made so many dishes for all of us. And I was delighted to see how Tammy was gobbling it all up. Maybe her wolf needed that much food.

    I told them about my new house which was just a block down. Bradley was surprised, and asked me to show it to him. I took him there and Tamara tagged along. The way she looked around with wide eyes full of curiosity, made me proud. Through the bond, I could sense that she liked it. Her gaze lingered on the main bedroom for far too long. A gush of warmth surged through me. As I chatted with both of them, trying to sound casual, Tammy told me about the colors she loved. I memorized every wording out of her mouth. Veles, I was going to worship her if she gave me a chance. I would worship her if she didn''t give me a chance.

    After we returned, Tamara had to go for practice alone. I didn''t like how Lexi, Sarah and Coach Dana talked to her. They were all trying to eye-fuck me. If it had been my pack, I would have already killed them for even talking to Tammy like that, but this was a different ce. I needed to be very careful around humans. They didn''t know about mates, and college students-they fucking around like rabbits in heats with an extra dose of

    steroids.

    While Brad returned to his house, I had to go to my dorm because father wanted to talk to me about something urgent.

    "The Elders want to talk to you, Matt," father said as soon as I put on the video call.

    I frowned. "Why? Is everything okay?"

    He took a deep breath in. "Everything''s fine, but they are restless. I haven''t seen them like this ever in my life."

    Mother was sitting right beside him. Even she looked worried. I just couldn''t help admiring her with each passing day. Despite the fact that Uncle Magnus was killed and I always med Tammy for it, she took Tammy in, and was always so nice to her. Did she sense that Tam was my mate? I didn''t know. She never told, and sometimes there were no answers to the questions you had. It was... destiny.

    "The Elders are here," Father said. "They have gathered around us to talk to you especially."

    As much as it sounded bizarre, I nodded. Tension bunched in my shoulders. Father turned the camera toward the two Elders, Harper and Kael.

    I bowed to them. They nodded, their faces showing years of wisdom. "I hope all is well," Elder Harper," I said.

    Elder Harper''s voice broke the silence. In a deep, urgent voice, he said, "Alpha Matt, we''ve felt a disturbance, a stirring of ancient energies in the old temple of Veles."

    I met his gaze, confusion furrowing my brow. "What are you talking about?"

    The old temple of Veles was located about ten miles away from our packs. It was near the Eldermere temple, which was just outside the Shadowfang pack. No one was allowed to enter the ruins of the Eldermere. As for the Veles temple, it was in a very dpidated state. New ones were constructed where the bears went to pray. However, the ancient one remained in its ce. No one knew the reason why the two temples of the Moon Goddess, Cressida, and that of Veles were constructed together. They were both over a thousand years old.

    Elder Harper sighed. In a gruff voice, he said, "Both of us had visited the ancient Veles temple along with the Shaman. He sighted something odd over there. There were shadows which circled the temple."

    "What?" I eximed. "Shadows? There must be someone there."

    Elder Kael shook his head. "No, there wasn''t. But these shadows emerged at night, and as soon as the Shaman saw them, they disintegrated into smoke. It was a strange sighting, but we believe that these shadows emerged from the Eldermere ruins."

    "But that''s history!" I pointed out. "We all know about the curse that was associated with the ruins of Eldermere. Luna Auren broke that curse. Those shadows have retreated. So why would they emerge now? And why will theye to the Veles temple? It''s not like the two temples are situated side by side! They are at least five hundred meters apart. Are you sure that the Shaman saw what he saw? It could be an illusion."

    Elder Kael exchanged looks with Elder Harper before speaking again. "We can''t say much about it, Alpha Matt. But there''s one thing that I wanted to point out." He lowered his head and paused for longer than I liked. When he looked up, his eyes had mystery to them. "The main reason why the two temples were built near each other was because the bear n''s lineage is intertwined with the Moon Goddess." My mouth dropped as my eyes widened. This was something that was never mentioned. Heck, no bear knew about it. "I''m sorry, what?" I raped.

    ancestors were her guardians. They were tasked with protecting the bloodline of the Moon Goddess."

    Kael continued, "O

    A shiver ran down my body as goosebumps lined my skin. Our bloodline was tasked with protecting Cressida''s bloodline?

    "However, over time, that purpose faded into myth. But the bond remains like a faint reminder in our blood."

    Disbelief sted through me like a thunderstorm, tearing through my thoughts and leaving nothing but chaos in its wake. "A faint reminder?" A roaring tide of confusion crashed against the walls of my mind. Was I with Tammy only to protect her? Was I not her mate? What kind of a joke was this? No. This couldn''t be. I was Tammy mate. Even the thought that I wasn''t her mate made me so mad that Torben wanted toe out and kill someone. "What are you even saying, Elder Kael?" I roared, trying to stifle my emotions, but couldn''t. ¡°This is all bullshit!¡± "Matt!" Mom snapped, chiding me for not speaking nicely to the Elder.

    "But mom-"

    "Enough! Listen to them."

    I became quiet and narrowed my eyes.

    "I know it is too much to take in, but I believe there''s a reason why She and Teddy protected Tamara, and even you protected her with your life when you were just ten years old," Kael added. "You see, long ago "Long ago, when there was magic in the air, when the bloodlines were pure, when shifters emerged, the bear n guarded the Moon Goddess'' bloodline, sworn to protect her descendants from an ancient evil that once threatened her power. But as centuries passed, the threats faded, and the guardianship became mere whispers, stories passed down through generations. The bond weakened, forgotten by most, until it became legend."

    He paused, his eyes distant, as if recalling a time long past. "But the bloodline of the Moon Goddess is never truly lost. It waits, dormant, until the time is right- when the chosen guardian awakens to restore it. That''s why the bond faded. The enemies may have been defeated, but the danger still looms. And now, the Shaman thinks the time hase for it to be remembered."

 Chapter 189

    Matt POV

    It was as if the ground beneath me had cracked open, and the truth-this unbelievable truth-had poured in like a flood, drowning all sense of

    reason.

    The bear shifters were guardians of the Moon Goddess bloodline? How was this possible? A memory flickered across my mind where during our history sses in the pack, Elders had mentioned once that in ancient times the bears also worshipped the moon goddess. And hence to make things easier for them, the two temples were built nearby. The bears could go to the Moon Goddess temple if they wished after praying to Veles. But the knowledge seemed insignificant that time. It was like what did the bear n have inmon with the wolf n?

    A chill ran down my spine. "You''re saying we, the bears, are connected to the Moon Goddess?"

    "Not just connected," Elder Kael continued. "One of us is the key to unlocking her legacy. His strength, his lineage, it''s all tied to her power."

    I sat back, absorbing his words. The weight of the revtion pressed down on me. "But how? What does this mean for me? I mean, how did this even happen? Are we in some kind of ancient ritual or bond that would annihte our species? Has the Shaman sensed something like that?"

    Elder Kael nodded solemnly. There''s a story to this. One that is not avable in the archives, but hase down from one generation to the next. There is no authenticity, but I''ve always felt that it can be found in the archives of Alpha Lucien''s extensive library."

    "A story?" Every wording from Kacl was deepening the mystery. Honestly, I was getting agitated by the minute.

    He nodded. "The bears vowed to protect the Moon Goddess'' bloodline after a great war between the ancient packs and a dark force that sought to destroy her power."

    "What evil force?" I asked impatiently. "These are modern times, Elder Kael," I snapped. ¡°No one believes in ancient myths."

    He shook his head. "No, Alpha Matt, there are things happening. Things that are beyond us. We have to look out for them."

    "But what is the story about?" Mom asked, getting curious.

    "The Goddess, a symbol of life and light, was targeted by those who feared her strength. They threatened to destroy her, make sure that if she ever had descendants, they would all die. No one came to her rescue, except the first alpha bear. He was bound by ancient honor and strength, and he stepped forward to guard her descendants, swearing an oath of eternal loyalty. The Moon Goddess'' bloodline was the key to peace and bnce in the realm, and only the bears, with their fierce loyalty and power, could keep it safe from those who wished to see it erased."

    "But there are no direct descendants of Cressida!" I said with irritation. "And that''s why this is nothing but a myth and mirage!"

    "Such things are not sighted unless there''s a greater power at work, Alpha Matt,¡± Harper intervened. "The ancient blood has reawakened. Powers sealed away to protect him or her from ancient enemies. And we believe that Tamara is the direct descendant of the goddess. Your bond with her is the catalyst needed to awaken those abilities."

    "T-Tamara?" Ground shifted beneath my feet. "Y-you are specting!"

    "It is only after you smelled Tamara as your mate that the Shaman saw those shadows around Veles temple," Elder Kael pointed out.

    "This is an assumption, Elder Kael," I rasped. "Do you even know what you are saying? Tammy is the daughter of Alpha Lucien and Luna Auren. It is a well- known fact that Luna Auren belonged to the Crimson Howl pack and was an omega. Yes, she got her wolf, but that''s it. How can Tammy be different from her parents?" Couldn''t they see how ridiculous this was sounding? But what could I expect from Elders who loved to believe in myths?

    "Alpha Matt, it''s not just about unlocking abilities. It''s about restoring bnce, reconnecting the bear and goddess bloodlines. Together, you and Tamara can fulfill the ancient pact. And if the Shaman''s words are true, then you are Tamara''s guardian. Have you ever heard of a bear shifter being a werewolf''s mate? There are none. Can''t you see what is in front of you?"

    His words left me bereft. Breath lodged in my throat as realization dawned upon me. I was the first bear shifter whose mate was a werewolf.

    As my parent sat in silence,pletely stunned, the weight of Elder Kael''s words hung heavy in the air, pressing down on my chest. A guardian? Me? The disbelief churned inside me like a storm, each gust of doubt stronger than thest. How could I possibly be the one to unlock a legacy so old, so powerful?

    "I" I began, but my voice faltered, my mind struggling to catch up with what I was hearing. The words felt too impossible to believe.

    I sat there, rooted to the spot, my mind racing with a thousand questions I couldn''t seem to put into words. What was I supposed to do with this knowledge? What was my next step?

    Elder Kael seemed to sense my confusion, and his voice softened slightly. "This is not something to be taken lightly, Alpha Matt. But it''s not yet time to act. Your role in this is important, but we must tread carefully."

    I blinked, my gaze fixed on him as the enormity of the situation began to sink in. "What do you mean by that?" I asked, trying to ground myself.

    Elder Kael paused, his face grave. "The bond between you and Tamara, as well as your connection to the goddess'' power, must remain a secret-for now, until we find out more about it. The time is not yet right."

    I felt a knot tighten in my stomach. "But... What does that mean? Are you saying I can''t even talk to Tamara about this?"

    Elder Kael''s eyes softened, but he said firmly, "For now, yes. Until we understand more, until we are sure the time hase, this knowledge must stay between us."

    The responsibility of it all felt overwhelming. "So what now? What am I supposed to do?"

    "Just wait. We will continue our research. The Veles Temple holds knowledge of our ancestors, and we need to visit again. There may be more clues there, something we missed before. We can''t act without knowing everything we can.¡± Ancient Veles Temple. I never imagined I would be tied to it in this way.

    "You must stay close to Tamara," Elder Kael said, his eyes narrowing slightly. "Support her. Protect her. Since there''s much we don''t know, and

    powers are stilltent, hidden, if she is to awaken, it must happen in its own time."

    Tamara''s

    A rush of emotions surged within me-protectiveness, fear, confusion. How could I possibly keep this secret from her? She was my mate. I needed to guide her, to help her understand what was happening to both of us. How could I stay silent?

    "I understand," I finally said.

    "When the right timees, you will guide her. Help her understand what she is, and what she must do." Elder Kael stood, indicating that the meeting was over. Father disconnected the call and my thoughts were a tangled mess. I had a duty now. A responsibility far beyond what I''d ever imagined. I couldn''t believe the blood of the guardians ran through my veins, and Tamara''s fate was tied to mine in more than one way.

    Until now, all I knew was that the bond between us was undeniable, and I would do whatever it took to keep her safe. But whatever this ancient legacy was, whatever forces were pulling us together, I was ready to face it head-on. Why did I feel that whatever happened was written somewhere in the heavens? Like ancient gods were directing us.

    Even though this was all myth, the Shaman had to uncover it deeply, I felt my responsibilities had increased manifold. I had to be with Tammy like her shadow.

    I picked up my bag and before I stepped out of my dorm, I speed-dialed her. She didn''t pick it up, which meant she was still practicing. I practically ran to her, wondering which evil force was after

    my Tam. was going to

    tear them apart even if it meant dying for her.

    The practice was in full force. Coach Dana was shouting at everyone. Tam was trying her best to prove herself, covered in bruises. Lexi and Sarah were also shouting at her, telling her that they would lose because of her. A feral growl left my throat, and some of the team members froze. The moment they saw me, they all stopped passing snide remarks. I sat down on the bench and watched them all with feral intensity spilling my alpha aura. After that no one dared to say a word to her.

    By the time the practice was over, Tam was sweating. She sat on the ground, panting. I walked to her, and just picked her up in my arms. "Matt!" she protested weakly.

    "Shut up," I growled. She snuggled into my chest, too tired to protest. I hugged her closer, and walked out as Sarah and Lexi stole scornful nces at us. When I was out of their earshot, I said, "Don''t y tomorrow." I hated to see bruises on her body, but they started healing as I walked toward her dorm.

    "I have to..." she said in a low, shaky voice.

    "Fine, then I''ming with you!"

 Chapter 190

    Tamara POV

    My body weighed down with exhaustion. Hours of relentless practice had drained me. Coach Dana ensured that every practice was heavier than thest. At the end of the game, every time I attempted to jump or stretch, my muscles screamed in protest. Sweat clung to my skin, and my head throbbed with the fatigue of it all.

    I didn''t have the strength to protest when Matt swept me off my feet, literally. His strong arms cradled me effortlessly, securely, and I couldn''t fight the urge to sink into his chest.

    "Matt!" I protested weakly, but it didn''t have the fire I usually intended. It felt almost impossible to form words-my body had given up before my mind could keep up. Instead, I just snuggled against him, letting his warmth and scent envelop me. The familiar,forting smell of him wrapped around me like a protective shield. Angel also purred inside me as she felt the presence of Torben near her. She wagged her tailzily.

    "Shut up!¡± he said and I became quiet. He kissed the crown of my head and I think I moaned.

    Why was it that him holding me like this that made me feel so safe, so at home? Even in the chaos of the day, even when I was beyond exhausted, Matt felt like my anchor.

    His body was solid against mine and his heartbeat was steady beneath my cheek, and I just let myself rx into it.

    I was too tired to care about the disapproving looks from Sarah and Lexi as they shot us scornful nces. Matt didn''t care either. He didn''t even look at them, his focus solely on me. And I''d be a fool to say that I didn''t feel smug about it. They would never know why Matt loved me the way he wouldn''t anyone else. We were mates. What did the humans know about mates?

    As he walked, I closed my eyes, and before I knew it, the world around me blurred. The rhythm of Matt''s footsteps, or my exhaustion, lulled me to sleep. I curled myself into him, into his warm chest, which wasyered with solid muscles. The jolt of waking up was sudden, and I blinked rapidly, trying to clear the fog

    mind.

    I realized he had carried me all the way to my dorm, and I must have dozed off. "Oh, my God!" I said in a weak voice. "You carried me all the way?" I tried to get down, but he grabbed me tightly, not allowing me to get down until we reached my

    room.

    The way he held me, gently cradling me, felt like he was treating me like a baby, like a treasure. I was leaning against him, my head resting on his chest, his warmthforting and real.

    As he lowered me carefully onto my bed, I blinked up at him, feeling disoriented. "I''m sorry," I mumbled, still half out of it.

    "Don''t apologize," he said, his voice soothing. "You needed rest.¡± His hand brushed over my hair, a gentle touch that made my heart flutter. "How about you take a bath and I''ll get you some food?"

    A faint smile tugged my lips. "Will you be staying in my room tonight as welk?"

    "Do you want me to?" he teased me.

    A blush heated my cheeks. "No," I blurted.

    He chuckled. "Liar,"

    "Go!" I said weakly. Why was it that my resolve was crumbling so fast? Why was it that near him, I felt better, but away from him, depression set in faster than a speeding bullet.

    He lowered his head and kissed my temple. "Take a bath, princess. I''ll go to fetch food for us." He didn''t wait for me to respond, as he turned to leave me in the room. Emptiness returned with full force. Angel whined inside me.

    The door clicked shut, and I stretched, feeling the ache in my body, but also a lingering warmth from Matt. I groaned softly and decided to take a

    much-needed bath.

    As the warm water soothed my sore muscles, I couldn''t help thinking how Coach Dana barked at me all the time. I didn''t want to go for beachball. I remembered that I had filled for basketball. Then I was tossed into volleyball team by the admin. However, I found myself back in the beachball team. Everything was confusing. I had asked Brad to look into it. It''s not that I was going to me the college for it, but it did seem like someone was messing with my application. Nothing made sense.

    When I finally stepped out, wrapped in a towel, I was met with the smell of food. I raised my eyebrows, surprised. Matt was already here, standing by my desk with a tray in his hands. He''d brought dinner for me-again. My stomach rumbled in response, and I couldn''t help but smile at him.

    His eyes went down to my chest, and a flush crept up over there. I pulled the towel tighter around me, trying to maintain some semnce of modesty. My heart raced. His gaze lingered a moment too long, and I could feel a warmth spread through me that had nothing to do with the bath. The air between us seemed to thicken, the world narrowing down to just him and me. He took a slow step forward. His presence overwhelmed me. I moyed a step back, my throat going dry. He stopped right in front of me. His lips parted slightly, and for a brief moment, I thought he might lean in again, and kiss me, and the thought made my breath hitch.

    I stopped only because of the wall behind me. Matt leaned in, caging me with both his hands on both sides of my face. Then he leaned his face further. I closed my eyes, waiting for the kiss, but it never came. With my heart hammering inside my chest, I opened my eyes only to find that he rested his face against the e wall, his eyes on me. I turned to look at him, and saw him gazing at me intensely.

    "You''ll be the death of me," he murmured. "How will I survive without having you by my side always, Tammy?"

    Goddess. His words affected Like I was the guitar he was longing to strum. And me-I was dying to be strummed by him in any way he wanted

    1. it.

    "Give me a chance, Tammy," he muttered with pain in his eyes. "I''ll make up for this life and the rest of them."

    His words brought back memories of how he snubbed me in the past. I lowered my head, closing my eyes. It was the mate bond speaking. When I opened them, I looked at the food on the table. "You''re spoiling me," I teased.

    The moment shattered. He backed away immediately. And I felt cool air between us. I hated it so much that I wanted to pull him to me, clenched my hands into

    fists.

    but I

    Matt smiled back, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I''m just making sure you don''t starve." He walked to the table, and started taking out the food.

    I grabbed my clothes and dashed into the bathroom to change. When I returned, I jumped on the bed. He set the tray on the bed beside me and sat down next to it, waiting for me to dig in. I couldn''t help butugh at the sweetness of his gesture, the care in his eyes. He wasn''t just doing this because it was his duty or obligation. He genuinely wanted to take care of me, and it made my heart warm.

    "You really don''t have to do all this," I said, but my voice softened as I took a bite. "But... thank you."

    "It''s nothing,¡± he replied, "You deserve it. You''ve worked hard."

    I nced at him, the way his dark eyes studied me, the way he was always so intensely focused on everything I did.

    When I finished eating, I stretched, and like a spoiled baby, I plopped on the bed as he removed all the dishes and threw them in the trash. By the time he returned, I think I had dozed off again because he was only in his shorts and nothing else. A smile tugged my lips as I sprawledzily on the bed, murmuring, "Matt..."

    He leaned in, and before I could even think, his lips brushed mine in a soft, tentative kiss. The world around us seemed to fall away. It wasn''t forceful or rushed. It was gentle, slow, like he was waiting for me to pull away-but I didn''t. I gave in. I kissed him back. Was I dreaming? I surely was because I was never this pliable in his presence. In my dream, I curled my arms around his neck and pulled him closer to me. "Kiss me..." I murmured. In my dream. And I felt the intensity of his kiss. It wasn''t just physical-it was emotional, too.

    Even in my dreams, I couldn''t believe how much I''d been holding back, how much I''d been fighting this bond. But at that moment, I didn''t care anymore.

    I didn''t want to fight it. Then everything progressed just like the dream it was.

    His lips brushed mine, soft at first, almost tentative, like he was waiting for me to pull back. But I didn''t. Instead, I leaned in, my body moving instinctively toward him. The kiss deepened, urgent, raw, as if the world copsed around us, and all that mattered was this moment, this

    connection.

    His hand cupped the back of my neck, pulling me closer, the warmth of his body, pressing against mine. My heart hammered in my chest, and for the first time in years, I let go, surrendering to the pull, to him. It felt like home.

 Rejected the alpha mate 191

    The Win

    The Win

    Tamara POV

    I opened my mouth for him. The moment I did that, his tongue delved inside my mouth. A deep rumble emanated from his chest. His kiss turned deeper, more insistent. His hands gripped my waist, pulling me closer until I could feel the heat of his body through the fabric. He kissed me like he was starving, his lips pressing against mine with an almost desperate urgency. I responded instinctively, my fingers threading through his hair as I tilted my head, allowing him more ess. His breath quickened, and I could feel the beat of his heart pounding against my chest as he deepened the kiss further, making everything else blur into the background.

    Oh, goddess. I needed this so badly. My body was arching into his unconsciously.

    I didn''t want the dream to end. Ever.

    Something hot, like a huge rod, pressed against my belly. I shot my hand instinctively to feel what it was, but he took my hands in his and pinned them over my head. I moaned in protest, but didn''t leave him.

    Finally, I pulled away, my breathing in short gasps. "I won''t reject you... this week," I whispered.

    "I''m not going anywhere, Tamara," he said softly, "Not now, not ever." His weight still pressed against me, that hot rod between us, which I so wanted to grab and explore. "And you won''t reject me."

    I opened my eyes half-mast, and looked dreamily at him, and for the first time, I allowed myself to feel the full extent of my emotions in my dreams. Was I was falling for him? Was I ready or not? Yeah... I was dreaming. My mind was so muddled up that Matt''s proximity, which I dreamt, affected it. I chuckled, and then fell off into deep sleep.

    The next day, I found myself nervously preparing for the match. The practice had left me drained, but it had also pushed me to my limits.

    The match was set on the beach, right by the sea. The sun was beginning its ascent, casting a golden glow across the water. The air was warm. The crowd around the courts buzzed with excitement, as the sound of waves crashing against the shore added a background to the noise of spectators cheering. It was a perfect setting for a beachball game, but the nerves in my chest had nothing to do with the weather or the environment.

    I was dressed in my team''s uniform, a tight-fitting half tank top and bikini bottom, designed to help with movement and agility, but all it did was highlight the attention I was getting.

    The boys in the crowd couldn''t seem to take their eyes off me. I could feel their stares, their gazes lingering a little too long, and I hated it. Why did they have to look at me like that? I wasn''t their prize to ogle. I wanted to y, to focus, but the constant attention made it hard to concentrate. It was like every nce was a weight pressing down on me. Like they were judging me or lusting after me. When I nced at Matt, his expressions were dark, like he was cataloguing every boy out there with his eyes to kill them in future.

    The Dolphins-the reigning champions-were already eyeing us like they were going to wipe us out. I could feel the tension in the air as the Dolphins lined up on the court. Their looks were intense, and they seemed ready to bring it all. The pressure was suffocating.

    ''You''ve got this, Angel said, but the weight of their stares lingered in my mind. No assurances were going to prepare me for what was toe.

    I nced at Matt as he stood by the sidelines, watching me. His presence was the only thing that kept me grounded. His eyes were locked on me, and I took a deep breath, ready to face the game.

    Lexi and Sarah''s voices cut through the tension, sharp and cutting.

    "If we lose, it''ll be because of Tamara," Lexi sneered.

    Sarah agreed, "We don''t need someone like her dragging us down. I don''t know why Coach Dana has agreed to let her in the team. She''s such a fucking douche!"

    I bit my lip, trying not to react. The sting of their words burned deep. Angel growled at them. ''Should I kill them?''

    I sighed. ''That''s not a solution, Angel. Besides, we are in the human world. Our rules don''t work here.''

    Coach Dana gathered us in for onest pep talk. "Focus! No distractions. This is about the team. Let''s win!" She red at me, as if I were the only one messing up. I could feel the weight of her disappointment. "And you Tamara-make sure that you don''t mess!"

    The match began, and the first two points went to the Dolphins, just as I feared. Coach Dana shouted at me from the sidelines. "Tamara, you''re making us lose! Focus, damn it!"

    I could feel the intensity in the air as the next few volleys went back and forth. The ball flew at me, and I didn''t hesitate. I dove, feeling the sand beneath my hands. My heart racing as I sent the ball back over the. But what surprised me wa how Sarah didn''t take the ball. Instead she hit it in a way that the ball came back at me. Shocked, I hit the ball and it flew toward the opponents. They all froze for a moment, hoping the ball would fall outside the court, but it fell an inch inside.

    The Win

    I stilled when the crowd erupted in cheers with my name. "Tamara!"

    Sarah''s mouth dropped. But then she narrowed her eyes, nced at Lexi and

    then muttered something under her breath.

    "Got lucky, huh?" Lexi scoffed.

    We were on the board.

    l.ne

    But just as the match progressed, I felt a cold tension from Sarah. She kept moving into my way, trying to block my shots or deflect my passes Whenever I tried to make a good y, she''d trip me up, using every opportunity to sabotage my moves. One time I couldn''t resist and shouted, "What the hell are you doing?"

    Once, when I went to dive for a pass, Sarah purposely stepped on my foot, causing me to stumble and miss the ball. I could feel her smirk at the corner of my vision, as though she was pleased with herself.

    "Watch where you''re going," she

    muttered loud enough for only me to

    hear, a clear attempt to throw me off

    my game. She was such a fool. Why was she trying to make us lose the game? What was in it for her? Or was it that she wanted to make me look bad in front of Coach Dana?

    But I couldn''t let her get to me. I couldn''t let Sarah''s petty moves distract me. I took a deep breath, steeling myself. This was bigger than her. This was my chance to prove myself.

    The ball came to me again, and this time, I didn''t hesitate. I dodged Sarah''s interference, spinning around and sending the ball over the. Itnded perfectly, scoring another point for us.

    We were tied now.

    I could feel the momentum shifting. My teammates were getting excited, encouraged by the way I was ying. Sarah, however, wasn''t happy. Her face twisted in frustration as she red at me.

    I blew a strand of my hair from my face. I wasn''t going to let her ruin this. I led my team to the next point, calling for a well-timed serve that left the Dolphins scrambling. The game was on, and we were winning.

    The final score came down to onest point. I could feel the tension building as I rushed toward the ball, knowing that this was the moment. I jumped and spiked it onest time, sending it over the with everything I had.

    After a tense pause, a member of the opponent team, tried to take it, but shended on the ground, missing the ball.

    Oh. My. Goddess.

    We won.

    The crowd erupted in cheers. I stood there, frozen as I heard them. Several boys entered the court and lifted me, but the moment that happened, Matt made his way in, lifted me off them and made me sit on his shoulders, growling at them.

    Iughed as bnced myself on

    him. From the periphery of my vision, I saw Coach Dana blinking in saw disbelief. Lexi was jumping with our college people in excitement, while Sarah was standing on the sidelines, looking like a ghost. My gaze went to the girl she was staring at. And that girl was from Dolphins team. She looked like she could kill Sarah. Something

    was off.

    The referee announced our win, and our college people cheered harder. This was

    the first time they had won from Dolphins. Matt was so happy that he looked up at

    me. "Kiss me," he demanded.

    "Why?" I asked.

    "Just fucking kiss me!" he snapped.

    I couldn''t help it. I lowered myself and kissed on his forehead, but he captured the

    back on my neck and kissed my lips.

    "Matt!¡± I rasped. "Put me down!"

    He left me with a dark chuckle, but he didn''t put me down. Why did I feel like he was staking a im on me?

    Lexi came rushing to us. She was genuinely happy with tears in her eyes. "Great game, Tammy!" she said. "There''s a party

    tonight at my ce. I want you there. And your boyfriend too!" Saying that, she spun and hurried to her friends.

    Whoa! I never expected this day woulde. "He is not my boyfriend!" I shouted. "Yes, I''m not her boyfriend," Matt added. "I''m her soulmate."

 Rejected the alpha mate 192

    Attack

    Tamara POV

    As the crowd was still cheering for us, I couldn''t help but feel a rush of relief and pride. Despite how Sarah tried to sabotage it, we had won, and I had led us to victory. I was proud of myself, but Matt was prouder. He paraded with me on his shoulders throughout the court, beating his chest like Tarzan. I wasughing all the time. Gosh, he was such a baby. But I could sense his genuine pride through our bond. Ah well... I wouldn''t reject him for now.

    Finally, when we approached Coach Dana, he lowered me to the ground. Coach was in tears. She just pulled me to her and hugged me hard. When she removed herself, she wiped her tears. "In all my years, it''s the first time we have won against the Dolphins. Sarah and Lexi were fantastic yers and I always used to think that howe they never won against the Dolphins. This also led me to believe that our team is perhaps nothing, and that we needed more practice. But-¡± She ced her hands on my shoulders. "-our team is perfect. Today Sarah''s game was odd. She wasn''t helping Lexi at all. Instead, she was-" Coach Dana shook her head. "But, I''m proud of you Tamara. I''ll rmend your name for a schrship if you need it. If not, then you know that you have a permanent position on our team."

    Her words overwhelmed me. It felt like... closure. I always thought that she hated me. But in reality, she thought that I was useless for the team because if Sarah and Lexi couldn''t stand a chance against the Dolphins, I would never. "Thank you, Coach Dana," I said with a smile. "But where''s Sarah?" I asked, looking around. ¡°I was hoping to celebrate together." No, I wasn''t. But I was suspecting some foul y on her part, and I wanted to expose it.

    Coach Dana shrugged. "She gets upset after every match we lose, so she just leaves."

    "I see," I said, forcing a smile. The moment Coach Dana left I had this nagging feeling that lingered in the back of my mind. The victory felt sweet but Sarah''s action yed in my mind. They weren''t sitting right with me. Herck of support for Lexi and me was too obvious, and I wasn''t going to let it slide. I needed to know what she was up to.

    As we walked back to the locker rooms, Matt said, "Something''s bothering you." He stopped right in front of me, and I halted.

    "Yeah..." I replied, wondering if I should tell him or not.

    He narrowed his eyes. "I can sense and see confusion clouding your eyes. So, you better tell me what is going on in that little brain of yours."

    I smacked his chest. "Little brain?"

    He chuckled as he took my hand and kissed my knuckles, sending another jolt of electricity through my body. "I''m right here, Tam," he said, his voice tight with concern. "Like your shadow. Just tell me everything."

    I sighed. I think it was better to involve him because after all, he was the Alpha of his pack. He must havee across such situations more than me. So as we walked to the locker room, I narrated everything to him. In the end I said, "I highly suspect that Sarah was actually trying to sabotage the game. She couldn''t do much with Lexi, so she thought she would disrupt my game, and if we lost, she would have med me."

    Matt clenched his jaw, thinking hard. There was a long pause, after which he said, "Go and change. Don''t say a word about it to anyone, okay?"

    I nodded as unease knotted in my stomach.

    "Meet me in the next ss," he added, and hurried away.

    I let out a rough exhale and stepped inside. But the moment I stepped inside, Sarah''s cold, calcting expression was hard to ignore. She was cornered, chatting with a few of the other girls of the opposing team, but when she saw me, her posture stiffened. She clenched her jaw and red at me with all the hatred in the world. That confirmed my doubts. Shouldn''t she be happy with me that we won the game?

    I walked over to my locker, pretending to focus on changing, but my mind was working in overdrive. What was her endgame? And why was she speaking with the opponents so seriously? All the girls who were with her, looked at me. There was an awkward pause. One of them gave me a tight smile, and then walked away. I felt nervous, but I avoided them, took my clothes out of the locker, and went to take a bath. When I returned, I saw that Sarah and others weren''t there. I picked up my bag and walked out of the locker room. As soon as I was out, someone pushed me from behind. A ck bag was shoved over my head and my hands were tied behind me. "You need a lesson!" someone hissed as they pushed

    1. me.

    "What is going on?" I rasped, confused as hell. "Who are you?"

    They grabbed my arms and continued to push me roughly. A few minutester, when the bag from my face was lifted, I saw that I was in a lonely room. And there were three girls with baseball bats surrounding me. "What do you want?" I asked, my eyes widening in anger and shock.

    "You fucking bitch!" one of them said. "You had the audacity to win against the Dolphins? This match was going to take

    Attack

    them to the country team, but you fucking sabotaged it! We will teach you a lesson now."

    I raised my eyebrow. "You are mad. You all didn''t y well and you are ming me for your defeat?"

    "Shut up!" the second one roared. "We are going to make a pulp out of your hands, whore! You will never be able to lift a ball, let alone lift your hand!" With that she swung the bat toward me. I shrieked and ducked, avoiding the bat. "Stop it!" I shouted. "Before it is toote."

    ¡°It is toote to stop us!" the third one shouted, and without warning swung her bat toward my legs. It hit me on my thigh and I screamed in pain.

    This was it. They didn''t know that I was a werewolf, and a trained one. Angel wanted toe out and show them who we were, but I knew that there was a treaty to be respected. But even in my human form I was better than them. They were messing with the wrong girl.

    "I''m warning you," I said, as I

    snapped the rope that had tied my hands. As it fell behind me, the girls eyes widened. They stepped forward. I stepped back as the three girls swinging the baseball bats closed in, their eyes full of malice. Together, they swung their bats at me.

    With a quick motion, I ducked low and punched the first girl square in the stomach, knocking the wind out of her. She screamed as she went flying to the wall on the side.

    "What the fuck!" The second one

    said, and swung her bat, but I grabbed it mid-air, twisted, and sent her sprawling. Then I broke her bat, mming it on my thighs. As she watched me with horror in her eyes, I stammed my fist on her shoulder. I

    heard a crack, followed by her scream filled with pain.

    The third one e was now totally confused. She couldn''t believe that I had put down herpanions so fast. She came at me, but Inded a clean punch to her chest, sending her tumbling to the ground. The punch was packed with enough power to not crack her ribs. I stood over them, breathing hard. "Never mess with me again," I warned, leaving them shocked and motionless.

    When I reached my next ss, I saw Matt over there. He pursed his lips. In a low voice, he said, "I have made an officialint to the Dean about Sarah."

    "What?" I was shocked.

    The history professor shot us a re.

    I lowered my voice, "What?"

    He nodded with a tight expression. "He has called us to prove it in an hour."

    "But

    don''t have proof!" I said. "And-" I leaned closer to him. "The opposing team''s college girls tried to beat me." His face darkened, as his alpha aura slipped out. "Who?" he asked.

    "I''ve already taken care of them," I assured him.

    "You are identifying who they were as soon as we are out." He looked murderous.

    I shook my head. "They won''t mess with me again, Matt, but you''ve put us in jeopardy with Dean!" But Matt wasn''t convinced.

    He didn''t answer, and throughout the ss I was nervous. What was the Dean going to say? I might have be his favorite problem.

    After the ss, we headed straight to the Dean''s office, where I was going to dismiss charges against Sarah until I had proof.

    However, when I reached there, what happened was beyond my imagination.

    Subscribed

 Rejected the alpha mate 193

    For Money

    Tamara POV

    We walked into the Dean''s office, where the air thick with tension. Unease gnawed at me. I had no proof. I couldn''t bring myself to expose Sarah like that without solid evidence, but here I was, in front of the Dean, about to potentially ruin her future.

    "What are we going to say?" I asked Matt as we walked there.

    "Tell him what she did with you," he growled, clearly still unhappy about the attack on me.

    "Matt," I said, stopping him. "This is not going to work. Last time the Dean gave me a warning that if I pulled another prank, he would expel me!"

    But Matt wasn''t only listening. As we approached the Dean''s office, I saw Sarah hovering around. As soon as she saw me, at first she was surprised, then she stormed toward me. "You fucking wench!"

    Matt let out a low growl as he shoved me behind his back. Sarah practically stopped in her tracks, feeling the aura of his alpha power. She flinched, her eyes wide.

    "If you touch her, I''ll make sure that every bone in your body is broken. You won''t get out of the hospital for the rest of the year!"

    Sarah backed away. "Sh-sheined about me to the Dean. And what evidence do you have?" she asked me.

    I stepped out from behind Matt. "You sent those girls to injure me, didn''t you?" I asked, narrowing my eyes. ¡°No, I didn''t,¡± she lied through her teeth. ¡°What are you even talking about?"

    I knew that Sarah would never openly admit to her crime. "If it is proven that you sent those girls to hit me, you will be expelled from the college and go to prison."

    Sarah crossed her arms across her chest. "I don''t know what you''re talking about. But, know this bitch, I will ruin your beachball carrier and every other carrier in your life. You are not just on my radar, but on many radars."

    Wow.

    Matt''s anger was barely contained. "No Sarah," he hissed. "You don''t get it. The thing is that you don''t mess with people like us. As for Tam, she doesn''t fucking need a carrier. Her parents, and her boyfriend, are so fucking rich that you can''t even fathom. Oh, don''t even talk about our reach in the political system of this country." Then he stepped closer to her. Sarah trembled and stepped back, paling a little. "I''ll fucking put you six feet under the ground, and no one will evere to know about it." At this Sarah''s blood drained from her face. "So don''t you fucking mess with my Tamara. Again."

    I should have stopped Matt from threatening her, but a gush of pride swelled in my chest. The way he protected me was overwhelming. I swallowed the lump of emotions and took a deep breath in to calm my racing heart. And I knew that whatever Dean had in mind, Matt was with me.

    "The Dean is calling you all," his secretary announced, disrupting our conversation.

    Matt caught my wrist and we entered his office.

    Dean Smith looked up when we entered. He had and unreadable expression. "Tamara, Matt," he greeted us in a low, authoritative voice. "Come in. Sit down."

    Matt nodded and guided me to a seat beside him. I sat stiffly, my fingers curling into fists in myp, trying to steady my racing heart.

    Sarah sat down two chairs away, leaning away from Matt, still recovering from the threat of his words.

    "So," the Dean began, folding his hands on the desk, "Matt''sint about Sarah is quite serious. You both need to exin yourselves."

    "They are both lying, Dean Smith!" Sarah snapped. "How can I sabotage my own team. I''ve been a part of this team for past two years. I''ve never missed a practice match, been very diligent with my game, Coach Dana likes me, and yet these two had the audacity of using me of sabotaging the game. I didn''t sabotage it. In fact, we won the game. Instead of being praised for winning a game, I am sitting in the office, facing wrong usations?"

    "But your contribution was nothing more than hampering the game," Matt scoffed. "Enough!" Dean Smith gritted.

    "Is there any evidence that Sarah was trying to Sessfully unlocked!e end, it''s the victory that matter."

    I took a deep breath, ready to speak up, when Matt cut in. were not using her without reason," he said in a firm voice."

    We have evidence."

    I shot him a surprised nce. He was taking the lead in this, but I didn''t want him to make things worse for us without the proof to back it up. But he had evidence?

    For Money

    "What evidence?" the Dean asked, leaning forward, intrigued. "Because if this is a baseless usation, there will be consequences for both of you."

    I knew what he meant. False usations could lead to disciplinary action, and it wasn''t something I wanted hanging over my head. I nced at Sarah, who seemed like she had seen a ghost. She froze on her spot.

    "Y-you are lying," she said in a raspy voice. "You are fabricating evidence."

    I started to speak, but Matt''s grip tightened on my hand, a silent reassurance. His gaze was unwavering. He took out a slip of paper and said, "When the game was over, and these girls went to change in their locker rooms, I went to Sarah''s dorm."

    My mouth dropped.

    ¡°What?¡± Sarah shrieked. "How dare you? That''s invasion of privacy!"

    Matt ignored her as he slid the paper to Dean. "She had tucked under her bed. She had obviously forgotten it."

    When Dean read it, his face turned ashen white, and then beetroot red. "What is this?" he shouted at Sarah as he showed it

    to her.

    The note was a payment receipt from a third-party business, with fifty thousand dors listed. There was also a handwritten note at the bottom, barely visible: "This is for thest match. The Dolphins expect more next time. Don''t let them lose. Or you''ll pay the price."

    My heart stopped, as I stared at it in disbelief. Matt was so smart.

    This was proof. Sarah wasn''t working for the team at all. She was being paid to throw games. The Dolphins were involved, and I had a sinking feeling this had been going on for a while.

    Sarah looked like she would get a heart attack. "Th-this isn''t mine! Matt is trying to f-frame me," she stuttered.

    "Sarah''s been sabotaging us," Matt said, his voice firm. "She''s been getting paid to make sure we lose against the Dolphins. They promised her money if she made us lose. And it''s been happening for a while now."

    "Why would you do this? Why would you betray us?" Dean Smith asked, feeling both confused and betrayed. "I''ve never seen anything like this in all my life. A student going against their own college, their own team?"

    "I haven''t done anything!" Sarah cried.

    Matt''s jaw tightened. "Money," he said, voice hard. "She''s always been about the money, the luxuries. I went through her cupboard and

    ransacked her dorm. She has various designer watches, jewelry andes in a sports Porche, which costs way too much for a schrship student to afford. She is living above her means."

    "But why the Dolphins?" I pressed. "Why throw the games for them?"

    The Dean was utterly shocked. "You have a sports Porche? Who bought it for

    you? As far as I know, your father is a plumber."

    ¡°I-I... It-it... it is Lexi''s..." Sarah stuttered. "It isn''t mine."

    "Don''t speak lies and frame Lexi," I snapped. "Lexi doesn''t have a car!"

    Sarah started trembling as we cornered her. Dean shouted on her. "Speak the

    truth, Sarah, and I will consider if I shouldn''t send you to prison." "Noooo!" she shrieked. "Please, no!" Tears rolled out of her eyes.

    Matt shook his head, his voice low. "She is part of something bigger. The Dolphins probably approached her when they saw how much potential this team had. They must''ve offered her money to make sure we never won against them. The Dolphins wanted to qualify for the country''s championship, and Sarah helped them. For money."

    "You sold out your own team?" Dean Smith couldn''t help but ask. "You betrayed

    us for what? So you could have a few more luxury items?"

    Her eyes met his. "Dean Smith, this was- You don''t understand."

    He mmed his fist on the desk. "I understand everything!" he roared. "Had Matt never given this evidence to me, I would have dismissed his usations and you would have gone on to sabotage our games in future. You are nothing but a viper. And I don''t want you in my college."

    "No!" Sarah breathed. "Please Dean Smith. There''s some misunderstanding!"

    "Get out!" he roared. "I don''t want to see your face." Dean Smith looked like he could explode.

    For a moment I felt pity for Sarah, but my feeling was reced by anger. Not only

    she betrayed her team members, she sent her minions to attack me and injure me to teach me a lesson.

    Sarah was so shaky that she got up and walked out, wiping her tears. She didn''t have the audacity to meet my eyes.

    Dean Smith thanked us and dismissed us as he started making calls. When we came out I felt this sense of resolution, and felt like this was victory.

    For Money

    "Hungry?" Matt asked.

    And my stomach growled. "Yes!"

 Rejected the alpha mate 194

    Party

    Party

    The party was wild.

    Lexi threw it to celebrate our win against the Dolphins. The entire campus seemed

    to have showed up, crowding into the Union house. Music sted through the speakers andughter spilled into the hall. The lights were dim, shing in all sorts of neon colors. People were chatting and dancing, and the air was filled with excitement. There were Solo cups littered across the whole ce as we navigated our way through the crowd.

    "Where''s Lexi?" I muttered under my breath. Even though the music was ring, Matt listened to me.

    "She must be around," he said, ncing at the boys and girls clinging to each other while dancing. Some of them were so much into each other that I couldn''t decide where one began and the other ended.

    Matt walked beside me, his broad shoulders and his persona making him look like a hulk. When a boy deliberately touched my shoulder, he immediately cupped it, growling at him. The air crackled under his touch. My body hummed with awareness of him, and his constant attention to me wasn''t helping. Despite all the fun around me, all I wanted was... him. I couldn''t believe we had won. After all the sabotage, the pressure, and the tension, we finally beat the Dolphins. I didn''t know what it meant, or who would be the next team member, but I pushed aside those thoughts for once.

    The party felt like a distraction. The loud music, the cheers, and Matt. His hand tightened around my shoulder, and I felt it like a spark traveling through my veins.

    We walked into the corner of the room, and Lexi immediately spotted us. She rushed over, her smile bright and jubnt.¡± Tam! Matt! You made it!" she squealed. She practically tackled me into a hug, her energy contagious. "We finally did it! We beat the Dolphins! I still can''t believe it!"

    Her excitement was contagious, and I found myself smiling. At first, her action was suspicious, but when Angel noticed that she was genuine, I melted. This was the same Lexi who had made my life unbearable all the past days. Probably she was under Sarah''s influence.

    So Iughed and hugged her back. I had to admit, it felt good to finally have the victory. We deserved this moment.

    "I still can''t believe you two pulled it off," Lexi continued, pulling back from the hug. Her eyes glimmered as she scanned us both. "It feels like a dream, doesn''t it?"

    It did. A surreal dream.

    Then Lexi caught my writs, and pulled me out of there. Of course, Matt followed. When we were alone on the porch, she made us sit on the swing as Matt leaned over the rail with his hips.

    ¡°Tamara,¡± Lexi started. "I''m so sorry for how I behaved with you the past days. But know this-it was Sarah who poisoned me against you. She said that you were supposed to go for the basketball team, but you pushed your way into the beachball team. So...." she lowered her head. "I was furious. We asked Coach Dana to recheck whether you are in our team or not because you didn''t have prior experience. She rechecked and she said that you were indeed in our team. It''s really strange how you ended up on the beachball team, but I''m so d that you are with us!"

    I chuckled. "Even I don''t know, how I ended up here. I had filled out my college application saying I wanted to join the basketball team."

    Lexi pursed her lips. "If it helps you, then all I can say is that I saw Sarah talking to Professor Tulip a few days ago. I mean, I heard about yours and Matt''s spat with her, but maybe I am overthinking?"

    Matt frowned. "You just saw, or you even heard a conversation between them?"

    She sighed. "I couldn''t hear much honestly. Something like, is it done...? She shrugged, unsure about it. "They stopped talking once they noticed me. At that time, I didn''t give it any importance. But now that I think of it in retrospect, I feel like there could be a connection."

    An awkward silence descended upon us. Tulip was involved with Sarah? And was she behind the change in my application? But what was the purpose? It sounded so bizarre that I couldn''t wrap my head around it.

    "But now that it is behind us," Lexi added. "I don''t want to even think of that traitor!" Sheughed nervously. "So, what are you two drinking?" she asked, her eyes shifting between me and Matt, as she tried to lift the mood.

    "I don''t know," I muttered, ncing at Matt, who stood silently, his eyes looking in nk space. The tension was palpable.

    "Come on," Lexi insisted, grabbing a bottle of wine from the table. "I''m celebrating. You deserve a drink too, Tamara. After everything we''ve been through!"

    Before I could protest, she dragged me inside. She took me to the kitchen and poured it into the red cup and handed it over. I hesitated for only a moment. It had been a long day, and I didn''t want to be the buzzkill. So, I took the ss, swirling the liquid inside as I gave a small, hesitant smile. Lexi handed the whole beer can to him.

    Matt didn''t seem thrilled with the idea of me having it, but he didn''t say anything. Instead, he gave me that ferocious,

    0

    Party

    protective look, like he was constantly watching over me, even in a crowded room.

    I felt it, deep in my bones. We walked outside to where the party was.

    I took a sip, the wine smooth and

    sweet as it went down, warming my chest. It was nice. I took more sips and in a few minutes, I felt like I could conquer the world. The alcohol made me feel a little more rxed, and I couldn''t help but smile as I started to feel the effects. I looked around, noticing the wild behavior of a few other girls and boys in the room.

    Suddenly, one of them was dancing provocatively near Matt. She was too close to him, for my liking. Her eyes were locked on him, her moves slow and deliberate as she swayed her hips. She was trying to get his attention-and she wasn''t subtle about it. She wanted him, that much was clear.

    A pang of jealousy shot through me. It wasn''t even about the way she moved. It was the way she looked at him. I wanted to gouge her eyes. My hands fisted and every logic, every restraint that I had built inside me, felt like it was crumbling.

    I tried to focus on the conversation, but the energy in the room was changing. I could feel it. The wine was starting to hit me, but my nerves kept buzzing as I nced back at Matt.

    Then, without warning, the girl turned toward me, her lips curling into a sly smile, like she was saying that by the end of the night, Matt would be in her bed.

    Something red inside. Why was I feeling like murdering her?

    Matt was my boyfriend. How dare she seduce him?

    Before I knew it, I said through gritted teeth, "Back off. He''s mine."

    Her eyes widened, her gaze flicking between us. Then, before I could understand

    my actions, I climbed onto a table in front of Matt. With my eyes locking on his, my body moved seductively. The room went quiet for a moment as everyone''s attention turned toward me.

    Goddess, I didn''t know what had ovee me. All I wanted was Matt''s full attention on me. It was surely the alcohol inside me. Definitely not the mate bond.

    "What''s the matter, Matt?" I purred, swaying her hips slowly as she danced. "You''re too quiet. You shoulde join me, don''t you think?"

    I stared at him, my movements so overtly sexual. Someone stop me. I wanted

    him. I could feel his eyes on me, the intensity of his gaze burning into me.

    I leaned over

    r to him. "Matt..." I

    whispered, more to myself than to anyone. But I couldn''t ignore the sudden rush of emotions. The music got louder, and so did the swaying of my hips. The crowd started cheering madly. Matt bit his bottom lip as he watched me with intensity that made me want to clench my thighs. There was no mistaking the feral look in his eyes.

    I continued, not oblivious to the

    storm building in Matt''s gaze. "Come on, Matt. Don''t be shy." I turned in a way that my butt was right into his face. And what I did next was beyond me. I swayed them like a belly dancer. A boy tried to grab me. Then, something happened. In one smooth motion, Matt stood up, his chair scraping against the floor. He pushed him aside. "No one touches what''s mine,¡± he growled under his breath, his voice low and dangerous.

    "Ooooh!"

    "Ahhhhh!"

    More such voices followed as Matt sat down again.

    The air thickened, a tension hanging between Matt and me.

    He grabbed my waist. "You are mine, Tamara," he said, his voice raw and deep,

    just for me to hear. "And if you continue doing this, I will spank you so hard that your butt will turn red!"

    His words were possessive, making my heart race. I swallowed hard, feeling sexy. Like I wanted him to spank me. ¡°Then spank me, Daddy." Saying that I climbed onto hisp.

 Rejected the alpha mate 195

    Who Cared

    Who Cared

    Tamara POV

    The moment I climbed onto hisp again, Matt gasped. I could feel his heart racing, but he didn''t let me go. He held me firmly, possessively, his arms like iron bands around me.

    "Don''t move, Tamara," he murmured, his lips brushing my ear. "Because then I wouldn''t be able to handle myself"

    But I was on a different path tonight. I twirled in hisp and swayed my hips side side. I flipped my hair to the side. As the music turned louder, I bent down in hisp in a sexy position, swingling my ass. His handsy on my waist and my skin began to tingle. He lowered his face into the crook of my neck, inhaling my scent, and I purred.

    "You''re so fucking sexy, Tam..." he deeply whispered in my ear, kissing my ear softly.

    I looked at him with a teasing smile, and then I looked down my body. Gods above. It felt like my expressions were reflecting my thoughts. I wanted him to touch me. Sciously. Yep, it was alcohol talking Not my brain.

    When he didn''t, I licked my lips and went on to bite his chin. I got down, walked around the chair, working my hips up and down with the music. When I was in front of him, I ran my fingers down his chest. I stood in front of him with my chest leaning towards his face and my butt slightly out. Then I slowly lowered myself into hisp and straddled his legs. When I rolled my hips again, another feral growl emanated from his chest because I think I touched his very huge bulge.

    Before I could process what was happening, he grabbed the back of my neck, pulled me toward him, and kissed me hard-a kiss full of heat and need, and for a moment, I let myself feel everything. It was an all-consuming kiss that burned me, charred me, left me wanton.

    "Let''s go," Matt muttered, suddenly standing up and hauling me over his shoulder.

    I squealed as my hair fell down. "Put me down!" I eximed, kicking my legs.

    He spanked my butt hard. "If you don''t stop this, I''ll punish you."

    "Ooh! Punish me!" I chuckled. But would he? Damn it. My thoughts were all over the ce. And why did I feel like I wanted to clench my thighs.

    Hisrge hands squeezed one of my butt cheeks roughly as he inhaled my scent. The warmth from his touch lingered, sending an electric jolt through me. I couldn''t suppress the sudden desire that sparked deep in my belly. His scent enveloped me, and the rumble from his chest only made my heart race faster.

    His chest vibrated with a rumble. He marched out of the room, taking me upstairs, away from the party. "You invited this," he muttered.

    As he carried me upstairs, everyone shouted and squealed, but the voices faded in distance when he opened a room, walked in with me, and mmed it shut. There was no escaping him now. I was entirely at his mercy, caught between wanting to push him away and needing him to pull me closer.

    I didn''t know whose room was this, but it was small and had a double bed. Matt sat down on the bed as he lifted me and straddled me on hisp in a way that I was lying across him, my butt in the air. He held my waist tightly to steady me. Then he leaned in, his breath warm against my ear. "You invited this," he whispered.

    I squirmed in hisp, feeling the heat radiating from him. He lifted my skirt, and brushed my butt-cheeks with hisrge palm. "Are you ready, Tammy?" he asked.

    Before I could say a word, he smacked my butt. "Ah!" I gasped as the sound echoed. Goddess, it was such a sensuous moment that I found myself going back for him.

    His breath turned shallow. He lowered my panties and squeezed my butt, a feral growl escaping him. He lifted his hand and spanked me again. I gasped, loving it. Left, right, left, right. He continued to spank me until my butt-cheeks were stinging in pain, until my pussy was weeping. I cried, wanting something, wanting him to do something.

    "Look how wet you are for me," he rasped. "And look at that lovely red butt!" I moaned when he brought his finger in between my thighs, right where over my pussy. To my embarrassment, I found myself rubbing myself against his fingers. He chuckled darkly and rubbed me harder over there.

    "Ahhh!" I moaned. "Ummm... I-I need..."

    "What do you need, Tammy?" he asked as he increased his pace.

    "I-I need..."

    Suddenly, he took his fingers to my clit and pinched it. I screamed as heat coiled tighter in my belly. Something like tsunami crashed into me. But he immediately removed his fingers. "What do you want?" he growled again.

    "Please, Matt..." I moaned, hating the loss of his fingers.

    "Please, what?" he insisted.

    Who Cared

    "In-need t-toe!"

    His chest vibrated with another rumble. "Yes, baby!'' He brought his fingers to my clit and rubbed it hard, keeping his thumb on my pussy. The sensation was so sensuous that within a few seconds, I came all over his fingers, screaming hard Stars burst into my vision and continued toe. Matt didn''t leave me. He cupped my sex until the wave of my orgasm passed through. Once I opened my eyes, trying to gather my thoughts, he picked me up in hisp. Then he took his fingers into his mouth and licked my juices from there while maintaining his gaze on me. Goddess, this was the most erotic sight of my life. But what happened next was something I couldn''t forget.

    "Now I want those lips around my cock," he demanded.

    And I wanted it. No. I craved it. He made me kneel in between his legs, and opened his zipper.

    My eyes couldn''t steer away from him. He pulled out his raging cock, and I stifled

    a moan. It was the most beautiful thing I''d seen in my life. Long, rock hard with velvety skin stretched over its thickness. A thick vein on the side throbbed.

    "Been dreaming about it," he rasped.

    I couldn''t handle my emotions and my hand shot to cup his bollocks.

    Matt POV

    I couldn''t stop licking her orgasm. I wanted to lift her like a chalice and drink from

    it, but I didn''t want to scare her. I had to take it at her pace. The tremors of pleasure began even before I had made her kneel in front of me. The fact that she kneeled in front of me without getting frightened, aroused me even more. I was already on the verge ofing. And the way she stared at my swollen cock, I said, "Touch it."

    She fondled my sac and stroked it. My heart stopped with the first touch of my mate. I went dizzy with pleasure. Somehow, I managed to utter, "Put your lips on

    it."

    She leaned in, but she hesitated. And her hesitation was enough for me to understand that she hadn''t ever done this before. It only made me feel joyous. In order to help her, I held the back of her head with one shaking hand and my cock with the other. I guided her closer. Taste me, baby." I was shaking with anticipation, afraid that I''de spontaneously. I inhaled a ragged breath when her tongue darted out and she licked my slit. My eyes rolled in my head, and I bucked uncontrobly toward her tongue. "Now, just take me in.¡± I kept still when she opened her mouth and I fed my shaft to her. Goosebumps scattered over my skin. "Suck it between your lips."

    As soon as her mouth was wrapped around my cock, I felt my world spinning with a dizzying speed. "Gods, woman!" She gazed up at me and started sucking it deeper, deeper until her cheeks hollowed.

    No, no. I couldn''t hold my cum. With a desperate groan, I said, "About toe."

    I had been dreaming of this ever since I knew that she was my mate. It was my fantasy, and now that my fantasy was turning into a reality, I felt like I woulde in three measured strokes. Veles! I wanted to wait, savor her mouth, but I couldn''t. I ejacted with a roar that shook the sses and doors of the room. Probably house. Who cared. I came and came until I was sure that every drop of my seed was inside her.

    Once I finished spending, I removed my cock from her mouth and pulled her in my arms. Between kisses, I said, "I''m going to suck your pussy next time, and you''ll allow it."

    When she shivered in my arms, I knew that she would.

    "Mark my words, Tammy, in time, you''ll be praying for me to get inside you." I made her lie next to me,

    knowing fully well how tired she

    was. petted her hair until she had passed out. And then I dozed off next to her fitfully. When Lawakened, my cock was hard as wood. I debated if I should wake her with my tongue between her thighs, but I decided not to push her. So I sat on the chair, ignoring the ache in my cock, and gazed at her, which was my favorite sight.

 Rejected the alpha mate 196

    Utilize Me

    Matt POV

    Seeing Tamara sleeping was bing my favorite sight these days. She was so beautiful. I think I fell in love with her the first day I saw her. The little bundle I wanted to take care all the time. Otherwise why would a ten-year-old protect a six months old pup in a forest filled with beasts and rogues? It was the most bizarre thing I ever did in my life, and would remain the most bizarre all my life. I didn''t think it had an exnation. Honestly, I didn''t want to think of an exnation. All I knew was that I treasured her back when we were pups.

    My little mate was so beautiful that it took my breath away, seeing her. Veles had been extremely benevolent to me.

    In her sleep, her brows drew together. She tossed a little and started panting. My gaze went to the wilting flowers of a vase in the room. And suddenly it felt like they were perking up. I think it was a trick of my mind. I turned my gaze back to Tamara, thinking of what we shared. My heart raced when those thoughts flooded my mind. The unbelievable pleasure we had shared was only the beginning. I was going to seduce her more so that she surrenderedpletely.

    Tamara moaned in her sleep. And I became alert. Was she thinking the same thing that I was. I frowned when she moaned again, and this time it was louder. In order to see what was affecting her, I moved closer, crawled on the bed and hovered over her. It was a moan, but that out of fear. Like she got a nightmare. And it was getting worse.

    I slid beside her and pulled her across my chest. Then I ran my fingers through her hair. She snuggled into me and calmed down, going back to sleep. However, momentster, I felt wetness on my arms. Horrified, I looked at her face and found her crying. "Tammy, what happened, baby?" I whispered, but she didn''t wake up. Instead, she continued to sleep. My gaze went to the flowers in the vase, and I swear I saw them perking up again.

    I shook my head because I was probably getting affected by Tammy crying. But why was she crying in her nightmare? I needed to uncover what had happened to my little mate. I was going to peel everyyer of her misery carefully, patiently." You have to tell me what''s wrong, love," I murmured and tucked her head beneath my chin before closing my eyes. But sleep never came.

    Tamara POV

    I snuggled into his chest, loving the warmth and his smell. Ever since Matt had been sleeping in my bed, I slumbered deeply. The morning light was filtering through the curtains when I fluttered open my eyes. It was a beautiful world. But then I was only gazing at him. What transpired between usst night was surreal. I was under the influence of alcohol, but it wasn''t like I didn''t remember anything. It all felt very natural, but this was my first time doing anything so intimate with him. A blush crept on my cheeks.

    "I''m still as handsome," he rumpled, creaking open one eyes. "As you found mest night, baby."

    I jerked back, taking the sheet with me. Goddess, thankfully he didn''t see that I had a hand poised right above his lips. She was just a breath away from feeling them. And I wanted to rub his stubble with my fingers. Why was he so handsome?

    Finally, he opened both his eyes and grinned. "But it seemed like you liked it. Happy to show you my package again."

    I gasped, my blush deepening. I bit my bottom lip and flopped on the pillow. He didn''t push me into anything I didn''t want and that was a big relief. But I couldn''t help sighing at the magnificent male I was with. Last night, he didn''t allow any girl to touch him, and didn''t allow any boy to do the same. He was so possessive and feral that my heart somersaulted. Angel only purred, reveling in this.

    "How did you sleep?" he asked, turning to me.

    I really wanted to know what he was thinking about me. "I slept well," I said. Actually like a log. When I realized that he was staring at me intensely, I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear. Was he recalling what we had donest night? I had never been this intimate with anyone in my life, so I didn''t know how to behave. He was looking at me like I was a puzzle he wanted to fix. And suddenly, my stomach growled.

    His lids grew heavy. "You''re hungry. I need to feed you." Saying that, he jumped out of the bed, wore his shirt. Goddess, I preferred shirtless. Maybe that''s how I would ask him to stay with me. Like what? Was I nning on marrying him?

    "Come on, baby," he said, buttoning his shirt. "I know you be moody when not fed."

    I stifled a chuckle. Because I was getting very hungry these days. It was odd. Angel was demanding a lot of food which was strange. I mean, she was a lovely, strong wolf. Then why was she demanding more than I had?

    We were on our way to the cafeteria in less than fifteen minutes. The moment we came down in the Union House, I saw that the ce was littered with Solo cups and for

    Sessfully unlocked! and there in odd positions, which meant that they were sleeping deep.

    Matt held my hand all the way to the cafeteria, and he had this silly grin on his face. Once there, he filled a te for me with bacon and cheese, made me sit in a quiet corner and then went to take his breakfast.

    I really needed a bath, so after breakfast, I went to my dorm. "I''ll meet in a few," I said and hurried inside. I heard him sighing.

    Utilize Me

    Shower was what I needed badly, so I hurried inside the bathroom, intending a quick one. I took out all my clothes and stepped into the shower stall.

    The door opened; I froze, naked. His lips curled into that feral grin.

    "What are you doing here?" I managed to squeal.

    "Forget this," he said, ogling me from top to bottom.

    "Get out!" I shouted.

    He took a deep breath in, and once he closed the door behind him, I heard him

    mumbling, ¡°This girl will be the death of me."

    I let out a sigh of relief. Last night,

    Matt had restrained himself while giving me all the pleasure. And what an orgasm it was. I think I was ruined by my mate for anyone else in this world. He knew me well, understood me better than everyone around us. I got out of the shower and got dressed in a panda shirt and white shorts. I didn''t know why, but I felt like putting some makeup on. So I wore applied kohl on my eyes and some lip gloss.

    I was about to go out, when my gazended on his bag. Curiosity got the better of me. I shouldn''t, but I found myself opening the front zipper to see what all he had. And the first thing that came in hand wasrge condoms. Like veryrge. Special ones for shifters.

    My mouth dropped. Were these for

    other women? They must have been. Though I had no right to be jealous had sent his away repeatedly-the idea left me jealous as hell. Not just that, I felt ferally possessive about him. It made me mad to even imagine that he could use these condoms with anyone else. But was he? Images of him with other women was enough to raise a storm of fury inside me. All I wanted was to kill those women now.

    There was a scrap of noise on the other side of the door. I immediately shoved back those condoms, and he burst inside the room. ¡°You''ve already showered,¡± he deted It was then I noticed a pair of spare clothes in his hands. "Girl, I want you to utilize me. Likepletely. I would have given you a nice bath!"

 Rejected the alpha mate 197

    Summer

    Summer

    Third POV

    Selothis sat alone in the dimly lit room surrounded by shadows. Shadows whichforted him and also brought him angst. They demanded revenge. Had been demanding it from centuries. His dark, cold eyes stared out into the nothingness as he thought about the past, about the battle that had changed everything. The battle between him and the Moon Goddess.

    All he wanted was to take control of her empire, make her his mate, and then rule the world. But the goddess didn''t sumb to his charms or his threats. Instead, she challenged him. For a battle.

    He remembered the day he was cast out of the heavens like it was yesterday. The Moon Goddess, with her power and light and magic at her fingertips, defeated him, sending him to a dark, forgotten ce. She had sealed him in a way that he could never return to his kingdom, where he once ruled. It was a battle that left him wounded. But wounds were never an issue with him because the wound healed. It was the anger, the humiliation and the fact that he was defeated by a woman that made him mad. She had sent him away to the deepest depths of earth. But he had finally emerged after battling with evil forces, and ever since then, he had been waiting plotting, but growing weaker in the shadows. His magic was dying.

    His only desire was revenge. He had waited for centuries for the time when he could finally rise again. The only way back to his world was blood of her direct descendants. Ones she had carefully hidden in this realm. He knew that they were born from time to time. He had sent out his minions to search for them, but they returned empty handed. Without their blood, he would remain in the dark, unable to reim the power and dominion he once enjoyed.

    He sat there, drinking whiskey, thinking of how many more years he had to stay. The cold room felt suffocating, and as the shadows danced around him, he found it oddlyforting. Somehow, the dark God, knew that the time to sacrifice the bloodline wasing soon. And he was so prepared. He had already set hos n into motion.

    Selothis had made a cult of his own. His loyal followers who served him without question. He had that power on him. He recruited them, using their weakness, and then turned them into fanatics. Because they would be the ones who would help him achieve his goal. In this world, they were his eyes, his hands and did everything hemanded. They feared him. After years of creating this cult, he was now revered as undisputable head. The only way they didn''t know his true face was because it was mandatory for everyone to hide their faces behind masks. Only he knew the real faces of his cult members, and he revealed his face to them only once, during indoctrination. After that no one saw it.

    Summer

    Right now, though, there was a small task at hand-a very important one. The dissection of a werewolf. The girl had been brought over by his cult members. They believed her to be the direct descendent of moon goddess''s bloodline. The only way to know that she was the direct descendent was to let her blood flow. He would smell it, taste it a little. If it gave him enough power, he would know that she was right. If not, then he would have to kill her and do away with her.

    As he got up from his chair, Selothis murmured, "Soon, it will be over. I''ll go back, and then I''lle for you Cressida."

    As he walked out of his room, hemanded the shadows not to follow him and scare his cultists. He pulled down the mask over his face.

    The shadows whined, but they remained behind. Selothis entered the hall where ten cultists surrounded the table on which a girl sprawled was lying with her hands and feet tied. She looked at them all with wild eyes. Other members

    "Leave me!" she shouted. "Please leave me. This is a big mistake!"

    Selothis sniffed the air. There was nothing ordinary about the smell of the girl, but

    it was possible that she hiding her smell.

    The girl whipped her head to him as

    he walked near her. As soon as he

    ced his hand over her heart, holding the dagger in the other, the girl screamed. They all screamed, and he hated their screams. He wanted to silence them. They were nothing

    but a means to an end. He had dissected thousands of werewolves in his centuries of

    lifetime. It was a small payback to the goddess.

    "No, please, no!" the girl shouted. "What are you doing? Who are you? Trust me, I''m only amoner. I don''t have any connections. I don''t identify myself as a witch. You are-"

    "Hush!" he growled. He needed to kill her fast, if she wasn''t the one. Her heart was beating fast. He hated it He wanted to stop it. He snapped his fingers to one his cult members. That woman brought a spray and sprayed on the girl. The girl shouted, but soon she sumbeband lost consciousness.

    He lifted the dagger higher in the air. With great force he brought it down but just before he could plunge it, the door of the main hall opened. Surprised, he whipped his head to look at who there was who had the audacity to barge in his secret ce. No

    one had ever done that before.

    A young boy along with a group of dozen werewolves and a dozen humans entered with baseball bats, chains and whips.

    "Release her!" he shouted, his face contorted in fury.

    Shock rippled through the cultists. "Kill them!" Selothis shouted and lifted his dagger again. He couldn''t leave this chance. He had to kill the girl and the werewolves as well.

    Summer

    But it was toote. The boy was on him with his werewolves as other humans tackled his cultists. Mayhem ensued.

    Before he knew it, the boy had attacked him and wed him in the side. Selothis hissed in pain. He wanted to kill the boy, but others attacked him and so he had to retreat. He ran in the direction of his room. But as he ran, he heard the boy.

    "Get up, Summer. Bradley here!"

    Selothis was going to find Bradley and kill him for what he did.

 Rejected the alpha mate 198

    Bloodline

    Matt POV

    I walked out of the Union House party holding Tam''s hand. Afterst night, it was impossible for me not to touch her, feel her. It calmed me on so many levels that I stopped counting. Last night had been full of tension, mostly on my part, as I watched Tama interact with other people, especially that damn sexyp dance she did on me. It was the only thing etched on my mind. The way her butt moved on me, my cock was rock hard within seconds. And when her lips wrapped around me-Veles! I came so

    fast.

    My phone buzzed snapping me out of my thoughts. It was Elder Harper. "Elder," I said with respect.

    "We need to talk urgently, Alpha Matt," he replied. "Alpha Lucien is also here with us."

    A sense of urgency washed over me. It was more of an instinct than Elder Harper''s persistence. And why was it that I felt like my weight of responsibilities only increased. Like it extended to not just Tamara, but Alpha Lucien''s entire bloodline. I shook the thought and said, "I''ll be with you in ten minutes." I disconnected the call and turned to Tammy. "Mom and Dad have called me," I said, kissing her temple. "I have to take this

    call with the Elders."

    She blushed and nodded. "Do you want me toe with you?" she asked.

    Yes, Veles, yes. Something between us had changed and I knew it was for good. I swallowed. "No, go to the cafeteria and eat. Keep a ce for me as well. I''ll join you soon." She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear, looking deted. I couldn''t help but pick her in my arms. Wrapping both my arms around her waist, I lifted her off the ground even though she squealed and then kissed her senseless. It was so difficult to break the kiss especially after she responded to it just as urgently as I did. "I''ll die without you, Tammy," I sighed.

    She bit her bottom lip, as she blushed more. "You have to go," she reminded me.

    I let out a rough breath and set her on her feet. I turned her around, pped her butt, and said, "Go, and don''t look at other boys!"

    She squealed as sheughed and then walked away. I watched her going for a few minutes until she disappeared round the corner and then headed to my dorm.

    As soon as I was on the video call with the Elders, I saw my parents also seated at the oval table along with them. Alpha Lucien was sitting opposite to my parents on the left of the Elders. From his tense posture. I could feel that Alpha Lucien was pretty worked Sessfully unlocked! up. There was unease across the room. The fa of the Elders were grim and serious, as if something dangerous has happened again.

    Bloodline

    I bowed to the Elders and Alpha Lucien. "Is everything okay?" I asked.

    Harper started, "We contacted Alpha Lucien if we could use his library. He agreed and then both myself and Elder Kael dug into the history of the werewolves and bears+- their connection. We have already told you about the myth, but earlier we weren''t so sure. What we found there was unsettling. We came across a myth about a dark God, a being known as Selothis."

    I raised an eyebrow as confusion clouded my thoughts. A dark god? What did that have to do with us?

    "Selothis," Elder Kael said, "Is an ancient God, who lost the battle with Cressida. She banished him to this world. And in order to return, he has be obsessed to find her bloodline, because only that will restore his power."

    The room fell silent. Mom''s hand tightened around Dad, as a muscle feathered in Lucien''s jaw.

    "In the battle which he fought with Cressida, he lost miserably. But that is not all. The Moon Goddess got help from her loyalists, and it was the bears who helped her," Harper said.

    The mention of the Moon Goddess'' bloodline stirred deep inside me, much more than what I had experienced. It was like I was created to protect them. The hairs on the back of my neck stood up. Somehow, I knew that this was far more serious than I realized.

    This time Alpha Lucien spoke. "Thest known killings were over a century ago," he said, his voiceced with worry. "But we have noticed an rming uptick in the number of deaths of the werewolves in thest few months. It''s like these deaths fit the pattern. My instinct says that we can''t ignore the possibility that these myths are connected."

    I shifted ufortably in my seat, my eyes darting to my parents. I said what I think I shouldn''t have. "Do you think that Selothis has returned?" The words from my lips felt horrible. Like an ominous warning. Even though return of a dark god sounded ridiculous.

    "I don''t want to jump to conclusion," Lucien said, leaning forward. "But if this Aelothis has returned, it could spell trouble for all of us. Matt, I am scared for Tamara. She should head back home. It''s too dangerous for her to be out there. We don''t know what we''re dealing with."

    A cold rush of panic surged in my chest. "Alpha Lucien, unless we have any confirmation about this-this god, we shouldn''t rush ourselves. I mean it could be a wrong decision. Are-are you sure than Tammy and Luna Auren¡ª¡±

    "You don''t understand," he said. If Selothis has arisen, and he learns that the Moon

    Bloodline

    Goddess bloodline is-" He gritted his teeth and lowered his head as if wondering what to do next. "Have you seen the golden moon tattoo on Tammy''s back?"

    I nodded. I had seen it, and it was very prominent. "Alpha Lucien, don''t hold back," I said, feeling like there was something he wanted to say urgently.

    He took a deep breath. "Whatever I say here has to remain between us." We all nodded and he continued, "Auren has the same one on her back. The curse there was on my and

    bloodline was broken by Aur

    it all happened at the Eldermere ruins. ording to the prophecy only the pure bloodline of the goddess could break the curse."

    Oh. My. God.

    Ground shifted beneath me as my mom gasped.

    "Ta-Tammy is also..." Words died on the tip of my tongue.

    Alpha Lucien nodded as he sighed. "Yes, both Auren and Tamara. They have special abilities, which are awakening. I mean Auren has them, but Tammy..."

    My thoughts returned to how the flowers in the vase at the room where we were together, started to bloom when Tam groaned in her sleep.

    After a stunned silence, he said, "We have kept this as a secret because we were scared of the world. Tammy is too young, and if this Selothis has woken up from his slumber, then it is dangerous as hell. Not only that, your pack''s Shaman has noticed strange shadows in the temple of Veles."

    "There is an increase in the number of incidents. More and more bear shifters have

    noticed them," father added. "They''ve been telling it to me, but I thought it was the trick of their mind. However, now I think that it is all connected."

    "Damn it!" I cursed through my clenched teeth. And suddenly, I wanted to go to Tammy. Like now. I took a deep breath to control my rage as the gravity of the situation pounded on my chest. "And I''ll keep looking at strange sightings around this ce."

    "Great!" Alpha Lucien said. "But keep everything to yourself."

    "I will, Alpha Lucien."

    Once the meeting was over, I called Seth and ordered him to send some warriors

    from my pack to protect Tamara at all times. As soon as I cut the call with Seth, Bradley called me.

    "Where is Tammy?" he asked, sounding urgent.

    "She must be in the cafeteria. Why, what happened?"

    "I want her to meet me as soon as possible! In fact, strike that. I need her!"

    "Brad?"

    Bloodline

    "Don''t ask questions, Matt!" he growled and then gave his location.

    That was new. Brad never ever growled at me. "I''ll be there with Tam in a few minutes."

    I found Tammy eating food in the

    cafeteria and waiting for me with another te full of food. I conveyed Brad''s message to her. We rushed to the tocation Bradley mentioned, an old warehouse on the edge of the town. The area of quiet with an eerie stillness in the air. I didn''t like it as I got out of the car, and grabbed Tam''s hand instantly. I noticed some of the warriors over there along with his ser team boys.

    "What is going on?" I asked, rushing to where Brad was. He was standing in front

    of a room inside. He looked anxious.

    "Bardley," I called out, walking toward him with Tam beside me.

    "Matt," he said. Then he looked at his sister. ¡°Tammy, I need you toe in!"

    Sensing trouble, Tammy immediately walked inside with him. And what we saw there,

    stunned us into silence.

    Brad rushed to a petite, fragile girl who was unconscious. He picked her in his arms, her head resting against his chest. Her face was pale, and she looked like

    she hadn''t eaten for days.

    "Who is she?" Tamara asked.

 Rejected the alpha mate 199

    Summer

    Summer

    Tamara POV

    I had never seen Brad to be so protective about anyone else except his own family. Surprise flickered through me. The way he held her, like she would break if he let her go, like she was a treasure, made me wonder if he was in love with her. But if that was the case, why didn''t he ever mention about her?

    "Who is she?" I asked as I approached her.

    He took a deep breath in. "This is Summer McKeever," he replied in a low protective tone. "I rescued her from some cultists. They were after her, and I barely got her out in time."

    I exchanged a look with Matt. Cultists? What was going on here?

    Bradley''s voice softened as he looked down at Summer with concern. "Can you help her?" he asked me. "She''s too fragile... And-and I can''t take her anywhere. I mean I don''

    t know where she lives."

    I stepped closer to see Summer. She was really pale. Confusion flooded me. "I''m not understanding what you are saying, Brad," I said, frustration rising. "If you don''t know anything about her then why did you save her? But more than that, how did you find

    her with the cultists?" Then I lowered my voice, "Why are you so protective of her, Bradley?"

    Bradley didn''t answer immediately. He simply stared at the fragile girl in his arms, a deep sadness overtaking him. "I''ll answer toter, but just help her. Can you take her to your dorm secretly?"

    On an instinct, I touched the forehead of the girl and closed my eyes, wondering what was wrong with her. "Why don''t you take her to the house?" I asked. "I''ll be able to look after her properly there. Moreover, I don''t have an extra bed. I mean if it''s okay with you, she can share mine."

    He shook his head. "Right now, I can''t take her out anywhere," he snapped. "Though my warriors are already scanning the area, I fear that there are cultists around here."

    "Let us take her home soon," I suggested again. But as I touched her forehead, I closed my eyes, and thought of happy memories. Like the ones I made with Matt yesterday. A sigh left my lips, much to my embarrassment and I hoped that Matt didn''t notice it. However, I heard a gasp behind me, and I wondered if through our bond he sensed what I was thinking? I flushed hard, and snapped open my eyes. But what I saw was strange. Summer had opened her eyes and was staring at me. As I stared back into her green eyes, I felt like all my energy was draining.

    "Tamara!¡± Matt shouted behind me, and before I knew it, he snapped my hand away

    Summer

    from Summer. Immediately, I took a deep breath as he hugged me and enveloped me into his arms. I rested my head against his chest, and noticed how it was thundering.

    "What happened?" I asked, but why was my voice so low. Like there was no energy. I turned my head to look Bradley, and he was gaping at me. "Tammy, y-you-"

    "You passed out!" Matt interrupted through his gritted teeth. He nced at Bradley, as if asking him to be quiet.

    My gaze went back to Summer, and she had again fallen into unconsciousness.

    Fifteen minutester, when the warriors had confirmed that the area was free of the cultists, we all drove back to my dorm. But Matt insisted that we all go to Brad''s house, saying that we are going to stay with Summer until she recovers. He somehow didn''t want Summer to stay with me alone. Was he being selfish because he was spending his nights in my room from past many nights?

    When we reached there, Brad quickly took Summer in his arms and hurried her to my previous room. Matt was watching me closely. He wasn''t allowing me to go near her or

    touch her.

    "Do we have gloves with us?" he asked Brad. "We can''t touch Summer just like that with our hands," he added. Which was a strange thing to add.

    Brad raised his eyebrow. "She doesn''t have diseases!"

    Yes, Summer didn''t have diseases. I couldn''t smell any on her.

    Matt shrugged. "Still, she is too fragile. Get gloves." Brad mumbled something under is breath and exited. Then Matt turned to me, took my hands in his and very seriously said, "You will not touch her, or for that matter any wilting flowers or leaves or whatever you deem are... weak or dying or fragile."

    My mouth dropped. Did he know about my abilities? "Matt..."

    "I know..." he said and pulled me in his arms. Then he lowered his mouth to my ear and whispered, "You will keep this a secret. Don''t let anyone else know about

    it. That''s why I''ve asked Brad to bring gloves." He kissed my temple, and hugged me tighter. "I''m scared for you, Tammy. Please don''t put yourself at risk for others."

    Goddess. "How did you know?" Why did it feel like he was not telling me everything?

    He took a deep breath in, and nced at Summer. "I will tell you when the timees."

    We saw Brading in. He gave me the gloves. wore them and went to see Summer. The girl was really unwell. "Brad, get a doctor for her," I said. And then I noticed a small red patch on bed. Summer was on her periods. Or did she miscarry? "Shit!" I rasped and turned to look at Brad to ask him to fetch a doctor. But his eyes had flickered golden, and his fangs had slipped out. He let out a dangerous growl-one

    Summer

    that shattered the windows of the house. "Brad!" I shouted, but his focus was only

    on Summer. "Matt!" I rmed. Matt immediately turned to Brad.

    "Brad!" he shouted. "Come out!" But Brad didn''t budge from there. It was like his wolf wanted toe out. Matt went near him. He grabbed his upper arm. "Brad, control yourself. Whatever it is, you can ovee!" He pulled him toward the door, but Brad pushed him hard, making him stumble. Matt was shocked. He tackled him again, but Brad went feral. The two barreled into each other. I screamed, asking them to stop. They both crashed into the table, which smashed into splinters.

    "Stop!" I shouted.

    Matt was trying to keep Brad away from me and Summer. I just couldn''t understand what had gone wrong with Brad. My eyes welled with tears.Dwhimpered, which agitated Matt. He punched Brad hard on his shoulders, but Brad punched him back. The warriors who were outside filled the room. They tried to intervene but were sent to the ground because they couldn''t handle two Alphas fighting with each other. I just didn''t know how to stop it, feeling helpless.

    I looked at Summer, thinking of ways to protect her from this madness. She stirred

    a little and a soft moan escaped her lips.

    And Brad fell silent. He stilled, frozen into his ce as his wolf withdrew. His eyes

    went to Summer, and... did he just purr?

    àï

    Subscribe

    9 Likes

 Rejected the alpha mate 200

    A Rose

    Tamara POV

    The air inside the house was thick with unease even though a calm had settled after the chaos of the previous day. I couldn''t help thinking how Matt had to stop Brad from pouncing on Summer. Why was he so feral about her? I was scared after I saw the red patch on the bedsheet, but Brad-he went wild.

    I sat on the couch, my eyes flicking to the door of the guest room where Summer was resting. I could see her lying inside, wrapped in sheets, still unconscious. The atmosphere of our house was oppressive, like it was holding its breath, waiting for something, waiting for her to wake up, or perhaps for something darker to happen. Matt had gone along with a few warriors to check upon the cultists and the building from where Brad rescued Summer. I had asked him not to go because that wasn''t necessary, but he insisted.

    Though Brad did not want a doctor toe, I insisted that we needed one as soon as possible. So he arranged for the campus doctor. The doctor had arrived hours ago, examining Sunner quietly, but his words haunted me.

    He took a deep breath as he stated, "She''s underfed, abused, and is suffering from significant mental trauma." She brushed her forehead gently. "She will need time to recover. And it may take a while for her to fully heal."

    He noticed the red patch on the sheet, and said that she was bleeding more than necessary during her periods because of mental trauma. Because of that I had to make sure that Brad stayed away from her. It took a while to make him understand that he could be a threat to her, if he pounced on her. His behavior toward Summer was bizarre.

    He had given us a prescription, saying that if she suffered from mental instability, then we should give her a drug to sedate her. His words pressed down on me. Summer was so young, around my age or slightly elder, yet she was so vulnerable. I couldn''t help think that she had a traumatic childhood.

    I remembered how she was all night yesterday. I was sitting beside her on the chair, reading a book when her breath became shallow. Her body jerked under the sheets. Her whimpers filled the room as a soft cry escaped her lips, and she twisted restlessly. I quickly moved to her side. cing a hand on her shoulder, I said in a soothing voice," Summer, you''re safe here. "It''s just a bad dream."

    14

    She jerked awake, her eyes wide with panic, her hands trembling. "It''s them," she whispered hoarsely as her eyes scanned the room as if expecting cultists around her." They areing for me."

    I squeezed her hand gently, traying to calm her. "They can''t hurt you here," I reassured

    A Rose

    her, but my heart ached for the trauma she endured. As Summer nodded and went back to delirious sleep, I looked at Brad who was sitting outside the room on the floor with his back leaned against the wall. His shoulders were bunched up in tension as he peeped at us with furrowed brows. Something about Summer seemed to pull at him. I could sense that he was struggling with emotions he couldn''t name. When Summer settled, he got up, his fists clenching and unclenching at his sides, but he didn''t step into the room. He left with a tortured expression on his face.

    After Summer went off to sleep, I thought I''d ask about Summer to Brad. Like all the details he had been hiding, and why did he react the way he did, but I was tired and went back to my room after giving Summer her medicines. I had history assignment to finish and once I started it, I didn''t know how time flew.

    It waster in the night that Brad came to my room. He gave me coffee and sat on the bed. ¡°Thanks,¡± I murmured as I switched off myptop.

    "Thanks to you, Tam," he replied, plopping on the pillows. Gods, my brother was over six feet like my dad. He didn''t fit in my bed. His feet were hanging out.

    After a few moments, I looked over my shoulder. "Brad, is there something you''re not telling me about Summer?"

    He turned his eyes to me, and for the first time, I saw something raw and vulnerable in them. He shook his head and sighed.

    "Honestly, I don''t know much about her. All I know is that her scent makes my wolf

    toe forth and take charge. She isn''t a werewolf, but her scent-it makes me want to protect her with my life."

    A frown came to my lips. "Yes, she is clearly a human."

    He shrugged. "Why do I feel there is something more than that to her?"

    "You are imagining," I huffed. "But tell me how did you find her? Is she your girlfriend? Is she in the same college as ours?"

    He shook his head again. "When we were on a trek with my ser team, I... I smelled something. I don''t know why, but the scent tugged at me. It was like I couldn''t fight it. It pulled me toward her.

    I looked at him, confused. "What do you mean? Her scent? Is she your mate? There have never been human mates, okay?"

    "Well, have there been bear mates?" he growled.

    Touche.

    His gaze went distant as if remembering that exact moment. "I followed the scent, abandoning my team, and it led me to a small cabin hidden in the woods. That''s where

    I found her. She was being reprimanded by her father harshly. He was angry, shouting

    214

    A Rose

    at her, pping her, kicking her. I needed to stop myself, but couldn''t. The next I knew was that I was inside the cabin. The two of them saw me with surprise as I broke open the door. Her father immediately grabbed a gun with silver bullets, and pointed at me."

    "What the hell!" I gasped. "Silver bullets? Did he know you are a werewolf? Is he a hunter?"

    He clenched his fists again. "I didn''t know what to do, Tam. I looked at Summer and wanted to save her, but my friends came rushing after me, thinking that I was in trouble. They called me, and I had to eave, scared for their safety. But the moment I went back to the trek with them, I felt this nagging pull. I

    couldn''t leave her alone. I had to go

    back."

    A flicker of understanding shed through me. "And when you went back...?"

    "She was gone. Her father was gone too. The cabin was abandoned. Panic seized my heart. So, I ran, following her scent deeper into the woods. I mind- linked my warriors to join me, and asked my friends to help me find her. Our hunt led us to the cultists, Tam. They had her, tied across the table to dissect her. I had to rescue her."

    I let out a rough exhale. "Goddess!" Shaking my head, I added, "Matt shouldn''t have gone back there. What would he find?"

    Brad and I went to her room. Summer was sleeping peacefully. I just couldn''t help wondering what life she was leading earlier. If her father was a hunter, was it possible that he came to know about the existence of werewolves around him? And what if

    Summer led her father to us? It was all so confusing and frustrating that I suddenly wanted to go back to mom and dad.

    "Do you want to talk to mom and dad?" I asked him, sure that they knew answers.

    Brad raked his hair with his fingers. "No... it''s toote. We can talk tomorrow. Besides, I

    want to know more about Summer."

    After a few hours, when Summer had all her medicines the doctor prescribed, the restlessness in her body seemed to fade. I came back to my room, feeling exhausted f only Matt was here, I would have curled over him and went off to sleep. What? Was I getting used to his presence? I rubbed the back of my back and stepped out onto the balcony. The cool night air hit my skin.

    Suddenly, I felt like someone was watching me. A cold chill ran down my spine as I nced around the empty courtyard below. It felt like a shadow moved. I stared at it with my enhanced vision. And it

    more alive than I thought it

    b¨¦. I stifled a gasp as I stepped back, my foot pressing onto a thorn.

    Hissing, I looked down and saw a wilted rose beneath my feet. I lifted my feet to remove the thorn, and the rose began to bloom. Fast.

 Rejected the alpha mate 201

    Hidden Treasure

    Third POV

    Selothis sat in his room with heavy curtains drawn shut against the moonlight. He hated moon, he hated it beams, and he hated the existence of moon goddess. She was sitting in her pce, loitering around the universe in her silver chariot while he was here, sitting in a room where the only light, was the dying embers in a firece. He stared at the embers, having forgotten to feed the fire because he was too busy thinking about the boy called Bradley. He had sniffed him as a werewolf. And that meant that he was somewhere pretty nearby. How could he not sniff a werewolf close to his house? He was seething because even his cult members couldn''t detect werewolves. How could they? They were all fucking humans.

    His hand grasped the hilt of his dagger. He rubbed the cold steel absently, as if it would anchor him. This dagger was specially built to kill those who carried her bloodline.

    The cultists were growing restless after the attack on their ritual. They wanted revenge. They were scared of they were raided, the police would discover bodies in the vicinity of the woods. And the number of bodies- He let out a growl. He as their leader had to promise them that Bradley, the boy who interfered with their mission, would be dealt swiftly.

    "Patience,¡± he muttered under his breath as he got to fill the ss of whiskey. The shadows around him moved, agitated by his patience. But the word had be his mantra all these centuries.

    The bloodline of the Moon Goddess was ancient and powerful. Its remnants were hidden for centuries, buried under myth and legend. Selothis knew the truth. He had to seize one of the descendants and get his kingdom back.

    The next morning, he set his ns into motion. He had catalogued Brad''s scent. He tracked it and it took him to the college. And there he was shocked to get fading smells more werewolves. One in particr caught his attention. She was a bear shifter A professor called, Tulip Montana. He used his weak magic to look like a student, and mingled well with them. Over the conversation he came to know about Matt Erikson, and how he jilted her for a girl called, Tamara.

    He used his weak magic to look like a professor, and walked in the campus with deliberate steps the next day, his eyes scanning the students who bustled past him. And then he saw her-he caught the scent of Tulip, a professor at the college, walking by with a group of students.

    Sessfully unlocked!

    Selothis approached her with ease. He adopted the air of a charming professor, and spoke with her as if he they were colleagues. He had this deep, smooth voice that

    Hidden Treasure

    captivated her immediately.

    "Professor Tulip," he greeted, his eyes locked with hers.

    When she looked at him, she let out a rough breath, easily falling to his charm. "Yes?"

    He smiled. "I''m Selo Othis, professor of ancient history. I was wondering if we can talk?

    Before Tulip knew it, she was mesmerized by him, and under his control already. They were in the library for the next hour. She went to take her sses but returned again and again to meet Professor Selo. By the time she had to return home, she found herself inviting him to her house in the campus.

    As she drove with him to her house, Selo really wanted to get inside because he hated moonlight. "This ce is lovely," hemented as he looked at the boring vista.

    She chuckled. "Thank you." She went on to get wine for them. As she offered it to him, she said, "I looked at your profile. It is quite impressive."

    Selo smiled. "I did my PhD in ancient history and myths." He had asked one of his hacker cultists to create his profile in the college''s system.

    "That''s awesome," she replied.

    He grinned. Then in a low voice he touched her nerve. "I heard about Matt Erikson- how he jilted you."

    Tulip blushed. That meant that he on track. "I didn''t have anything to do with him." So she was trying to save herself.

    "But you''re such a beautiful woman," he added. "If it were for me, I''d worship your body like a goddess."

    And Tulip was floored. "Would you?" she asked suggestively.

    "Like a starving man."

    In less than fifteen minutes, they were on her bed, having wild sex. He gave her what she needed, and now it was time to get what he needed. He intertwined his hands with hers, and asked, "I heard you also had a spat with a boy called Bradley Vaslof."

    "That fucker!¡± Tulip grated. "He was the one put me in this jeopardy."

    "Oh, really? Do exin. We can make his life miserable together."

    Tulipughed, She spoke at length about Bradley, Matt and Tamara. In about an hour, he knew everything he wanted to, including the curse breaker, Luna Auren. Selothis couldn''t help but feel that finally victory was going to be his. He had to find the curse breaker But before that, he had to fine Bradley, and Tamara.

    He left Tulip and walked to Bradley''s house. He instructed his shadows to keep a watch on them. He hated the moonlight, but he had to endure the beams for his ns to work. When he reached there, he circled it from the shadows, trying to stay in the

    213

    Hidden Treasure

    woods, taking every detail, waiting for any movement. His instincts red because the house was filled with werewolves.

    As he drew nearer, he sniffed Bradley again. But then a faint scent of blood tickled

    his senses. It was that of a werewolf, but it had the power of magic. Latent magic.

    The shadows around him hissed,

    begging him to see what it was. When he nodded, they rushed to

    the

    house as he stood in the shaw of

    the woods, contemting his next move. The shadows came back to him, ascertaining that there was something special about the girl in the room on the first floor. Excitement buzzed through him. Did he finally found what he was looking for? He couldn''t thank enough Summer, the girl who brought Bradley to him.

    In order to test his theory about the bloodline, which he knew carried special powers, he ced a wilted rose on the balcony of the girl''s room. When she came out and stepped on the thorny stem, blood oozed out. And it nourished the rose, making it bloom.

    Fuck. He stared at her intensely. His

    next and absolute sacrifice. His

    gateway to the dark kingdom. A deep satisfaction surged through him, overpowering his exhration. After waiting for ages, finally he found the hidden treasure. Tamara. The girl who had to die.

 Rejected the alpha mate 202

    Coincidences

    Third POV

    Selothis smiled darkly to himself. The pieces were finallying together. It was time to make his move. He stood motionless in the shadows of the woods even as his mind raced. The discovery of Tamara was absolute pleasure. He could feel the ancient bloodline coursing through her veins, waiting to be unlocked for him. His pulse quickened when he imagined what would happen next. She was his path to the dark. kingdom he sought to reim.

    He couldn''t tear his gaze away from the little girl who he had been looking for centuries. And as he stared at her, the shadows around him grew restless. ''What do we do?'' they hissed. Their whispers echoed in his mind. They were urging him to act quickly. Even they could feel the power that Tamara held. It was her raw, untapped energy that was just waiting out there to be imed.

    But for now he had to make sure that Tamara was safe, that she wasn''t hurt in any way, that she was lured by his people for him. He was going to sacrifice her on the next full moon, only to irritate and show off Cressida. Or maybe before that. It depended on his mood, now that he found her.

    After what seemed hours, Selothis finally went back to his ce. There were no police, and so he wondered if Brad and his friends had called them. He walked in the house, knowing fully well that a few cultists always lingered there. They were always cloaked and disguised. Now he had a special job for them. Not all of them. Only a couple of them were his loyalists and believed that he was their God.

    The shadows slithered around him, hissing that cultists wanted to see him, asking if they could kill them. In a low, guttural voice, he said, "No, I have work. Once my work is done, they are yours."

    Those shadows, loyal to him, scuttled off to stay in his room. Selothis came out with his mask on. He looked at all of them, and said, "I have identified a girl who should be our greatest sacrifice," he said loudly, his voice booming in the hall. "But she doesn''t know that she will be sacrificed to your God. She will resist, she will struggle, but I want all of you to work toward it. Lure her out. Keep her under control. If necessary, use the man who fathered Summer McKeever. He would know what to do to keep her in control. But make sure that her father doesn''t kill her. Because if that happens, I will go mad."

    A shiver ran down amongst the cultists. No one wanted to see the wrath of Selothis. They were excited with their new assignment. A sacrifice hadn''t been made in long. Theirst sacrifice was rescued by Sessfully unlocked! Jents. Selothis continued, "Your mission is to bring Tamara Vaslof to the cult''s hidden

    Coincidences

    building without alerting anyone to the danger."

    "Yes Master!" they agreed.

    Selothis pulled out a young girl, a woman and five men for the mission. He could already feel the thrill of victory rushing through him. Once Tamara was in his control, nothing would stand in his way. He would take her blood, and his powers would return. Then he would challenge Cressida. The dark forces would finally rise to rule. He would get his kingdom back.

    The seven cultists moved quickly, their forms disappearing into the night. The rest

    of them were still restless. They demanded to kill Brad.

    "You can do whatever you like with him," Selothis said. ¡°But after Tamara''s sacrifice."

    They gritted their teeth, but they didn''t go against his orders.

    Selothis had already exined what to do to the seven loyalists. Each one knew their role perfectly. They were to seduce and trap their prey without hesitation. And the one who would initiate the process was Sheena.

    Tamara POV

    Matt hadn''t returned. I was exhausted and slept like a log in the night. The rose in the balcony was a mystery. I didn''t know who had kept it there, but it felt ominous. So I trashed it. When I woke up in the morning, I felt like a dead weight was on my chest. It was that of all the tension in my mind. I ambled out of my room only to see that Brad was leaning against the door of the room in which Summer was still sleeping. He looked like he was glued to the ce. On an instinct, I knew he would leave the door soon. It was like he was sitting there like her knight in shining armor.

    It was early in the morning. I took a quick bath and got out of the house quietly, thinking of calling Matt. However, his phone was switched off. I don''t know why but it irked me to not listen to his deep throaty voice for so long. Where was he? The thought gnawed inside me, and before I knew it, I was sitting inside the small caf¨¦ in the corner of the campus.

    I ordered a cappino for myself and sat in a quiet corner of the caf¨¦ that overlooked the woods. I took out myptop, and started reading my assignment. The server gave me the coffee with a smile, and went to another customer, a girl my age, I nced at her and she smiled at me. I smiled back, noticing her beautiful hazel eyes and light brown hair. Though I went back to reading, my thoughts were with Matt.

    "Hey!" a sweet and soft voice snapped me from my thoughts. I looked up only to

    find myself staring in the eyes of that girl.

    "H-hi!¡± I replied, bewildered.

    She gave a toothy smile. "Sorry to interrupt you like this. I''m Sheena," she said. "I needed help."

    Coincidences

    I frowned. "Sure," I said hesitantly. "What''s it about?" Sheena looked at the chair opposite to me. "Can I sit down?"

    I shrugged, and she sat down. She started, "I''ve just joined the college. The admin handed me the map of the college, but I keep getting lost on the campus." She giggled. "I have to go to the psychology ss next. Can you tell me where the block is?" She took the map out of her bag and showed me. ¡°Like where are we?" she asked softly, totally confused. "And where is the psychology block?"

    My lips curled up. "Don''t worry. I''m going there as well. You cane with me."

    "Oh really? Thank God!" sheughed softly.

    I couldn''t help noticing how cute she looked with that heart-shaped face. I was sure that she was a heartbreaker. In the next few minutes, we began talking and I was happy to help her sort most of her problems. Incidentally, she was with me in the history ss as well.

    "You know I am scared of these woods," Sheena said as she sipped hertte. "I haven''t ventured into them.¡± Sheughed nervously. ¡°I heard that people hear howls at night from these woods."

    I pursed my lips. Those howls belonged to Brad and his wolves whenever they ran out to expend their energy. They all needed to run once in a while. "Wild animals, I guess..." I replied nonchntly.

    Sheughed. "I hope those animals don''te to the main campus!"

    "I haven''t seen any," I replied.

    "Cool!" sheughed softly. Then she looked at her watch. "It''s time to leave," she said, picking up her bag.

    I sighed as I collected my things and together, we walked out of the caf¨¦. As we walked toward the psychology block, Sheena told me about the dorm she was in. "Oh, I''m in the same dorm!" I said excitedly.

    Sheena''s brows jumped up. "Too many coincidences!" sheughed. "Are you stalking me?"

    Iughed back. "No, are you stalking me?"

    She shook her head, stillughing as she locked her arm into mine. "Maybe I am.¡±

    And then she winked.

 Rejected the alpha mate 203

    Chains of the Alpha Curse 203

    God''s Favorite

    Tamara POV

    Just like that, Sheena became my friend. She was sweet and soft. I''d never met anyone with such a sunny personality. I feltfortable in her presence.

    We arrived at the psychology block and just when we were entering, her phone buzzed "Geez!" she said, rolling her eyes. "That''s my mom. I have to take it."

    "Sure," I said, smiling.

    She turned and hurried away as I walked into the ss, hoping to see Matt. However, he hadn''te for it. His absence made me jittery by the minute. I had my ns to reject him, which flew out of the window the moment he and I became intimate. But I didn''t realize that his no-show was going to make me miserable. I slipped into the lecture hall just as the professor began. Feeling lethargic, I slid into the back seat without a word. Sheena was a good distraction from Matt, but the feeling of loneliness returned. Where was he and what was he doing? Why did he disappear just like that? I had heard him saying to Brad that he was going to see the cult building where Summer was captured. Somehow that made me all the more anxious. Cultists were hard core. What if they had caught him? No. goddess, no. I closed my eyes and searched for him through our bond. The thread was strong.

    But even after I knew that he was not harmed, my eyes remained fixed on the board as the professor began. I couldn''t register a word. Around me, students whispered, passed notes, giggled, but none of it reached me. When I was called on, I blinked slowly, then muttered, "I don''t know." I looked at my backpack which was unzipped and disorganized. A half-eaten gran bar peeked out. My chest felt tight, and I wanted to get out of the hall. When the ss ended, I picked up my bag and headed out to Brad''s ce. Maybe that would divert my attention.

    "Heyy!" Sheena''s soft voice pulled me out of my thoughts again. "Where are you going?

    I whipped my head to see her. Where did shee from? "To my ce," I replied with a small smile.

    She sagged, shaking her head. "I feel like such a douche!" she breathed. "I missed my first psychology ss! And I''m sure that the professor must have gone so far in the course."

    I licked my lips, wondering if I should offer teaching her or helping her to cope up.

    Sheena looked at me. "I know it would be too much to ask for, but will you help me catch up on what we''ve done so far se fery thing to ask," she chuckled, tucking a

    Sessfully unlocked! strand of her hair behind her ear. But don''t have other friends." Sheughed nervously.

    God''s Favorite

    My lips curled up. New students could be intimidated because the course was enormous, and a helping hand was needed. "Sure," I replied.

    She squealed and lunged at me to envelope me in a tight hug. "OMG! You''re a lifesaver. Thanks so much! Can we start today? I promise I''ll be a nice girl, and dinner is on me."

    I couldn''t helpughing at her. "No, it''s fine. You cane over to my brother''s ce. We can study there together."

    "Really?" she asked, her eyes rounding at the corner. "He won''t kill me, right?" I burst intoughter. "Silly!"

    She pursed her lips and made that cute expression. "Once again, thank you."

    With my spirits better, I headed to the history lecture hall instead of going back to Brad'' s. But I called him and asked about Summer. She had woken up in the morning, but had gone back to sleep.

    Sheena''s phone buzzed again. "Oh great!" she hissed. "It''s my mom again. Why does she choose this time to call me?" she said, sounding irritated.

    "You must speak with her," I encouraged. "Hope all''s well."

    She shook her head. "No..." she drawled. "Mom''s a coke addict. She loves me, but when she is high, she tends to be clingy. I''ve tried so many times to get her off the drugs, but I have no idea where she got them from."

    "Oh dear," I rasped, feeling sorry for Sheena. No one should suffer from such mental abuse. "You should talk to her."

    Her shoulders sagged, but she picked up the call and walked away.

    Tulip was not as aggressive as she was earlier. It was like she was smiling and teaching us, making jokes and she didn''t even nce at me once. She didn''t even ask for Matt. It was a pleasant surprise, but I wondered if she had moved on. I wish she did

    move on.

    When I came out of the history ss, I was even more depressed because I had tried reaching Matt, and his phone was still switched off. Frustration surged through me and I murmured under my breath, "Can you just call me?"

    After the ss was over, Tulip shot me a curious look, and exited the hall hurriedly. Like she has a flight to catch. Not that I cared, but her behavior was bizarre. Though I had two more sses, I just didn''t have the energy to attend them. So I walked to Brad''s ce this time. When I was halfway there, Sheena called me.

    "Tamara!¡± she hollered, sprinting toward me. When she reached me, she was panting." Hey, sorry. Mom had a long talk with me, in which she promised me the hundredth time that she wouldn''t take drugs."

    "That''s nice," I said as I started to walk again.

    215

    God''s Favorite

    She rolled her eyes. "Nice? She is impossible! But-" She came to stand in front of me, and I halted in my tracks. "Can Ie to your ce? You said you would help me."

    "Yes, sure," I replied. "The offer stands."

    She giggled. "Thanks so much. Tamara. Means a lot."

    We both walked to Brad''s ce,

    talking about the sybus and what

    all I do at college. The house was

    pretty quiet. The warriors stared at Sheena, sniffing her and memorizing her scent. I couldn''t help chuckling. They looked at everyone as a threat. Even the petite Sheena.

    Brad was with Summer, and so I headed to my room. Sheena made herselffortable there. She took out herptop, ready to take notes. As for me, I went to check in Summer. She still looked pale. Brad was sitting at the edge of her bed, staring

    at her.

    "How is she?" I asked in a low voice.

    "Not good..." he muttered. I could sense how horrible he was feeling.

    "Did you hear from Matt?" I asked.

    "Nope. Did you?"

    "No..." I gritted my teeth. "Did he not go with some of our warriors?"

    "Yes, but he hasn''t returned. I''m also worried about him."

    "Well, if he calls, tell him that I''m mad. Like real mad."

    Brad chuckled. "I will ask him to talk to you."

    "And I''ll m my phone!" Saying that, I spun and marched back to my room.

    Sheena jerked her head back, seeing the anger on my face. "Should I leave?" she asked with a cautious tone.

    "Ah, no!" I huffed. "It''s nothing. Let''s just study!"

    For the next one hour, Sheena took

    the notes diligently on herptop. Her mom called her again, for which she had to go out of the house and talk. When she came back, she'' looked mentally drained. I really pitied her. But she smiled and we continued. Sheena left two hourster.

    She said, "I''d love it if we could have the next session at my ce. Will it be

    possible?"

    "Why?" I frowned.

    "My mom was paranoid that I was going to be killed or something." Sheena sighed. "When I''m in front of her, she is more settled."

    I couldn''tmit to her right away. "We''ll see," I said with a tight smile.

    Sheena stared at me for a moment, and then pulled me in a hug. "You are the

    God''s Favorite

    sweetest girl I''ve met. God''s favorite."

    I patted her back to reassure her. I knew that she was hurting a lot inside. Sheena

    left

    soon after, and I decided that I could go to her house next time.

 Rejected the alpha mate 204

    Tamara POV

    My anxiety increased when Matt didn''t return the next night either.

    I looked at Brad. "Did Matt tell you as to where he was going specifically?"

    "Nope!" Brad replied. He nced at Summer who was sleeping.

    She had woken up during the day. Brad had pampered her to the hilt. But the girl was too fragile to walk and fend for herself. What kind of abuse she must have gone through? It sent a chill down my spine. I was going to talk to her in time in order to help her heal mentally and physically.

    Brad continued, "He roughly said that he was going toward the cult building. But that shouldn''t take so much time."

    "We should send some people to find him. I''m not feelingfortable about it," I admitted.

    "I''ve sent five of my warriors with him," Brad replied, rubbing the back of his neck.

    My phone buzzed in the room. I rushed to pick up the call, thinking it was Matt, but it was Seth.

    "Hi Tammy, where is Alpha Matt?" Seth asked on the phone, his voice filled with worry.

    "Where are you?" I asked.

    "At his house."

    "I''ming," I said with urgency in my voice.

    "Do you want me toe with you?" Brad asked, shifting on his feet.

    I shook my head as I picked up my bag. "No. Take care of Summer. But I''ll call you if needed."

    Brad seemed to rx, and I walked outside. I took Brad''s car and rushed to Matt''s house, which was only two blocks away. Seth was standing outside with other warriors from his pack.

    "Tammy!" Seth came to me, his demeanor that of anxiety. ¡°I hadn''t heard from Matt for the past two days. We are getting worried. Where is he?"

    His words only added to my nervousness. "I don''t know," I replied.

    "What do you mean? He was with you!"

    I ran my fingers through my hair. "Come on. There''s a lot I have to tell you."

    When we were in Matt''s house, I spilled out everything regarding Summer and how Matt had gone to find the cultists along with a few wolf warriors.

    "Why the hell did he not tell me?" Seth seethed. "I don''t like it when he is secretive!"

    "Seth, instead of getting angry, you should go to find him," I pointed.

    "Of course, that''s what I will do!" he gritted. "But I also want you to be safe. Don''t go to your dorm. Stay with Brad, okay?"

    I nodded. "When are you leaving to find him?"

    "Right now!" he said. He looked at his warriors and instructed them what to do. Then he turned to me. "If you don''t hear

    20

    14:59 Thu, 22 May M

    from us in twenty-four hours, inform the local police."

    84%

    "Yes, I will," I said, but tears welled in my eyes. "Please find Matt." I rasped. It was the first time I felt so lonely, so empty. I swear to the goddess, if Matt returned safely, I would marry him and mark him. Instantly.

    Seth pulled me in a hug. "Don''t worry, Tammy. We will find him. But please be safe. I''d suggest that you don''t go anywhere, okay?"

    Though I nodded, I felt like I was nodding in auto mode. My feelings were all over the ce. Depression mmed in my chest like a speeding train. I needed to see Matt so urgently, like my life depended on it.

    Seth left soon after to the location I told them while I returned to Brad''s ce. My next two sses of art and herbology were in the evening. I contemted whether to attend them or not.

    "You should go." Brad said. "I''m also going. It''ll be a good distraction for both of us." We were both sitting in the dining room as the omegas served us coffee and bruschetta. I didn''t feel like eating, so I didn''t touch the bruschetta.

    "Hmm..." I replied absent-mindedly. He was right. Maybe the sses would give me some distraction. But on the inside, I knew I would sit nkly even there. "Seth asked me not to go anywhere," I informed him.

    "You''ll be with me, Tam," Brad said as he extended his hand to me. "I know you are very anxious. I just want to help."

    "Okay..."

    I went to the college along with Brad. He dropped me to the art ss and then went for his math ss, instructing me not to go anywhere with anyone, until he arrives.

    As I sat in the art ss, the pencil felt heavier in my hand. All I could think of was Matt. My mind reyed thest time I had drawn him, when the professor had asked him to model for the rest of the ss. The way he looked darkly at me, the way his eyes seemed to pierce right through me. I felt like crying. The idle chatter from my ssmates faded into the background. I exhaled, but the space felt so suffocating. His memories tugged at my heart, making it difficult to focus.

    Somehow, I managed to sit in the ss for the entire one hour. After that I gathered my things and quickly exited, hoping to go back home, but I stood in the corridor, waiting for Brad.

    "Tamara!" Sheena''s sweet voice pierced through my thoughts.

    Surprised, I whipped my head toward her. "Hi! What are you doing here?" I asked.

    She grinned. "One of my mom''s friend''s daughters is taking art as a subject. She asked me to wait for her here. What about you?"

    "I just finished my ss here. Was waiting for my brother."

    She blushed slightly. "Ginny is going to bete. How about we have some coffee

    in the caf¨¦?" she asked. "It''s on me!"

    I chuckled. "No, thanks. I''m in a hurry. Brad ising to pick me up."

    "Oh,e on! You can ask him toe to the caf¨¦," she insisted.

    I shook my head. How could I exin to her what was going on at my ce?

    "Next time, Sheena. I''m too busy today."

    She pouted. "Okay. But you have toe with me to the caf¨¦ tomorrow morning."

    Iughed lightly. "I can''t promise."

    She pouted again. I couldn''t help noticing how cute she looked. "My mom wants

    to meet you. Is it okay to bring her to your ce?"

    14:59 Thu, 22 May MKO

    Her request surprised me. Why would her mom want to meet me?

    ???? 84%

    +20)

    She must have sensed my surprise. "I''m sorry for this stupid request, Tamara," she exined, lowering her head. "But my mom''s condition is inexplicable. She is paranoid of everything and everyone Ie in contact with. And I-" She looked away with tears welling in her eyes. "I try to alleviate her anxiety in the hope that she would stop taking drugs. I hate her condition, but I also pity her." Sympathy washed over me. I ced my hand over her arm. "You cane over to meet us, Sheena. And I''m so sorry it. You are a brave girl with a big heart."

    She grinned through her tears. "Really?"

    I chuckled. "Yes,e over tomorrow evening."

    "How about we all have dinner together? Mom makes great chicken pot pie!" she enthused.

    "If that makes her happy, sure. Why not?"

    Sheena squealed and hugged me tightly. "You''re the best!" sheughed. "I''ll tell my mom and she is going to be ted!"

    about

    I shook my head. Small things made people so happy. Sheena hade into my life like a warm breeze. She was sweet and was looking for eptance. What I liked about her was her honesty. She didn''t hide the fact that her mom was a drug addict. "Tomorrow it is then," I said as I stepped back. From the periphery of my vision, I saw Brad. He was staring at us with a soft smile.

    "See you tomorrow!" Sheena beamed.

 Rejected the alpha mate 205

    83%

    20)

    Sheena watched Tamara leaving, a satisfied smile tugging at her lips. She had done her best to lure Tamara as the next sacrifice for their God, Sclothis. Sclothis was going to be so proud of her and would promote her in the ranks after this. She would be able to stand at the main oval table and dissect the body directly instead of watching it from sidelines always.

    As soon as Tamara left, Sheena hurried down to her ce, a small apartment where the rest of the cultists were waiting for thetest update on the mark.

    "What did she say?" Ozra asked excitedly. She was the one heading the project. All others were either sitting and doing their usual office work or watching TV. All the cultists were employed but no one knew that they also belonged to Selothis''s cult. It was a code between them not to tell anyone which cult they belonged to. If they said it, they were executed by Selothis himself.

    "It went well!" Sheena chirped. "Tamara has agreed for a dinner at her ce. And-¡± she looked at Ozra with a glint in her eyes. "-you cane with me!"

    Ozra''s lips curled up. "Good work, Sheena. You deserve a lot of praise."

    "Thank you!" Sheena grinned.

    "That''s fine," Ozra che "ut you

    have to act like my drug-addict mother."

    Sheena looked at all others and found that they were looking at her curiously. "What?" she said, flipping her hair over her shoulder. "I may be young, but I know how to do the work."

    Othersughed but Ozra only smiled.

    You are

    the

    youngest, and there was reason why Selothis included you in the cult."

    Sheena managed to smile, feeling proud of herself. This was her first project and she had seeded. Tamara was in her grasp already. She had been charming, friendly and very sweet all the time, while maintaining an image of a poor little girl with a sad background. People fell for it so fast.

    "So what''s the n once we reach her ce?" Sheena asked. "That ce is guarded by over ten people. I don''t know why, but they are all fucking hulks. It would take more than physical strength to take them all down."

    Other men came to sit with Sheena at the table with their beers andptops. "Tell us more about the house," said the tallest one with sses.

    Sheena started, "Summer, ourst sacrifice is in a room on the first floor. She is still weak and fragile, and that boy, Bradley -he is always around her. Tamara keeps looking out for Summer, which is stupid, but I guess, you can''t do anything about it. There are two girls who always work for them. Like house helps. And those are so scared of these men!"

    "We have to do something to make sure that they are all down before we take Tamara,¡± the man breathed. "It would be impossible to steal her under such heavy security."

    "We can do it!" Sheena announced. "I''ve said that my mom makes lovely chicken pot pie."

    Everyone became silent for a few moments before a few men beganughing.

    "That can be arranged," Ozra replied with a smile. "I''ll add a heavy dose of drugs to the pot pie."

    "Yep!" Sheena said. "I''ll make sure that all of them eat it, including Tamara."

    "And once they have eaten it, it will take about twenty minutes for the effect to show. They''ll be down soon, and then all of you cane and bind them with ropes," Ozra instructed.

    "But you have to use arge dose," one of the men said. "They are bulky people. They''ll needrge doses in order to knock

    off."

    14:59 Thu, 22 May MC7

    ??? ??? 83%

    201

    "I can userge doses, but what if they die," Ozra pointed. "I mean they are drugs, not a child''s y. Thest thing we want is police trailing us down."

    The man shrugged. "Do what you think is right. All I''m saying is that they should pass out for just enough time until we take Tamara with us."

    "Maybe you can mix a little extra," Sheena suggested. "We need enough time to take Tamara out of there and into the cult building."

    There was a heavy silence as they all nned their next move. Everything was in ce, but there was anxiety in the air.

    "Why don''t you get Tamara out of her house and drug her?" another thin and wiry man suggested.

    "You mean drug her in the public?" Sheena scoffed. "Are you out of your mind? I will be caught immediately!"

    "I am just suggesting..." he murmured.

    "Well, we will go as Sheena suggested," Ozra replied in a firm voice. "She has alreadyid the trap, and all we have to do is execute our n."

    "But I don''t think that everyone is gonna eat that chicken pot pie!" a man grunted. "That could be an issue," another said.

    "Then what are we going to do?"

    Ozra took a deep breath in because this was a genuine problem. "I''ll get some red velvet pastries andce them with drugs."

    "You know what?" a man interrupted. "You can take wine bottleced with drugs. That usually does wonders. In this case you should take two wine bottles."

    Ozra narrowed her eyes. "That''s great idea. Better than red velvet pastries. You can put drugs in the bottles?"

    ¡°Yes, I can,¡± the man replied with a hint of pride. ¡°It''s easy to inject it through cork."

    "Nice!" Sheena chirped. "Let''s wait until tomorrow night. You can inform Selothis about our n. We will get Tamara tomorrow to him."

    Ozra''s lips curled up. She took out her phone and messaged Selothis on his private number.

    That night Ozra and Sheena couldn''t sleep well, feeling excited and tense. The next day, they went to buy wine bottles and handed them to the team. Next, they both ordered chicken pot pie. By the time it was 6PM, all of the were bustling with tension. They had to go to Tamara''s ce at 8PM.

    "How am I looking?" Ozra asked Sheena as she looked at herself in the mirror. She was wearing a bright blue cotton dress with a blue headband. She had put on makeup on herself, making dark circles under her eyes, and adding lines to make her skin look saggy.

    Sheena chuckled. "You fit into the role." She was wearing ck shorts and a tank

    top.

    When they came out, they saw the men. All of them looked like they were on the edge. One of them handed them the wine bottle while the other handed them a casserole with chicken pot pie. "They are bothced with finest drugs," he said. "Make sure that they have arge piece from them."

    Sheena nodded, excitement bubbling in her chest as she took the wine bottles. She had called Tamara earlier that she would being soon, to which Tamara had said that they were waiting.

    "Wait for our call, okay?" Ozra said to the men. "Don''t move before that. Our objective is to get Tamara, and no one else."

    14:59 Thu, 22 May MO

    83%

    The men nodded as they walked out with them to the car. "All the best!" said one

    of them as Sheena sat behind the wheel. "May Selothis be with you!"

    +20

    Sheena sped to Tamara''s house. She couldn''t believe that in just a few hours, her mission would be aplished. She arrived at Tamara''s house in twenty minutes. ¡°Here we are!" she said, parking the car in the driveway. She knew that the rest of the crew was right behind her, ready to sweep in anytime. Ozra jumped out with the pie in her hands as Sheena took wine bottles. The house was appearing quiet with soft lights spilling out of it. Some of the windows were open, breeze fluttering the curtains. They walked on the porch and rang the bell. No one answered.

    "Where is everyone?" Sheena asked, getting irritated. She rang the bell again, and waited impatiently. After what felt like eternity, she heard footsteps on the other side. The door opened and a petite girl peeped out.

    "Yes?" she asked, blinking at them.

    "Hey, I''m Sheena!" she said, her voice dripping with honey. "Tamara''s friend. She called us for dinner!" She knew that this girl was one of the house-helps.

    The girl looked at them like she was shocked. "But Tamara isn''t here. She left."

    "Left? Where?" Sheena barked.

    The girl shrugged. "The entire family has left. I don''t know where they''ve gone."

    "Is this a fucking joke?" Sheena let out a forcedugh. "Please tell Tamara that I''m here!"

    The girl jerked her head back. "Why will I joke with you? Tamara and Brad have left, and so have the others."

    "You are lying!" Sheena shouted, losing her patience. "Something is wrong!" she rasped, suddenly changing her tone. "This girl has killed them. Oh, my God! We need to check the house. I saw them all here yesterday! We are calling the police you don''t show us the house."

    if

    The girl was bewildered. "Why will I kill them?" she said, scared as hell.

    "Then show us the house," Ozra demanded, feeling restless.

    The girl opened the door wide for them to enter. "You may see whichever room

    you

    like."

    The women entered, unable to believe that the house was empty. Only a TV was on, which the girl was watching probably. Sheena darted upstairs to Tamara''s room. Then she checked other rooms as well, but they were all empty. Not a soul was there. Her heart raced wildly in her chest. What the fuck happened in such short time? They had also messaged Selothis that they were bringing Tamara. Unease bubbled inside her chest. If she didn''t bring Tamara, Selothis won''t throw her out of the cult, he would kill her. Sheena paled at the thought. She rushed downstairs.

    "Where have they gone?" she asked the girl. From the periphery of her vision, she saw Ozra with arms crossed across her chest, looking angry.

 Rejected the alpha mate 206

    Third POV

    Sheena''s heart raced as she nced around the house. There was no one except the stupid house-help. When the girl didn''t respond to her question, she went to her and shook her by holding her shoulders. "Where is she? Where did she go?" she asked, frustrationcing her words.

    The girl jerked away, clenching her jaw. She let out a low growl. Even though she was just an omega, these humans didn''t know that she was stronger than them. She stepped away and replied. "I told you, I don''t know. They didn''t tell me where they went!"

    "Let''s go out," Ozra said. "We are wasting our time." Then she looked at the house-help. "Did Tamara say anything about dinner with us? She was the one who invited us for dinner. I can''t believe that she ditched us."

    The girl shrugged, clearly confused. "She didn''t say anything about dinner with you two."

    "When are they returning?" Sheena asked.

    "I don''t know," the girl replied. "Maybe never. Maybe tomorrow. But I think they have gone on a long vacation."

    Clenching her fists, Ozra walked out of the house with Sheena following her. When she was on the porch, she said in a cold voice. "This doesn''t make sense. Did she message you? We were supposed to bring her to Selothis. Selothis is waiting, and if we don''t bring her-"

    "I know, Ozra!" Sheena snapped, her hands shaking as she tried her best to understand the situation. They all had made borate ns to trap Tamara, and here they were standing like fools with no Tamara or her family in sight. "If we leave without Tamara, Selothis will kill us," she whispered.

    "We can''t just stand here," Ozra growled, pacing back and forth. "We need to find out where she is."

    It wasn''t the weight of failure that pressed on her chest, suffocating her. It was the fear of Selothis. Her hands trembled with panic. She didn''t want to think what Selothis would do. She took out her phone to check messages from Tamara, but there were none. So she called her, but the phone went unanswered. "Damn it!" she cursed under her breath. She turned to Ozra with wild eyes, "What do we do now?"

    A muscle feathered in Ozra''s jaw. "We run. And we wish that Sthis never finds us. Because if he does, then he will kill us."

    They hurried to their car and drove as fast as possible, desperate to escape. Both of them would keep looking if someone was following them. When they finally left the town, they were somewhat relieved.

    "I swear, I''ll never associate myself with any cult

    "It''s not so easy!" Ozra replied, lighting a cige

    to your ce, okay?"

    Sheena said, "I thought it was so cool to be a part of it.

    all I want is to be away from them."

    s just hope they don''t find us. "Drop me to my ce. Dump this car on the highway, and then go

    "Okay!" Shenna said as she wiped the sweat from her brows, wondering what other men must be doing now.

    They were an hour into the highway when they noticed three motorcycles training them. "Fuck!" Ozra rasped. "They''ve found us. Drive faster!"

    Sheena panicked all the more. She drove fast but she couldn''t outrun the men. Then soon caught up with them. One of them pointed a gun at their tice and shot. The car screeched to a halt immediately as Sheena and Ozra screamed. Two men jumped from their motorcycle. They opened the door, grabbed them by arms and pulled them out. There was no way out. They were trapped. Sheena knew that the men didn''t care about their excuses. They would bring them straight to Selothis.

    They were standing in front of Selothis in less than two hours with their hands tied behind their backs.

    "Leave" Selethis''s voice boomed in the hall, making Sheena and Ozra shiver.

    The men left, the echoes of thell boots bouncing off the cold stone wall.

    Now orra and Struerta blood alone fit'' dory: Sheena rashed tamam has gone for a vacation, she will return in a kayaki

    Standing in the darkness of the hall, Selothis looked like a towering figure of power and rage. Shadows clung to him like a cloak, swirling around him as if they loved him. Sheena let out a squeak when she saw a faint glow in his eyes. She swallowed hard, thinking that she was imagining because she was tense. She nced at Ozra who had only paled as she watched Selothis.

    Selothis stepped forward and removed his mask. He narrowed his gaze, and the temperature of the ce dropped. The shadows around him lengthened as if they were angry too. "You''ve failed me," he said in a low guttural voice. "You had one job! The girl was so close." He stepped closer, his presence somewhat looming and consuming the space.

    Sheena''s breath hitched. She felt like she was in a horror movie. Her pulse quickened as his figure became taller, and his eyes glowed more. "Wh-who are you?" she squealed like a mouse.

    "I am God Selothis," he snarled. "And you were tasked to bring my sacrifice. You failed!"

    "We" Sheena started, but the words caught in her throat as he raised his hand. Shadows hissed and curled around her throat.

    "You didn''t fail me. You failed yourself, your purpose, this mission," he growled.

    "W-we tried, Selothis," Ozra said, her body shaking hard. "We didn''t expect her to disappear like that. We-"

    "Enough!" Selothis interrupted sharply. The shadows rushed forward and wrapped around the women. He stepped toward Ozra and curled his long fingers around her throat. "You will die for this." And then he squeezed his hand over her delicate neck. Ozra couldn''t even struggle because the shadows had grasped her tightly. He shoved her on the ground and she fell dead. Then he looked at Sheena whose chest was gripped with terror. The shadows hissed and coiled around her, begging him to allow them to kill her. "She''s yours," he said. The shadows hissed in glee and coiled tighter around Sheena like a python around its prey.

    "Noooo!" Sheena''s shrill voice boomed in the hall. But it faded soon after. Satisfied, the shadows-retreated, letting her lifeless body fall on the cold stone floor.

    Now all Selothis could do was to ask Tulip about Tamara''s address. He had to go there and get her himself.

    Tulip was in her room when he knocked on her door. She was surprised to see him, but he sensed that she was happy. Inside there was another man, a werewolf called Harison.

    "Did you miss me?" she asked him, standing on the doorway.

    "Yes," he lied.

    She gave him a lopsided smile and stepped aside for him to enter. As soon as he entered, his eyes fell on Harison who was lying naked in the bed. Harison narrowed his eyes at Selothis. "Who is this?" he asked Tulip.

    "My former lover," she replied

    casually as she closed the door. She

    walked to Selothis and kissed him to

    on his back. "Would you like some coffee? Harison is tired of pleasuring me and he needs some. After that-" She trailed her fingers over his arms, "We can have a threesome."

    "Sound good," Selothis said. "But let ine help you make coffee."

    Tulip smiled and tugged him to the kitchen. As she prepared coffee, he watched her with his arms crossed across his chest. Then he went to stand behind her and caged her in his arms. "Is Harison better than me?" he asked, kissing her earlobe. She shivered in his arms. "No," she replied. "You are so much better."

    "Am I better than Matt?"

    Tulip stopped stirring coffee in the mug. She took a deep breath in. "No, you are

    better than him. You''re like a god of sex-

    He chuckled. "I am a God, but not of sex".

    Sheughed. "Whatever you say!"

    where does this Matt livet to make

    She shrugged. "I don''t care."

    Selothis gripped her hand from behind, and then whispered, "I know you''re a bear shifter."

    Stunned, Tulip froze. "Wh-what do you mean?"

    He bit her neck lightly. "I mean what I say, Tulip. But your secret is safe with me as long as you-" he paused.

    "As long as I what?" she asked. She knew that if her college came to know she

    was a super natural, they would expel her. Or kill her.

    "As long as you tell me the address of Matt and his girlfriend Tamara. Or should I say Matt and his mate, Tamara?"

    Tulip''s throat dried. "I-th-they-" she stuttered.

    79%

    (+15)

    Selothis sharply made her turn

    toward him. He heard Harison

    entering the kitchen. From the periphery of his vision, he saw that Harison''s ws were extended He snapped his fingers. Shadows from the corners of the kitchen lifted and coiled around Harison. "He will die if you don''t give me their address," he threatened Tulip.

 Rejected the alpha mate 207

    Third POV

    Tulip''s face turned ashen white. Seeing Harison in the grip of shadows, she panicked. "Who are you?" she whispered, her eyes fixed on her mate who was standing still as the shadows continued to grasp him tighter by the second.

    Selothis chuckled. "That''s none of your concern. But you''re wasting my time. Tell me Tamara''s address, and I''ll leave Harison."

    Panic warred with anger. Anger won. "If you know that I''m a bear, then you should know not to mess with me." Her arms rippled with hair and her ws extended.

    Harison let out a scream as the shadows clenched him so tight that he couldn''t breathe. He felt like he was going to break into two.

    "Leave him!" Tulip snarled. "That''s my mate! If you harm even a hair on his body, I swear to Veles, I am going to kill you so fast you wouldn''t know what happened!"

    Selothis let out a low, darkugh. "You are dying. If you give me the address now, I will leave him. Immediately. And don''t mess with my patience. I''m already on the edge."

    She clenched her teeth hard. Harison was getting paler by the second. "Okay!" she rasped, feeling like she was dying with her mate. The pain was too much to bear.

    The shadows loosened around Harison, and he copsed to the ground. He was on his haunches as he gasped and panted to breathe. But the shadows still swirled around him, pulsing, threatening to coil him in their grip.

    "Tamara is a werewolf, and she lives in the Shadowfang pack. Her father is Alpha Lucien!" Tulip gave the information, staring at Harison.

    Selothis''s lips curled up. "That was nice," he said and snapped his fingers. The shadows uncoiled around Harison and Tulip darted to him.

    "Harison?" she croaked. "Are you okay?"

    He nodded, coughing and spluttering. She shot a dark re at Selothis as he passed by them. Suddenly, he stopped and asked, "Which pack does Alpha Matt belong to?"

    "Everme," she hissed, wanting him to leave immediately.

    Selothis chuckled dryly. He walked out of the room, the shadows following him. But just as he exited, he snapped his fingers again. How could he leave two witnesses who had seen his true face and what he could do as a God? The shadows rejoiced in hismand. They rushed back to Tupil and Harison. Before he closed the door behind him, he heard screams of the two of them. He savored those blood-curdling screams for a while and then walked back to his building. He knew that by the time he would be a few meters away from Tulip''s house, the two would be dead. He tsked. "What a pathetic end of mates..." And then he walked satisfied, humming a tune of death. "I''ll be soon there for you, Tamara. You''re my salvation."

    He arrived at his building and summoned all his followers. All of them assembled by midnight as some came from far ces. All of the were waiting for him toe and address them about the reason for calling them all in such urgency. They waited for a long time before he came out. As soon as he was out, he took a deep breath in.

    "I''ve summoned you alt tonight for a reason," he said, his voice booming in the main hall. "We will be going to a ce called Shadowfang. You won''t find the spot on the map of the world, but it''s a little ce where I have found our perfect sacrifice. However, she is surrounded by powerful people. You all have to help me to get to her or get her to me. Are

    you with me?"

    The hall filled with hums of excitement and agreement,

    His lips curled up. Everything was finally falling into ce. "Wonderfull" he shouted. "I have ced the map of where to find Shadowfang over there, he added, pointing at a table where the map was stretched. "See it, memorize it and then I''ll tear that map. As soon as you know where the ce is go meet you at Shadong!"

    Another buzz of excitement rippled through the crowd. They all fell into a file and one by one, they looked at the map However, hat is the fah pe was looking at it, they heard sirens wailing loudly,

    "Shit!"

    "Fuck!"

    "Is that the police?"

    Panic surged through all of them.

    Selothis narrowed his eyes. This time panic spilled. The cultists started running hither and thither. Chaos ensued. He let out a low growl of frustration as he turned

    sharply to retreat into his room. The mayhem outside turned into full blown tension. His cultists were

    scrambling, rushing in every

    direction. He shoved a few from his

    way and entered his room and

    closed it behind him. Just at that time, he heard the police opening the main door with a bam. They shouted at all the cultists, aiming guns at them.

    As soon as he reached the confines of his room, he began pacing. He was unable to make sense of the whole situation. How did the police ow? The timing was too perfect, too suspicious. Who betrayed him? His mind searched for possibilities. It didn''t make sense unless someone was keeping an eye on him. Was someone monitoring his movements? The thought was enough to send him into a spiral. Something was off. The only family that had a beef against him in this part of the woods was Tamara''s. But they had gone away. So the information must havee from someone within the ranks. But who was it? Who could''ve have betrayed him?

    His hands tightened into fists. With a growl of frustration, he thought he should go out to help his cult members. But that would be stupidity. He was this close to achieving his target. He wouldn''t risk showing himself. If they captured him, it would be the end. Without another thought, he hurried into the basement, a ce no one knew about. The shadows inside weed him, swirling around him like old friends. He sat there,

    melding with them, hearing the sound of footsteps echoing through the building.

    He knew that they were searching for him. It made him furious that a god like him was reduced to hiding from humans. He heard the shuffling of feet, murmurs and doors being kicked open. He clenched his jaw to stop breathing when they searched his room. They wouldn''t find much other than the shadows who only moved when hemanded. He wanted to kill all of them, but it would be so fucking stupid.

    So Selothis sat hidden in his basement, listening, waiting, wondering who the traitor was. Time stretched as the police continued to search the premises. He could hear them shouting as they rounded up the cult members. Soon they would start digging graves of all those who were sacrificed. He knew that It was a matter of time that the thing would be a full-blown scandal, and the media would have a field day.

    The night wore on, and eventually the search ceased. By dawn, he felt like the police finally left. They must have taken all the cultists, except him, He thought of getting out but not so soon. He heard police dogs barking around, and he knew that they were here to sniff the bodies. It made him angry as hell. Now he didn''t know how long was he going to remain in his basement. The hunt wasn''t over by a long shot.

    Finally, he came out of his basement on the third dawn when he was sure that there was no sound from the outside. As he walked out, the shadows swirled around him. He noticed that the hall was empty. There were signs of chaos with the dissecting table upturned, and shoes and robes lying scattered everywhere. He walked softly across the cold stone floor to reach the main door which was now hanging on the hinges. He peeked out and saw that the ce was covered in yellow ribbons that said, ''Crime Scene. Slowly, he stepped out of the building, checked right and left, and then darted into the thick jungle ahead. He had to get out of here as soon as possible. There were no police, no dogs. Only unearthed graves. Gritting his teeth, he continued to run as fast as possible. He mentally patted himself for never showing his face to the cultists. So the police would now chase a phantom.

    Setothis stopped only when he reached the periphery of the jungle on the other side of the main town. He recognized the road ahead of him. It led to the Shadowfang pack. "I''ll get you, Tamara," he said with a cruel smirk. "You destroyed all I had built in centuries. You will pay for it, and then some more!"

 Rejected the alpha mate 208

    Third POV

    By the time he reached the highway, the sun had arisen in the sky. He looked up at the sky, feeling extremely tired. His magic was weakening fast. It was like every effort to use the shadows at his will was draining him of it. He stood there at the edge, panting, with his hands on his hips. He had never been reduced to this form ever. So desperate, angry and frustrated. The highway was empty. Not a car or any other vehicle was on it. Gritting his teeth, he started to walk down the road. But today, he needed speed.

    It was by afternoon that he spotted an old sedan making its way down the road. This was the opportunity he had to use at every cost. Selothis approached the human. The man stopped the car as Selothis raised his hand, signaling for a ride. He didn''t speak much but he knew that the man was now caught in his hypnotic gaze. The man rolled down the window and offered him a ride.

    "Where are you headed?" the man asked in a dazed voice.

    "Drop me at the edge of this forest,¡± he replied in a silky voice.

    The man nodded without a question. "Hop in!" he said.

    Selothis climbed into the passenger seat. He wanted to gag at the smell of cigarette and cheap cologne, but he just opened the window and turned his face outside. He took a sigh of relief as his muscles screamed of ache. He had been without food for three days and ran out of his hiding ce like a bat from hell.

    As if understanding his predicament, the man said, "I''m Jose. There''s some bread in that wrap." He pointed to a box on the rear seat. "If you like you can

    eat it."

    Selothis grabbed the box, opened it and ate it greedily. Once he was full, he rested his hands on hisp. "Thanks. I''ll tell you where to stop."

    And the man drove, unaware of the dark God beside him.

    As they approached the border of the forest some fifty milester, Jose slowed down. "This is as far as I can go," he said, his voice tinged with submission.

    Selothis nodded. He didn''t waste time as he stepped out of the car, and sending Jose on his way with a wave of his hand. Jose drove off, leaving Selothis standing alone at the edge of the forest. When Selothis turned toward it, a deep satisfaction grew in his chest. He didn''t need to rush because he had a n. His mind worked with precision.

    In all his years of banishment, he had learnt one valuable lesson-patience was a virtue, especially when it came to hunting down powerful bloodlines. And now that he had found her, everything would fall in ce.

    Tamara had no idea who he truly was and he was going to use that to his advantage. He had spent years studying how to stay undetected, and he was going to put his skills into practice.

    The Shadowfang territory was close, but he couldn''t afford to be seen. There were numerous wolves patrolling the border. They would w him as soon as they saw him. His magic was weak and he couldn''t afford to confront them. Orice Tamara was sacrificed and he bathed in her blood, he would retain his power, his magic and then he would challenge Cressida.

    He stayed in shadows for a long time, surrounded by the shadows so that the wolves didn''t sniff him, waiting for an opportunity to enter the pack, Hourster, he saw few trucks passing through the area with food supplies. It was an ideal cover. When a truck slowed down a little, he stowed himself away into it and hid beneath the crates of fresh produce.

    The journey was not so long, but he remained still. When the truck finally reached inside the pack, he waited for the driver to unload, and then he seiz his chance, After making sure that the driver was/out of sight, he jumped out of the back and slipped in the driver''spartiment. There he found his of clothes and his wallet. He changed into them and a quick theft of driver''s wallet ensured that he had the money to rent a room in a nearby in

    The owner of the inn didn''t suspect him because his clothes were smelling of fresh produce and of the driver who was a werewolf the leas but good enough for him to sleep for a day. When it was night, he woke up. It was time to find her.

    Fortwo days lie walked around the pack to understand and retinformation about her. By the end of the two day

    neered and when sheughed, And en fouth day as the moon h?ng highcasting four shadows

    157

    Selothis followed his instincts.

    In

    Tamara was sitting in a small caf¨¦ with two girls who were in a serious conversation with her. Her golden hair framed her face as she idly stirred her coffee. He waited for her to be alone, even if for a moment. Finally when she got up to go outside, he followed her. He had to use thest of his magic to lure her. He was so close to his destination that excitement bubbled inside him. What could be more perfect that finding his prey alone?

    He approached her as soon as they were on a sidewalk. "May I join you?" he

    asked smoothly, putting his magic in his low voice to make it maic.

    Tamara looked up at him, jerking her head back. When their gazes met, she asked curiously, "Do I know you?"

    He chuckled. d. "No, but I heard that you went to a human college.¡± He scratched his head to appear cutez know this is awkward, but I really wanted to go there. I got good grades and was wondering ifyou could guide me."

    She blinked, but he knew that his charm had wrapped around her like a serpent,

    tightening its grip. Yes, his magic was draining, but it was worth it.

    "Sure," she breathed. "What do you want to ask?"

    "Let''s talk while we walk to your home?" he suggested.

    "Yes, that would be great."

    As they walked, he asked her all the relevant questions he had heard so many times. He took out candies and offered her with a chuckle. "Not the best bribe, but will it do?Che asked adorably.

    Sheughed softly and took one from him. The moment she chewed it, she

    "La

    He rushed to the ancient altar inside. Her breathing was slow, shallow, about to

    be made. The shadows swirled around the altar, hissing.

    began to feel light-headed.

    She

    e barely protest

    as he took her to the Eldermere ruins.

    and she seemed barely conscious. The ritual was ready. The final sacrifice was

 Rejected the alpha mate 209

    Tamara POY

    I opened my eyes and everything felt... wrong.

    15

    I talked at the dim moonlight that was filtering through the pirs of the Eldermere ruins. For a moment, I thought it was a dream, but the haze from my mind dissipated fast and as my senses came back, I realized I was lying on the cold stone floor. No, I found myself stretched out on an altar. The cold, air hung around me, and I could feel the pulse of ancient magic in the wor

    A voice broke the silence and my heart skipped a beat. The voice was low, melodic. A man was chanting incantations. I turned to look at him. Selothis. As he spoke, I saw dark runes forming in the air around me, twisting and glowing like ominous, ethereal symbols.

    His magic was wrapping around me, trying to suffocate me. The cold chill closed in on me, and the ruins swirled, trying to hover over me and make me their prisoner. The shadows crawled from beneath, hissing.

    Bewildered, I let out a low chuckle, and then I pushed myself off the stone altar.

    No Selots shouted in frustration as his eyes glowed dark. Before I could react, he came to me to push me down so that he couldplete his ritual, but in a turn of events, I raised my hand, twisted my body and grabbed his wrist, using his own momentum against him. In an instant, I shoved him back. He was sent stumbling down, his ass hitting the floor.

    His eyes grew in disbelief as I jumped off the altar. "What? How?"

    The expression on his face was priceless. Not in all his worthless life he could imagine that I would break his magic. I brushed off the dart from my shoulders, as a smirk tugged my lips. "I knew you were in the pack," I said. "Did you think that we were fools not to know that you were here, stalking us, trying to find me?" His eyes widened in shock

    "You thought you were the one who lured me in, didn''t you?" I continued, stepping forward. "But guess what? It was me who loved you here?

    His face contorted into fury as he got up. "You imbecile!" he growled. "I am a God! You think you can control me, fool me?" He snapped his fingers, and the shadows around me moved as if obeying hismand.

    I clenched my jaw as the shadows moved closer to me, coiling toward me, and then they stopped midair. Instead of squeezing me in their grip, they slithered, like snakes, and retreated back to him.

    Selottan''s expression twisted into confusion and disbelief. He reached out tomand them again. "Go!" he shouted at them. But they ignored himpletely, curling around his legs instead of mine.

    "You can control shadows here. But you forget who I am!" I said in an angry voice. "The shadows here," I said with authoritycing my voice. "They obey the Vaslof bloodline, not you! And especially not in the Eldermere ruins!"

    For a momers, Selochis seemed to shrink back in disbelief. Then he suddenly flicked his wrist toward the runes. They seemed to close in on me with rapid speed. I covered my face with both my arms, ready for them to m on my body and explode, but a loud voice boomed in the temple. The runes burst around me in tiny pinpricks, turning to ashes and falling on the ground

    Sloths was shocked. He whipped his head to the side. I heard a rustle from my left. My pulse quickened and I saw Matt emerging from the shadows. His expression was a mixture of concern and controlled fury. He was on his way to me with long strides had right beside him were two Shamans. They were chanting incantations continuously, their eyes fixed on

    "Tawara" Matt said in an urgent voice as he moved toward me. He pulled me in his embrace and red at Selothis.

    13:15 Sun, 25 May

    At first, Sclothis''s expression was that of disbelief. Like what happened in such less time? He had me in control, and now it seemed like I was in control. "So this the Alpha bear that Tulip fucked?" he sneered, his lips curling as he looked Matt up and down.

    Fury sted through me and I narrowed my eyes.

    Sclothis let out augh as the Shaman chanted. "I know about Tulip," he said to me. ¡°She fucked him well, ruined him for anyone else. Do you know that he goes to her every now and then?"

    Fury tuned into hotva in my veins. My breath turned shallow. "Shut. Up." I growled.

    But he didn''t. He continued speaking evil. "Even when you were with him, he used to go to Tulip. He had tasted her body. Why do you think he woulde to you?" He winked. "Come to me, Tamara. This bastard doesn''t suit you. I, on the other hand, will worship you. Every part of you!" He extended his hand toward me. "Take my hand, and you''ll get everything you desired for."

    "You fucking bastard!" Matt growled. In an instant, he was in front of Sclothis. He punched him hard on his face. "You liar! Did you think that Tamara didn''t know of your movements?" He punched Sclothis again. This time Selothis hissed and punched him back. Matt stumbled back.

    From the periphery of my vision I saw my father, mother, Bradley, Matt''s parents, Seth and other warriors rushing inside. They formed a circle around us. My mother came to me and circled her arms around my shoulders protectively. Father came to stand behind us like a shield and Brad stood in front of us.

    All at once, the Shaman raised their voices, reciting ancient incantations. Runes appeared around Selothis.

    "Step back, Matt," Bradley rasped.

    But Matt''s eyes glinted with fury. With a deafening growl he attacked Selothis. "I will stop you! How dare you even think of killing my Tamara? How dare you try to nt seeds of doubt in her? Tulip is dead and so is her mate, Harison. And we suspect it was you who killed them!"

    Selothis''s eyes widened for a flicker of a second. "Fuck off!" he said and barreled into Matt, taking him down with him on the floor. I shrieked. What followed wasplete mayhem. I couldn''t believe that Selothis, a God, was so low in power that he couldn''t match the power of a bear alpha.

    Matt punched him in his ribs. The God snarled and hit him back. Bradley joined Matt. He attacked Selothis from behind, kneeing his spine Selothis let out a dangerous scream and turned frantically to deal with Bradley. But Bradley was quick to move away. Matt attacked him on his side with a force that cracked his bones. Selothis looked like a mad God. The magic that he showed earlier had vanished. Like it was thest left in him.

    "Move away!" our Shaman shouted. On his cue Brad and Matt stepped back, and he thrust his hand forward. Larger runes. appeared and they surrounded Selothis in a way that he couldn''t escape them. He spun on his heels in order to get out of

    the circle, but the runes would burn his skin. He hissed as he looked wildly around him to escape.

    "What is happening?" he asked himself, unable to believe that things simply didn''t go in his favor.

    I remembered when Matt hadn''t

    about Sclothis. He sent all the information to father. Father dug out history about Selothis.

    My mom got a vision about Selothis in her dreams-an ancient fight between Cressida and Sclothis. She informed of her dream to father, and there was no stopping after that. I was called home immediately along with Matt and Bradley. Brad was reluctant toe, but he knew that our pack was at stake. No, our entiremunity of werewolves was at stake. He came back with us, and after that we just waited for Selothis to make contact with us.

 Rejected the alpha mate 210

    Tamara POV

    11%8

    My father joined Matt and Bradley to tackle Sclothis. A fierce baule ensued. Even though he had be weak, Selothis was not easy to handle. He had centuries of experience to fight, and so he cleverly maneuvered three warriors. But it was easy to see that he was losing his power fast. I wanted to join my father, Matt and Brad to finish the dark god, but mom stopped me by holding my hand.

    "If he bathes with even one drop of your or my blood, he will gain power" she pointed out. "So stay put."

    I gritted my teeth and stopped myself. However, Teddy joined them. I could see Selothis ncing at me, trying to make his way toward me to injure me, use my blood like a starved, hungry entity, but the men handled him well. They had formed a circle around him, punching and tossing him from side to side. Seth and other warriors also joined soon. And in a little over twenty minutes, Sclothis was lying on the ground, covered in blood, Suddenly, his skin started wrinkling fast. It was like he was... shrinking. Like everyst drop of magic in him had drained out with his blood. He turned his head to look at me. "Tamara..." he said in a strained voice. "Help... give me.... blood..."

    The Shaman shouted, "Move away from him!"

    The four men stepped back and the Shaman came nearer. But he also ensured not to go very near him. The Shaman from the Everme pack also joined him. They recited incantations in unison, Runes formed in the air. They surrounded Sclothis. He let out a plea of mercy. "Don''t..." he whispered. "Free me... I will reward you..."

    But the Shamans continued to chant ancient incantations, When I had arrived at my pack, the Shamans had told us that they were researching the ancient runes. It wasn''t an easy task, and I was unsure how they were going to take care of Selothis. After all, he was a dark god. But little did I know that the Shamans had done a lot of research and Selothis''s magic was weak.

    Soon the runes started to swim over Sclothis''s skin, touching him and floating away. Pin-pricks urred where they contacted his skin, making him squirm in pain.

    "Leave me..." he whispered. "I want to go back..."

    I knew how dangerous Sclothis was. He had killed innocent werewolves over centuries only to bathe in their blood. Had Bradley not rescued Summer, he would have continued to kill them. The police had found a whole graveyard around the cult building. Every cult member was caught and sentenced to life imprisonment or was standing trial.

    I wondered what happened to Sheena. The girl who tried to be my best friend only to take me to the cult to sacrifice me. Matt had discovered her truth as well. He had followed her to her apartment and because of his superior hearing, he could easily hear what they said to each other. He heard their n a day before we had left.

    "Ahhh!" Sclothis''s body arched as the Shamans sent a fresh wave of runes to him. They mmed into his skin, and burst into tiny explosions. Goddess, it was a gruesome sight. It wasn''t easy to kill a dark god. Even in his current state, he was holding onto life. As soon as all the runes burst around him, his body caught fire. And just like that, Selothis''s entire body was burning. We all stepped back, watching the demise of the dark god who was a murderer, and justified his killings. Not only that, he encouraged and brain washed other innocent people to catch and kill for him.

    In no time, his body was reduced to ashes. The embers that were sent flying in the air carried the smell of burnt flesh and magic.

    I didn''t know when the sky was covered by heavy clouds, but a loud, deafening thunder pped above, sending me almost jumping. Light crackled and before I knew it, thick raindrops pelted the ruins. Matt rushed to me, lifted me in his arms and ran for cover. I nced over his shoulder only to see that the ash was being drained inside the altar.

    And so came the end of the dark god, who wanted to challenge Cressida, and regain his dark kingdom. It was my blood that would have bloomed the ancient power in him. It all sounded surreal, but I knew that I had to hide my powers from the world. If I didn''t, another Selothis would stand up one day.

    We returned to our pack, victorious. But the victory was heavy on our hearts. That night as Matt curled behind me and kept

    May

    0.11%2

    me close to himself, I could sense his emotions. He had tightened his grip on me like I was his most precious treasure, like I would disappear. That night, he would shudder in his dreams and only when I would whisper reassurances that I am here with him, he would calm down.

    Next morning after breakfast, there was still quietness in the air. No one was speaking much. There was so much to think about.

    Bradley was broody, his sullen demeanor reeking in the air. Matt was beside me all the time, and seeing Brad so disturbed, he would cling all the more. As for mom and dad, they were just thankful that I was alive, that fate gave me the best mate on this earth.

    Our parents were sitting in the main room while Brad was somewhere in the forest, having given way to his wolf to run. We all knew that he wanted to find Summer, but he wasn''t going to go anywhere, especially not afterst night''s incident.

    "We should get our children married," said Teddy. "It is high time."

    Oscar and Hans came bursting into the room, and both sat on dad''sp. My father lovingly gathered them on both his thighs and pressed kisses to their cheeks. Mom chuckled, watching them with love in her eyes.

    "You''re right," mom said. "There''s no need to go back to college now."

    I pursed my lips. "But I want to finish college mom!" I looked at Matt for approval.

    He nodded. "I''ll do whatever she likes," he replied with a smile, squeezing my hand.

    "No need!" Father snapped. "We are still not sure if all the cult members are caught by the police."

    "That''s right,¡± Teddy replied and She agreed with him.

    "We shouldn''t risk your safety, Tammy," she said in the same way when she used

    to scold me in her way. She was never harsh with me. "If it''s okay with you, love, marry Matt. Else my son is going to be as grumpy and impossible as he was. I''m afraid I can''t handle him now!"

    Mom and Teddy burst outughing as Daddy chuckled, shaking his head, muttering, "Mates..."

    A blush crept on my cheeks and I nced at Matt. He was looking at

    me with interest and so much affection that it filled my chest with warmth. He picked my hand to his lips and kissed my knuckles. Then suddenly, he got up and kneeled in front of me. I gasped as Hooked at him with wide eyes.

    "What are you doing?" I rasped, blushing deeply.

    The room went absolutely quiet.

    Matt took out a blue velvet box from his pants and opened it. A gasp left me as I saw the four-carat diamond staring at me, sparkling, ¡°Matt..?"

    "Tamara, I''ve never stopped thinking about you once in my life. You were on my mind every waking hour and when I was sleeping, I dreamt of you. I tried to keep myself away from you because of my own issues. But now, it''s impossible. Please marry me and relieve me of my pain. Will you marry me?"

    Both our moms were clutching their hearts and going "a" in unison, like it was the sweetest thing they had seen.

    And me-tears welled in my eyes. This was the first ever love confession from Matt, which showed his raw feelings for me. It felt like he was aching in his heart. After yesterday, he wanted to make me his.

    When I hesitated a little, his heart ached more. "Tammy, you can attend college-"

    "Yes!" I replied. "Yes"

    13:15 Sun, 25 May M

    11%2

    Matt''s breath todged in his throat. His Adam''s apple bobbed. He plucked the ring out of the box, and slid it in my ring finger. He took a deep breath in, stared at the ring for a moment, and then cupped my cheeks, pulling me close to kiss me. When our lips met. I curled my arms around his shoulders and opened up for him. He kissed me fervently, urgently.

    "E!" Oscar and Hans protested. "Stop kissing my sister!" Oscar wanted to jump out of my father''sp ande to us, but father picked them both up and exited the room, chuckling. My mom and all others left the room as well. Finally, when Matt pulled away, he rested his forehead on mine. "Thank you, Tammy," he said in a raspy voice. "I would''ve gone mad today if you had denied me."

 Rejected the alpha mate 211

    Tamara POV

    The night of the wedding felt like a dream. I couldn''t believe it was finally here. It was the day Matt had been waiting for, but it still seemed surreal. After he had proposed to me; I had epted it because I didn''t have it in me to resist him anymore. He had protected me and my family in ways more than one could even think of. Though after the proposal, I wanted to go back to college and continue, mom and dad were vehemently against it. They were afraid that unless every cultist was behind the bars, I shouldn''t venture into the human town. Even Matt''s parents were dead against the idea.

    bals: elega

    I looked at myself in the mirror. My gown was elegant-crafted with delicate silk and intricatece. It was crafted by Marion, the woman who had designed my mom''s wedding gown as well. Marion was beaming with ecstasy. She had tears in her eyes as she looked at me.

    "You look so beautiful, Tamara!" she said, sping her hands.

    I saw moming into the room. She came up beside me, a proud smile lighting up her face. "You look stunning, darling," she said softly, her voice filled with emotion, as she looked at my reflection in the mirror.

    I turned to her, trying to smile through the knot in my throat. "Mom..." I whispered and she hugged me tightly. There were tears in her eyes and I knew that she had tried her best not to cry for the entire day. She had lost me when I was a pup, and she was again going to send me away after a gap of ten

    years. Her emotions were at an all-time high. And so were mine.

    She pulled herself away. Her eyes softened as she ced a hand on my shoulder. "You''vee so far, Tam," she said, wiping her tears. "This is the start of a new journey as the Luna of the Everme pack. You were always meant for this, for him. That''s why destiny chose to put you in his protection even when you were just a pup."

    Tears welled in my eyes and I didn''t fight them back. The emotions of the day, the weight of everything we had gone through to get here, were all crashing over me at once, "Mom, I''ll miss you all!" And I hugged her back. from the periphery of my vision, I saw father entering the room along with Oscar and Hans. My father, Alpha Lucien, was absolutely the most handsome werewolf in the world. Just like my brother. Even at this age, he looked like a young human male in his twenties. "Daddy," I said and rushed to him. He opened his arms and embraced me.. "Tammy..." he whispered through his emotion-choked throat. "You''ve made me proud, little girl He kissed the crown of my head and released me. "You two are perfect for each other," he said with a smile in a warm voice. "He''s a lucky guy."

    Oscar and Hans ran up to me and wrapped their little arms around my waist. I chuckled softly as I hugged them back.

    "Tammy, Hans and I are nning toe over to your pack next month!" Oscar said excitedly.

    Next month? It was only a week away. Sigh... how could I deny them. "Okay," I replied with a smile.

    "You can take us with you on your honeymoon," Hand added. My parents barked augh.

    "Enough!" Father admonished them yfully.

    Oscar pouted. "But Matt said that he doesn''t have a problem. We are all going to y during her honeymoon. I''ve packed all my games already!¡±

    Mom shook her head. She pped them both on their backs yfully. "Go, and see if the guests have arrived. We have to go to the moon temple soon."

    All at once, Oscar and Hans were epitome of sincerity. "Yes, we''ll check it!"

    They rushed downstairs, talking loudly about it. wondered where Bradley was. He was so sullen that I didn''t know how to speak with him. Summer''s sudden disappearance was creating havoc on him. My brother, who was once so bubbly and joyous, had withdrawn. It was really painful to see him so miserable. Father had sent his people to find Summer, but it had been a week and there was no news about her.

    Mom held my hand as we all went out where the cars were waiting. I sat with mom and dad. Where was Brad? We arrived at the moon goddess temple, and when I got down, I felt the tension in the air. There were bear shifters and the werewolves in the crowd, all looking at us with anticipation. It was a big wedding, full of expectations because ording to the Shamans, this was a wedding that reignited the unity of the two shiftermunities.

    14.06 Mon, 26 May MT

    As I walked toward the main building, I saw how candles lined the path. The smell of incense hung in the air, mingling with the scent of flowers ky hea was racing and my pulse quickened. Daddy offered me his arm, and I took it nervously. He walked me to the main sanctum and that''s where I noticed Brad. He was standing with Matt. He gave a smile, and relief surged through me.

    Matt stood in the main sanctum, dressed in his formal attire. His jaw clenched as he looked at me. The moment our eyes met, his facial expression softened. That familiar protective gaze I had always loved was now locked on me. Butterflies fluttered in my stomach, as I took slow steps toward him

    He took my hand in his as father stepped back and went to stand with mom. The ceremony began with the traditional blessings from Shaman. Then came the exchange of vows. I took Matt''s hand in mine, feeling their warmth.

    His eyes filled with intensity as he gazed at me. His grip tightened around my hand. "Tamara, my heart has always been yours. You''ve been the light of my life through all the trials, the pain, and theughter. I promise to love you, protect you, and honor you as my equal. 1, Matt Erikson, ept you as my mate and wife until death do us part. Even beyond that."

    I swallowed. "Matt, I''ve loved you always. I promise to stand by your side, through everything life brings, no matter whates our way. I, Tamara Vastof, ept you as my mate until death do us part."

    The vows spoken between us felt raw, real. Like some energy stirred around us.

    The Shaman asked us to give us our hands. We stretched it in front of him and he sliced our hands. He offered our blood to the goddess, and then joined our hands. A shudder ran down my spine. Something ancient, sealed us, sealing the bond between twomunities.

    "You are man and wife. Alpha and Luna." Shaman looked at Matt. "You may now kiss the bride."

    Matt stare intensified. He cupped my face with hisrge palms, and seized my lips in a sizzling kiss. I moaned in his touch, in his kiss. Goddess, I needed him so urgently now that I felt I''d die if he didn''t mark me now.

    Loud pping and cheers erupted, snapping our thoughts. I flushed hard as I stepped away from Matt, wondering how long we were kissing. Matt held my hand in his tightly, like a promise to never leave me. He had this grin on his face, like he was victorious, like he had achieved what he had wanted in his life. As we walked out of the temple, all the pack members cheered for us, pping and shouting blessings.

    Later, after the ceremony, the celebration began. The food was exquisite, theughter filled the air. With all my family near me and the threat gone, I felt a profound sense of relief. We were all finally together, celebrating and being happy.

    Matt took me to the dance floor and danced his heart out. When I was tired, he picked me up in his arms and danced. Finally, he sat down with me in hisp. He pressed my head to his chest, and murmured, "I can''t wait to mark you, love."

    "And I can''t wait to be marked by you," I murmured back.

    His chest vibrated with a low rumble. "I love you!"

    Suddenly, we heard a ss clinking. It was Brad. I got up straight in Matt''sp. Brad looked at us and smiled. "To Matt and Tamara, you both have ovee a lot of hurdles to be with each other. May your love continue to grow!"

    Everyone raised their sses in agreement. Matt rested his hand gently on the small of my back. He lowered his mouth to my ear. "Let''s slip out." He took my hand and led me outside to his car. Mom and dad were there. I bade them an emotional goodbye.

    And soon we were heading toward his pack with Seth following us.

 Rejected the alpha mate 212

    Tamara POV

    The moment we entered Matt''s room he pounced on me. By the time we were on his bed, we were frantically removing clothes from our bodies. There was no shyness, no shatne, only this urgent need. Like I craved for him for a lifetime. Maybe eons. We kissed in between removing clothes, wanting to get to each other. Matt was panting and gasping, his hands shaking as he worked on me.

    When we were on the bed, he crawled over and pressed me into the mattress with his body weight. His cock was rock hard and it was lying on my belly like a brand. He started at my face, at my lips, my nose and eyes for a moment. His throat bobbed up and down, like he had no power to resist me now. "You''re so beautiful that I can''t breathe," he whispered. "I''ve dreamt of this moment all my life, fantasized about you for so long that it is unhealthy."

    I cupped his face and rubbed my thumb over his cheeks gently. "I''m here, love."

    He lowered his lips to mine, and then he captured them urgently. A whimper escaped my throat, and his tongue swept inside my mouth, swirling against mine. Heat spread through my veins and my core throbbed.

    My hands intertwined in his hair as my arms clung to his shoulders, trying to bring him close to me. Goddess, I wanted him so much. More than anything in my life. He slid his hand along my chest, my arms. Lifting them above my head, he pinned them to the pillow at my wrists. And then once again he plundered my mouth, kissing me until I was delirious. I wrapped my legs around his hips, feeling the hard cock. He let out a needy groan as I whimpered.

    He left my lips and trailed a line of kisses on my jaw, my corbone and then the center of my breasts. When he lifted his face from there, his eyes went to my puckered nipples. Like a viper, he took one of my nipples in his mouth and sucked it hard. My body arched in response, when he sucked me over there, grazing the skin with his fangs, making me moan and yelp. He went lower, lower, and stopped when he reached my core. I was squirming beneath him, wanting him to do something. Something I didn''t know. But wanted to it so badly. He pinned my thighs with hisrge hands and lowered his face to my sex. His nostrils red when he inhaled my scent and his eyes shed golden as his beast tried to tear from him to surface. And then he pressed a kiss to my clit. "Ah!" + moaned almost jumping, a wave of something euphoric surging through me.

    My hands went to his hair which I clung hard. He parted my lips with his fingers to expose my clit, and lowered his lips to it. At first, he took it between his teeth. I let out a sharp cry. When he rolled his lips around my clit, my eye rolled in my head.

    "Fuck! Fuck!" He rasped and started to suck me hard. The sensations that cruised through me were overwhelming. Liquid heat coiled tight inside my belly. "Matt... please..." I whimpered.

    He went lower to my core and sucked it with his sinful tongue. Gods above. Start burst in my vision. It was so erotic that I thought I would die. "Please..."

    When he was done sucking me to his heart''s content, he raised his head. "Veles, look at you," he said, his voice heavy with lust. "You look so fucking beautiful! I need to get inside you!" Matt crawled over me, his lips glistening with my juices. He positioned his cock over my entrance. "This might hurt a little, love," he breathed. "Are you ready?"

    My only answer was my body bucking up to him. And that was all the encouragement he needed. In one rough thrust, he was inside me. I gasped, my head tipping with a sharp pain out there.

    "Do you want me to stop?" he said, his chest covered in sweat. I shook my head, But he still for a moment, even though his body was shaking with need. He allowed me to adjust to his cock, which was swelling inside me. "Are you okay?" he asked in a low voice as he tried to control himself.

    "Yes..."

    Slowly, he pulled his cock out and thrust it in all the way inside to the hilt, filling me, stretching me.

    "Ah!"

    "Fuck, you''re so fucking tight!" he said through his gritted teeth. He started thrusting inside me, slow at first. Then he picked up the pace. screamed his name. My hands flew to his back where I dug my fingernails in his flesh. He arched his back, hissing my name, and turned even more aggressive.

    On an instinct, I turned my head to the other side, exposing the length of my neck for him to mark. He increased his pace inside me, thrusting like a piston. "Tammy,e on my cock," hemanded. "Twant your pussy to flutter on my cock, milk me hard."

    Goddess, his dirty words were so erotic. "I need you toe, Tammy," hemanded again. I closed my eyes, savoring the feel of his swollen cock. Heat

    13:23 Wed, 28 May G W

    inside my belly was coiled to the point that it snapped. With a loud groan, I came all around his cock.

    I felt the shiver that ran down his

    spine, and with an animalistic growl, he pierced my skin with his fangs. screamed as painnced through me, through my pleasure. The mixture of pain and pleasure was too much for me to bear, and stars burst in my vision. My head went dizzy. He came inside me at the same time with a guttural snarl. "Mine, mine, mine," he snarled against my skin, filling me with his hot cum.

    Matt remained in that position until he had fullye inside me. And only after that he pulled his fangs out of my flesh. He licked my mark on instinct because he knew that his saliva had the healing ability to heal me.

    Iwas panting with my body covered in sweat, and with a feeling that something snapped fit inside me. As if two pieces of puzzle snapped together, making us true mates. Inseparable even after we died.

    In a sudden gesture, he rolled with me. I was on his chest with his cock still inside me. He brushed his hair away from my forehead. "Mark me, Tammy," he said. "I need you to mark me."

    My eyes went to his neck where my mark would sit, and I nodded.

    His cock swelled again inside me. I began to rock it slowly. My fangs slipped out and before I knew it, I pierced my fangs in his skin. With a roar, he came inside me and I

    couldn''t stop myselfing yer

    over

    him again. After removing my fangs

    I licked the mark.

    "I love you,¡± he whispered, clutching me to his chest, pressing my breasts. And his voice carried satisfaction. ¡°Thank you,¡± he added.

    Later, when we were both lying beside each other, I couldn''t keep my eyes open.

    He pulled me to his chest. Both of us were rxed, now that we had marked each

    other.

    I had never thought that I would go back to Matt, but here I was-marked and imed by him. And I never felt this happy orplete in my life. "I love you..." I whispered in my sleep.

    "I love you too," he whispered back, throwing his leg around mine possessively.

 Rejected the alpha mate 213

    Summer POV

    2 yearster.

    I was standing at the edge of my bed, listening to the shouts that wereing from downstairs. My father was arguing with a man. I didn''t recognize the voice of the man, but he sounded really pissed off.

    My father was a hunter. He hunted werewolves, a secret I had stumbled upon when he had sold me to a cultist for $5000, telling him that I was a werewolf. That was the day my heart finally broke. Did he not love

    only child? How could he sell me to be sacrificed? But then what do you expect from a man who was an alcoholic?

    But fates had another n. That night, I was saved by someone whom finally left my miserable life behind me.

    don''t

    remember at all. God bless him. He helped me heal, and I thought I had

    Somehow father hunted me down, after a tipoff from the same cultist. And before I knew it, he threatened me toe back to him else he would make sure that he would kill the man who saved me. Why the hell did I call him that night?

    Father was going to give me back to that cultist, but we heard that he was caught by the police. It was a huge scandal. Father was happy, not because they were all caught, because in his words, "I can sell you again."

    I stood up and walked to the door from where I could easily listen to their conversation.

    "If you don''t give me my money, I''m going to kill you!" the stranger shouted.

    On the first thought, I wondered if I should go and save him, but I reminded myself of all the abuse from him. He was the type who would never save me in the same scenario. So I remained standing there, frozen to my spot.

    "I told you I don''t have it," my father replied. "I''ll give it to you in a week."

    "A week?" the stranger shouted. "You said thatst week!"

    I closed my eyes, and just as I was about to go to my bed, suddenly my father''s loud voice made me jump. "Summer, get down here!"

    Gods. What had I done? I didn''t even know the stranger. Why was he,calling me? If I didn''t go, I knew that he would drag me downstairs with my hair in his grasp. In order to prevent that humiliation, I opened the door and took one slow step at a time.

    As I reached nearer, my heart raced with anxiety. I didn''t know the kind of money the stranger was talking about, but I was going to offer him whatever money I had saved. We were so short on cash that even my job as a waitress in the local restaurant wasn''t enough for the two of us. Every penny I earned was snatched by my father. He used every penny from me for cigarettes and beer. I had saved a few dors, because when I had enough, I was going to run away from him, and disappear in this vast sea of humans.

    Ever since my mom died when I was barely ten years old, he had pulled I me out of school. That basically summed up my life.

    I entered the living room and stopped in the doorway. My dad looked at me with anger in his eyes. Did he want me to fetch something for them? We didn''t have anything apart from tap water.

    I peered at the man who was standing in front of my father. He had dark hair that was graying at the end. He was in a much better shape-leaner, stronger, taller and muscr. Like someone from the mafia. With ck hair and dark eyes, he looked like he had walked straight out of a mafia movie. Definitely the kind of man one would want to mess with. In front of him, my father looked... weathered. He had a pot belly, his hair was receding, and he reeked of alcohol.

    Pulling my sleeves down to hide the bruises he had given me two nights ago when I hadete from my shift, I stepped cautiously toward him. When I stopped next to him, he looked at me with soft eyes. It was the first time he had looked at me so softly ever since my mom died. My lips curled up in a small smile at his affectionate gesture.

    He turned his head away to look at the stranger who was now viewing me like a hawk. "Mr. Coretti, this is my daughter, Summer," he introduced me to the stranger.

    Coretti shrugged. "Does she have the money?"

    My father chuckled. She is worth her weight in gold."

    I blinked my eyes, not understanding what he meant.

    Coretti narrowed his eyes. "Where are you going with this, McKeever?" His fists closed on his sides and it seemed he was not happy with the introduction. Why would he be? I wasn''t going to give him the money I saved to escape this hell hole.

    My father pursed his lips in a thin line. Then he said, "Summer is a waitress in a local restaurant. She is very obedient and never disobeys. In fact, she is a good sub."

    Sub? What was a sub? The only sub I knew was a submarine. I opened my mouth to say something, but I snapped it shut, when Coretti growled.

    "Summer is great at cooking, cleaning and generally being supportive. And oh, she''s got a good head on her shoulders," father continued. "She is truly submissive. You know, great for a Dom like you."

    Oh, so sub meant submissive. So what was Dom?

    However, father''s words didn''t make sense to me. The way he was praising me was shocking as hell. So pardon me if my eyes widened.

    "McKeever," Coretti growled. "Oh, is she now?" He gave me a once-over. A shudder

    19

    an down my spine and I crossed my arms across my chest.

    "She''s worth more than $25,000, so you''re actually getting her for cho. father added, and my mouth dropped to the floor. Twenty-five thousand

    dors? So he was under that kind of debt?

    My mind scrambled for words, for the thing to make sense, and when finally things made sense, I realized that my father was in such a deep mess, he was selling me to save himself. "Father..." I whispered, goosebumps rising on my skin. "What are you doing?"

    Coretti rolled his eyes. "I don''t want her!" he shouted. "I want my money, Mckeever!"

    My father sighed. "Look, you can use her any way you like. Housekeeper, sub, ve? She will do everything. She can work for you for a while until I have enough money to release her from you." When Coretti didn''t say anything, and I still stared at him, he added, "I could''ve sold her at a higher price. Just the other night, another man came here for her. But I chased him away saying that she isn''t worth $10,000 only."

    When the shock of what he said sank inside me, I gasped. Did he think that I was so stupid to this that he woulde to save me? No, he was selling me off. No, no. This was just a stupid dream. I pinched myself on the forearm to wake up from the nightmare, but things only got worse.

    "Mckeever," Coretti said. "Do you know what you''re doing?"

    Father shrugged. "Of course," he chuckled. "She''s only twenty, and she''s a virgin."

    Horrified, my mind went numb. What was he doing? Which father sold her daughter?

    "Daddy, are you mad?" I finally muttered, mustering some courage. "You

    don''t go around selling

    "Shut up!" he growled. "You''re finally of some use."

    My blood drained. He really meant it.

    ¤½¤Î

    me!

    "Alright," Coretti said after a tense silence. "If I take her with me, you will relinquish all your rights to her. If I see you around my house after this, I''ll personally ask my people to eliminate you, and bury your body six feet under. You will never see or speak with her. Understood?"

    "Understood," my father said with a smile. "She is all yours. But before you leave, you have to give me in writing that my debt is cleared."

    This was not happening. Dad wasn''t selling me to someone. "W-wait!" I

    blurted, and the two men snapped their gazes at me. Father especially looked furious. "I-I have some money saved."

    Coretti''s eyebrow rose. "How much?"

    *Chapter 213

    Father looked curious. "Where is it?"

    "Ab-about $500," I said in a low voice. "In my cupboard."

    Coretti tilted his head. "That''s nothing! You''reing with me.

    Tears welled in my eyes. I looked at my father who was ncing upstairs toward my room. How could he do something so despicable to his only child? Why didn''t I run away from him all these years? Because I wanted to take care of him even though he was so horrible to me. Tears ran down my eyes and stepped away from him. "No, I won''t go. You can''t force me."

    In a sh of a moment, my father was on me. He pped me hard. I tumbled on the floor, shrieking, feeling the sting of pain on my cheek. He grabbed my hair and growled, ¡°Like I said, you ungrateful bitch. Make yourself useful." Coretti helped me get up, and when I was in front of him, he said, "Summer, don''t be pretty. Both for you and your father. Understood?"

    Nodding, I trembled hard in his grasp.

    think of running away. If you try to run, I''ll track you and it won''t

    "Go, pack your things. Don''t even think of running, because if you do, you

    know..." he left the

    Sentence

    hanging in the air.

 Rejected the alpha mate 214

    Summer POV

    My dad had sold me once earlier, and I should have run away that time. But that night when I woke up after a terrible nightmare in a strange house, I was scared and shaking. I wondered if I was still in the cult building. The cultist had made me drink something after which he brought me to arge table. I wanted to protest, but the effect of the medicine he gave me was fast. He had said that it would help me, and that I won''t feel the pain when they dissected me. He meant that they would dissect me alive. Petrified, I resisted in whatever way I could, but the medicine had consumed mepletely.

    After that, I didn''t know what happened, but I sensed that someone picked me up and carried me out safely. I really wanted to wake up, but I couldn''t. If only I knew who saved me, just so I could thank him.

    I don''t know for how long I was unconscious, but my sleep was riddled with nightmares. And when I woke up, I was delirious. Often, I would hear people talking in garbled voices. A gentle touch would, a whisper, a soft breeze...

    When I finally woke up, my body was shaking. It felt like I would be blown away by a strong gust of wind. Why was I so weak? It was the middle of the night. I got out of bed and scanned the room. It was a cozy, luxurious room, which made me feelfy. However, my thoughts returned to my father and anger mmed in my chest. How could he sell me for such a heinous crime? I tiptoed out of the room to see if anyone was awake. But the house was shrouded in darkness and quiet. I went down the stairs, clutching my shirt, and my eyes fell on andline phone. Without thinking much, I dialed the number.

    "You sold me!" I hissed at my father.

    "Oh, you''re alive?" he deadpanned.

    "Did you know that they were going to kill me?" Tears stung in my eyes.

    He sighed. "Where are you?"

    "Somewhere you can never reach!" I replied. "Don''t ever try to find me, dad." Saying that I mmed the receiver down. I was shaking so hard that I grabbed the back of a sofa and sat down. It was impossible to stop my tears, and so I sobbed and sobbed. If only mom was alive... Finally, after what seemed like hours, I decided to thank the person who saved me and then leave.

    The phone beside me rang, taking me by surprise. Afraid that it would disturb the residents, I picked it up. "Hello?"

    "I know where you are, Summer," father''s irritated voice came. "I won''te in back, else I will kill the guy inside. And you know it!"

    A chill ran down my spine. "You won''t! How did you-"

    He scoffed. "You know I will. So be a good girl, ande back."

    "Just leave me," I cried. "I hate you! You hate me."

    house. But I''m waiting on the first street on the east of it. Come

    "Stop being dramatic. Just fuckinge. I''m waiting in the truck. If you try to run away from me, I''ll kill that bastard!"

    And so I returned to my father. He was a hunter. I knew he carried all sorts of ammunition with him. It would be foolish to notply with hismand. It was obvious that he was going to send me back with the cultist, because he owed him money. But as luck would have it-that cult was raided by the police, and I was saved.

    My father sold me again. This time to what looked like a mafia man. His drinking and gambling problem working. I had some life. He stole that life also from me.

    were getting worse by the day. But at least I was

    As I packed my bags, I looked at my escape routes. What if I jumped out of the window? I pulled the curtain slightly, but froze when I saw that Coretti hade with three more men, and his car was parked right beneath my window. Tears slipped out of my eyes as the weight of it came crashing down. But was determined to escape. If I was going to escape, I needed to bide my time. For that, if I acted weak and obedient, Coretti would lower his guard. Then, when the time was right, I would escape.

    I picked up my duffel bag, and before leaving took onest look at my bedroom. Though I barely had any good memories about the ce because my father chose to beat me in his drunken escapades, it was better than whatever hell was waiting for me next.

    "Summer!" Dad bellowed from the living room. My hands clenched I into tight fists

    as I struggled with an urge to run away. But I knew that I would regret

    1. it.

    Theard thunderous footsteps up the stairs. My heart began pounding. What if he starts beating me again? So I headed to the door, my eyes sweeping the room. There was a photo of my mom on the side table. I rushed to pick it up.

    "Summer!" another bellow.

    I stepped out of the room and found that dad was already about

    1. me.

    open my door. "What took you so long?" he hissed as if he couldn''t wait to get rid

    of

    I walked past him, wiping my tears. When I arrived in the living room, I found Coretti talking to someone on his phone. "We''ll see," he said gruffly and turned to

    me.

    "Go," father ordered.

    Coretti jerked his head toward the exit and I walked there on autopilot, wondering what was going to happen to me next. Would he make me his sex ve?

    The moment I was on the door, dad sat back on the couch with beer in his hand and a smile on his lips. He picked up the remote of the TV and switched it on. There was not a shred of guilt on his face. Just joy. He was free of his debts.

    Coretti stormed toward his car, grabbing my wrist. He shoved me inside the passenger seat. The three men sat behind, all staring at me like I was their next meal.

    I shrank in my ce, wrapping my

    arms around the duffel bag like it would save me. The car rolled on the streets for about fifteen minutes? before it came on a highway. No one spoke for the next hour, until we arrived at a mansion. My jaw dropped at the beautiful mansion in front of me. Built in the center of acres ofnd, it had white marble walls. There were beautiful balconies and porches in front of every room. Vibrant vines climbed up in every direction. There were people working around. It seemed like I was in a fairytale.

    "Come on," Coretti growled as other men dispersed, I followed him inside the mansion, wide eyed. He led me to a small library where I came face to face with another older man with a very serious face. "Good evening, Mr. Morelli."

    Morelli gave me a once over. "She will be my daughter''s personal servant from today onward. Take her to Laura," he said in a heavy, gruff voice.

    "Wh-what?" My jaw dropped.

    Coretti was on my throat immediately. ¡°You do as told, girl. Else I won''t hesitate in killing you!"

    I coughed hard, grabbing his wrist as Morelli scoffed looking at the scene unfolding. Who were these men? ¡°S sorry,¡± I managed to croak.

    Coretti shoved me away. "Come on," he growled. I followed him out meekl

    me?

    unable to believe what was happening to me. How could God be so cruel to

    We went to the housekeeper who gave me a uniform to wear. As I wore it in the changing room, I heard other girls talking in whispers about the Morelli family''s mafia business. Fuck. I was stranded for my life.

    "Remember not to answer back to Laura," the housekeeper warned as we walked through the corridors.

    Laura Morelli was a beautiful blond with curves at the right ces, and skin like porcin. She sighed when she looked at me. "I hope she doesn''t die, she remarked. The housekeeper nodded at her tightly, turned and left like a robot.

    Laura circled

    me

    as if assessing me.

    "I don''t know what dad saw in you," she said in an irritated voice.

    "Anyway, get my suitcases readmet

    Tomorrow, we are going to the Mating Ball in the Shadowfang pack. If I''m chosen, I''ll be invited to the Luna Trials." Pride manifested on her face. "I''ll be the only woman representing the humans there. So it is very important, understand?"

    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and

    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!