Romans de Zhanybhe

LUCAS' POV Zoey's mother arrived barely thirty minutes after Aria left to go see her brother. Zoey was not lying when she said her mother was not the biggest fan of wolves. "The only reason I'm here is because my daughter barely asks me for favors. My name is Helene, and I want this to be a quick consultation." "Mama, they are good people." Zoey scolded her mother sharply. "Hello, Helene. I'm Lucas, and it's nice to meet you. Your daughter speaks highly of you, and it's an honor to have you here among us." "Flattery will get you nowhere, werewolf." She said, I tried not to take offense to her tone, but it was obvious that she was softening towards us. "Mama, thank you for coming." "Anything for my favorite daughter." "I am your only daughter." The two women smiled at each other. They could pass for sisters. I took the women to my office and introduced Helene to Lane and Cole. "Aria will be here soon." While we waited, I caught her up on what had been happening so far. She li

ARIA'S POV That night, I worked with a manic energy that was driven by the fear that I was the one putting my family at risk. Lucas already discovered that all the ten packs that disappeared had something to do with my family, not knowing that it was me whoever this person was targeting. I tore everywhere apart. My once clean and orderly walk-in closet was a mess. I searched everywhere. Even Lucas' space wasn't spared. I looked everywhere for something that wasn't mine. I looked so hard that I thought I would go crazy. I looked in between my box of jewelry carefully, I wasn't lying when I said Lucas brought me everything I owned. I found the cheap necklace August gave me. Apparently, it was why I was found by my original family. Even this was an heirloom that had been mine since I was a baby. It was mine and August's birthright. All of a sudden, I screamed and tore up everywhere once again. "Come out, where are you? Where is it?" I was still filled with so much energy that I sta

THIRD PERSON'S POV They were all trapped in time, they didn't know it, but that was what was happening to them. They were being sacrificed for the greater good. He looked them over, and he felt annoyed. He didn't like that he was still in hiding. He was supposed to take over the werewolf world. It was his birthright. "My lord," said one of his loyal followers. "Are we putting a stop on the packs?" "Since when is it okay for you to question me?" He boomed, and the man went flat on the ground. "I only want to please you, my lord. Your pleasure is the only reason I exist." He rambled. He would kill him, and nothing would happen. If he wanted, he would replace him with a hundred others. The two of them knew this. "My lord, I still want to serve you." It was true. Douglas was very loyal, and that was something that was hard to replace. "Leave my front. Go and think about the grave consequences of what you just did." When he was finally alone, he opened his drawer and brought out

LUCAS' POV Right before our eyes, Zoey became confident. It was like a switch had been turned in her. "What are you talking about?" "You know what I'm talking about, Alpha. I felt it that day when you shook my hand. I've always felt like there was something strange about my boyfriend, but I thought it was because of my own senses." "So, you are a witch." I said, and she nodded. "I didn't say anything because I thought you were human." "August doesn't know you're not human?" I asked. "To be fair, we were both hiding something from each other." "You never suspected him, and he never suspected you?" "I had my suspicions. He heals faster than normal, and he never says anything about his family's business." "That's not enough." "I know. I didn't know what it was, but I knew he was hiding something." "Let's talk about your family, Zoey." Lucas abruptly changed the direction of the conversation. "What about them?" "What's your angle here?" "I don't understand." "Why are yo

ARIA'S POV "Whoa, whoa, when you say she's a witch, what does that mean?" I said after I picked up my jaws from the floor. "That she's a witch?" He looked confused, but I was, too."A literal one.""Yes, Aria. I wouldn't call her a witch to insult her." He deadpanned."I know. How? She looks so sweet." "And?""I don't know? She just doesn't strike me as a witch.""That's because you don't have any positive experience with witches. Most of them are normal and good. I think that's why she was a little bit stunned when we met. She could tell that I'm not human.""Does that mean they have both been hiding things from each other?""I bet they told her to wait a year before exposing her true nature.""Wow, that's really cute.""I guess it is. She comes from a long line of reputable witches and seers, too.""Are we going to say something to her?""That we dug into her and did a background check on her?""That's not good conversation, I know.""We will figure it out. Come to bed." He did a

ARIA'S POV "Red eyes? What are you kids talking about?" I smiled to hide how bothered and nervous I was.Zachary stood up from his bed, and I picked them both up to sit on my lap. My babies were getting bigger, and it wouldn't be long before they grew taller than me.Rosa spoke up first. "Mummy, when I slept, there was a man.""Did you see his face?" Zachary thought about it for a moment before he answered."No, Mummy.""No, Mummy." Rosa added. "It was really scary.""Yes, Mummy. I was scared." If they were scared, then I was terrified. My babies were having the same dreams that I was having, and that gave me serious concerns.Whatever was going on in my dream was serious, and I needed to find out what it could mean before it hurt my children. "Mummy?""Zachary, Rosa, there's no need to be scared.""Mummy, why?""Why are you seeing the red man?" Rosa giggled, and I tickled them to distract them from the question I had no answer to. "I'm going to reduce your screen time. You might ha

THIRD PERSON'S POV Karla knew achieving the purpose of what they came here for was not going to be easy. Even more so, now that Anita was now in the equation, it was going to be harder, but she still tried to hold firm. Aiden narrowed his eyes at her. "Who..." "I'd advise that you think carefully before you finish your statement." Ace said slowly. It was a threat, and he wasn't hiding it. For the first time since the four of them reunited, Ace and Aiden looked each other in the eye. Anita was stunned at how similar yet different the brothers were. She smirked when she realized that the two of them carried her curse. "You don't get to make demands here." Aiden amended his words and his tone. "You will see your family when I say so and not a minute before, you understand?" Emboldened by Ace, Karla said again. "The only reason I'm here is because you said you would release my family." "Did I?" Aiden smirked. "I said you know what to do if you want them to be released now. I didn

THIRD PERSON'S POVAce had made up his mind. The moment he stepped back into his old pack, his entire existence knew he was home. This was where he grew up, and this was where he learned everything he knew about leading a pack. It was this pack he had been dreaming of leading. He was close to achieving that dream too until his twin brother swooped in and ruined everything. He was not pained that he was not Alpha, he already knew what it felt like, but he had yet to experience being Alpha of the pack he trained for all his life.He would not give him a second chance to stop him from his dreams.He looked up at the high walls of the pack's mansion, and he immediately knew that he wanted to come back home. He didn't share his sentiments with Karla, knowing that there was a lot on her mind that didn't have anything to do with him. Her main priority was saving her family members. Nevertheless, he knew it was time, and he also knew what he was going to do. He was going to challenge Aiden.I

ACE'S POV Karla barely slept that night. She kept turning and tossing until I threatened her with not going anywhere if she wasn't properly rested."You know how unpredictable our trip tomorrow is going to be. We need to be on alert at all times. You won't be on alert if you don't sleep well.""But I have so many things on my mind." She whined."And what's worrying about it now going to do? They will still be there for you to worry about tomorrow, so empty your mind and go to sleep.""Yes, Alpha." She said in a bratty tone that made me want to roll over and spank her ass. I knew that was only going to lead to other things that would end up keeping her up, so I sighed and kept my hands to myself."Please, go to sleep, baby. We have an early morning tomorrow." I spooned her so she could go to sleep faster. After a few minutes, she was out cold, and I slept off not long after.My alarm blared, and I could swear that I just fell asleep only twenty minutes ago, but the time on my alarm cl

KARLA'S POV My fondest memory was when I was sixteen. It was that age when all the girls my age were having sweet sixteen birthdays and were getting ponies, fake or not, from their families. I had been invited to a couple out of pity. I even got invited to one because my brother, Lucien, was friends with the birthday girl's older sister. Of course, I had started my training then, and I wasn't doing so well in the breast department. In fact, it seemed like I was the only girl that was still wearing training bras. I had muscles instead, like the boys, and I wore pants instead of cute skirts and tops. Of course, the boys ignored me, and the girls didn't want to be friends with the girl that had muscles instead of breasts. I tried to act nonchalant and uncaring, but I really wanted a sweet sixteen too, and I didn't know how I was going to tell my parents. I was really depressed, and I think Mother noticed how withdrawn I was getting. Her first guess was that it was a boy, hence her adv

THIRD PERSON'S POV "Karla, baby, calm down and let us think about this rationally." Ace tried to placate his wife even though he was angry, too. "He's holding my entire family hostage, but you want me to be calm? Who knows what he's going to do to them? Ace, you and I know your brother is deranged." Ace couldn't even take offense at that because it was true. Aiden was not sane, and there was no telling what he might do if he decided to be difficult. Barely two hours ago, Ace and Karla were having dinner to celebrate her birthday party. They didn't even set out to be a party, but as more maid or pack members came to wish her well, the living room downstairs slowly filled out with pack members. Karla couldn't turn them away, so she begged the kitchen to quickly come up with fast food for the guests. Soon, someone started to sing a song, and someone was passing alcohol around. There was nothing wolves loved more than food and alcohol. It would take a long time before they got dru

KARLA'S POV When I woke up this morning, it was with a deep emptiness in my stomach, like an ache that would never be filled. A deep void that would never be filled. My wolf whimpered, and I did with it. The sound, however low, was enough to wake Ace.It was a surprise that he was still in the bed with me. He was notorious for waking up in the small hours of the morning. "Baby, what's wrong?" He reached for the bedside light. "Are you hurt anywhere? Are you in pain?""Ace, why are you still in bed?" I whispered. I would very much like to be alone to tend to the void in my heart, but I couldn't just kick him out of bed. "You don't have to work?""No, baby, not yet. It's still three in the morning. Tell me, what's wrong?""I can't breathe." I tried to explain. "Not like my lungs are closing. More like it's not enough. There's this ache in my chest that's not going away. I don't know what's wrong with me.""Sit up, baby." He urged and placed multiple pillows behind me so I could rest m

LIAM'S POV The maids were cooking dinner when I got home, so I had them step aside to cook her a special dinner. I set the table for two and carried her down the stairs. I also made sure the kids were preoccupied so they wouldn't disrupt us. "You're really working hard for your forgiveness, aren't you?" She giggled as I poured her a glass of red wine and uncovered the food. "I was stupid. I shouldn't have been mad at you, and more importantly, I shouldn't have invalidated your feelings when you said you felt harassed." "That's all?" "I'm not sorry I ruined his company. He had it coming, and the only reason I made him recover was because of his employees. Otherwise, I would leave him out to dry." She regarded me for a beat or two. "Fair enough. I was just surprised because I had never seen that side of you before." "I'm a very jealous man, baby. Irrational, too. That part of me doesn't come out because no one who knows me would dare flirt with my wife." "Neil thought it was a

AMY'S POV The next day, the news of Neil's company bankruptcy was the highlight of the business world. How could Liam do this over a simple argument? Did he know how many people he put out of a living with his senseless actions?I was almost at the restaurant when I decided that this wouldn't do. I need to look him in the eye and have him explain what he had done. I would not be able to focus on anything anyway until I had resolved this. "Take me to my husband's office." I ordered."Yes, Luna Arlington." I seethed all the way there, still finding it hard to believe. Before he had stormed out yesterday, he asked me what I thought about the reason I didn't tell him about Neil and if I truly felt like I was being harassed. Me?I was too stunned to give him an answer yesterday, and he had had the audacity to tell me it was because I enjoyed the attention. Me? I was too busy and too content with my life to seek attention elsewhere. Mavin and Theo were more than any excitement I could eve

AMY'S POV Perhaps, it was not in my best interest. I shouldn't have given him my phone. I wasn't thinking. I didn't get the chance to tell him about Neil yet. To be honest, I was waiting for when I would get a good handle on it so I could finally tell him about Neil. Immediately I heard the ping of a new text. I didn’t have to ask him what it says. It's from Neil, and he has said something untoward. "Amy, what the fuck is this?" Called it. I should have known he would react like this. Honestly, it was my dumb luck that of all the times that Neil would choose to text again, it was when the phone was in my husband's hands.I thought he had finally gotten the hint that nothing would ever happen between us. That was why I had been bold enough to give him my phone number, not that I was guilty of anything. "It's not what it looks like, darling." I tried to be blasé about it, but with the way his jaw was clenched, I could see that it wasn't going to fly with him. "It's not what it look

LIAM'S POV Now that Amy was back from her work trip, I could finally stop working from home. Not that it was a bad thing, but I could barely get anything done from all the noise Theo made. He was more demanding than when his mother was here. I knew that if I told Amy that her son was crying more than usual and it was probably because he missed her so much, she would be on the next plane home, so I kept it from her. I only called after he slept or before he woke up in the morning. It would have been easier too if he had started school, but the new session was still two months away. She was supposed to use only three days, but that was no longer possible because the company she was meeting was flaky as hell. She ended up spending a week and a day there, but it all worked out because she got a good deal. Miraculously, Theo became her sweet little angel, as opposed to how much he disturbed Mavin and me. Even Mavin shook his head at how manipulative he was. The next morning after sh

AMY'S POV I was part excited for the trip because it felt like I was being an adult for the first time in my life. I was contributing to the economy, and it was a great feeling. However, as the day for the trip drew closer. I remembered every scenario that could go wrong in my absence, and I didn't anticipate how nervous I would feel. However, I sucked it up and started packing. It was too late to get out of going after I already promised Maddy that I would do it. It wasn't even that important. We both decided to build a shopping mall together. It was near the restaurant, so running it would be easy. It was also a way for us to bring more revenue in so we would stop depending on Liam for everything. If we wanted, Liam could find partners for us, but Maddy was convinced that we needed to strike out on our own. Liam had also introduced someone for us that was managing our accounts before Maddy decided that she would learn to do it and then took it off his hands. Fortunately for m

AMY'S POV Liam didn't mind that I spent the rest of my date coming up with different ideas for our restaurant. I didn't even tell Maddy yet, but I was still happy to tell him everything that we could do to the restaurant. The next day, Maddy was over at the house, and she was in the nursery watching Theo. The two of them got along so well. I think I would have been jealous if I wasn't his mother. When I entered, Theo was babbling something to Maddy, and whatever she said in response must have been so hilarious that he burst out in laughter. That was a sound I would never get tired of hearing. It was melodious and full of life, or that could be my mom bias speaking. "Wow, you didn't tell me you speak baby?" "I don't, but this little monkey and I have our own special language, don't we, my sweet boy?" She turned back to him, and I was surprised to see him nod. "Are you guys going to teach me?" "Come on, Amy, we can't tell you our secret." I pouted, and they both laughed at me.

FINAL CHAPTERMAGNUS POV"What are we doing then?" Mane asked."He will be waiting for an attack. We won't give him one.""So we are not attacking him?""We definitely are.""I'm confused, Alpha.""It's simple. We are still going to go with the strategy you drafted, except that I'll go in first. Distract him.""Oh. That's much better; the spy said he's getting passports done, so we know he's leaving soon, and he will be at his pack.""Exactly." I stood up, battle-ready. "Let's get a move on then. I would hate to miss him.""Yes, Alpha.""I'll go first. Lead the men and meet me there.""Yes, Alpha." I got in my car and drove off. This was the third time I was traveling this route in months, and I hope this will be the last time I'm going with fear and uncertainty in my heart.If our plan works, then this will be an easy win. I packed my car about ten meters from his house at the edge of the park and waited until the coast was clear."Alpha, come in." Mane's voice filled the earpiece I

JAXON'S POVI brought her back to the old place where it all started. The house at the edge of the pack was where she hid when she was still in her right senses. When she still saw Magnus for the hypocrite that he is,"Why are we here?" She was even more beautiful than before."You will see.""Is my baby in here?""Do you want to see for yourself?" Why was I answering her questions with a question?I pushed the door open. "I fixed the door. You know the one Magnus threw me into?""Jaxon, I really am not interested. I don't feel sorry for you or anything. I just want to see my baby. How hard is that to comprehend?""I'm sorry, my lady." He smirked. He finds her adorable with her smart mouth. "Your baby is right up ahead."She climbed the stairs and went into his room. There was the baby. There was a maid with him."Who are you?" She jumped up."His mother, that's who. Get out.""No, Alpha Jaxon said...""I don't care what Jaxon said. Get the fuck away from my son." She yelled at him. I

MAGNUS' POVImmediately after I discovered the note, I ran out of my room to Mane's."Mane." I pounded the door. "Mane.""What? What's happening?" He opened the door and joined me outside."This." I handed him the note Audrey left me. Soon after, Estelle joined me too."What's happening?" He showed her the note. "Oh Goddess." She groaned."What?" We both turned to her. "Do you know something?""She suddenly wanted to be alone yesterday. This might be what she was plotting.""Why didn't you say something?""I didn't think it was important. I didn't know she was planning anything. I'm sorry."I relented. "There was no way you could have known." Mane said."She obviously got a letter." "What?" We turned to her again. "What are you talking about?""She said she was going to be long gone, meaning she knew where she was going.""That's not hard to guess. She's going to go to the Blue Moon Pack.""Jaxon would not go back to his pack with a baby. No one is that stupid. He must still be nea

AUDREY'S POVLAST NIGHT"Where are the men now?" I asked Estelle. It was a rhetorical question. I didn't expect her to know."Last I heard, they were searching all the empty houses.""Why?""They say there is a possibility that the kidnapper might still be on ground." My nerves spiked up. "Is it possible?""I don't want us to put our hopes up." She said gently. "I believe the Alpha will do everything he can to bring him home.""I know."About twenty minutes later, I left her to go back upstairs. We came down earlier to see what was happening."What is happening?" I pulled one of the guards aside."The Alpha got injured.""What?""He is at the physician's already.""Oh No. Is he okay?" I couldn't afford to lose my husband either."Yes, Luna. He might be unconscious for a while because he was hit pretty badly.""Thank you for scaring her, you jerk." Estelle sneered at him, and I patted her hand."Can I go see him?""No, Luna. I have strict orders to keep you here.""I see." I sighed. "

MAGNUS' POV THREE YEARS AGO“What are you doing?“ I jumped at the sound. “Why are you so restless?“ Jaxon laughed at me.“I was just surprised, is all.“ I defended myself.“You still don't feel at home yet?““Honestly, I've never felt at home anywhere before.““Why is that?“ He sat beside me on the floor.I sighed. Was I really ready to tell him my life story?“You don't have to talk about it if you don't want to.“ He said. It wouldn't hurt to tell someone.“No, it's cool. What did you ask again?““I want to know why you have never felt at home anywhere.““So my parents died in my last year of high school. Rogue attack or something like that. I stayed with a friend of theirs until I could leave for college. The point is, I've always been on the move. I never stay in the same place long enough to feel at home there.““I see.“ What did he see? “It sounds like an eventful life.““A sad, eventful life.““My life has been very boring. There's nothing spectacular about my life. My father

MAGNUS' POV“This house has been unoccupied for a while now.“ One of the guards said,“Go on.“ They broke the door down and went in. “It's all clear, Alpha.““Let's go.“The second house was empty too. Same as the third.“All clear, Alpha.“ I was beginning to think this was a futile effort.We reached Audrey's old house.“Do you know where this is?“ I said to Mane.“No, Alpha.““This is Audrey's old house. This was where she lived for the first twenty years or so of her life.““Oh. Are we checking it?““It's not necessary. I still send maids to clean this place out regularly.““Yes, Alpha.“We moved on from the house.“Alpha.“ One of the guards caught up with us.“Yes.““I think I saw a curtain move.““Are you sure?“ Mane asked.“Well, why didn't you say anything?““I'm sorry, Alpha.““It won't hurt to check it out.“ I directed them to go back.“I don't have the key, shit.““We could break it down.“ Mane suggested.I thought about it for a while. If it turns out to be nothing, I coul