The whole family was rejoicing. Lucas had become an instant hit in the Black Moon pack. Alpha Jacob and Luna Mira had practically stopped going to their home and they stayed with us. Lucan had become an apple of their eye. At first, I thought it was Apollo who was so proud of his son, but I was wrong. It was the Alpha and the Luna and my brother-in-law who were prouder. Alpha Jacob gave a huge party to his people on the birth of his grandson. I think my life had more surprises and happiness that I ever thought I would have. The party was held in the packhouse. The packhouse was tightly packed with people. Everybody wanted to catch a glimpse of the heir of the Black Moon pack—the wolf who would carry the legacy forward. Alpha Jacob was standing on the dais along with Apollo and Luna Mira while I was standing on the side along with Nicole, Aunt and Uncle with Lucas in my arms. And I had no idea why Victoria had dressed him up in a baby lion king outfit with a tail and two cute ears.
Apollo POV How could I do this? How come I never saw this catastrophe coming? I had become so complacent in my world that I had lowered my guards. I was always so cautious that I was usually ten steps ahead in my games and plans. How come I didn’t anticipate this? This was the worst mistake an Alpha could make—to live in his own bubble and ignore the vices of the world that surrounded him. But what could I do? I was so blinded in the love for my wife and son that I had slipped into cozy thoughts, tossing out my logic. I just couldn’t control my feelings for my mate or my child. Could you blame me? Natasha had that power over me. She could make me feel so complacent, so comfortable that when I was near her, all my day’s tension vanished taking away my logic too. Today I wanted her to have the best birthday, because today was the day I had met her for the first time. I had never expected the outer world to ruin my plans. And what occurred right now—I wasn’t prepared for it. Ivan V
Natasha POVThey say that for the world to be flipped upside down, it takes only one second. But my life had many of those seconds. When I was taken into foster care.When my aunt and uncle suppressed my memories with the help of a psychiatrist. When I met Apollo for the first time in the basement.When my mother tried to shoot me.When my father was taken by the authorities.However, this minute took away the prize—when I gazed at my father who was supposed to be dead. All I could do when he walked through that door was stare at him. I was so starved that I didn’t even blink. It was possible that the moment I blinked, he would disappear into thin air and then he would never come back. I snuggled my face into his chest and re-familiarized with his strong spicy, citrusy smell. I cried so much that I wetted his shirt, and I was sure that he too was crying because I could feel his tears on the crown of my head. Moments later, I found myself in our room. I think my father brought me i
“I will take ten minutes to get dressed!” I said, not wanting him to leave me and go away. “Please don’t leave…” I added with desperation. I wanted to stay with my father, catch up on all the years I wasn’t with him and then some more. How did authorities leave him? What did he do after that? Was he back in Russia or did he move somewhere around? His features turned soft. “I won't leave without you, printsessa.” Printsessa. Such an endearing word. My lips curled up.“You don’t have to get dressed either,” he said. “All you have to do is take Lucas with you. Everything else is there for you, waiting…” I didn’t understand what he meant but I laughed. “I will be right back Da!” I exclaimed and then rushed into my bedroom with Apollo following me. As soon as we were inside, he closed the door behind us. “Are you fucking mad?” he spat. “That man is the most dangerous criminal of our world and you want to go into his lair? Have you no regard for your safety?”I spun to face him as I gro
I took a shaky breath in when my father repeated, “I had lost all hope to see my heir ever again, but now my hopes are renewed.” “Father…” I said, my voice breathy. “I am married… and I belong to Apollo and his pack.” I gazed in his eyes to see some kind of reaction, but all I saw was coldness on his face. I pursed my lips and looked away. I had to make him understand that I could never come back to him. He sipped his vodka as tense silence settled between us. When he didn’t speak, I continued, “I can't come back with you to Russia. This is the place I belong to.” From the corner of my eyes, I saw a dark figure moving behind the glass very quickly, as if hiding for being caught. I drifted my gaze back to my father avoiding it. My father swirled vodka in his tumbler as he became silent as if contemplating his next move. At this point of time, I realized that I had to be very careful. There was a darkness that spilled out of him and darkened his expression. He leaned back on the sofa
“Natasha!” I heard my father’s astonishment in his voice. “You have shifted!” When I looked down at myself, all I saw was brown fur that covered my hands. My gums were aching for they had protruded painfully long. And I heard a dangerous snarl, which belonged to me. For the first time I had shifted into my wolf and I couldn’t believe that she chose to come out now. ‘I am Ember,’ she growled. I was so much in awe of her that I let her take full control. The transformation was liberating and it felt so good. So, this was how every werewolf felt when their wolf came out. Now that I had my wolf, I understood the hollow, the void I suffered for so long. My wolf completed me. And right now, she was snarling because people had attacked our mate. ‘I will kill all of them,’ Ember hissed. I padded with my chin dipped and a low snarl. The four men in the room stopped beating Apollo. He was almost unconscious. “Natasha, you have to stop!” Ivan’s voice fell on my ears. “This is not what you w
October November December was the most cruel in Russia. Ever since father had brought us back to Vyaska, our hometown in the north of Russia, he had been extra vigilant. All his energy was usually spent in taking measures that I was highly protected. He had started giving orders from home and barely stepped out even for grand political functions that he was invited to in the human world. My cell phone was snatched and smashed. The two months without Apollo seemed like eternity. I wondered if he was finding me. I didn’t feel like eating, having lost all my appetite. The only thing that kept me going was Lucas. I ate because I had to feed Lucas. I breathed because I didn’t want to leave Lucas in the hands of Olga. I stayed alert because I wanted to escape. I needed only one chance and I would leave, even if that meant running across the wilderness of snow-clad Russia. Ember wanted an out and she was aching to come out after my first shift. She was getting antsy inside me. Once I h
Apollo POVTwo months. It had been two months since Natasha had left with Lucas. I had become like a shell. I had stopped eating and looked so gaunt that my mother winced when she glanced at me. I knew that she would cry in silence seeing my condition. No mate should be treated like this. We had had numerous arguments over how much she had warned me against Natasha and that I should have rejected her. Every fucking time I would stomp out of the house and find myself in the bar where I had met Natasha for the first time. I would drink until I could no longer think and then had to be brought home. Each time it would be Artemis who would bring me home. He would mumble curses under his breath and I would chuckle and tell him never to leave his mate. I had stopped going to the office, stopped meeting people and had withdrawn into a cocoon. My father had not moved an inch when Natasha called for help because he had to protect his people. And Natasha? My little mate? She sacrificed herself