LAUREL’s POVStanding outside Helios’ chamber, I am suddenly filled with doubt. My hands go to my hair and I wonder if I should just tie it back up in a ponytail like I usually do. With my hair down, I don’t feel like myself. I feel out of a place, as if I am a different person…I feel vulnerable.One of the guards guarding the chamber door gives me a sideglance and I just about melt into a puddle. Geez…why is he looking at me so strangely? Why did I even agree to wear a dress?I flash him a brief smile but this smile comes with a slight feeling of uneasiness. Suddenly, I am like a young girl again with butterflies in my stomach.Except I am no longer a child and there are no butterflies floating around. I close my eyes briefly and take a deep breath to get ahold of myself. I am here to discuss with Helios about Ares and Ariel’s case, not gush over Helios’ abs.The door to the chamber opens and I step in before they swiftly close again.Except for the faint glow of the crescent moon,
LAUREL’s POVThe land of the Stormbreaker pack is not exactly what one would call a fruitful one. It sits right at the borders of a desert with only the Holy River as its source of water.The river, burning with the reflected rays of the evening sun greets us with silence. There is no welcoming committee to receive us, as is customary whenever an Alpha of another pack visits. Only their Gamma and a dozen or so warriors stand at the entrance of their land.“Alpha Helios,” the Gamma bows his head. “This way.”His face is grim and as we enter the gates to Stormbreaker, we are met with faces of their pack members. A throng of them; young and old, weak and strong, big and small, watch us from the sidelines of the rocky path with wary eyes. Then, from the crowd, a little girl steps out of the sidelines and holds out a tiny flower for me.She is a sweet child and she musters a smile. I smile back but before I can even stretch out my hand to take the flower from her, an older woman pulls her b
LAUREL’s POVThe cell door opens to Ariel’s room and I see her sitting at the edge of her bed with her head bowed and arms hugging her waist.“Ariel, we need to talk.”She hugs herself tighter but does not look up.Helios scowls and steps into the room. Behind us, Ares pokes his head out of his cell door and I motion for him to come and join us. He does but remains standing by the door. He knows not to interrupt when Helios is interrogating someone.“Is her name cleared?” he whispers to me and I shake my head solemnly.“Let’s talk about Marcus,” Helios says when he reaches the foot of Ariel’s bed. He has her attention.“What about Marcus?” she asks, her voice flat and cold.Helios crosses his arms. “Tell us what happened.”Ares tugs at my sleeves and I put a finger to my lips, indicating for him to keep quiet. He pouts.Ariel rubs her stomach and mumbles, "Marcus died."“You killed him.," Helios does not mince his words.“No! I’m innocent!”“We went to your old house back at Stormbreak
LAUREL’s POV The gift of a child is supposed to be a beautiful and sacred one from the Moon Goddess. It is supposed to bring nothing but joy to the mother and yet, as I look at Ariel standing at the borders of her pack, her shoulders hunched and tears streaming down her face, I see no happiness in her eyes. There is only resignation. Ares hugs her tightly, whispering soothing words into her ears but Ariel keeps shaking her head. “I’m sorry,” she says, her voice quivering. “No, no, no, don’t you ever say that,” Ares says, cupping her face and forcing a smile. “I never regretted meeting you.” “I used you…” Ares gently takes Ariel’s hand to give it a squeeze. “It doesn’t matter. I’m staying with you.” Ariel’s body quivers. She lowers her head and shuts her eyes, lifetimes of pain etched on her face. “You’ve done enough for me. It’s time for you to leave.” “No, I’m staying with you to the end!” Ares explains. The offer is a genuine one and it touches Ariel but I can tell that she
LAUREL’s POV‘That woman was my mother.’ Helios’ words keep repeating in my head and in an instant, everything comes together.His unwavering belief that a mate bond would surpass everything stemmed from his mother who tried to murder him for the sake of her mate. Now it all makes sense. Know I know why he does not believe me when I tell him I will stay with him no matter who my mate is. I look at Helios but his face remains hidden in the shadows and my heart suddenly goes out to this beautiful, heartbroken man. All around, people see him as Helios the conquerer, the dictator, the ruthless Alpha who rules with an iron fist. But no one has ever seen beyond his façade of invincibility to realize that beneath the tough exterior, lies a man in grief, a man in fear and a man in pain. To witness his own father’s death at the hands of the very woman who was supposed to love and protect him…it must have scarred his soul. Just what kind of life did Helios have growing up? Now I know why the
*This chapter was written with Halloween in mind. I hope you’ll enjoy it :)LAUREL’s POVIt is with a heavy heart that I walk into Ares’ room. But I put on a smile for my grieving friend's sake. His heart has been broken, the very least I can do is to cheer him up.
LAUREL’s POV Silence fills the room and all eyes fall on me. I am late, fashionably so. Quickly, I straighten up and flash a smile at Caleb, grateful that he had caught me before I fell flat on my face. He winks back and lets go of me. “Ahh…Beta Laurel, I trust that you have had enough of your beauty sleep?” Nox. Sarcasm drips from his every word as he greets me from the head of the table. He is seated in Helios’ chair with his legs comfortably propped up on the table and there is a smug look on his face. He is happy that Helios is not here and he is even happier that I am late. My eyes narrow at him but I do not answer him. Instead, I walk up to Alpha Erik who is seated next to Nox and bow low with respect. “Alpha Erik, please accept my sincere apologies for not being able to greet you when you arrived. But I am confidant that the welcoming entourage has welcomed you with great spirits.” Alpha Erik smiles warmly at me and gives me a fatherly pat on the shoulder. I look up into
LAUREL’s POV “You are carrying a child.” The doctor’s words echo in my mind and I become very still. It is strange, I feel as if I am watching a drama unfold before my very eyes. Pregnant? Me? It cannot be. I have only been with Helios for – “You are about two weeks along,” the doctor continues. “Laurel Moon?” My head snaps up from staring at my belly and I nod mechanically. Doctor Ramoth sucks in a sharp breath and looks from me to Caleb before shaking his head. He must think that Caleb is the father. I find that funny and suddenly let out a chuckle, surprising both men but the doctor does not share my humor. He looks to Caleb once more and says, “Would you mind excusing us for a bit? Caleb’s brows furrow but he does as the doctor asks and steps out of the examination room. And once we are alone, the doctor leans in and whispers to me, his tone deadly serious, “Laurel Moon, are you witho