AMIRAIt was barely one hour into the date and I already felt like I could be somewhere else instead of here. I wanted to go home.It was stupid of me to think that I could sit for goddess knows how long and watch Ivannah rub herself all over Soren while he sat there with his wandering thoughts, not giving a care about what she was doing.âIs he okay?â Koa whispered to me while he nudged his head at Soren who was sitting opposite us with Ivannah wrapped around his hand as she talked his ears off about a topic, I had no knowledge of.âI donât know. He wouldnât talk to meâ I told him with a worried sigh as I glanced at Soren again.Koa turned his attention to Ivannah who called his name and they began to talk. I turned my attention back to Soren.âHeyâ I called through our private min link and his eyes snapped to me âYouâve been distracted all evening. Are you okay?âSoren smiled, his eyes lighting up for the first time that night and pride bloomed in my chest that I was able to make hi
SORENâSoren, your father calls for youâ a pack member nudged me softly, drawing me out of my head.That was all I seemed to be able to do lately. The worries had piled up to the extent that I spent days thinking about everything but finding no answers.âThank you, Jom. Iâll go and see him nowâ I told the young wolf who nodded before he scurried off.I got on my feet to go to my father knowing that if I lingered, I may forget about it when my thoughts invaded my reality again.My father was in his office and I knocked twice when I arrived to inform him that I was here.âCome in, Sorenâ He called from behind the door and I opened it and stepped into the office that would become mine when I took over the pack.âYou called for me?â I asked, taking the seat, he gestured to with a frown on my face. I didnât like meeting with my father because the majority of the time when he called for me, it was never good.âYes. There is something urgent I must talk to you aboutâ He finally lifted his hea
AMIRAâAre you ready, children?â Inara asked, her white hair and white eyes glowing under the moon.âYesâ We chorused.I was nervous and I was certain I wasnât the only one who shared that feeling. This was the first time we were going to cross realms and we were going alone.Inara, the pack seer was going to cast a spell to open a portal that would take us to the human world. Apart from being a seer, she could also cast some spells.I guess you could say that Inara could be likened to a witch except witches had no wolf but she does and she was more powerful that the average witch.Inara closed her eyes and began to chant in a strange language we couldnât understand. We were doing this in front of Inaraâs hut since she didnât like to venture far from it.A small portal appeared before us. I looked inside but there was nothing in it. It made me wonder if we were being transported to the dark forest directly.âThe portal would remain open for the next three hours so you have to do whate
AMIRA âThe simulations here are crazy. Itâs hard to tell that itâs simulatedâ Rune commented as we walked deeper into the forest and I shared his thoughts as well. If we hadnât come through a door, I would not have been able to tell this place had been created. The similarities to real life was way better than what we had back at home. The creepy dark aura of the forest made chill travel down my spine with each noise and creak it produced. âWatch out, Runeâ Koa caught him before he could trip over a branch that was laying on the floor âThe forest might be simulated but the creatures in here arenât so keep quiet and listen. We canât let our guard down. We can get hurt hereâ âWhat crawled up your pants and died there?â Rune grumbled and ducked with a chuckle when Koa tried to smack him. âCan you both leave your bickering till later and letâs communicate through the mind link so we can hear our surroundings better.â Soren scolded and they straightened. We continued our journey
SORENâIâm beginning to doubt the scientist guy and his statement about dangerous creatures in here. Weâve been walking for a while and yet to come across any. And how big is this place? Weâve been walking for a while but we havenât seen Ami nor seen what we are looking forâ Rune complained in the mind link.I was still pissed at him for causing the landslide with his carelessness but I was keeping it to myself because I knew I might lose control here and it wouldnât be good for us so I chose to ignore him.âJust focus before you cause an earthquake this timeâ Koa warned, having an annoyed look on his face that Rune noticed which made him shut up.âAmi? How are you guys?â I asked her through the mind link because I was filled with worry. I couldnât think clearly and all I wanted to know was where she was and if she was safe.âIâm safeâ she replied after some minutes and I let out a relieved sigh âYou?ââWe are okay. We havenât seen anything yetâ I said with a sigh.I was just as tired
AMIRAWe had been walking for a while with the others nowhere in sight and thankfully, no creatures at all. It made me start to doubt that there were any here.I could not stop worrying about Soren and the way he sounded before he put a wall on our private mind link channel.âLetâs wait here. Hopefully, they would meet us hereâ I told Ivannah when we got to any intersection.I was hoping the road they were on would lead them to us since there were many parts connected to it. I didnât want us to thank one and miss the others again.I took a seat without waiting for an answer from Ivannah. She had not complained again after I warned her not to and I hoped she remained quiet.âAre we just going to sit on the floor?â She snidely asked and I didnât hide the irritation on my face as I glared at her. I guess it was too early to say she would behave the entire time.âIf you canât sit, then be my guest and leaveâ I snapped at her, not in the mood to deal with her.Ivannah grumbled under her br
AMIRAâAmiraâ Ivannah called again and I looked at her in surprise. It was the first time I would hear even something remotely close to concern for me in her voice.Growling dragged my attention from her back to the wolf that knocked me down. His eyes glowed a slimy green, indicating that he wasnât a regular rogue wolf but one that had lost its mind and was dangerousâa dark one.I jumped on my feet, ignoring the pain that travelled through my body at the impact of the tree. I stared at the broken tree behind me and at Ivannah who had paled like a ghost as she stood with fear on her face as she stared at the wolf.âAt least she would shut up nowâ I muttered, ignoring the concern I heard in her voice before running towards the growling wolf that was storming towards me.The wolf launched at me, claws spread and his eyes firm with the intent to kill me. I moved swiftly to the side,
SORENI was getting frustrated the longer we walked without any sight of Amira and my worries were stronger and my desperation to find her, choking.We moved cautiously, eyes alert as we watched for any rustle or movement in the dark forest around us.Suddenly, a menacing growl broke the silence, and a wolf emerged from the path in front of us. His eyes gleamed green with feral insanity.“Isn’t that a fucking dark one?” Rune asked with surprise and fear in his voice.“They had dark ones in here? Are they stupid or what?” Koa growled as well as he prepared for the attack.I don’t know what came over me but I wasn’t in the mood to waste time and deal with the delay in finding Amira, so I stepped up, fueled by my desperation and slayed the wolf in front of me with a powerful and swift strike of the blade in my hands.
AUTHORâS POVElias sat at the foot of the bed playing with the toy his dad had gotten him. He was bored, but his mother had warned him not to leave the house until they were back, which meant he couldnât go outside to play. ââWhen will Ez wake up so we can play?â Elias whined with a pout on his lips. He turned to his brother, who was still unconscious.Elias scrambled off the bed and crawled to lie beside his brother. âWake up, Ezzy. I miss you,â he whispered and leaned closer to his brother. âWe have a daddy now.âA slight movement from his brother caused him to sit up with wide eyes. âEz?â Elias whispered, his little heart racing as he watched his brother to confirm if he was the one who had moved.âEz!â he cried out when his brother began to stir. âMummy. Ez is waking upâ Elias jumped down from the bed to run out of the room when he remembered he was the only one at home.He ran back to the bed, climbed on it, and leaned closer to peer down at his twin brotherâs face just in time
AMIRALeonoraâs hung over my head like a dark cloud. She was right. If Soren was insisting I stay, what would happen to Ivannah?Ivannah had been a thorn in my side for years. I hated her and her mother for everything they had ever done to me. But at the same time, I didnât want to be the one to ruin her marriage to Soren even though I knew she was never supposed to be at his side.That wasnât the way I lived my life. It was their way and the last thing I wanted to do was do anything they would ever do.All eyes were on me even though Soren had said he would deal with it. They were waiting for me to say I would let Soren deal with it. I couldnât meet any of their gazes as I spoke âThere is no need to deal with anything because I am leavingâ No one said anything at first and I was afraid to look at the expressions on their faces. âThe hell you areâ Soren growled, his voice bellowing in the office. âYou hear her?âHis anger was overwhelming but I didnât flinch because I expected it.
SORENThe room was suffocating and I wanted to get out. It was too much. The lies, betrayals and secrets that had all been laid bare for me felt like a fog that was blinding me and pulling me under. I looked at my father who stood unrepentant in the middle of the room and I still couldnât believe what I had just heard. âYou experimented on meâ I said, this time my voice was calm but it was a huge contrast to how I felt on the inside. It was as though I was finally digesting everything that had been said. My father knew what I was. He knew I had a mate he tried to kill and just like Ami said, he tried to play God. âWhy did you do it? To fight Curtis? Is that why you decided to do this?â I asked âDid you do it? Was that why you stopped being a scientist?â Noah had a weary expression but I couldnât care less about the guilt on his face. All I wanted was answers and not the regret they didnât have until they got caught. âYesâ He confessed âI was the head scientist of the operation
AMIRA I had not spoken a word to Dad from when we left the house until we arrived in front of Sorenâs office. It was hard to ignore the whispers and fingers pointed at me as I walked to the pack house. It was the first time I had shown my face in public since I had returned, so the members were shocked to see that the rumours were true. Ruelle and Koa didnât follow us to the office. We separated at the entrance and I pleaded with Ruelle to go back to my house so she would keep an eye on the twins while I thrashed this matter once and for all. âAmiâ Dad called with a quiet tone but I was not ready to look at him. He would have to explain everything here. I knocked twice and pushed the door open. The air inside Sorenâs office was thick with tension the moment we stepped inside. My eyes found Soren immediately and my chest tightened when I saw the anger and shock on his face. I wondered what happened before we got here. His shoulders were tense as though he was preparing for
AMIRA I stood by the edge of the bed and watched as Meridia worked quickly. Her old but experienced hands moved with ease and care as she tilted Ezra's head slightly and brought the vial to his lips while chanting softly. I held my breath as I watched every drop of liquid from the vial disappear into my babyâs mouth while I prayed silently that it worked. Dad placed a reassuring grip on my shoulder but I couldnât take my eyes off Meridia. I was biting my tongue so I wouldnât start to question Meridia and the effectiveness of the vial for the nth time. She said I needed to trust her and that was what I was trying to do. âItâs doneâ Meridia announced after placing Elias back on the bed and adjusting the covers over his little body. She stood up and faced Dad and I âThe potion should kill off all the venom and the body will purge it outâ My throat tightened âSo heâs...â âHe is going to be fine now, child. You have nothing to fear anymoreâ She assured me âHis body will expel the
SOREN I stormed into my office, ready to slam the door and let out a growl that measured the intensity of my rage, but paused when I saw my parents waiting for me in the office. I was ready to kick them out, especially my father because I was not in the mood to deal with any of his bullshit today. âLook, whatever you have to say, keep it till later. I am not in the moodâĶâ âIs it true?â Mum interrupted before I could finish my demand for them to leave. âIs what true?â I could see through the cracks of her false composure that she was worried. With the way she kept glancing at my father, I knew this would turn out like our other discussions, where he had never been able to control himself. âThat Amira is back and with children?â I sighed tiredly. I had not bothered to tell them Amira was back or with my kids because I had been busy with Elias. âYesâ My dad shot to his feet, appearing in front of me in the blink of an eye. âAnd those children? Are they yours?â I clenched
AMIRA âTalk?â Dad asked with a confused expression âAbout what?â I felt a tiny tug at the helm of my shirt before I could answer and I looked down to see Elias with wide teary eyes staring up at me. âEli?â I bent down so I was at eye level and wiped his cheeks âWhy are you crying, baby?â âWhy did Daddy leave? Is he angry with me?â His trembling voice broke my heart and I pulled him into a tight hug. âNo, babyâ I peppered multiple on both sides of his face âDaddy isnât mad at youâ âThen why did he leave? I want to go with himâ Fresh waves of tears appeared again. My heart clenched painfully in my chest. There was no doubt that Ezra had gotten attached to Soren. I wanted to be happy that Elias found it so easy to bond with Soren just barely two days after they met but at the same time, it hurt me that he would not be able to spend much time with his father since I planned to leave the pack when Ezra had recovered. âDid you spend all the time when I was gone with your fa
AMIRAI stepped out of the portal into the house. Thankfully, the portal brought us back to where we had left off.âThe house is quiet. Are they at the pack house?â Koa asked as he stepped out after me.âNo, they are still here. I smell them. They should be at the backâ Koa followed me to the garden.As soon as I stepped through the back door, familiar delighted gasps reached my ears.âMummyâ Elias squealed with wide eyes when he saw me. His small feet pattered across the floor as he raced towards me with his small arms outstretched.I bent down and picked him up as soon as he reached me. I missed him so much. I had never stayed away from them for this long. I peppered kisses all over his face and was rewarded with excited giggles as he tried to push me away playfully.âI missed you, Eli. So so muchâ I leaned back to study his face.âMe too, but I had so much fun playing with Daddy and Grandpa. Did you bring the medicine for Ezra? Will he be fine now?âAmira softened, brushing his curl
IVANNAHI stared at the door with a new kind of numbness and hurt. I could feel everything I had ever worked for slip away from my fingers like water; it was terrifying. I lifted my hand to pound the door down. How dare Soren do this to me?I suffered years of humiliation and insults to remain by his side, as the Luna of the pack and he runs to Amira as soon as she returns. What happened to the years of hatred he harboured for that bitch?My hand fell back lifelessly against my sides. There was no use knocking. The result would only be as cold-hearted as the one I had just received, if not more.âMum will know what to doâ I whispered to myself before I turned away from the door.I ignored the sneers and looks of curiosity as my legs hurried me towards my mother. My breaths were uneven and ragged as I picked up the pace, almost in a sprint as my desperation rose.Mom had moved into the pack house after she had a nasty fight with Dad after Amira left. Dad was hell-bent on finding her ba