Chester's POVAll of a sudden, Nora was standing before me, and it felt as though all my troubles were dissipating into the air.My hands darted forward, as though I was trying to catch air, and my mouth hung open. I could not believe my eyes. Was I dreaming? Was the alcohol finally kicking in and I was imagining things?"Nora...." I whispered again. She smiled as I called her name. Oh, that smile. How I had missed it so much!I felt my wolf jump in excitement before me. In the space of a few seconds, my eyes cleared, and I saw Nora standing before me, live and in person."I'm here, Chester." She whispered. I watched as a tear fell from her eyes, and something within me shattered into a million pieces. I stumbled forward, kicking my goblet aside. Finally, reaching before her, I stopped again."What are you doing...." I stammered. "Why are you here? Where have you been?"A million questions and more chased each other in my head. Nora's smile fell for a moment. "It is a long story, Ch
Nora's POVMy father's eyes fell on me, and I felt an insatiable anger fill me up from within.Suddenly, all I wanted was for this man to pay for every single thing he made me go through. I remembered the look of satisfaction I had seen on his face, as I had cried and groveled at his feet on that fateful day, when he'd thrown me out of his house.But the wheels had turned now. He was in my shoes now, and I would make sure he experienced the pain I had gone through as well.Or even worse.I understood that I was not his daughter, but what I did not understand was how I came to be in his house in the first place. How had I escaped the massacre that Jacob had done on my family, and how had I gotten to this vile man's household?However, all that was pushed to the back of my mind as I watched a fleeting look of fear pass across his face."Nora?" He called out, as though I was an apparition, and calling my name would dismiss me. "Surprised to see me, aren't you, Elder Lyall?" Goddess, how
Nora's POVHe grabbed my dress and ripped it off, revealing my stark nakedness. I felt exposed and alone. So, terribly alone."Hear ye!" The pudgy, bearded bellowed, arms outstretched. "I have come again, as I always do, and this time I have the choicest of slaves for you. Strong, agile and well-fed, the best you'd find anywhere. As you can see, she is young, undefiled and unsullied. She is a maiden of royal blood, the likes of which you'd never find again!"I gasped as the man pushed me towards the front of the platform in the middle of the marketplace. My hands were bound with chains, and so were my legs, so walking was extremely uncomfortable. Fear clogged my throat, but I tried to push past it, facing the crowd in all my shredded dignity.The slave master leaned towards me and whispered. "You'd better keep your eyes on the ground. No crying, no fighting, no fidgeting. You're a slave now, not fucking royalty. Do you hear me?"I mumbled in agreement."Good." He murmured, then plaste
Nora's POVThe bad dream hadn't ended yet. If anything, it got worse.I was pacing around a specially prepared room in the alpha's quarters, back in my pack and my home. Was it really a home though, if the mere sight of it choked me with tears and bitterness?Being chosen was very strange to me. Out of all the people in my wolf pack—heck, out of every single person in my family—I was the least talked about, the one everyone pushed aside with a scoff and a dismissive wave of the hand. Who would think of quiet, plain-looking Nora anyway, when her more desirable sister was there?And so, when the alpha himself had chosen me as his mate over my sister, the entire pack had been struck dumb. I shuddered in remembrance; I could still feel his eyes on me as he'd singled me out in front of everyone one on his mating ceremony.What was more: it had been the mating ceremony between himself and my sister, Alina.I hadn't craved for the attention that came with being chosen. I didn't want to be hi
Nora's POVI walked down the stairs slowly, taking my steps one at a time. My heart was shattered beyond pieces at the words Alina had spoken to me. They pierced my heart, every single one of those words. They reminded me of how big of a mistake I had made, how I'd let everyone down simply by existing.I reached the foot of the staircase, lifting the white dress I had on. The entire hall was silent; no fanfare or people waiting to wish me a happy married life.This was what I deserved. To be wedded off in the most shady, unimpressive way ever.There wasn't any cake, nor did any decorations hang from the walls. In fact, the hall was as bland as it could be.I turned to the maid behind me, moving to ask her where the wedding would hold, when a voice shut me up immediately."You're ready." The voice called, sending shivers down my spine. Alpha Chester emerged from the shadows to my left, walking towards me. He was decked out in an impressive white suit, his long locks held up in a slick
Chester's POVIt was the day after our mating ceremony. The entire Council of Wolves, including Nora and her family, were gathered in the court room to discuss the new turn of events.I refused to look at my new mate throughout the court room session. I knew that if I did, the primal urge to whisk her out of the room would come over me again, and to hell with the Council and their annoying meeting if that happened. My body was already reacting just by looking at her, and I wanted nothing more than to be left alone with her.She was seated on the other end of the long table, wedged between her father and one other Elder on the Council. I noticed the large space she left between herself and her father, noticed the way she played with her fingers as though she was nervous and scared shitless.Her face was streaked with tears, and her eyes were downcast.I hated to be the cause for her pain, but it had to be done. She was my mate, and there was no going back on that.Her father, Elder Lya
Nora's POVBefore he left the court room, I watched as the alpha grabbed my hand under the table, yanking me up. I could feel the gaze of every single person sitting around the table on me, and a blush creeped up my cheeks as I averted my eyes.I struggled to maintain a brave front as Alpha Chester pulled me along, my hand imprisoned in his unyielding grip. We left the room together, passing several maids and guards who stared at us with curiosity. The corridor seemed endless, the walls closing in on me as my heart raced with a mixture of fear and confusion.I struggled to keep up with him, as he was dragging me along without looking back. Several times I stumbled, gripping the walls for support, but Alpha Chester was relentless."Let go of me!" I finally spoke up, attempting to wrench my hand free from his grasp. Perhaps it was my courage to speak to him, or perhaps it was something else entirely, but Alpha Chester finally stopped and turned to me. His fingers tightened around my alr
CHAPTER SIXAlina's POVThe ride from Alpha Chester's house all the way back home felt like slow torture to me. I sat all the way through it, fuming profusely. My foot was tapping away on the floor of the carriage as my mind reeled from all the events of today. So quickly—in the space of a day, Nora had stolen my man. And not just that, she had cleverly forced him to consummate the union and get bound to her forever. It was like sorcery, even to my own eyes.I could feel Father's gaze upon me as he sat across the carriage. "Alina, you would do well to calm down!" He ordered."I would not calm down, father!" I snapped back. "Not until this is fixed, somehow."Immediately the carriage stopped before our house, I darted out, not waiting for Father. I stormed into our house, a tempest of anger and frustration brewing within me. I could hear Father following closely behind, his footsteps thundering through the house. The living room soon became a space for my seething emotions as I paced