EZRA There was something wrong with Annabelle. That girl was beyond crazy and to make it all worse, she bounced in here, demanding another chance and acting like it was just that easy to dismiss what she had done. I do not joke with my sons, not after what it took for me to have them but she abandoned them in the middle of nowhere. I was unsure if I could ever dismiss that and forgive her or leave her around my children again. “Was I not clear enough the last time or perhaps I should repeat it again?” I asked in a cold voice, trying to contain my anger. The boys were here with me and I wouldn't want them to see me in a bad light. Annabelle blinked her eyes a few times, as though she was considering what to say. “I know you don't want me here, but I'm not really here for you. I’m here to make it up to the boys because I guess they’re the ones I really wronged.” Before I could catch what she said, she went over to my boys. The soft and affectionate smile she had on her face shocked m
Ezra POV From my peripheral vision, I saw a wide smile grace Annabelle’s face as she drew the chair out and sat down on it, making herself comfortable, “Thank you so much,” She looked like she belonged in it. I shook such thoughts out of my head and called the maid to dish her food, hoping that once she starts eating she would keep quiet and I won’t have to hear her speak again. After her food was brought, she also began to eat and silence descended but it seems like she did not like it. She must also have observed that I was in no mood to speak with her because she focused all of her attention on the boys and began to ask them how they were. Alex who seemed to have warmed up to her, answered all her questions but Dani, who was more introverted and found it difficult to interact with people, didn't flow with her as much. He took part in the conversation though, only making a few statements, and that was it. I wanted to snap at her to shut the hell up and remind the boys that there
ANNABELLE “He gave in? Just like that?” Mom asked, Snooki of disbelief on her face. I was shocked too but I had a lot of time to get myself together on my way back to the pack. My parents had nearly gone crazy looking for me when they woke up and found out that I was not in the house. Mimi was the one that told them about my plans and how she was sure I just have left to carry it out. I nodded in response. I was beyond happy that I was able to convince Ezra to give me another chance. I was going to try my best to not fuck this up. My parents and pack needed this. Mother still looked like she wasn't convinced by my story, and asked again, “Are you sure it was just that easy? Did he ask for anything in return? Hope you're not doing this under compulsion?” I knew what she meant and had also been prepared that he would ask for something to give his forgiveness but he hadn’t. “You don't have to worry about anything, mom. He did not ask for anything. I think it’s because of the kids
Just like I thought, I got carried away. After unpacking my little belonging and making a few adjustments in the room, I laid on my bed tiredly and got lost in my thoughts. Thankfully, the maid came in to get me. I expected alpha Ezra to be there already but I was disappointed when I saw no sign of him. The twins were already seated when I got to the dinning room. My lips widened with a smile as I approached them and I was grateful I asked the maid their names. Axel was the outspoken one and he greeted me with so much excitement. Dani was more reserved. He greeted me with a shy and cute smile on his face. It's hard to believe they're twins. They looked alike yet so different in character. The maids served our meal and I was about to eat when she stopped me. “Why? What's wrong? Is it not ready yet?” I asked with a confused look while slowly placing my spoon down. She shook her head in response. “Nobody is supposed to eat until the alpha shows up,” she informs me. I was surprise
I was sure that Alpha Ezra had many people at his beck and call that could represent him at this school event since he was too busy to attend but he chose me? I guess he was really taking this second chance thing serious or was it that he wanted me to fuck up so he could send me back to my pack? I smile brightly at him, forgetting my annoyance at having him barge into my room. He did it for a good reason, I told myself, totally justifying his bad behavior. “I will do it. I’ll represent you at this school event since and make sure to cheer the kids on,” Wait, did he just roll his eyes at me? Unbelievable! I was about to make a comment on it when he said, “Better don’t fuck this up. This kids are already angry with me, if you ruin the whole thing and they refuse to talk to me I’ll have your head,” I wanted to remind him that I was here to right my wrong and if eventually we got married, I’ll be these kids step-mother so of course, I won’t fuck this up. He couldn’t be blamed though, I
“Are you sure you don't need anything else?” Ezra inquired with a worried frown on his perfect face and I could have sworn that it was the hundredth time he was asking me this question this morning. I shook my head in response, a little smile tugging at the corners of my lips. He looked like he was on the verge of dropping everything to accompany his boys by himself. Maybe he should just do it and save himself from all the worries. I was so sure that he did not trust me to take care of them properly and I couldn’t fault him after what happened the last time. I’ll just have to show him that the old Annabelle was gone and this new one was ready to do anything for this alliance to hold. Helping Dani adjust his tie, I said. “You don't have to worry about anything, I have got it all under control,” I tried to assure him. He took a deep breath, inhaling and exhaling softly. He looked like he did not believe me and I was waiting for a snarky comment but what he said instead shocked me, “A
Ezra “This could only mean that you are still going along with the alliance we all agreed that you’ll let to of,” I suppressed my anger because if I let it take hold of me I’d ruin things. I was not going to let them draw any reaction from me. “Since you’ve heard about me allowing her back into the palace and still going along with the alliance contract I signed, you must also have heard that she has amnesia, right?” I asked, glancing at each of their faces. “Eh, but—” “But nothing.” I snapped, cutting him off. I looked around, suddenly realizing that my Beta was nowhere to be found. It’s been ten years since the incident with Melucia but he does his best to avoid the elders at all cost. He won’t be found in the same room with them if he could help it. They’d supported him for killing off Melucia and her fellow witches but he knew that I never forgave him even until today because he made it like I’ve gone back on my words and Melucia was also the mother of my kids. He thinks tha
Annabelle The presentation was a success. I already expected Dani to perform well since he was sharp tongued but what I did not expect was that Alex would also do well. He was very introverted and hardly spoke but if there was one thing he was not then, it’s shy. I was like a proud mama cheering them up and I could not stop the bright smile on my face as I took some photos with them for memory and finally led them to the car so that we could go home. It wasn’t until we got back to our pack house did I remember that I offended Ezra before leaving. I felt a groan trying to slip out but I swallowed it. I had brought the problem to myself, I’ll solve it but first, I needed to get the kids to change out of their school clothes, eat and then take a little nap. Once the kids were out like light, I sighed in relief and tiptoed out of the room, closing the door softly behind me. I was scared that there would be a little noise and they would be up again. It had not been easy getting them t
ANNABELLE“No, honey, you aren’t sure. You don’t just want to admit that there are many things that've been happening right under your nose that you’re unaware of.” I cocked my head to the side, making sure that I was focused on him. I wanted to see every emotion that filtered across his face.“Carden had been bullying the kids and I think they did not tell you because they did not want you to feel bad for having yours since they know that being a hybrid is unacceptable. And also, he threatened to expose them to the world if they told you. He was also going to kill you and take over the pack with the help of …” with my eyes still on Ezra, I pointed at the elders running around in the throne room, “Your believed elders. Them,”Something hard flashed in Ezra’s eyes as he glanced away to look at his elders. “I know they are selfish and have been challenging me for years but they are not brave enough to try and take over my pack. It means they would have to fight me and kill me first. Th
ANNABELLEEzra’s face drained of color, if that was even possible, given how pale and hollow he already looked from days of hunger.I clicked my tongue. “They’re hybrids,” I said, shaking my head in mock disbelief. “Can you imagine how your pack will react when they learn their alpha slept with a witch, got her pregnant, and kept the babies? Other alphas will think it’s an abomination, too.”He snapped, “What they are is none of your concern!”“Oh, but it is,” I teased, stepping closer. “And you don’t need to answer my first question, honey. I can do that for you. Of course it’s an abomination. Your people hate mine and always hunted us down. They would all be angry when they find out. They would demand that you kill your children because their witch’s side might turn them evil and tempt them to take over all the other packs. They frankly, would be correct too because it would happen! I’ve seen their future already, it would surely happen!”“That will never happen!” Ezra hissed, clenc
ANNABELLE“Then my life is yours,” Ezra said, dropping to his knees right in front of me and bowed his head in defeat.I struggled to mask the shock I felt within me and not let it show on my face. When I demanded his life, I expected him to act the way he did the first time I marched into his throne room. Defiant, arrogant and so sure he could bend me to his will. I thought he would refuse, fight back, or try to talk his way out of it. But now, it seemed he finally understood that I wasn’t bluffing. I wasn’t here to make deals or be swayed. I had made up my mind. I was the one in control now, and there would be no negotiating.Maybe it finally hit him when I killed Elder Matthew right in front of everyone, and then, without a second thought, used his bones to hunt down the other elders who were still scrambling around the throne room like scared animals. Bloody fools. They were strong werewolves. Old, but strong. If only they were smart as I thought, they could have used their stren
ANNABELLE“You’re not Annabelle! Annabelle would never have done all these terrible things! She was a good woman who loved me and my kids!” he shouted, his voice laced with anger. It was as if he was mad that I would claim to be sweet Annabelle. Innocent foolish Annabelle who wanted his love. Oh, what I wouldn’t give to tell him that I was the innocent Annabelle. The real Annabelle would have never accepted to be with him and his kids. She wanted nothing to do with him. I hated that I was the good Annabelle! I hated that I fell in love with this vile man standing before me.I tilted my head slightly, a sly smile playing on my lips. “Oh? But you would have done even worse, wouldn’t you? Why do you think you’re the only one capable of evil?”His mouth opened, then closed. He had no response.I stepped closer, my eyes locked onto his. “You see, Ezra. Everybody has some degree of darkness in them and they only need a reason to let it all out. Oh wait, you don’t need a reason to be wicked
ANNABELLE“Wow… such a lovely speech, Elder Matthew,” I drawled, a slow, mocking clap accompanying my words as I sauntered toward them. I stopped a few feet away. Close enough to unsettle them, but far enough to react quickly if anyone dared to make a move on me. I wasn’t foolish enough to trust that they wouldn’t.Ezra’s snarl cut through the tense silence. “How long have you been here?” he growled, his voice rough and tinged with a dangerous edge. His eyes flared gold, his wolf straining against the surface.Perfect.Ezra rarely let his control slip. Cold, calculating, and infuriatingly stubborn, he only acted when it suited him. The most he’d ever given me was the kiss to my feet, and only because he had no other choice and was desperate for answers at the time. He was a man who needed to believe he was the one making the decisions. Poor thing. He still hadn’t realized that no matter what choices he thought he had, I was the one pulling the strings now.I could see the battle ragin
EZRAThe spell Melucia had chanted as fire consumed her whole still rang in my brain, a curse etched into the very marrow of my bones.“By the flames that take my flesh,I rise anew from fire’s breath.Your hate shall feed my wrath untamed,In death, I live, your souls I claim.As I burn, so shall you,From this pyre, my power grew.The smoke you breathe, the ash you tread,I will return, the unforgiven dead.My blood, my bones, your fuel to light,But in your dreams, I shall ignite.Curse your lands, your lives, your kin,From my ash, the dark begins.”The elders had spoken of it for years, laughing and saying it would never be possible since they watched her burn before they eyes and then they buried her remains with their hands. Even though I hadn’t been there the day Melucia and the last of her coven were burned, those words were burned into me and remained with me for all these years.“I will return, the unforgiving dead,”Her words, even now, echoed through my mind. This particu
EZRA“Alpha, we need to do something about what’s happening in the pack.”I lifted my head slowly, my body heavy with exhaustion.“What am I supposed to do?” I asked, my voice coming out as weak as I felt, “I’ve tried to speak to the witch, all to an avail. She’s been playing with me, toying with us all,” The witch treated all of this like a game. The elders said they’d seen her watching my people suffer, laughing—no, cackling—as if their pain were entertainment. If only I could have strangled her when she came to me the other day then all of this would have been over but I couldn’t do it. Not when she had my kids with her. I shook my head, refusing to let the thoughts of my missing children cloud my mind. I needed to be level headed if I were to find a solution.“Then we find another way. Contact another witch and…” Elder Matthew stopped abruptly when elder Lazarus shot him a sharp, warning look. He looked away after that but what he said has gotten my attention already and elder L
QuinnEven after I’d emptied the contents of my stomach, again, I still felt nauseous. My body trembled, my skin clammy and cold, but it wasn’t the sickness that had me this way. It was fear. Dread.Everyone knew Alpha Ezra was ruthless. Cold. Capable of things most alphas wouldn’t even consider. But if someone had told me he’d been involved in the war between the werewolves and the witches, I wouldn’t have believed it. No way. Not him. Not back then.That war happened over ten years ago. If what Madonna had said was true, he would’ve been nothing more than a teenager when it all went down. Eighteen, maybe nineteen. Still practically a boy. What the hell was he doing in a war between witches and werewolves?I rubbed at my arms, trying to shake the chill that had settled deep in my bones.Yes, I knew the bloodline he came from. His ancestors loathed witches, and his father—gods, his father was a madman in every sense of the word. But Ezra wasn’t his father. At least… I thought he wasn’
QuinnThere was only one chair in my garden. One I use to sit when I needed to rest. I asked Madonna to sit in it but she refused and said if there was anyone who needed to bed seated, it was me. It made me suspect that whatever made her come to me after all these years apart, my mind would be blown.“I don’t know if you’ve heard anything. I cannot be too sure but BlackClaw pack has been taken under control by a vengeful witch,”“I’ve heard about it,” I released a deep sigh, “I was planning on contacting you because of it,”“You were?” She asked.“Yeah, I was going to do it yesterday but something came up. I was just thinking about it again when you appeared. It was almost as if thinking too much about you summoned you,”Madonna nodded as she began to pace in front of me. My sister was deeply troubled. Seems like what was going on in Ezra’s pack is more than what we’ve heard. My heart began to thud hard and fast against my rib cage as fear threatened to overwhelm me at the thought of