THALIA The moment is perfect. No, correction—it was supposed to be perfect but it's not. I'm losing my sanity, the last bit of it that's left after my mate openly admitted to cheating on me because I never can be good enough for him or the ideal expectations of his pack. All the pain I've felt over the last couple of years was to be erased by today but instead it piled up into one and hit me in a gaint wave. It's simply not fair, today was supposed to be the happiest day of my life, the day I was to meet the perfect little gift the moon goddess sent me but it's turned into nothing but a tormenting stillness. My gaze shifts from the bright pink walls of the hospital room to where my best friend stands, her back to me while she talks on the phone. Even there I can see the same color wall taunting me, its the exact shade of my daughters nursery. I push myself off the bed and walk towards Mariella, her whispers now loud enough for me to hear. “No, please come and see her. Thalia
Thalia.” Mariella interrupts, “Go and see her. See your daughter even if it's the last time please go and hold that little girl.” “No.” I shake my head, falling to the floor in tears. Mariella saw Arabella and hasn't stopped sobbing since, I can't see her. I want to but it's selfish to have her murderer hold her or prepare her for cremation. “Don't bring or let her near me. I can't look a her, please understand Knox. Leave me alone, you can bury her or cremate her but just don't—” Knox's face twists with contempt. “How could you even say that..” he trails off, for the first time since he heard I was pregnant, I see him cry. “You know what, Thalia? I wouldn't even dream of letting you anywhere near my daughter.” I nod, tears streaming down my face while I refuse to look at him. I can't decide what hurts more between losing my daughter or the way he looks ay me. “I prefer it that way.” “I can't believe I fell in love with you, you keep telling me I'm harsh but it's you that need
KNOX The last few days have gone by fast, but not fast enough because I couldn't bring my daughter back home. My heart bleeds for her, I failed her as a parent by choosing Thalia as my life partner. I've always hated Thalia, long before I knew she was mate but ever since I fell prey to the mate bond and my wolf's need for her I've never seen anything she does as wrong. I was thinking with my dick and now she not only hurt me and my wolf but our daughter too. The cold eyes that stared at me telling me to bury or just cremate my daughter are far from what I fell for. My whole world started and ended with her, everyone knew it and she exploited that. I made one mistake, months ago and her thirst for vengeance has me drowning in a pit of anguish. Thalia did warn me she would get back at me, make sure to hit me where it hurts the most and she did exactly just that when she refused to see our daughter, refused to hold her like a mother should. “You're out of control, Knox. He didn'
“Who is he?” “My mate.” she lowly whispers, “He said he wouldn't be available and is traveling in another country but he's here.” Thalia looks awfully comfortable with the foreign man, this isn't the depressed girl Mariella has been painting her out to be. If anything she looks happy, content with what she has done to my daughter and I. “I'll call him.” Mariella snarls, dailing his contact but I don't see her, I'm too busy watching Thalia with a building rage. The man leaves her and she grins politely as he steps away. “Baby.” he responds, out of view but Thalia's in sight. “Tell me you have a twin identical to you right now or I swear to God, Nate.” “Baby, what are you talking about?” Mariella huffs, “Why are you flirting with my best friend? I told you she's not in a good place right now and how the hell did you even find her?” “Thalia and I go way back and I wasn't flirting. Where are you? We need to talk, I came to talk about our relationship I can't go on lik
A light tap on my door nearly startled me. “Umm, Eliza. I've got to go but send the schedule to Amara and I will handle the rest.” “But Thalia-” Eliza whines, right before I cut the call. Whoever it is on the other end of the door knocks again but his time I'm there to open it. My assistant stands on the other end, a tablet in hand and yellow roses in hand. “From Keir.” she grins, placing the flowers in my hand. Kier is my boyfriend, we met when I was college and had one night stand since then he has not left me alone. I didn't think I could get into a relationship after leaving Flame Valley but with Kier, I'm good its what I deserve. The only thing bigger than his dick is his ego but I can live with that. I take the flowers from her, and peek at the note in the flowers. 'Pretty flowers, for my pretty girl.' I read the card in his voice, a neverending apology. “Amara, do we have something planned this morning?” I frown, shocked to see her in my house so early. Surely Keir
“Alpha.” she calls, and with that my stomach sinks. It's him, it's alpha Knox Winslow. My mate, my deceased daughters father, my villain, my hero and right beside him Ryan, his beta. I swallow the huge lump that forms in my throat when his eyes meet mine, glaring with the same animosity as the day I lost our daughter. Fighting hard to not recall every insult, taunt and atrocity he's uttered to me since four years ago I gulp once again. “Knox, this is Rose.” Cassidy's gaze shifts to me. “Rose, Alpha Knox, the best man.” Knox glares at me throughout Cassidy's introduction. I take my time to eye him, to appreciate the way he's visibly grown now. The moon goddess has favorites and trust me, Knox Winslow is number one through five on that list. The man is flawless, perfect even with his tremendous ego. Knox takes one step forward and out of habit, I take one back. “Run, Thalia.” “What?” Cassidy snorts. Ryan tugs at Knox's arm, his gaze pitiful when he looks at me. “Knox, not he
“You let her win.” Ryan settles beside me, downing whats left of my drink. “Yeah.” I admit, swallowing past the bitter taste of my relinquished defeat. “Couldn't look at her face any longer.” Ryan laughs, “But you gave it a good five minute look huh?” I dismiss him, he never did get over her leaving me. “So, can I speak on her now that she's here?” “Go and talk to her instead of talking about her.” I snap, “My rule still stands, I never want to hear about her.” “Knox..” His lips stretch into a grin, am I amusing him? “I would talk to her but she seems busy.” He trails off, looking over my shoulder. I mirror his gaze to where Thalia is, laid up on the table with I shot glass on her tits. I don't reckon why or when I leave the bar, getting stopped by Victor, just in time before I flip the damn table Thalia is on. “Umm, Knox this means a lot. I know how you feel about the topic of her so Thanks for not killing her, man.” “Don't thank me yet.” I grunt, watching Thalia take a
There's a knock on my window which startled us both. “All the time!” Thalia groans, her frown flipping upside down when she sees who is out there. “Cassie darling, hi.” “Come on, let's get you to bed.” “No, I want to stay here.” she pouts, her head laying against my chest. Cassidy taps the window, “There's cherries.” she grins, and that's enough to make Thalia slide off my lap and out the car. I follow right after, heading straight to my bedroom to jerk off to the feel of my fingers inside her. I make quick work freeing my cock and begin to gently caress the length with the two fingers I just had inside Thalia's pussy. I fist my sore cock to the fresh memory of her whimpers as I fingered her and for a moment, I feel her near me, I smell her. The memory of her makes me come quickly, leaving me spent, with my cum on the floor as I lean against the bedroom wall. My cock twitches in my hand just as the door swings open, then shut by the time I shove my cock into my jeans. “
“Really?!” I beam, unable to contain my excitement. I've waited for this moment for days on end but I've also been dreading it because I can't go to my apartment. “Yes, but you'll need to take it easy.” Dr. Avery warns, “I already spoke to Alpha Knox about everything, and you'll need that, as well as your follow-up appointments.” “Tell me what you told him.” Dr. Avery looks at Amara and then back at me. “Nothing to worry yourself about. I just told him you have to take your prenatal vitamins, and checkups, provide a diet plan, and what to avoid. " She trails off, refusing to speak on things in detail. I'm getting the feeling things aren't as alright as Knox wants me to believe, and if that's truly the case, I'd like to be prepared as well. I need to know these things, too. “Dr Avery, can you please explain the to me as well? Knox can't be around me 24/7, he has a pack to run and I don't want a nurse yet.” “Of course,” she grins warmly. “You have to take luprolene twice a day, sta
“Knox?” she groans, and I think she's dreaming because of how gently it comes out but I find her staring at me. “Hi,” I choke, unable to move my hand. “Hi,” she grins. “What are you doing here?” “I came to see how you're doing and take care of you.” “I don't need—” “Thalia,” I interrupt her. “It's been an eventful week, please shut up and let me take care of you and our baby.” I petition, my words stunning her. “I am not leaving you alone nor will you fool me into doing that again so save your breath.” “I didn't trick you,” she scowls. “Hm,” I nod. “So what do you call making me believe Amara would be with you and vice versa?” She bites on a smile, “A thoughtful white lie?” “Well, no more thoughtful white lies,” I warn, making her sigh in response. Even then, she looks weak, it tears at my insides because I contributed to this. “You have your hand on my belly,” she says, looking down at it. In response, I nod. “Nothing's happened has it?” “No, not yet, but it
“I am not tossing you to the side, you're a reasonable woman, Ella, you've been through several pregnancy scares.” “Not scares,” I argue, swallowing down the dread each miscarriage left me with. I always felt incompetent, and it ruined my plans. “Actual child loss, unlike her. But I sympathise with her, she used to be my best friend,” I trail off for dramatic effect, unable to say her name because of my current rage.“We were close but I can't deny what happened years ago, neither can you. Which brings me to the question of whether are you having a baby with her. Even after what she did to our Arabella Venus?” I whisper her name like some sacred lament. “she left that poor baby alone.” “I know,” Alpha Knox promptly agrees, nearly triggering my smile. “I know, and I hate her for it but—” There's a but. Fuck. “You're going to give Arabella back to her?” I finish it him. “My purpose will have been saved and I should move on but I don't want to, I can't,” I whimper softly. Pulli
Oh, she's good, she's got this conversation rehearsed and bagged. “Oh shut up, the gig is up. You're the worst friend ever,” I turn to Knox, gesturing to her. “Use your brain once, Knox. If she ever gave a fuck about Thalia why did she replace her so fast? Would a sad friend jump to fuck you while you grieved your mate leaving you?” “Nova, that's enough. You've had a long day, you should rest and revisit your logic in the morning, I know she's a saint to you but that woman cursed my daughter, she has bought your sympathy and is manipulating you.” “You're the one being manipulated by Mariella, she has got you caught in her web of lies and deceit.” I cry out, frustrated with the unfruitful back and forth. “That's enough, you should get some rest,” he orders, and I shake my head in response. I'm overstimulated today, and his thick head isn't helping with that. “Why won't you listen to me?” “I am listening to you, and I'm understanding that you're being misled by Thalia.” he c
“Novie? Are you okay?” Thalia repeats, her tone laced with concern. “Yes,” I nod, jumping off the bed. “I just remembered I have a proposal to submit at work, Knox might be here but he will still scold me.” “Okay, goodbye?” she calls out, but I'm already opening the door. My first instinct is to run to Knox, but I can't find him. The doctor says he went out to buy some special vitamins for Thalia. I book an Uber, my whole body shaking thanks to the information I just learned. The car couldn't go fast enough, in my opinion. My foot jitters the entire ride home, and when I'm finally dropped off, I nearly forget to pay the driver in my haste to find Mariella. “Mariella!” I scream, my voice bitter than it is most times I address her. This is someone Thalia trusted with her life, someone who betrayed her just so she can fuck Knox
The words hit me like a thousand bricks to the head. I sit there, frozen, her voice echoing in my head long after she’s turned her face away. She doesn't know, she thinks the baby—babies are gone. In her head, they couldn't have made it through the blood, screaming and chaos. I want to correct her, I ache to tell her. To see her eyes taken with something other than pain, to watch life crawl back into her bones but not only do I not deserve the satisfaction, but the way she’s looking at me right now as if I’m the ghost that haunts her dreams makes me stop. She hates me as much as I long to hate her or even more and right now? I hate myself too. I hate the way I hurt her, the way I didn’t protect her from herself—or from me. “Thalia,” I call out, in an attempt to tell her the truth but when she looks at me with her teary eyes and tear-stained cheeks, the words get stuck in my throat. “Everything is okay,” I tell her but it's more for me, to ease some of the guilt that comes
KNOX It's been six hours since Thalia was rushed to the hospital, and four since the doctor let us see her. Ryan, Nova, Amara and I surround her hospital room while she just lays in the bed which makes her look so small and frail. She's still unconscious but the doctors swear both she and the pup are fine, I even had my pack doctor Madison come here to aid the other doctors because I trust her work, and believe in her methods. The doctor said she bled due to stress, and knowing I've been the biggest inducer of her stress has done something to me. I have this pain in my chest that won't go away, it intensifies each time I hear her name or think of it. I feel like crap, but if the need had been there I would have chosen her over our pup, I would rather she walk out on he own than take the pup from her. My words must have hurt her, I put both her and the pup at risk and now I don't know what to do. Amara came to the hospital a few hours ago, she and Nova are closely watching Thalia
Hey wonderful readers, I hope you’re all doing amazing mentally, physically, and emotionally (because these characters sure aren’t helping with that, are they?). I am dying to know how you are feeling about the story so far. Who’s your favourite character? Who’s making you want to fling your phone across the room? Are Thalia and Knox making you scream too, or is it just me?? How’s the pacing—do you need more heartbreak, fights, or more kissing (or all)? Let me know in the comments and leave me a review, I’d love to know what’s got you hooked or raging. Thank you for reading, supporting, and choosing to fall into the chaos with me.♡ With love and just a dash of angst, XO, Athena.❦
MARIELLA The sharp snap of the bullet tearing through the paper is the only thing that calms me but not today, I don't vengeance know what to do. I've been at the shooting range since I heard about the secret Knox has been keeping from me. I was having the best day, knowing I settled Arabella's obsession with Thalia but then a certain someone called and told me they overheard another say that Thalia was rushed to the hospital with Nova, and Alpha Knox and that was merely the opening statement, the final straw for me was learning she's pregnant. That bit of information turned my spa date into a rage outlet activity. I went to the shooting range, with Kennedy who has been nothing short of N instigator. I've stuck seven pictures of her on the body targets I paid extra for and so far, four are down, this little ritual of mine is practically more sacred today but with each shot, I'm reminded Thalia is still alive because none of the dummies bleeds like I know she would. “I hate