Ezekiel’s POVI was standing back a considerable distance as training went on. As much as I had said I wanted to oversee it, my intention was not to interrupt it in any way whatsoever. I also didn’t want our warriors to feel under pressure or act as though they had to do anything different simply because I was present. I wanted to observe them as they always were during each session. And of course, I had the utmost trust in their tutors that they would do a good job today as they’ve been doing for as long as they’ve had the responsibility.So far, I was mighty pleased with everything I was seeing. Our warriors seemed to be disciplined, determined, unceasingly strong, and above all, they all had a killer instinct. From what they were showing, they would absolutely have no qualms in striking down any enemy they came into contact with, and those were the kind of warriors I needed on my side when I made my first calculated attack against the Crescent-Sangria Pack.Alexander and Eve were m
Francesca’s POVAs we approached mid-September, the Fall weather really began to set in. The unbearable heat of the previous month was abating with every second that passed. The leaves of the trees were changing color, losing their life force and vividness, and falling to the ground in a melancholic but beautiful display of the wonders of nature.Our summer vacation was still very much ongoing. Bianca, Patrick and I had at least another two weeks before we were due to return to campus so we were definitely making the most of our last days of leisure. Although to define our days as leisure was subjective. Our training sessions were more intense than ever. Alpha Ian has been present and running most of them. Ever since his therapy sessions came to a fruitful conclusion, he has been more determined than ever to push us to our limits. There was an obvious shift in how he now regarded Ezekiel and the imminent war between us. His hatred was less personal. It was no longer the kind of acidi
Francesca’s POVThe coronation of the Alpha King and his chosen Luna is one of the most sacred events for any Pack. It’s one that is celebrated in a grand affair, and remembered for months after the fact. Every Pack had its own special way of going about it, the rituals they always made sure took place and all the flurry of activity and prayers that happen, taking advantage of the full moon and asking the Moon Goddess to bless us and grant our heart’s deepest desires.“Mother, you look absolutely stunning,” I said, my tone dripping with admiration as I stared at Alpha Jessica Reginald, where she sat dressed in a lovely golden gown, about to be crowned the Luna of the Sangria-Crescent Pack.“Thank you, darling,” Jessica replied, smiling, her blonde hair framing her gorgeous face like a halo. “Come sit with me.”The other women who’d been helping my mother get ready for the coronation excused themselves and walked out of the drawing room.I threw them a discreet smile as they exited the
Francesca’s POVI have refused to step foot outside of my new bedroom since we arrived in Alpha Ian’s mansion. I was doing my best to ignore how stunning the room was, trying my best to hold onto my anger. I was justified in being angry, in being absolutely furious with my mother’s decision to remarry. She has chosen to give up her position as the head of our pack and was now going to be second in command to a man. And not just any man. Someone who was ten years younger than her. Just thinking about it made my blood boil.I’ve been uprooted from my beloved home and now I’d be forced to live in this soulless mansion. I couldn’t shake this feeling that something terrible was going to happen. There were times when I would feel a certain way, when the hairs at the back of my neck would stand on end and my heart would start racing for apparently no reason. And since my mother told me she has sought an alliance with Alpha Ian and he accepted, I’ve been getting that feeling more frequently.
Francesca’s POVAs soon as the words left my mouth, I regretted saying them. I had no intention of backtracking though. Hell, no, I wasn’t a coward.“What did you just me to me?” he snarled the words, eyes glinting like steel.“Would you like me to repeat myself, Dadd—”“Do not dare,” he cut me off sharply, his fingers tightening around my neck, slightly cutting off my air supply. I felt light-headed but I stood my ground. “I swear to the Moon Goddess if you ever call me that again, the consequences would be dire. Don’t you know your limits? Your insolence knows no bounds. I’m about to marry your mother. You can’t talk to me like that.”“But it’s okay for you to tell me, a grown adult that I would be spanked if I misbehave?” I shot back angrily. “Are we supposed to pretend a comment like that has no sexual connotations?”It seemed as though my words were the equivalent of an electric shock to him. He instantly released the grip he had around my neck and took several steps back. His fa
Alpha Ian’s POVControl.That was the one thing I cherished the most. I expect it from every soldier under my command. And I demand it of myself in the absolute, and yet, with a few select words from Francesca, I was completely unhinged. I eyed the punching bag before me as if it were the source of all my problems, taking the time to properly secure the wrappings around my fingers. I assumed a menacing stance and started throwing punches with all my might. I was like a man possessed, growling low in my throat as my fists pummeled the poor bag. I felt pent-up, and restless, as though my wolf was caught in a trap and was about to chew his leg off just to escape.Do not project your issues onto me“Very clever, Cassius,” I quipped in response to my wolf.I’m just saying as your wolf, I am zen about the situation“You are zen about the way that arrogant girl talked to us?”Well, her insults were directed at you, not me“She didn’t insult me, not really,” I protested, trying to defend my h
Francesca’s POVI learned that training in our new pack was done a little differently. The hours were longer. Dominic was brutal and relentless. After he’d had enough of seeing us at each other’s throats with the sparring, we were instructed to move to the training hall. This was where all the gym equipment was. He had us lifting weights and doing push-ups, not letting anyone slack off. We didn’t stop until he was satisfied with our progress.“That was good guys, well done,” he said to a room full of panting young wolves. “What’s with all the death glares? You know you’d have had it harder if Alpha Ian was here.”I was slumped against the wall, trying to recover my equilibrium. “If your elder brother would have done worse, then he’s a sadist,” I said to him.Dominic turned around and stared at me. He didn’t speak for a while. I thought he was this close to reprimanding me for saying something disrespectful about the Alpha. Instead, he walked over to where the chilled water bottles wer
Francesca’s POVAfter the training session, I spent the rest of the day in bed, cuddled up under the covers and listening to rock music. My mum has told me time and time again that my eardrums will burst because I always turn up the volume so loud. But this was how I liked to listen to music. It drowned out my thoughts. Nothing else existed in moments like these save the beat, the lyrics, and the vocals. It was like being transported into another world and the escape was very much needed.As the day crawled to an end, I forced myself to get out of bed and step out of my room. I found my mum in the sitting room. She was engrossed in a phone call. I waited until she was done talking to ask my question.“Where’s Alpha Ian?”“Why are you asking about Ian’s whereabouts?” There was genuine puzzlement in her tone.I slipped my hands into the pockets of my hoodie. “I need to talk to him.”Jessica arched an eyebrow. “Why? So you could be disrespectful some more?”“Ouch, I deserved that,” I sai