MIKHAILThe last time I cried was twenty years ago. I lost my mother at a tender age. During her funeral, she was offered one of the prettiest spaces to be laid to rest, but I didn't want her out of my sight. She loved flowers. Butterflies. Gardens. To make sure she was happy in the underworld, I made a garden myself, filled it with her favorite flowers and asked her to be buried there. Over the years, I only allowed a particular maid to make sure the flowers were watered. I didn't want anyone else in there. But my breeder walked in there. I had seen her touching the flowers like she owned it. Ross smiled with her eyes closed and basked in the warmth of the sunlight. Unlike the rage I felt each time someone trespassed, I was amused, sucked in like a moth to a flame. Strangely, she reminded me of my mother. But I still had to punish her.I'd always have a reason to punish her. Irene kept staring at me, but I had more important things to do: teaching my prey the exact reason pe
ROSANNE His voice still haunted me. The way he touched me, oh God. It still made my nerve endings tingle and stir. Mikhail literally tortured me, made me beg to be fucked, and I hated how my body responded to his burning touch. ‘He’s a monster.’ I tried to remind myself. I shouldn't feel this way with someone so cunning and manipulative, but my body craved his warmth. Merely thinking about it made me feel shudders of pleasure. Days passed by in a blur with me spending most of my time in my room. The walls were starting to suffocate me, but it was better than stepping outside only for the beast to devour me. As much as I tried not to recall the memories of that brutal afternoon, it kept replaying in my head. And it made me hate him even more that he could control my body this way. Breakfast went smoothly today. At least, I was able to eat a few spoons without puking my guts out. I munched down on some hamburger and cheese as I watched the pack warriors fight. I had always love
MIKHAIL“Don't tell me you're actually going to send her on a hunt with Irene.” Landon’s voice echoed behind me. He walked right after me as we headed into the woods. Hadn't seen Ross in days, but her scent still lingered, even now like she was here. “It's a pack festival, what could go wrong.” I turned to stare at my brother, who was unusually worried about my breeder. Each time he was intensely worried, he'd furrow his brows and unconsciously clench his right fist. I stared downwards, tracing past his pants and fixed my gaze on his balled fist. “She has to hunt.” I glanced at my other brother, Xavier. He was so busy with his phone, I badly felt like punching him hard to reset his brain or something. “Xavier.” I hardened my voice and he paused, raising his calm eyes to stare at me. “Is something the matter?” “Put the fucking phone down.” Landon and I snapped at the same time, drawing a slight chuckle from my lips. Xavier slipped his phone into his pants and raised his hands in the
ROSANNE“I can't believe it.” I exhaled loudly, walking through the dense woods in my tank top and thick, skinny jeans. Tall trees rose out of the earth to brush the skies and sun dappled leaves created flickering shadows on the ground. I'd been walking for almost half an hour now, but I kept walking around in circles, bumping into the same mark I made on a tree several minutes ago. A small groan escaped my lips as I ran my fingers through my hair, messing it up. Mikhail wasn't just despicable and excessively naughty, he was such a pain in the ass. I heard the news of the hunt quite late, and when I figured he'd chosen me as well, I almost went berserk. I wasn't going to give in to him so easily. Caressing the rough bark of a tall tree, I inhaled sharply and willed myself to continue this journey. I had to find a rouge. I had to kill a rouge. “looking for something?” A familiar voice made a shudder run down my spine. I turned swiftly, meeting pale green eyes and fiery red hair—wh
MIKHAIL“There's a situation, Alpha Mikhail. It's been eight hours. Four men returned to the pack with a rogue each, six of them came empty handed, but we've not seen Irene and your breeder.” Since the pack warrior walked into my office, it was the first time I raised my head to stare at him. “What do you mean? Didn't you have CCTV camera’s stationed at some corners to ensure they were safe?” “All we heard was a loud growl before everything went dark. We lost the signal to the video as well.” Shit. I closed up the file I'd been staring at for a while and pushed my weight off the black leather chair. The pack warrior and I rushed outside my office, taking long strides towards the training field. If I had to find Irene and Ross, I'd need a few of my strongest men to get the job done.Almost immediately, as soon as I got there, a familiar red head collapsed on the ground with a dead rouge a few meters away from her. She got up again, dragged the rouge, but she had so many cuts and wo
ROSANNEA groan ripped out my lips as a splitting headache pinned me to a bed. Discomfort zapped down my spine, my chest tightening with every breath I took. My whole body ached like I'd been run down by a truck, and maybe I was. What the hell happened to me? The musky scent of blood mixed with the scent of sandalwood lingered in the air—almost like he was here. MIKHAIL. Slowly, I clutched the bedspread, trying to push myself up, then I saw it—the large bandage wrapped around my leg with slight blood stains on it. “What the—” then it started coming in—the memories. The rogue. Irene. That bitch. She'd taken advantage of the rouge, shot my legs with her crossbow and made a run out of the woods, leaving me all alone with the beast. The brown fur glistened under the sunlight—it was magnificent, but when it bared its teeth, I really thought that was the end. I didn't even want to think about what happened. I fought the beast and killed it myself, and Irene? She dragged it away, but I
MIKHAIL “It's got to be a joke!” Irene thundered, barging into my office like she always does, but this time, I sent a harsh glare her way, forcing her to quiet down immediately. Wrapped in a white, short tulip skirt and a grey bodycon top, she charged towards me, sharp heels brutally striking my tiles. “I heard something, Mikhail, and I'm here for some clarifications.”Placing my elbow on my desk, I leaned my head on my fist. “Is that why you've been throwing a tantrum?” She pressed her lips together and balled her hands into fists, pink nails sinking into her flesh. “It's important.” She gritted out, chest rising and falling, her red hair flowing down her shoulders. “I don't want to believe it, Mikhail.” Her voice became a desperate whine I didn't want to hear. “Tell me it's not true. Tell me you're not postponing the royal wedding.” “I am.” “No, No.” She took a few steps backwards, pinching the bridge of her nose as she found a balance. She clutched a leather chair before my
ROSANNEI overheard them. I overheard their entire conversation. Mikhail's voice still lingered in my ears, replaying like a bad song on repeat, and with how hard I tried to keep my tears at bay, I couldn't. He'd visited me almost everyday while I was still healing—silly me—and I'd thought he was finally changing towards me. I was beginning to see him in another light. I was beginning to understand him better. But now? I realized I was nothing but a breeder in his eyes. I wiped my tears harshly. I came to his office to tell him ‘thank you.’ It was a first, but really, he made sure to check up on me everyday. He made my heart race. Made shivers run down my spine. He made me laugh sincerely since the first time I stepped my foot into this hell, but right now, I figured he still wanted to use me. To fuck me. To ruin my whole life just so I could fill his whole house with pups. That was all he needed me for. Mikhail looked rather shocked to see me. It took a while for him to sh
ROSANNEMaverick coughed, the sound drawing my attention from Knox, who lay at my feet, blood pooled around him. His heartbeat was faint, in just a matter of seconds he was going to die a slow painful death.Maverick was afraid, his eyes flickering between Axel and me, trying to put as much needed distance between us.I moved away from Knox, my eyes glaring at the man, who had betrayed his people, “What was that promise you made again about my children?” I asked, my blood-stained hand tapping my chin just like he had done a few minutes ago.Maverick winced, his hand holding his rib tightly, hoping to dull the pain that was forming, “Rosanne…” he tried to plead.“Remind me, or should I say it?” I hissed, cutting him off.Maverick stared at the floor, fear etched on his face. I loved this power, the control that I had over him was next to nothing. “Oh! I remember you were going to cut them piece by piece, right?” I mused.I dropped to my knees, keeping my gaze even with his, as I looke
ROSANNEThe warriors barely had time to grasp what was happening, with their swords drawn it did nothing to protect them from the wild beast that had been set free.Axel tore thrown the men, his eyes burning with molten fury as he made sure that they all felt the vengeance of his claws.It was carnage, a scene out of a grotesque book, and I dwelled in it, enjoying it.“Rosanne! Look out!” Ryan yelled, pushing me out of the way as an arrow whizzed past my ear, its tip missing my head in an inch.“Thank you,” I breathed, my heart slamming through my chest.“Just be careful,” he mumbled, picking up a sword as he blocked the next arrow that was shot at us.Axel was surrounded, his eyes fixed on the lost souls that dared to fight him. The only difference about the scene was that, while they were fighting to defend their lives, Axel was hunting to kill.Axel let out a roar, the primal sound of it vibrating through the walls of the room.“Save the rest of your elders,” I commanded Ryan, pick
ROSANNEThe air in the room felt thick with tension, coupled with the tangy smell of blood. Derek was dead, the game had changed right before Maverick’s eyes. Gone was the smug-looking man who thought he had everything under control, now, he was reduced to nothing; kneeling before Knox with his head hung low in shame.Knox stood beside me, the aura around him felt smug, and the large grin on his face showed the obvious truth, he had won and no one could contend with him.“You have the girl and her blood mage, please leave,” Maverick moaned, clutching his hand that Knox had stepped on.Knox chuckled, the dry laugh sounded like a bunch of hyenas roaring in the night, “But I want something more,” he mused, smiling broadly at him.“There is nothing here,” Maverick coughed.“You don’t see it? The land you have accumulated all through these years, the vastness, the fertile grounds, I want it all. And I am sure you have enough ladies to keep my men warm at night, huh?” he mocked.Maverick st
ROSANNETrust is a luxury, and now I have learnt the hard way that it is one luxury that I can’t afford, “I am sorry,” I mumbled in a low tone, my hand pressing his side trying to stop the bleeding.Ryan smiled a bitter smile, his lips paling as he struggled to speak, “I know, you wouldn’t have thought of me any less,” he said.His words were meant to comfort me, but rather they sliced through my chest like a dagger had been plunged through me. I had been so blind with anger that I had failed to see through Maverick’s façade.“We are going to get out of this,” I swore, my voice filled with determination.Ryan’s eyes were closing, from the way he was losing blood, I could tell I was going to lose him, “Stay with me,” I said, my hand gently tapping his cheeks to keep him awake.The silver chain burned into my hand, and I hissed at the pain. Not only was I bound with silver but I was locked in a silver cage, it was like he was trying to make sure that I suffered through my last minutes w
ROSANNEThe elders froze, their eyes wide as they watched Maverick drag me into the room, screaming and kicking.“Let go of me you rascal!” I yelled, my eyes wide as I looked around the room.Just like I had expected, the mole had been the first to move forward, “What is happening?” he asked, looking at me with an unreadable expression on his face.“I am doing what I think is best for my people. Alpha Knox only wants her, I see no reason in trying to harm my people,” Maverick replied.Something struck me, his tone, he addressed me with some much venom in his tone like he hated the sight of me. I must say, he was really playing his role right.“You can’t do that!” the man hissed. “We have a solid plan, a fail-proof one,” he hissed.Something didn’t sit right with me. The mole wasn’t meant to defend me, he should be excited about this plan.“Would you rather, Alpha Knox and his men massacre our people for some bitch?” he spat, his ring digging into my wrist.The man tried to speak furth
ROSANNEMaverick’s call to action was to storm into the room and expose the traitor. But I knew we couldn’t do that, not when we still needed the upper hand.“This is perfect,” I smiled, snapping my fingers as I plotted out a new plan in my mind.“What is perfect?” Maverick hissed, his eyes burning with hurt from the betrayal he had just discovered. “These men have been with me right from time, and now, one is a mole? That is if the whole crew isn’t corrupted,” he spat shaking his head in disapproval.It hurts, and I knew that. But he had to face it, nothing lasts forever not even friendships and loyalty.“I am sorry about all this, but now isn’t the time to stand and mourn some lost friendship. Now is about making sure that your people are safe,” I said.“What do you have in mind?” he asked, staring at me with slumped shoulders.I wasn’t scared of the way he had subconsciously handed me the reins of leading his group, “The defence plan that we had set up still stands, but rather than
ROSANNENo one was brave when it came to war. No matter how hard you plan or prepare something is always going to go wrong.“You have to go with the women,” I said to Anita, placing soft kisses on my baby's head.Anita shook her head, “Come with us, I can’t let you fight,” she said, tears gleaming in her eyes as she held onto my children.I understood her fear, she couldn’t image me out there fighting, but I had to. I had to step up and protect my children. I needed to prove to them that I could do it. I could be strong.“Anita, they are here because of me, if something happens to me, I need to be sure that they are safe,” I said, my voice cracking as I thought about the possibility of not being around them when they learn how to take their first step.My voice croaked, "You are their godmother, protect them," I said.Axel moved forward, an unreadable expression on his face, “Take care of yourself, I will see you soon,” he mumbled, placing a kiss on her lips.I smiled, watching the wa
ANITAThe door banged open, my heart racing at the sudden intrusion. After my last encounter with Maverick, I had expected him to be the one.“What is going on?” I asked the soldier, my heart racing as I noticed the panicked expression on his face.“Where is Maverick?” he asked, looking around the room.Beats me, the last I had seen of the man was before Rosanne had given birth, and after that, things have been on a hush-hush around here. No one was saying a thing.“What is wrong?” I repeated my heartbeat spiking at the way his hand trembled.“They are coming,” he replied, with a slight tremor in his voice like he couldn’t bring himself to say the name.“Who? What?”“The Golden Rise pack, they are marching down here, Alpha Knox leading the troop,” he said, rushing out of the room.I staggered, my breath caught in my throat, it couldn’t be.The world tilted. It was spinning out of control.“Rosanne!” I gasped, rushing towards the room she had been holed up in.There was no time for ple
ROSANNEThe raw shrilling cries of babies filled the room, it was real, filled with emotions.My children.I groaned, my body groaning in pain as I tried to rise to my feet, through my blurry vision I noticed the nurse from earlier, holding onto my children’s cot, her eyes devoid of the warmth they once had.I couldn’t remember much that had happened after the birth of my third child, the one that had been hiding behind his siblings, surprising the midwife and me. I had thought I was having twins, but the little shocker had decided to finally make himself known.And from how loud the cries were, I knew it was him, my firecracker; Aiden.“Let me hold them,” I whispered, my body still struggling to recover from everything that had happened.I looked around the room, expecting to find Axel or Anita, but I was shocked to find Maverick, standing by the side, his eyes staring at me with untold emotions in them.“Good to see that you are awake,” he muttered, smiling slyly at me as he moved c