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
MIKHAILThe annual banquet was in just a few days. For the rest of the week, I kept stamping invitations with my seal, handing them out to my Beta to make sure they were delivered to the Alphas of separate packs. Ross kept avoiding me like a plague. Her scent would linger in my nostrils for a brief second, but before I could step out of my room, it would turn faint—almost like she didn't just walk past my room. “How's the preparation for the banquet coming up?” Landon crossed his legs casually, his fingers loosely wrapped around a glass of scotch. The amber liquid glistened under the ray of the sun seeping through the windows, but that wasn't what caught my attention. It was Ross’s eyes. Amber. Just like the glass of scotch staring back at me. “Khail.” Landon snapped his fingers in front of me, a small smirk plastered on his lips. “You're not one to zone out in the middle of a conversation.” I groaned, running my hands through my hair. “Have you seen Ross?” I shouldn't be askin
ROSANNEThe fresh scent of sandalwood assaulted my nostrils. I woke up with a slight groan, my head banging, whole body hurting like I'd been smashed by a truck. I knew this place. With the soft, dim lightening, the lingering scent of sandalwood and this large space, I could tell it was Mikhail's room. Mikhail's room. The demon's room. I got up almost immediately, pushing the comforter off my legs, but as soon as I placed my legs on the ground, my vision doubled, legs swaying like they had no more strength in them. “What's happening?” I whispered, placing a palm over my forehead, but I pulled away quickly, stunned by how high my temperature was. “I wouldn't stand if I were you.” Mikhail strode into his room with a covered pink tray, looking as magnetic as ever in his black shirt and pants. His dark hair fell over his face, the dripping edges indicating that he'd just washed them. It explained the fresh scent of sandalwood and shampoo. Reluctantly, I sat back on the bed and kep
MIKHAILRosanne kept picking on the chicken soup like she really couldn't eat it, but the pack doctor emphasized on the fact that she had to eat. I facepalmed myself and grabbed her wrists. “What are you doing?” “Eating, just as you instructed.” She replied plainly, her wet lips beckoning unto me. My lips curled up into a slight smile. “It's been half an hour, Ross, but you're still on a single bowl.” “I'm…I'm fi—” she rushed up suddenly, placing the bowl on the coffee table as she made a run towards my bathroom. I frowned, walking right after her. “Rosanne.” I called, watching as she gripped the sink so tightly, her knuckles turned white. I strode towards her, held her hair in my left hand and caressed her back with the other. “Rosanne, are you okay?” Strangely, my voice was soft, so soft I could barely recognize it as mine. She shook her head, her back stiff, she kept gripping the sink like her whole life depended on it. I just stayed there. Confused. Bothered. Worried. Seco
ROSANNE“The annual ball is in a few days, but you have nothing to wear?” I nodded slowly. Shirtless Landon stared at me with a bewildered expression on his face. I wouldn't call him my friend, we just happened to meet at the training field sometimes. Alright, most times. And there was this….connection I never felt with Mikhail. He was different. He smiled more. Made jokes often. And well, he was strong. He had his arms wrapped around Ace, holding him in place as he spoke to me. “Told Mikhail yet?” The thought of his name made blood rush up my cheeks. Last night replayed before me—how he forcefully made me have that chicken soup through his own mouth. I didn't know if Landon got distracted, but he was suddenly on the ground, his face scrunched up in pain. “Good one, buddy. You got me this time.” he said to Ace. I chuckled softly, running my hands over my exposed knees. “Mikhail didn't say anything about getting me a dress. I don't think breeders are—” “You're just as importa
ROSANNEI pushed him. Hard. Throughout the whole ride back to the pack house, he didn't mention a single word. And even now that he walked me torwards Mikhail's mansion, he still remained quiet. I'd expected to feel disgust while he kissed me earlier, but it took a whole lot of strength to push him away. I wanted it. Clutching the shopping bag hard, I gave him one last glance before heading inside. As I climbed up the stairs, my pulse kept racing, heart kept hammering against my ribcage as Landon's face appeared before me. He shouldn't have. He really shouldn't have kissed me. I belonged to his brother. Slamming the door hard, I tossed the gown on my bed and inhaled a deep breath. How was I going to face Mikhail? ‘Calm down, Rosanne, there's nothing to worry about.’ Emerald's voice echoed in my ears and I sighed out loud. This shouldn't be a big deal. I have to forget about this, to let it slide and act normal. I walked towards my bed and parched onto it, pressing my back agai
ROSANNESunlight spilled through the lacy white curtains into my room, casting a warm glow on the glass resting on the coffee table. I'd been laying here for hours, counting the ceiling, staring at the coffee table, recounting everything that happened between Mikhail and I last night. I really didn't expect him to force himself on me again. I thought he was changing, but that was just a facade. Getting up slowly, I took slow strides towards the bathroom and turned on the shower. I stood there for a brief moment, allowing the water to wash down my sorrows, my pain, but it wasn't even working. I still felt Mikhail's hands on me, still felt his thrust weakening my leg muscles. I could still hear his voice sending shudders down my spine. I grabbed the soap and scrubbed it on my body, hoping to wash off his mark which was like a stain. I kept scrubbing and scrubbing and scrubbing until my body became red, but when I still felt dirty, I choked out a sob. It will never really stop, wi
MIKHAIL“You were rough with her last night.” My wolf growled as I signed some papers, consuming my thoughts with how hard I was with Rosanne. Our Rosanne. My Rosanne. ‘She defiled my orders.’ I growled back, tossing the file before me a few meters away. ‘She keeps doing it. Hanging around with other men, fucking around with them and neglecting the fact that she belongs to me. Only me.’ “But don't you think you're pushing her away?” She wasn't our mate. I didn't know why Lex was starting to care for her more than usual. Rosanne was just a breeder to me. Nothing more, nothing else. “We both know she means more than that to us.” I pushed myself off my leather chair and took slow strides towards my window. I'd always loved staring at the view of the pack house from here. The vast green space, the lake glistening with the sun rays on it and a few maids walking around to get their jobs done. It always reminded me that I ruled over them all. “Mikhail.” I didn't have to turn around t
HUDSONWolves circled her, their fangs bared as they tried to scare her.I had jumped down the minute after she did, but I was too late, my men had already had her cornered. They were toying with her, waiting for her to move, then they would attack, tear her piece by piece until she was nothing but bones, a reminder of who she was.“Stand down!” I barked, my wolf surging forward. But my words were on deaf ears, Mikhail’s order stood firm, commanding their will.Her green eyes met mine, and instantly I was filled with a new order—protect.I lunged, landing right in the middle, blocking her from their vicious eyes, “Stay behind me,” I growled.She nodded, her heart beating loudly in her chest, the sound reverberating through my body. Her touch was soft against my back, a buzzing feeling surrounded the spot where she touched.“No one harms her,” I sneered, my claws drawn.For her, I would go to the end of the world—killing the men I called my family if need be.“Get out of our way beta H
HUDSONBACK AT THE GOLDEN RISE PACK…“Kill!” the single command that broke through my control, snapping my beast, filling us with the thirst for blood.The sound of their screams excited me. I was carnage bathed in the blood of my enemies. This was absolutely my scene.The warrior beneath me shuddered, blood gushing out of his open stomach. I grinned, my claws digging deeper into him as I pulled out his intestines, enjoying the way his face contorted in pain before the life drained out of his eyes. My eyes glowed red, filled with malice, as I savoured my kill. “They couldn’t even defend their home,” I hissed, crossing over his body as I moved towards the door he had been protecting.I was on a mission, “No one lives!” Mikhail’s voice echoed through my mind, drowning me.Knox has been foolish to go after Mikhail’s breeder. His thirst for power had sentenced his people to death.I pushed the door open, ducking just in time as an arrow whizzed towards me, its tip aiming for my head.“Yo
ROSANNEWe moved in silence, each man understood the severity of our quietness. The darkness and the trees were perfect covers, hiding us from anything that might have been hovering around.Aiden cooed, his lips moving against my chest looking for my nipple. These were moments that I should be enjoying, smiling as I fed my children, but I couldn’t. We were here in a forest running from an unseen but scary danger. Trying to be alive. We were nomads. Lost souls wandering around without a place to call home.My eyes looked around the group of people that were with us, their faces stricken with pain and determination, all looking for a better life, a new hope.We all wanted the same thing, a place we could call home. A place we could believe in.The ground rumbled, the forest coming to life. Birds moved through the trees out of fright. And from the silence, a growl echoed, deep, primal, hurt.“Lycan king,” Axel muttered, his eyes looking back to where we had come from.My heartbeat spiked
MIKHAIL“Names!” I yelled, my fist clenched as I stared at Knox, he was fighting, barely living. I needed to know the people that I would be hunting down.Knox coughed, blood slipping out of his mouth as he tried to move, “Here,” Blair said, placing a cup by his lips. “It will give you energy for the journey ahead,” she muttered.“Speak, or I will rip your tongue out,” I commanded, my voice heavy with authority.“Rosanne,” he coughed. “She was a monster, her powers…”I lunged, my fist colliding with his cheek, how dare he called Rosanne, my Rosanne a monster. She was peace, beauty and a ray of peace. I was the monster, not her.“Mikhail!” Hudson screamed, pulling me off the man who looked like he was about to die. “Are you going to kill our only lead?” he yelled. I straightened myself, shoving him off of my body, “Don’t you ever talk to me like that again,” I hissed.Hudson bowed, his neck bared as he showed mem the respect that I deserved, “I am sorry Lycan King,” he said, keep a mu
MIKHAILMy heart clenched at the large claw mark on the wall, just where Maverick’s head rested.Not a message, just a deep primal warning.Fear crawled up my spine. But not for myself or my men; but the thought of something, someone harming Rosanne and my child.My Rosanne.“We have to keep on searching,” Hudson muttered behind me, his voice sound far, like he was buried among the bodies littered here. “She has got to be here somewhere, she is a fighter,” he mumbled. His words felt like they were meant to comfort himself and not me.He was still fighting hard to see the positive in all this.The once thriving rogue settlement, No man’s land had been reduced to ashes, bodies thrown around like…The thought made me shudder, I should be happy that Rosanne’s body wasn’t in the rumble, but then where was she? Shouldn’t she have been patiently waiting for me to come and save her? Wasn’t she scared of the new, and real world she was seeing?My ears strained, and the sound of a faint heartbe
MIKHAILTrusting Blair to be the compass to No man’s land was one of the most terrible mistakes I had ever made, “Would you stop grinning or I will make sure Hudson pulls out all your teeth,” I hissed, my patience growing thin.It has been more than a day since we had set out to bring Rosanne and my child back. Blair had forbidden us from using the cars, her excuse; cars make her sick, and when she is sick, her powers seem to disappear.I wonder why I still keep her around. She has been nothing but a pain in the ass all through this journey, blabbering and sharing jokes that sounded like torture to the ears.“Sorry,” she muttered, completely unaffected by my threat.I rolled my eyes at her, “Are we anywhere close to Maverick’s land?” I asked, looking at the dense forest that we had been trapped in.I had taken a few men, the journey wasn’t meant to be this long. The plan was simple, find Ross, and bring her and my baby back. And for the traitors, make sure that they find their end at
ROSANNE“Whatever it is that you have to say, you can say it here,” I replied in a clipped tone. I wasn’t going to be separated from my children again.Ryan smiled, “No one is planning to take you away,” he said in a soft tone.“What do you want?” Axel interrupted, his eyes looking around the men who had been loyal to Maverick. “As you can see we are on a time crunch and we need to leave,” he hissed.I gently squeezed his shoulders, signalling that there was no harm in hearing them out. “What he is trying to say is that we are most grateful for your kindness and letting us dwell with you. But we must leave now. And we are sorry for any harm that might have come to you. All of you,” I said, sounding more diplomatic than Axel.Ryan smiled, his eyes sparkling with delight as he heard my little speech, “We know what you have suffered in the hands of Maverick and we would like to apologise for that,” he muttered.I kept a straight face, hiding my true emotion from showing at the mention o
ANITAThe war was over, but its scars lingered. I couldn’t put my finger on it, but I knew that something had happened in that room; the Rosanne I was seeing wasn’t the same lady I had left a few hours ago.“Hey,” Axel sighed, his hand touching my shoulders gently as he walked into the room.I smiled softly at him, my body melting softly into his touch, he looked fresh; no signs of blood and the stench of war, “I can’t leave them alone,” I mumbled, pointing to Rosanne and her children, sleeping peacefully on the bed.“What happened?” I asked, trying to get a little information about the ordeal. Rumours of Maverick’s betrayal had echoed through the walls, spits spat out in disgust as his name was mentioned.“Maverick had tried to be slick, thinking he could betray us,” he muttered, frowning at the memory that popped up in his mind. “She was great and handled it well. A true leader,” he added, smiling softly at Rosanne.I knew she was, Rosanne was the embodiment of strength and resilie
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