Hermione Averoff, at twenty-nine, has given up her dream of finding her fated mate. She focuses instead on training in warfare with her twin, Alpha Zephyrus. They have only one mission. To conquer their motherland, Lucania and overpower the enemy, the Whiteridge Pack. After twenty years, they successfully reclaim their Luceres Pack and land, but Hermione, popularly called Hera, isn’t happy. Seeing her twin, Zephyrus, find his mate, Hera’s heart shatters but only momentarily. Soon she is captured by a feral wolf, Felixe Andreadis, the Gamma of the Whiteridge Pack. What can be worse than finding out that her ruthless captor is her fated mate? Felixe Andreadis has everything: power, wealth, a successful business, but no family. His only mission in life is to kill Alpha Zephyrus, to avenge the death of his family. Unable to do so, he captures Hermoine instead and holds her captive. Can he take his revenge on her when the forbidden attraction between them is fiery and undeniable? Can Felixe’s feral aura deny the mate-bond between them? Will he still punish Hera in the worst way possible?
View MoreHermione Averoff’s POV
I sucked in a deep breath as I looked around me, an overwhelming feeling of contentment coursing through my body. The snowy battlefield was reduced to a sea of blood with decapitated, ripped bodies strewn all over. It was a sight I had seen many times in my twenty-nine years of life, having fought many battles alongside my twin!
But tonight was different. Tonight I smiled at the mayhem all around.
We had avenged the death and massacre of that fateful night twenty years ago! We had wiped out the Whiteridge Pack, and its leader, Alpha Atticus!
It was time to join in the celebrations!
I watched our warriors celebrate the much-awaited moment of victory. We had waited two decades for this! Finally, our mission was complete. We had overpowered the enemy and reclaimed our pack and our motherland! The Luceres Pack was now ours!
I looked around for my twin, Alpha Zephyrus, to rejoice in our victory. I knew how much this meant to him. We were just nine when we had to flee Lucania. The Whiteridge Pack had attacked us, overpowering our pack and killing my father, Alpha Dimitrios.
For years we had trained for this moment, undergoing all hardships at our ancestral home in the kingdom of Aromania, in Northern Greece. It was my father’s birthplace, his childhood home, although it never felt like one to us. Now it was all over. We were back to where we belonged, to our little village, Lucania. Cradled at the foothills of the Astral Mountains in the Northern Territories of Canada, far away from human settlements, Lucania was our only home.
My gaze fell upon my twin, who stood watching a white wolf lying injured at his feet. Wasn’t she an enemy? I frowned at his reaction to her, sensing the undercurrents he was experiencing! Was he considering saving the female? I grunted in exasperation, marching towards him to remind him of our predicament.
“Zeph, have you lost your mind?” I stopped before him, watching him warily. She’s the fucking enemy, Zeph. We’ve wiped out all of them. Will you treat them all with your magic potion? There’s only a bottle of it!”
“I know what I’m doing, dammit.” To my immense astonishment, he turned a deaf ear to my rantings and shifted to his human form.
My brother was a blessed wolf, but I wasn’t that lucky. All my life I had lived under his shadow, allowing him to decide for us. With his special powers, he protected and helped us.
Years ago, the Moon Goddess had blessed him with extra special powers for saving her life. He was just thirteen then, and she had been testing him in the forests of Aromania. He saved her from a vampire attack and she blessed him abundantly, making him indomitable. Ever since he didn’t need to worry about clothes after a shift. His touch and bite were fatal, but if he wished to save his victim, he had a bottle of her magic potion. Until now, he hadn’t felt the need to use it, but tonight, I could sense the urge in him to save the enemy wolf!
Disregarding my words, he picked up the creature gently and strode ahead towards the village to our family home. I frowned at his strange behavior, having never seen this side of his nature before. Zephyrus had always been a focused, impatient, dominant wolf, with no time for a steady relationship. He cared only for us who were close to him since birth. Then why was he carrying the enemy to our home?
“Are you even listening, Zeph?” I ran alongside him, trying to keep pace with him.
“What?” His impatient tone didn’t deter me. I had to know what was going on.
“Why are you carrying the enemy, Zeph? She deserves to die!” I waited a couple of seconds, but he just grunted in displeasure.
“Who is she? Is she Atticus’s daughter?”
“Why can’t you answer me, dammit?” I continued relentlessly, not giving up. The only plausible explanation was the one I wanted to ignore, but for how long?
“Is she your fucking mate?” I could feel his restraints breaking as he stopped to give me a death glare.
“Stop the questions, Hera. Help me or get lost!” I preferred being called Hera as Hermione sounded too medieval! So those who knew me called me by my shortened name to keep me happy.
I glared back at him for his lack of explanation. We had always shared a close relationship for the last two decades, being there for one another. If he had found his fated mate at twenty-nine, shouldn’t he inform me? I felt extremely disappointed, a strange fear gripping my heart. What if she really was my twin’s mate?
No, the Moon Goddess couldn’t be so cruel to me! She couldn’t be so unjust! Zeph hardly believed in fated mates, but I did, having waited for mine since my first shift at seventeen. Now, almost twelve years later, I had given up hope of ever meeting him. Maybe I was destined to live and die alone! It had been a solace for so long that my twin and my friends were in the same boat as I was! But now? I couldn’t accept this reality!
Jealousy coursed through my body at the sight of my twin and his mate. Now that he had found his mate, I knew he would forget me. “What do you want me to do? Just throw her into the dungeons already. She’s our war prisoner!” I sulked as I walked away with a toss of my dark copper hair.
I could see our friends celebrating the victory over a bonfire built on the sprawling pack house premises. There was our Beta, Stavros, and Leandros, our Gamma with his twin, Alexandrios, who was the only doctor in our pack. These were our close friends who had fled with us that fateful night, sticking together through thick and thin for the last twenty years. I noticed how happy they looked tonight but I couldn’t share the feeling with them!
“Hera! Come over and tuck in before it vanishes!” I smiled half-heartedly at Stavros, but all my appetite had left me after seeing Zeph with his mate! The food looked appetizing, and I knew I should be celebrating, but my heart ached. A strange restlessness gripped my body. All my dreams of a happily ever after with my fated mate crumbled to dust. Would I die a loner? What had I ever done to deserve this life? I had never prayed to the Goddess for anything but a loving mate! I didn’t bear a grudge against her for so long, but now I felt devastated.
I knew what this meant. I would have to surrender to my extended family’s wish and accept the hateful Alpha Oreias of the Orvelos Howlers Pack as my mate! It was my uncle’s wish, but I preferred to escape from Aromania than to surrender to his wishes. With Zephyrus finding his mate, the pressure to get me settled would increase manifold now. How would I avoid it?
I walked on, not bothering to look where I was headed. The snow crunched beneath my feet, and the need to run drove me wild. I surrendered to the wish! I could feel my bones cracking as my wolf, Hye, took over!
‘Let’s run, Hye!’ She didn’t need prompting. She knew what we both wanted.
We zigzagged, darting through the snow-covered trees, the wind howling past my ears. I sprinted as fast as I could, eager to stop the dull ache in my heart. I hated Alpha Oreias with a vengeance! He was selfish, cold-blooded, and everything I hated about a wolf! He could never be someone’s mate. It was no wonder he was a loner, even at thirty-eight!
I hiked the steep snow-covered slopes of the Astral Mountains, yet couldn’t outrun the fear gripping my mind. Hye stopped at the edge of the highest peak, bringing me to my senses. This had been my favorite place since the day Zephyrus brought me here twenty years ago. Nothing had changed here! It was still the same: tranquil, beautiful, chilling and refreshing!
On the other side was the White Ridge Village, the original home of the Whiteridge Pack! Tonight, it was bathed in darkness! Maybe they were mourning the death of their pack members! They deserved it for using unfair means to overpower us years ago. That night they had snatched away everything from us too!
I closed my eyes and let the icy wind chill my mind. For a moment, I wanted to escape the reality. I wanted to feel happy for my twin, but I couldn’t. Was I a bad sibling?
Suddenly, the hair on the back of my neck stood straight. There was a sudden quietness all around me. It was the sort of silence that alerted me. I could feel someone’s presence behind me! My heart thumped wildly in my chest, knowing there was no one around to help me now.
It was an unknown scent of a stranger! It cautioned me, yet Hye whimpered as if recognizing it immediately! Who could it be?
I slowly turned around to check before fleeing but froze, my feet transfixed on the spot. I couldn’t even budge an inch, let alone flee. My eyes fell upon a humongous copper wolf as big as my twin, staring back at me from afar. His hypnotizing, glowing red eyes held my gaze, making a shudder go down my spine. There was a terrifying glow emanating from him!
The fierce look in his eyes was enough to make me panic. I hauled air into my lungs as I struggled to get a grip on myself. I had to outrun the creature before it killed me! He approached me with slow, calculated steps and I came out of my daze.
“Hermione Averoff!” His furious growl made me freeze. How did he know me?
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This is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, places, events, and incidents are either the products of my imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.
Copyright © Rituparna Darolia. All rights reserved. No part of this novel may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the author.Hera’s POV I closed my eyes and lay down in my bedroom, listening to everyone enjoying the outside. My birthday celebrations have been the most enjoyable ones so far. Felixe had made arrangements to celebrate Zephyrus’s birthday too, in the same grand style as mine. His cake differed from mine and so were his treats. In fact, he received more gifts than I did! After the cake cutting, I could hardly stand straight. The pain in my pelvic region spread all over my lower abdomen and they carried me to my bedroom. I tried hard to sleep, but the pain started getting worse. Felixe had gone out to get a doctor since mine wasn’t taking his call. “Try deep breathing, Hera! Felixe will bring the doctor over soon. I think you’ll deliver tonight,” said Ebony, stroking my hair off my face. Even Hazel sat with me, trying to relieve the pain with the compress. This time nothing was working! I felt like I was dying! “I’m scared, Ebony. Please, I don’t want to die!” Tears pricked at my eyes and st
Hera’s POV The next two days we all spent together, bonding and enjoying ourselves. Being with everyone made me forget my fear of delivery. Despite the chaos all around, it was Felixe who was always there to support me, to help me. He took a couple of days off from work to bond with all of us. I was indeed indebted to him. Finally, it was my birthday, and the wishes and gifts kept pouring in right from the morning. Lyra might have spoken to Felixe about her predicament since she accompanied him to the office last morning. I could feel Leandros going into a shell day by day. It was obvious he needed help, but it was his own battle. He had to seek help from Zeph or Felixe. I couldn’t interfere in his matters. “Hera, come on, let’s go for a stroll!” said Hazel, walking into my room. With the celebration scheduled in the evening, I was trying to save some energy for the event. “No, Hazel. I’m feeling a little pain in my pelvic area every time I walk. Maybe I should rest a little now
Hera’s POV Tears of happiness pooled in my eyes, and I looked around for my family. I had no idea Felixe had done so much for me while I was unnecessarily doubting him. The guests whom I heard upstairs were none other than my family. While I was sleeping, oblivious to their presence, my mate had arranged for my happiness. “Keep all negative thoughts out of your mind now, Hera. You shouldn’t stress so much about your delivery. It will have a harmful effect on your babies. You don’t want them to feel your stress, right? They’ll be stressed too.” I looked at Ebony and nodded. Yes, she was right. I had been worrying too much lately. I didn’t want it to have an adverse effect on my pups. “We’ve booked the most advanced multispecialty hospital for you, Hera. I’m sure if there’s any complication, the doctor can sort it out. There’s no need to worry so much. Felixe will be with you in the birthing room while we all will be there outside for you,” said Derrick. I wiped my tears and smiled
Hera’s POV As the days went by, my mobility became more and more hindered. If it weren’t for the therapy classes, I would have been bedridden. This wasn’t fun at all. Felixe, Ebony, and Stella took care of me every step of the way. My birthday was two days later, but I had no enthusiasm left in my body to look forward to it. I would just call my twin and wish him. It was strange that he hadn’t called me once in the last one month. What was he so busy with? After my delivery, I would definitely fight with him if I were alive. “Hera, what’s wrong? Felixe wanted you ready in the evening.” I gaped at Stella, having completely forgotten about it. He had asked me on a date before leaving for work. I had been so preoccupied with my condition, I completely forgot about it. “I can’t go out, Stella.” She smiled, sorting through my closet for the perfect dress. None of them were perfect. I hated my body now. The wish to dress up for my mate had gone forever. What was the use? I could never l
Hera’s POV The main door opened, and Stella rushed out to help unload the luggage. “It feels so good to see you, Hera! Oh my! When are you due?” she exclaimed at the sight of me. “Next month! Give me a hug now!” We hugged one another when Ebony came out. I hadn’t been introduced to her formally yet we knew one another. The few brief encounters we had before were enough. She smiled at me warmly. “Welcome home, Hera, Felixe! Finally, we’ll live together like a family.” “Thank you for joining us here on such short notice, Ebony!” I said, a little awkwardly. It was the first time I was interacting with her positively. “Don’t thank me at all. I’m happy to be here with you. There’s so much to do, I’m excited. Did you book your delivery at the hospital here?” I glanced at my clueless mate. “Oh! I’ll do it right away,” he said, and Ebony ushered me inside. “We can go tomorrow to the hospital nearby, Felixe.” He smiled at his stepmother, looking relieved. “We’ve got the nursery
Hera’s POV We spent our days and nights basking in our love for the next two days. Yet I couldn’t get enough of my mate. Each day, I discovered a new side to his nature. I longed to go home, but the doctor wanted to perform a few tests before he permitted me. So we waited patiently for the reports before announcing it to the family. “The house is now ready for us to move in. Do you want to see the pictures?” asked Felixe as he joined me on the terrace outside. The sun was about to set and we gazed at the spectacular view all around us. “Yes, please.” He showed me our home, making me gasp with longing. All I wanted was to go to our new home with him. I wanted my pups born there. “I can imagine us living there already! When will the reports arrive?” I was impatient to leave while Felixe seemed to be in no hurry. Although he had a business to look after, he showed no impatience for me. He managed everything expertly online. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll collect them and consult the doc
Felixe’s POV Hera’s kiss was the elixir I needed to get through the day. She kissed me so passionately that I could feel her selfless love reflected in her warm kiss. It made my heart swell with happiness. For the first time, I felt happy to be alive on my birthday. It was surprising indeed. For thirty-two years of my life, I had been considering myself the most unwanted and worthless wolf alive. I hated my birthday. I hid from the world every year on this day. It wasn’t a hard task since no one cared about me or wished me. However, this time, I battled with my inner self. Although I was used to disappearing, this time I couldn’t. The entire day I spent with her family, watching her closely. She looked so happy and I knew it was because of me. The way her eyes searched for me in everything she did made me stay around her. I didn’t feel unwanted anymore. I didn’t feel worthless at all. At least, someone in the world considered me her world. She would perish without me. It made me g
Hera’s POV We walked into our suite, hand-in-hand, looking forward to igniting the magic we shared. The last time we connected was in Lucania. It seemed a long time ago. I really missed him too much.The moment he closed the door, my heartbeats sped up in anticipation. He slowly turned around to face me and my breath hitched at seeing the fire in his eyes. I knew he was burning for me just as I was. Slowly, he approached me while I stood rooted to the spot, ready to surrender to him. He stopped inches from me, his gaze roaming over my features tenderly. “Let’s make memories, Hera! I want to resume where we left off. Will it hurt too much if we make love?” His fingers caressed my cheek, trailing down to my bottom lip. I nodded, closing my eyes at his touch. “I want you to make love to me, Felixe.” When I looked up to meet his eyes, I noticed the satisfaction reflected there. He looked blissfully happy! “I’ll be gentle!” Of course, I knew that. I trusted him even with my eyes close
Hera’s POV We strolled hand-in-hand on the terrace, enjoying each other’s company. I waited for him to answer my question. “You know it all, Hera! I’m not very articulate about my feelings, but I try to show you through my actions. When we met, I was a totally different wolf. I wanted to kill you that night, but your beauty, your innocence, and your sass drive me crazy. That night, I instantly knew you were my mate, and I was head over heels in love with you. I didn’t know it then because I never experienced love before. I lost my mother when I was quite young and my stepmother, Ebony, thought me too feral to live with them. She drove me away from home to a rehabilitation center for treatment. For years, I spent my life there, unwanted, unloved, and bitter. I met Derrick there, and he was all I had. As I grew, I became cold, and vengeful, until I lost my family in a fire. It was much later that I knew the truth. Ebony sent me away to protect me from the Flame Hounds.” I listened i
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