ELEA
I was again being taken to another room, with my blindfold on, roughly being dragged to unknown hallways and three flights of stairs. I could sense that I was made to walk the same place twice because I caught a distinct scent several times, all thanks to my unique gift of Alpha genes.
Our genetic characteristics were always superior to any other average shifters, giving us an edge over others.
The idiot who was dutifully trudging me around had no idea that I was no ordinary rogue. I carried alpha genes in my veins, and it would probably take me a few good seconds to pin him down on the floor and beat the hell out of him.
But I was no fool either.
My energy was reserved for something better.
After tedious long minutes of dwindling, I was delivered into a room and the blindfold was removed.
“Liam!” I hollered, rushing over to the couch where my son happily played with noisy video games and whatnot.
“Mama!” He screamed giddily, crashing into my arms.
And everything in the world felt right when I hugged my son. Those few seconds made me forget what a precarious situation I was trapped in as soon as I was certain that Liam was safe.
“Liam, are you okay? Did anyone hurt you?” Frantically, I looked over, scanning his arms and legs in search of any bruise or scar, not trusting anyone from Landon’s pack to treat my son better, but to my utter astonishment, he was unharmed. A sigh of relief slipped past my lips.
“No, mama. I am fine,” Liam cheerfully said. “In fact, look at these,” he said, trotting over to a basket. “They gave me so many toys to play with and told me that I should not disturb you since you were resting. And Landon even sent for my favourite doughnut cake. Do you want a bite?” He asked innocently, holding it up for me.
I shook my head with a smile. “No, baby.” And then it hit me what Liam just called him. “Landon?”
“Yes.” My son nodded. “I know you told me to be respectful, and I did call him uncle, but he told me to call him by his name because we are friends. And friends call each other by name. Isn’t it right, mama?”
My insides roiled at the thought.
In a few hours and just one meeting, the man used his charm on MY boy and got close to Liam. What could he possibly do if Liam continued to live here under his nose? I could not lose Liam—he was my life. I have been unlucky enough in one lifetime to lose everything I ever held dear, but I was not ready to lose Liam.
But, at the same time, it felt good to have a male figure in his life. Liam was the son and heir of an alpha, and even though I could say it out loud, his genes were quiet skin to his father.
“Yes, baby. You are right. But he is not your friend. He is still a stranger you have just met,” I reminded Liam.
“I know, but I like him.” He pouted, fidgeting with the Rubik’s Cube he picked up from the toy basket.
Getting down on my knees and to his level, I took my son’s shoulder and turned his attention to me. “Liam, listen to me, baby. Do you know the way out of here? Have you seen any large door from where they brought you inside?”
“Why are you asking?”
The thing is, they blindfolded me and not my son. And as I said earlier Liam carried the alpha genes from both sides of his parentage, he was far stronger and sharper than average kids. Without trying, his senses were acute and if I had to escape this place, I needed to know the way out.
“Liam, remember I told you that we were playing a game? Well, this is the best part now. We got to sneak out of here without anyone finding out about it and get to the treasure chest. Do you think you can help your mother win it?” I asked.
Liam tilted his head quizzically. “But, why? What if Landon comes looking for me?”
“See, that’s the game.” I smiled brightly. “No one can find out about it until we get to the treasure chest.”
“But Landon told me to stay here,” Liam whined. “He’d asked me to dial 555 from that phone if I needed anything.” He pointed at the phone on the bedside table.
“That is because Landon does not want you to win,” I said in a raised whisper. “Liam, you and me, we are a team, remember baby? Whatever we do, we do it together. Do you want to stay here with Liam without your mother?”
“No, mama!” Liam cried out. “I can’t stay without you.”
Rising on my feet, I kissed his forehead and smiled encouragingly. “Good, baby, because I am never leaving you.”
Liam told me briefly after what happened when he was separated from me. Apparently, the prison cells were in the basement and at present, we were on the second floor. I would have to take care of the guard on the door, sprint for the staircase to the left and then make a run for the door.
And then I’d have to trust the Moon Goddess.
“Right, so here is our secret plan,” I told my son. “The moment we are in the clear and out of the big door, I will shift. You will ride on Hazel just like you used to do as a child and hold on to her tightly. No matter what happens Liam, do not let go of her. Have you understood, baby?”
“Okay, mama!” He acquiesced.
“That’s my brave son.,” I praised, kissing his cheeks.
Trotting over to grab the lampshade from the bedside table, I hid it behind my back. When I knocked on the door the guard was stupid enough to peer inside, giving me the perfect opportunity to strike the item against his head. Immediately, he groaned and fell to the ground.
I grabbed Liam and scampered out of the bloody place, and as soon as we saw the entrance, I ran for the door. Outside, it was dark and nightfall. A few men patrolled near the iron-clad gate but the situation was nothing that my wolf could not handle.
“Elea, do not do this, please,” Hazel pleaded with me. “He might forgive you.”
“No way. Alpha Landon was nothing if not ruthless and unforgiving. He will shackle us forever and make my life a living hell.”
“Give him a chance!”
“I can’t.” I shook my head. “I can’t take a risk with Liam. I can’t lose him, Hazel.”
Much against my beast, I blended into the darkness and summoned Hazel to take over. As soon as I wolfed out, Liam climbed over. He had done this a hundred times since he was two. And he loved riding on Hazel.
The moon hung high in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the pack house. Hazel’s paws pounded against the ground as she gained momentum. At that instant when she was about to jump off the high wall, out of nowhere, a majestic figure of a wolf leapt out of the shadows. Hazel lost control, almost injuring her hind legs as the wolf let out a ferocious howl.
It was Luke, Landon’s wolf, as recognised by Hazel.
And I swear by the Moon Goddess, he was spectacular. Covered in deep, earthy brown fur, the beast has glowing eyes of amber. With a wild spirit, enormous in size than an average wolf, he was majestic and primal in appearance.
Hazel took a few steps back, baring her canines and was just about to pounce when something sharp stung my wolf’s neck. She let out a painful cry, howling, as both of us began to lose consciousness.
“I…can’t…Elea…” was the last thing I heard before everything blacked out.
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LANDON“Just listen to her once,” Maximus suggested, even though I had half a mind to storm into her pack house and squeeze the life out of her. I was angry, livid actually, and Ravena had just crossed all bounds this time.“This is a bad idea,” I muttered. “I think your brother is right,” Elea interjected, drawing our collective attention. She looked between us, gingerly advancing. “If she knew, why didn’t she utter a word then? I mean, she swallowed her ego and apologised to me, she let herself get cornered even though she had an advantage. She could have used and gotten herself out of the problem, but she did not do that. Why?” Maximus and I shared a look.She has a point. “She has more leverage than she is revealing,” I muttered, reading between the lines. “All the more reason that you should see her,” Maximus said. I nodded, reluctantly and severely trapped.And now here I was, standing in front of the polished door of the suite of the hotel. I raised a palm, pressing agains
ELEAI did not know what to think, or how to act or even move until someone actually, physically, moved me off the stage. It was Maximus. The only thing I had managed to say was that I wanted to see my son because Liam was the only centre I could focus on and Maximus nodded.In a couple of minutes, I was taken to Liam’s room. And as soon as the door swung open, his little form jumped up in surprise.“Mama! You are here!” He was overjoyed as he jumped up to hug me. “It has been three days since you came to visit me.” “I know, baby,” I said with a long inhale, taking in his scent. “There were some…problems, but now the problems are solved. And I can spend as much time as you want with you.” I pulled back, looking into my son’s eyes. “But first, I want to know how you are feeling.” His face widened with glee. “Me? I am doing great!” Those little grey eyes sparkled like silver against sunlight. “Landon did not tell you? The doctor said that I am fit enough for school, swimming classes
Third Person POVIt was a sight rarely seen in the Crimson Pack when the Alpha chooses to punish someone publicly, an event that has not taken place for years. Usually, the wolf is either banished, exiled or killed. But it seemed like Landon was partial to archaic methods his ancestors preferred to instil some sense of discipline and unity among the pack. Elea stood there putting up the strong face she could muster in the face of adversity and in the hope of seeing her son. Whatever little hope and fondness she had developed for Landon over the months were erased by his brutal demands and his ability to manipulate her so cruelly. Ravena, on the other hand, held her breath. She did not know what was happening, but she sensed some impending dangers long before the scene unfolded before her. It was too late to run away or feign illness, although she could still pull it off if needed. Landon was completely composed and in control. He turned to his pack, awaiting his declarations. “Sinc
LANDONThe guard opened the door for me and I stepped into the room slowly. And immediately, the nauseous whiff of flowers hit my nose. Every corner I looked at was packed with bouquets and gifts as if it was a birthday party instead of a hospital room. “Landon, you came,” chirped the cheerful voice. “I knew you would be coming to see me.” “How are you, Ravena?” I asked, arranging for myself to sit on the couch across her bed. I had always preferred a healthy distance between us, given how clingy she was all the time. “The doctors said that it was a nasty fall, but I was lucky,” she fibbed, fluttering her lashes. I noticed that she was wearing mild makeup as well. “I guess the Moon Goddess truly blessed me to be beside you that I get to live another day by your side. If it was not the case…I would have been…” her voice trailed off. She tried to sniffle, fighting to squeeze out a drop of tear to help her cause but I quickly steered away from the topic. I was in no mood to indulge m
LANDONElea was sleeping, curled into herself on the cold, unforgiving concrete that had not seen sunlight for years. Beside her, the empty plate of food was abandoned. The cleaner has not yet arrived to collect. Maximus told me that he had issued directions to unbind her hands because Elea was too proud to eat off the plate. And I did not object, knowing she would at least eat something. Humiliating her or making her suffer was not my intention, but a show I had to put up with so that the pack would at least consider that I had been hard on her. I could not be seen or taken as a leader who was too weak, too smitten by a female even though I was affected by her in more ways than one, but it was a war within myself. Ravena and her asshole brother had already conjured a storm I‘d have to deal with, and if I did not act judiciously, it would cost me. There was so much at stake for me that I had barely slept for an even hour for the past few days, not to mention that little boy who was
MAXIMUSLandon and I were in his office, torn to bits about the latest incident of Ravena being pushed off down the staircase and hurting herself. But it was not just us, but her equally annoying brother who graced us with his presence, pacing across the Italian marble we paid for.“How could you let this happen to my sister, Alpha Landon?” He asked, theatrical and useless, and I failed to fathom why we were entertaining him in the first place. “No need to be dramatic, Ryker,” Landon said, leaning against his chair while his fingers mindlessly tapped on the rim of the glass filled with whiskey. I was on my fourth drink, while he still lingered with his first, and it showed how distraught my brother was from inside. And Ryker’s presence did not pacify it at all. “Your sister is well and recovered. The doctors said that though it was a great fall, she remained miraculously unhurt and they would discharge her in a day,” I answered, finishing the fourth drink. “That is not my point!”