LUCAS'S POVI doubt we could have ignored it for too long. Not even the truth was glaring to us.To me.I knew they had figured it out already but we kept prancing about the matter without broaching it. Not today. Not after what I had just heard again.As I walked through the hallway that morning that led up to my study, my mind was a spiraling mess. It had been a week since I figured it outㅡ A week of avoiding her and hoping that I could hold out the desire I felt for her because it couldn't be.As soon as I got to my study, I pushed it open and walked in, pausing when I saw Logan toying with the books on my table but he stopped as soon as he saw me and he crossed his arms.“You're late. You asked me to meet you here 20 minutes ago” He pointed out, his face blank.I nodded and pulled off my jacket, draping it over the arm of my chair before I settled heavily on it. “Yeah, something came up” I muttered, burying my face in my hands.He didn't seem all that interested in knowing what ha
ASTRID'S POV I was well aware of Landon behind me, his boots scraping against the floor as he shuffled up the stairway with me.My heart was thudding in my chest and I refused to acknowledge anything between us. “You don't have to follow me here, you know” I repeated for what had to be the umpteenth time as I neared the hallway to Ren's study.I don't know why I was mildly uncomfortable with Landon's presence but my guess was that meeting your ex mate after finding out this person was your current mate had a way of putting someone on edge.“I know I didn't have to but I wanted to” He answered simply behind me.With a deep breath as the guards to Ren's study came into view, I walked forward with Landon still behind me and nodded to the guards. “Is the Alpha in?” I asked.The guards didn't spare me much of a glance of slightly bowing, they focused on Landon and bowed deeper. “The Alpha is in his study” They answered swiftly. “We'll go check to make sure you can come in” One of them kno
LANDON’S POVI was tense.My leg bounced against the hardwood floor in a restless rhythm as I stared at the far wall of Lucas’ study, my expression blank but my emotions were a jumbled mess. Logan sat across from me, arms folded, eyes trained on the ceiling like he was trying to make sense of something that disturbed him. For the first time in a while, he looked... worried. Not the usual calculated, cold worry Logan was known for. This was real type of worry and I found myself glancing at him sometimes.My own mind wasn’t exactly peaceful either.“You going to tell them or not?” my wolf growled inside me. His voice was low and gruff. “They deserve to know.”I ignored him, clenching my fists and leaning forward. My hand brushed against the hilt of my sword resting beside me. Polished steel. Familiar weight. Sharp edge that inflicted pain and brought death to many. It always brought me some semblance of calm. I unsheathed it slightly, letting the faint glint of the blade catch the dim
ASTRID'S POVOnce more, it felt like the air had been knocked out of my windpipes and my vision began to swim.I clutched my head suddenly, feeling very faint but he reached out and quickly steadied meㅡ his touch felt hot, scalding and I instantly felt at ease.“Are you okay?” He asked me, his tone calm but worried.He was never worried about me but right now, he seemed worried. That made my heart skip a beat.Damn this stupid mate bond. This had to be a mistake. Lucas and now Logan? Who next? Landon?That'd be laughable. It wasn't going to happen.Turns out i was wrong for as just immediately, Landon appeared with a scowl on his face as he tucked his knife back into it's scabbard, the atmosphere shifting at his arrival.“Lucas has business with the Alpha, it seems. What are you both talking about?” Landon said, looking between the both of us.My lips parted but no words came out because Maria whispered the same word that has been plaguing me for an hour now.Mate.This had to be some
ASTRID’S POVHe was still rambling on about something but my mind was far, far away from his words.Oh no.No. No. No.That couldn’t be what I heard. That couldn’t be what Maria whispered. Not now. Not with him.Lucas's lips were moving, his voice calm and steady, but all I could hear was Maria repeating that one word in my head, like a mantra and I could stop playing it over in my head like a broken record.Mate.That word changed everything. It felt like things between us had changed. It made the space around him feel different—warmer, yet I couldn't stop the shock that coursed through me. My palms began to sweat. I couldn’t look away from him, and yet I desperately wanted to.“…Astrid?” he asked softly, interrupting my spiraling thoughts.I blinked, trying to ground myself, and met his gaze.“You okay? You looked like you saw a ghost,” he said with a chuckle, but his eyes were laced with concern.Should I tell him? Should I say something?My lips parted slightly, but no words came
ASTRID'S POVI tossed and turned in bed, my body drenched in cold sweat.I willed myself to move but I couldn't. Oh no, not again. My body seemed to have a mind of it's own as it refused my efforts to wake up.Sounds blended into a cacophony in my head and colors danced beyond my vision. I screamed but no sound came out, my lips barely trembledㅡ it was as though I wasn't in control of my body.Thenㅡ the one voice that seemed to mock me each time I had a nightmare. Close but not close enough. The person was always there, watching but never approaching and never showing themselves.“Astrid…” the voice was soft and as always…familiar.Immediately, my eyes fluttered open and I struggled to adjust to the sharp light coming from the open curtains.Shit.I struggled to sit up, trying to catch my breath as I tried to ignore the ache in my head. Looking around, I realized that I was now in my room.What happened last night?“You passed out cold in Lucas's hands. We should go see them again” Ma
ASTRID'S POVIt suddenly became hard to breathe and my legs had begun to wobble. I hadn't seen her for years. Ever since I was just a little kid, she had made it her job to bully me due to the fact that I was the weakest member of the pack. Soon after my mum died, Sabrina was picked by the Luna of the pack who was still alive at that time to become her personal maidㅡ I felt happy that I didn't have to see her face again, I was a bit sad that this meant that she would have a better life but at least she wouldn't have to torture me again.When the Luna died and Alpha Williams stepped down for Ren to take over, I didn't hear from her again but I knew that she was still in the palace but now as a higher maid. Ren used to give me information about her but I never wanted to see her again.Until now.“What do you want?” I croaked.She placed her hands on her hips and I used the opportunity to look at herㅡ really look at her.She was almost the same. Full black silky hair, blue eyes just like
ASTRID'S POVI stumbled back at the sudden crash of his lips against mine. It was everything like I knewㅡ everything felt familiarㅡ the sudden way my heart started to race. The way his hands reached up into my hair, gripping it lightly but not enough to hurt me. The way his lips seemed to mould perfectly against mine, his tongue slightly tracing my lips and his hot breath fanning across my skin.It all felt familiar. All except oneㅡ I didn't feel anything. The slight spark or the violent lurching of my stomach whenever we kissed.It felt…empty but I couldn't push him away, my hands fell slack by my sides.He didn't seem to notice my hesitation as he backed me against the wall, his hands reaching for the hem of my shirt and in that moment, it felt like I had come to my senses by how suddenly I gripped his hand, lightly pushing him away with my other hand.“Ren..” My voice was a tentative whisper as I tried to catch my breath, my heart pounding violently in my ribcage.He seemed confuse
ASTRID'S POVAbout 30 minutes later of pacing about Lucas's study, he and Landon walked into the room, now wearing clean clothes with their hair still slightly damp from the shower.Landon crossed the room in a few steps and collapsed on the couch beside Logan who had been silent despite being in here with me for the last 30 minutes.“Okay…” Lucas clapped his hand, a small smile on his face.I stopped pacing about and crossed my arms. “Now, where were we? Oh right, the part where I said no”Landon raised a hand almost immediately and Lucas turned to him. “Yes, Landon?”“I say we give her a little shaking” He grinned slightly, his gaze fixed on me.My lips parted slightly in shock and I pointed a finger at him. “Did you just suggest threatening me?” My eyes were wide.He shrugged and looked at Lucas. “C'mon…”Lucas palmed himself across the face and shook his head. “Stop scaring her.” He chided then turned to me. “Look, Astrid. We can get what you want but you'll have to get us what we