LOGINI pried my eyes open to the slanting rays of sun slipping through the window. I stirred a bit as I felt frail fingers running through my cornrows.
I wanted to move. I wanted to look up and stare at her. I wanted to see her touch my hair. But, I was afraid I'd scare her by moving. So, I stayed in the same position. My head was still laying on my hand that was linked with hers. "Are you awake?" Her small voice filled my ears, and I shuddered from the impact it caused. She pulled her hand from my hair and shifted a bit. "You don't have to pretend. I know you are awake." Well, damn! There goes my pretense. I sighed as I looked up at her and found myself mesmerized by how deep her hazel eyes were. I remembered how gorgeous they were. And I found myself melting in the look. Her curly hair now frames the sides of her face and the urge to run my fingers through was overwhelming, but I held back. She slipped her hand that I had been holding away and moved back a bit on the bed. "How long do you think that you'll continue sitting there and staring at me? Is there something on my face?" "No, no. Absolutely not. You look gorgeous." She averted her gaze quickly, before she brought her hands to her cheeks for a moment. I smiled, unable to resist her reaction to my words. "Would you like to eat something? I have fruits here and some..." "You said you'd take me home." She cut me off, staring intently at me. "You said you'd take me home as soon as I wake up." She added. "I..." "You promised." Did I? I wondered as I continued staring at her. "Where is Kosey? You can go and he can take me home. I..." "You are my mate, not Kosey's!" I snarled as I stood up from my chair. "Why would you want Kosey when I'm here?" Silence stretched for a moment before I realized what I had done. Anisa blinked once, then twice, and again without saying a single word. The look that crossed her face and the look in her eyes told me everything I needed to know. She doesn't know if she can trust me or not. "Arwa..." "I hate people that go back on their promises. And you look like one. I don't know what a mate is and I certainly do not care. But, I want you to know that I belong to no one. I am my own individual!" She said softly, yet I could hear the underlying authoritative aura in her voice. I figured coming clean was the best thing to do. Anisa was obviously not from here or any place closer. I don't know where she came from and I honestly don't care. The only thing that matters is gaining her trust. I need to build her trust in me as I find out where she came from. And have her accept me. "Look, Arwa. I am so sorry for yelling..." "It seems like you are good at apologizing, but always mess up and do things worse than you did before." She cut me off, her voice a bit harsher. I wanted to argue. To try explaining myself. But I was never good at that. So, I simply do what I think is best at that moment. I straightened up, putting on my courteous face, and said: "I don't know if you know about werewolves seeing as you are a human, but I am a werewolf and you, Anisa, are my mate."No one moved. Not fast enough and Lyall surged forward, my power exploding with him as I yelled, “NOW!” They all scrambled to their feet, one by one, almost tripping over themselves as greetings fell from their lips. Anisa just sat there, silent as she watched them. Her hands folded neatly on her lap. Her hair was pulled into an up do and stubborn tendrils that escaped from the bun framing her face. ‘Look at that long graceful neck,’ Lyall murmured like he was in a trance-like state. ‘So beautiful and exquisite. I can’t believe she’s ours.’ ‘Quit ogling her,’ I told him, but I couldn’t help the smile that was tugging at the corner of my lips. He was right. Anisa was breathtaking. “Forgive us for our…lack of trust, for the lack of better words,” Lady Hattie smiled. “Welcome to the pack, luna.”Anisa smiled, but it looked forced, because I knew what a real smile looked like on that face. She simply waved her hand at them, refusing to acknowledge their greeting or return it. My wom
ELIAN.“Does anybody still have an issue with my daughter-in-law?” Umma’s voice wasn’t loud, but it rolled through the chamber and made everyone hold their breaths in quiet reverence. She didn’t blink. She didn’t need to.She sat on her throne, which was three steps below ours. Our throne was intertwined, two thrones binded in one. The throne was golden, adorned with little dots and cravings. It was covered with red cushions, a howling wolf at the curved end of the throne and a string of twinkling stars hung around.I felt Anisa’s hand in mine tremble once before she steadied herself. I could see how badly she was trying to hold her chin high, and I hated that she even had to. She was married to the alpha of Ethuria and she had every right to exist just as much as everyone else. But I also knew she wasn’t like everyone else because she was human. My human bride. And that alone, made her different. More so because the elders still don't seem like the sight of her sitting beside me. O
But I didn't move an inch, not when she was staring at me that way, with those deep hazel eyes that seemed to unravel every inch of me. The mole on her jaw. Her wide hips. Her small, yet cute, beautiful face. Everything about this woman, my wife, screams PERFECTION!‘Stop telling me what to do!’ I hissed back.‘Oh, you don't like it? Well that is exactly what you've been doing to me since I got you!’I rolled my eyes. ‘Stop being a cry baby,’ I wagged my tail from side to side when she reached for my ears again and scratched.I purred, closing my eyes and sinking deeper into her touch. The sensation only heightened my nerves and I could feel the sudden rush of something, like an emotion. Like a breath. Like the flow of water into a dry well.Then a new heartbeat, a soft thudding against mine, as though being pressed to me. How?She inched closer, cradling my face with one hand while the other continued it's ministrations on my ea
LYALL. “Oh God!” Anisa gasped, straggling back and falling on her back, eyes wide. “He's so big, Milena!” My chest puffed with a sense of pride at her reaction. Of course I was big, what did she expect? Being in the confines of Elian's mind felt like a prison! That was the first thought that crossed my mind as I inhaled the air in the room, raised my head and howled at the roof. I needed to get outside. I needed more space. More air. I needed nature! ‘She was right about me needing to be outside, because I feel suffocated!’ I channeled down to Elian, shaking my fur. “We need to move outside. Now!” Milena said, ushering me outside. Anisa shuffled around, rushing to drape a shawl over her shoulders before we began walking towards the door. I bumped every table along the way, knocking things down. Because I’m an ALPHA, NOT a pup!
I grabbed my head with both hands, as though that would stop the pain. As though that would miraculously fix it all, then bundled myself on the floor, face tucked into my knees.Lyall’s pacing increased, his deep growls filling my head.“Elian please,” Anisa cried, moving closer. But she didn't move to touch me, and I was grateful for that. I wasn't sure my body would be able to endure her touch, no matter how simple it was.“I understand this is all new for you, but you have to try, Alpha. Now, imagine holding a thread, then slowly letting go, because someone else is holding it from the other side,” Milena said.I tried to do as she said. I tried to picture a thread and let go, but that didn't help. Neither did her idea of imagining two people holding a hand of a child from different ends.“I don't know how to do what you're telling me to, Milena,” I panted, tucking my head deeper into my legs. “None of this is working.”I was s
ELIAN. My eyes felt heavy. Everything felt weighted, stiff and clammy. Like I’d just been lifting rocks or working the fields for days. There was also a dulling ache settling at the back of my head. I tried to pry my eyes open again, but even that was painful. And then, I heard him. I could feel him already prancing in my head, not so patiently waiting for me to wake up. ‘Finally, I thought you were never going to wake up.’ Lyall said, but his voice sounded hoarse. The dull headache suddenly doubled, so much so that I let out a wince and tried to move. But my body was weighed down by something. Or someone. Then everything around me began to spin, despite my eyes being closed. And then I felt it, a force so strong pushing through, as though looking for an escape route. It took me only a moment to realize what was happening. Lyall was forcing a shift. My breath hitched, sweat break







