AYLA BAILORE I was in pain all over as I stepped out of the large hall. I had barely touched my dinner, I had no appetite, not with everything that happened today. I had almost died but yet made it to the next round along with eleven other contenders, including, Lara, Maddie, and that bitch, Mia. I left the mansion, taking a stroll. I had no idea how I'd gotten so far to the garden, but somehow I was pleased. The garden was beautiful, whoever was taking care of these flowers was doing a pretty good job. I limped closer to the rose flower, plucking one, ignoring the cut from its thorns. They were beautiful flowers, yet dangerous. Just like the Estonia flower. A cold chill ran down my spine just remembering the nightmares I was trapped in. It was so strange and at the same time felt so real with Esmira there and that dark shadow that swallowed me up. Frankly, I might have been dead if Lucian had come to rescue me a second later. I felt a tightness in my chest at the reminder the K
AYLA BAILORE Lying to the Alpha King was dangerous. It was stupid and the worst mistake ever. But none of that mattered right now, not when my body was so paralyzed with shock and tears filled my eyes as I watched Lucian fight off the rogues. A fear like no other gripped my chest at the thought of something bad happening to him. With another swipe of the King's wolf claw, one of the rogue wolves fell to the ground, just as a few wolves hurried to where we were, and without hesitating, Lucian's wolf tore apart the other wolf, detaching its head from its body, bathing the air and the trees in blood.Immediately the other wolves shifted back to their human form and so did Lucian who took the shorts that were passed to him by one of his warriors.Luckily, I found the strength to get up from the ground, pinning myself to a tree, hoping with all my might I could just vanish, but that was impossible, not with Lucian's dark gaze on me.“Spread out, make a clean sweep of the entire borders.
AYLA BAILORE Eden's fingers wrapped around my arm, as she pulled me down the hallway, the next turn we took led us to my room. She held me tighter, her fingernails digging deep into my flesh as she pushed me hard into my room.I snatched my hand from her rough hold, now rubbing the reddened bruised skin. I turned to face her. “What is the—”Before I could finish my sentence, I felt the harsh impact of her hand against my cheek and with her hand around my throat, she pulled me against the wall.“I know why you're here bitch?” Her hold tightened. “Lucian may not see through you but I can. Whatever voodoo spell you've cast on him ends now,” She leaned closer, while I struggled hard to breathe. Every attempt I made to push her off was futile. “You're nothing but a whore, that I know. Stay clear off Lucian, get out of here while you still can or I'll ruin you in ways you cannot imagine, wolfless runt,”Her last words made me freeze, my eyes went round and my struggle against her ceased as
AYLA BAILORE My heart was beating fast and hard in my chest, and for a split second I was confused, I didn't know what to do. This crystal stone right here could be the solution to all my problems. With it, I could strike a deal with Arnold to get out of the Selection contest, and I could get Emily back and we'd disappear, travel maybe West,, and keep a low profile for the rest of our lives. The thought of that alone was too tempting.I dropped the lamp on the closest table, taking careful strides closer to the glass stand holding the crystal stone. The more I stepped closer, the more I was hit with its ethereal glow. It was beautiful. Almost spellbinding as though it was calling out to me, begging me to reach for it. I felt like I was being compelled, all I wanted to do was feel it in my hands.I lifted my finger, reaching out to it, its glow almost blinding and I could feel its warmth already, but just as I tried to touch it, I realized it was impossible.I tried again, and my hand
AYLA BAILORE I breathed in deeply, then exhaled, trying my hardest to stop this mild trembling in my bones, and the reckless nervousness that was ever growing.“Your majesty,” I curtsied, giving myself just those few seconds to get my act in order. A smile found on my lips as I met Garrick's wide grin. The pool of darkness beneath his eyes taunting me.Garrick moved closer to stand beside Lucian as he greeted Dane, before shifting his dark eyes on me. “And you must be Ayla Bailore, I am Alpha Garrick of the Red River Pack,” He introduced, pulling his hand up for a shake.“It's nice meeting you,” I took his hand, ignoring the slivers of emotions that seeped into my soul. And I hated the familiar sparks and desire that burned through me at the contact. It made me slightly nauseous. As much as I hated the man before me, I couldn't fight the mate bond. “And I shall head back to the mansion, it's getting late and I am already tired as it is,” I sent Dane a smile, before bowing my head be
LUCIAN BLACKTHORN I sighed in frustration, pulling away from Ayla, and keeping enough distance between us, but that alone wasn't enough to get the smell of her delicate blend of vanilla and jasmine with a hint of lemony freshness out of my system. This was torture, and worse, she didn't even feel the bond because she didn't have a wolf. It scared me to think about the possibility that she may never get her wolf, and never realize we were fated for each other. I had asked Triss to look into Ayla's condition and I have yet to get feedback. But until we figured out what was wrong with her wolf, I had to keep her safe and well. I almost lost it a few days ago when she was attacked in my own territory. Ayla could have lost her life if I hadn't gotten to her at the precise moment. She could have been dead.This wasn't the first time unidentified wolves crossed into my territory. They smelled like eastern rogues but belonged to a pack. Someone was controlling them, and there can be only o
AYLA BAILOREIt was evening and we had just five minutes left before the challenge officially began. I escaped the crowd needing some time to myself for a minute.For today's challenge, I was dressed in a dark blue leather vest and a pale blue tank top. Navy leather pants completed the look, along with tall boots that reached my knees and a bow and bag of arrows strapped to my back. Lucian was right, I could already tell today's challenge would be far more dangerous than the last, and I wasn't even sure how I'd survive it.I shut my eyes, leaning deeper into the tree as I took deep breaths to calm myself. My eyes were shut when my next breath carried the musky smell of rosewood. Garrick. My spine stiffened and my eyes snapped open as I felt his heated breath against my skin. In one swift move, he turned me around and pinned me against the tree, pressing his body against mine so that I could feel every inch of him. I felt the sparks I hated so much come alive.“Alone at last, little m
AYLA BAILOREConsciousness tugged at me, but I was too tired to get up. I heard a rustling sound to my left. Someone was here. I opened my eyes, breathing deeply. I was in bed, with familiar white satin sheets in my large room in the royal mansion. For a second my body felt like it'd been run over by a car, then it all came rushing to me. The challenge. Lara being unconscious and then the magical horse.I turned left and found Lucian leaning against the wall close to the window. He wore his usual cold, expressionless mask, just watching me. “How are you feeling?”“Okay, though my head hurts like hell,” I tried to get up when I felt something on my forehead. A stone-like crystal. I was about to ask what it was when I noticed I was wearing a thin black lace slip. “Who changed me?”Lucian stepped forward, brows raised, expression dark but unreadable. “You almost died, and that is the first thing you ask about?” I rose up, leaning against the headrest, inhaling his heady winter forest s
AYLA BAILORE I felt the hairs on my skin stand up in alert as I felt a presence behind me. I didn't need to move my head to realize who that was; my body always seemed to recognize him. "Is there any progress yet?" Killian asked. I turned to my side, my eyes dwelling on his godlike body. His piercing stare met mine. I shook my head, moving my gaze from him to the witches who were still at work. "No. They just started," I said, feeling his heavy stare on me. I folded my hands around my chest, watching as Valerie brought out a small white orb, and as they kept chanting, the orb kept glowing. It was as if I was lost in whatever the witches were doing. I really didn't notice when Killian moved closer. I turned my gaze to him, sensing a disturbing shift in the air. His amber eyes were foggy; he was being mindlinked. His eyes kept growing deadly. I waited for him to be done, and his amber eyes met mine. "Stay here!" he ordered. "Why? What's happening? " I asked in a rush. His ga
LUCIAN BLACKTHORN “It did, but the Supreme witches’ believe it has resurfaced again, along with the goddess-blessed wolf. “The powerful Moon Wolf,” I picked up some of the papers given by the witches and handed it over to Ayla. I honestly couldn't believe it but last night the Grishan witches had attacked the Supreme Fortress in search of the moonstone. They had come in large numbers, but were only able to tear down the fir.st line of enchantments and spells protecting the fortress. It had alerted the Frangilla and the other Supreme head witches, so they were able to respond quickly and wiped out the "The pack is under another attack." Killian was quick to speak, his eyes holding a cautious fear. "It's the Dark Circle. They are here for the stone," "The stone?" I repeated, my eyes traveling to the witches. I didn't know every detail of it, but I'm aware the Dark Circle is desperate to have the phoenix stone. They want all four for some reason, and so far they only have two. Ki
AYLA BAILORE I couldn't believe my eyes. Nor could I recognize the anger beating through me. I crossed over her dress, heading to the bathroom door when Lucian's angry growl rippled through the bathroom. “Get the fuck out, Serena,”I stopped instantly, impaled by another wave of shock. She was Serena. His Serena. The door suddenly burst open and a woman with black hair, and big brown eyes, in nothing but her undies scampered out of the bathroom. Fear imprinted in every inch of her face, one of her hands holding her neck as she rushed out. She stopped when she noticed me, the shock was only briefly before she snatched her dress from the floor and I noticed the burn of a handprint around her neck.Another growl rippled from the bathroom, and the door slammed shut, making her body tremble and she hurried with haste out of the room.What the hell was going on?I hurried closer, at the shattering sound of glass coming from the bathroom. “Lucian?” I tried the door but it was locked. Anothe
AYLA BAILORE I couldn't sleep the remainder of the night, I kept turning and tossing on the massive king-sized bed until the morning light soared in. Lucian had left with Soren last night and hadn't returned. It was still so early but I got out of bed and showered. I picked one of the dresses from the walk-in closet to wear and it was my exact size. I left my room and took the stairs. Lucian's mansion was huge. And it wasn't like the typical Packhouse I was accustomed to. The only people I'd seen so far were the helpers, cleaning around. Thankfully some didn't know who I was, despite the curious stares and whispers that kept coming my way. My throat felt awfully dry, so I looked around for the kitchen.“Good morning,” I said to the group of helpers that were bustling around in the kitchen, some cleaning while the rest were cooking.“Morning,” One of them replied, as she wiped the counter, her attention just like the others was on the young girl chopping some vegetables.“So did you
AYLA BAILOREI had packed just a few things I'd initially come with into small luggage that came to inform me I'd be moving into the pack tonight. King orders. Willow had told me Lucian spent more of his time at the pack than in the palace. I couldn't say, I wasn't ecstatic, or I hadn't been expecting that. I leaned forward on my leather seat as the car sped through the road in-between the woods. No doubt the same wood Emily's scarf and blood were found.“Ayla, are you okay?” I felt Marilyn's hand on me, as the car pulled up in front of a massive black gate. I nodded, keeping my eyes on the figures sitting on top of the walls, and huge wolves at either side of the gates.One of the big bulky guys jumped down with ease from the gate, his chest was bare but at least he was wearing some shorts. He approached the car, as the driver rolled down the windows.“Marilyn?” He called the woman sitting next to me. “This is odd. Why are you coming through the northern borders?”Marilyn rolled her
AYLA BAILOREInstinctively, I rose up slowly from my chair. My gaze was still locked on Lucian, as his was on me. I had no inkling as to what was going on beneath that black storm that swirled in his eyes. He took a step forward, but Dane appeared from his side, stopping him. Holding him back. For the first time in my life, I wished I had heightened hearing like the others. I was desperate to know what Dane was whispering to Lucian above the music with his eyes still stuck on me. His gaze wanted to kill. My heart was drumming hard in my chest, and slowly his eyes shifted back to Arnold who I'd forgotten was still standing next to me. Without saying a word, Lucian stormed away.Something in my gut told me to quietly stay put. I'd never seen that kind of look in Lucian's eyes. The dark storm that brewed at the back of his eyes, the gaze that wanted to kill, and his anger that had licked the surface of my skin and almost burned me. Strangely, it didn't just confuse me, it affected me so
AYLA BAILORE “What?” I blurted out in a whisper, almost frightened at the way Lucian's voice had sounded in my mind. “What about my eyes?” I cocked my head to one side.His brows furrowed in deep thought, and I almost urged him to say something when the crowd suddenly burst into cheers and applause.“We'll talk later,” Lucian's voice penetrated my mind. I bit my lips in an attempt to stop the abrupt gasp that almost left my lips at the sparks that zapped across my skin as Lucian held my hand, turning to the large crowd.It has gotten more intense than I had ever felt. I wasn't sure if this was what happened when one took a chosen mate, or if it was because of the fact that despite not officially bearing his mark yet, Lucian and I had in every way marked each other by drinking each other's blood. That must be the reason I felt so intensely for him now, other than the usual attraction I'd always felt. This was dangerous.I looked away from his penetrating eyes, which attempted to pry i
AYLA BAILORE As I walked through the portal at the northern gates, I could already feel the shift in the air. Something was wrong. And it felt really bad. Three warriors were waiting for me there, along with a witch who was usually with Triss and also Dane. “Ayla!” He rushed over to me, as soon as he saw me, surprising me by pulling me in for a hug. He let out a quick sigh scanning my body for any injuries before glancing back at the portal gates. His sharp questioning eyes returned back to me. “Where's Lucian?” I shook my head. “He left me at the northern gates. I think he went back to hunt the wolves who had somehow gotten into the woods,” “Fuck!” Dane cursed under his breath. “I'm glad you're at least fine,” I looked around, the place was almost in a chaotic mess. “What happened here?” Dane held my arm, leading me away. “Some packs and a few kingdoms were attacked in the West. Some of its survivors fled here seeking asylum,” He informed me, and my lips parted in shock. Dane l
AYLA BAILORE I groaned, almost in satisfaction, from the tingling flutters that ignited throughout my body. It was dark. I could hear owls hooting and the faint sounds of distant howls. I snuggled deeper into the warm, soothing feeling that blanketed my body. I wanted to stay like this forever, but a small whisper at the back of my mind kept telling me to wake up.I was surrounded by darkness the instant I snapped my eyes open. I could barely see a thing, and couldn't move either. It took me a second before the last few hours kept rushing back. The grey creatures. The fight… and I fell.I attempted to jerk up but that was impossible. I was being cocooned in a tight, warm grip by Lucian. He had me pressed into his chest and arms wrapped protectively around me. He must have jumped after me when I fell off the cliff.“Lucian…” I called, but there was no response. No movement. My chest constricted in fear when I couldn't hear his heartbeat.With great effort, I untangled myself from his