Adler’s POV Bond manipulation was a mentally and emotionally manipulation to make your partner submit to whatever you wanted them to do. It was like a compulsion, only it wasn’t by force but by persuation. But of course, it had to meet the requirements needed to work. First, the other party had to trust you. The deeper the trust, the better the manipulation. Second, an intimate interaction that would stimulate them. Third, the actual manipulation. Method may differ, depending on the wolf, and its intention. Mine happened to be on making Avalynn think that marriage wasn’t a dead-end but an escape. She probably didn’t realize that I was manipulating her, but that didn’t matter. At this rate, we’ll just end up breaking ourselves if we try any more staunt. The most wise thing to do was ride the marriage, and get what we could get out of it. Afterall, my father had decided, and we both knew he’ll stop at nothing to make it happen. The marriage was our dead-end, and it was our reality.
“You’re so hard to find these days.” Jade shook her head. “You’re everywhere but in this house.” Indeed. Just sitting in this couch made me want to recall the last time I was here. Recently, I couldn’t even last a day in this house. I was always out. Either for a new trouble, or for Conrad, whom I left hanging because of Alice disappearance. I was all over the place. Crazily enough, I was with Adler the past days and our relationship with each other just mysteriously got better. Who would’ve believe that? “I know,” I replied in a weary tone before I rested the back of my head to the headrest of the sofa. I turned my head to her, and she looked at me like she was still figuring me out. Heh. Goodluck with that. “You probably won’t believe me, but I learned something.” “What?” Jade emptied her glass, before she put it down to walk towards me. “Conrad’s in love with you?” “Yes,” I raised my brows. “But not that.” “I saw you with Adler, twice in a row. Are you in a relatioship?” She s
The marriage was hard to believe, I admit. Beside the fact that Adler and I were mortal enemies, Jade and I knew long before neither of us would rather die than have any sort of connection to him. We hated him. I hated him. He was a fucktard. An asshole whose pride was coming from his connection. He was the Alpha’s son, so we always believed he put himself in a pedestal because he was untouchable. It was disgusting, actually. More so after the Alpha released a statement about Adler inheriting his position. I cried the very same day thinking life was unfair and cruel. Adler was my bully, and after that announcement, I was certain Adler would become more bad and hateful. I loathed, and feared him more. Now, thinking back to all of that, it made me wonder how the fuck I get here. It felt like it was the day before my birthday where his fanatic friends threw me to the water to make fun of me. But now I only have two months before we start preparing for our marriage. How unpredictable co
I wasn’t dumb. Or maybe I was, but not enough to not know it wasn’t Conrad. Because who else could it be? I checked my messages, and saw that it wasn’t his first and last message. He’ve sent me a hundred, since the time I lost Alice. I was pre-occupied to even check it then. I didn’t know. I read it all, one by one. There were imissyous. Questions about what I was doing, when I was going to visit next, and why I wasn’t answering the calls. I’ve realized how long it took me to know that he was indeed waiting for me. It felt good… strangely. I comfortably sat in my bed and typed for a reply. To : Unknown Number Tomorrow, Conrad. I’m sorry, I wasn’t able to respond to your texts. I breathed hard, and sent it. If it was that easy to tell him everything, I would. I wouldn’t have to wait and settle things on my side, and just flood him with all that ahd happened to me the past days. But it wasn’t. It might be even easier to touch the sky with these hands than telling him I was gettin
The sorrys came out like water from the sink the moment I felt guiltiness that triggered it. Conrad lowered himself to meet my gaze because I was taking my time avoiding his eyes. I felt horrible. The way his hands were scared and careful to hold me after I consistently neglected him for days felt like a needle prickling my heart. How could I have thought of fooling him when all he’s done since the moment we met was be nice and genuine to me? How could I have thought of lying to him, two-timing him, thinking it was okay because I would eventually leave Adler to freely love him? I was hypocrite. Selfish. Liar. “I want to understand, Avalynn…” His voice was soft, almost as if he didn’t want to frighten me by asking. He used his other free hand to hold my left cheek. “What are you sorry for? What took you so long? Did your pack finally find out about us? Did they ask you to…” “No…” I bit my lower lip. One more word and I was sure that my voice would break from emotions I was trying so
“I have to make sure you wouldn’t leave me hanging like that again.” I opened my mouth to say something in return, but the second it sank in to me, my lips pursed. I was ready to argue with him because what he wanted to do was something I cannot allow. But I guess that just meant I really scared him. No. That should meant he was serious about me. Honestly, if we were to switch position, I would’ve done the same thing. I also would’ve felt scared to the point that I’d be desperate to make sure it wouldn’t happen again. It touched my heart, and squeezed it the same time. He was harsh to do this to me— but I was cruel, to have force him to resort to this kind of option. I sighed, the muscles of my face relaxing. How was avoiding another mistake would make my situation any better? It was already far beyond saving, anyway. There wasn’t anything else to lose, but him. “Get these,” I lifted the plastic bags I was holding. “Is there still something? Where’s the next stop?” He looked at m
“Conrad…” I called his name, unable to answer him directly. My tone was dipped with unsureness. I was embarassed. But most of all, afraid. I haven’t thought of a way to explain things easier—not like it was even in my plan yet to let him know. Since the moment I decided to drop everything and just enjoy every bit of moment with him, I stopped giving everything a thought. That very question included. Why was I out of reach? If I say I lost my wolf because I had been in close contact with him, would he believe me? If I say I had two mates since the very beginning, and that Adler and I had always been enemies, would he look at me the same? If I say I was a possible half-wolf and half-lycan, would he accept me? “I still don’t understand what it is that makes you look like you’re afraid of opening your lips…” he said before he looked away. “I’ve been holding back not to ask but you make me so damn eager.” “Whatever that happened, it wasn’t because I chose to,” I swallowed hard. “Of cou
My eyes widened a bit in surprise. The Alpha invited my brother? When was that? Why? Didn’t we agree on a two months grace period before the marriage preparation? I felt angst rushing through my core. With that, I stood up from the bed to get to the closet where I put the phone. It was still there, but opened, as Conrad said. When I swiped it, the screen was on Jade’s message where she was telling me to go home, written in all capital letters. I started to tremble then. I went through the read messages, with my heartbeat beating like it would burst out of my chest. I knew that I’d be dead if Conrad found out. Added by what I just heard from Conrad, if both of what I was assuming was real, then I’d be fucked. “I only read four of your messages.” I heard Conrad said from behind me. I heard his footsteps next. “I stopped after I read what she said about your brother. I figured I should let you know.” “Was that the reason you wanted me to come back?” I turned to him. “How did you know