Before the Attack Landon's POVI sit in the lone comfort of my chamber, a glass of untouched red wine in my hand. I stare at it, the crimson liquid a reflection of my swirling thoughts. The conversation with Kaden echoes in my mind, haunting me with his words."I found our mate," Kaden had declared, his words cutting like a double-edged sword. Anger shadowed his face when he spoke next. "But she does not want to see you. Not after what you did to her. You took her when she was drunk that night without consent. She wants nothing to do with you."Kaden’s words pierce like a poisoned dagger through my heart. This is a painful checkmark from a couple of days ago. I wish he was wrong, but I cannot deny the truth in his words, the guilt and regret gnawing at me. I took advantage of Liliana that night, and it is a mistake I cannot undo.The untouched wine in my glass mocks me, a symbol of the bitterness that fills my soul. I had hoped for a chance at redemption, a way to make amends for my
Landon’s POV My gaze travels from the wrought iron gates where Marcus has run off to the man who pops his head out of the Tesla. Evander Frost - cousin, friend, ally but most of all, the man who has been destined to also share our mate. What is he doing here? Evander hangs an elbow outside the window of his car and he tips his head at me. Unlike the thunderstorm that colours my hair, Evander’s is black as midnight, sharply groomed and neatly slicked back. Tall and slender with sharp, twinkling blue eyes, Evander looks like a graceful prince on a fun day out. The Goddess has been kind to him, he does not need to shoulder the burden of being an Alpha. “Aren’t you glad to see me?” he asks. His smile is warm, a glimmer of casualness in this otherwise strained situation. The air is heavy with tension but I manage a civil greeting for my cousin. "Yes," I say, nodding slightly. It is an honest answer. "It's been a while." His smile widens "It certainly has," he replies. His sudden appe
Liliana’s POVThere is a heaviness. At first, it is everywhere, and my mind keeps telling me to go back to sleep, to lay in the comfort of slumber but I struggle to stir. What if the Black Wolf comes back? What if….wait.My senses gradually return and I finally manage to crack open my eyes by just a fraction. I frown in confusion, I am in Kaden's bed.My heart skips a beat.Why? Because this time, the bed is neither empty nor cold. This time, Kaden is here, seated by my side, and his worried expression does not go unnoticed. This, my eyes catch first as they slowly open wider.His eyes are closed and his brows are furrowed and his lips downturned with worry. Funny how I never noticed it, but even when he frowns, his face is still very attractive. My gaze trails down to my hand and a tiny smile fleets across my lips.Kaden is holding my hand!It is a simple gesture but even this tiny act sends a warm, tingling feeling all over me. Still, his touch sends a ripple of confusion through me
Liliana’s POV“Liliana, I’d like for us to have our lessons in the library, there are text books I'd like you to be familiar with," Professor Evander Frost gives me a dimpled smile and begins to lead the way.I look down at my knotted fingers. Kaden had left us moments ago claiming he had some paperwork to do but I felt like he needed an excuse to leave this space. I cannot quite fathom what he was thinking. Did he sense it? Did he know how I feel? Or was I over thinking things?‘Something's not right, this isn’t right,’ Cathy keeps mumbling.‘Shut up,’ I tell her.‘What do you mean shut up? You can feel the mate bond too!’“Liliana?” the professor calls my name and my heart takes a leap. As do I. I practically jump in my spot.“What?” I snap. Oh shit, I did not mean to sound so snappy. I quickly clear my throat and force a smile. “I mean, yes, professor?”“Just call me Evander.” His voice is rich and smooth, like milk overflowing with honey.“Evander,” I whisper his name. Three words
Liliana’s POVI look across the bathroom and there Kaden stands. His gaze is dark and his gaze is fixed onto my naked body just where my hands are.Oh shit. I flush scarlet and quickly shut my eyes, lowering myself into the water, just deep enough for my breasts to be covered. I can feel the heat from his stare even with my eyes shut.I hear his footsteps but he is not coming towards me. Oh, is he leaving? I do not know whether to feel relieved or disappointed. I crack open an eyelid to see him walk towards the bathroom door. He shuts it…and he locks it. Oh my.I close my eyes once more and sink my body further into the water.“Turn and face me, Liliana,” Kaden orders. Nervous, I do as I am told and he begins to undress before my very eyes. There is a wicked grin on his face when he sees my reaction.“Do you like what you see, L
Liliana’s POVI stand amongst a sea of pack members dressed in various shades of grey and black. Both the Azure pack, dad’s lineage, and the Woodlands pack from mom’s family, have come to pay their last respects. The air is heavy with grief and the sky mourns with us in ash grey. Everyone stands in mournful silence as mom’s casket is lowered into the ground.She was the daughter of the Alpha of the Woodlands pack and was admired by everyone who knew her. Her strength, compassion, and wisdom were qualities that earned her the highest regard.As I look around at the tear-streaked faces, I see the genuine grief etched into every pair of eyes, knowing that they were not going to meet this beautiful soul again.An elder from the Woodlands pack steps forward, his voice trembling with emotion. "She was a leader who united us all, a daughter of the Woodlands who brought honour to our name. Her legacy will foreve
Liliana’s POV"Who's there?!" dad bellows in a hopeless drunken stupor, his voice laced with confusion and anger.Dad…I stand, stupefied and in shock as he staggers over step by step, his stumpy movements heavy and unsteady. But I cannot move. It is as if my whole body has been paralysed.I do not understand. How can this be? How can dad betray mom like that? And isn’t this incest?!I taste blood in my mouth and realize that I have bitten my tongue in a bid to silence myself.I watch in horror as dad moves from the corner of the room and trips over my mum's clothes pile. He falls face down with a sickening thud.“Fuck….” A burp which follows a guttural groan escapes his lips. I do not know how much he drank but the alcohol has left him disoriented and vulnerable, making it impossible fo
Liliana’s POVIt is Ava.Her strong grip keeps me from lashing out in anger, and she quietly pulls me away from the confrontation I was about to put up. She drags me to the lakeside far away from the town hall.“Let go of me!” I growl and shake off her hands when we are a safe distance away from anyone’s ears. I am consumed by a desire for blood."Liliana, revenge won't change what has happened. It will only put you in danger," Ava's voice is hushed but calm and steady. She shakes her head.“What do you know?” I gnash my teeth at her. “Do you even know what happened? Do you even realize what they did?! I want to tear into the deceitful perpetrators and make them pay for the betrayal. I want them to burn!”“Liliana, please. Hear me out.”I do not