Nox POV Before I could stop myself, I snarled back at Conan, advancing to attack. He was ready for me when I pounced, but he was not quite as strong as me. 'Back inside, Luna,' he groaned. I pinned him to the ground with my claws. 'Please! Go back inside,' he begged his Luna. With his words and manner, it occured to me that he was protecting his Luna from me. He was protecting my mate? And willing to die for her, too. I hated and respected him deeply for this. I began to release him as Keira rushed towards us, barking, "You let him go this instant!" 'I mean no harm,' I linked her. The hate I felt for her Gamma was because she was MY mate. It was MY sole role to make sure no harm came near her. But she wouldn't let me near her, yet she accepted his protection? The fact that it was his job did not lessen my irritation one bit. 'Luna, get back!' He urged her while attempting another attack. I was swift. Before he knew it, I had his neck beneath my paws with cla
Keira POVThe brief encounter with Nox in the woods had my blood boiling. The feelings that he evoked in me were totally uncalled for. Fated or not, he was my enemy. It made me so angry with myself that I was fiercely attracted to him. It made physically sick of everything and everyone. The innocence and desperation that I saw in his eyes tugged at my heart and made me more furious. The guy was just like Liam. The latter had feigned innocence too when I caught him with another woman's g-string. I guessed all males were the same. They were all full of lies and deceit!I was so done with them. Both Nox and Liam. I marched into the building and straight to Morris Page's quarters. At that moment, I didn't care about my uncle's words to keep things low-key. The lawyer was shocked that I would come to him. He seemed rattled by my presence as he rushed inside to get what I'd come for."You've reprinted it, right? I want two extra copies, at least. Print more and hold on to them for now."
"Babe, are you deaf?" Liam breathed against my ear. "I said I'm done with being patient! You're back in your room. Where you belong. We're back to living as male and WIFE. Now, you and I will do what couples do. We START MAKING BABIES NOW. Like we should!"He rubbed himself against me to emphasize his words.Fear, revulsion and horror nearly overcame as his hardness pressed against me. In our human forms, he was so much stronger than me. He could overpower me and take what he wanted. And I couldn't shift. Not for another two nights.A hesitant knock sounded, saving me from what he was about to do. "Alpha, I...i brought the Luna's things," Yara called softly.He twisted around to look at the door. I gave him a hard shove and got free but felt too weak from all the emotions. When I tried to rise up from the bed, I stumbled and fell back.Meanwhile, Liam stood up and stomped to the door to open it."Go get the rest of her things!" He barked at Yara. "Where's Noel?"Instead of getting ba
Keira POVLiam shut the door and rolled the luggage to the side. He watched me with half lidded eyes as his chest rose and fell. I wondered if he was on some kind of drugs. He seemed like a madman. I unintentionally sniffed and caught the faint smell of alcohol in the air. "What did the old male say to you?" "He wants us to make peace," I replied. "Fighting isn't good for... me. That's what he said." "He's a wise old wolf, Kiki," he approached in casual strides. "You should listen to him."I nodded and quickly turned around to head to the bathroom. "I need to wash up and change," I announced quickly.The thought of what he could do to me in this bedchamber was horrifying.The words, '''Make false peace,''' kept ringing in my head.Uncle and Conan were right, though. I needed to stall Liam's madness. To trick him somehow. But how did I trick him into keeping his hands off me?I regretted coming here to meet him this night. I should not have. What I should have done was avoid him un
Keira POVI had faith in my t-shirt and jeggings and believed they shield me from Liam's overly invasive touch. Ripping them off me would not be too easy if he tried. Thankfully, he didn't join me on the bed. At least, not immediately. I had laid down when he pulled a stool close and deposited himself in front of me. He took a long swig from his bottle of scotch while his eyes stayed fixed on me.Moments went by in silence while he watched me with a look that made him unrecognizable to me. It occurred to me that he'd barely felt recognizable since the day I walked in on him and Belle at the Pine. Then he finally spoke,"Elder Hill was right, you know. I have needs that you can't meet, Kiki. I need your wolf awake when I fück you! But you've never let me have that. Our wolves have never done what couples should do. I'd like to know why? How's that fair to me?" '''False peace false peace false peace.''' I kept singing these words in my head to avoid barking out what I truly wished
Keira POVIn the last two days, I had very little sleep because of Liam. It took hours, but he'd eventually discovered my hiding place the day after. Once he did, he'd banged on the door almost all night.While he was busy with that, I got a hold of Conan using the intercom in the chamber where I locked myself up. I had him sneak into my study to get the spare copies of my divorce papers and Liam's reassignment at the Pine. Conan had held on to it and waited till the coast was clear. As soon as Liam grew bored of sticking near the guest chamber, he'd brought the files to me. It was a few minutes before dawn. I was starting to nod off when his gentle knock, followed by a whisper, woke me up and slipped the papers into the room. Now, it was the morning of the full moon. I was positively sick of being confined to this room. But it was either this or get raped by the soon-to-be ex.I sat on the bed with copies of the documents that Conan had dropped off discreetly. I let the images from
Apparently, Liam felt so much larger than life now. He failed to realize that I could make him suffer immensely in that nine hours when the full moon would be visible in the sky. This was proof that he thought me completely useless and weak. And totally at his mercy.After breakfast, I got my cellphone and turned it on, expecting to see missed calls from Alpha Nox. There was none. I guessed he got my message last time. He truly was keeping his distance until we met tonight. That was a good thing.However, I couldn't stop checking my cellphone and willing him to call. I wanted him to confirm our meeting, which was set for after dark. No call came. Male werewolves went crazy in the full moon. I had never seen a Lycan in the full moon, but I'd heard stories. They were ten times worse, according to the rumors. The day he'd dropped the bomb that we were fated, when I asked us to meet on the full moon, it was because a part of me believed him. Not only that. I wanted it to be true, too.
Nox POVMy feet were as silent as a wild cat approaching its prey. I was close to Spring Moon borders now. My Beta and other warriors lurked all about the woods, waiting for my orders.I stopped and let my senses roam the place first. Keira's warriors were also nearby, but it's not like they were ready for battle. They were merely alert and doing their usual patrol work, making sure there was no trouble near their land. If I moved any closer, one of them could see me. Then I would have to kill him so that he didn't announce my presence.Fortunately, my meeting point with Keira was supposed to be near the borders and not deep inside Spring Moon lands. So I could watch for her from where I stood.I knew what she planned to do. Once she had done it, Theo and my guys would get my signal to invade her pack.She already thought the worst about me. There was no reason not to surpass her expectations tonight. She would learn just how cruel and greedy I could be since that was her impression o
Nox POVMy heart dropped at the news of Liam's escape. My fist tightened on the cellphone. Ramos' breathing was heavy on the other end of the phone. I knew he was anxious about my reaction and enraged by his mistake."He's coming my way, you said. Which way? The Autumn Moon?" "No. Spring!" He replied. My mind immediately went to Keira. She was out in town. Outside the pack, though not too far. I recalled the look on Liam's face when I told him that Aria was awake. A she-wolf whom he would never have the pleasure of knowing even though they were once mated. If he was on his way here, rather than to take revenge on me, which would be foolish and suicidal, he was definitely coming to get Keira. "I don't understand, Ramos," I said. "How's it possible that he escaped? He had two werewolves guarding him." Not to mention that one of them was Ramos Vargas, a warrior of the North. "I am ashamed, Prince Nox," he replied. "We were distracted by those damned rogues. I let my guard down. B
Keira POVI stood a few feet inside the large office, staring at Liam Rudd, my ex-husband. The sound of the door latching behind me was a distant, irrelevant sound at that point. Even the Winter Moon's elder's voice was insignificant. My mind raced with various explanations for Liam's presence."How are you here?" I asked him.The smirk faded from his face and was replaced by a look that made me recall the days before the full moon, when he'd assaulted and tried to force himself on me. I remembered how I'd locked myself up in a guest chamber to avoid him until the full moon. The look on his face now was exactly the same as that time. I grew anxious and quickly looked behind me, only to find the elder standing with his back to the locked door. As if were standing guard."It is so good to see you again, my wife," Liam said. "My Luna. And I'm glad you're happy to see me too."I heard the door give another click sound behind me and turned. The elder was smiling at Liam's sarcastic remark
Nox POVKeira was a hard worker. Efficient, too. She was focusing on her family business and did not seem bothered by my existence. I was highly bothered by her walking around like I didn't exist. I had spent the whole morning shamelessly following her about. I didn't bother peeking this time. There was no point. I'd let everyone know that I was watching and following her, hoping to earn a reaction.But she had not even spared me more than a few seconds' glance. The time flew by too fast, and Theo came to find me, reminding me of the pressing matters that demanded my immediate attention. At the same time, my phone rang. It was Conan, who had just delivered my message to the former members of Spring Moon Elders Council.Zoey Faust, who was not a former member but was grouped with them, had caved first, according to Conan. She was ready to meet me face to face and talk. I decided to return to the pack for now. Keira Gray didn't live at the Pine, I consoled myself. She would return to
Keira POVNox was here. Not just in the building, he was nearby. Every now and then, I would feel him watching me. Today was the first time he came in here since the day he handed the wine company back to me.My morning had been going on smoothly when I sensed him. I'd almost forgotten that my arrest could come at any time. Blame that on the fact that no one stopped me from leaving the building this morning. Not only that, Liam had been taken far away to be punished. All thoughts of my troubles at home were far from my mind. After Nox's cruel words to me, spying on me was the last thing I expected from him. So when I first spotted him, I thought he'd come to kick me out of here. Maybe he would order the warriors around to drag me back to my chamber. Or the prison he'd prepared.I'd spent every single minute of the early hours with the nagging thought that I could be escorted out of here any moment. But until the middle of the day, work continued to go on smoothly despite his watchful
Nox POVI watched as Liam was escorted out of the building. He was not my primary reason for perching by the window of my office. Keira was passing through the foyer with Pavlov behind her. She stopped shot and stiffened as she sensed her ex far behind.The fact that she could feel him like that made my stomach turn. My father resumed talking, making me recall that I had the phone to my ear. I didn't hear the last thing he said."Nox!" He snapped."I'm right here, your majesty," I returned."Good. He is MY prisoner! Now, I know this goes without saying, but Ramos knows your scent quite well. He wouldn't mistake it for another."My fist tightened on the receiver. Apparently, King Cyrus could read minds. He knew what I was thinking. That was no surprise. He was the father who raised me, so I was more like him than anybody else. He knew me like the back of his hand. "If you go after the guy to murder him on the way, Ramos will know it's you no matter how you disguise yourself. And I w
Keira POVI took the hand Ramos Vargas offered and was going to say welcome to my home but caught myself. "Nice to meet you, Mister Vargas," I said instead.Breakfast went on smoothly and seemed to be ending on a good note. No unpleasant talk came up. We were nearly done when the newcomer finally mentioned Liam."I feel like you ought to hear it from me," he said. "Actually, King Cyrus asked me to inform you personally as this is your household. I'm taking Liam Rudd to the Northside. We're leaving in a few minutes."My heart jerked as the news."He confessed to attempting high treason against the Prince," he went on. "That makes him an enemy of the North and the Lycan King's prisoner. Alpha Nox is not allowed to do him any more harm than he already did. The one who gave him the poison will face their punishment here. As soon as we find out who. But I've been asked to bring Liam with me immediately.""I see," I replied lamely, not knowing what else to say.I couldn't stomach the rest
Keira POVThis was the part where I defended myself and screamed that I had no part in Liam's plan. To tell him that I intended to refuse when next the talk came up.But I did not say a word. I would hate to sound defensive. I had every right to try to take back my pack, did I not?Even if I wanted to speak up right now, my throat was closed as a result of the pain caused by his words.I did not expect him not to retaliate the attempted attack. After all, he was a wolf. A mutant, but a wolf nonetheless. Revenge was part of his genetic makeup. Moments after he went out of my private chamber, I stood waiting. Pavlov or another warrior would barge in any moment to drag me to the dungeon below the building. I would be locked up with the others like a common criminal. In a pack where everyone called me Luna.My palms grew sweaty as I waited. Maybe they would take me to the Autumn Moon. I decided that would be better than being imprisoned here Hours or what felt like it went by, and nothi
Keira POVWolfsbane and silver powder. If they found that among Liam's things, then surely, that was the poison he meant to use.Nox was waiting for my response. I searched for the words to dodge his question. When I opened my mouth, all I could say was,"Wolfsbane? Like the poison?""Yeah. Like the poison," Nox's tone was impatient and unrecognizable. I did not want to look at his face, so I kept my eyes on the tiny transparent bag in his hand. Then he closed his fist around it."I asked you a question, Keira," he said. "Or should I call you Kiki? Did you know he had this with him?""I..." My brain wouldn't work because of the way he was looking at me. Then, I grew annoyed at the intimidation. "You broke into our home, Nox!" How I hated the defensiveness in my voice. How I hated the fact that I was losing my composure."OUR home?" His eyes darkened with anger and something else that was too comfusing to name. "You're on his side, are you? In his possession is the same poison that'
Keira POVThe day was going too well it was suspicious considering all I had been through. There was only one thing wrong that balanced out the day. Nox was avoiding me. Avoid was the wrong term. He was staying away from me. After our chat three days ago, I'd considered going to see Liam again, but changed my mind. There was no need for that, and I had no idea what I would say to the ex. We also didn't have anything to talk about.Besides, I was very busy now as the person in charge of the winery. There were matters to address, and I didn't have time to see Liam Rudd and tell him plainly that I would not take part in his plan. He'd walked in on us that night. That should suffice.One pressing matter to deal with right now was Belle Faust and the fact that she was still avoiding me. That was not sustainable as she was in charge of sales and an important member of management.Because of her role in the company, dealing with her could not be helped. In fact, we had to work as closely as