Apphia I can't believe my eyes. The bulky man hunting me down that night in the rain is glaring at me from across the road. I recognize him because I've seen him multiple times with Amir. 'The alpha will feel good tonight,' he laughed when I was struck down. What is he doing in the Sapphire royal pack? My heart pounds painfully against my chest, and panic crushes me. My wolf is telling me to calm down, that he can't hurt me, but I can't calm myself now. My body shudders. A harsh reminder of what happened that night rushes to me. My body is trembling. "Nicholas!" I call urgently, tears pool in my eyes. He ends his call and runs to my side. He opens the car door hurriedly and crouches beside me, his hands cupping my head. "Apphia, you're shaking. What is it?" he asks, worry lacing his voice. I point to where I saw that man standing, but he's not there anymore, "Someone was watching me. He was there, Nicholas. It's one of the men who were hunting me down the night of the atta
Apphia I glare at the brunette who hugged my mate at my Luna ceremony as she approaches me cockily. She has the perfect hourglass figure with big boobs and is wearing a low-cut black dress that shows off her legs. She looks at me like I'm dirt beneath her shoe. I try to remember her name, but it eludes me. She stops and scowls at me once she's within arms' reach. " Afia, is it?" she sneers. " Apphia," I correct, my voice small. She knows my name but is trying to aggravate me. This woman has come to intimidate me. I summon all the courage I require; I refuse to be bullied by her. No more. Those days are gone. " Oh yes," she says, shaking her head. " My alpha's new toy," I scowl, I don't like how she says " My alpha," " I'm not your Alpha's new toy. I'm his mate, his Luna," I retort, my voice leveled. " I would say congratulations and offer my best wishes, but I wouldn't mean it, and I'm not a liar," her piercing brown gaze stares into me. " I don't need either of that from
Apphia "What the fuck are you doing here?" a growl resounds.We both turn to see Lily and Daisy Zhang approaching us. The Ladies look immaculate in their office outfits. Lily crosses her arms against her chest, glaring at the Alpha beside me."Sweet goddess," Maximus sighs, rolling his eyes. "Apphia, why are you with this man?" Lily asks. "He found me at the fountain on his way out, and we just exchanged pleasantries," I say, hoping I don't sound fake. Lily gives me a skeptical stare but doesn't comment any further—instead, Daisy sneers. "Paving his way in her good graces," "Why does he need to?" I ask. "Because he wants your help getting in the alpha council committee," she rolls lovely eyes as though it is common knowledge. Council committe? "Me? I can't do that," I mumble, frowning and glancing at Maximus, but his expression remains impassive. Could it be that he wanted to be my ally because he needed my help with that? " You're Luna of the Sapphire Royal Pack and Future Q
Apphia "S- should I be expecting anything? What should I do?" I ask nervously, blushing deeply. "No, sweetie, trust me when I say your body will know what to do when the time comes. It knows everything," Lily answers. "And you're lucky you're doing it with your mate for the first time. He will be gentle and ensure you're good," Daisy adds. "How old were you when you had sex the first time," "I was fifteen, and it hurt because he was rough," Daisy snarls, scrunching her face, " He didn't even make me come, that idiot," My mood is dampened when I remember my first time if I can call it that. It was painful, too, and I often hear Rory's voice in my ear when he was rapping me. I hear his labored breathing and breathe against my skin. My skin crawls. I breathe in and out silently, purging that awful memory from my mind. Lily squeezes my hand, knowing why my mood has soured. I glance at her, and she shakes her head, silently asking me to expel such thoughts." And you, Lily?" I a
Apphia I yelp. My heart ceases briefly. However, whatever it is, he grabs its neck and stretches out his arm so it doesn't scratch him with its sharp claws. I clamber out of bed and rush to him. " No, stay there, Apphia," he barred his teeth in a low growl. I ignore his command and stand beside him. The creature that almost attacked him is a tiger—a cub, but it's large. We glance at each other, my heart calming now that I know it didn't hurt him. The cub is growling and trying to scratch him weakly this time, as Nicholas has it by its neck. Its gaze snaps to me; mesmerizing large golden eyes stare into mine- into my soul. My heart melts as recognition sets in me. ' it's our friend,' Ziora says. " You're hurting her," I choke. " It wants to attack me," he grits. " It's Shai," I whisper, not taking my eyes off the cub. Nicholas instantly puts her on the floor. The two glare at each other briefly, and then the cub strides toward me; Nicholas grabs my elbow, protective, still
Apphia " I want you, Nicholas," I murmur, warm tingles running down my body. He smiles wickedly at me. I run my thumb over his mouth, and his lips open, taking my thumb in his mouth and sucking it hard, his gaze intently on mine. It's so hot. Nicholas takes me towards the bed and gently puts me in the middle, my back against the fluffy pillows. He kneels before my feet and resumes the kiss. I close my eyes, melting into the kiss. He retreats, gazing at me again in awe. " You're perfection, Apphia," he whispers. My breath is stuck in my throat. I can't take my gaze off him. He's freaking gorgeous! Nicholas' long fingers caress my inner thighs, making me shiver. He is watching me with amusement, enjoying my reactions to him. His fingers go up my thigh and touch my sex over my thong. My heart leaps. His lips quirk into what resembles a smile. He moves my thong aside and skims my clit, massaging it. His gaze is intense on me, hypnotizing me with his orbs. My breath is getting sha
ApphiaWhy hasn't he marked me? I wonder. Is he unsure about me? Does he not want me to feel what he does? I'm prepared to ask him, but Ziora stops me. Nicholas slowly slips out of me and stands beside the bed. I close my eyes, reeling from everything that happened. I feel him hover over me again and kiss my neck, licking and nibbling it. " You're so intoxicating," he mutters. I can feel his dick hardening again. His hips thrust gently against my skin. He lifts himself slightly and lowers his dick into my wet pussy. " You were made for me, Apphia. Your body was, too," Nicholas thrusts into me. My hands go to the back of his neck, caressing his skin. Our gaze locked on each other as he pushed deeper into me. " I love you, Nicholas," " I love you," We keep going. I'm a moaning mess again. My hips meet his pace fiercely. I'm about to explode again. I feel the build-up in my abdomen. Nicholas' canines elongate against the crook of my neck. He's about to mark me. It will show everyone
Apphia Nicholas observes me, his face impassive. I didn't want to raise the issue suddenly, but I couldn't stop thinking about what the brunette said. ' He likes it rough,' her stupid voice rings in my head. Nicholas wasn't rough with me. He was passionate and gentle, yet I could feel he was holding out something. Did Nicholas enjoy sex with me? What if he didn't relish it as he did with her?" Brooklyn?" he asks, his voice indifferent. " Brunnet, big tits, and brown eyes," I sneer. I can't keep the bitterness out of my tone. To think my mate had sex with her makes me feel so jealous and angry. " She's not my girlfriend," he refutes. " That's not what she told me," I answer." What did Brooklyn tell you," he almost growls. His gaze is stern on me. " That you left her because of me. And that you will leave me because only she can please you," I retell, frowning. Nicholas snorts. He reaches out to touch my hand. " She lied to you. Brooklyn and I broke up three years ago," That l
NicholasMistress? Morgana wasn't my mistress. She does fulfill my desires, but they don't go beyond that. Jamila is determined not to attend my parents' dinner with me, and it's frustrating. I can smell her anger in the air. Why the fuck is she so mad at me. Could it be because of how I lost my shit when I saw the mark on her neck? I glare at the damn mark again, it's still there. "The dinner is in your honor," I tell her. " I don't want to be honored," she snaps. Oh, goddess. She's doing this on purpose. She stands, penetrating gaze through me and arms crossed against her chest. " Will you force me?" she challenges. I take a step towards her, towering over her. " You will attend the dinner with me, and that's an order," I command. Jamila scoffs and rolls her eyes, " Um, no thanks," No? I gave her an order, and she defied it. How was this possible? I'm her superior, yet it didn't affect her. Alpha couples can not command each other after completing the marking process. But wit
Nicholas' povJamila is angry. She's usually so smiley that it's annoying yet pleasant to witness, but now she is mad__ mad at me after she saw Morgana in my bedroom. Why would she be angry at that when I made it clear that I didn't want a mate or her around me? She has locked herself in the bedroom and refuses to eat. She actually thought I'd poison her. It had been a fucking damn week, and she still locked herself in. After my run with Shai, I watch her bedroom window for a while. MeowI look down at the feline. For some reason, she has been fascinated by the woman in that room. I couldn't blame her. Jamila Clark is inviting. Even though I spend my time ignoring her, I think about her. I hate it because it feels like I'm betraying Apphia. "Shai, wait here," I say, jumping to her balcony. I see her lying in bed, reading a book through the glass window. I hate that I find her attractive. But most of all, I hate that when I look at her, I see her… Apphia. She notices me and abruptl
JamilaMorgana's words repeat in my head: 'He won't for so many reasons, and one of them is that you look like her,' What did she mean by that? Who do I look like? Nicholas' first mate?I sit up, wipe my tears, and grab my phone. I type in Luna Queen, and many pictures and articles about the former Luna come up. I carefully look through each one. Apphia Aeson_ the beloved mate of the lycan Prince Nicholas. My breath lodges in my chest. She was ethereal! She had stunning features. We are the same height and have the same nose and skin tone. But her eyes, damn, they are beautiful. One is silver, like my eyes. Is that what she meant?" Apphia Aeson," I whisper—my wolf whimpers.'Hey, you okay,' I ask, concerned, but she only continues to whimper, and I'm getting a headache. I spend the whole day in my room, either sleeping or reading a book. With my wolf's sharp ears, I can tell that Morgana and Nicholas are still in the house so I don't leave. I'm not ready to face them after the bre
The mall is large and full of people. Drake is a step behind me as I browse the stores, picking what I want. I get a few casual dresses, shorts, shirts, and shoes. Drake gives the cashier his card despite my disapproval when it's time to pay. "I have my own money," I murmur. "The alpha told me to pay. He gave me his card," he says. I shove the shopping bags in Drake's hands and enter a Victoria's Secret store, leaving him outside. I smirk. See how you pay for this. I take my sweet time in the store, picking what I like and trying them on. I pay for my items, and when I return, Drake is talking to a very pretty woman. She seems to be my age and has very curly red hair. She seems to be annoyed with him. "You don't have the right to be angry, Vicky; you have a fucking fiancé," Drake's angry, it's the loudest I've heard him speak. "Oh, was I supposed to wait until you're ready? When Josh was down on his knee with an engagement ring. Why the fuck am I even speaking to you right now,"
Jamila"Go away, go away!" I scramble out of bed but fall face-first on the ground. Meow"HELP ME!" I scream. I struggle to get up, but I do. The door opens just as I charge towards it. I hit into a warm body. Sparks shoot through me. I look up. It's Nicholas, of course. I jump into his arms, clutching him as tightly as I can and burying my face in his neck."There's a cat in my bed. Please, kick it out," I beg. "Shai,"Meow"She's gone," he says. I pull away from him and face him. His beautiful eyes immediately suck me in. I swallow thickly. For a moment, we stare at each other. "Get off me," he whispers. I oblige instantly, getting to my feet and staring at him.He's not wearing a shirt, and I'm entranced by the sexiest chest I've ever seen. His body is made up of muscles, and his skin is smooth. This man is a masterpiece. While I'm gaping openly, he turns and leaves the room. I rush after him and grab his arm. He spins around so fast, taking his arm away from my hold, that I i
JamilaI pick a room on this floor. The room is massive, with a black bed. This one is well-furnished, with an ensuite bathroom and a walk-in closet. It has dust. I take a shower with the products available, which are not so many. Leaving the bathroom, I apply moisturizer, wear a large white T-shirt, and crawl into bed. Sleep eludes me tonight. I grab my phone and text my family in the group chat, I'M WITH MY MATE. I'M SAFE. I'll call when I can. I put the phone on the side table, but it beeps, I grab it. I'm distraught with you, Jami. How could you just leave without a word to us? - Mom. Why are you not answering our calls? - EricI'm happy for you, sis. Our little Jami is the Luna Queen - Zizi. I turn my phone off after reading the messages and close my eyes, but Nicholas' face keeps returning to my mind. Gosh, he's so fine. How do I feel so strongly for him already? And why doesn't he feel it?'He does, he's just ignoring it,' my wolf says, the first full sentence I've heard h
NicholasI feel anxious today, and that woman's face still plagues me. The way she fell from that damn tree into my arms, how she hung onto me, and her smell, she smells nice_ like lavender and peppermint. She fucking hit me with a shoe, I suddenly recall. Does she know who I am? I'd punish her for that, but I didn't want to waste my breath on her. Mate. I snort thinking about that. That brat can't be my mate. But she is, my subconscious barks. No, I don't want her. I wasn't even attracted to her.Blade had asked me if she was telling the truth, but I said she was just crazy. What did Clark call her again? The name is there at the tip of my tongue, but I can't remember it, 'Jamila,' Nico whispers. He's been too quiet since we left the Clark manor last week.Yeah, Jamila.Julius Clark has been trying to meet with me, but I've denied all his requests. He wants to discuss what will happen with his last-born daughter, my second-chance mate. Frustration starts to boil, and I feel my
I'm walking a step behind the Gamma, my heart pounding loudly. I'm going to see my mate. Will he kick me out? Ignore me like the last time? The grand doors open, and we enter the house. It's lovely. We walk through wide corridors; I follow him. We are both silent. The Gamma takes me to a large office and gestures for me to sit on a couch. I do that. He leaves the room. I take out my phone from my bag. Ten missed calls from my Dad, fifteen from my mom, and three from my brothers. I text them in the family group chat, I'M ALRIGHT. GOING TO MY MATE. I'LL CALL YOU WHEN I SETTLE. I switch off my phone and, put it in my bag, and wait. I wait and wait. Has the Gamma forgotten I'm here? I fidget in my seat, debating whether to leave or be patient. While in my dilemma, the door opens, and the Gamma is back, he's not alone. I get to my feet and bow my head to all of them. The gorgeous woman with curly hair and blue eyes gives me a small smile, while the good-looking man is stoic; he looks
JamilaOnce adequately clean, I step out of the shower and wrap myself in a white, fluffy towel. I take a long look at myself in the mirror. My mom always says how much I look like her, but I don't see it. I'm slender, yet I have some curves. My mom has an hourglass figure to die for. I have long curly hair almost reaching my waist, while hers is coily. My eyes are brilliant silver that glints another color if you look closely, while hers are chocolate brown. I have plump, pouty lips, and she has full lips. Lastly, my nose is small and straight, while Mom's a button and cute. "I just don't see it, never have," I exhale. I wear black jeans, a black tank top, boots, and a coat. I also wear a black beanie and grab my mobile phone and large handbag. My wolf is purring in excitement. I'm going to my mate. I have his name and position. It wouldn't be too hard to find him. My parents and siblings refused to give me any information about him for a week. Determined, I leave my bedroom