Yumi's POV.
-Zana and Zainab look like they’re about to eat me alive with the aggravated looks on their faces.“Um…what is it?” I ask innocently and they explode.“What do you mean by what is it? Girl, you rejected him in public!!!” I shield my ears, wincing from the sound attack.“Hey! Cut it out. I’m right in front of you,” I groan with a frown. “So, why did you do that? People were watching,” Zainab rolls her eyes.“Why shouldn’t I? He knew that and still went ahead. I’m not the female population that worships his ego. I am me, Yumi,” I deadpan.“Ugh, it’s all over social media. You’re lucky no one could get a clear view of your face. The angle wasn’t a nice one. But from your shoulder, bag, and shoe, everyone could tell it’s a woman,” Zana goes on to say and I sigh.“It’s no big deal, and stop saying I’m his mate,” I pout with annoyance. It’s all I keep hearing these days and I don’t like it.“You just landed yourself in big trouble. You’ve wounded his Alpha pride and no one goes scot-free with that. You might be lucky he doesn’t kill you.”I restrain the urge to tremble at what Zainab just said and shake off the fear about to grapple me. I glance from her to Zana and back as I state flatly, “You…don’t mean that. I only moved away and told him to leave me alone.”They both share amused looks, giggling. Zainab waves her hand in my face. “Of course not. That’s silly. He wouldn’t do that.”“But, you’ve just provoked him on. You’ve initiated a lead on for him…and he won’t relent to pounce on it,” Zana says like some doctor trying to break down my deadly illness to me in simpler words.“No need to panic…we’re here. Just be careful. Not of him alone, but other male wolves,” She winks at me.“Why? Why more werewolves too?” I ask, but she grins widely, “I’ll leave that to you to find out”. Now I regret not just asking but ever getting involved with Henry Slater.I do sometimes forget where I live, school and work are all places where members of the ‘Black Forest Pack’ dominate in a very large number. Being the largest in this part of the world, it represents the entirety of California and has its Pack’s territory occupying four counties: San Bernardino, L.A, Kern, and Inyo. That is just a whole new level of amazing and it angers me to know that it’s Alpha isn’t just my stalker, but also a rival to Hyun Shik’s celestial beauty. Henry just has a well-trimmed beard that accentuates his striking manly features. His jawline is defined and…I bite on my lower lip, “Damn wolf Alpha…Hyun Shik will always be my number one! Fictional or not.”And even that resolve is beginning to wane out. His looks just had to infiltrate my head and torment me all the time.I come to a halt in front of the club Eliza frequents. She’s beaten up drunk again. Thank goodness her older brother is coming for her tomorrow. She really needs a therapist. Nate can’t do this on his own anymore.Bracing myself up, I throw a leg out and begin walking into the noisy box. A foul scent assails my nostrils and I quickly use a palm to cover my nose with my face scrunching up, “Eww!”I slide smoothly between clustered sinful bodies and arrive at the tables to see her downing a glass and I jog over.“Eliza!”Her eyes move to see me and her body shakes. “Yumi…you’re here?!”Thank God she’s still sober. I look around us, damn I wanna leave. I look back at her to see her finishing her alcoholic drink.“We have to leave here…Nate is coming tonight!” I yell loudly so she can hear me over the music. She nods her head, standing up.But then, that sensation rings throughout my being, startling me at its perverse force and I whip my head around to see many pairs of eyes boring holes into my body from all sides.Werewolves! I try to avoid their gazes and ignore their presence while steadily waiting for Eliza to pack up. From nowhere, the sensation hits me strongly, almost making me lose my balance and when I look behind me, I find a pair of hazel slate-blue mix glaring at me. Right in the eyes.Henry Slater.He has five girls with him, while four are seated next to and intimately close, one is straddling his thighs and kissing his neck hungrily. Still looking at me, he leans over to the side and kisses the other girl hungrily. They both moan in pleasure and the other girl to his right starts caressing his chest. Soon enough, I’m watching the most disgusting sight ever as all the girls gather on him like honey, letting off weird irritating sounds and fondling themselves.I feel the urge to puke at the sight and glance around frantically to quickly tell Eliza I’ll be back. I race into the restroom after sucking up my acrid disgust to ask around for directions and spilling my guts into the wash basin. What is he? A pornstar now?I splash palm-fulls of water over and over against my face till I feel I’m okay. As I turn around, I hear moaning sounds coming from a stall near me and I remember where I am. Shit! I need to leave.I hurriedly leave the toilet but slam into a wall that I don’t recall being there. Rubbing my face angrily, I tip my head back to peer up. My body trembles in dismay. Four hefty males with unusually faint red eyes are staring so evilly down at my tiny frame. My mouth parts and trembles like crazy.“P-please…l-let…m-me go.”They all burst into amused chuckles, the one to my left is quick to grab my arm and I yelp. But with all the music and all, I know no one can hear me. He pulls me and my back slams against his hardened chest with a cry.“Aww, isn’t she so pretty?” The one in front holds my chin, smiling gravely at my face.“Right? I thought as much when we first met.” That voice. I see the men stiffen and, are they shivering?The narrow corridor falls silent as we listen to the echo of his shoes drawing closer at a slow taunting pace. Suddenly, both men at my sides are yanked off and flung away. I hear bones break and I wince for them. The one behind me, his presence falls vacant and I see him at the other end of the corridor.“Don’t you dare touch her again!” A malicious growl echoes off the walls and I nearly pass out from shock and fear. The last guy drops to a big immobile heap before my feet and I jump away only to meet my side with another new wall.“You need to get out of here.”I don’t complain or try to resist. I simply nod, refusing his hand to hold me and I walk in front. I don’t see Eliza anywhere and he guides me out, only for me to see her waiting by a taxi.“Yumi, where were you?!” I hurry over to her, “I’m sorry…had to deal with some hormonal perverts. Let’s go now”.“But, the guy you came out with…”Oh! I haven’t thanked him. When I turn to do so, my stomach churns with disgust, watching him hungrily kiss a dark-haired girl while having another behind him and trailing her fingers all over his exposed torso.This makes it a total of six girls now.I return my face filled with repine to Eliza, grab her arm, and pull her into the taxi with me.“Go.”“That settles it,” I let out a sigh as I lean back against the backrest, stretching and flexing my arms before I rise from my seat. I wonder if Weslee must’ve woken by now.Searching around with my eyes briefly, I smile when they fall upon a heartwarming sight. They’ve fallen asleep again. Don’t think I’ll be able to stop by the grocery store. I step around my desk and walk towards the kids asleep on the couch, with temples pressed against each other and their school bags on their thighs. Bending forward a little, I tap their cheeks gently to rouse them up. “Heather, Zachery, wake up. It’s time to go home.” “I wasn’t able to finish my lunch at recess. Can I eat it on the way?” Heather chirps as I buckle her seatbelt before buckling that of her younger brother. “Okay, honey.” She beams at me as I ruffle her dark bangs and step back to shut the door so I can get in and drive over to her older brothers’ school. There’s no need to pick up Yohan since his grandma already did. I watch t
Yumi's POV.- He’s not so surprisingly, an oddly familiar face. I suppose it’s because I’ve seen a few old photos to recognize him right away. And also, I avert my gaze slowly to the passenger side of the car and smile widely at the exit of his female partner. My mate moves immediately, unable to mask the sheer surprise that explodes onto his face as he swiftly approaches them. “Bloody hell, Aniki...” He sighs in a smiling voice. “I know Henry said they were gonna delay a bit, but he never mentioned you were the ones coming with them.” The attractive man hardens his expression upon Henry’s statement as they now stand before each other. Will you look at the looks on their faces? A cold standoff, really? “Um, Yumi...shouldn’t you do something about this?” Eliza nudges me and I turn to look at her and find her pensive. I huff and return my gaze along my response, “I’m sure it’s nothing serious.” Yeah, ‘cause right now, both men break the false tension to embrace each other with lau
Yumi's POV.- “Hardin! Get your brothers down for breakfast!” I yell from where I’m standing at the foot of the stairs. Hands akimbo while I wait to hear his response before returning to the kitchen. “Coming, mommy!” His response comes shortly after with the sound of a door slamming, and I shake my head as I turn around to return to my station where my 7-year-old daughters are. Marian and Marina are twins we adopted 5 years ago. We had rescued them from a fire that claimed the lives of their family and took them in since they knew no one and had no relatives. They’re human kids who attended my kindergarten and now, they’re my added joy. Both identical girls are adorned with reddish-brown curly long hair and sea-green eyes. Ever enthusiastic and inquisitive kids who love to help me out with every chore around the house. I smile and join them to set the long dining table just when the boys come running in. “Stop right there!” I halt the bustling little crowd with a hand out. Hardin
Yumi's POV.- “Don’t even think about it. Put that down- Now.” Henry glares threateningly at me and my hand quivers. He’s so scary. Solemnly looking into the big bowl of chocolate ice cream with a broken heart, I let the plastic spoon drop back in. I put on my puppy eyes, but he’s quick to dodge the shot and moves over the threshold. “Don’t let me catch you in this act again. I’ll be waiting outside”. Always so cold and stringent. I pout and depart from my precious bowl. I know why he’s being this way. Carrying our second baby, he’s being reminded of our first child we lost over a year ago. So he’s worn this sense of pensive responsibility over himself and is trying to protect me and prevent all odds. I can understand…I was equally hurt too. But…can’t you trust me, Henry? When I step out of the mansion, I’m met with the sight of my mate, exercising his alpha prowess, barking commands, and ordering reports. Henry…I suck in a slow breath, flattening a protective hand over my protr
Henry's POV.- “Hey, little brother.” I approach him and he frowns at me. He hates it when I call him that and it’s all fun for me. “Busy these days, huh? Haven’t seen you much lately. Pack issues?” I try to take a roundabout way about it and he nods softly, “Yeah”. “Rogues?” His aura shifts and so do his mood and expression. Maybe Martins was right in the end. The stiff look on his face says it all. “What is she to you?” I press forward, taking on a serious tone and he lowers his gaze, brows furrowing and I know he’s reluctant to tell me. I can only marvel in surprise. This is rather new and unexpected. I smirk inwardly, this might be interesting. Liam’s now keeping things from me. She must be special. I tap him on the shoulder. “No need to look all cryptic. Come on, dinner's about to start without us”. He only nods with a hum and proceeds ahead of me as I watch after him. If my guess is right, things are getting interesting here. “You stuff all of that into your mouth? Amazing
Henry's POV.- I chuckle lowly, a palm over my mouth so I don’t let the sounds out as I watch her in utter amusement. Yumi shoots an arm out of the blanket-roll she’s trapped herself in. Like an undead rising into life, her other hand shoots out and she moves in breaking attempts to lift her body off the bed. “Hen…ry.” Even her voice cracks like she’s just awakening from several years of slumber as half of her body emerges successfully from the blanket-roll. The sight is funny as she looks like a kebab roll. Ah…my thoughts are getting glazed over again. ‘Buttercup,’ She mind-links me and I smirk, defiantly moving from watching her to going to her aid. I come to stand next to the bed with my hands in the pockets of my sweatpants as I stare down at her, adoration coloring my vision. She twists her body so that she’s brought to lie on her back as she lets out a lengthy yawn, stretching her arms sideways with her eyes momentarily shutting. When she brings her eyes open, they give me