Allison's POV For the next few hours, Malkiel's temperature kept fluctuating. Sometimes he was as hot as a live coal. Sometimes his temperature returned to normal. At other times, he felt cool to the touch, so cool that I felt goosebumps form on my skin when I touched him. It was still scary to see my baby going through these kinds of changes within the space of a few minutes. Even though I knew what had caused Malkiel's illness, it still did not make it easy to deal with. I did not know what to think- how to feel about all of this. It was too much to take in all at once. After Dante had told me about what the red mark was, I had sat watching my son for hours, thinking about all he had said. As I stared out of the window, my fingers trailed along Malkiel's chest. It was easier for me to believe what Dante had said because apart from the high temperature and the fact that he was sleeping too much, Malkiel did not show any other signs of illness. A part of me- the part which alway
Allison's POV I spent most of the morning in my room. I kept replaying the scene with Dante this morning over and over in my head. Each time, I gave his words a totally different interpretation and that made me sadder. I knew that I was torturing myself by doing this, but I could not seem to stop. I had ordered for breakfast in my room. Whenever Malkiel had felt hungry, I had fed and soothed him. A short while after breakfast, Aria had come to talk to me. Sensing that something was wrong, she had asked why I did not bother to come down for breakfast and why I was cooped up in my room. Then she had prattled on about a lot of other things which I did not bother to pay attention to. My replies had been so curt that she had eventually left, but not without informing me- without me asking- that Dante had left the pack to attend to some things. It came as a surprise to me when less than an hour later, a knock sounded on the door. I immediately perceived Dante's scent outside the door.
Allison's POV Dante's piercing eyes surveyed everyone in the room. It was as though those eyes were able to unravel every man's secrets. Though he spoke to everyone at the same time, at that moment, it felt like he was talking to each of the men in the conference room individually. The men assembled leaned forward, their bodies tense, looking as wound up as taut strings. They hung onto his every word. The boy in the room who sat beside Dante was transfixed. I could tell that he closely followed all that his father was saying. I smiled a little at the worshipful expression in those green eyes that were so like mine. After a silence of some seconds, Dante continued, "We have been through worse in the past and this poses as no challenge whatsoever. I consider this war we are about to go on... as a form of target practice. Some of you have gotten rusty over the years, so this should be an opportunity to take out your rusty daggers and relearn how to fight." There was a ripple of laug
I woke up promptly at 6 a.m. At that moment, there was no period of disorientation or confusion about where I was. Sleeping and waking to me was like the flick of a light switch. I could go on or off at a moment's notice. It was the way I had been trained. No one could ever have a hope of launching a surprise attack against me.Moving sinuously, I slid out of bed and with sure fingers made my disarranged bed. That was another thing about me. I always left order in my wake, cleaning up after myself all the time. An orderly mode of existence always spoke of an orderly mind; that was my mantra. Stepping quickly into the shower, I took a quick bath. I had a job to do this morning, so I pulled on my favorite articles of clothing; tightly fitting black trousers, a black shirt, and black sneakers. My auburn hair had already been cut short ages ago. It lay across the nape of my neck. Winding a piece of rubber band across my fingers, I fastened my hair together, getting the runaway strands ou
I scowled. Alpha Scott had told me to behave but how on earth could I do so when I felt so restless? I fought the impulse to tap my feet impatiently. With the rigorous training I had undergone, I scoffed at people who could not manage their emotions, and who wore their hearts on their sleeves. Doing that was an open invitation for the enemy to know that he had you riled up. The guards who stood around me looked at me curiously. I didn't blame them. I knew that I- who they knew as the ruthless killing machine, cold as ice- was acting out of character. I would have given anything to have left the room at that moment but my Alpha's induction overrode my will. I put my feelings down to the anger I felt at King Dante. The way he had come to my pack to choose a mate, like the women were ripe fruits he was entitled to pluck at his whim. I looked closely again at the faces of the females assembled. Instead of the disgust and chagrin, I had expected to see reflected on most faces, some of th
There was a suspense-filled moment when he looked so mad that I thought he would slap me. His grip around my throat tightened painfully for a second. His hand inched to my face in an attempt to take off my mask. I clawed at his hands. "Let go." I managed to choke out.His grip loosened immediately. I sat up and took huge gulps of air."Get up," he ordered.A feral growl escaped from my lips."You think you're tough, don't you?" he said, conversationally. "I suppose you know who I am. Is there any other pack you could run to that would be entirely free from my influence?" He squatted in front of me. "Face it, you can't escape." His tone hardened. "Now, get up, we are going back to back.""I am not going anywhere with you."He gave me a cold bitter smile. His fingers twisted themselves in my shirt as he forcibly pulled me up. I struggled in his grip. He held me tightly by the arm."You have two choices. It is either you follow me quietly or I make you. Actually, now I am really thinki
I glanced at Allison sleeping beside me in the moving vehicle. Each time I looked at her, I felt a sense of pride and ownership. Allison seemed different from all the other girls I had known. All the others before her had wanted -no- desired me. While talking or having conversations with me, it almost felt as if I could read their minds. Some were after the money, others the wealth, power, and position that came with being my Luna. They had all felt unreal somehow.In my experience, women were flighty things. The predominant thoughts in their heads were to look pretty, find a suitable mate, make babies, and hang on to their husband's every word. I had voiced these thoughts to some of my pack members once. Though they had not said anything- not daring to contradict me- I could tell from the expressions on their faces that they thought I was being too judgemental and harsh. I would be the first to admit that I was- for want of a better word- somewhat harsh but it was in my nature to alw
"My Luna will not walk into my house on her own feet for the first time. I will carry you in," he informed me. I yelled in protest, but it was useless. He didn't put me down. In his arms I struggled. Hooking my fingers into claws, I scratched his back until we got inside the house. He didn't flinch. Rather, he seemed to enjoy my struggles. My breath caught in my throat as my eyes scanned the whole mansion. Gigantic and classic were the words that came to mind. It was way bigger than the pack house back at home. Maids bustled through the mansion, some bowing as they passed the Alpha. The house had a homely and cozy feeling to it and as I stared at the paintings that adorned the walls of his house, I noticed we had stopped moving. "Do you still want to remain in my arms?" His deep baritone voice interrupted my thoughts and I clamped my lips shut, cussing at myself inwardly. "Not that I mind though, but a few seconds ago, you seemed to want nothing but to get away from me." I glare