Chris confirmed he had seen the same tattoo on the man who had come into the party and attacked Oriel.The pieces are gradually coming together, we can say, but it's still not making much sense to me.This is to what end? What's this madness for? Why me? Why Oriel? Is there more to this? How did they know where to find us? Who helped me the other night?So many questions with no clear answers. I thought I was done fighting in my past life. But clearly one keeps fighting as long as you live.โHow did you know about this, Liza?โ Chris inquired.โWell, the other day we went to Morningstar lounge and then, we got a note. It didn't mean much except for the drawing that caught my eyes,โChris is a goddamn good listener, he never interrupted as I went on filling him on what had happened when he was away.โThe note said โcurious? Be patient,โ but then this same drawing was at the edge of the note,โโI decided to look into it โcos I felt I had seen it somewhere. Then, I realized I saw it on th
Orielโs POVI watched with keen patience and looked less interested as Liza and Chris went back and forth.If not for the situation at hand, I would have made huge fun of their childish bantering.But what can I say? These two look like siblings fighting for someone's attention sometimes. And if I didn't know better, I would have considered them siblings and not friends.I know they are both worried about how I'm processing the whole thing, but what about them?Seeing the two work tirelessly to make sure the culprits are served the justice that they deserve makes me feel bad doing nothing but scare away.I won't even lie, the whole Morningstar event shook me up a lot and if not for Liza coming into my room the time she did, I wonder what I would have done to myself.But I can't complain about being blessed with people who care about me so much. Can I?As for Liza, I know she is doing this because she feels responsible for what is happening right now, but far from it, I do not blame he
Chris' POVI set out of the pack after one of my men told me about a lead to their hideout.I know Liza didn't fully buy the whole idea of staying behind with Oriel, but what I didn't expect was for them to tail me.I could sense their scent so strongly and I don't know why it's that way. Maybe it's because I'm used to the two being around me a lot.I kept going, never for once did I make them feel like I knew about their presence.Getting to the thick woods, I was attacked by a group of rogues. I didn't want to hurt them.Truth is, lately, I've been feeling more powerful than usual. It's as if my body is going through a face of transfiguration.I've avoided training with Liza for this very course- I do not want to hurt her.And that's why I've stretched my hand of peace to these rogues the moment they had me in their ring.But I couldn't just stand and watch them come at me, especially when I was on a mission.So, when one of them charged at me, I humbled him. Thinking that's all? So
Leo's POV As much as I love to watch offenders suffer, I don't normally torture them myself. I love to watch how they break and forsake all they used to stand for. But for a few occasions when it pleases me? I torture them myself. โShe keeps asking and pleading that she sees you,โ Derek broke the silence that's been sitting soothingly.Like an uninterested lover in his spouse's ranting, I kept my face right on what we were working on, and โwhy?โ Came my response.โI don't think I have the right answer to that. I'm sorry,โ what's he sorry for? Derek!โSo, she's just whining to see me without a reason. Why should I grant her request then?โ I asked curiously โThe guards keep saying throughout her torture, she wouldn't stop saying she's got something important to tell you and she can't say it to them,โ Well, after hearing that- maybe I should go hear whatever she has to say. She had given us a rough mental sketch of their hideout, or at least where she had been initiated. I wondere
Now, I began to understand what Tricia was trying to say. If one had gotten injured by those arrows, you'd end up in their den.By luck, if you don't, you won't get far. Because the arrows were laced with poison.Maybe they aren't as dumb as I thought. But sadly, they are no match for this opponent of theirs.They are still learning. โWhat the h*** was that?โ Derek blurted out deeply, trying to catch his breath.โAre you seriously breathing so heavily? You must have gone weak bro,โ I teasedโAre you kidding me? Do you think I have gone weak? Have you seen the way your biceps keep heaving up and down?โ He burst into laughter I joined in the laughter, โMan, your weakness is as a result of your loneliness,โ A scoff instantly left his mouth, and that's him dismissing the topic I was trying to bring up. โLoneliness you say? That's so rich coming from you. But not to worry, Derek got you always,โ he playfully spanked my shoulderโYou know if I didn't know better, I would say something is
Alex's POV Playing along as if Tammy was in real danger was fun. I mean, what else could be more interesting than the look of rejoicing on Zoe's face?She looked like the whole world had come to worship her in her glory and graciousness.On our way to the hospital, she kept sighing and acting so weird.To others, especially those who haven't had a personal encounter with her, she was being sympathetic and being a โgood Luna who cares for her people.As for the ones who had met โZoeโ they knew it was all a faรงade. Looking at the situation we met at the hospital- people were gradually gathering together to know what was going on.Side talks about Tammy passing on and how good she was.โI'm afraid she won't make it this time around Alpha,โ the doctor said in a professional yet sympathetic tone.โNo Doctor, you can't say that. You have no idea what this family has been through just to see that young woman hale and hearty,โWe can't lose her like that, Doctor. You have to do something ab
I gladly hopped on the boat that would sail me to the limelight in the presence of these gullible people gathered.โIf you claimed to have given her something to counter the effect of the deadly injection, then how come she's proclaimed dead? Where is she?โOlive flinched at the sound of my yell. I didn't mean to startle her, it was meant for Zoe who stood still beside me.Her feet stuck to the ground like glue. I could feel her vibrating beside me, her only prayer- may Tammy be dead. Not only was she scared, she felt embarrassed. If Tammy is alive? She's done for.The silence that followed from Olive gave her a taste of hope until it was dashed like it was never there,โThere she is,โ Olive said quietly and Tammy walked towards us.โThere's a ghost!โ Someone from the crowd shouted.I detest standing these people, but since I can't say it to their face? I'd have to keep playing along.How can someone be so dumb to say, โHere comes the one who had seen the moon goddess and she's back
Zoe's POV I watched in total shock and disappointment at the same time.This is who I referred to as a friend. Judging by how she turned the table about her being the mastermind of hurting Tammy sent shivers down my spine.And now, Tammy has been asked to speak and if her story is plausible, that means Rita must have had a hand in what happened on my wedding day.โIt turned out it was her,โ she pointed toward Rita,โ I couldn't believe both my eyes and ears. What was Rita doing in a room my father had banned everyone from entering?โDon't fall for her lies. She's lying. Your Alpha must have promised her something,โ she started shedding tears again.I wonder if she filtering the trash coming out of her mouth. Which of the Alpha would promise a maid something to lie about?Alex or my father?โOhhhhโฆ are you insinuating my father bribed this โthingโโ pointing at Tammy, โto lie for him? What is his goal? Answer me, you traitor,โ I was livid to hear her try to rope my father and Alex int
Zoe's POV โHe was one out of one. He was brave and fought a good fight.โโHe was loved by all.โโHe protected her with all his might.โโLet's hope this new one will do half of what he did.โDifferent words have been flying around the Pack since Dad passed on.It's painful that he's gone, but not as painful as not being there when he breathed his last.I wanted to tell him to greet Liza, his daughter when he gets to her side.Now that he's gone? I can finally breathe and not be worried about his constant blabbing.Today, it's - I want to investigate what happened to Liza. Next, it's - where is the maid who witnessed Liza do such a heinous act?But now? I can rest assured that this Pack is mine and mine alone.I could only feel this way after getting rid of all the information he had on the occurrence.I couldn't believe my eyes when I went into his drawer to help him pick up some clothes while he was lying down at the clinic.My hands fidgeted when I saw the file, labeled -confidentia
Leo's POVโWhen next am I seeing her?โ That question has become a music on repeat to my hearings.โHoney, you should see the beauty he brought home the other day,โ she recounted for Dad.I sat across from her at the table having breakfast. Once in a while, I dine with my parents.Well, I would prefer not to, because it's either we are talking about me bringing my mate or how they don't expect me to be frolicking around.And since Mum set her eyes on Liza, it's been another story entirely.โShe's sweet and beautiful. I couldn't take my eyes off her,โ she smiled as she sipped her drink.โThat means she's still as charming as the last time I saw her,โ Father added and Mum nodded in agreement.โYou can say she's more beautiful. I've always known she'd grow up to be a sweet woman, but I didn't know Leo-โโMum,โ I cut in. โYou didn't know and you still don't know anything, please.โ I rolled my eyes and she scoffed at me.โWell, since you've decided not to hold your wedding ceremony or the
Chris' POV โTwenty years ago, a few years after Liza was born. On a rainy day, an uninvited and unexpected guest visited-โAlpha Nicholas had started his narrations about how he had always known who my father was.A sudden rush of anger hooked me in my seat.And all I could think of the whole night was the unveiling truth that sucks.โSo, a woman had dropped me in your pack and you allowed her?โ I asked in total annoyance โShe didn't stay. If she did, I would have asked her to leave with you, but she didn't,โ I wiped my eyes with my palms โShe dropped you at my doorstep in the middle of the night and left. It was not until morning that I was told about you,โ he tried to make it sound less trivial โWhy didn't you just throw me away then? Why?โ He sighed in-depth, โBecause I couldn't do it Chris. Liza was so happy to have someone she could call a brother around her,โ he sounded hurt.I hate that. I should be the one hurting and not him.โI later looked into the woman that dropped y
โNowโฆ I get that, but how is Chris the son of an Alpha and he'sโฆ he'sโฆโOriel couldn't bring closure to her statement, she stammered as her fingers pointed right to Chris.โIt's a long story, my dear,โ Dad said, expecting that that would take away the well of curiosity in Oriel.I held my breath in shock. Chris is my brother?The urge to hug him tight and ask how he's been doing for the past twenty years sprouted within me.Yet, I couldn't say a word, I couldn't bring myself to look in his direction. My emotions ran wild and I felt so sorry I wasn't a part of his childhood.The plan was to be a present sister. A sister who would love her brother to the moon and back, but that plan never saw the dawn of the day.Just like we are having dinner tonight, it was the same setting years back.Just a family of three, myself, Dad and Mum. Enjoying a nice meal and each other's company.โWho do you love most between Da and Mum?โ Dad asked over dessert โDad and Mum,โ I replied with my focus on
Liza's POV It was not strange that Dad asked everyone to be present at tonight's dinner.โThis dinner has always been a ritual in the family,โ Amma informed me when I asked why we always had to have dinner together once everyone was around.Chris lives a stone's throw from us, and whenever he isn't out working, he must show up for dinner.As for Oriel? She only misses dinner when she's not around or out with friends.But tonight, she had to cancel her plans because Dad demanded that we all be present.โDo you think Oriel would like the dress I got for her?โ I asked AmmaโShe likes bright colours, I'm sure she'd love them, and who can tell, she might be busy blushing and gushing over the dress now,โ Amma calmed me downJust right on time, Oriel shrieked in excitement โLizaโฆ this is so beautiful,โ she ran over and held me in a tight hug that I had to beg her not to choke me I rolled my eyes once she released the grip. โI figure you'd want a new dress for dinner,โ I smiledโOf course,
โShe's no good. I thought she'd be different,โ he finally made a statement.His enthusiasm was bruised and hurt beyond redemption.โI, Chris accept your rejection Promise Quest,โ I felt a sharp piercing pain run through my core.Like a shattered piece of glass, the weight of how unloved I was became prominent and a sweat broke out all over me.I watched in disbelief as she left with her chosen mate, hands interlocked while I stayed glued to the spot, cold.The pain became heavier when I realized I might never get to enjoy any of the perks of having a mate.I felt the need to run, to leave everything behind and never look back.Without considering the heavily pregnant cloud, I walked into an unknown destination.That night, Louis took charge and ran through the thick and heavy woods. Leaped over thorns and flowers, while the rain poured immensely.And when I had exerted the pain, I crumbled back into my little cubicle.โDad asked for you to see him,โ Liza, who had stepped aside to pick
Chris' POV โThat was refreshing,โ she panted after the rigorous race we just had.โI know rightโฆ "It's been a while since I did this,โ I replied to Liza who looked like she'd pass out any moment from now on.โAmma did the running, why are you the one gasping for breath?โ I mocked and she gasped the moreโStop doing that,โ I laughedโWell, since you are against me gasping for air, I figured I might just gasp the more,โ she dragged her feetIt was in the cool of the evening and we decided to enjoy the scenery and the cool breeze of the woods.Oriel isn't here. Her best companion now is attending parties. I get it- being disappointed when you are supposed to meet your destined mate is no joke.You'd want to do everything to take your mind off the bitter memories. Sometimes, situations cause that pain like in Oriel's case and other times? You aren't just who they want. It's been two years and I don't blame her. Who would want to mate with an orphan? That makes no sense.I was over the
Liza's POV Being back at home has been nothing short of pampering and love.Fiona has made it a priority to check on me every morning and feed me every second.I mean, literally, every second. โLiza, come have some fruits,โโLiza, come taste this delicacy,โโLiza, I made pancakes,โโLiza, I bought you fresh yoghurt,โShe would go on and on throughout the day, offering me one thing or the other to eat.Oriel and Chris made sure I was back to training.Yes, I finally get to enjoy the perks of having a strong wolf.Amma is a fighter, she fought for us and I'm proud of her.She constantly reminds me of someone I never thought would want to fight for me.But miraculously and surprisingly, they now fight for me. โI want to fight alongside you,โ his words re-echoed in my mind.โIf making them pay is the only barrier between us, I'm down with taking that barrier out of our way,โI watched as he went on to say those supportive and encouraging words.They made me feel like I wasn't just an im
Zoe's POV Alex has been working more than usual and due to the timing, I can't figure out why.I was hoping we'd visit the Packโs clinic together today, but just at the slightest minute, be bailed on me.โBabe, are you going somewhere?โ I asked when I noticed he wasn't preparing for our visitation. โHave you forgotten I have responsibilities to take care of as the Alpha of this Pack?โ He answered aggressively.I took a deep breath to calm my nerves. Standing on my feet, I moved closer to him and helped button up his shirt.โI know you have lots of work to take care of, but we spoke about visiting the Pack's clinic together.He didn't waver in his stoic look. โYes, we spoke about visiting and I didn't say you shouldn't go. Did I?โ He asked with no iota of care or concernโAlex, this is my-โ he didn't allow me to finish my statement before he cut me off โAnd so what? Someone has to keep the Pack running, isn't it? Or do you expect the whole pack members to start living inside the cli