โGot Daddyโs approval to finally like your husband?โI frowned and turned to see Alec walking towards me with his hands in his pockets. There was a taunting grin on his face that I didnโt like so I answered him with a glare.โWhy are you even here, Alec? Itโs a family matter. You are not supposed to be in here.โ I snapped at him as he stood beside me while staring at the Alpha Kingโs bedroom door. Evadner was still inside, talking with Dad, and my heart had been beating so loud and nervous, wondering what kind of conversation they were having.โIโm here for the Alpha King, Holly. Of course, I am worried for him as well. This realm will fall if we lose the man who has been keeping the peace on this continent. I will never let Randalf win this war, Holly. After what he and Irina did to you and the people of this realm, I swore to myself that I would stop them with everything I had." His eyebrow rose with distaste as he looked back at the door and crossed his arms against his chest. โEve
[IRINAโs Point of View]โIrina! Donโt you turn your back on me!โI felt like I was going to explode at any momentโthat if I didnโt walk out of the room, I might forget that he was the man who brought me into this world. I tried my best to suppress the boiling anger in me. I couldnโt accept my recent defeat after I failed to kill the woman who ruined my life! The girl who ruined everything for me and my father! Who ruined the pack that took care of her her whole life!That ungrateful b*tch! I wanted to smash her like an insect in the palm of my hands. Torture her until she begs me to end her suffering. But, of course, I wonโt make it easy for her. I wanted her to watch every person she loved die in front of her eyes, begging her to save them or screaming and blaming her for the fate that happened because she came into their lives.I wanted her to wish she never existed!โI already explained it to you, Dad. Thatโs all that happened! I nearly got her!โDad glared at me, his face shudderi
[ALECโs Point of View]My eyes darted when I heard the rustling of bushes near the gazebo I was sitting on.My whole body tensed and my mind became completely alert when I leaned forward to prepare and defend myself from anythingโor anyoneโbehind the thick undergrowth just behind where I was sitting. My fingers flexed and my nose searched for any strange smell until I caught that familiar scent, a scent that I knew belonged to.I thought I was just hallucinating, though. After a few bottles of wine and refusing to eat breakfast, my mind slowed down until I couldnโt process anything anymore. Thatโs what I wanted. To stop thinking and feeling everything around me.To stop the guilt that had been eating me from the inside.I almost jumped when she stood on the shrubs and my eyes widened. I gazed at the face I never expected to see at my mansion in the Agarwood Pack.โGoddess! You almost gave me a heart attack!โ My hand automatically went to my chest as I shifted my seat, still wary of th
[HOLLYโs Point of View]The wood creaked as I tightened the rope on the headboard of our bed. I was worried this might leave scratches on my husbandโs wrists tomorrow but Evander made it clear that I had to tighten it or he had to leave the room to make sure he wouldnโt hurt me if ever the spell might overtake his consciousness again.I gritted my teeth as I pulled the rope tighter and heard Evanderโs hiss. I hated it as much as he did but we both knew it was only temporary. The Blackwood and Snakewood patrol soldiers had finally tracked down Randalfโs men towards their camp and we were all just waiting for the soldiers to return so we could plan the attack and the Ambrosesโ entrapment.โDo you think this will work?โ I asked him as I sat on the edge of the bed, staring at the bare feet. I wiggled my toes and then sighed as I lifted my face and saw my reflection in the mirror of my vanity table. Since I got pregnant, it has become rare for me to criticize my looks. As I gazed into my
[ALPHA EVANDERโS Point of View]We didnโt waste any more seconds and went straight to the mountains. All of us shifted into our wolf form besides Mel, who was riding on the back of one of the female medics. I had twenty shifters with me. Two medics, eleven soldiers, five patrols, and then Melinda and Alpha Alec Aoki. I didnโt know why Alec insisted on joining my team but I had a feeling it was about Mel.I didn't know what reason he had this time but I couldnโt trust him completely. What if he came here to kill her in the woods? I knew my wife told me before that Alec was never involved in Irinaโs plan when that wretched woman kidnapped her. But I had to make sure. I had to think of the worst before it happened. I just wish my instinct was wrong or I will be forced to kill Aoki with my own hands once he does something to Melinda.The sky was dark with heavy gray clouds billowing over us. I smelled rain would fall any minute as the earth permeated that musky scent, distracting my nose
[ALPHA ETHANโs Point of View]โTell me, James. Who made you join the pack? What pack were you from before you entered my turf?โ I asked him without through my brows and James went rigid as he stood in front of me. His face was of pure terror.James, a fifteen-year-old who had just recently joined the pack and was recruited as a patrolman, brought suspicion on Melinda and Alec. I hate scaring young shifters but if what my friends said was true, then I should do something about it.โIโฆI was recruited by my brother, who is serving as one of your foot soldiers, sir.โ He answered with a grimace as fear surrounded his face. โI want to serve and protect the Blackwood pack because it is now my home, where my brother and I live. Away from the Ivory Pack and the Ambroses.โMy eyes sharpened as I heard the name, โYou came from Ivory Pack?โ I breathed threateningly.โYes.โ His lips trembled as tears started to form in his eyes. I didnโt know why I felt bad for him but I couldnโt show any mercy wh
[ALPHA EVANDERโs Point of View]โAre you sure about all of this, Evan? I am telling you that kid is leading us all into a trap!โI wish I could tell Alec about my plan, but I enjoyed seeing him anxious as we all headed to the spot where James told me that the Ivory Pack was waiting. I already informed my men, and even Melinda knew about it already. Hate me or not, but I would never feel bad making Alec look like a fool in front of everyone.Melinda seemed to enjoy it as well, as she suppressed a chuckle and then looked at me.โLet us see what we will find, Alec,โ I told him as I wiped the sweat that beaded on my forehead, โI think itโs better if they come for us. That will give us a huge chance to know where they came from.โAlec scoffed. That was because he knew that made sense.I decided for us all to go on foot as we hiked the mountainside. We would do it slowly and silently as we hunted for them one by one after we concealed our scent with mud from the riverbed. The right and red
[HOLLYโs Point of View]A forest wildfire.The fire consumed everything that was on its way. All I heard were the shrieking and yelling of the dying as the fire licked their bodies. Trees crackled as embers flew up the sky where the violent wind blew it, making the fire spread all over the mountains. It was a sight of terror. A nightmare that I thought I would only have during my sleep. Petrified, I watched, and until my heart felt like it was going to burst and tears streamed down my face knowing that my husband and my friends were on that part of the mountain. Knowing that all of them had left to go to that place for a mission, all I could do was watch from the balcony of the Blackwood Manor, with Sheiyan and Kian on either side of meโtheir faces were pictures of pure horror.I waited for Kian to say that I shouldnโt worry about them. That Evander must have found a way to survive it. That he and the others were alright. But Beta Kian stood there with me; his mouth opened slightly in
[HOLLYโs Point of View]Evander held my hand and squeezed it tight as we watched Alec jump his way down the mountain with Misha, who was still unconscious, on his back.โAre you ready?โ Evander asked. There was sadness and fear in his green eyes, but he was smiling at me. He was smiling with a promise that he would do everything to keep me safe and alive no matter what.And that scared me.When it was just me and him and the war that was waiting for us both, thatโs when I felt the terror and I knew he saw it in my eyes. But instead of telling me that things were going to be alright, instead of telling me that we would survive this, he kissed my forehead and pulled me to him in a tight embrace. We stayed like that for a minute as we listened to the rustling of the leaves in the forest. The sound of the birds in the sky and the water of the stream as it splashes softly against the small rocks. We felt each otherโs warmth and the gentle brush of the cold breeze on our bare skin. His lips
[HOLLYโs Point of View]I stood and gave my dad a determined look. I would never hide again. I would never just watch and wait. โI can fight, and I will fight for my friends and family.โDadโs exhausted face beamed with pride and love as he patted me on the shoulder and smiled at me. โLetโs go kick someoneโs *ss.โI laughed softly at the unusual words Dad used, and then we nodded at each other, preparing to lunge midair to shift into our wolves. My eyes were on Alec and my husband. Evadner was still on top of Randalfโs reaching for the old manโs head, but Randalf, despite his age, was still physically strong for his human form.On Dadโs cue, we jumped high from the ground, so high that all the eyes in the camp got distracted from us. Two glittering silver wolves, so ancient and beautiful, everyone stopped from what they were doing. Even Evanderโs eyes widened with both awe and shock as he saw us, and Randalf took advantage of it and immediately ran away from my husband like a terrifie
[HOLLYโs Point of View]There was no way I would let him go again. No way I would let him dive back into Randalfโs camp now that the old man knew he wasnโt on their side.I heard Dadโs scream even when I got out of the main hall and straight to the courtyard, where I shifted back to my wolf form and fought three more rogues before I had to hide behind the tall walls of the garden labyrinth to breathe. My strength was slowly depleting and the wounds on my back hadnโt completely healed yet. I had to go after my husband and make sure he could go out there alive with or without the witch who helped him.Randalf will kill him on sight once they see him.[Evander!] I screamed, trying to reach out to him through our bond. [Evander! Where are you!?]But it seemed he was too far away or something interfered with the mind-link connection, so I decided to stand on my four paws again and used my ability to sneak around without being detected. The mountainside wasnโt too far from the Snakewood Pal
[Hollyโs Point of View]โDad!!!โI was about to lunge myself towards them, but strong arms pulled me back. I was baffled when I saw Alec pulling me away from Irina, who was still holding the short sword to my fatherโs neck.Every part of me ached, but nothing could compare to how my heart felt as I saw the despair in my fatherโs eyes. He mouthed the word โNo.โ but I shook my head as tears rolled down my face. There was no way I would leave him in the hands of the man who wanted him dead! There was no way I would let him die!โTell me what you want, Randalf! Just donโtโโ I swallowed hard as a sob emerged from my swelling throat. โJust donโt kill my father!โโWe already have what we want, Holly! We donโt need you! Now that we have the Alpha King, the whole palace and the realm will kneel to my father, and nothing can stop us now!โ Irina yelled at me with detest in her voice. โKill both of them!โโStay behind me, Holly!โ Alec yelled as he shifted back to his wolf form and kicked and cla
[HOLLYโs Point of View]โEvander disappeared from the frontline.โMy focus on my baby Evlon was distracted by Kianโs murmur as he noticed Evanderโs disappearance from Randalfโs side. It suddenly made me nervous. What happened to him? Where did he go?Mel took baby Evlon from me when I pushed myself to sit on the sofa. The room was still filled with the scent of my blood, but my family didnโt mind. They were more concerned with my healing and Evanderโs situation, while all our eyes were now focused on the news.โI have to go there,โ I said, still wincing from the pain, but I had to do something. For my father and for my husband. โI have to be there for my dad and Evander.โโYou just gave birth, Holly! Your body is still healing, and your wounds are still fresh! There is no way I will let you go there in this condition! My brother will kill me!โ Sheiyan hysterically uttered, knowing that when I said things, I would do anything to do it.But this time, Shei was right. I assessed my body,
[ALPHA EVANDERโs Point of View]My whole body tensed as I stood slowly with both my hands on the level of my head.Charlieโs eyes told me that I would be dead once I made a wrong move, and I had to be careful. He was already thinking that I sided with Randalf, and without him knowing the truthโabout what really happened in the mountainsโHollyโs father would never understand why I had to do all of this.โListen to me, CharlieโโCharlie sighed, and the dark look on his face turned into disappointment. I felt my whole being finally relaxed as he stepped away from me and onto the chair of his desk. He clasped his hands, and I finally saw that exhaustion that deepened his set of honey-brown eyes.โHolly told me everything, Evander. I was really furious that you put your familyโs life in danger, but I understand when Holly told me that all of you were after that pearl. And she told me everything about that pearl. About how Randalf stole parts of her memories and stored them in that thing. U
[ALPHA EVANDERโs Point of View]โWhat is wrong with you, Evander? You look like you had seen a ghost.โI barely heard Randalfโs voice as I kept my breathing in control while having this excruciating pain I felt in every inch of my body. My head felt like being pierced by thousand spears, and it took me a lot of strength not to fall down on my knees and scream from the pain.Misha looked at me as she put her fingers on my pulse and felt my forehead with the back of my hand. My jaw tightened as she gave me a warning look not to make the pain look too obvious. โI think he is having a fever. It must be the infection he got from the pit.โRandalf scowled at Misha. โGo and give him something, Misha! We canโt display any weakness while we are being broadcast all over the continent. Go and do something about that infection or whatever the hell is that!โโYes, Alpha Randalf.โ She bowed her head to the old man. I gave Randalf one piercing look from the corner of my eyes and then averted immedia
[HOLLYโs Point of View]โWhat is the commotion about, Kian?โEveryone was in the sitting area with all their eyes focused on the sixty-inch-wide television screen. Shei increased the volume, and I saw so many rogues standing on the northern borders of the Snakewood Territory. I didnโt feel good this whole morning, and all I had were eggs. Other than those, I threw them up, and thatโs why I had been dizzy the whole day.All the Snakewood soldiers lined up in defense positions outside and inside the gates and the wall; all were armed with razor-sharp metal claws, all strapped around their legs and paws. Some were armed with crossbows with silver arrows for it was forbidden to use guns inside the continent and within the realm.โRandalf isnโt bluffing at all. He really has thousands of Rogues with him,โ Alec murmured in horror. His mouth was slightly open and his face was pale as paper when the excruciating memories of their stay in the rogue camp returned to him.Everything was shot liv
[HOLLYโs Point of View]The banging on the door suddenly sounded unreal. Then for once, I thought the noise was just from the thumping of my own heartbeat reverberating through my deafened ears. The violent winds from the mountains threw the windows of my room open. The hinges creaked threateningly as the white sheer curtains whipped against the glass panes.Melโs small hands were painfully tight against my wrists and she was incredibly strong; it terrified me. Something was happening to her. It was as if the darkness stored inside that pearl necklace had influenced her mind when it should be her who was supposed to command the โthingโ to obey her bidding.The power that was stored in the pearl was too much for Melinda to control and I saw it on her face. She was asking me for help.โMel! Just tell me whatโs happening!โ I asked through gritted teeth. I tried my hardest not to panic as the black completely covered her eyeball and my neck and shoulders started to feel so heavy it felt