****TRIGGER WARNING: This chapter covers abuse.***** *MIKAYLA’S POV* Damn! Hastily I turned to face them. Bile rose in my throat as I scrambled to my feet. My wolf became restless as she was sick and tired of her. Surely, she was up to no good. She enjoyed mistreating me. Living at the orphanage gave me no time for training, because no one cared enough to send us. So I was unable to counter her attacks, much less to battle her and company, since she would have begun her warrior training upon meeting her warrior mate. Today, she has her twin friends, Kelly and Becky, by her side. Both girls had brown hair, blue eyes and gamine features. Panic ripped through me as I hyperventilated. The contemptuous expressions they held gave me waving dread. For crying out loud, she's got her man, Archie. He mated and marked her. It's not my fault that he has straying eyes. Why can’t she see that her mate was the malefactor? "I was just leaving," I muttered. Barefooted, I walked in the other direc
*HERON’S POV* A soft knock came on the office door. Looking up from my laptop, I permitted entry, "Come." Mikayla timidly strode inside with her hands behind her, "Alpha Heron, your mother wants to see me after lunch." She nibbles her lower lip. "Okay," was all I said to her, "You may go." I diverted my attention back to my work. These days she was looking lovelier and happier, especially with her new wardrobe. She does her job well and I have no complaints so far. Finding a means to terminate her wasn't simple unless I wanted to resort to underhanded schemes. It was difficult to detect that she had a wolf because it had reverted so far into the darkest parts of her subconscious. The essence it emitted was rather faint. Anyways, the guys should arrive any minute now so that we can have an in-depth discussion about the mission. For now, I was sending an email to Alpha Ivanov about some tactics that he could employ in his reoccurring problems with rogues. Though he was in Russia, t
*HERON’S POV* Sage teamed up with me. Before we went out into the night, I had reviewed the footage from the cottage and the ones at the pack house to see to the point where she had entered the forest. Sure enough, she was on her way back but never reached her destination. So, we ventured into the shadowy black nocturnal forest. Even though the moon was high in the sky, the dense overhead trees blocked most of its light. The woodland floor was encased in darkness, but thank the goddess for the wolf's vision. The wind was brusque, biting at my flesh and whipping through the trees. Forest life moved around us: owls hooted, birds flapped about in the densely overgrown trees, bats squeaked, frogs croaked, and smaller animals scurried across the forest grounds. No news from Forbes or Axel bred the upbeat consolation of a dwindling candle flame. So, we decided to proceed deeper into the tangled heart of this primeval forest. Heavy hearted, I morphed into my wolf and darted into the over-
*HERON’S POV* Waking up in the wee hours of the night with chest pains was unusual. This sudden slicing agony would not let me get the much-needed rest. Therefore, I started my day's work before the crack of dawn. Making myself an espresso in the kitchen, I wheeled inside the office and hoped that Mikayla’s torment would end with the culprit in custody. Sympathy wedged inside me. Her overall condition was horrendous. Lacerations covered her weak body. Obviously, she did not shift to fight back. Neither did she mind-link us to help her. Why? How could she be so stupid? At least it brought the realization that she needed protection. And that's what I would do by punishing her assailants. The chest pains dissipated in another twenty minutes. I was crippled but healthy otherwise, so I found the pain alarming. Now that the agony has vanished, I'm glad about that because it saves me from a visit to the doctor. It was time to get into my day's work. Axel chose to give me a report by text
*HERON’S POV* “Alpha, Mikayla is awakened,” Omega June barged into my office. Deep dimples etched on her face from the excited smile she exuded with teeth parted and tongue protruding. Looking up from the documents before me, I glared at her and she began trembling, baring her neck. “What did you just do?” I growled, freezing my actions and maintaining her petrified frame under my cold stare. She dropped to the floor and mumbled half-forming words that were meant to say, “I am sorry, Alpha. The door was ajar so I thought that it was okay to open it.” “Knock before you enter. Now get out!” I shouted. She scampered away from the office, almost tripping over her own two feet. “Humph,” Sages released at the maid’s audacity. "She's worse than Mikayla." "Oh come on," Forbes said, creating a mission to-do list on his mobile."She's not that bad." Feeling the critical need to talk to Mikayla, my skilled fingers quickly completed and sent two impending emails about upcoming Alliance cha
*HERON’S POV* Checking the flight schedules, I arranged for my Beta to take me to the airport. Using my influence, I had affiliates from there to assist with getting to my little vixen, Charlotte. Privileged information and access would be granted to me to get to her. Sitting in an air-conditioned and luxurious private lounge that overlooked the runway with Sage, I waited for her arrival. The expansive, carpeted, stylish, chic lounge was located on the second floor by the airport's arrivals side. Natural light brilliantly illuminated it. The busy runway and the ocean were clearly visible via an L-shaped long glass line of windows. From there you could see planes landing, being boarded and taking off. The walls were in Farrow & Ball's Dove Tale—a warm gray with purple undertones. One side had the impressive marble open bar while the other had the buffet line. Based on the seating configuration, there were five HD TVs set up at various angles. The seating comprised of a black solid woo
*HERON’S POV* Waking up, I didn’t feel like moving. I stared up at the swirl patterns in the ceiling, feeling my stomach turn and twist, an agonizing torture. Another day is here as anticipated. One where I could either remain hidden in my room or face the world and explain what the majority of people knew by now. Charlotte’s actions were not harmless. Yesterday had been a devastating event for my heart. It painfully pounded like a jackhammer, clenching and producing an awful discomfort in my chest. Now I have to exercise caution. It was simple for me to stay in my room because I was afraid that if I turned the knob to open the door, I wouldn't stop until I was facing Charlotte, or killing someone. Tyr, my wolf, is more resolute and if I lose control, he will completely seize her, even if it means using force. Though he wouldn't be at fault; it's purely instinct. When mates meet, completing the mating process is the next step for our wolves to be contented. Procrastination would m
*MIKAYLA’S POV* "Good morning beautiful," he extends a charming lopsided smile. My head whips up to see Forbes descending the stairs wearing ripped black rip jeans and a burgundy t-shirt that clung to his athletic build. A black-haired girl, whose face was obscured by a sheet of strands, dashed past Forbes from behind him, almost hitting me as I lost my equilibrium and Forbes caught me. When he lifted me in a bridal style, it was completely unnecessary. He examines me while retaining his gaze as if I were a delicacy to be devoured. His nostrils widened and contracted. "Must you always smell like pineapple, Mikayla? Why couldn't your aroma be........ strawberries?" "What?" I murmured awkwardly. He was too close, and why did he have a problem with my scent? I was confused and I no longer wished to be in his arms like this. "Aren't you going to let me have a taste?" His predatory eyes bore into mine. "You might cause me to like pineapples more if you'd let me savor your flavor." His