ADESSA.
After I was pulled inside the van, I ended up in a very awkward position. I was seated but lying down on my side and with my hands tied behind me. It was harder to move. I struggled to break free for a while, but it was useless, so I slowed my breathing and did my best to calm down.
I didn’t want to freak out. I didn’t want to give them any reason to hit me and make me unconscious.
And I guess it worked.
The man beside me pulled me up and helped me sit straight before tugging away the cloth around my mouth. “Sign this.” He said.
My eyes roamed around. There were only three males with me, and they didn’t even hide their faces. But it was so dark that I couldn’t see them fully, and I doubted I had met them before. They looked and felt unfamiliar to me.
“What’s that?” I asked.
“Don’t ask. Just do it.” The man seated in the passenger seat turned around and pointed a gun at me.
I swallowed and kept my eyes on his finger. I had no idea if I could dodge once I saw him press it, but then what choice do I have? I have to at least try.
I felt my hands being untied, and the moment they were free, I clasped them together and rubbed them over each other so they would stop shaking.
“Sign this.” He shoved a paper and pen in my hand. “Here.” He pointed at the exact location where I needed to sign.
I didn’t even think twice and just did it.
Again, what choice do I have? I gave the paper to the man beside me, and at the same time the lamppost illuminated inside the car. I saw that it was a letter addressed to Kael.
It didn’t matter. I shouldn’t worry. Whatever was in the letter would not change anything.
I closed my eyes as my hands were tied again, but I was glad they kept my mouth free. And then I felt something being pushed inside the pocket of my jeans.
My eyes snapped open and I tilted my head down, but I didn’t see anything except for the man’s hand as he removed it from my pocket. “What was that?”
“Don’t ask questions.”
“Are you going to kill me?”
“We might if you keep talking.”
Did that mean they would not if I remained quiet? I hope so.
I watched as the car drove around the area. In just one year, I had already familiarized myself with this territory, as Kael would take me anywhere he went except for the last few weeks before his accident.
He began to leave me often at home while he did his business or his duties. So, if these men decided to hold me captive, it would be easy for me to find my way out if I could get away.
My eyes narrowed when the car stopped outside Miranda’s home. The lights were on, which was unusual as it was only four in the morning.
The gate of her house opened, and she came out wearing regular clothes, not evening or bedwear. She was clearly expecting us.
I thought I would be taken to her, but only the man in the passenger seat stepped out, taking the letter I signed with him. As soon as he closed the door, the car immediately drove away.
I didn’t need to ask. I already got my confirmation. Whatever happened to me today, it was Miranda’s doing. And whatever I signed in that paper would surely make me evil in Kael’s eyes.
Of course, she was the evil stepmother you would never want in your story. I chuckled at my own thoughts.
I should stop watching soap operas because this was where I got all these wicked plots and thoughts. But then, my thoughts could be right.
“Where are you taking me?” I finally asked after a long silence. I asked in a calm tone.
“Why do you want to know?” The man beside me asked back.
“You’re both not from this pack, right?”
“How did you know?”
“I’m the Luna of this pack. You would never do this to me if you were my people.” That was a lie. I doubt anyone would say no to Miranda if she ordered something like this against me.
“Are you trying to play us? We were asked to pick up a new slave, not a Luna.” The one driving answered.
“Slave? For who?” I swallowed.
Before becoming Kael’s Luna, I had heard of Omegas being traded for favors or money. I asked Kael about it, and he assured me his pack had never joined these underground deals.
“Alpha Draco.” The driver answered.
My eyes widened as my stomach churned. Oh, Goddess, not him.
I knew him. He has been Kael’s enemy since childhood. I met him at one of the banquets for Alphas, and he didn’t hide his interest in me once he found out I was Kael’s Luna. Either he was smitten by me or only because he wanted to irritate Kael.
Miranda was there that night. She witnessed how Kael almost fought with Alpha Draco because the latter couldn’t keep his mouth shut about me.
Did she sell me to him?
“Are you from his pack?” I asked.
“Yes.” The man beside me answered, and it was only then that I was able to look at him closely. He was looking at me with lust in his eyes, and he couldn’t keep himself from licking his lips from time to time.
When he saw me looking at him, his fingers began trailing down my arm.
“Don’t touch me. Alpha Draco will not like that.” I said, trying my best for my voice not to break.
“Markus, enough. You know the instructions. Take her there without any scratch.”
“I’m sure the Alpha won’t know if…”
“Shut up! I would rather take the woman Alpha Draco will give us than risk having my head cut off if you touch that girl.”
“But what’s the difference? He will just share her with his friends and with some of us one of these days. A little taste won’t make a difference.”
I wanted to vomit at the way they were talking until I caught sight of the border.
I hoped I could scream once they opened the window, as the guards usually checked the cars coming out.
I prepared myself to scream, but my heart dropped when the car just drove by, and the man guarding just gave them a salute without even checking us inside. Miranda surely had planned this.
They were still talking. Not about me anymore but about the women that they would get as a reward and the vile things that they would do to them.
I needed to get away before I reached their pack. Or I would be as good as dead, either in Alpha Draco’s hands or theirs.
“I need to pee…” I finally spoke after more than an hour of silence.
“Hold it.”
“I can’t anymore. Please… I don’t want to make a mess here. It would take a day to get to your pack and more hours to reach the city.”
“Definitely not in the city.” The driver said. “We can stop somewhere, but don’t you dare run.”
“I just need to pee,” I repeated.
I kept fidgeting, and soon the car stopped.
“Take her out.” The driver told Markus.
ADESSA.I stopped halfway through the altar, where my parents were waiting for me. Mom looked beautiful in her golden gown with black accents. Even without a title, she looked regal, and the love shining in her eyes was enough to make her stand out. I held on to my parents, and we began walking forward. A coy smile played on my lips as I began teasing my father. “Father, you are not allowed to cry.” No matter how he kept his face with a poker expression, his eyes betrayed his real emotions. “I have five sons, and never did I imagine I would one day walk a daughter to the altar.” He spoke in a hushed tone.“I made so many of your dreams come true, didn’t I?” I kept teasing him. It was the only way I could keep myself from crying.“Yes, you did. You and your mother did. And I’m grateful for that every day.”That left me speechless. I was told my father was not the one who shares his emotions and thoughts with anyone, but that was exactly what he was doing. Love indeed could change us
ADESSA.I stood before the massive double door of the Royal Cathedral, waiting for it to open to welcome me inside the church, where Kael, my fated mate, waited for me. I couldn’t help the tears welling up in my eyes. We’d finally come to this. A wedding. And it was as grand as anyone could imagine. Our first wedding was simple. Only a few guests were invited, and all of them were related to Kael. I had no one on my side—no family, no friends. But this time, I had the presence of every important person in my life.My mother and father had already walked ahead and would wait for me halfway through the aisle. Lacey, my beautiful niece, was my flower girl. She walked alongside Landon, as she refused to walk down on her own during rehearsals. Gabe was our ring bearer. He was here with his grandmother, Erika, but his mother, Sasha, was not invited. I was glad that Erika didn’t question us when we asked for permission for her and Gabe to be part of our celebration. To be honest, I was
ADESSA.He nodded, and he pointed to something behind me. I swiftly turned around and found myself looking at a wooden post with a wooden sign: ADESSA’S RIVER. “For some people who will come to visit here, this will be just another name to identify this beautiful place. But to me, where the sign stood was the exact place where I first saw you. I don’t want to forget about it even if decades have passed by.”I turned around again to face him, my tears trickling down my cheeks. “It’s beautiful…”“It is. But not as beautiful as the woman standing there and standing before me now.” “Kael…”“The day I asked you to marry me to save my ego, I thought I was doing more for you. I thought I was saving you from a hard life. I thought I was making sure you would never go hungry again. I didn’t know it was me that needed saving—not just from my dying heart, but from my life with no direction. Thank you for accepting my offer, Adessa. I haven’t thanked you enough for taking a risk on me. For givin
ADESSA..“Are you sure that’s what you really want?” Kael asked me again after we disconnected the phone. It was my father on the other line, and I told him I wanted Miranda to be set free. But she had a condition to never step foot in Ironcrest again or anywhere near me and my family.I knew it was a big risk, but the weeks that she was incarcerated with days where no food was given to her, plus the lashes she got at the beginning, should be enough for her to learn her lesson. I knew I could give her more if I wanted to, and my father would not question it. But I had my reasons. It also didn’t mean that she could leave free forever, as I had requested someone to watch her. In a way, perhaps we would find Dexter, and we could have answers to the questions that have been hanging in the air regarding why he turned his back on his Alpha and the extent of his involvement with Miranda. Only the Goddess knew what the future held for all of us, but at the moment, I knew this was the right
ADESSA. My tears fell as she approached me and handed me the flowers. Then she cupped my hands before she looked me straight in the eye. “We were saddened when we heard that you left the territory. We couldn’t understand why you and the Alpha parted ways when we thought you had a perfect life together…”I didn’t know many of them felt that way about us. I thought I was never wanted. But I couldn’t find my voice to ask more about it.“We are glad that despite being a princess, the Alpha was able to take you back. And I hope that you still want to be our Luna.”I couldn’t stop my tears from falling anymore, and despite the many things I wanted to say, I was at a loss for words. So I kept nodding my head. “Welcome home, Luna Adessa.”I snaked my arms around her and hugged her as I whispered. “I’m happy to be home.”I meant to say it to her alone, but the crowd heard it as they began chanting again, welcoming me home before applause rang out in the air once more. Soon, more females and
After I smiled at him, he returned his attention to Kael. “I didn’t tell anyone, even the men at the border, so that means I was not able to tell them to keep it quiet when you arrive. I asked the crowd what they were doing here, and they told me someone from the border said the Alpha and Luna had arrived. So I guess the news broke out, and those who could come, came here.”“Are they upset?” I asked. Even if Kael told me there were smiling faces, I refused to look at the crowd. “Upset? No. They are excited. I felt like I was tending children with the many times they asked me if you were near already.” He chuckled again. “Come out and meet your people. They missed you. I think they couldn’t wait to kick me out of here.”After that, Rasmus closed the door, and Kael looked at me. I could see understanding on his face. “Look at the crowd, Adessa. I see flowers… I’m sure they’re for you.”I finally let my eyes wander, and I couldn’t help but tear up. “I’m so sorry. I never cowered with an