Zane's POV
“Arella,” I began, gesturing for her to sit down. Despite the raging storm inside me, I managed to keep my voice steady and calm and took a seat in front of her. “Thank you for coming.”
“I didn’t have much choice, did I?” she said, crossing her arms. Her words were sharp, but the crack in her voice betrayed her.
She was absolutely miserable...
Seeing her in pain, pissed off my wolf, and he once again was pacing my mind, making my skin itch. I ignored that and the jab, forcing myself to meet her gaze.
“We need to talk--- about us,” I said, mentally screaming fuck repeatedly in my mind. Why the hell did I suddenly sound like I was quoting a soap opera script rather than the well-polished King that I usually was?!
“OK---?” She drawled, her brow furrowed and confusion flitting across her face. But I could also see her body stiffen and something just---
Zane’s POVI’d never really noticed the view from my office before. How the cloud descended upon the mountains, like shadowy hands, gently wrapping the landscape in its mystical palms. It was truly magnificent and beautiful in a hauntingly peaceful way as summer slowly gave way to fall. Perhaps I had noticed the stunning landscape before, but only recently did I honestly appreciate it.The aftermath of the party still lingered in my mind as I leaned against the balcony railing, the cool morning air doing little to calm the whirlwind of thoughts in my head.Arella…Her name alone sent warmth surging through me. She’d done so much for me and my pups, that I wasn’t sure how I could ever repay her. Everything she had done, from arranging the birthday party to organizing that play, that created such a meaningful moment for me and the kids. It was extraordinary.She was extraordinary!
Arella’s POVEva grinned, buzzing with excitement. And it broke my heart just a little, knowing that behind that sweet innocent smile, was a little traumatized girl. I wasn’t sure how just yet, but I was going to do everything in my power to help her – Runt magic or no…Unable to help myself, I leaned down and hugged her tight. For a second she seemed surprised, but after a second, her little arms came around my neck, and she sighed contently into my thick hair. And suddenly, I understood why my mom would always say that the most beautiful jewel she owned was my arms around her neck.This felt fucking perfect…Suddenly, my wolf let out a low growl and over Eva’s shoulder, I noticed Noah strolling over. Standing quickly, I met his gaze head-on, protectively holding Eve to m
Arella's POVBefore I could, however, she went back to her daughter, talking about ironing out some details in her upcoming petition. Her words tugged at something deep inside me. A distant memory of the woman who raised me. Her love and care, that never faltered no matter what I’d said and done.Who showed me what grace truly was...I turned my attention back to Zane, noting with a grin that Eva had now joined her brother, hugging him with her new bunny-teddy as to tell him “Well done”. Yeah, this family wasn’t perfect, but they were trying. And Zane, with all his flaws and struggles, was right there, giving his pups the happiness they deserved...“Erm, excuse me? Arella Garcia?”The voice startled me, and I turned to see a young woman standing nearby. I hadn’t noticed her approach, but instantly I felt at least 6 pairs of eyes on me, but my wolf informed me that they were the guards that
Arella’s POV“You, my dear,” Selena’s voice cheerfully drifted towards me, and I spun towards her, her eyes sparkling with delight. "Are a goddess-send!”I was standing near the refreshment table when Selena glided over. With a broad grin on her face, she greeted me with an air kiss on each cheek. She then grabbed us a drink each and pressed a glass into my hand, clinking it with her own.“I haven’t seen the castle so lively and happy in over a year!” She grinned, gesturing to a group of pups that were trying to pin the tail on the donkey. And of course, Zane dunking for apples had a bunch of kids laughing outright while a couple of grownups were discreet enough to hide their grins behind a subtle hand gesture. And then there were people like me, shamelessly recording the whole thing and saving it as my screensaver.I smiled, shaking my head modestly.“Most of this were the Omeg
Arella’s POV“Cain! Eva!” I exclaimed, my voice trembling with disbelief and fear. “What the---?!”Before I could fully process what I was seeing, Eva dashed toward me and threw her tiny arms around me. Hugging me as if she hadn’t seen me in years, so desperate, it was as if she feared I’d vanish if she let go.“It’s okay, baby,” I said, forcing my voice to be calm and even, despite the panic that clawed at my chest. “I’m here! I’m right here.”I held her as tightly as my still-bound wrists would allow, my trembling heart slamming against my ribs like a sledgehammer. Shit! If they were here, they would be in danger! Bali and Selena had already proven they completely lacked any kind of empathy when it came to their ambition. Hell, they’d already kidnapped a 3-year-old child and killed Helena, in the hopes that it would kill Zane. The thought of them t
Arella’s POVI had to bite my lips so as not to grin, seeing Zane stand in front of the mirror, glaring at his reflection like the tie he was wrestling with was his mortal enemy. His fingers fumbled with the fabric for the fifth time, and a low growl rumbled in his throat. I had to suppress another chuckle as I finished pulling my borrowed dress into place. Selena – bless this woman, because she was basically my werewolf fairy godmother – had sent some Omega to my room with a huge sample of semi-formal dresses to wear for the party.I hadn’t even thought that far ahead...Happy that I wasn’t going to a royal birthday party looking like a sad version of Cinderella, I admired my reflection next to Zane. The dress was a beautiful knee-length, A-line lace dress in a soft gold color, that beautifully enhanced all my favorite features. Despite the tight fit, it was surprisingly comfortable, and I appreciated that I wouldn
Arella's POV“You love him,” she said gently, yet the words felt heavy. Weighted with fear and vulnerability, but also with something undeniable and unshakable. But I couldn’t deny them. Loving Zane was terrifying, but pretending otherwise was useless. I was in love with him!But---“Trust takes time to rebuild,” was all I was willing to confess to for the time being. Selena reached out, squeezing my arm reassuringly. Before Selena could respond, Cain and Eva came bounding over. Their faces were glowing with excitement and each holding a handmade card.“Look, Arella!” Cain said, holding up a glitter-covered card with the letters “E-V-A” on the front and a big purple flower. “We made these for each other!”Eva held up a similar card, also covered in glitter, and I sent a small prayer for the poor Omega who had to clean all of that up. Her letters were crooked, and she
Arella’s POVI was hanging the last strand of colorful streamers for the birthday party, stepping back to make sure everything looked just right. The pups’ laughter echoed from the next room as they worked on their decorations. It brought a smile to my face.Yet my thoughts remained scattered…The events of last night played over in my mind in an endless loop. His searing touch and tenderness. The way he played my body like a violin. The way he coaxed the most tantalizing euphoria out of my body. Like he was made to worship my body, and I was made for him. The way he held me close and didn’t want to let go. The way he made me feel safe.Like home...I was falling!I couldn’t deny it! I couldn’t deny the feelings I had for Zane anymore. I was falling for the guy, hard! And it terrified me. I’d fallen in love before, but never like this. It would take me months before I even allowed m
Zane's POV“Arella!” I barked, my voice harsh and desperate as my pulse hammered in my ears.“You do realize that you’ll die from a heart attack if you wake up like that every morning, right?” Came her familiar, teasing voice.I snapped my head toward the bathroom doorway. There she stood, her hair damp and a fluffy towel wrapped around her body. A bemused smirk playing on her lips. Relief hit me so hard that I nearly staggered. Before I could think, I was on my feet, closing the distance between us in a few long strides.“Don’t do that,” I growled, gripping her shoulders and pulling her into a fierce hug. The towel was warm and damp against my arms, but I didn’t care. “I can’t lose you.”Fuck!I buried my face in her wet hair, inhaling her clean, fresh scent as my heart raced. Anger and panic mingled with an overwhelming sense of relief. Hell,