Arella's POV
He hissed the words, and I felt his pain deep in my soul. He grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back until my spine hit the wall. The sparks erupted across my skin, making me shudder despite my anger. With every breath, our bodies rubbed up against each other, making me have to stifle a moan. I hated how my body reacted to him, but I couldn’t help it. He was everything I wanted, and I had to physically hold myself back not to climb him like a tree and---
“I’ve tried, okay? I tried letting you go, but I always come back to you.” He loomed over me, his voice a raw growl. “I’m a selfish prick—just like you said—because I can’t let you go! Even if that means---” His voice broke off and clarity returned to his eyes. He turned away, his words crashed over me like a wave, leaving me breathless.
What the---?!
He stepped back, raking his hands through his hair. His
Zane’s POVThe next couple of days felt like they lasted a lifetime! The days had dragged on, stretching like an eternity as I struggled to keep myself together. Every moment apart from Arella felt like a punishment, like I was carving pieces of myself away. But I had to do it.For her.This is for her own protection, damn it! I kept repeating that to myself, even as my wolf thrashed against my barriers, demanding her presence, her touch. He didn’t understand—hell, sometimes I didn’t understand—why I couldn’t go to her. But I knew. If THEY realized how fucking much she meant to me, they’d target her, she’d be next. And I wouldn’t survive that.She had called me selfish...If she only knew how fucking painful this was, she wouldn’t be calling me selfish. My wolf was howling and raging against my mental barriers, tearing me up from the inside. His intense o
Zane's POVMy head snapped up, and he quickly explained: “They searched, but they didn’t think of looking beyond their borders. And the second girl told her friends she was surprising her family who lives in another pack. They even got a couple of messages from her, keeping them updated on her journey. They only got suspicions when the warning had come out to the packs, since she fit the description. So they contacted her family directly. She never showed up.”More bad news...“And her phone?” I asked, scrolling through the information that I already knew by heart. “If she kept messaging the family after she was taken it’s safe to assume that it’s her kidnappers who have her phone.”Noah nodded his agreement.“We’ve been trying to track it, but the signal jumps between cell towers, making it impossible to pin down,” he sighed in frustration. “Whoever is d
Zane’s POVI paused outside the banquet hall, taking in a deep breath to calm my nerves. I had so much shit to make up for, I knew I was up shit’s creek without a paddle. Hell, at this point I was pretty sure the whole boat was gone!My wolf made a weird sound, which sounded a lot like approval. Making an internal check, I realized that the beast was calmer now, taking in her scent that was saturated in that area. He even made a contented purr, wagging his tail like a freaking puppy. I could even let down the mental barrier between us, and he just stood there, urging me to go to her…Bizarre beast!I carefully opened the door--- and had to stifle a gasp when I saw the inside. The hall was alive with color and the soft buzz of preparation. Streamers, balloons, and floral arrangements covered every surface, their cheerful vibrancy bringing life to an otherwise old and traditional wall decor. There were tables set up with
Zane's POVWalking over, I checked my wolf, knowing that the beast always reacted badly when talking about the past. And sure enough, he was snarling at the air, as if the memories haunting him were physically hurting him. Hoping to calm him just a little, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with my angel’s scent. The snarling stopped, but he remained on edge – good enough for now...“It was a year ago,” I began, sitting across from Arella, but finding it hard to remain still. “Some--- rogues… They---they somehow managed to pass the border patrol. Helena and Eva were out in the field that day, having a picnic, when--- when they swarmed the area. They managed to take Eva.”“They kidnapped her?” Arella gasped, horrified.I nodded, remembering the day like a weird nightmare. Everything had been so wrong. The sun had been shining and Noah had cracked some lame joke. Selena and our pare
Zane’s POV“Weak,” I snorted at my son as he sprawled on the ground, struggling to get up after the harder-than-necessary blow I’d just delivered.“I-I’m sorry, father,” Cain whined, tears in his eyes. My wolf let out a snarl, and clawed my insides, making pain coil inside of me. Because a part of me did feel bad for doing this. A part of me wanted to reach out and comfort him. To tell him that he did well. That I could see the improvements and the efforts of his hard work---But then I remembered the price of those emotions. How they had made me weak. And who, in the end, paid the ultimate price…My Luna Queen…My mate!Her blood was on my hands because of that weakness…So I took those useless emotions and stuck them someplace where the sun didn’t shine. I didn’t show any weakness. I wouldn’t. Not in front of my pack and not in front of my children. I refused to let them suffer because of my weakness.Not anymore…“Don’t be sorry,” I snarled, spinning on my heels and heading back to
Zane’s POV“My King?” the delta said, causing me to stop and face him. I was heading back to my office after the fencing lesson with my son. Cain was a fast learner and soon he’d be able to beat even his seniors. Perhaps I should find him a private tutor or---“We have a problem,” the delta stuttered, clearly nervous. His hands were shaking slightly as he reached out for the tablet. Papers were a thing of the past and I for one hated the wasteful things. I liked my trees in the forest, not on my desk as clutter…“What’s the problem?” I growled, not in the mood to even out my voice. My wolf was in a foul mood – the beast always was these days. More feral than sane on the good days and today he was pissed. He was angry that Noah had been there to help our son.That should have been our job!And he was pissed because I wasn’t going to go to Eva’s kindergarten performance tonight. Like my son, my daughter would learn to be strong. She’d learn not to need anyone in her life – not even her
Warning: Any form of stereotyping is there for gags – not provocation…Arella’s POVWhen you’re alone in the woods--- sure, you fantasize about naked men all the time. Hell, my vibrator had been many different men – most of which were fictional characters in the steamy novels I read. But at the back of my mind, I’d always known that the moment the bliss was gone and I opened my eyes, they’d be gone too.This guy, however, didn’t go anywhere!And yeah, he was butt-naked too…Turning off the ATV, I took another glance at the man. Had someone spiked the bottles of Bailley’s I’d asked Donna to send me or was there seriously a naked man lying right in front of me?Because he was hot!What?I was a hot-blooded woman – sue me for noticing that a passed-out guy was hot! And after all the men I’d seen out here, he looked like he’d just stepped out of a wet dream. A very nice ass and broad shoulders, toned legs, and--- did I mention the nice ass?It was an exceptionally nice ass…Anyway---With
Warning: Any form of stereotyping is there for gags – not provocation…Arella’s POVOk, so--- NOT dead!That’s a plus…And the good news kept coming because, despite the severe break in his leg, nothing else seemed to be broken. Or infected, which was a miracle in my book, considering that the bear trap looked as old as Methuselah and as rusty as a Cuban automobile.Still disinfected the shit out of it…And this time the man remained still as--- well, the dead, but knock on wood for me, will you?I was sort of walking a thin line here…The huge guy continued to sleep soundly, while I wrapped his leg and unceremoniously got him onto the stretcher.And I do sincerely mean unceremoniously!The guy weighed a ton! And no matter what training I’d done in the past or continued to do every day out here, could have prepared me for the density of this being.“What did they make you out of? Clay?!” I panted, as I finally was done moving the mountain of muscles, aching in places I didn’t know I h
Zane's POVWalking over, I checked my wolf, knowing that the beast always reacted badly when talking about the past. And sure enough, he was snarling at the air, as if the memories haunting him were physically hurting him. Hoping to calm him just a little, I took a deep breath, filling my lungs with my angel’s scent. The snarling stopped, but he remained on edge – good enough for now...“It was a year ago,” I began, sitting across from Arella, but finding it hard to remain still. “Some--- rogues… They---they somehow managed to pass the border patrol. Helena and Eva were out in the field that day, having a picnic, when--- when they swarmed the area. They managed to take Eva.”“They kidnapped her?” Arella gasped, horrified.I nodded, remembering the day like a weird nightmare. Everything had been so wrong. The sun had been shining and Noah had cracked some lame joke. Selena and our pare
Zane’s POVI paused outside the banquet hall, taking in a deep breath to calm my nerves. I had so much shit to make up for, I knew I was up shit’s creek without a paddle. Hell, at this point I was pretty sure the whole boat was gone!My wolf made a weird sound, which sounded a lot like approval. Making an internal check, I realized that the beast was calmer now, taking in her scent that was saturated in that area. He even made a contented purr, wagging his tail like a freaking puppy. I could even let down the mental barrier between us, and he just stood there, urging me to go to her…Bizarre beast!I carefully opened the door--- and had to stifle a gasp when I saw the inside. The hall was alive with color and the soft buzz of preparation. Streamers, balloons, and floral arrangements covered every surface, their cheerful vibrancy bringing life to an otherwise old and traditional wall decor. There were tables set up with
Zane's POVMy head snapped up, and he quickly explained: “They searched, but they didn’t think of looking beyond their borders. And the second girl told her friends she was surprising her family who lives in another pack. They even got a couple of messages from her, keeping them updated on her journey. They only got suspicions when the warning had come out to the packs, since she fit the description. So they contacted her family directly. She never showed up.”More bad news...“And her phone?” I asked, scrolling through the information that I already knew by heart. “If she kept messaging the family after she was taken it’s safe to assume that it’s her kidnappers who have her phone.”Noah nodded his agreement.“We’ve been trying to track it, but the signal jumps between cell towers, making it impossible to pin down,” he sighed in frustration. “Whoever is d
Zane’s POVThe next couple of days felt like they lasted a lifetime! The days had dragged on, stretching like an eternity as I struggled to keep myself together. Every moment apart from Arella felt like a punishment, like I was carving pieces of myself away. But I had to do it.For her.This is for her own protection, damn it! I kept repeating that to myself, even as my wolf thrashed against my barriers, demanding her presence, her touch. He didn’t understand—hell, sometimes I didn’t understand—why I couldn’t go to her. But I knew. If THEY realized how fucking much she meant to me, they’d target her, she’d be next. And I wouldn’t survive that.She had called me selfish...If she only knew how fucking painful this was, she wouldn’t be calling me selfish. My wolf was howling and raging against my mental barriers, tearing me up from the inside. His intense o
Arella's POVHe hissed the words, and I felt his pain deep in my soul. He grabbed my shoulders and pushed me back until my spine hit the wall. The sparks erupted across my skin, making me shudder despite my anger. With every breath, our bodies rubbed up against each other, making me have to stifle a moan. I hated how my body reacted to him, but I couldn’t help it. He was everything I wanted, and I had to physically hold myself back not to climb him like a tree and---“I’ve tried, okay? I tried letting you go, but I always come back to you.” He loomed over me, his voice a raw growl. “I’m a selfish prick—just like you said—because I can’t let you go! Even if that means---” His voice broke off and clarity returned to his eyes. He turned away, his words crashed over me like a wave, leaving me breathless.What the---?! He stepped back, raking his hands through his hair. His
Arella’s POVI stormed down the corridor, my footsteps echoing in the stillness of the palace as guards and servants dived out of sight, not about to get caught in this drama. My chest burned with a volatile mix of rage and hurt, each pounding beat of my heart driving the insult deeper. Mistress! He had the nerve to ask me to be his mistress. The word itself made my stomach churn and a growl slipped between my clenched teeth as my wolf howled out her outrage.What in god’s name had possessed him to ask me that?!I pushed through the winding halls toward my room, my fists clenched tightly at my sides. My mind was a whirlwind of thoughts and memories. Had I seriously given him the impression that I was that kind of person? Sure, no hate to whoever made their living like that and I could make several arguments about why I thought it should be legalized. But it wasn’t for me! So what in the ever-l
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 watched the omega undress, knowing what she was going to do. But she had about the same sex appealed to me as an iron maiden. The library was supposed to be quiet—a refuge where I could think without distraction. Instead, I found myself cornered by an Omega who apparently thought shedding her clothes was the best way to gain my favor.I’d sought soles in the library, needing someplace quiet to think. I’d never set out to hurt Arella; I just wanted to keep her safe! Sure, I knew that it was an asshole move to let her think I’d just been using her in the cabin, but what else could I do? I had to keep her safe, and the only way to do that was to make everyone think that she meant nothing to me.I watched the Omega unbutton her blouse, my jaw tightening with irritation. I knew what she was trying to do, but her efforts stirred nothing in me.Maybe less than nothing!“I could make you fee
Arella’s POVAfter my less-than-fortunate encounter with Noah, I walked back to my room--- and who other should I run into, than Alpha King Zane! Groaning, I wanted to just duck or hide. But stupid pride dictated that I held my head high and walked past him as if he hadn’t just crushed my heart and soul.Yeah, pathetic, I know…But despite desperately trying not to catch feelings for this guy, I’d somehow attracted them anyway! I had no idea when or how it happened, but somehow my stupid hormones liked the big, brooding guy. Hell, I just couldn’t catch a break with men, it would seem. Either they refused to remain faithful to me or they were so faithful that he remained faithful to his dead wife. And now I was just left with a gaping hole where my heart used to be, knowing that I meant nothing to him, and he was just using me from the very beginning.So yeah, fuck my life!But I wasn’t