Nikolai's POVI could feel the heavy swelling in my right eye as I slowly regained consciousness. I knew I had only been knocked out for a few minutes but I could feel my head spinning. I clutched at the grass, trying to pull myself to my feet but my hands were too shaky. I fell back heavily onto the grass, expelling sharp breaths as my chest started to burn. A piercing scream made me look in the direction of the sound and I looked up to see Jonas digging his fangs into the other man's side. I gasped in shock, trying once more to stand to my feet. I had almost forgotten that the man called Gabriel had come to my rescue. As I tried to crawl over there, I saw Jonas ram his fists into Gabriel's face...over and over again until he finally stilled, his damaged face buried into grass as he fell from Jonas' grip.No, no, no."No!" I yelled, grabbing Jonas' attention to me. As long as he was yet to snap his neck off his shoulders, there was still hope. Maybe he could be saved. Jonas swung ar
Nikolai's POVAs I waited with my eyes shut for a final blow that never came, it all happened at once. One second Jonas was staring at something on the other side of the garden, the next he had slumped to the floor, blood gushing from the hole in his forehead. Still in shock, I stared at Jonas' unmoving body on the floor through my heavy lids, and then I looked to the other end of the garden. That's when I saw her. Liyah dropped the gun from her hand, racing towards me in a split second. "Nikolai..." She breathed, placing a hand behind my head for support. "Drew and Annalise will be here soon, okay? I mindlinked them already. Just hold on..."I smiled, feeling my busted lip ache, but I didn't care. Liyah was here...leaning over me and smoothening out my hair. She was here...she was alive. And Jonas was dead. It felt like a dream. Everything had happened so fast, I wasn't even sure it had happened. My chest was burning, and everything was beginning to get blurry. But that was okay.
Liyah's POVI tightened my arm over Nikolai's torso, leaning into him and not wanting to let go. I still felt eternally grateful to have him standing by my side alive and well. His wounds had been so bad that he had fallen unconscious for days. Margaret and I had to work day and night to treat him, mixing concoctions and applying them on him and the other man he had asked us to bring back with him. He still hadn't told us anything about the strange man. His wounds were nearly fatal, ten times worse than the ones Nikolai had sustained. I didn't know who he was but I was praying he would be okay. Nikolai chuckled and it sounded like music to my ears. It felt good to hear his laughter again. "Li, I know you love me and that you're happy to have me back, but now you've got me thinking you're planning to send me back into a coma."I laughed, loosening my hold on him. "Do you have any idea how long it's been since I touched you or even smelled your hair? Let me have my moment," I joked, pu
EPILOGUEThe black-haired man who sat on a large ottoman fidgeting quickly sprang to his feet when he saw a middle-aged woman appear from the room directly opposite him. He had been wiping his clammy palms from time to time throughout his stay outside the room. At intervals he would shut his eyes in a silent prayer to the Goddess. His heart leaped in fear when she solemnly began to take off her gloves, and with his heart in his mouth, he waited for her to speak. But instead, her lips parted in a wide grin. "It's done. You can see them now."He raked a hand through his hair, smiling and then leaning in to accept the hug she was offering. "Jeez, Margaret. I was scared for a moment there."She only gave another chuckle. "Go on, they're waiting for you."He nodded shakily, walking into the room. His eyes first flew to the frail-looking woman laid out on the bed. She opened her eyes weakly when he walked in, smiling as she saw him. "Baby..." He whispered, quickly moving to her side. He t
Nikolai rolled over in the sheets, reaching out to see if Elle still lay next to him. When his strong fingers grazed her soft ones, he pulled her closer, snuggling into her and smelling her hair. Although they had only been together for about three years, Nikolai could still feel the love he had for her raging in his blood. Some members of the pack had grunted in disapproval when they had gotten married as he hadn't even imprinted his mark on her. At first, Nikolai had believed it would happen as soon as he was sure she was his soul mate. But when months passed and nothing had happened, the reality that she was not his mate began to seep in.Elle had been heartbroken and thought it best to break off their relationship but Nikolai would hear no such thing. Yes she wasn't his mate, but he really didn't care. He loved her with all he had in him and that was all that mattered. Unable to stop himself he leaned in and gave her a light kiss on the cheek, rousing her from s
LiyahI dipped the large washcloth in the half empty bucket for the hundredth time this morning. Wiping the beads of sweat that stood on my forehead, I wrung out the excess water, wiping the floorboards as quickly as I could before Barbara could stomp in with her muddy boots. By mistake, she claimed.Usually, weekends were considered by many to be a period of rest, relaxation, the period to spend quality time with your family. I could be taking a stroll to the park; having a quiet time, or a heart to heart conversation with my friends.I scoffed at the word, 'friends'. If I remember correctly, I've never had those. Which was really not surprising seeing as my 'family' didn't feel like a real family.My moving hands on the floorboards stopped.I wondered when this clear, simple truth would stop hurting this much. I had been the outcast, the weirdo, ever since I was born. Now, I was twenty two years old, and I still yearned for validation. Even my own father h
Liyah's POVI gasped out in pain as the hot coffee burned my skin. Sparing a few seconds to push the coffee machine back in place, I plunged my burned hand into a bowl of cold water, tears stinging my eyes.Looking up, I faced a sneering Gavin. My chest swelled as I glared at him trying to control the anger that filled me up."Uh oh, my bad," Gavin laughed, grimacing with fake concern at my hand.It was obvious that he'd pushed the container on purpose. It had happened so quickly that I hadn't been able to move out of the way on time.I ignored him, turning quickly to make another batch of coffee. Father would soon start to roar my name if I didn't have breakfast ready in time.Gavin moved closer to me. Too close. My hands shook as I placed out the dishes still ignoring him."Scared are we?" He whispered, leaning closer to me. "I thought you wanted to beat me up a few seconds ago, Liyah. What's up?"Why couldn't he just leave me alone? I wonde
Nikolai's POVI stared the redhead down as she slowly peeled the flimsy dress off her body, her eyes never leaving my face. She was a petite young woman with full lips and a voluptuous body. I didn't care to remember her name either. All I knew was that she was an omega in the pack, and all she wanted was to be bent over and fucked senseless. I, of course would oblige.My eyes riveted to her chest as her full tits came into view. I could see she was already aroused by how taut her nipples stood. Hunger rushed through me and I could feel my cock push through my khakis in protest.Grinning, she approached me, placing one hand on my neck and began to trail kisses all the way down to my chest. I watched in surprise as she continued to do so, up until her lips were an inch away from my crotch.I grasped her hand firmly, stopping her. I didn't have time for this shit. I just wanted to get it over with.Still gripping her tightly, I pulled her to the bed and flippe