DAKOTA "Are you alright?" Dashiell asks, his brows creased. Still shaken up, I nod in response. He lowers his gaze and reaches out to gently touch my throbbing ankle. "Get on my back," he says, and my eyes widen. With Ocean's help, my ankle would heal in no time. Dashiell is probably unaware of the fact that I have a wolf now. "You don't have to..."He cuts me off as he turns away from me, his broad back facing me. "I want to. Now, do as I say."Defeated, I move closer to him, and he scoops me off the ground as he straightens, my legs locked around his hips. The pain around my ankle fades as I find myself relaxing. His warmth and scent are soothing, and no matter how hard I struggle to stay awake, I eventually drift off into slumber. When I finally awaken, I sit up with a jolt, my eyes wide."I'm...in bed?" I mutter, my gaze scanning the unfamiliar, spacious bedroom with monochrome designs. It looks different from the room Dashiell had allowed me to stay in. More importantl
DASHIELL Dakota's pleading gaze does not falter as she questions my identity and intentions. She's desperate, I can see it in her eyes. But, I believe that she's better off not knowing the full details. If she knows everything, she definitely won't stay still. She would end up in trouble in no time. I really want to avoid that."Why aren't you saying anything? Dashiell, I'm your mate. I don't know anything about you, and I feel like..."I cut her off, bringing her to her feet. "Why are you curious about me? Don't tell me it's because you want to know more about your mate. What's your real reason?" I ask. She stares at me for a moment, her eyes glistening with unshed tears. "I just...I feel like I won't be able to protect you if I don't know what's really going on," she tells me, and I gape at her, stunned. She wants to protect me? How's she going to do that? As it is, she can barely protect herself. I want to do the protecting. I'm strong enough to protect the both of us.
DAKOTA The sound of Hunter's voice jolts me awake from my peaceful slumber. Opening my eyes, I sit up in bed, concentrating on the direction where his voice is coming from. Stepping out of bed, I hurry out of my bedroom and rush down the stairs. I make it to the sitting room, just in time to catch sight of Hunter slamming Dashiell against the wall, his fingers locked around his throat. It's strange that Hunter had figured out where I am so easily. With my heart in my throat, I quietly watch them from the monitor on the wall of the sitting room, just by the front door. Although Hunter's rage is evident, Dashiell doesn't look bothered at all. "Get your hands off me while I ask nicely," he tells him, a blank look on his face. Hunter tightens his grip on Dashiell's throat as he bares his fangs at him. "And if I don't?!"Dashiell sighs, shutting his eye for a moment. When his eye falls open, he brings a hand to Hunter's chest and gives him a slight push. My jaw drops when Hunt
DAKOTA This is it. Accepting him as my mate would mean that I've switched sides. The Six had given me a chance at rebirth, but they want me on their side. Dashiell might be powerful, but there's a high chance that the Six will destroy my soul if they find out that I've betrayed them. Still, the natural urge to comfort my mate and stay by his side is just as intense. Besides, I have to figure out the whole truth surrounding my death as Melanie Knoxx."I won't let you resign yourself to such a bleak life. I will grow stronger. Strong enough to protect the both of us," I tell him. He stares at me for a while, his eyes heavy hooded. "There's no going back from this, you know that, don't you?" He asks, and I nod, cupping his face. He leans closer to me and captures my lips in a searing kiss that sends sparks flying between us. When we pull away for air, he brushes my hair away from my face, a small smile tugging at his lips."Are you sure you can handle me? I'm crazier than you th
DAKOTA With every step Vera takes towards Dashiell and me, the more I yearn to drive my claws into her throat. When she halts in front of our table, she sneers at Dashiell, her eyes filled with cold malice. "I guess you just never change. One girl for each night. You're just as reckless as ever," she spits. Dashiell leans back on his seat with a relaxed expression on his face. "Look who's talking. You're usually in your bossy, wrinkled form, why did you switch to this form today? I heard that you do that when there's an unfortunate male you want to seduce. Am I wrong?" He literally purrs, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Wrinkled form? She's powerful enough to switch between forms? I guess she'd manipulated me right from the start."You bastard," She hisses like an angry cat. It's amusing to watch her struggle with her growing temper. "Where are the seals? I heard that you've gotten your hands on two of them. The Guild will be showing up at your house any time soon," Vera state
DAKOTA The tension in the room is stifling. Landon, who is sitting beside me, has a blank look on his face, as do the rest of the members of The Six. We are currently at Landon's home. I'd just briefed them on the details of the mission that had been entrusted to me. Everything I'd just said was mostly a lie. "Is he influencing you already?" Landon asks, startling me. Keeping my expression schooled, I give him a response."He's my murderer. I wouldn't let that happen."Landon hands me a laptop and a flash drive. "Watch it when you're alone. It's definite proof of his involvement in your murder. I'm just worried that you're starting to lose focus," he tells me. "The meeting has been adjourned to tomorrow evening. Our leader couldn't make it to today's meeting and has insisted that we meet up tomorrow," the oldest member announces. One after the other, they begin to leave until it's just Landon and I left. "Won't you watch the video?" He asks, his brows creased."You said-
DASHIELL "Are they here for the seals?" Dakota asks, her brows furrowed. I am certain that they have come to find the seals. Even so, I would never let them get their hands on it. "It doesn't matter. They're never going to find it," I breathe, sitting up in bed. Dakota rises to her feet, running her fingers through her red hair. She pauses to look at me, a perturbed look in her eyes."What are you going to do? They're here already. If they have an official warrant, nothing will stop them from ransacking this place."The ringing of the doorbell continues with more intensity than before. "We know you can sense us, Mr. Gryphon. Open the door, or we will break in!" Madam Noir's shrill voice rings through the air. Annoyed, I storm towards the door. Dakota follows behind me, oozing with anxiety. "Are you just going to let her in?" She asks."You heard them. They will break in if I don't let them in," I respond. "But--"I halt, turning to look at her. She bumps into me, her forehead col
DAKOTA Several hours before, My thoughts are jumbled as I descend the stairs in a bid to leave Dashiell's home. I'd planned to tell him about the phone call with my mum but I'd ended up falling asleep. Even so, I don't know who I'm supposed to be loyal to. A part of me believes in Dashiell. The other part of me believes in The Six. They had saved me after all. "Are you off to a morning class?" West's voice pulls me out of my thoughts when I get to the sitting room. He's standing in between the sitting room and the dining room, a spatula in his hand. His hair has been dyed a dark green, and it's been pulled away from his face in a high bun. His eyes match the colour of his hair today. He's always been the stylish type. It's the first time I'm really looking at him. Just like Dashiell, he looks like a supermodel. I can see why he'd dated Dashiell at one point. "Your eyes might fall off if you keep staring at me like that," he comments, and I roll my eyes. "W