Taran's POV Cerberus: [...] [Why I suffer for Kirsch's slip tongue?!] Cerberus grunted at me. [You weren't suffering, you purred!] I rolled my eyes at him and he turned away from me. But he shifted our ears. Willa hailed: "Thanks, Cerberus!" I tilted my head a little, letting her stroke my ears all she wanted. "So?" I let her play for a while and asked, "What does your tattoo mean?" "Death." Willa lowered her eyelashes, looking into the black circle around her wrist as she showed me, "Granny is a tattoo artist. Aren't they pretty?" Not as pretty as my mate. But why would anyone give their granddaughter a tattoo on the wrist that means "death"?! I frowned at the idea, confused. It felt like a dark curse, chaining her up. [Curse!] Cerberus grunted angrily. "Why would she do that? I can't imagine anyone would--" "Ohh, it's for protection." Willa waved her hand casually, "My parents d

Willa's POV "I thought it was lost!" I shouted before I turned to look at Al in shock. Rachel took it from me on the day she attacked me. I never thought about it again until now. It was soaked in my blood, it wasn't like I could still give it as a gift anyway. "Kirsch found it." Al shrugged before he pushed the drawer shut before I could get it. "It's soaked in blood!" I frowned as I reached over to the drawer, and Al took my wrist and pulled me away from the nightstand. "It says to Al." Al smirked as he blocked the drawer with his body. "Your name is not Al!" I grinned evilly as I approached him slowly, "Taran Evernight." Al chuckled. "You still call me Al." He gripped his hand on the edge of the nightstand, stopping me from opening the drawer. "I like this name." I shrugged, "It's suiting you, don't you think? Kind of like you are the Alpha, but not fully right now." Al burst into laughter, but he did

Taran's POV My condition was getting worse. Alcohol usually eases the pain, but not today. My head hurt constantly even after I got drunk. Cerberus was having a mood swing. He couldn't control it. His mood used to be pure anger and loss. Those I could handle, or, alcohol could handle. But his mood had been getting more and more complicated ever since he met Willa. [Willa.] Cerberus grunted. Mumbling her name was like breathing to him now. He was in fear, he was feeling guilty as well as an irresistible longing toward Willa. And that longing was driving him crazy. I didn't mention I was also there when Kirsch saved her from Rachel because she didn't know my identity back then. But I didn't think she would want her gift back. I knew she thought the gift was ruined, and she only wanted to make me a new one, but when she said she thought I didn't want her gift, it hurt really bad. I wish I could just stay by her side, protecting her, carin

Willa's POV The two gunshots came from my balcony and the two men dashing at me fell at the huge noise. Baldwin snapped his head to his back, and that was when a third gunshot rang out and Baldwin fell backward at that huge sound. It was Al! I dashed forward and got the gun out of Baldwin just in case. Though he was already dead with a bullet through his head. "Al!" I shouted as I dashed toward Al. He leaned against the door frame of the balcony, panting hard with a gun held in his hand. "I thought you were dead! You scared me to death!" I burst into tears as I made it to his side, "What was the huge noise from your room?!" "Sorry about that. It took me some time to climb up." Al smiled at me faintly. He was panting hard with his left hand pressed on his right ribs. "You are hit!" It was dark in the room but the blood was still obvious on his white shirt, "This way!" I supported Al to my bed, but he just sat on

Taran's POV I wasn't going to leave her when I knew Willa was in danger. Though I WAS shocked that Willa saw through my plan. "I thought you..." Willa murmured in confusion, but then she asked me: "You were leaving the pack anyways, no? Even before today's incident?" Oops...That was when I thought the Treaty would be after me. "Guess we both have secrets that we couldn't tell." I sighed with a bitter smile. "Whatever the reason, you need to leave. Give me a minute." Willa stuffed the parchments in my arms. Her eyes glazed. She was mind linking someone. Her granny? She looked shocked and confused before she cut the mind link. "Well, I don't know what I can do with the wolfsbane for now..." Willa frowned in frustration, "Do you think you can move?" "I can't, I'm in pain." I grinned at her. It was a good excuse to not leave, for now. "I know..." Wille almost burst into tears as she cupped my face as if that