*MIKAYLA’S POV* - Sage drove me to the pack house as ordered by Alpha Heron. Since today, they have been groveling at the ground that I walked on. When Forbes offered to be my escort, Heron’s crippling growl made him recant. Even though I could walk, as usual, Sage insisted on bringing me. He says that I should go easy on my feet and not overwork myself. Imagine that! The entire journey was distressful. Knowing that I was walking into a den of chastisement, my heart pounded irregularly, skipping beats and hammering into my chest. Nothing could consolidate me, especially when no one would have my back. The suspicion that Alpha Hudson was still upset over Heron choosing me instead of Varla also meant that Luna Phoebe would share the same sentiment. There were two things that I planned to do and that was, to object and tell the truth. “Good morning, Mikayla.” In the foyer, Matron Cecilia greeted me warmly and tucked a clipboard under her arm. “I was told to direct you to Alpha’s of

*MIKAYLA’S POV* Last night I went to bed early and bolted my door. That was a message to Heron to stay out of my room. Though he could have broken it down, I'm sure that he would have gotten the hint that I was not in a good mood to deal with him. Tossing and turning in bed was a result of Varla's unreasonable demand. No one was aware of what we were talking about and Heron kept busy in his office. After a late breakfast, I vacuum the entire house nonstop to keep my mind off the dinner that I'm supposed to attend but cannot. Being Heron’s imprinted mate mandated the highest degree of respect, similar to an Alpha’s, thus the new title of Luna being used. Recently being addressed in such a manner was disconcerting. It yielded an eager desire to probe Heron further than a discreet surface scan without letting him into my psyche. His mood indicated that the mess he created was eating away at his brain. Dismissing it, I was not ready for him to go poking within my consciousness, neither

*MIKAYLA’S POV* Waking up in Heron’s arms was heavenly. Last night was one of the best rest that I ever had. After my shower, I slipped into one of his T-shirts and snuck out the door. For one, I had no underwear on, and two, I wanted to be in my own room downstairs. Since his office door was wide open, he scented me before I could reach the landing of the stairs and ordered me back to his room. Anxiety and apprehension kept me up, but when I grew tired enough and climbed into his bed, the aroma of him swarmed me and comforted my heart to the point where I easily fell asleep. Now, it's morning and a bright new day. I’m lying on the bed, snuggling in his arms with my back to his chest. He stirs and tightens his hold around my tiny waist. His nose goes into my hair and he takes a long sniff. These sparks felt so damn good. I missed and craved them. “Good morning, beautiful,” he mutters. “How are you feeling?” My cheeks got hot and flushed. It was nice to hear him say that. I mean, h

-MIKAYLA’S POV* I was doomed. Overlapping conversations flooded the grounds. Even the Omegas on duty that stood on the Brazilian walnut high-rising deck voiced their thoughts among themselves. My chest tightened with my eyes stuck on Heron to dismiss her challenge, but he sat there not saying a damn thing. Luna Phoebe held deep concern as her soft blue eyes trained on me. She must be thinking the same wavelength that I was. I cannot fight. Heron and the entire pack knew that. My years of abuse were written on the pages of my life. Yes, I have trained with Axel, who thinks that I was doing well, but my progress had not reached a warrior's level. I have never beaten him in any of our sessions, much less to attempt winning against an Alpha Female. Varla was going to pulverize me. Tension rose at the back of my neck, stiffening me. Heron! I screamed in my head. The panic must be obvious on my face, so why doesn’t he help to save me? I’m certain that Varla wants to send me to hell to

*MIKAYLA’S POV* “Get up, Mikayla,” Heron forces his command through the mind-link. “Why? I can’t move.” I squirmed but it hurt to move. “The fight is over.” “It is not. Now get up and look at me.” He forgot that I was a corpse now. I was waiting for the light to guide me to the other side. Both my system and my cognitive capacities crashed. Varla would leave me alone once I continued acting in this manner. I closed my eyes as I resigned to the serenity of my out-of-body experience. “MIKAYLA!” Instantly, my body obeys his summons. I erected into a sitting position and found my eyes locked with Heron’s. They were exactly the same as when I had that dream, totally obsidian with a red pinwheel in them, mesmerizing me. Entranced by it, I stood, forgetting those and everyone around me. Everything went silent and my anguish numbed. Pixie jumped around vivaciously, howling merrily while I gawked at his handsome face. Except for our heartbeats, all other sounds were muted. He slithered