Why is my heart beating so fast? That was the question that kept on echoing inside my head as I met Alexei’s persistent gaze. And even though it made me tense and strangely giddy, I couldn't deprive myself of looking at those beautiful grey eyes. This time, it wasn't my wolf who had her eyes fixated on Alexei but also me. There was no point in denying this rising feeling inside me that I didn't want to acknowledge before because it had to do with my past with Alexei. Given what he had mercilessly rejected me, the scathing words we had thrown at each other, that non-stop banter completed with a threat of our life, who would have thought that I would wake up one day not wanting to kill Alexei? “Aera?” When the former Alpha called my name, I snapped back to reality and realized that I was in front of Alexei’s family, who were now wondering about my abrupt halt and silence. Their reaction was plausible except Alexia had the most intolerable countenance, probably because of what I did i

24 hours earlier...I winced when I saw the brown wolf drop to the ground after Alexia’s first attack. She placed her strong paw on that neck’s wolf, who was now whimpering in defeat while pinned on the ground. Since everybody already advances in their sword handles, they proceed to wolf training like planned.But seeing how Alexia showed them how to defend themselves in a wolf battle made me recall all the intense training I experienced with Mason. Every day, I would break a bone, mostly in my arms and my back. There are times that I would even lose consciousness out of exhaustion. I was thankful I had my wolf to heal me, otherwise I don't think I would ever survive.The wolf frantically wiggled her tail as a sign of surrender and then Alexia released her with a low growl. She spun around to have a respite before she stared at the next wolf to attack her. I saw how the grey wolf put her stance before charging at Alexia. But as powerful as Alexei, she sent the wolf flying back to her

“Stay resting, Aera,” Mason said in his most forbidding manner. “You fainted last night. Miss Ivanov, the pack’s doctor, strongly advised that you should rest and avoid putting yourself under strain for a while because you might get head trauma from that fall. Don’t persist.”I shook my head, tugging the blanket covering me and placing it on one side. “No. I am fine, Mason. I need to see Alexei. I need to see my mate now.”I got up and then held my head when it rankled as my vision spun all of a sudden, making me draw back and sit back on the bed. I heard Mason cluck his tongue at me before I turned to him with a wince only to see him giving me a disappointed look.“Why must you insist, Aera? Since when did you become so stubborn?” he asked before he poured me a glass of water on the metal glass and handed it out to me. “Thank Goddess, I came to see you in the dining hall before I decided to head to my room. The pack’s doctor was frantic and in need of help when I arrived. I don't kno

Mason didn’t answer but refused to meet my gaze. With the remaining strength I left, I stood up. Since I haven't been eating for weeks, my knees wobbled, causing me to lose balance slightly. Mason walked towards me to offer assistance but I raised my hand to stop him.“Answer me...” I demanded, my hand placed on my stomach as I force myself to keep standing. “Answer my question, damn it!” “He did!” he bit off and breathed out in order to calm himself. “Your father ordered me to stay for your protection just in case members of Triton turned their back on you. And then he wanted to persuade you to leave this pack after seeing the revolt of your subordinate that night.” “And for what? Be his heir and rule the pack who treated me like garbage?” I asked with a scoff, disbelieving that Mason has other intentions aside from my own protection, which I appreciated at first, but now not anymore. “Lead the members who had disdained me for my looks and incapacity for how many years, Mason? Ten y

“Look at me...” I said, which Alexei contemplated but ended up acquiescing. When he finally looked in my direction, I smiled at him with the sweetest smile I had ever given to someone. I cupped his face and brought my face closer to his. “It doesn't matter to me now, you see. What matters is we both feel the same. We may have lost the five years of possible happy copulation but we all have the years together ahead of us.” I felt him concur but there was still reluctance in his acquiescence in the way he looked at me, questions inside his head that needed to be answered but couldn't inquire without being attacked by guilt. The longer I embraced my feelings for Alexei, the more he appeared to be transparent in my eyes. Even though he was holding back his thoughts, I knew exactly what he had in mind. Not just because we are mates and we share feelings, but because he never feared to show his emotions to me anymore. “You must be wondering why it was easy for me to move on...” I gave him