ALEXIOS Her reaction frightened me. I had seen in her eyes the betrayal he feared she had committed against herself and her family. Her response was valid but so was mine. This wasn't my fault. I didn't know why I got so jealous when Archie approached and danced with her. Why I wanted to kiss and fuck her every time our eyes crossed paths. Things used to be so much easier before the moon goddess decided to fuck all of that up. I stopped the music giving it an afterthought. I could not allow Lydia back into the party all teary-eyed. My mother would surely ask questions and Lydia would spill considering she was so much volatile at the moment. I ran after her. It was then I felt it. It was the feel of Lydia Nightshade's fear. Her anger, her determination to be free of the danger she was in. Danger. She was in danger. My feet quickened and as I got closer to the ballroom, I stumbled on a dreaded sight. Some force had sent Lydia zooming through the air. She crashed into a pillar causi

CLARA I chose to be my son's side when I see him snap at everyone he loved. You only do that out of desperation. I had been in a similar situation myself and I could assure the entire world that it was not a pretty place. When I lost Alexios and his father. I was certain I would die. That moment when I felt the bond to my husband being cut off. I literally went insane. I had been alone then. Looking at how frantic Alexios became seeing his rejected mate in a pool of blood proved that I had been right. By some miracle from the mother of night, the rejection had failed. Alexios was still very much Lydia 's mate. I saw myself in his place when he threw the tablecloth along with everything the pack women had prepared for the feast. I moved to his side once the healer arrived. A talented werewolf from an unknown pack that my late husband had adopted. Her gift was one of healing. But even knowing that, I couldn't help but be worried about what would happen if Lydia was one of the fe

LYDIA A dull pain stabbed me all over as I felt life return to me. The image of my mother slowly faded and morphed into a silhouetted figure that hovered above me. My sight was far from clear so I assumed this was death coming to take me to the bosoms of my parents. Its warm hands caressed my face and in a whisper, the figure spoke."Are you alright Lydia?"The voice. It sounded familiar. It reminded me of someone. Someone that was not supposed to be here. I looked around and noticed that the walls were floral pink. The soft scent of cologne and spices filled the air. This didn't look like heaven or hell and it certainly did not look like my room in the Rose mansion. I blinked incessantly until my vision cleared up. I glanced again at the hovering figure from before. It was Alexios if my memory was not failing. It came so casually that I immediately jumped to the side of the bed the moment it struck home that it was indeed Alexios. "What... Why are you here?" I stammered, grabbing

LYDIA As I opened the doors I was met by the confused and terrified face of Clara. She had been listening. Too awestruck to move and do a thing about it. In a way, it did make things better. I didn't even know I would have been able to face her and tell her that I was leaving. Clara grabbed me by the hand and dragged me towards her son. With tears in her eyes, she proceeded to speak. "Rebuke the rejection!" Alexios looked at her then back at me before giving his reply. "That is not my choice to make."His reply caused Clara to look at me. She pulled me even closer, her hands cupping my cheek as a mother would to her child. "Child," She began. "Believe me when I say this because everything that is leaving my lips right this instant is nothing but the truth. Do not let your hate fester on your eternity. Second chances are not always guaranteed."I wanted to so badly give her the answer she wanted. If I could, I would but I had made up my mind and there was no changing it. "This isn'

FIONA "Wow," I chuckled, laughing at the euphoria that followed. "You think we should break up?" It felt like the things that haunted my nightmares. Did Alexios really think I would just hear that, give him a smile and call it quits? "That is very noble of you Alexios. Why? Why should we break up? Because you think we are toxic? We are not Alexios!""I am doing this because I love you, Fiona." He told me. Hecate! Did he think I was so gullible! His words seemed to open my eyes. They were closed before. Yes, they were. If not, I would have seen this from a mile away. This wasn't a breakup. No. This was a setup. How could have not seen it before? Alexios noticed my demeanor and tried to move closer. As he did, I looked him square in the face and said. "That is why you sent her off didn't you?" "What...do you even mean by that?"Oh, he was playing dumb. Men. I did love him but I was not stupid enough to ignore the game being played in front of me. Clara paying me a visit and telling