It wasn't until she saw the blood splattered over her hands that the anger wore off.Anna’s eyes widened, and she stared down at her hands as she began to connect the dots of what had happened.The sound of growling around ehr increased.“Abomination,” she heard one of the werewolves hiss, and it made her head snap and turn to see the hatred in every single one of their eyes.Damn it. What had she done? What had she DONE?Lowly hissed words reached her ears, as the werewolves surrounded her.If words and looks could kill, the redhead knew she would already be taking her last breaths. As she stared at their elongated claws and canines, she tried and failed to quell the feeling of dread welling up in her heart.Through the hissing and growls aimed at her, however, William’s loud voice shocked everyone into silence.“ENOUGH!’All eyes turned to William and as he limped towards her, they all parted like the Red Sea.“Go and look for the wounded,” he ordered them, without removing his gaze

Aléa sighed as the paperwork finally cleared off her desk. Sometimes she wondered at the sanity behind her decision to take over as head of the Hunter Organization.“Is that the last of them?” she asked Victor, who was seated at another desk and looking just as weary.Her cousin nodded, smiling although it didn't reach his eyes. She knew that it had less to do with the battle that had just been fought and more to do with how NOT fun paperwork was. He must be bored out of his mind, she surmised with a wry smile, returning to the last document on the desk.The Huntress’ golden eyes scanned the area of the office Damon had occupied in the Erikson Enterprises office building in the city. Now that he was dead, and his body had been recovered courtesy of Alpha William, it was time to return home. Already the Elders had been given the news of Damon’s defeat and his acts that caused such actions to be taken against him in the first place. Not all of them were happy about Aléa acting on her ow

William couldn’t fault Anna for her anxiousness. However he was a bit hesitant to tell her the truth.“William,” Anna reached to touch William’s cheek, her eyes full of terrible curiosity. “Please.”He knew he couldn’t lie to her so he only had one choice. To tell the truth.“Lily and I broke off our engagement,” he said first, before pausing.Anna’s brows furrowed.“Broke off the engagement?” She asked confusedly. Why did that not sound as relieving as it should have been? “Is… is that a good thing or…”“I wouldn’t say it is,” the Alpha responded in a roundabout way. “A lot happened, especially earlier this morning while you were resting. It’s a lot to talk about right now.”“But I want to know,” she replied in a firm voice.“It's not your concern,” he said to her. “You just got back to me, Anna. I won’t have anything else happening for now.”Anna couldn’t help but laugh mirthlessly at the way William said those words.The redhead couldn’t deny that she was touched by William’s show

“Mommy? Are you okay?”Anna looked at her darling little son and daughter, who gazed worriedly at her. She had been trying to put on a happy face as she took them up the stairs and to their bedroom. But once she thought them sufficiently distracted, it wasn't hard to let herself properly feel and process what happened downstairs in the dining room.Perhaps, she had been too open.“I’m alright, darlings. Don't worry about me,”She smiled widely even though she definitely didn't feel like it.Andrew and Andrea peered at her, their brows furrowed briefly, before they both nodded in unison and gave her warm hugs before returning to play.As soon as her twin’s backs were turned, her smile dropped instantly. Her hands trembled, but not from the force of trying to control her newfound powers, but from pain and hurt. Tears pricked her eyes and she closed her eyes briefly trying to stop them from falling.“Oh God,” she murmured to herself, sniffling. Nearly half a second later, she heard the do

Anna didn’t know what to say after William was done talking. She had not expected to hear that sort of thing coming from him. He used to be so stone cold towards her, at least on the surface… and now things had changed. For the better or for worse, she didn't know just yet, but she was pleased and warmed by it.“Will…” she began to say only for him to continue.“Anna, all you have to do is promise me that, and I won't have a problem with anything else. No matter what, don’t forget you're my mate and you are my top priority. You and our children, and our family. It matters more to me than anything.”The honesty wasn’t one thing he expected either to come from himself, especially with her. He had once prided himself on being unruffled by shows of love and affection that most other 5 men his age seemed to fall under the thrall of. William particularly recalled an occasion in which a VIP client spoke fondly of his wife and daughters and asked William if he had any himself to which the Alp