Chapter Five
Kendall’s POVI never thought the day of the festival would turn out like this. The air should have been filled with excitement and joy, but instead, it felt heavy with tension and resentment.My father, as usual, had been in one of his moods, barking orders and criticizing every move we made. Watching my mother and sister obey his every command without question made my blood boil.It was as if they were programmed to do whatever he said, no matter how unreasonable or unfair it seemed. I couldn’t stand it anymore.As we prepared for the festivities, I pulled my mother and sister aside, hoping to reason with them. “Can’t you see what he’s doing to us?” I whispered urgently, my frustration seeping into every word. “We don’t have to take this. We can stand up to him, together.”But before I could finish my words, my mother’s hand connected with my cheek in a sharp slap. Shocked, I stumbled backward, the sting of her betrayal burning on my skin.“How dare you speak against your father!” she hissed, her eyes flashing with anger. “He’s the head of this household, and you will show him the respect he deserves.”Tears pricked at the corners of my eyes as I stared at her in disbelief. How could she defend him after everything he put us through?“But mother, he’s not being fair!” I protested, my voice trembling with emotion. “He treats us sometimes like servants, not his family.”My sister, always the calm one, stepped forward, her expression torn between loyalty to our father and sympathy for me. “Kendall, please,” she pleaded, her voice barely above a whisper. “Let’s not ruin the festival, okay?”I shook my head, my hand still on my cheek, unable to hold back the flood of frustration and hurt that overwhelmed me. “No,” I said, my voice choked with emotion. “We can’t keep pretending that everything’s okay. It’s not.”But before I could say anything else, father’s booming voice interrupted us. “What’s going on here?” he demanded, his eyes narrowing as he took in the scene before him.My mother and sister quickly straightened up, their faces schooled into expressions of submission. “Nothing, dear,” my mother said quickly, her tone sugary sweet. “Just a little disagreement, that’s all.”My father’s gaze shifted over to me, and I could feel the weight of his disapproval like a physical force. “Enough,” he said sternly, his voice brooking no argument. “We have guests arriving soon, and I won’t have any more of this nonsense. Is that clear?”“Yes father”–“Yes my dear.” I heard my sister and mother respond simultaneously.Defeated, I nodded silently, unable to muster the strength to defy him that moment. I couldn’t shake the feeling of isolation that settled over me like a suffocating blanket.It seemed that no matter what I said or did, I would always be alone in my fight against my father’s or anyone else’s control over me.Feeling the weight of my family’s expectations bearing down on me, I dashed to my room, desperate for an alone moment. Once inside, I collapsed onto my bed, hot tears streaming down my cheeks unchecked.The pain of betrayal from my mother’s slap and the overwhelming frustration of my father’s dominance engulfed me, leaving me feeling utterly alone.Each sob tore through me like a knife, releasing the pent-up emotions that had been simmering beneath the surface for far too long. It wasn't fair, none of it was.As the minutes passed, my tears eventually subsided, leaving me drained but strangely determined. Wiping away the remnants of my anguish, I sat up and took a deep breath, steeling myself for the waiting festival outside.I rose from my bed and smoothed out my rumpled clothes, adjusted my makeup which tears had ruined. There was a festival to attend, guests to greet, and despite the ache in my heart, I wouldn’t let anything ruin the celebration.Taking one last look in the mirror to compose myself, I straightened my shoulders and headed back out, ready to join the event which had already started.Emerging from the room, my eyes still puffy and my cheeks stained with evidence of my earlier distress, I heard the sounds of laughter and music drifting through the air, a complete difference to the heaviness that weighed in my chest and made me cry just moments ago.As I made my way into the event, I couldn’t shake the sense of unease that ate at me from within. Would tonight be any different from the countless other gatherings where I felt like an outsider in my own family?Would I ever find someone who understood me, who saw past the façade of perfection my father so carefully crafted?Lost in my thoughts, I barely registered my father’s voice as he approached me, his hand grasping my arm with a firm grip. “Kendall, there you are,” he said, his tone sharp with impatience. “I need you to make introductions to some of our guests. It’s important for the family’s reputation.”But before he could continue, my attention was suddenly diverted by a figure across the room, a figure that seemed to glow with an aura of power and strength. My heart skipped a beat as I realized who it was: Alpha Declan.Ignoring my father’s demands, I pulled away from his grasp and made way to Declan, my pulse quickening with each step. It was as if the rest of the world faded away, leaving only him and me in our own little bubble of existence.“Alpha Declan,” I greeted breathlessly as I reached him, a smile spreading across my face despite the ache in my heart. “It’s so good to see you again.”Declan turned to face me, his eyes lighting up with recognition and something else, something that sent shivers down my spine. “Kendall,” he said, his voice low and husky. “I was hoping I would run into you soon enough.”But just as the night seemed to stretch on forever in my little bubble of happiness, reality came crashing back with a vengeance. My father’s voice cut through the air like a knife, harsh and demanding.“Kendall,” he said, his tone icy with disapproval. “What do you think you’re doing? I told you to make introductions, not socialize with the guests.”I glanced back at my father, a flicker of defiance sparking in my eyes. As always, I refused to cower under his oppressive gaze. “I’m sorry, father,” I said, my voice steady despite the tremor of fear that threatened to overtake me. “But I have something more important to attend to.”Chapter SixKendall’s POVThe atmosphere buzzed with excitement and anticipation among the crowd gathered for the mating festival.My heart pounded with nervousness, my senses tingling with the knowledge that Alpha Declan was there, just a few feet away from me.Alpha Declan was my mate, the one I had dreamed of since I could not remember, and now, finally, my dreams were becoming a reality.As I stood staring at him there in the room, my pulse quickened with every sight of his handsome face and powerful presence.It was as if the universe had aligned to bring us together, to fulfill the destiny that had been written in the stars.But my father hovered behind me like a shadow, his disapproving gaze burning into the back of my skull as he continued to demand that I go make introductions to the guests.Ignoring his persistent demands, I focused all my attention on Alpha Declan, my heart singing with the knowledge that he was mine, that we were meant to be together.But just as I was abo
Chapter SevenDeclan’s POVAs the last of the rogues fled, defeated, Kendall turned to me, her eyes beaming with tears in them. “Are they gone? Are we safe now?” she whispered questions.Turning to her, I offered a reassuring smile, though I could see the fear lingering in her eyes. “Don’t worry, Kendall,” I said, my voice calm and steady. “We’re safe now. The rogues won’t dare to attack us again.”Kendall nodded, though her expression remained tense with worry. I could understand her apprehension; it was only natural to fear the unknown, especially in times of danger.I knew that my pack was more than capable of handling any threat that came our way. “Alpha,” one of my men approached. “We’ve taken care of them, but a few managed to escape into the woods. What are your orders?”I considered my options for a moment before nodding decisively. “Send out a search party,” I instructed. “I want those rogues found and brought to justice. We cannot allow them to continue threatening the terri
Chapter EightKendall’s POVThe next morning, I woke with a heavy heart, the events of the previous night weighing heavily on my mind. Despite my best efforts to push aside the hurt and disappointment, they lingered like a dark cloud, casting a heavy cloud over the new day.As I lay there, the soft rays of sunlight filtering through the curtains, I couldn’t help but feel a sense of sadness wash over me. I had stormed out of the room in a fit of anger after Declan’s cold rejection last night.Unable to bear the thought of facing Declan after his rejection, now in the quiet solitude of the morning, I couldn’t shake the feeling of regret that ate at me from within.With a heavy sigh, I rolled over in bed, expecting to find Declan lying beside me, his presence a constant reminder of the distance that still separated us. But to my surprise, the other side of the bed was empty, the sheets cold and made.Confusion and disappointment flooded through me as I sat up, scanning the room for any s
Chapter NineKendall’s POVTwo weeks had passed since I arrived among Declan’s pack, and each day felt like years of loneliness. Declan remained as stubborn and cold as ever, his indifference to me constantly reminded me of my failure to win his affection.The pack members, too, made it clear that I was not welcome among them. They treated me with disdain and suspicion, their eyes cold and unwelcoming every time as they went about their duties.It was clear that they saw me as nothing more than an outsider, an stranger among them. Despite my best efforts to fit in though, to prove myself worthy of their acceptance, it seemed that nothing I did was enough to earn anyone’s trust.No matter how hard I worked or how honestly I tried to please them, I remained a stranger. But somehow, I refused to give up hope. Knowing that he was the key to everything, I was determined to prove to Declan and his pack that I was worthy of respect, that I belonged by his side as his mate.One evening, as I
Chapter TenKendall’s POVAs the day of the wedding approached, a sense of dread settled over me like a heavy cloud. I couldn’t shake the feeling of terror of what the future held with Declan as my mate and husband that gripped my heart. But with the arrangements for the wedding already made, there was no turning back now. The ride back to my father’s pack for the ceremony was a silent one, filled with tension and unspoken resentment between us. I sat stiffly beside Declan, staring out the window as the scenery blurred past, my mind a whirlwind of emotions.I missed my home, the familiar sights and sounds of my father’s pack. Returning felt like stepping into a nightmare, a reminder of the life I was leaving behind and the uncertain future that awaited me. Throughout the journey, I didn’t say a word to Declan, and he seemed content to let the silence stretch between us. Perhaps he too was wrestling with his own doubts and fears, or maybe he simply didn’t care.As we arrived at my fa
Chapter ElevenKendall’s POVFeeling suffocated by the weight of my choices, I fled to the bathroom, seeking comfort in the only place where I could be alone with my thoughts.The tears came fast and hot, streaming down my cheeks in silent torrents as I collapsed to the floor, the sound of my sobs echoing off the walls.But after a while, a new sensation washed over me, one that was far more unsettling. My stomach churned with nausea, and before I knew it, I was retching violently into the toilet bowl, the bitter taste of bile burning in the back of my throat.I stayed there for what felt like an eternity, the pain and despair running over me. But as the minutes stretched on, a new feeling began to take root within me, a feeling of defiance that that I had always had.I couldn’t go back to Declan, couldn’t bear the thought of spending the rest of my days in a loveless marriage, trapped in terrible life of humiliations, a life that was originally of my choosing — what a shame.No, I ha
Chapter TwelveDeclan’s POVAs I stood there in the dim room, the dagger clenched tightly in my hand, I watched as Kendall’s eyes widened in terror.The fear radiating off her was palpable, her body trembling as she backed away from me, her breath coming in shallow, ragged gasps.I could feel the power coursing through me, the rush of adrenaline as I held the dagger high, its gleaming blade catching the faint light of the room.But even as I reveled in the fear that I had instilled in Kendall, a part of me felt a twinge of guilt, a flicker of remorse at the sight of her cowering before me.But I quickly pushed aside those feelings, burying them deep within me as I advanced towards her, the dagger held out menacingly in front of me.“You thought you could escape from me, didn’t you, Kendall?” I taunted, my voice dripping with malice. “You thought you could just run away and leave me behind.”Kendall’s eyes widened even further, her breath coming in short gasps as she pressed herself ag
Chapter ThirteenKendall’s POVAs I dashed through the darkened woods, my heart pounding in my chest, I felt a surge of adrenaline coursing through my veins. Every rustle of leaves, every snap of twigs sent shivers down my spine, but I pushed on, driven by the desperate need to escape.My breath came in gasps as I ran, my muscles burning with exertion. I didn’t know where I was going, didn’t have a plan beyond putting as much distance between myself and Declan as possible.But as I emerged into a clearing, the moonlight casting a glow over the landscape, I saw a path leading towards the mountains in the distance. I recognized those mountains from our journey here, the towering peaks a familiar sight that filled me with hope.If I could reach them, if I could find a way to navigate through the terrain, perhaps I could find a way to escape this nightmare once and for all.But as I pushed myself to keep running, the exhaustion began to take its toll, my legs heavy with fatigue. I stumble