Seven nights…It was how long the first Alpha of Gotham pack had been avoiding me. The sharp sting of pain in my finger made me hiss before I realized I had nibbled the damned limb down to the bone.How dare he embarrass me like this?! Did Anything have any idea what humiliation I had to endure when I heard the maids gossiping about his attention to that Elena bitch when he hadn't even come by to see me!Was I just another fucking mistress to him now?!“Curse you!” I screeched, slamming one of the fancy ceramic plant pots hard against the wall where it shattered into tiny porcelain pieces, the sight of which did nothing to calm the raging burn in my chest.“M’lady, you must calm down, for the sake of the bairn at least-” One of the fresh-faced pussies Anthony had assigned to me squealed and I turned to give the bitch a look that could have turned her into stone.“Calm down?! Shut your dirty mouth you little whore! It's my child to do with as I please!” I roared, watching the maid jerk
Anthony’s POVThe noise of drills and chisels roared in the castle foyer as I stormed toward the high-rise apartment building of the redhead’s chambers.I tried to put the disastrous thoughts of the elders forcing me to mate with Carla the way they had forced my father to mate with my mother and bike rose in my throat.“Please goddess,” I prayed, hoping I was not too late as I rounded the gold stair banister that looked over the hallway to Carla’s chambers.The huge gold double doors bowed away easily as I launched my foot into the wood…HARD, ignoring the uniformed guards at the doorpost who scrambled away hurriedly.The room had been plunged into darkness, with only a faint yellow light from the overhead candelabra illuminating the sultry seductress who had been sitting with her legs crossed on the bed…almosy as if she had been waiting for me.What the fuck?“At last, I was wondering when you were going to show up.” She murmured in a sultry voice that instantly sparked my rage when I
I shifted my weight uneasily on both feet as a loud rumbling of thunder pedaled through the night’s air, the second time now since we had marched on horseback into the thick forest of dried trees.“How long has the body been here?” Anthony’s gruff voice was emotionless, but I could sense the rage simmering beneath his calm exterior.The rogue’s words blurred in my ears as I stared at the body…or what remained of it. Ezra Gooding...one of the elite wolves of Gotham looked like a bloody mass of potato pudding, a dark stain on the billowing snow.Murdered. Whoever did this had been trying to send a message. “This is bad boss…shit hitting the sky type of fucked up-” Klein Markov’s gravelly rumble made me grind my teeth before I tore my gaze away from the mess of skin and bones and teeth that looked nothing like the hearty elder I had seen only hours ago.“Whoever did this Anthony…it had to have been recent! Don't you see?!” I snarled, whirling around to face my brother’s daunting frame a
ELENA’S POVMy knuckles turned white on the soft pillow I gripped in my hand as I blinked slowly, only hearing the noise of my heart hammering in my chest in the silence that followed.What the hell was that? My pulse throbbed in my wrists as I sat up slowly, taking in the quiet hum of the overhead air vents in the shadowy room.The fire in the stone hearth had gone out, leaving an eerie chill in the air that made goosebumps break on my flesh.I couldn't tell if the scream I had heard was all in my head or not before the rushed sound of feet pacing in the hallway snapped me to my feet. I had been sleeping since my trust in Michael, recovering under Emily’s care and the unnecessary amount of sweet soup broths she brought in for me.My body still tingled at the memory of my promise, the way Michael’s manly hands scoured over my body as he murmured praises and sweet nothings in my ear.His sweet woody scent still lingered on my pillows and it was all I could do not to press them to my fa
ELENA WOLFEI watched the fancy-dressed women rush to their queen bee’s side, cooing and fretting over every inch of her perfect face.I tried to ignore the barb of jealousy in my chest as I watched them, now wasn't the time to be distracted, Elena!“Another siege on Gotham…fucking hell, it's like they're pouring in from Hell’s very gates!” Carla breathed, and I swallowed heavily, wondering if Anthony and Michael would have realized what was going on.They had made it out of the palace at dawn and it was almost midnight now. The royal wolves could hold their own against the invaders but it was clear from the screams of anguish outside that they were outnumbered.“We can't stay here, we’ve got to find a way to get to the bunkers-” Carla hedged, wringing her hands in her skirts before I realized it was the first time I had seen real terror masking her beautiful face. The bang of a body slamming against the door made us all gasp and the overhead lights whined and fizzled, becoming dim a
ANTHONY’S POVThe dark-haired woman went limp in my arms before I glanced down to see that her porcelain face was pale…drained of blood.“In here! I want all the healing balms and tonics in here this minute! Stop the bleeding!” My brother growled as we tore into one of the white-walled rooms of the royal infirmary. A crowd of nursemaids swarmed over to us, bowing their courtesy before lifting the woman from my arms.“Your Highness…if you would step outside please-” One of the nursemaids rasped, and I felt Michael’s hand wrap around my shoulder to pull me back before I could refuse.The huge double doors banged close in my face and I turned to see my brother’s strained face staring at me.“What the hell Michael? I need to be in there to see what they're doing to her-” I started before he cut in rudely, flashing his fangs at me so that I stumbled back in shock.“Like you suddenly care about her now? Fuck off, Anthony! You might be the most powerful Alpha in all of Gotham's pack and beyo
ANTHONY’S POVMy eyes found the woman almost immediately, her small face turned to face me as I walked in before the maids excused themselves, bowing wordlessly to me and shutting the doors behind them with a soft click.“Elena -”“Anthony-” We spoke at the same time before I cleared my throat awkwardly, shifting my weight from foot to foot before exhaling as some of the tension in my shoulders relaxed.“How are you?” I started as she rose to her feet and I tried desperately to keep my eyes from roaming over her body. Elena looked as delectable as ever.The white frock of the infirmary uniform was transparent as she stood in the warm yellow of the sunlight dripping in from the half-open curtains.Her dark hair tumbled freely…sexily over her shoulders, parting around her full perky breasts and pink nipples that pressed insistently against the cloth.Arousal stirred in my groin and my heart hammered against my ribs despite myself. I couldn't believe she was carrying my child inside her.
ELENA’s POVIt was strange how fast my life could have flipped downside up in what seemed like a split-second.If anyone had told me seven nights ago that I would be sitting in one of the most luxurious royal rooms of Gotham Palace with gifts piled around me and my legs hefted up in a handmaid’s lap, I would have tagged the heifer a lunatic.But that was exactly what I was doing, plopping juicy purple grapes one after another in my mouth and moaning when the sweet tangy flavor cooled my tongue and throat.Pregnant. Fedora’s words had changed the course of my life entirely. I was a new woman, more loved…more fearful.“Is there any news about the Alphas yet? Emily? Rosa?” I asked, glancing up from Emily’s bowed head to her wide-eyed friend Rosa who stood stiffly by the corner, watching her bathe the length of my bare feet in oils and tonics.It had been two nights since Anthony came up into my quarters with somber hazel eyes and a handful if roses and told me about their reckoning in a