Erin’s POVRED STONE PACK. I did not think I would step foot in this place again. It felt surreal to be standing in its soil once more, looking at familiar places and things reminding me of the past. We came to the heart of the territory and walked past a small patch of ground with an old tree. I used to play under this tree when I was a child, and when I became old enough to understand things, this tree served as my hiding place from the rest of the world. Its sturdy trunk became my confidant. Looking around me, I saw other familiar places - the training ground -where my father forbade me to step foot on because it broke our mother’s heart seeing Lyla getting weak every day while I grew stronger in contrast. Then up ahead, I saw the silhouette of our packhouse, where I used to serve as a maid in my own household. It reminded me of the dark basement where I spend my nights alone and inside a cage for animals. My eyes misted in remembrance, and my heart ached like it was close
Erin’s POV“We are at your service, Luna Erin,” Boris said. He laid his right hand over his chest, and his head bowed as a sign of respect. The men with him did the same. They all greeted me and Alaric with respect. A first in my recollection. As far as my father Alpha’s pack is concerned, I was a nobody and therefore not worthy of high esteem and recognition.It is a little daunting to see the change in their countenance, but humbling, too. It made me realize the pivotal role my mate and I would play in their lives. Nodding my head in response to Boris, my glance swept over a dozen or so wolves who did not join Gavyn in his lunatic quest for Alphadom and felt a sudden surge of tenderness in my heart. It was unexpected. “Thank you,” I said to everyone, looking each of them in the eye until finally, my gaze landed on Boris. Gone was the shame and regret I gleaned from him before. All I saw was deep respect and loyalty. Our gazes met and held. I poured out all my gratitude to
Erin's POVWhat is known to be Gavyn’s lair is not that far. The trip to Gavyn's sanctuary actually took us thirty minutes or so in our wolf state.I was dumbfounded when Gamma Alexander finally gave the order to stop.“We are here.” Alaric and I looked at each other before my eyes quickly took in the house and the surrounding area. It is actually located on a hilltop, which still forms part of the Red Stone Pack territory. “Can you tell me anything about Gavyn? Is he born a pure Warlock?’ I turned around and asked Alexander while we tackled the rocky path. Given that I saw him shift to a werewolf, I can not help but think that Gavyn has werewolf genes in his blood, too. It is not uncommon. Werewolves could be mated to anyone, but those cross-breed matings have their own ups and downs. “None that I know of. He was an orphan when Fabian Gray took him in.” Alaric supplied, and I nodded. The climb proved difficult. It was tricky to climb between rocks and a craggy path. It con
Alaric’s POVMy eyes widened in shock when I saw my mate crumpled in pain. A trail of liquid the color of dark red gushed out of her sacred triangle leaving a path down her milky white legs.In no time, I hoisted her up in my arms, repeatedly whispering words of comfort to her ears.“She passed out.” Gamma Alexander told me. It is as I have feared. Erin fell unconscious in my arms. Fear like I never knew before assailed me. I was scared stiff as I stared blankly at Erin’s pale face. Her lips looked coarse and dehydrated, its skin peeling off. Then, she started thrashing in my arms. Her brows furrowed like she was in so much pain. I held on to her firmly. Afraid to drop her on the ground. Gamma Alexander held out his palm to show me something that had escaped my attention earlier. It was an injectable, much like the one I had taken from Lyla’s lab, but the remaining liquid inside looked bluish in color. The thrashing continued as her face became flushed. From her almost deat
Emma’s POVAfter dropping Cirala off to be with his Alpha father, I walked out of the operating room to find Beth and Rose sitting by the rows of chairs intended for waiting visitors. Accompanying them were Steven, Anton, and the others. They all looked tired and fretful, like everyone else. We did not get enough rest and sleep in the last few days. They rose promptly to their feet anxiously awaiting news after seeing me emerging from the operating room.“How is our Luna?” Steven, our elder, asked when I reached them.“Has our Luna woken up?” Anton asked next.The others, especially Beth and Rose, were hanging on their words and were all eagerly awaiting an update.My gaze encompassed them all before landing on Elder Steven and Pack Secretary Anton. My heart felt heavy, hating to be the bearer of bad news. “She lost the baby,” I told everyone and saw their shoulders sagging collectively in regret.A quiet descended upon us. Some were surprised to know that Luna was with a pup w
Alaric’s POV“Erin love, please do not crack jokes like that. You are making me worry.” I told her when she tried to clamber out of bed to rush to Boris’s side, who was standing shell-shocked behind an equally shocked Emma.“I am not joking, and will you please stop with this love nonsense? How did I become your love? I don’t even know you!” Erin screeched in obvious displeasure.We froze on the spot when she flew into a rage, but my eyes were alert, watching her every move. My gut twisted, and when I looked to the side, I met Emma’s understanding gaze, which made me feel worse. This is the first time Erin used that tone on me. We may argue, but she would not address me using that tone. Then, I became the subject of her frosty glares as she warned, “Don’t call me love. It gives me the creeps. You do not have the right to call me that. We are not mates.” She growled, shuddering. Her gaze mirrored the disgust in her voice, probably at the idea that I was her mate. Her sha
Alaric’s POV“Come.” I beckoned Emma to follow me as I waded through the narrow hallway to later arrive at the elevator bay. I pressed the down button, and when the car opened, we got in. Cirala's head turned around as he took in his new surroundings. He wiggled in my arms and lifted his little hand to reach the overhead light. When the elevator door opened on the first floor, we stepped out. We went through a series of maze-like hallways, passing the lobby where people who recognized me as their Alpha nodded in my direction until we reached the entrance to the emergency room. We found Dr. Martin inside. She came ahead of us and greeted us at the door to report on our patients’ progress. “All the patients are still under observation. If we find that they do not exhibit episodes like the Beta and the Gamma until tomorrow, then they are free to go.”“What do you mean?” My brows knotted because I was not fully aware of the situation with my Beta and Gamma until now. I let Emma ha
Alaric’s POVThe same type of scene played out in the next couple of days. Frankly, I was increasingly getting frustrated and angrier as each day passed that Erin would not recognize me. It was like I was in limbo, stuck in place without any semblance of going forward or backward. “Maybe you just have to let her be.” Dr, Martin suggested. I looked at her sharply. “What do you mean to let her be?" I countered in anger. Dr. Martin looked stiffly at me, at a loss for words."If I let her be, she would be running back to the Red Stone Pack with Boris by her side. And where would that leave me then? No. I can not do that. Erin is mine! She belongs with me!” I was trying so hard not to growl, but the disappointment and frustrations of the last couple of weeks were slowly getting to me, and I could not hold back lashing out at people. When I caught a glimpse of Dr. Martin, her expression was like a douse of cold water. It brought me back to my senses. I stepped back and rum