ADRIANA
Henry was the only person mum allowed me to come with. I know for a fact Kian wanted to come, but it is not the right time. I agreed with her on that.
I needed to focus. Because though this is for me, I am not the only one involved which makes it bigger than me. Bigger than just revenge.
“I’m right next door,” Henry says, handing me the key to my room.
“Okay, thank you.” I replied, offering a grateful smile.
He was nice enough to help me bring my things in.
We are at a cheap motel on the outskirts of a small town. I asked if that was where Xander’s pack was but he said no. This is the closest place which wouldn’t draw attention and is close to the airport. Our flight is early tomorrow morning.
We’ll go to a town close to Xander’s pack from then.
I don’t remember where it is, I’m not even sure I ever knew it.
He kept me like a prisoner, I was never allowed to step out so I couldn’t even tell.
“I’ll leave you to it. You can order room service if you want anything.” He then nods and walks out of the room.
I sighed, plopping on the single bed in the room. We haven’t even been here for more than a few minutes and I’m already itching to get it over with. I want to head back to the life I am used to.
Searching for the phone mum gave me when we were leaving. I sent her a quick text, letting her know we’ve arrived at the hotel. She replies almost immediately, wishing us the best of luck.
She reminded me to focus on everything I know and I’m sure of, adding that if I felt nervous. I should tell Henry I want to go back home.
Sitting alone, I even thought of calling it quits.
Who was I kidding when I thought I could do this now?
I needed more time, more power. I’m rushing into this. I should have let my mum go through with this the way she wanted.
Or you could stand up for yourself and fight this, like you have been training for six months.
Another voice adds, fighting the first. I let out a muffled scream.
The voices keep arguing but I ignore them and slip into the bed. The drive here tired me out. I have never been cramped in a car for so long, and I couldn’t really eat anything because of how anxious I was to get to this.
Seeing him again.
Xander. Thinking about him still felt odd.
I have tried searching my memories for any with him but I kept coming up empty. I only know that he used me and he was bad to me. I could dictate all the things he had done to me, but to picture them in my mind, that was so much harder.
The doctor/sorceress said it was also an effect of the poison. My wolf had come back and she is getting more active, especially with all my physical training. But we still aren’t as connected as we should be.
That should make me want to get revenge even more now.
I lie down on my back, looking up at the white ceiling as I mentally go over all the things we discussed. I didn’t want to make any mistakes. And I mostly don’t want to lose sight of our end game.
Xander is manipulative. I need to be extra careful around him. He wouldn’t easily let me go and he would make everything harder. That is what mum said.
I slipped into a deep slumber from there and I didn’t wake up till the next morning.
I had a good luck message from mum which I replied to before I got dressed and went to Henry’s room. He opened the door immediately when I knocked. He was already dressed too.
“I was just about to check if you were ready,” I nodded that I am, holding my duffel a little higher on my shoulder.
He looks down at his wrist and curses under his breath. “We need to get going if we don’t want to miss our flight.” He rushes back inside then comes out with his own backpack. He tosses it over his shoulder and nods towards me. “Let’s go. The cab is already waiting downstairs.”
He takes the suitcase from me, ignoring my argument. I give up and follow him down to the waiting car. We spent the ride in silence and it was awkward as hell.
Believe me when I say, Henry is a cool guy. He is great when it comes to combat, but his social skills are as good as sharks. Which means, he has none.
Now more than ever, I regret Kian not coming with us.
That only made me want to get this over and done with so I can go back home.
We arrived at the airport at the perfect time. Mum didn’t want us to leave any unwanted trail so I’m using a different name. Drea. It is what the people I care about call me, and I find it fitting. If I’m going to come back as a new person. The best thing would be for everything about me to be different too.
Adriana is dead as of today. I think as we walk past the airport security with our tickets in hand. She was weak, she let everyone walk around her.
But Drea, she is strong and she has vowed to make them all pay for what they did to her before.
“Are you okay?” Henry placed his hand on mine, which made me jump because I wasn’t expecting it.
I looked around the plane, my brow creasing in confusion. I couldn’t even remember when we boarded, talk less of finding our seats and buckling in. I must have been lost in thought.
“Yes, I’m fine.” My throat bops as I swallow. I tuck my hair that has been dyed brunette behind my ear, smiling at Henry in a way I hope will make him think I’m fine.
“You went quiet. I’m just worried knowing your mum trusted you with me.” I turn my hand up and intertwine our fingers.
This is probably the most I have touched him when we are not training and it didn’t feel as weird as I thought. He was like a big brother to me. A big, big brother if you may.
“I trust you too. We’ll be fine.”
The flight attendant starting the demonstration and explanation before takeoff, grips my attention. I pay attention to every word that leaves her mouth, quite fascinated by the way she is speaking.
I don’t think I’ve ever been on a plane. I couldn’t remember details of my life but I could tell of experiences. I’m sure this is the first time I'm on a plane.
Excitement starts to build from under my skin. By the time the plane steadies in the air, I’m buzzing with it. Henry noticed too because he seemed happy for me.
The pilot made an announcement too. Letting us know how long the flight will be, three hours, and what time we’ll be landing.
I shut my eyes, breathing in.
This is it. The start of my new life.
ADRIANAThe first phase of our plan is to make sure Xander knows we're here. Our plan for that was already well underway. The moment the plane landed, I was ready to be seen.I exchanged my simple top and jeans for a summer dress. And my brunette hair was let down. cascading over my back, covering what was left open by the dress.There was a town car waiting for us as we arrived. A woman was standing outside the back car, dressed in an impeccable suit with a stoic expression. A uniformed man is beside her and he holds a sign with our names on it."She is for us." Henry says, holding me by my elbow and steering me towards her.Our bags were already in the car from the looks of it because as soon as we approached, the man opened the door of the car."Welcome," the woman's voice is soft but firm.She speaks with an elegance I am not used to. Not in my memory and definitely not in my past life. I am not very good with people, I'm guessing it has to do with the way I grew up."I hope you h
ADRIANAMy heart pounding in my ears, I laid flat on the floor. Eyes looking around the hall wildly trying to see if I can see anyone or where the shot came from.I did my best to not look at the unmoving body on the floor. The body of the woman that was just speaking with me. As much as I tried to not see her, I couldn't stop feeling her blood that was drying too fast on my face.A surge of adrenaline floods through me. It makes my already pounding heart almost seize.Run. I yell to myself in my head but it doesn't help in making me move from the floor.I know I need to get out of here. With no idea where Henry is or what held him this long.I should get out here. Whoever hurt her might still be close and I'm making myself vulnerable.I didn't train for months, pushed all my limits after all that has happened only to be killed on my first day back. I'm not even anywhere near my target and this might end, before it even starts.No. I have to do this. I can't lose my chance before I ev
ALPHA XANDER There are a few things I hate in this world. Dreya, and social gatherings. I would have missed this masquerade but I got a tip that the woman who looked like Adriana will be here tonight. And when she comes, I’ll be here for her. I know she is still alive. Her mental state is what I’m not sure of, and if she is even okay. What Dreya did was dangerous, and any slight wrong move would have blown it all up in flames. Now, that is where we would have a real problem. I took a break to fully mourn my mate, now I am back for her and I’m vengeful. “Aren’t you glad you decided to come out?” Daciana tugs on my arm, making me swivel to face her. She chose to dress as Peresphone tonight, only she has a mask with flowers. I wasn’t in the mood for a party, talk less of one that required me to wear a mask. She understood that so she didn’t pressure me to dress up. But since the requirement for attending is the mask, she got me one for the devil. “No, I’m not.” I reply, keeping
ADRIANAI hear when he comes in. My back stiffened and my heart raced in my chest. My hands which have been cold the entire night are now sweaty and clammy.I maintain my cool and wait for him to approach me.We both know I know of his presence, not that it makes me acknowledge him. According to what mum said, his arrogance wouldn’t let him leave. Being ignored is one of the things he hated.I hated men like that. Albeit, I haven’t met anyone like him in my current life. In the past, probably. Everyone in the pack is like family and they are humble.His footsteps are loud in the quiet room. You can’t hear the sound of the party from here. That must be why mum picked this room.I took in a small unnoticeable breath, reminding myself why I need to do this. I’m nothing like the Adriana he used to know. He should know this by the end of the night.“Not a big party goer.” He says, coming to stand beside me.“Mostly the ones where clothes are taken off in public.” My voice comes out cool an
XANDER“Remind me again, why are we throwing a party?”Daciana asks the same question she has asked five times already. each time, I give her no reply because she wouldn’t believe me anyway.“And why do you care so much about how it is planned? You usually avoid this like the plague.”“I felt like throwing a party, so I’m going to do it.” I replied. We both know that is a fucking lie.I hate parties and I hate throwing them even more. I didn’t have to perform any host duties. The people who make the invite list are usually fucking elated to be there that they know not to talk to me directly. “Bullshit.” She grumbles. “You’re hiding something, and I’m going to find out what.”She points a finger at me, squinting her eyes as she walks out of the room without turning back.Without her breathing over my shoulder, I pick out all the things I want faster. The organizer looked like she couldn’t wait to get the hell out of here. When I told her she could leave, I heard her sigh of relief.It
XANDERThe party has been in full swing for two hours now. Everything is exactly the way I wanted it to be. Yet, I was fucking pissed because she hasn’t shown up.At first, I wasn’t bothered by her lack of attendance, coming up with endless excuses for her. She must have gotten delayed or something happened to her car.The guy I have back at the hotel confirmed that she hasn’t left her room since she went to pick a dress up.I was dying with worry. Did something happen to her or did she simply not want to come?I even went as far as considering this was all delusion on my part. That I had made her up because I didn’t want to believe Adriana was gone.The man isn’t delusional, because what are the chances he is thinking the same thing I am. She is real, and she is not here.“Your special guest still hasn’t arrived?”I ignored Daciana’s taunting question, promising myself the next time she asked, I’m going to knock her the fuck out.“If you told me who she is or what she looked like, I
ADRIANAI hear it then, in the rough edge of Xander’s voice, in the way he makes me tremble even without lifting a finger toward me. I see the reason why he is so feared.He could pretend to be a gentleman all he wanted but he couldn’t shake the monster he was underneath. He can wear a designer suit and comb his hair back, every single strand bent to submission atop his head. But that doesn’t mean he has control over his basic urges.And last, his stride, always so confident and a tad bit too arrogant, had so much to do with that power. Not the one he showed the world, the one he hid carefully.It made me wonder how much more they would really fear him if they knew what he was capable of. What he was truly capable of.I hide the tremble in my hands, the feel of his monster, so close. The heat from him simmering under his host’s body and seeping into mine, like a slow poison.This is the first time I am meeting Xander’s wolf like this.I don’t recall anything about it. There is no fami
ADRIANA“Your mother sent word,” I sat up hearing Henry’s voice.It lacks the usual friendliness I was used to.“Oh, what did she say?” I get up so I’m standing in front of him.“That we should return soon. And no more doing things that weren’t part of the plan.”“Alright. I’ll get packing.” I said, walking into the bedroom from the balcony.When he’d pulled up to this duplex after we left Xander’s place late last night. I knew I wanted this room the second I saw the balcony.It was in the middle of nowhere and it looked like something my mother would pick. I hadn’t even realized there was somewhere for us to go to instead of the hotel.The initial plan had been to go back to the airport and get on the next flight out. Before he told me we weren’t going there, I thought the tickets had already been booked. Turns out, that wasn’t it.Henry said it was because Xander would have his men everywhere looking for us. Well, me.He also informed me that they’d raided all the cars, but there wa