*** Matthew's POV ***
Alex and I ran for what seemed like an eternity, with no destination in mind. A mixture of despair and anger filled our chest. The pain was now bearable but not gone. She had been so close, and now she was gone.
- "It's all your fault! I knew our true mate was still out there. We shouldn't have married Susie." Alex is full of sorrow and regret.
-"How can you say that? We have been through so much with her. She gave us a pup the cost of her health! How can you be like this?"
Alex closes the link between us, allowing me to regain control. I run back to the mansion, still in my wolf form but shifting back to human as I approach the mansion's fr
<One year and half later> *** Naomi's POV *** I had attempted to reject him, my mate Alpha King Matthew Stevens, but my body had betrayed me, and I fainted just before I could reject him. The magnetic pull is still there, and I can feel the achy need to see him, to be in his arms. I can't bring myself to try to reject him again. The first time I tried, it was so painful that I don't want to experience that type of pain ever again; it's too much. After the first year of finding him, I was submerged in dark thoughts. Depression seemed to be my only companion, and to make matters worse, Gabriel had rejected his 'Alpha-to-be' position, leaving our pack to be with his mate. Saying our father was furious was an understatement. He never acce
<One year and half later> *** Matthew's POV *** "Matt... Matt, wake up. Carl is crying."Susie's mind-links, waking me up from my slumber. In my boxers, I get up from our bed and drag my feet toward Carl's room, just across from ours. There is also a room next to ours for our guests, should any decide to stay over. It used to be my room before we had Carl. "Hey, bud, I am here," I reassure him as I open his bedroom door. He steadies himself on the crib's rail with one hand while the other opens and closes towards me, letting me know he wants to be picked up, which I do, as he cries non-stop. -"Shh, I am here, baby."
Two years after the silver chains ***Naomi's POV*** It has been two long torturous years, and a lot has changed. Firstly, I was forced to train with our elite warriors. And when I say forced, I mean it. I would just sit by the training ring and wait until it ended the first few times. But my father decided to join the training, and if I refused to participate, the warriors were ordered to beat me up until I was unconscious. In the end, I had no other choice but to experience and learn how to defend myself. Although my parent's room was on the fifth floor, soon-to-be Lee's floor, I could hear them argue about my situation every night. Mother had become extremely upset with my father's behavior towards me. She even threatened to leave the pack if he didn't stop.
*** Morgan POV *** Naomi told me she wanted my help. We are still at the bar, and I have to be extra careful not to alert the two giant werewolves sitting behind us at the far left corner. I don't know what it is about her, but the moment she walked into the bar, something compelled me to help. It wasn't just me. My wolf Lily was too unsettled, especially after we realized the men she walked in with were watching her like hawks. It didn't feel right. Let's not forget all of her scars. It felt as if she was a prisoner. I pondered for a second, maybe they were rogues, and she was their victim, but they didn't smell like rogues. They didn't smell of burn and decay flesh. Naomi walks to the guys and tells them she's tired and wants to go back to her motel room.
*** Mathew's POV *** My pact is a mess. The loss of their Luna two years ago had left them demotivated and disorganized. In part, it was my fault. After Susie's death, the void she left inside me was constant torture. I had become a disgrace, drinking my sorrows away bottle after bottle. Without her companionship, I felt lonely again. I sit on the floor, enclosed in my room while holding one of Susie's pieces of clothing close to me and drowning my pain in whiskey. This room isn't the one that Susie and I shared. That one has been closed since she passed away. Standing up, I steady myself against the dresser. The movement causes the mirror to shake. I lean in closer and observe the man reflected in it. I can't recognize myself with the long messy blac
***Matthew's POV*** Carl and I spent the afternoon together after picking him up from the packhouse Daycare, which isn't too far from the mansion. Just a 20 minutes walk down the road, five by car. I decide to take him out into the children's park. I watch him as he plays with the other kids. Boy, he had so much energy. He sure resembles Susie. They share the same blond hair and emerald green eyes. I watch as he leads his group of friends and makes sure everyone is included. He treats girls with extra care and makes sure they are safe. I can already tell, by the way, he plays with the other children. He will be a good alpha. Charlotte had done a great job of educating him while I was absent. -"Daddy, wanna come to play with us?" He shouts across the playgro
***Morgan's POV ***-"Morgan?"Alpha Matthew's mind links as we approach my motel room. I had forgotten to fill him in on the details. I guess I wasn't used to having him back yet.-"She said yes. We are gathering some basic stuff. After that, I plan on taking her to our closest ally, Grayfang Pack. Susie used to take me through these woods. I remember seeing a cabin not too far out from where we are. We will take shelter there for the night and leave towards Barkmer Forest at the first light. We should reach Grayfang's territory by mid-morning." I squinted and brought my palm to my forehead in a facepalm motion. I mentioned Susie's name, and I shouldn't have.-"I will be going to Grayfang's territory tomorrow anyways. So I will meet
*** Naomi's POV ***I slowly opened my eyes to face myself in an unfamiliar place. The room has an old musty, earthy smell to it. The floor under me is wet and cold. I feel like my body has been hit by a truck, and my headache is on the brink of making my head split open. I lift my right hand towards my head only to realize I can't because I am chained. My wrist burns where the shackles touch my skin. I palpate the ground, mapping the floor underneath me. My fingers brush against the chain links, and once again, my skin sizzles at the point of contact. The chains are made of silver.I lean closer to the wall, and bring my knees close to my chest and wait for my eyes to adjust to the darkness. The wolfbane injection given to me earlier by the strange woman had taken away my werewolf abilities.