Sal’s POV
For the most part, people usually believed that I as a person didn't really care about other people. They thought that just because I happened to work in a clinic and didn't seem to be affected by things like loss or death, I was a hardened person.My personal ideology about life was very simple: live life to the fullest because you never knew when things could change and it would be snatched up and away from you when you least expect it to be. Tomorrow wasn't promised, and each and every day was an opportunity to make a lasting mark on the world.As absurd as it sounded, my aversion towards having a mate stemmed from that belief as well.Since I was a teenager, I had known who my fated mate was, and for a little while after that, I had been overcome by a youthful crush. He had filled my every waking thought, and it didn't help that he was also someone very well-known on the pack because of his deeds.Everything changed one day,Rayne's POVBy the time I woke up, Kaiden's side of the bed was already empty and devoid of warmth.I would have preferred it if he had stayed by my side, covering me with his own perfectly carved body. I wanted him near. There was no use trying to convince myself otherwise.With the number of times we had found ourselves in such a situation, I could no longer even try to pretend that being with him couldn't work out, or that we weren't meant to be together. Everything that I had told myself from the time I had first met him now appeared like a distant, invalid dream.I sat up from the bed, ready to put on some clothes and leave the room as well, when the adjoining bathroom coughed up a sound.Moments later, Kaiden emerged, clad in nothing but a gray towel wrapped around his waist.“You're up,” he said when he saw me. His eyes were bright and full of expression this morning, and wanted to know why. “How'd you sleep?”I clutched the sheets tighter to myself, trying to cover what I was
Rayne's POVMy heart sat in an uncomfortable place between my stomach and throat throughout the ride to Oceanpearl. Since Reynolds had so thoughtfully accused me of infidelity, I wondered how my arrival at his wedding would make him feel. I looked forward to the look of surprise that would no doubt be on his face when he saw me.The fact that I had gone missing and the best he could have done was try to tarnish my image was also worthy of questioning. It aligned too well with some of the questions I had in mind. If I had been feared dead, why not tell the people that? Why did he have to lie that I had eloped?What was he trying to hide?I sighed and closed my eyes as the excessive pondering had sparked up a dull ache inside my head.Again, Kaiden hadn't passed up the opportunity to get me the most beautiful dress he could lay his hands on. The old me would have called the little black number scandalous, but the moment the silky fabric touched my skin, I knew it was meant for me.“Are
Rayne's POV“You conniving little devil!” she screeched so forcefully that flecks of saliva sprayed on my skin. “How dare you show your face here?”In the next moment, Kaiden was out of his seat, holding her wrist to prevent her from slapping me again. “Try that again, and I'll rip your head off,” he growled, before shoving her away. She would have toppled over if she hadn't held on to a nearby table for purchase. “Do you not know who I am?”The people around us went into a mix of stunned silence and nervous murmuring.My mother, the great Mrs. Lawson, for the first time ever, was actually scared of someone.Her lips started to tremble as recognition descended upon her faster than a dark cloud. She looked up and down his form multiple times like she was trying to make sense of the situation she had found herself in.Once she fully realized who actually stood before her, she closed her gaping mouth. “L-Lycan King Alvaro!” she spurted, clutching the table behind her with enough force to
Rayne's POVUsually, it was very difficult for plants to grow through cemented ground. Over there, there was no air, no water, and most importantly, no sunlight. So how could they grow?It was the same in real life. There were just some places that would hinder your growth to the point that even when that cement finally broke, you still wouldn't be able to know that you now had opportunities to grow and aim for the sky.I didn't want to be like that. No more. I had found the sky, and I wouldn't let anything or anyone deprive me of it.After Kaiden made the big reveal, people started to murmur all around us. Most of them were speculations about whether he was the man that I had eloped with. Others were just shocked that the Lycan King, one who had been deemed ruthless and unfeeling, was standing up for someone.I pressed myself into his side, gaining energy from his present warmth. They could run their mouths all they wanted, but they couldn't change what bloomed in my heart through th
Rayne's POV“How did you manage to do it?” Sloane asked once we were out of earshot of most people. “I should have known you weren't so innocent after all. The Lycan King? How ambitious of you.”“Is that what you called me here to tell me? I'm afraid that's not enough substance for a worthwhile use of my time,” I said, already turning around to leave.“Why did you come here, Rayne? You should have just stayed back in whatever little hole you wound up,” she said. “At least that way we could have all allowed ourselves to bask in your absence.”“And how fulfilling would that have been? Living things have to show proof,” I retorted, watching my fingernails. I should have taken the chance to get them touched up for this event. Even though they were short and smooth, they lacked the intensity for the statement I was trying to make.“I didn't call you here to waste time. I'm here to give you just a little piece of friendly advice. Watch where yo
Sal’s POV“Please remind me why we are moving through these bushes like some kind of animals?” I asked a crouching Bradford, who moved through the shrubbery like he was some WW2 soldier hiding away from snipers.“We are animals,” he responded monotonously. “Higher animals, Brad.”“Even so.”I shook my head, not willing to get into an argument with such a debater as Bradford. I would only end up wasting time and getting frustrated.“Let's just focus on the task at hand,” I said. “Is this the closest route you could find to Grog’s place?”He just nodded. Back to business, I could see. Since he had probably pushed himself to his limits of self-expression by proclaiming his intentions towards our relationship as mates, he had reverted to the status quo. Nods and one-liners only.When people saw him and Kaiden together, it wasn't surprising why while they gushed and cooed over the Lycan King, they were usually stunned to silence when they focused on his Beta. And I couldn't blame them. Ka
Kaiden's POV The darkness wasn't very welcoming, but luckily for me, I could see pretty well in the dark. Rayne, on the other hand, was either partially blind or simply wanted to touch me any chance she got. Either way, she didn't seem very keen on leaving my personal space anytime soon. Not that I was complaining.“You didn't mention that we'd be walking blindly over here,” I said, running my hand against the wall for better balance. “It's been a while since I've been here. I didn't really think that part through, sorry.” She lifted her phone and put on the torch. Let there be light.“Hm.” I looked at the phone in her hand. “You got a new phone?”“Oh, you mean this? Yeah. Savannah gave it to me a little while back. It was really thoughtful of her.”“She did?” It eluded me how close Savannah had gotten to Rayne. But then again, I could understand that Rayne was someone that you just couldn't help but like. “Uh-huh,” she responded, flashing the light at an angle that illuminated
Rayne's POV“You bitch!” Reynolds' bellowed, already raising his arm to smack me across the face. But this time I was ready for him. I caught his hand and twisted it, using a strength I didn't even know I had. “Yes. I am a bitch. And I bite.” I shoved him away hard enough for him to lose his footing. He stared at me with shock in his eyes, probably not able to believe that I had the audacity to do such to him.“You didn't see me as attractive enough to sleep with before, what's changed? Because I came here with a man at my side? Because it finally occurred to you that I wasn't just some girl with a prophecy hanging over my head? Or because you're just a brute with no manners?” I continued.Reynolds' cradled his crown jewels, nearly whimpering like a girl.The only way I had known to draw him out of his room was by offering him something that he never had access to when we were together. My body. Somehow, he had deemed me too repulsive to