LAUREL’s POVThe cell door opens to Ariel’s room and I see her sitting at the edge of her bed with her head bowed and arms hugging her waist.“Ariel, we need to talk.”She hugs herself tighter but does not look up.Helios scowls and steps into the room. Behind us, Ares pokes his head out of his cell door and I motion for him to come and join us. He does but remains standing by the door. He knows not to interrupt when Helios is interrogating someone.“Is her name cleared?” he whispers to me and I shake my head solemnly.“Let’s talk about Marcus,” Helios says when he reaches the foot of Ariel’s bed. He has her attention.“What about Marcus?” she asks, her voice flat and cold.Helios crosses his arms. “Tell us what happened.”Ares tugs at my sleeves and I put a finger to my lips, indicating for him to keep quiet. He pouts.Ariel rubs her stomach and mumbles, "Marcus died."“You killed him.," Helios does not mince his words.“No! I’m innocent!”“We went to your old house back at Stormbreak
LAUREL’s POV The gift of a child is supposed to be a beautiful and sacred one from the Moon Goddess. It is supposed to bring nothing but joy to the mother and yet, as I look at Ariel standing at the borders of her pack, her shoulders hunched and tears streaming down her face, I see no happiness in her eyes. There is only resignation. Ares hugs her tightly, whispering soothing words into her ears but Ariel keeps shaking her head. “I’m sorry,” she says, her voice quivering. “No, no, no, don’t you ever say that,” Ares says, cupping her face and forcing a smile. “I never regretted meeting you.” “I used you…” Ares gently takes Ariel’s hand to give it a squeeze. “It doesn’t matter. I’m staying with you.” Ariel’s body quivers. She lowers her head and shuts her eyes, lifetimes of pain etched on her face. “You’ve done enough for me. It’s time for you to leave.” “No, I’m staying with you to the end!” Ares explains. The offer is a genuine one and it touches Ariel but I can tell that she
LAUREL’s POV‘That woman was my mother.’ Helios’ words keep repeating in my head and in an instant, everything comes together.His unwavering belief that a mate bond would surpass everything stemmed from his mother who tried to murder him for the sake of her mate. Now it all makes sense. Know I know why he does not believe me when I tell him I will stay with him no matter who my mate is. I look at Helios but his face remains hidden in the shadows and my heart suddenly goes out to this beautiful, heartbroken man. All around, people see him as Helios the conquerer, the dictator, the ruthless Alpha who rules with an iron fist. But no one has ever seen beyond his façade of invincibility to realize that beneath the tough exterior, lies a man in grief, a man in fear and a man in pain. To witness his own father’s death at the hands of the very woman who was supposed to love and protect him…it must have scarred his soul. Just what kind of life did Helios have growing up? Now I know why the
*This chapter was written with Halloween in mind. I hope you’ll enjoy it :)LAUREL’s POVIt is with a heavy heart that I walk into Ares’ room. But I put on a smile for my grieving friend's sake. His heart has been broken, the very least I can do is to cheer him up.
LAUREL’s POV Silence fills the room and all eyes fall on me. I am late, fashionably so. Quickly, I straighten up and flash a smile at Caleb, grateful that he had caught me before I fell flat on my face. He winks back and lets go of me. “Ahh…Beta Laurel, I trust that you have had enough of your beauty sleep?” Nox. Sarcasm drips from his every word as he greets me from the head of the table. He is seated in Helios’ chair with his legs comfortably propped up on the table and there is a smug look on his face. He is happy that Helios is not here and he is even happier that I am late. My eyes narrow at him but I do not answer him. Instead, I walk up to Alpha Erik who is seated next to Nox and bow low with respect. “Alpha Erik, please accept my sincere apologies for not being able to greet you when you arrived. But I am confidant that the welcoming entourage has welcomed you with great spirits.” Alpha Erik smiles warmly at me and gives me a fatherly pat on the shoulder. I look up into
LAUREL’s POV “You are carrying a child.” The doctor’s words echo in my mind and I become very still. It is strange, I feel as if I am watching a drama unfold before my very eyes. Pregnant? Me? It cannot be. I have only been with Helios for – “You are about two weeks along,” the doctor continues. “Laurel Moon?” My head snaps up from staring at my belly and I nod mechanically. Doctor Ramoth sucks in a sharp breath and looks from me to Caleb before shaking his head. He must think that Caleb is the father. I find that funny and suddenly let out a chuckle, surprising both men but the doctor does not share my humor. He looks to Caleb once more and says, “Would you mind excusing us for a bit? Caleb’s brows furrow but he does as the doctor asks and steps out of the examination room. And once we are alone, the doctor leans in and whispers to me, his tone deadly serious, “Laurel Moon, are you witho
LAUREL’s POV “No,” I say, I am not amused. “You are not allowed to enter.” Caleb puts on a pout. “Why not? As your knight in shining armour, it is my utmost duty to make sure that my lady is well and taken care of, especially when she is unwell.” I feel my temper flare and my chest rise and fall with my growing temper, I poke him squarely in the chest, “For one, you are NOT my knight in shining armour. And two, I am NOT your lady. I am grateful for your help, truly, I am, but this is where we draw the line. This place, “ I thump my feet on the wooden floorboards, “is my home, my territory, my personal space and no one else is allowed to enter.” “No one but Alpha Helios?” Caleb's question catches me off guard and for once, I have no smart-ass reply to give him. He has struck a chord. And it is a deep one at that. “It's his baby you're carrying, isn't it?” he asks again and when I do not answer, Cale
LAUREL’s POVDeath.It is inevitable. For all who are born are destined to die. It is a fact that everyone knows, including myself.But why do I find it hard to believe that death has claimed Helios.No, it cannot be.I shake my head. It is my turn to grab Rhode by the collar and I hiss in his face, “You lie.”Helios has never once lost a battle, he has never once yielded in combat. No one should have been able to slay Helios, he is the undefeatable Alpha of the Southlands. How can he be dead?It is a joke…it is a cruel joke. It has to be.Rhode’s lips quiver, he is in disbelief himself. “I am sorry, but it is the truth. I am so sorry…the guards found his body by the borders while on patrol. They are bringing his body back as we speak.” He breaks down into an uncontrollable sob and that is when the truth sinks in.