LYDIA Would it be so strange if I said the entirety of the room turned their heads to where I stood? I felt the lump in my throat grow as muttering lips whispered words I could hear but couldn't make into proper words. Clara was just behind me. "Your eyes..." The guard by the end of the stairs muttered. "Are you...""Nightshade." I finished for him. Honestly, I welcomed the look of disgust he threw my way. The eyes from across the room were causing my heart to beat faster and not in a good way. In the middle of the ballroom and dressed in complete opposites were Alexios and Fiona. They had their eyes on me too probably wondering who I thought I was barging into their celebration. I could tell at least one of them if not both of them wanted me out of the room but for some reason, they kept their peace. Surely, it had to be because there were others in the room. Alexios might be ruthless but even he had to have a certain respect for his guest. As our eyes continued to linger, I began
LYDIA He was jealous. How... Why was he jealous? The glare they both sent each other was unnerving. Alphas had the pride of lions and the brute nature of silverback gorillas. If something wasn't done to cut them off soon. A fight would ensue. My eyes traveled to where Clara sat. The grand luna was standing now, clearly worried as to the situation arising in the middle of the ballroom. Questioning eyes also followed. People wanted to know what was happening and why two men seemed to be fighting against themselves for my sake. "Yours? She is a consort?" Archie queried, removing the mask that covered the half of his face. I was greeted by thick brows, pleasant full lips, and a chiseled jaw. It would be a shame if Alexios unable to control himself punched him. In seconds, this whole confrontation could go wrong. "She is my slave." Alexios spat.The whole room suddenly went quiet. Maybe that wasn't true. The truth was that my system completely stopped working when he said that. I was
FIONA Time ticked faster waiting for Alexios . The clock was about to hit eight and the Aloha who would open the feast was nowhere to be seen. Curtis was beginning to send me looks and so did our visitors. I knew I had to take it upon myself to check on him. I walked out of the halls and back into the house. "You," I whistled at a maid mopping the marbled floor clean to glass. "Have you by any chance seen Alpha Alexios ?"Her head shot up and she immediately bowed before answering. "Yes.""Where?""He's with the slave girl" She replied with her head still bowed.Lydia ? My heart pulsed. The bite marks that Alexios had imprinted just down my throat itched. Alexios had lied again. He had told me he was going to the toilet only for him to go behind my back and see that girl. He had been acting weird all night and a huge spur for that might be because of the atrocity he believed he committed with Lydia . I looked back at the maid and tried to keep a proper composure even when I was l
LYDIAHis lips plundered mine like soft rosebuds. It reminded me of the color red. Hot and demanding, a veritable sexual force. Better than the ones I had resigned myself in when I had my daydreams, better than the ones that popped up even in my nightmares. How could someone I hated be so intense, so skilled? Alexios 's proficiency to overwhelm my judgments with the slightest touch of his strong hands, let alone his glorious mouth, frightened me. He nipped at my lower lip, surprising me. I hated the whimper of longing that escaped my throat. For a brief moment, I realized that kissing Alexios Rose should mortify me but for a brief movement, I let the mate bond get the better of me. It was the only reason I was doing this. I let the words of my kindred wolf get into my head. I let lust prevail and it was sadly winning. However, common sense did return and when it did, my stomach careened and my legs quivered. I was enjoying it when I shouldn't. It was all shades of wrong. Alexios Ro
LYDIA When my eyes opened, I wasn't in heaven or hell. I wasn't in the Rose mansion. Neither was I a slave. I was just a girl sitting in front of the dresser mirror whilst my mother combed my curled up hair. I remembered this moment. "Mama, Mama, Tell me a story," I remembered whining as mother added conditioner to soften my hair. She noticed how bad I winced each time she brushed down. It did hurt but the pain seemed to dull down like crazy when he told her stories."I've told you every story in the book Lydia ." She smiled, sectioning my hair into rows of threes. She stole a look at her reflection in the mirror and smiled before proceeding to braid my hair into a singular knot. "Then tell me something else mama. Why don't you finish that story?""Which one?""The boring one you told me last night.""Oh, I remember." Mother chuckled as she finished the braid and flipped to my right shoulder. I smiled looking at the finished job. I looked perfect. She then carried me to her favorit
ALEXIOS Her reaction frightened me. I had seen in her eyes the betrayal he feared she had committed against herself and her family. Her response was valid but so was mine. This wasn't my fault. I didn't know why I got so jealous when Archie approached and danced with her. Why I wanted to kiss and fuck her every time our eyes crossed paths. Things used to be so much easier before the moon goddess decided to fuck all of that up. I stopped the music giving it an afterthought. I could not allow Lydia back into the party all teary-eyed. My mother would surely ask questions and Lydia would spill considering she was so much volatile at the moment. I ran after her. It was then I felt it. It was the feel of Lydia Nightshade's fear. Her anger, her determination to be free of the danger she was in. Danger. She was in danger. My feet quickened and as I got closer to the ballroom, I stumbled on a dreaded sight. Some force had sent Lydia zooming through the air. She crashed into a pillar causi
ALEXIOS I never intended to say it. It was cruel to bring up his past. It was the most insensitive thing to have popped up in my head. Twisted as what Curtis wanted to do was, I knew he was only looking out for me. However, the heat of the moment and the unwavering eyes that were fixated on me cornered me and my wolf. It was the only thing I could say to break the chain of madness but as I watched him become a mess o tears and mental torture, I wondered if all of it was worth it for the girl. My legs jerked backward as I took a step closer to him. With each thrust forward, I felt like they would give at any moment. All his life, Curtis had been prepared to be the Beta by my side. His parents did anything; his father especially to fulfill a dream that was stripped of them. Their madness ensued even further when the boy showed that he had potential. They drove him last his limits. Physically, mentally and spiritually. All in hopes that when the time came, Curtis would be unstoppable
CLARA I chose to be my son's side when I see him snap at everyone he loved. You only do that out of desperation. I had been in a similar situation myself and I could assure the entire world that it was not a pretty place. When I lost Alexios and his father. I was certain I would die. That moment when I felt the bond to my husband being cut off. I literally went insane. I had been alone then. Looking at how frantic Alexios became seeing his rejected mate in a pool of blood proved that I had been right. By some miracle from the mother of night, the rejection had failed. Alexios was still very much Lydia 's mate. I saw myself in his place when he threw the tablecloth along with everything the pack women had prepared for the feast. I moved to his side once the healer arrived. A talented werewolf from an unknown pack that my late husband had adopted. Her gift was one of healing. But even knowing that, I couldn't help but be worried about what would happen if Lydia was one of the fe