Alister's POV"She's your mate..." Elijah's voice carried a resigned tone, acknowledging the difficult position Alister was in."...you think I don't know that! I can't do anything!..." Alister's frustration spilled out in his words, his anger mixing with a sense of helplessness."Alister... the pack would understand..." Elijah pleaded, attempting to offer solace.Alister shook his head, aware of the understanding his fellow warriors might possess. They would comprehend his need to protect his mate, but they would also recognize that he was willing to defy every pack rule for her, and that could breed resentment towards her."She can handle herself in a fight..." Alister insisted, a glimmer of hope in his voice."Against Ava?" Elijah snorted, a hint of skepticism in his tone."...she said so herself. You saw the determination in her earlier, didn't you?... Believe that she can do this... believe in the possibility of a miracle..." Alister shared his conviction with Elijah, who blinked
~ Elijah's POV~Elijah observed as Ava hobbled her way into her house, her injured leg causing her visible discomfort. He let out a sigh, noticing how she brushed off her mate's attempt to assist her. Frustration etched across her mate's face, causing him to stomp off into the kitchen, muttering disgruntled words under his breath.Ava continued her limping journey, making her way into the house and collapsing onto the couch in the living room. It was as if she didn't even acknowledge Elijah's presence, her eyes shutting as she leaned her head against the back of the couch.Elijah stood there, his arms crossed over his chest, silently observing the scene unfold. Meanwhile, Ava's mate emerged from the kitchen, carrying an ice pack. He walked over to where Ava was and gently placed it on her bruised leg.To Elijah's surprise, Ava swiftly kicked the ice pack away, her voice barely audible as she muttered, "Leave me alone." Her eyes remained closed, shutting herself off from the outside wo
~ Luciana's POV~Luciana slowly regained consciousness, feeling a small hand gently holding hers. For a moment, she wondered if she had entered another realm, perhaps the intense fight with Ava had sent her to the world beyond. However, as she caught Omar's familiar scent, she realized she was still alive.She opened her eyes slowly, wincing as her body throbbed with pain. But the sight of Omar's bright smile instantly brought comfort to her. His concern was evident in his uncertain gaze."Hey, Omar," she whispered, her voice barely above a breath."Are you okay?" Omar asked, his young eyes filled with worry.Luciana nodded, mustering a smile. "Yes, I am," she reassured him, glancing around the room. A wave of relief washed over her as she recognized her surroundings. She was in her own room, which meant Alister must have carried her home. It was a clear indication that the fight had ended without any fatal consequences.However, she couldn't help but wonder how Ava was doing. The la
~ Alister's POV~Alister was in the middle of tidying up the messy boys' bathroom when his phone suddenly rang. Startled, he answered the call, not expecting who would be on the other end. He had been goofing around with the kids in the bathtub, and things had gotten a bit out of hand. Water splashed everywhere, and soapy bubbles filled the bathroom. He knew Luciana would be furious if she found the bathroom in that state, so he was trying to clean up quickly.After witnessing Luciana's intense fight with Ava, he didn't want to add any more stress to her plate. She was putting on a brave face, but he could sense that the fight had shaken her. Nonetheless, he couldn't ignore the phone call."Hello?" he blurted out, curious and slightly apprehensive about the person on the other end of the line."Alpha, Elder Wilson has just arrived at the pack," the person on the other end of the line informed him.Alister's eyes widened in surprise. "What? When did he get here?" he asked, trying to g
Alister’s POVAs they settled inside the house, Alister guided Wilson to the living area while Luciana excused herself to the kitchen. The atmosphere was filled with laughter as Wilson engaged with the boys. Suddenly, he raised his head and inquired, "Where's Elijah?"Ophelia scoffed playfully, "Oh, I've already sent someone to find him. He'll be in for a big surprise," she shared with a mischievous smile.Wilson nodded in understanding, eagerly awaiting Elijah's arrival. However, before he could dwell on it further, Omar blurted out a question that had been on his mind, "If you're an Elder, does that mean you'll take me to the council?"Wilson's expression softened as he turned his attention to Omar. "Have you seen yourself at the council?" he asked, seeking to understand the source of Omar's curiosity.Alister held his breath, anxious to hear Wilson's response. During their previous conversation, Wilson had mentioned that he would assess the boys during his visit to determine the b
~ Luciana's POV~Luciana couldn't help but listen in on the conversation between Alister and Elijah. Her heart raced as she heard Elijah mention that the mails had been sent to her. Panic surged through her, and she didn't know what to do next. Should she return the letter to Alister, even though it was already too late for them to attend the mating ceremony? Or should she keep it hidden, afraid that Alister might stumble upon it in her closet? There was also the possibility that he would question her about why she had the letter, and lying would only make things worse. As she played out different scenarios in her mind, none of them seemed to offer a solution without making the situation worse. She let out a sigh of frustration just as she heard the front door open. Time was running out, and she needed to figure out what to do with the letter. Maybe she should hide it more securely or even destroy it altogether. Finding the letter in her possession would only lead to trouble. Dete
~ Alister's POV~Something was definitely off with Luciana. Alister couldn't quite put his finger on it, but he could tell she wasn't okay. She was trying to hide her anxiety, but he could see through her facade. The way she had been acting, the sweat on her brow when they were in their room—it all raised red flags in his mind. He let out a sigh, concerned for his mate's well-being.For now, he decided to give her some space to sort things out. But if this continued, he knew he would have to step in and help. He couldn't bear to see her panicking and feeling distressed every time he moved. They were a team, and he wanted to support her through whatever challenges they faced.As Alister left the house, he received a text message from Elijah. It was a request to meet at the front office. He hopped into his Jeep, deciding to drive instead of walk. The front office was within a short distance, but he had a lot on his mind and wanted to clear his thoughts during the drive.When he arrived
~ Alister’s POV~Alister watched his friend's departure, a sinking feeling in his gut. In that moment, he couldn't help but suspect that Luciana knew something about the missing letter. Why would she choose to lie about it though? Thoughts swirled in his mind as he pondered the situation.Alister had a whirlwind of questions racing through his mind, but he didn't want to jump to conclusions and potentially hurt Luciana. What if she genuinely didn't know anything about the missing letter? He trusted her, right?Luciana's behavior had been off, and it was clouding Alister's judgment. With a sigh, he retrieved his keys and stepped out of the car. This was becoming another strange occurrence that defied explanation. At this point, the best course of action was to contact Alpha Reed and offer his apologies for the misunderstanding. Alister stared at the phone on his desk for a good forty minutes before he summoned the courage to tap the call button next to Reed’s name.Alister never imag