Arabella’s POVAs the priest gave his final blessing, I stood with Margaret at my side. With my mother not turning up, I didn’t want to do this alone. I couldn’t. Together, we walked up to my father's coffin and placed our roses on top, Margaret’s hand growing tighter around mine as I began to tremble.Throughout the entire service, I had somehow remained strong, but now, as I stood by his side, I couldn’t stop the tears from falling. Bringing my fingers to my lips, I kissed them before lowering them to the pine box that would forever house my father.A part of me wished I’d had the chance to see him in his final moments, but I know in my heart it was better to remember him through my memories. To remember him as the handsome, kind-hearted man he was and would always remain. As I looked out over the faces of our pack members, it was clear they felt the same. There wasn’t a dry eye in sight.He should have been buried before now, but I couldn’t change that. All I knew was that now, in
Arabella’s POV“He’s a friend, happy?”“No, Susie, I’m not happy. There’s more going on, and you know it.” We stood there in silence, but another question sat on the tip of my tongue. It was one I didn’t want to ask but knew I had to. If they had a past, I needed to see if I would have to compete against my friend. “Have you slept with him?”“ARABELLA, NO! That’s disgusting!” I could see her disgust as plain as day, which eased me a little, but that only meant something else was happening.“I’m sorry I needed to ask. If that’s not the secret you’re hiding then what is it? Because I know there’s something.” Shaking her head, she turned her back to me, which left my blood boiling. Letting my temper get the better of me, I gripped her shoulder and forcefully spun her back around.Susie, unimpressed, swung her fist in my direction. Before it could touch me, I grabbed and twisted her arm. As Susie winced, she swept her leg under mine, knocking me down. Growling, I jumped back up and floore
Leo’s POVThe inside of the house was just as quiet and dark as the outside. Before I left for my meeting, the place was more alive than ever, but I had never seen it this way.A flickering light caught my eye as I walked through the foyer and into the corridor that led to the back of the house.“Took you long enough.” His low, gruff voice came from the lounge. Following his voice, I flicked the switch on the wall, allowing the light to illuminate him.My father sat in the leather armchair, an ashtray on one arm and a glass of amber liquid on the other. His hand was tight around it as he held his cigarette between two fingers. The smoke creating a fog-like veil.“I expected you back days ago.” Bringing his cigarette to his lips, he took a long drag, his eyes never leaving mine. His eyes were cold and dark, their warmth gone with my sister.“Something came up.” My father's lips raised at the corners as he huffed, the smoke leaving through his flared nostrils.“You mean your mate? Or yo
Leo’s POV“So why do this to her? She wasn’t the one that wronged you; he was, and you killed him. Why not let that be the end of it?”“Have you not listened to a word I have said? He chose HER OVER ME!” My mother's eyes bulged as her anger grew.“Mother, please… Linda has suffered enough. You lost your fated mate, and it hurt you in ways I wouldn't want to imagine. But you got your revenge when you ended his life. You wanted to hurt Linda because he had a life with her, and you have done that. So please, Mother, just let her go.” Before I could blink, I found myself falling to the ground. Her blade now embedded in my stomach.I tried to remain conscious as my vision began to blur. Every breath I took sent a new wave of pain throughout my body. I hadn’t even noticed my mother standing over me until she pulled the blade free. “You wished to save the enemy, to offer her your sympathy. And now you will suffer beside her, but dear boy, don’t fret, I’ll allow you your chance at saying goo
Arabella’s POVTonight’s full moon was a reminder that no matter how dark things got, there would still be a glimmer of light to shine brightly through.Everyone had something they feared. Loss, love and many other things, but these were all natural reactions, which meant we could overcome them. I had recently experienced loss, and if I were being honest with myself, I’d also found love. Each fear triggered different emotions within us. Some might hide away, cry or even lash out, while others used it to power on and push forward. That’s what I intended to do.I would use the fear of losing those who remained close to my heart to spur me on by turning it into anger—an anger that would give me the strength and courage I needed to get back what was taken.The three of us had remained quiet for the entire journey. Susie’s jaw had twitched non-stop since we left, and each time I looked back at Sara, I found her twiddling with the locket she wore around her neck. However, the silence was sh
Chapter Twenty-One I will fight for you.Leo’s POVThe sounds of howling were short-lived before several loud bangs. It took a while before I realised that the bangs were explosions.The door to the cell flung open as my mother stormed inside. Her white shirt and blue leggings were covered in blood. Whether it was hers or not, I couldn’t tell. Growling, she grabbed the chain around my neck and pulled me to my feet.“This is all your fault! You orchestrated this!” I could taste the venom as she spoke. “It seems your pretty little mate has found our home. How do you think she did that?”“I didn’t…”“LIAR!” She threw me against the wall and turned her attention to Linda.“Please… I beg you.” Linda burst into tears the moment my mother gripped her hair.She pulled her towards me before stepping behind her. Linda’s eyes widened as my mother's fist smashed through her back.“Now this, boy, is all your fault. Should you be lucky enough to see your mate before I end her life, be sure to tell
Chapter Twenty-TwoLeo’s POVIn the midst of the excruciating pain caused by the fracture of our bond, I managed to summon the courage to break free from the suffocating chains that held me captive. A whirlwind of emotions engulfed my being, but anger surged through my veins with an unparalleled intensity. Anger and heartbreak intertwined, threatening to consume me entirely. However, deep down, I understood that I couldn't allow this tumultuous chapter to mark the end of my journey.My mother's petty jealousies orchestrated the chain of events that led to this desolate state. Her inability to let go of the past has left me standing here, a mere fragment of the man I once was. I have lost the one woman who held profound significance in my life, the woman I cherished and adored. But now, she has vanished from my grasp, leaving behind an agonizing void.As my vision blurred with a haze of fury, I charged towards the door that offered an escape from this wretched prison. My chest rose and
Arabella’s POVThe two weeks of enduring my heat had taken a toll on me, physically and emotionally. As the intensity subsided, I began to regain a sense of normalcy, or at least what I thought was normal. But as I pondered the concept, doubts crept into my mind. Is there truly such a thing as being normal? And if so, what does it even mean?The weight of my losses pressed heavily upon me. My parents were gone. My soul mate, the one who was supposed to complete me, was gone. In the midst of this grief and turmoil, I was expected to continue leading my pack as their Alpha. But how could I fulfill that role when I no longer knew who I was?The identity I had built for myself, the confidence and strength that once defined me, felt shattered. I questioned my ability to guide and protect my pack when I felt lost and broken inside. How could I be their leader when I couldn't even lead myself?In the midst of this uncertainty, I knew I had to find a way to rediscover myself, to rebuild my se