Dakota Ivan's piercing wail cut through the peaceful silence of the night, making my heart thump wildly in my chest. I panicked, adrenaline shooting through my system and feeling a sudden overwhelming sensation of dread. My feet leaped over a small obstacle in a maze and ran towards the sound of my child. He wailed with a feverish pitch, increasing my urgency. The more I inched closer, the farther his voice sounded. I paused to catch my breath, wondering where he was. His relentless tears grew urgent with pain with each passing moment. "Ivan, where are you?" I cried, my motherly instinct taking over. My feet moved quickly as I followed the sound. The maze was endlessly long and creepy, but I kept running with frantic footsteps and ragged breathing. When my fingers brushed against something slimy and cold, I jerked my hand back with a shudder of revulsion. A sudden gust of cold air made me shiver. But when I looked down, there was a faint light glimmering. I rushed towards i
Dakota I whisked Sara away and we raced into the house, giggling and laughing so hard that tears filled my eyes "This is all your fault," I playfully pointed at her and collapsed on the sofa. "I'm never listening to you again. I'd rather poke my eye out." "It was fun," Sara broke into a light-hearted giggle, throwing her head back. The joy in the air was still so real that I couldn't believe I'd laugh this hard after the misfortune that befell me. As if Sara could read my mind, she gave me a sympathetic look. My laughter dwindled and I sighed. "It's good to see you laugh again. Refreshing even," Sara smiled at me tenderly. "it's like you're a new person." She sat beside me and I took both her hands in mine, staring at our joined fingers. They were beautiful, with perfectly round, smooth nails and soft pink skin. "I wish…this would last..." She said quietly, and I let go of her hands. She got on her feet and returned with a cup of water. Sipping it, I had flashbacks of my d
AxtonIt was time. My family gathered in the private living room upstairs, anxiously waiting for the pack's lawyer to arrive. The air grew thick with tension like we were in a battleground and my mom drew the curtains closed, casting a heavy atmosphere like a storm brewing on the horizon. Imani whispered to her mate, and I dug my feet into the carpet, staring at the wall adorned with paintings of wolves. Whenever Xavier's eyes met mine, his gaze locked onto mine with a menacing intensity. The tension was so thick it could be cut with a knife, like a dense fog that refuses to clear. Xavier turned to me, his voice dripping with arrogance. "You know it should be me. I'm the elder one, and this is my right.""That's not what Dad wanted. He wanted a fair and just process for determining the next alpha." "Don't act like you know what Dad wanted! You were always the baby of the family, the one he cuddled and pampered."I scoffed. "Your bullying and intimidation won't work this time. If y
Dakota "I love you, Lucia. So much that I can't contain it. I loved you from the very moment I set my eyes on you." Axton's eyes were filled with a feverish intensity that made me go completely still. My heartbeat skyrocketed and a delightful shiver of pleasure ran through me. He loves me. He freaking loves me. Shoot me! "You don't have to say anything," he said. "I know this is a hard pill for you to swallow and I can tell for sure that something is holding you back, But one day, you will love me, Lucia. I swear on my dad's grave that I'll do everything it takes to make this happen." Blinking fiercely and breathing deeply through my nose, I turned away from him. He placed his hand on the small of my back and led me inside. Sara was getting dinner ready. Elias, Axton, and I sat on the wooden dining table, waiting. Elias was euphoric that Axton was now Alpha. From Axton's eyes on me, I doubted he was even listening to Elias. His hand went under the table and brushed my thig
Axton Axton Lucia and I rushed to the cabin as the raindrops splattered against our skin, creating a million tiny explosions of sensation. My breath came out in short bursts, misting in the cool air, as I held her soft hand and ran through the rain-slicked sand squishing beneath my feet, making each step slippery. She was so damn beautiful with her hair stuck to her face and a soaked dress that emphasized her hot curves. I've always had a thing for females in soaked dresses. I wondered how her nipples would pucker with hardness. Horny bastard. The rain was a blessing from the Moon goddess and a refreshing contrast to the desert's scorching heat. Maybe this time, Xavier would realize that I was destined to rule. Lucia and I laughed hard and ran with abandon until we got to the cabin. "Stay here," she said when we got to the front door. "I'll get you a towel," she said softly and headed inside. My gaze followed her. The woman was damn beautiful and despite the rain, my body
Dakota The bristles of a brush glided through my hair like gentle waves. Sara styled my hair, placing tiny jeweled pins in them. My heart gunned into overdrive, losing rhythm and making the rest of my body tremble. Meeting Axton's family was a big deal. I shouldn't be worried, considering that the chance of a future with him was bleak. But I was uncomfortable and beating myself up. "Stay still, Dakota. You're trembling." Sara's eyebrows drew together and her eyes bore through me with genuine concern. "What was I even thinking to agree to this? I'm setting myself up for heartbreak." I feared the consequences of this visit to the pack house and have played a thousand scenarios of how things would go bad. My greatest fear was Axton's reaction when he eventually finds out my true identity. It tore at my insides like a pack of wolves tearing at their prey. Maybe I was overreacting, maybe nothing was going to happen. "Stop," I said to Sara and got on my feet. Walking back and for
Dakota Axton's fingers took mine with gentle authority and led me upstairs to a brightly lit library lined with bookshelves that reached up to the ceiling and wood-paneled walls adorned with paintings of history and art."That didn't go well," I put up a small smile. Axton made me face him and held my face in his hands. The eager affection coming from him made my heart flutter. He pulled me closer and stared with longing at me."They don't matter. What matters is my love for you.""Yeah right," I scoffed, and the musty smell of old books and incense lingered in the air. "They're your family.""I'll talk to my mum, I promise you. She's probably wary of you because you're a foreigner. I'm sure they'll get used to you.""And if she doesn't?""It won't make any difference. I'm not the type to let my family dictate the things I do. When I want something, I grab it.""She's still your mum, no matter how strong you think you are. Please respect her."My eyes roamed around the shelves in the
Dakota With pounding feet and layers of icy sweat, I raced down the staircase with a loud thud. The maids stood frozen in place, their eyes widening with interest when I rushed past them. "Wait!" Axton broke into a run, yelling at me. Ignoring him, I fled through the heavy front door. The sun shone brightly on my face, momentarily blinding me. The pain I felt now was even more intense than the day I was banished. I felt like I'd been struck by the lightning of doom and I didn't know how long I was going to recover from this heartbreak. I was so stupid to fall in love with Axton. So damn stupid. My feet raced past the artificial fountain. Blinded by hot tears, I kept running to god knows where. Terror choked my heart. Why did I ever think lying was the answer? I should have told Axton who I was to prevent this heartbreak. Yet, I told string after string of lies, and now they've caught up with me and come to bite me in the butt. I trapped Axton in a web of deceit that he