~ KATALEYA ~
‘Stay away from me!’
‘W-why?’ The air whooshes from my lungs on a broken gasp.
‘I hate you! I hate the fact that I ever met you!’
Guilt rips through me as tears burn my eyes, blurring my vision until I can barely make out his handsome face, contorted with ruthless fury.
‘You cost me my entire future!’
I clamp my hands over my ears, trying to drown out the harsh cries of anger, but his anguished voice continues to penetrate my mind.
‘I should have left you to die!’
My lungs stop working, the air within them quickly turning stagnant. How could he say such a thing?
I’m sorry…
It hurts, it hurts, it hurts.
‘It’s your fault that everything went wrong!’
No, please stop.
I can’t breathe. I can’t think. I don’t know how much more of this I can take before I shatter completely.
‘I hate you!’
Those cruel words are the last thing I hear, the final blow of agony that rips me from my thoughts and brings me back to the present.
I blink rapidly, quickly swiping the tears from my eyes. This isn’t the first time I have spaced out, my subconscious forcing me to relive the terrible, gut-wrenching memories of my childhood.
The steam from the hot water mists up the glass of the shower enclosure, blurring the view of the bathroom of my rented apartment.
Closing my eyes, I inhale deeply before exhaling slowly.
Ever since I arrived here two nights ago, those painful memories from fourteen years ago have begun haunting me all over again. The nightmares are back and even when I’m awake, they continue to play on my mind.
Each morning I wake up coated in sweat, wracked with shivers as I fight the guilt and pain of his final words.
The guilt that I’ve carried since I was a child remains, and although it took me fourteen years, I am here to rectify the mistakes of my past. It won’t be easy, I know that.
There will be hurdles and moments where my heart might break all over again, but I’ve waited for this time for over a decade, and I will not back down now.
His words return to the forefront of my mind with a vengeance, and I close my eyes, trying to calm myself.
He hates me.
He will still hate me and yet, despite everything, I cannot bring myself to hate him in return.
I must face the pain and survive. This is what I’ve worked for. What I’ve spent years trying to achieve. I will fix what was broken, even if I lose myself along the way.
Grabbing the shampoo bottle, I squeeze some into my hand and begin lathering my hair. The sandy blonde strands darken to a warm brown, the ends tickling my lower back.
Once I’ve rinsed off, I switch the shower off and open the door, grabbing the towel I have placed within reach and drying myself off before wrapping it around me.
How will he react when he realises who I am? Will he even remember me?
Padding over to the mirror, I wipe the steam away and stare at my pale-faced reflection, watching as it distorts until I’m gazing into the flat, cold eyes of the young boy who has tormented my dreams. The face of the boy who lost so much because of me…
I clutch the heart-shaped pendant that I always wear around my neck, trying to calm the raging storm which threatens to drown me.
I’m here now, so close to finding him… but at the same time, I’m terrified of that moment.
“Kataleya?”
I freeze when Valentina’s voice calls from outside the bathroom door.
“Y-yeah?” I say, trying to steady my voice. It wavers ever so slightly, and I force a smile even though she cannot see me.
“Are you ok? I mean, you’ve been in there a while.”
“I was enjoying the shower! I’ll be right out.”
Valentina was sent as my bodyguard, something I didn’t want, but my father - the Alpha King - absolutely refused to allow me to fly all the way from England to Puerto Rico alone. Especially with the strange happenings that are occurring around the globe.
The world is becoming a dangerous place and travelling anywhere alone is risky.
Dad didn’t want me to come at all, even though I’d spent several years preparing for this. It took convincing from Mom, my brother Dante, and my cousin Leo for him to finally allow me to come here.
Now that I’m here, I’m terrified, nervous, and excited all at the same time.
Pulling on my bra and panties, I gaze at my reflection once more. Thick curves greet me, more so than that of the average werewolf. Where their hips are narrow, mine are wide. Where their backsides are toned muscle, mine is soft and round.
I get dressed in my pale pink loungewear and run a brush through my long locks before leaving the bathroom.
Valentina’s sitting on the sofa, a frown on her face as she holds up her tablet, which displays an image. It’s the side profile of a handsome man.
“We found him, Kat. We fucking found him.”
I stare at the slightly blurry image, placing a hand on my chest as my heart clenches painfully. Every nightmare rushes to the forefront of my mind as I take in those cold, haunting eyes.
His lush brown locks fall over his forehead, and I can see his chiselled jaw. My heart thunders as I realise who I am looking at.
The boy I fell for the day he protected me from his own father.
The Alpha of The Fuego De Ceniza Pack.
~ KATALEYA ~ Staring down at the picture, my memories bleed into my reality until I can taste the salty tears that once ran down my face onto my lips. I look away only when the pain in my chest becomes too much to bear. All my life I was treated like a princess, taken care of by my family and our pack. Not only because I am the daughter of the Lycan King but also because of what happened back then, back when our two packs collided. I was six years old when I was kidnapped by them. I still remember being carried away, hoping that my daddy will save me… but he didn’t come and I was locked away by the monster who had taken me; Sebastian Escarra, the previous Alpha of The Fuego De Ceniza Pack. A man who had sold his soul to the devil himself. Enrique, Sebastian Escarra’s own son, had been the light that protected me from the darkness, filling me with the beacon of hope even on the worst of days, one who brought me some solace. Like all things in life, his act of kindness came at a s
~ ENRIQUE ~ The smell of perfume and alcohol fills my nose as I sit on the couch in the booth in the VIP lounge of the club. A place I come often enough for a little distraction from my own mind, duties, and demons. I swirl the drink in my glass as I watch the three women in nothing but thongs and jewelled nipple coverings dance around the poles, grinding their bodies against one another sensually. For a moment they manage to capture my attention as two of them rub their boobs together, their hands running over one another’s thick ass. They’re curvy, with meat on them just like I like them, but it’s not enough tonight. Even when they glance at me before they begin to kiss each other, it doesn’t manage to distract me entirely. They’re satisfying enough to look at, but it’s doing nothing for me. One of them is my usual, and the other two I selected on my way in, but tonight I’m unable to keep my mind off work. Two women sit beside me, stroking my chest and thighs, promising a good
~ KATALEYA ~ “No thank you, I don’t want anything…” I freeze, realising who had just asked me. That deep baritone sends shivers down my spine, and I can’t help but stare at that perfectly chiselled jaw as he looks ahead. Goddess… He looks even more breathtakingly handsome than the picture, and my heart is racing a thousand beats per hour as I take in that tan skin, that rugged stubble, that sharp nose. He’s here… beside me. Those years of waiting and yearning for him, they’re over… he’s right here, just a touch away. There are not enough words to explain this moment that I have dreamt of for years. Time seems to stand still and it’s just the two of us. Gone is the pounding music of the club, the shouting and commotion of those around us… I gaze up at him as he downs his drink. It’s just the two of us… The moment the glass is slammed down, I’m thrown back into the present. Say something! But my lips are not cooperating. Being so close to him has rendered me speechless and a
~ ENRIQUE ~“And you expect me to believe that a woman took all seven of you out?” I ask coldly, glaring at the idiots before me.“Yes, Alpha, we don’t know why she even did that... She first tried to seduce me and when I declined… well, she started acting out.” Idiot number one says.I stare down at the woman who is still unconscious as she’s lying on the couch in my office, with my jacket over her ass. I don’t know why she’s wearing such a revealing dress. It’s obvious none of these assholes could keep their eyes off her, and it’s irritating me.“Why do I feel that this entire story is a lie?” I ask venomously. These men are from the most recent pack I’ve taken control of, and I don’t trust the sleaze balls.“Alpha, it’s no problem. Just let her go,” Idiot number two adds.“Why? Do you have something to hide?” I ask, turning and glaring coldly at the man who had spoken. He’s sporting a bloody nose and I’m no fool… besides, none of them dared answer my question.“No! No, Alpha, not
~ ENRIQUE ~ The sudden urge to tear her clothes off sneaks into my mind and I tense, pushing myself off her.What the fuck?I quickly jerk away as if I’ve just been burned, glaring at the culprit behind this, yet she lays there looking all innocent but at the same time absolutely fucking sexy and fuckable- a pout on her plump lips as she lays there breathing hard, the faint outline of her nipples visible through her fitted dress.Right… It's too hot in here. Is the air conditioning not working?Frowning, I glare at the woman on the bed. I better bind her before she goes looking for someone to fuck. There’s a knock on the open door and Carlos stands there.“Bind her,” I order, brushing past him, and without a glance back I make my way to my quarters, which cover half of the top floor. I shut the door behind me, the click echoing loudly in the room.Crossing the room, I enter my office, shutting the door behind me before I walk over to one of the many shelves and take down a small wood
~ KATALEYA ~ I slowly sit up, unable to pretend that it didn’t hurt. His touch lingers, burning my skin where he had gripped my face tightly. I slip my hands out of the ropes I have already loosened and touch my cheek. For a moment I truly felt that he did recognise me… but then it seemed he didn’t… or did he? I shake my head, trying to clear my circling thoughts. Sighing heavily, I rub my wrists gently, watching the bruises fade slightly. Bending down, I make quick work of removing the rope laced with wolfsbane from my ankles. ‘Valentina?’ I call. ‘Goddess! Kat! I was this close to calling Alpha Leo!’ she growls. We had already discussed a plan and I’m grateful she didn’t jump in to attack and followed my instructions. ‘Sorry, but I’m fine, I’m here in his pack house I think…’ I say, looking around. ‘Oh? So how did he feel knowing it was you?’ she asks excitedly, all annoyance gone. ‘He doesn’t know who I am… yet. I think… But I’m fine. I don’t know where my phone is, or if
KATALEYA. My eyes fly open at those words. “No, not at-” “Don’t lie to me. What is it? Never seen an Alpha with a disability?” He throws at me venomously, his eyes filled with contempt as he sits back in his throne-like chair. He doesn’t even need a throne. The power that radiates off him is enough of a reminder to show who wears the crown here. He is the Alpha, there’s no doubt about that, but his aura intrigues me. How powerful is he? “Are you going to stare all day? This isn’t a circus.” My heart constricts at his words, and I shake my head. “No, it’s not that – I… Having a disability never makes a person beneath anyone or any less capable. My mother has a disability, but it does not stop her from being the most incredible woman ever. I admire her, and I can also see that you too are a great Alpha.” He cocks a brow, scoffing contemptuously as he opens his drawer and takes out a cigarette, deftly placing it between those gorgeous lips of his, and flicking the lighter as he li
~ KATALEYA ~ I speed up, breaking into a run, not worrying about the three who run after me. I need to get out of here. As long as I’m alone, I’ll be able to handle them. They’re here for me and that’s all they want. “Oi! What are you doing?!” Alondra shouts. I can feel the light being sucked from around us, feel the air becoming heavier and they are oblivious to it. How did they find me here so quickly? Was it when I used my powers last night? My eyes blaze pink as I emit a large part of my aura, a beacon to call them to me, drawing them to the powers that they desire. I’m down the stairs as fast as I can go, my heart thumping when I hear the shuddering rattling of their ragged breath, the air becoming cold. “She’s a witch!” Gabriela shouts, looking at me as she backs away. “Alpha! Alpha!” They may not have picked up on it as fast as me, but they’re sensing them now. It’s hard not to when they are this close. I hear Alondra gasp. The fear in them is only going to make this wo