Arielle’s POV:I had interacted with this being for the past few weeks, and how I had fallen into this trance as soon as I became hysterical, and it was so difficult to come out.His expression changed from wonder and sock to curiosity. I could tell that he was finding it hard to believe. In the same way, I could understand why Richard wouldn’t believe me. After all, it seemed to sound odd coming from me, that I had been talking with the moon goddess. But it was the truth, and I knew that he could tell it from my face.“Arielle,” Richard began after I paused, wanting to catch my breath after explaining that much so far. He looked pained. “Why didn’t you tell me about all of this, before? Why did you keep silent on it?”I felt a little guilty worrying about my mate now.Richard didn’t deserve this, and I was supposed to not keep a secret this big from him.“I know I should have,” I replied in a rush. “I’m sorry. I guess, some part of me thought that I was still dreaming all of this,
Richard’s POV:It was difficult to find words to quantify how I felt at hearing all of that come from my mate’s mouth. I knew that she was just repeating what the moon goddess had said to her while she was in that trance. But it was still such a profound statement that I couldn’t imagine what kind of “Arielle,” I began to speak but she cut me off with a shaky breath and smile aimed at her hands which were now on her lap.“I know that you don’t believe me, because I mean, who would?” She began to talk. “I know that, but please believe that what I say is the truth. I’m not lying to you. I could never-““I believe you, angel,” I said to her. Taking her face in my hands and raising them up to catch her blue eyes in my gaze, I thumbed her soft, supple lips gently. “I believe you. And you shouldn’t ever feel guilty for anything. Alright?”Her doe-eyed expression Made her eat you and your beautiful yard. She nodded and then I stood up from the bed satisfied.“Well,” I began to state with a
Arielle’s POV His hands were on me, and I could barely think properly.Richard was clearly a masterful man at a lot of things, and I had already catalogued memories of his kisses as the best ones I would ever have.But as his fingers skimmed my skin and made goosebumps rise up from it, I wondered what it would feel like to have him take me there and then.His lips were now at my collarbone and I could only breathe out his name shakily, like a mantra as his lips and teeth graced my neck and marked me as his.The dress that I wore was beginning to fe a little constricting, especially with the way that I wants him to take it all off me, now.“Richard, please. Stop it,” I breathed out, feeling each touch of his shoot desire straight to my core.“Hmm?” He hummed at me, his lips never leaving my neck.“Stop teasing, Richard, please,” I begged my mate, and he simply responded by chuckling.Even his laughter rumbling in his chest made me feel hotter, and I wrapped my arms around his neck, pu
Richard’s POV:The next morning dawned, and I rose up with grim determination.After Arielle and I had a pleasant night, I went back to my home with thoughts in my head. I didn’t want to think about it, but I knew that I would have to bite the metaphorical bullet and face Elise in the morning. I had to, for the sake of Arielle’s and my relationship. My ex-lover was an obstacle that could easily turn rogue and cause more chaos than we could ever expect, if left unchecked. I intended to stop her now, right in her tracks before she did something irreversible.I needed a way to bring her to heel, and make her understand that there was definitely not going to be any more shenanigans tolerated from her.And what better way to do that than to visit her parents?Mr and Mrs Evans were much loved and seemingly loyal members of our pack, and they had been part of my father’s group of friends who kept him company when my mot met had passed away.Now, I had to approach them carefully, like people
Richard’s POV:There was silence for less than a few seconds before Mrs Evans spoke, her voice trembling.“What happened? Surely she hasn’t done anything that bad,” Mrs Evans said, before whipping her head to ask her daughter, “Right? Did you do anything, Elle baby?”There was pleading in her voice.“I didn’t-“ Elise began to speak but I had enough.“I do not tolerate lies one bit, Elise. And I tolerate people who try to make themselves look like the victim even less,” my voice was cold and low, and I noticed how she looked away, clearly paling even more in fear. I turned back to her parents, and noted that they were staring at my abrupt change in behavior in shock. They hadn’t seen me this angry, and now it was nothing short of a surprise for them.“Mr Evans, Mrs Evans,” I continued speaking to them in as measured a tone as I could possibly muster, given the circumstances. “I am approaching you like this now, only because of the friendship you share with my father when he was alive.
Arielle’s POV:I finished up with the last patient and smiled at her as she left my office.The pack bond within my chest tingled nicely - I enjoyed the feeling of being able to sense the innermost parts of the pack, more than any normal wolf within our pack could. I was the future Luna after all, even if I was still learning how to deal with the fact that I had to be known.With a sigh, I got up to get a drink of water. The weather was becoming hotter and hotter for some damned reason, and I didn’t want to get dehydrated.As I finished the last water in the glass carafe in my office, I heard a knock on the door.“Come in,” I called out and the door opened.My brows rose as I saw Ethan step into my office at the clinic.“Ethan,” I greeted him, feeling a little bit happy now that I had seen my friend. It had been over two days since I had seen him last, and in that two days, there had been a lot of chaos.His brows rose too, but not at me. His eyes flickered around the strangely empty-
Richard’s POV:I finished speaking, and the way that Darren frowned down at his whiskey tumbler made me feel apprehensive as well.“That Hunter guy… I know him. He’s a family man,” Darren stated.I had just been telling him about the visit of this morning, and how my trip to the Evans household had shed a new light on some things.I had no doubts in my head now that sooner or later, Elise and the rest of her family would come to know about Arielle and her past with Leon Walker, the Rogue.And if word got out to the Elders before I could even introduce Arielle as my mate and the future Luna… then it was going to be bad.“So what are you going to do?” My best friend, my beta and my current drinking partner asked me.I shook my head; to me now, there was no way around it.I was going to have to introduce Arielle as soon as possible, to the Pack Elders and to the majority of the Pack, as the future Luna and my mate.“I think,” I stated slowly, tasting the whiskey strong on my breath this
Arielle’s POV:I didn’t feel ready.I felt numb, like how one prepared themselves for an execution. Richard sent me back to my home to go freshen up; essentially, I needed to dress up as nicely as possible. After all, the pack members attending tonight’s meeting needed to get a good first impression of their future Luna, and I needed to make a good first impression, and sway the minds of our people. All this, so that Elise and her chaos-causing self wouldn’t turn the minds of the people against me.I put on a white jumpsuit - one of my favorite items of clothing - and a pair of designer boots, which I had gotten myself as a medical school graduation present.Having styled my hair as much as I could, I felt a little bit better. Still, it didn’t stop the lead in my stomach from dropping and digging in deeper as Richard’s voice could be heard through the mind link that we shared.‘It’s time, angel,’ he had said.I took in a deep breath and exhaled slowly out through my mouth. I repeated