[Ivan’s POV]Two weeks have passed by in a blur since Rose Woods was taken down and Arissa’s curse was lifted. Two weeks filled with court hearings and punishment issuing, not to mention making deals with the nomads in regards to Catori’s part in Arissa’s torture.In the end, we agreed to allow him to go back with Nazhoni and Rome to be tried for his treachery.Despite my hesitance to let him out of my sight after everything Theodore and Giselle did after I spared them, Arissa convinced me to let them take him.Now, I sat in the front of the execution chamber, watching as Theodore was strapped down to a wooden chair. His dark gaze bore into me, as if his hatred towards me would end up killing me before he was killed."Ready, alpha." Igor announced once he was secured. "Shall we get started?"Nodding, I lifted a hand, and motioned for him to proceed.Leaning back, I crossed my arms across my chest while Igor filled a syringe with a strong dose of poison that was sure to kill even the s
A lone woman walks alone along the shore, her clothes whipping about her frame as a storm can be seen brewing on the horizon. She carries a small wooden box close to her chest as her eyes scan the blood-splattered sand. What she is looking for is uncertain, but once she finds it, she lets out a muffled sob of grief and collapses to her knees.Reaching out a shaky hand, she collects what seems to be the remains of a child no older than eight or nine. There isn’t much left of the child, but by the cloth that still clings to the bone, she can tell that it is the one she seeks.She says a small prayer. She gently places what she can in the box she carries. However, amongst that prayer is a curse that is putting into motion the revenge she seeks.Standing, she quickly brushes the sand off of her long black dress and begins to make her way towards what looks to be a compound.Once she arrives, she pulls out a set of metal cutters and begins to work the large chain that holds the doors to th
[Ivan’s POV] "Come back, cutie!" The blatant flirtation echoed throughout the hall I was beginning to make my way down. Followed by it was my maid Elise’s quick escape from the chamber where Arissa was supposed to be getting ready for the night’s main event. Quickening my pace, I managed to reach Elise before she could disappear down another hall. Her face, which was usually quite pale, was flushed and her eyes were dark with worry. What in the world had Arissa managed to do this time? "M-master…" Elisa stammered, fixing her large eyes on me. "I… the mistress, she..." "Slow down." I sighed, trying to hide my amusement at just how scared Arissa had left this poor maid. "What exactly happened?" "She…" "I can answer that." Turning, I let my eyes fall on the woman in question as she slowly and seductively made her way towards where we stood. Despite knowing that her coronation ceremony to become my luna was happening in less than thirty minutes, she only wore a white corset that ac
[Arissa’s POV]I felt butterflies dancing around in my stomach, and my heart threatened to jump out of my chest as I stared into Ivan’s blazing blue eyes. This was it... There was no going back after this. As of today, I would be Ivan's luna and finally take my place proudly by his side.For a year, Ivan and I worked to restore the peace and to rebuild the Fulgur and Tonitrue packs after Theodore and Gillian attempted to overturn and conquer them. Now, since things were settled, it was time for me to take my place beside Ivan as the Fulgur pack’s luna.Even though I had convinced myself that this was no big deal, I couldn’t stop the nerves that were now rushing through me. Dammit, why did becoming luna have to be such a big deal?"Are you getting cold feet?" Ivan asked, squeezing my hands that were clasped tightly in his. "Planning to run?""Who is planning to run?" I snapped defiantly. "Elder Oliver, could you get on with it already, please?""R-right." The elder stammered, shooting
[Ivan’s POV]"Arissa!" I hissed, quickly catching Arissa as her body went limp. "Hey, wake up!"I clutched her in my arms and gently patted her cheek in an attempt to rouse her, but she didn’t respond. Instead, her mouth tightened into a grimace of discomfort and her face contorted in pain."GET A HEALER!" I growled, beginning to make my way towards the pack house while all the ceremony guests watched in confusion. "DON’T JUST STAND THERE LIKE FOOLS!"At my words, the crowd came to life, making way for me to pass through and asking around if anyone was a healer. Rolling my eyes, I continued to move, making my way into the pack house and up the stairs towards mine and Arissa’s living quarters. Once I arrived, I beelined for our room, laying her down on the bed and sending a mindlink to Christine.Satisfied that she would arrive soon, I busied myself by pulling off Arissa’s shoes and loosening her corset."Master," Christine called when she arrived. "What happened here?""She started s
[Arissa’s POV]I sat on mine and Ivan’s bed, picking at my food. Despite the things in front of me being my favorites, none of them were appealing. Just the smell alone was making me nauseous. Despite that, I attempted a few bites and immediately regretted it when I felt the food I had just swallowed attempt to come back up."Excuse me!" I gasped, jumping up and running to the bathroom."Arissa?" Ivan called, seeming genuinely concerned. "Are you alright?""F-fine..." I managed between heaves.As I spoke, I felt a warm hand press against my back as another lifted my hair before it could get ruined. Where the hand touched sent soothing tingles that immediately made me feel better."This child isn’t even born yet and is already causing trouble." I grumbled, collapsing against Ivan’s legs, and looked up into his eyes. "I’m blaming this on you.""Me?" Ivan repeated, raising a brow. "How can you blame me when you...""La la la." I began, plugging my ears. "I can’t hear you!"Jumping up, I
[Ivan’s POV]"Who?"I eyed Arissa as she continued to stare into the mirror ahead of her. Despite her insisting that something was there, I just couldn’t see it. Was she playing some sort of trick? Or was she actually seeing something?"Kids," Arissa muttered, reaching out and touching the mirror’s surface. "All the kids I killed in the past."At her words, I felt my heart clench painfully as images of that boy that attempted to kill her in the past appeared. Though I had managed to see that much of her memories, I hadn’t had the heart to actually ask her about it."Maybe you’re just tired." I murmured, wrapping my arms around her waist and pulling her against me. "Why don’t you try getting some sleep.""Sleep." The word came out quietly, but she didn’t protest as I pulled her closer. "I still need to brush my teeth." She pointed out, finally seeming to snap out of her daze."Then let me help you."Even though I knew that she didn’t need my help, something about leaving her alone in t
[Arissa’s POV]"Where to start?" I could feel my heartbeat picking up as I let all the emotions of that time crash into me. Until this day, I hadn’t told a single soul about that time or what I went through. It was still hard to believe that I would be doing this now. "As you know, at the age of eight, I didn’t meet my wolf.""That’s right." Ivan confirmed, tightening his hold on me. "And because of that, you were sent away.""Right," I sighed. "I was sent to Tenerbris Island." I continued, trying to keep my voice calm. "It was a specially made island for omega’s. The whole purpose of the island was to see who was the best candidate for reproduction. There it is kill or be killed. "Now that the words were flowing, so were the memories. The bloody sand that remained stained, leaving memories of what happened. The horror in my opponents' eyes as they slowly bled to death while I watched."Arissa," Ivan murmured, placing a hand on my cheek. "Where did you go?"Snapping out of my daze, I