NORAWaking up with a skull-drilling headache would never be my favorite thing to do. And not recalling when exactly I fell asleep came second on the list of least favorite things.I groaned, clutching the sides of my head. It was like an elephant was trampling over my skull, trying to crack a hole and eat my brain.Satan’s Buttocks! Why did it hurt so much?“ Because you drank more liquor than you can hold. ” The deep voice replied from somewhere close.I opened my eyes and stared at the ceiling in confusion. Then, I looked to my left and found Striker standing by the huge window.We were in the tower, away from the rest of the people. I was lying on the couch, my left arm dangling from the space while he stood there, dressed in a white button-up shirt and grey slacks.His hair was disheveled, and his face was set in stone. Furious—The first word that came to my mind was definitely this.I sighed, glancing at the sky. The moon was still in the sky. This meant I was not out for long.

STRIKER It was hard to believe that confessing my honest feelings for her was so easy. And I sure as fuck didn’t expect her to kiss me for it. I was not complaining. I missed her. It was hard to stay away from her for a week. Even when she came to see me, and I knew she was outside the door, I didn’t go out. It made me feel like a monster because, with my rejection to meet her every time, I felt her disappointment, anger, pain. It made things hard for me. I wouldn’t have avoided her if Beatrice had not arrived before she did. She was, once again, crying and telling me that she had nowhere to go now. She couldn’t go to the East, couldn’t go to the North, couldn’t stay here as Lenora either. She was right. If she went to East, Fenric would recognize her. If she managed to get to the North, Dustin would have to mate with her to keep her there rightfully and I knew he would never do it. And if she stayed here as Lenora, Grans would start questioning her stay here which she did one ni

NORAThe ground slipped from beneath my feet after watching the father-daughter duo standing right in front of me. It was clear what had happened to push Striker into this sour mood, and that accusing look he gave me only proved my point.“ It’s good she came here on her own. ” Alpha Redley hissed. “ What a cunning girl she is to have taken my daughter’s place right under our noses. ”“ Dad. ” Lana groaned but shut her mouth when her father shot her a glare.I swallowed the bitter taste in my mouth and took my eyes off Striker’s face. I couldn’t possibly continue to look at him when I knew what the future held.“ She is exactly the girl I was telling you about, Your Highness! She is a fucking rogue, with allegiance to no King or Pack. She had been hiding from me after I discovered her truth or she would be long dead. ” Alpha Redley growled. “ she must have threatened my daughter into running away. She took her place here, for Goddess knows what reason. ”I rolled my eyes. He was talk

NORAThings became real the moment I was thrown out of the Euthoria Fortress and then the West. The Warriors didn’t let me stray from the path and ensured I was out of their border and right into the North’s territory with two huge-sized chests filled with thousands of Gold coins.They left and went back to their territory. I caught the looks they threw me from over their shoulders—the looks of reluctance. I never knew they would be so hesitant in leaving me there, just close to the border guards of the North.The rain was still pouring hard on me, soaking my already wet body. I stayed there, keeping my back to the North and my eyes fixed on the West border guards in the distance.I didn’t know what to think of this whole situation. I was at fault, but Striker…should have at least, given me a chance—that’s all I needed from him. If he had thrown me out after listening to me, I wouldn’t feel so dejected…and mad right now, but he never once felt the need to let me explain, to give me fi

STRIKEREvery day I decided I won’t think about her.Every day, I forgot this decision and started thinking about her again.It was torture.The harder I tried to forget her, the more this mark over my neck burned. It was not even the mark’s fault entirely. …It was all because of my dumb heart that didn’t want to forget her.Where was she?What was she doing?Did she miss me as much as I missed her?These questions kept pounding at my head for the last month. I tried sneaking a peek into her emotions one night but found the link blocked from the other side.She must hate me too much to let me know about her now. This blockage also hindered my ability to know where she was. The last I felt her presence…she was close to the North. And for a fact, I knew she must be with Dustin.That thought did make me crazy, but I had no right over her. She could go to him if she wanted.But what the fuck?Why would she go to him? Why? Just why? I couldn’t even look at Beatrice or any other fucking