Nicole POVThe years fly when you have a child to look after, but Michael still treats Layla with contempt. I never leave them alone together. He spends most of his time at Roses, coming home when he thinks I need to be put back in my place. I still can't help responding to his advances; he normally gloats continuously the next day, making me feel cheap and even more disgusted with myself. I moved back into Michael's room when Layla started school. Michael did not want to risk the pack hearing that their magnificent Alpha didn't share a bed with his so-called mate. I groan, rolling over; I need to get my ass out of bed; it's the first day back at school for Layla. We have a new principal at the school. I have not met him, but what I have heard from Marian does not impress me much. I feel Layla’s excitement through our bond. I quickly get dressed and go downstairs to make her breakfast.Layla povI woke up so happy. I turned eight years old yesterday, and it's my first day back at sch
Nicole POVI fucked up. Michael was furious after I chased Mr. Madden. I am not sorry; when I felt Layla’s terror through our bond, I wanted to kill him. Naturally, Michael spoke to him and assured him it wouldn't happen again. Michael doesn't talk to Layla unless he is chastising her. I know Michael is taking small doses of wolfsbane, trying to suppress Malaki. What Nalia said is true: Malaki wants to hurt me, but he stopped Michael when he went to hit Layla. Layla was terrified, not understanding what was happening, when a voice that was not her fathers yelled at me to get Layla away from him. She was only three years old at the time. I thank the goddess. She doesn't remember it.I had just picked Layla up from school when Michael bellowed,“Nicole, come to my office and bring Layla with you. I need to speak to both of you.” Michael is sitting behind his desk Beta Grayson is standing beside him. Layla looks at Grayson, asking,“Why haven't you got pups yet, Beta Grayson” Grayson sm
Layla POV Mum wakes me up early, “Layla, wake up the Alpha and Luna of the Dark Moon pack will be here shortly.” Sitting in the kitchen, I watch mum and some other females prepare food for our visitors; I can smell bacon, eggs, and toast, and my stomach growls. Laughing, mum hands me a plate piled with food; as I start to eat, she says, “They have a daughter your age. How would you like to share your room with her?” I nod yes. I am so excited. We rarely have children my age at the packhouse, and it will be nice to have someone who will play with me. Hearing the Dark moon pack arriving, my mother and Beta Grayson go out to meet them. Grayson takes Alpha Jonah and his Beta Jeremy to dad as he is waiting in his office for them. Their Alphas name is Jonah, Luna's name is Bethany, and another lady with them is called Diana. They have two boys with them and the girl, my mum said, was coming. Her name is Amy. Not wanting to wait any longer, I grab Amy's hand and race her up the stairs
Michael POV Rage twists through my gut as soon as I smell her scent of jasmine and wild berries flowing through me. It took all of my control not to go to her and take her. She is my fated mate. Malaki growls furiously, saying, “My mate, my mate is here. You couldn't wait; you had to bow to your father's demands and mate Nicole knowing she was not our intended mate, so that you could be Alpha.” Malaki is a vicious bastard suiting my nature. “Calm down, Malaki, we will get our mate. It will take me a while to work out how I will achieve it; Diana won't get away from us a second time. I can promise you that.” I know Malaki is right in everything he is saying. I killed my father not long after I mated Nicole. She suited my purpose at the time; only now, she has grown comfortable in her role as my Luna, and I no longer have the patience to deal with her disobedience. I sit in my study long after everyone has gone to sleep. By morning, I had formed a plan on how to get our true ma
Layla POV When I woke up this morning, it took me a while to remember where I was and what had happened. Marian walks into my room, smiling at me, “I have made pancakes for breakfast if you want to join me, Layla.” I climbed out of bed, picking my clothes up to get changed. Marian takes my clothes from me, saying, “We are having a pajama day, Layla, no getting dressed for us today.” I looked at her properly, laughing when I saw the pajamas she was wearing; they were pink with little owls all over them. “What's wrong with my pajama Layla? I love pink it is my favorite color?” I don't answer her, following her to the kitchen. She hands me a plate; there are piles of pancakes on the table with strawberries, ice cream, and maple syrup. “Eat up, my love, and ask me anything you like; we can get to know each other better.” “What did you do when you were younger, Marian?” “I was a Delta before your father, and his father became Alpha; things were very different then.” We had bee
Diana POV The morning was like any other morning; walking into the forest, I couldn't help thinking how beautiful our land was. I watch Nathan and Drew race each other up the mountain, laughing at their antics. Suddenly I smell the coppery scent of blood in the air. Inhaling deeply, I follow the smell until it gets stronger. Walking closer, I see Damian and Anthony, two of our scouts who have been attacked and killed inside our borders. Not understanding how our sentinels didn't pick up another pack or rogues scent entering our land, I try to mindlink Jonah, But I am too far away from him. Panicking, I turn and run; I need to find Jonah. Another scent hits me, making me stop and freeze, a witch. I see a witch being pushed towards me, badly beaten and hands bound. Fear courses through my body as I know who is with her. Alpha Michael has used a witch to mask his pack's scent. Smiling cruelly, he shoves the witch towards me. Grabbing me, he tied my wrists together, then turned to fou
Diana povI have been here for a week. I am not allowed to leave the packhouse; Michael won’t let me see Amy; he said I have to prove myself as his Luna before I get any privileges like visitors. What the fuck does that statement mean?. Michael is not like normal werewolves; there is something unbalanced about him, and his behavior is erratic. The mate bond means nothing to him except the belief that he now owns me and can do whatever he wants. Michael alternates his nights between another female and me. Every time he touches me, I feel sick, and my self-loathing grows. My mind screams no, and my body melts at his touch. The bond makes it painful for me when he isn't with me.Michael's side of the bed sinks as he lays down; the stench of pineapple sage and honey clings to him. I don't say anything to him. I am a quick learner; it took me two days to heal after the first time I questioned him about her scent.I lay awake until the sun rises, then quickly leave the bedroom, ensuring I
Layla POVI have been living with Marian for three years. Amy should be here soon; she comes every morning before school. I roll over in bed, saying “NO” and covering my head with my pillow as I hear the excitement in Amy’s voice; I don’t want to get out of bed.“Wake up, Layla. It’s our first day back at school. We are going to rule.” “I hate school, Amy.”“But it's high school, Layla.”“Fine, Amy, I am getting up.”She laughs as she walks out of my room. It is not unusual for Amy to have breakfast with Marian and me; she is here early most mornings. I put on my favorite blue jeans and a t-shirt, slipping my feet into my sneakers.I can hear Amy chatting to Marian in the kitchen; Amy stops when she sees me with a horrified expression on her face.“You can't wear that; it's our first day; we need to make an impression.”Marian laughs as Amy drags me back to my bedroom; she digs through my clothes until she finds a white tank top. I snatch it off her and put it on. she hands me a pair