《THE FORGOTTEN LUNA》


 Chapter 01

    ADESSA.


    I should have known better that nothing goodsts forever. Especially for someone like me-a lowly, orphaned Omega.


    Thest year has been so perfect that I thought I had finally found my ce in this world-right in the arms of my mate, Alpha Kael.


    Fated mates are a rarity, and for a wolfless Omega like me, the chances are, I would never find my fated mate. Without a mate destined for me, I thought I was bound to walk this earth alone. Because I was sure no one would take a chance on me. But then I met Alpha Kael, and on that same day, he offered me a contract to be his Luna-to save his pride and his name from the betrayal of his fiancee, Desiree.


    I had just turned eighteen and was legally allowed to marry while the Alpha was already twenty-seven years old. Everyone around him was pushing him to settle down.


    He had already proposed to Desiree, but it turned out she had been cheating on him for a long time.


    He caught her in bed with another man when she said she was out on a girl''s night out.


    I found the Alpha, or, more appropriately, the Alpha found me by the river on the same day he discovered his fiancee''s infidelity. That day, I was trying to catch some fish in the stream. I left the orphanage a few months ago and was on my own.


    I was given a small cabin somewhere in the forest by my boss in the small cafeteria that I worked for. It was shabby, but it kept me warm at night so I wouldn''t beining, but then my sry wouldn''t be avable until the next week, so I decided to find food in nature. I had already picked up some wild fruits and was hoping to catch a fish I could grill.


    What started as a task so I could eat ended up being an adventure. I found myself having fun while trying to pin down a cod.


    Until I sensed someone was watching me.


    I found Alpha Kael standing at the river bank, smiling as he watched me make a fool of myself.


    I should have been terrified as he was a stranger, but for some reason, I wasn''t.


    No words came between us, and I just found myselfughing. The next thing I knew, he was already down in the water, teaching me techniques on how to catch one. We did end up catching two fish that night, and I invited him to my home.


    I wasfortable in his presence and had no idea he was the Alpha of the territory, as I had never seen him or any photos of him. So when he finally told me he was Alpha Kael of the Ironcrest Pack, I was dumbfounded.


    But the surprise didn''t end there.


    Kael asked me to be his Luna. I never imagined that someone like me could receive such an offer. Before I had the chance to decline or even hesitate, Kael assured me that if I helped him get his pride back from his fiance¨¦''s betrayal, I would receive a mate and a pack in return. And that I would no longer have to hunt for something to eat.


    I didn''t know what came to me that night, but I said yes.


    Maybe because I didn''t want to hunt for food anymore. Or maybe because I was smitten with the Alpha.


    The next thing I knew, he was already holding my hand and introducing me to his household as the future Luna of the Ironcrest.


    The marriage came a weekter. I wore a whitece gown, and Kael was dashing in his ck suit. No one would have thought that it was all a contract because the ceremony and the afterparty were so intimate that it even made me believe the Alpha had feelings for me. The marriage with Kael was something out of a fairy tale, and I thought I already found my happily ever after, but then there were things that were not bound to happen.


    I thought epting his offer to be his Luna would mean I would get a mate and a pack. But thest part didn''t happen. His pack didn''t know about Desiree''s infidelity, and Kael wouldn''t tell them. So, in the end, I was seen as the other woman. The girl who took the Alpha away from his real chosen mate.


    Rumors spread out that I seduced him. That I was part witch and enchanted him.


    Kael didn''t do anything to suppress these rumors. He said it would die on its own. I guess it did, but only when the Alpha was around. Because I was sure they still talked about me. I would always be the homewrecker for them.


    As much as I wanted to tell everyone the one they wanted for a Luna was not who they thought she was, I couldn''t. I promised Kael that what he told me about Desiree would be a secret I would take to my grave.


    So I swallowed everything I heard and continued to y my role as the perfect Luna even if I felt I was not wee. I used the animosity they gave me to better myself. I learned the ways of the pack and the role of a Luna. I assisted Kael with his work if he needed one and offered to handle small projects so he would not need to think about them and could focus on bigger projects as well as the security of the pack.


    I knew nothing when I came here, but in just a year, I learned everything about the pack and the things I needed to do so I could work perfectly in sync with the Alpha despite theck of confidence in me from everyone who worked alongside him.


    It had been a year, and although most had not warmed up to me yet, they acted civilly in front of me. Eventually, I got used to it, and I started not to mind them because whatever attention the pack never gave me, I got tenfold from the Alpha. Kael kept true to his words that I would get a mate in the true sense of the word.


    In the beginning, there were days he would miss Desiree, and he would be honest about it. He would let himself be vulnerable in my arms. I''d given him the shoulder he needed while he grieved and my body to satisfy his cravings. Alpha Kael was my first in everything.


    He was my first kiss. My first sexual experience. Upon knowing that, he made sure to be careful and take care of me. I had nothing toin about.


    He was the perfect Alpha. The perfect mate.


    Everyone else didn''t matter anymore because I have him. He was enough-more than enough.


    I would not deny that I had fallen in love with him. Although I knew he didn''t feel the same way, I was happy. He had never abandoned or cheated on me. He was faithful in the whole year that we were together. Everything was perfect between us-until Desiree returned to the territory and Kael was involved in a car ident.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.

 Chapter 02

    LADESSA.


    "The Alpha woke up!" Dexter, Kael''s Beta, yelled from the living room.


    My body went rigid as the words slowly sank in. I immediately left the housemaid I was speaking to in the kitchen and rushed to our bedroom.


    Kael, my mate, had a car ident a month ago and went into aa. His condition was getting better, and recently, he began falling in and out of consciousness. He would wake up for a few minutes and stare nkly. He wouldn''t speak, or he wouldn''t even look at anyone. And then he would fall into a deep sleep again.


    I continued with my routine to keep the household going while his Beta and Delta were doing their best to run the pack. But since I was the Luna, all the final decisions were up to me.


    I kept a brave face to everyone, but in the silence of our room at night, I would cry myself to sleep. I missed him and the security of his presence.


    I wanted him back.


    I haven''t given up hope that one day he will wake up and everything will be back to normal.


    It seemed that day was today. He finally woke up and began talking.


    But returning to normal didn''t happen. At least the way I wanted it to be.


    "Don''t touch me. Who are you?" He asked. His voice was as cold as the winter night. He was staring at me with furrowed brows as if I hadmitted a heinous crime against him.


    I rushed to our bed, and I couldn''t stop myself from holding him. I was about to hug him when he growled at me.


    Kael hated being touched and was never affectionate with anyone except me. He was a fair and good Alpha, but he kept his distance. But never with me. I was allowed to hold him or hug him in public, putting on a show that we were in love. His smiles would always just be reserved for me.


    It seemed he had forgotten that.


    "I''m... I''m Adessa." I answered as I forced a smile despite the tears stinging my eyes. I was so happy to hear him talk.


    "Are you my nurse? I don''t think I allowed anyone to just grab me like that..."


    "I''m your Luna..." I said, trying to meet his gaze.


    The room fell silent, and I felt it closing in on me as his eyes dted before a scowl covered his whole face.


    "What the fuck?" He growled once more, and his eyes went to his Beta, who was standing behind me. "Where is Desiree?"


    "Alpha, calm down. I will answer all your questions, but let''s wait for your physician. He''ll be here in a couple of minutes." Dexter told him.


    "Call Desiree and tell her toe here. Or take me to her!" His words cut deep into my soul.


    My jaw tightened as I blinked back the tears pooling in my eyes. I tilted my head up as I met his gaze again. "You ced an order not to allow Desiree inside this house."


    "Am I asking for your opinion?" His nose red as he red at me, but before any hateful words could leave his mouth, the door opened, and his stepmother came in.


    Kael''s father died when he turned twenty-four, and he immediately took the position of the Alpha. His stepmother, Miranda, stepped down as Luna but had never stopped acting as one, even after my marriage with Kael.


    She would always be the first one toin about anything about me or things I''d decided on. She only stopped when Kael requested for her not to meddle with my decisions. He also gave her a home so she could move out. Kael''s act only fueled her hatred for me.


    And yes, she never stopped letting me know that Desiree was a far better choice than me.


    "They said the Alpha woke up?" She asked as she walked in without even throwing me a nce.


    She was followed by her Omega, who rolled her eyes upon seeing me. She hated me for being an Omega like her and a Luna.


    "Miranda, where is Desiree? And why is the woman here iming to be my Luna?" Kael asked her, and it was getting harder to fight my tears.


    The former Luna''s eyes widened as her eyes darted to Beta Dexter.


    "He can''t remember the Luna, but his physician..." Dexter was not able to finish his words because Miranda had already cut him off.


    "Desiree is on her way here. She just went to check the flower shop that delivers flowers here every three days to decorate your room, but she''ll be here soon." She said sweetly as she stood beside his bed, a wide smile ying on her face. That was a lie. I was the one organizing the flowers around this room because I wanted him to wake up to a beautiful view and for him to know, I was always longing for him.


    "I don''t think it''s fair to give credit to someone who has never stepped foot in this house for a whole year."


    "What do you mean?" Kael asked.


    "As I said earlier, you ordered not to let her inside the house. The flowers you see around here are my..."


    "Take the Omega away from here, and she''s not allowed to enter this room until Kael orders so," Miranda said firmly, looking at the Beta.


    "You can''t do that. I''m the Luna of this pack and the mistress of this house." I spoke as my chest heaved.


    My eyes went to Kael, who still had a dark expression on his face. He was just looking at me.


    "Beta Dexter, I said take her away from here. It is not good if Desiree sees her when shees." Miranda kept talking, motioning with her hand while ring at Dexter.


    "I said I''m not going," I said firmly before looking at Kael again. "Kael, please tell Miranda..."


    "Alpha Kael..." He cut me off before I could finish, and his deep, cold voice sent shivers down my spine. "Leave..."


    My jaw tightened at his order, and my heart shattered to pieces.


    "You don''t remember me, and yet you''re not going to ask me anything about how I ended up here?"


    "I said leave!" He was almost growling.


    A hand snaked on my arm, and I tilted my head slowly to look at the Beta. I waited for Kael to growl or reprimand Dexter for holding me as he would on asions that the Beta identally held me. He would never let any male touch me. But he did nothing this time. "Let''s go, Adessa," Dexter said.


    He dropped the title Luna from my name. It was then that I knew I was losing this battle.


    I took onest look at Kael as I pivoted my body to follow Dexter''s guide, and my heart just broke again. He wasn''t even looking at me. He was already in conversation with his stepmother as if I were just a waste of space, not worthy of being looked at as I exited his room


    -our room.


    I slowly pulled my arm away from Dexter as we walked the corridor. "You will tell him about me, right?"


    "Yes, I will. But I cannot force him to believe anything."


    "I want to be there when his doctor arrives. I want to hear what he has to say about his condition." "That decision lies with Kael."


    "But he can''t remember me! So, of course, he will not let me be there!" I snapped at him.


    "There''s nothing I can do, Adessa."


    "Luna Adessa!" I gritted my teeth, trying to suppress my anger.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Just Adessa..." He replied. "Until the Alpha asks me to address you as Luna again." He gave me a smug smirk before turning his back to me.

 Chapter 03

    LADESSA.


    The whole day went by in a blur. People came and went. Everyone was fussing over Kael. I had attempted to reach out to him, but Miranda blocked me all the time.


    There was a time when I screamed at her out of frustration, and it was the scene Kael identally witnessed. Of course, he didn''t like it.


    So, instead of letting me speak with him, he took his stepmother, who kept pretending I was the mean one, and they left the house. I had no idea where they went, and no matter who I asked around, no one could tell me.


    So I didn''t get any sleep at all. I watched the clock tick, and the moment it hit six in the morning, I was already up and began managing the housemaids in the kitchen, hoping Kael would be back for breakfast. Breakfast came and went, and there was still no sign of him.


    After eating, I went to my office and called the central hall to check if he went there, as he would usually do during work days. But he didn''t. They were actually surprised to find out he had woken up.


    So, up to this moment, I had no idea where he was, and I couldn''t reach Dexter, who went home after Kael and Miranda left the house yesterday.


    I was pacing back and forth, contemting my next move, when I heard the sound of an approaching car.


    I walked toward the window and peered outside. My office window was facing the parking lot, so I saw Miranda''s car driving in her assigned parking space.


    My heart began thudding loudly as if it would jump out of my chest. I didn''t like it. It felt like an omen that something terrible was about to happen.


    Miranda exited the car and was followed by another man, but not Kael. It was Mr. Toledo, Kael''s attorney and legal advisor.


    What is he doing here? And where is Kael?


    Goosebumps rose from the skin at the thoughts that flooded my head. I tried to shake it off when I heard another sound of an approaching car.


    It took a while before Dexter''s car came into view, and the moment the backseat door opened, I already knew why I was feeling agitated. Kael got out of the first before heid out his hand to someone. And I was right, she was here.


    Desiree ced her hand on his, and soon they were holding hands. I didn''t see any more because a knock came through the door. I turned away from the window and walked back to my table. My heart was breaking, but I couldn''t let them see that. I cleared my throat before allowing the person outside.


    Miranda entered my office, followed by Mr. Toledo.


    "Is there anything I can do for you?" I asked as I eased back in my chair.


    "You need to sign this document so we can all move forward," Miranda said as she strutted toward me and dropped a clear folder on my table.


    My gaze slowly shifted from her to the document in front of me. I didn''t need to open it. I could clearly see what''s inside the folder.


    Divorce papers.


    "Sign it," she said arrogantly.


    "No," I answered firmly.


    "Kael wants a divorce."


    "He''s the one who wants to divorce, then he should be the one asking for it. He''s not a baby anymore that needs his nanny to do things for him."


    Miranda hissed as her eyes narrowed. "Look at you. You have grown horns in just over a year. Kael no longer wants you..."


    "Kael doesn''t remember me, but it doesn''t mean he doesn''t want me," I told her in the same arrogant voice she was using, even if I didn''t believe my own words.


    "Really? Well, if you don''t know who he spent the night with, let me tell you. He was with Desiree, and they were excited to be with each other. You could only imagine what they did together."


    "Really? I didn''t know Kael and Desiree would stoop that low and cheat on me when everyone in this pack knows he is still married to me." I told her sarcastically, masking my pain at the thought of them being intimate. Her palms mmed against the desk as she red at me. "Sign the damn paper, Adessa. Do not piss me off!"


    I grabbed the folder and rose from my seat before heading toward the door, ignoring her words.


    "Where are you going?" she asked.


    "To my dear husband. I want to know what he''s been up to."


    I could still hear Miranda talking, but I had already walked out of my office and shut the door. I prepared myself for the worst because I knew Desiree was with Kael.


    But even if I did my best, I still came unprepared when I walked into his office and found Desiree sitting on hisp, talking to him in her angelic voice - the exact opposite of her attitude.


    This was not my first encounter with her. A few weeks after my wedding, I bumped into her a number of times, and in every instance, she attempted to harass me in public by calling me names.


    "I want to speak with my husband," I said in a cold tone, and their heads snapped to look at me.


    "Don''t you know how to knock?" Desiree asked in a mocking voice.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Don''t you know how to be decent? You are worried about me invading my husband''s office when you should be checking yourself because you''re sitting on hisp."


    "Adessa..." It was Kael. He didn''t say anything to her, but he must have motioned for her to stand up because shezily got up from him.


    "Tell her to leave. I want to discuss things with you."


    Kael took a deep breath and looked at Desiree. They stared at each other for a while before he nodded his head.


    Desiree pouted, her shoulders slumping, but I knew it was all for the act. I didn''t move until she was out of the office. After her, I closed the door and walked toward Kael''s table, sliding the folder onto him. "So, you want a divorce," I stated. I was trying my best to keep my voice from breaking.

 Chapter 04

    LADESSA.


    "So, you want a divorce," I stated. I was trying my best to keep my voice from breaking.


    "Adessa, I have a fianc¨¦e." He said in a calm tone.


    "You had a fianc¨¦e a year ago, but you have a wife now."


    "I can''t remember anything about you, and I am sure it is Desiree that I want, not anyone else."


    "Did you forget what she did to you?" I asked.


    Instead of answering my question, he threw one back to me. "Tell me, did I love you? Are we together because we are in love?"


    I swallowed. I could lie and tell him we were, but lying was not part of our rtionship. We had always been honest with each other. ""No," I answered, keeping my head high.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Thank you for your honesty. So are we together for convenience? Or what? But it doesn''t matter anymore. Whatever reason brought us into this marriage, let''s forget about it. I want a divorce, Adessa. I never wanted to marry anyone I didn''t love. It was not how I grew up. I had always envisioned Desiree as my Luna."


    His words were too painful to bear. He was still obviously in love with her.


    I nodded my head as I did my best to stop my tears from falling. There was no use telling him I loved him. I would only make a fool of myself.


    "So this is what I get after you pull me from my simple life and drag me to yours. Now that you have no need for me, I will just be discarded as if I were just a piece of trash."


    "You will bepensated for your time."


    He was surely insulting me. "I don''t need your money."


    He didn''t say anything, but his jaw kept twitching.


    "What did she promise you this time? Maybe I can counter it."


    "Adessa, let Desiree out of this. This is between you and me."


    "Of course, this is certainly about her." I took a deep breath before I continued. "You disappoint me, Kael. I had always thought highly of you, but this game you''re ying is not amusing anymore."


    He didn''t say anything, but his forehead creased.


    "Did you think I didn''t feel that you suddenly became cold when Desiree came back to the territory? You became unavable for me. You were always out of the house and not in the central office either. I didn''t even know where you were most of the time. And then the next thing I knew, you were in aa. Now you woke up with no memory of me. Just me." My tears finally fell, but I wiped them with the back of my hand as I met his stare. "Just tell me if you don''t want me anymore. Stop ying me for a fool." "Adessa..."


    I dropped my gaze from him and grabbed the folder. I opened it and took the pen that was lying on his desk. My hand was shaking while I signed the divorce paper.


    After signing, I closed my eyes for a brief second to stop more tears froming before I faced him again.


    "I, Adessa Quejeros Daeyra, reject you, Alpha Kael Daeyra, as my mate." My body jolted slightly, and pain hit my chest.


    A low growl escaped from his throat as his hand went to his torso. It is always the person being rejected who gets most of the pain.


    This was the only pain I could give him, but I was sure it was nothingpared to the pain of my broken heart.


    My hands balled into tight fists as I tried to steady myself. I closed my eyes before I continued with the process. "And effective today, I am stepping down as your Luna and the Luna of the Ironcrest Pack."


    I waited for him to ept the rejection, but he didn''t say anything. I slowly opened my eyes and saw him looking at me.


    "End my pain, Kael..." I said in a low voice.


    His jaw tightened, and there were many things flitting in his eyes, but my senses were already clouded with pain that I didn''t bother to read his emotions anymore. "ept my rejection, Alpha Kael."


    "I, Alpha Kael Daeyra, ept your rejection, Adessa Quejeros. You are no longer my Luna and no longer the Luna of the Ironcrest Pack..." He spoke his words softly, but it was echoing in my head.


    I dropped my gaze from him before he could see my tears. The bond was breaking, and it was taking too much of me not to fall on my knees.


    I turned away from him and walked toward the door, trying my best not to falter from my steps. I held the handle but didn''t turn it. Instead, I spoke without looking at him. "You met me in the river while I was trying to catch fish for dinner. On that same night, you asked me to be your Luna because you found Desiree in bed with another man. I saved you from her, and you saved me from hunger."


    I opened the door before I continued speaking. "Thank you for the one year, Alpha Kael."


    I didn''t wait for him to acknowledge my words. I left his office and let my tears roll down my cheeks.


    A part of me regretted signing the divorce papers and rejecting him, but there was only so much a person could take. Even before he lost his memory of me, I already felt him slipping away. Maybe he realized he still wanted her, and I was on the way that I needed to go. I didn''t want to stay where I was not wanted, especially by the person I thought was on my side. Maybe Miranda was right¡ªit was time to move on.


    This was the end of Kael and me.

 Chapter 05

    LADESSA.


    I went to my office after I signed our divorce paper. I knew I should go, but I had many things in my hand that I didn''t want to leave without giving instructions about them.


    I took my time to write the next step and the necessary confirmations for each matter I personally handled while he was in aa. I knew I could tell him directly, but I didn''t want to see him anymore.


    I spent my whole day in my office, just waiting for someone to kick me out of the house, but it never came. So I also took the chance to make some calls to find a small apartment where I could go after I left this house.


    Kael didn''t say anything about when I should go, but I was nning to stay at least until tonight and leave before dawn.


    I didn''t want anyone to see me leaving.


    Fortunately, no one disturbed me in my office. It was already nine o''clock in the evening when I finished all of the things I had prepared for him and his pack. I didn''t have lunch and dinner, and by the time I was already in bed, my stomach was growling from hunger. It was almost midnight, and I was sure the whole house was already sleeping.


    I had no idea if Desiree was here, as I didn''t meet anyone after my encounter with Kael. But my woman instinct was telling me she was because Kael was already free of me. So, there was nothing stopping them from being together anymore.


    I shoved my nket and rose from the bed. As much as I didn''t want to leave my room, my hunger wouldn''t let me sleep.


    I carefully walked the corridor, hoping I wouldn''t meet anyone, when I heard footsteps by the stairs and something bumping against the wall.


    I remained frozen in my spot, expecting the worst. What if it was them? Wrapped up in each other''s arms, kissing each other? I was sure that was possible because, in many instances, Kael carried me in his arms from the ground floor to our room while we devoured each other''s mouths.


    I was still contemting if I should turn around when Kael finally came into view.


    He was alone.


    And on the way his body was bumping and pressing on the wall, I could tell he was drunk. He drinks asionally, but not so heavily as this.


    "Adessa!" He eximed when he saw me.


    "Kael."


    "I thought you left."


    "I am leaving tomorrow."


    "Sssh... Nonsense. This house is too big. Stay."


    My eyebrows raised as I watched him approach me. I had never seen him this drunk, so I had no idea how he usually acted in this condition.


    "I have a big problem," he said as he stopped in front of me. "I have two women in my house, and I''m only one. Imagine that, two!"


    He raised his hand and showed me three fingers before he chuckled. "Oh fuck, I don''t know how to count anymore."


    "Kael, you''re drunk. Go to bed."


    "Tell me, my beautiful wife. Did I drink while we were together?"


    I nodded. "But not as drunk as you are now."


    "Hmmm, does it mean I never had problems while I was with you?" "Maybe..."


    "I only drink hard when I don''t know what to do with my life."


    "You should go to bed. It''ste." My eyes pooled with tears. If what he was saying was true, then at least I knew I never gave him a problem until now.


    "Are you not going to scold me? A wife does that when their husband drinks too much."


    "Kael, I''m not your wife anymore."


    "Says who?"


    "I''ll take you to your room," I told him. This act he was ying was just breaking my heart.


    "Sssh... Desiree is in my room." He put his finger on his lips, telling me to be quiet.


    My forehead creased. There was no way I would voluntarily return Kael to her, so instead, I made a detour and took him to one of the guestrooms at the farthest end of the second floor. The same floor of the room I was upying. "What day is it? And in what month? This clock never seemed so alive..."


    Kael was singing while we walked through the corridor and into the room. I couldn''t help smiling, yet my eyes were getting misty.


    I would miss this. I''d miss the way he''d sing at me whenever I was upset with him. It was his way of making meugh because, for the life of me, he couldn''t carry a tune.


    "And it''s you and me and all of the people. And I don''t know why I can''t keep my eyes off of you. "


    I lowered his body onto the bed, but his arm snaked around my waist so that he was able to take me with him, and Inded on top of him.


    "Kael..." My voice came out throaty as my heart thudded loudly. It had been over a month since we became intimate, and with the situation we were in, I had no idea why the thought of sleeping with him crossed my mind. I should learn to forget him. I should move on.


    But maybe for tonight, I will let my eyes devour him. He was still singing with his eyes closed, and both his arms were now holding my body closer to him.


    My hands on his chest were my leverage, so I could keep staring at him, trying to memorize his features.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    All of a sudden, his eyes snapped open, and then he stopped singing. His hand on my waist moved up to cup the nape of my neck, and before I could think straight, he had already pushed my head closer. Our mouths crashed against each other.

 Chapter 06

    LADESSA.


    I was staring at the ceiling, even if I couldn''t see anything in the darkness. Kael was snoring beside me. It was louder than usual, probably because he was too drunk.


    I knew I should get up and leave his bed because he might not like it if he saw me beside him. However, a part of me wanted to stay because what happened between us gave me hope.


    He couldn''t remember me, but his body surely knew how to move against mine.


    Kael would always start slowly and carefully in our lovemaking. Then, he would amp up his pace and take me wildly. He knew all the right ces to touch me, and he knew all the right words to say to make me whimper in ecstasy. And he did all of that tonight. I think I should stay and sleep beside him.


    I couldn''t wipe the smile on my face even after I closed my eyes and hugged him tightly. He purred softly before he turned to his side, facing me and wrapping his arms around me, tucking my head under his chin as he would usually do.


    It had been too long since he hugged me, and I knew I would definitely have a good sleep tonight. So I let his warmth envelope me, cocooning me to sleep.


    "Aaah..." Kael''s grunts woke me up.


    My eyes snapped open, and my body immediately jolted. I sat up to look at him. Fear coursed through me because I remembered he was in aa, and I thought he was having a seizure until everything that happened in thest 24 hours sank in. My eyes darted to the clock on one of the shelves, and I saw it was already three in the morning.


    His eyes were closed. It looked like he was dreaming.


    "Aaah..." He continued moaning, and sweat was forming on his forehead. His groans sound so sexual, like the one he would let out when we were having sex.


    Is he having wet dreams?


    I raised the nket and peered inside, letting the light of the moon cascading from the window light up the area I wanted to see. I was right he was sporting a hard erection.


    A smile curled on my lips before my eyes widened because, suddenly, his fingers wrapped around his manhood. He kept groaning as he began moving his hand up and down.


    The sight and sounding from him caused tingles to spread throughout my thighs. It excited me, but before I could decide what to do next, he mumbled something.


    A name.


    And it wasn''t mine.


    "Desiree..." It was so low, but enough for me to hear and enough for me to freeze.


    My mouth hung open as I dropped the nket I was holding, and I inched backward on my butt, away from his side. My lips quivered as I stared at him.


    "Desiree.." He repeated.


    I didn''t hear him wrong. He was moaning her name.


    My heart shattered as my eyes watered. I carefully got out of bed and picked up my clothes, which Kael tossed everywhere around the room before slipping them on. I didn''t even give him a second look as I walked out of the room and headed for mine.


    So many thoughts were running through my head while my body moved on its own, grabbing every private belonging that I nned to take with me and stuffed them inside my small luggage.


    I made a fool of myself again.


    Why did I ever think he enjoyed having sex with mest night? I was so lost in my own ecstasy that I didn''t notice he didn''t even once utter my name while we were in the act. All along that he was touching and fucking me, he thought it was Desiree under him and not me. My tears had stopped falling as the pain in my chest was reced by anger.


    I had no one to me but me. I kept living in my own fantasy that one day, Kael would fall in love with me. He didn''t when he knew everything about me, so why did I think he would when he couldn''t remember me?


    I didn''t know what to think anymore. All I knew was I was a victim of a cruel game or circumstances.


    I looked around the room, making sure it was as tidy as when I came in, before I walked out of the door and through the corridor.


    I trod down the stairs and along the hallways of the house, which had witnessed the smiles andughter that I shared with him. Even our random fights were a memory to behold.


    The one year wasn''t bad. It just wasn''t meant tost forever.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    My heart was heavy, but I knew I didn''t want to stay here anymore.


    Before Kael, I was on my own, and I managed to survive. I could do it again. I learned a lot during my stay, and I was grateful for that. I learned to be confident in my skin and not let anyone take advantage of me. I will make sure to put it to good use.


    It was the same reason I needed to leave. I would not let him and Desiree, or even Miranda, make fun of me.


    I tilted my head up and refused to shed more tears, nor did I give in to looking around. I didn''t want more memories clouding my head. I should focus on making new memories.


    I didn''t bother to call a cab, as I knew there were many passing by even at this hour, as Kael made sure transportation was essible 24/7 for those who didn''t have cars or the capacity to drive.


    I would have to walk around 200 meters to get to the next taxi stop, but I didn''t mind. I needed air. I needed to breathe.


    I had no idea where I would go from here. The apartment owner I spoke with this morning could give me the key to his vacant room in three days as he was out on vacation. So, in the meantime, I needed to find a hostel where I could stay.


    I didn''t have so much money with me. I only had cash as I didn''t take my cards. I left them all in Kael''s office before I went to bed. I also left the wedding ring that he gave me on his table, as it was his family''s heirloom. It was his mother''s before he gave it to me on our wedding day.


    I was still halfway away from the taxi stop when the sound of screeching tires reached my ears.


    I immediately jumped out of the way and into the bushes because it felt like it was heading my way. I hissed loudly as Inded on my butt, and at the same time, a ck van stopped a few inches from where I was standing earlier.


    I pushed my body up from the ground despite the pain I felt. I was about to knock on the car''s door when it slid open, and before I knew it, I was pulled in, and Inded on someone''s body.


    I struggled and screamed, but I guess it didn''t help as the door was already shut, and my hands were immediately bound on my back before a cloth was tied around my mouth, suppressing me from making any sounds.

 Chapter 07

    ADESSA.


    After I was pulled inside the van, I ended up in a very awkward position. I was seated but lying down on my side and with my hands tied behind me. It was harder to move. I struggled to break free for a while, but it was useless, so I slowed my breathing and did my best to calm down.


    I didn''t want to freak out. I didn''t want to give them any reason to hit me and make me unconscious.


    And I guess it worked.


    The man beside me pulled me up and helped me sit straight before tugging away the cloth around my mouth. "Sign this." He said.


    My eyes roamed around. There were only three males with me, and they didn''t even hide their faces. But it was so dark that I couldn''t see them fully, and I doubted I had met them before. They looked and felt unfamiliar to me. "What''s that?" I asked.


    "Don''t ask. Just do it." The man seated in the passenger seat turned around and pointed a gun at me.


    I swallowed and kept my eyes on his finger. I had no idea if I could dodge once I saw him press it, but then what choice do I have? I have to at least try.


    I felt my hands being untied, and the moment they were free, I sped them together and rubbed them over each other so they would stop shaking.


    "Sign this." He shoved a paper and pen in my hand. "Here." He pointed at the exact location where I needed to sign.


    I didn''t even think twice and just did it.


    Again, what choice do I have? I gave the paper to the man beside me, and at the same time themppost illuminated inside the car. I saw that it was a letter addressed to Kael.


    It didn''t matter. I shouldn''t worry. Whatever was in the letter would not change anything.


    I closed my eyes as my hands were tied again, but I was d they kept my mouth free. And then I felt something being pushed inside the pocket of my jeans.


    My eyes snapped open and I tilted my head down, but I didn''t see anything except for the man''s hand as he removed it from my pocket. "What was that?"


    "Don''t ask questions."


    "Are you going to kill me?"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    "We might if you keep talking."


    Did that mean they would not if I remained quiet? I hope so.


    I watched as the car drove around the area. In just one year, I had already familiarized myself with this territory, as Kael would take me anywhere he went except for thest few weeks before his ident.


    He began to leave me often at home while he did his business or his duties. So, if these men decided to hold me captive, it would be easy for me to find my way out if I could get away.


    My eyes narrowed when the car stopped outside Miranda''s home. The lights were on, which was unusual as it was only four in the morning.


    The gate of her house opened, and she came out wearing regr clothes, not evening or bedwear. She was clearly expecting us.


    I thought I would be taken to her, but only the man in the passenger seat stepped out, taking the letter I signed with him. As soon as he closed the door, the car immediately drove away.


    I didn''t need to ask. I already got my confirmation. Whatever happened to me today, it was Miranda''s doing. And whatever I signed in that paper would surely make me evil in Kael''s eyes.


    Of course, she was the evil stepmother you would never want in your story. I chuckled at my own thoughts.


    I should stop watching soap operas because this was where I got all these wicked plots and thoughts. But then, my thoughts could be right.


    "Where are you taking me?" I finally asked after a long silence. I asked in a calm tone.


    "Why do you want to know?" The man beside me asked back.


    "You''re both not from this pack, right?"


    "How did you know?"


    "I''m the Luna of this pack. You would never do this to me if you were my people." That was a lie. I doubt anyone would say no to Miranda if she ordered something like this against me. "Are you trying to y us? We were asked to pick up a new ve, not a Luna." The one driving answered.


    "ve? For who?" I swallowed.


    Before bing Kael''s Luna, I had heard of Omegas being traded for favors or money. I asked Kael about it, and he assured me his pack had never joined these underground deals. "Alpha Draco." The driver answered.


    My eyes widened as my stomach churned. Oh, Goddess, not him.


    I knew him. He has been Kael''s enemy since childhood. I met him at one of the banquets for Alphas, and he didn''t hide his interest in me once he found out I was Kael''s Luna. Either he was smitten by me or only because he wanted to irritate Kael. Miranda was there that night. She witnessed how Kael almost fought with Alpha Draco because thetter couldn''t keep his mouth shut about me.


    Did she sell me to him?


    "Are you from his pack?" I asked.


    "Yes." The man beside me answered, and it was only then that I was able to look at him closely. He was looking at me with lust in his eyes, and he couldn''t keep himself from licking his lips from time to time.


    When he saw me looking at him, his fingers began trailing down my arm.


    "Don''t touch me. Alpha Draco will not like that." I said, trying my best for my voice not to break.


    "Markus, enough. You know the instructions. Take her there without any scratch."


    "I''m sure the Alpha won''t know if..."


    "Shut up! I would rather take the woman Alpha Draco will give us than risk having my head cut off if you touch that girl."


    "But what''s the difference? He will just share her with his friends and with some of us one of these days. A little taste won''t make a difference."


    I wanted to vomit at the way they were talking until I caught sight of the border.


    I hoped I could scream once they opened the window, as the guards usually checked the carsing out.


    I prepared myself to scream, but my heart dropped when the car just drove by, and the man guarding just gave them a salute without even checking us inside. Miranda surely had nned this.


    They were still talking. Not about me anymore but about the women that they would get as a reward and the vile things that they would do to them.


    I needed to get away before I reached their pack. Or I would be as good as dead, either in Alpha Draco''s hands or theirs.


    "I need to pee..." I finally spoke after more than an hour of silence.


    "Hold it."


    "I can''t anymore. Please... I don''t want to make a mess here. It would take a day to get to your pack and more hours to reach the city."


    "Definitely not in the city." The driver said. "We can stop somewhere, but don''t you dare run."


    "I just need to pee," I repeated.


    I kept fidgeting, and soon the car stopped.


    "Take her out." The driver told Markus.

 Chapter 08

    LADESSA.


    "Take her." The driver told Markus, the man beside me.


    They both came out of the car, and I was pulled out. The driver lit a cigarette and rested his back against the car, which I was grateful for. I needed him outside.


    Markus held my arm and led me behind the bushes. I kept brushing my arm against his body before I smiled at him when I finally faced him.


    His eyes swirled with lust as he licked his lips. He was good-looking. A boy next door type that you wouldn''t even think he was a pervert. "My hands..." I mumbled.


    "I can break your neck if you try to run away." He warned me.


    I nodded. He untied me, and I rubbed my hands together, my eyes darting to his pockets. "Can you turn around?"


    "Of course not. I''ll watch you..."


    I yfully rolled my eyes at him, shing a seductive smile - the one I would use if I wanted to be yful with Kael. My heart was thundering in my chest because I was ying with fire. But I had no choice. I needed to get out of here alive.


    I had no idea if Markus had a gun with him, but I was sure the driver didn''t, as I didn''t see any bulges in his pockets when I came out of the car. I just needed to see his back before I tried to run away.


    "Please turn around. I won''t befortable if..." I was not done with my words when his hand encircled my nape and drew me closer to him.


    The next thing I knew, his mouth crashed into mine, and despite the sickening feeling that grew in my stomach, I didn''t push him away.


    He groaned, and my hands moved down until they reached his ass. When I felt nothing in his pocket, I moved my hands to his front. I grabbed his waistband and pretended to unbutton his pants.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    He pulled away from my mouth and threw his head back while his eyes were still closed. He continued to groan in pleasure.


    I took my chance. I gathered my strength and lifted my knee. I hit his groin before pushing him away as I screamed loudly, drowning his growl.


    I ran toward the car and bumped into the driver while I kept screaming. "Help me!"


    The driver''s eyes dted as curses flew into his mouth before heunched forward and lunged at Markus. He didn''t even ask, and the next thing I knew, they were rolling on the ground.


    I didn''t waste time and jumped inside the car only to realize there was no key.


    My body trembled in fear, knowing there was no way I could outrun them, until my eyesnded on the pistol on the dashboard. I grabbed it and got out of the car just in time for both of them to emerge from the bushes.


    I think they realized I yed them because both of their eyes were dting and the driver already had his belt coiled around his hand, ready to strike me.


    "Big mistake!" Markus roared as he strode toward me.


    The next thing I knew, I had raised my hands and fired the gun. My body jolted, but I fired two more until he dropped lifeless onto the ground.


    "Fucking bitch!" The other guy growled, and before he could say more words, I turned to him and fired all the remaining bullets at him.


    He dropped dead right before my eyes. His blood pooled around him, and tears started falling. I kept firing, but there were no bulletsing out.


    It took a while before it dawned on me that I had killed two people.


    My knees buckled, and I slowly lowered myself. I was sitting on the cold forest ground, tears streaming down my face as I gazed at their lifeless bodies. Why did ite to this? What have I done?


    The first rays of the sun touched the ground. They sparkled under the canopies of the trees as if nothing horrible had happened here.


    It was daylight. Soon, people would pass by this dirt road and might see us. I needed to get going.


    There was no use regretting what I did. I had to save myself.


    I took a deep breath and pushed myself up before approaching the driver''s dead body. I shot him in the forehead and chest. I didn''t know which shot hit him first, but I was certain that both were fatal.


    With shaking hands, I grabbed the key hanging from his pants and walked back toward the car, still holding the gun in my hand. I needed to hide this somewhere where no one could find it.


    But where?


    My head was still buzzing with questions, but my feet and hands were moving on their own. I slipped inside the driver''s seat, and not long after, the engine roared to life. I didn''t even look back as I drove away, leaving their dead bodies for anyone to see.


    ALPHA KAEL.


    What would you do if you had a perfect life, a perfect fianc¨¦e, but all of a sudden you woke up one day and everyone was telling you that you were married to a female you had never met in your whole life?


    I didn''t know what to do either.


    I thought my Beta was ying a prank, but seeing how everyone was telling me the same thing made my head spiral in confusion.


    I had an ident. And I lost memory of thest two years of my life.


    I was married for a year to a female who tricked me into believing she was carrying my pup. Because I was a righteous man, I married her. Desiree told me that I told her we could still keep our rtionship going in secret. She didn''t want that life, so she left and moved away.


    But she came back a few weeks ago because I called her and told her I would be divorcing Adessa.


    Adessa my wife. Or should I say, ex-wife?


    She was not the one I wanted for a Luna. They were right. She was difficult and arrogant, so no one in the packhouse or the pack liked her. I witnessed her arrogance and bad attitude when I chanced upon her shouting at Miranda. Miranda, my stepmother, and I never got along all the time, but I had never disrespected her. So, seeing her acting that way toward her made me conclude they were right about her.


    And maybe it was the reason I asked Desiree toe back. Because I finally realized how terrible life was with Adessa.


    But then, after she rejected me, I couldn''t help the pang of pain that hit my chest. Not the physical pain, but something within me.


    I couldn''t exin it.


    My doctor told me to take it slow and let everything sink in. He didn''t expect me to make decisions and start running the pack again in less than 24 hours, more so to pass judgment on my wife right away.


    To say that I regretted signing that divorce paper was an understatement. A few hours after the rejection, I was livid at myself.


    I was starting to realize many things.


    When did I ever make a rushed decision?


    I knew that I loved Desiree with all my heart. She was the only female I paid attention to, and we''d been together all our lives. But I also knew myself.


    If Adessa tricked me into this marriage, why was I still with her after a year?


    I am the Alpha of this pack. I had no reason to stay with a female I didn''t like. I would never wait this long before voiding our marriage if it were a failure. Adessa was my wife and stayed my wife for a year for a reason.

 Chapter 09

    KAEL.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    After the rejection, I didn''t see Adessa the whole day. I heard she was in her office. I didn''t even bother to check what she was doing there. I had no idea what to do with her.


    I knew she couldn''t stay here, especially since Desiree was nning to move in, but I was also concerned for her safety. Everyone knew she was my Luna and could be the target of any danger or maltreatment. I didn''t want her hurt.


    My people might love me, but I was sure I didn''t have a good reputation with other packs. I lived in the solitude of my own territory. We thrived well both in industrial and agricultural businesses, so I had no need for other packs. I ruled as I pleased, and if I failed, I learned from it and started all over again.


    Since I was indifferent to other packs, I was sure if they found out about her, they might take advantage. Of what? I could only imagine what terrible things they coulde up with.


    But then, I was sure Adessa was aware of this. So, surely she would not leave this territory. My pack is big. She could be anywhere, and I would never bump into her.


    I tried to take her off my mind for the rest of the day, but I wasn''t sessful. I could still remember the pain in her eyes, but I also saw the disgust in them whenever she looked at Desiree.


    I didn''t want her to hate Desiree, as she was also a victim of our marriage, but at the same time, I didn''t like the pain in her eyes. I honestly had no idea what I should feel at the moment.


    Still confused with my conflicted emotions, I asked Dexter to take me out, and we ended up in one of the bars a few kilometers away from home. Many were surprised to see me out, and most of the elderly in the pub had advised me not to drink as I might still be vulnerable, but I was not one to be told.


    I think I drank a little too much.


    Thest thing I remembered was Desireeing to the pub and summoning me home. I told her I would go home soon, so she left right away, but I ended up staying for another hour.


    I wondered if Adessa hade for me every time I went out drinking.


    Adessa.


    Adessa.


    Adessa.


    I couldn''t stop thinking about her, and for some reason, I ended up in bed with her. I couldn''t deny that I had never felt as high and aroused as I felt, only for me to feel guilty when Desiree showed up and saw us. Desiree''s sobs echoed around the room as she ran away. I kept calling her name until I was startled by a door closing, and I woke up.


    It was just a dream.


    I tried to see if anyone was beside me, internally hoping Adessa was there, but I was alone. So I went back to sleep, hoping I could continue where I left off with my wet dreams - where my ex-wife was riding me like I was a wild horse, moaning sexily as I satisfied her. But I was not lucky this time. No more dreams came.


    My head was pounding by the time I woke up again. The sun was already high, and I realized I was in one of the guest rooms.


    Naked.


    Iy t, arms wide open, as I looked around, trying to remember how I ended up here. But my mind gave me nothing. Until the door swung open. Desiree stood there, still in her nightrobe. Her chest was heaving as if she were upset. "What''s going on?" I asked.


    "What do you mean, what''s going on?" Her tone was sharp.


    "Why am I here and not in my room? Did we sleep here?" I asked.


    Her expression softened before she asked again. "Can''t you remember anything that happenedst night?"


    "I was with Dexter at the pub, and I don''t even know how I got here. Did we have sex here?"


    Her mouth opened before she looked back at the corridor and closed the door. Her face lit up as she nodded her head and approached me, sitting at the end of the bed. "You were so drunk that I couldn''t carry you, and I ended up dragging you here," she said. "Oh..." I mumbled and palmed my forehead before closing my eyes. I moved my feet until I touched something silky inside the nket.


    I dragged it up with my toes and found a gold-colored robe. "Is this your..."


    I was not able to finish my words when Desiree grabbed the robe from me and crumpled it into a ball in her hand. "That''s mine. I was looking for it when I woke up but couldn''t find it, so I went upstairs and took a new one."


    She then giggled. "You couldn''t wait to tear it off my bodyst night."


    "I''m sure I couldn''t." I chuckled at my reply. I closed my eyes again before cing my arm across my forehead. "I have a bad headache, Dey. Can you get me some aspirin?"


    "Sure..." She replied in a high-pitched tone before I felt the mattress move as she stood up. I then felt her presence beside me. She leaned forward and pressed her lips against mine. "Do you want me to bring you some breakfast here, too?"


    I opened my eyes and saw her staring at me. My hand reached for her arm and brushed it gently as I shook my head. "No. I want to eat in the dining room."


    I wanted to see Adessa so we could discuss finding her a ce to stay.


    "Okay. I''ll bring you some aspirin and some clothes you can change into." She said before she began picking up clothes from the floor. She even checked under the bed and then lifted the nket and pillows as well. "What are you doing?" I chuckled.


    "Just checking where our clothes were fromst night."


    "Since when did you care that you leave your clothes in ces where we have sex?" I teased her.


    "I''m keeping things tidy." She rolled her eyes at me, clutching my clothes and her nightrobe. "Many things have changed in thest two years, Kael. I''m done with all the partying and ready to be a housewife."


    I didn''t reply to anything. I was just looking at her. I smiled and nodded my head. She turned around and walked to the door.


    I felt guilty as I watched her leave the room. I had sex with herst night, but I was dreaming about Adessa.

 Chapter 10

    KAEL.


    I went to the shower, and when I came out, my clothes were already in bed, but Desiree was nowhere in sight. So I put my clothes on and went down to the main floor of the house.


    It was already nine in the morning, so everyone was already up and running except me.


    My stomach was alreadyining, but instead of going to the kitchen, I headed toward the area where the offices were. I wanted a word with Adessa so we could discuss her setup and where she should stay.


    I chuckled at my own thoughts. I didn''t want to admit it, but the truth was, the idea of seeing her was something I was looking forward to more than the discussion. However, given what happened yesterday and the rejection that came between us, I doubt she would be up for a conversation. But I had to try.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    I turned to the corner and immediately halted in my spot. Desiree and Miranda were in the middle of the hallway between my and Adessa''s offices, and it looked like they were having an argument based on how crumpled their foreheads were.


    "Is there anything wrong?" I asked, inserting my hands into my pockets before approaching them.


    Desiree''s body jolted, startled by my voice, but Miranda didn''t show any sign that she was surprised by my presence.


    "Desiree and I are just discussing things about Adessa," Miranda said nonchntly.


    My ears perked up at the mention of her name, and I couldn''t stop furrowing my brows. "What about her?" I asked, removing my hands from my pocket and crossing my arms against my chest.


    Desiree''s face paled, and Miranda let out a sigh before speaking again. "Desiree doesn''t want me to give you this letter from Adessa. She said you don''t need any problems at the moment while you''re still recovering, but I said it''s better we don''t keep secrets around here."


    "There''s really nothing important in there. She just said she was leaving." Desiree exined as she smiled broadly at me.


    My eyes shifted between them. I couldn''t even focus on the rest of their words because all I heard was that they had a letter from Adessa. "Where is she?"


    "She left," Miranda replied.


    "When?"


    "Yesterday. Night or afternoon." Desiree immediately answered before Miranda could. "And I think you should be eating breakfast now. It''ste."


    I ignored her andid my hand out. "Give me the letter."


    Miranda handed it to me, and I grabbed it harshly before leaving them without a word, walking directly into my office.


    "Alpha, did you hear me?" Dexter asked, and it snapped me back to the present.


    Last night, I told him I wanted him and Delta Landon in my office first thing in the morning with reports for the renovation of the central hall and updates on the territory security.


    I just finished reading Adessa''s letter when they came in, and I didn''t have time to think deeply about everything she said. However, halfway through Dexter''s discussion, I spaced out, and my mind went to my ex-wife. She left, and she wished me a good life.


    She admitted things had been rocky between us before I lost my memory. She knew all about Desiree and me getting back together, and that was the main reason she agreed to the divorce right away.


    She already had ns to leave before the ident, and she put them on hold because I was still unconscious. She was pleased that we were both moving forward.


    I didn''t know what to feel. I felt empty. I felt numb.


    Until I read the next part. She left all the debit and credit cards under her name that were issued to her, but she let me know that she would not be returning the wedding ring I gave her.


    She thought it rightfully belonged to her.


    Which was wrong.


    It was a family heirloom.


    My mother and the Lunas before her had worn that ring. Miranda asked for it when she married my father, but I refused and kept it for my future wife.


    Whatever the reason I gave it to Adessa, it must be with a mindset that I hope our marriage willst. But it didn''t, so I expected she would return it to me since she was cutting off all our ties.


    She might have been attracted to its value because it is worth something.


    "Earth to Alpha Kael." I heard Landon speak.


    "Again, what was the question?" I asked almost immediately.


    "The builders are asking for an extension of the deadline since the additional materials didn''te on time," Dexter exined.


    "What should we do?" I asked again. "Is it reasonable to let them extend the deadline for thepletion? Is the project almostplete?"


    "Yes, almost done. It''s up to you to decide if we will give them an extension without penalty or we can decline." Dexter said.


    "You know I''m not in the position to decide this at the moment. Is this the first request for an extension?"


    "No," Landon spoke. "I believe the Luna gave them two reasonable extensions already, but she made it clear that it should be thest one as it had been dyed for many months, and many offices were already affected as they were scattered everywhere." My eyes darted to Dexter, but he didn''t say anything.


    "I was with Luna Adessa when she spoke with the contractors." Landon continued.


    The Delta was the one responsible for his Luna''s security, so it made sense it was him with her all the time.


    "The thing is, we paid them in full. And they kept reasoning out the dy in the production of the materials, but they confirmed before that they had ordered those materials before the renovation started, but it looked like it was not the case." "And if we don''t allow extension?" I asked.


    "They need toply with thest deadline agreed on, and they need to pay the penalty that was in the contract if they don''t."


    "Show me the contract," I told him, as I wanted to see everything before making a decision.


    "I''ll get it from the Luna''s office." Landon volunteered and stood up from his seat. I gave him a nod and watched as he left the office.

 Chapter 11

    KAEL.


    Landon volunteered to pick up the documents from Adessa''s office.


    As soon as he left and it was just the two of us, Dexter looked at me with raised brows. "Are you okay?"


    "No. Adessa left." I grunted in a low voice.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "I heard."


    "She took the wedding ring with her."


    He shrugged his shoulders and eased back into his chair. "I expected that."


    My hand resting on the table coiled into a tight fist. "Send someone to check all pawn and jewelry shops around the territory and the nearby cities. I want it back in my hands. I''ll send you the description, including the code engraved inside it." "I''ll do that."


    "Do you know if she''s seeing someone?" I asked after a while.


    "What do you mean?"


    "She said our marriage was already on the rocks before I had an ident, and we were already discussing divorce. I wonder if there was any man between us." Although Adessa imed it was because of Desiree and me, I wanted to know more. He shrugged his shoulders again before speaking. "I didn''t see anyone, but I heard rumors."


    "Such as?"


    "Look, Alpha. I don''t think it''s important now because you are already divorced and she has the right to move on."


    "I want to know..." I was not able to stop myself from mming my coiled fist onto the table.


    "I heard it''s an Alpha... but I''m not really sure. Like I said, I had never seen the Luna with him or any other Alpha."


    "Luna with another Alpha?" Landon asked. I didn''t even notice he came back already, as my attention was focused on Dexter.


    I had to let my wolf out soon so my senses could be heightened again. Like pure humans, our senses were ordinary unless we were in our wolf form. But the more we let them out, the more they heightened in human form as well.


    With me in aa for months, it was not a surprise I became ordinary, but I knew in no time I could regain it as long as I kept letting my wolf.


    "You''re always with Adessa when she travels, right?" I asked Landon.


    "Yes, me or one of my men." He replied, cing stacks of folders in front of me.


    My eyes darted to them before returning my gaze to him. "Do you know who her boyfriend is?"


    "What? You''re her husband, well, ex-husband. So, why would she have a boyfriend?" He chuckled. "There are rumors going around that she was seeing an Alpha," I repeated what Dexter said.


    Landon scoffed as he sat in his chair. "Well, it really does go around me, as I never seemed to get that rumor. But I can assure you that I have never driven the Luna or asked my men to take her somewhere for


    a private meeting. She would always conduct her business in public ces, and before you went into aa, it would always be both of you meeting Alphas. The Luna


    doesn''t even have friends she met up with except the women working at the Women''s Center, whom she would join for lunch from time to time. So whatever rumor you heard must be bullshit."


    I let out a deep sigh and rested my back against my chair.


    "And what''s the big deal if she has? You divorced her, and now you''re crying foul?" Landon sounded annoyed.


    "Hey, watch your mouth." It was Dexter. "Did you forget you''re talking to the Alpha."


    "I know, but I was sure I was asked to protect the Luna, and I honestly feel bad that she is no longer here. I didn''t even get to say goodbye to her or drive her somewhere to make sure she''s safe." "She left of her own ord," I told him.


    "Of course she did. Because I was


    not here." I could sense his frustration. Landon was not here when I woke up and just returned to the territory early this morning. "And make


    no on had the decency towing


    sure the ex-Luna was safe. Knowing Luna Adessa, she would never demand anything. I bet she left


    using public transportation."


    "She doesn''t have a car?" I asked.


    "You bought her a car, but I saw it in the parking lot. She never drove it on


    Ve


    her own. You taught her how to drive, but sheter confessed she felt anxious whenever she did, you never let her drive. And sometimes, she would rather walk than ask someone to drive for her."


    He really talked highly of her, and it irked me. It was awakening something within me.


    "You''re acting as if she was a big loss." Dexter scoffed. "Are you the Luna''s boyfriend?"


    There. Dexter said my exact thoughts.


    "Fuck, man. Do not put any color on my loyalty to her." He scowled at him, then turned to me. "But I could tell Adessa was the best thing that happened to you, Alpha. This might not be a popr opinion, but that woman is a gem." "A gem?" Dexter scoffed.


    The two were still bantering back and forth, but I was done with the topic. I still had no idea what to think or do, so I grabbed the folders in front of me and started opening them one by one.


    On the first paper inside a folder, was a neatly written current situation, history, and instructions for the case or project. I took a peek at the other folders, and it was the same thing. All dated yesterday.


    She must have done it while she locked herself inside her office. She could have left without doing this, and yet she took time leaving instructions so we would not get lost without her.


    I closed the folder in my hand and ced it on the table. I eased back against my chair, tilting my head up on the headrest and closing my eyes.


    Even with the letter and all the instructions she left behind so I would know what to do next, I still felt empty and lost. As if I had no idea where to start.


    But the reality remained the same. She left.


    I should be happy. I could marry Desiree like I had nned since I was a teenager. But somehow, it didn''t feel right.

 Chapter 12

    KAEL.


    The day went by so slowly. My personal doctor was here and checked all my vitals. ording to him, it appeared that I had recovered well, but he still advised me to take things slow and not strain myself by overworking. If he only knew I was not even thinking about work.


    After lunch, Desiree asked if we could go around the open market as it officially opened today, marking the start of spring. Since I had no intention of working, I agreed.


    While we were there, she tried to hold my hand, but it felt wrong as I hadn''t officially announced my divorce from Adessa, so I told her to keep her hands off mine for now. She didn''t like it, but she didn''tin, but I was sure she would scold meter.


    We went around, and some of my people approached us, but no one seemed to ask about Adessa, but they were ignoring Desiree as well. Until one female approached me and gave me a bouquet of flowers. I thought it was for me, but she wanted me to give it to Adessa. She said she was her biggest customer, and she always looked forward to Adessa''s visit every weekend to personally choose flowers for our home. She was grateful because Adessa had brought her more customers by telling others about her. And even if she offered her discounts and free flowers, Adessa never took them. She would always insist on paying.


    I didn''t have the heart to inform her Adessa was gone and that no one would visit her this weekend for another bulk order. Instead, I smiled and thanked her. I told her I would deliver the flowers.


    Desiree''s mood went down after that, so she asked that we go home. I told her she could go home, and I let my driver drive her while I walked on my own toward the central hall.


    Nobody expected me to go there, so everyone started rolling their asses when I stepped in, but I didn''t have time for any pleasantries. I just wanted a moment of silence, so I locked myself in my office, just staring at the dull wall in front of me while contemting my next move.


    My thoughts went back to Adessa''s letter and then the handwritten instructions on the folder.


    My forehead creased when I realized the handwriting was different. The letter was written in print, while the note on the folders with her instructions was in beautiful cursive letters.


    I knew anyone could shift between the two handwritings, but she did sign her name in cursive on that goodbye letter. I couldn''t remember what it looked like, but I had to check.


    I knew she left. I knew she was moving on, but a part of me didn''t want to believe she was cutting all ties.


    But what the hell do I expect?


    I mmed my coiled fist against my table before standing up, grabbing my jacket, and heading toward the door. I had to see the letter again. Just one confirmation that it was really her goodbye letter and not someone messing up my mind. Then I would move on. I opened the door when the phone on my table rang.


    I stopped and looked back, waiting for it to stop ringing, but it didn''t. I saw the office secretary outside chatting with another employee. All business callsing into my line go to her first, so whoever was calling knew my private line.


    I shut the door and went back to my desk, picking up the receiver right away. "Alpha Kael."


    "Oh, finally!" Dexter''s voice came from the other line.


    "What''s wrong?"


    "I''ve been trying to track where you are for thest thirty minutes. Why didn''t you bring your cell phone?" "Hmmm... I don''t even know where my phone is. Do you know?"


    "Nope. All I remember was that it was returned to Adessa after the ident. So probably in your room."


    "I''ll have to check, but do get me a new one," I told him. "What do you need?"


    "We found the jewelry shop where she sold the ring."


    "Sold?"


    "Yes."


    ""Where is it?"


    "At Bayson." He replied.


    Bayson Bay. Human territory and three hours from the nearest border.


    "Pick me up at the central hall. We''ll drive there." I told him.


    "It''s closing in four hours."


    "Then pick me up now. I want to check their CCTV to see if she left that ring."


    "What if they don''t have one?"


    "They have to fucking produce one, or I will shut down their shop!" I snapped at him. "Don''t waste time ande here!"


    "I''ll be there soon."


    "Are you at my house?"


    "Yes."


    "Lock my office and tell an Omega no one is allowed there." I was not sure what the cleaning schedule was in our home at the moment, but I was hoping no one had picked up the trash bin where I tossed, Adessa''s letter. I''ll check it out once I get home.


    "So are you telling me that you have CCTV, but you can''t show it to me unless I get approval from your boss, who was on vacation at the moment, or I get a police order? Is that right?" I asked the man at the counter where my ring was.


    "Yes, sir."


    "Fine. I understand that, but I don''t have time to wait for all those permits. So can we talk man to man here?"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    He swallowed but didn''t say anything. His face kept getting paler every time I talked.


    I pointed at the ring in the secured disy ss a few feet away from us. It had the word "reserved" on it.


    "That ring is mine. Someone took it, and it seemed it was sold here. How much did you pay for it? I want to buy it."


    "It''s already reserved, sir." He exined. "It will be picked up next week."


    "I don''t care. It''s mine. Name your price."


    ""Sir, I can''t do that."


    "Then show me the fucking CCTV, and I want to know who sold it!" My voice was already high, and I was losing all my patience. "Kael, rx." Dexter patted my back.


    "Go outside, Dexter. Make sure no


    onees in." I spoke without diverting my gaze from the man standing in front of me. He looked like he would pee on his pants as he moved back until his back hit the wall.


    Dexter let out a loud sigh before stepping out and changing the door sign to CLOSE.


    "If you press a fucking rm, you will surely not like what I''m going to do with you," I warned him.

 Chapter 13

    KAEL.


    "If you press a fucking rm, you will surely not like what I''m going to do with you."


    "This is harassment, sir."


    "No. This is frustration, sir! I want my ring back. My wife is missing. She has that ring, and I want to know who sold it here!" I snapped at him.


    He swallowed.


    "Do you have a wife?" I asked him.


    He nodded.


    "Do you love her?"


    He nodded again.


    "I have a wife, too. I want her back, but I don''t know where to start." I put my hand in my back pocket and pulled out my wallet.


    I opened it and took out stacks of bills, cing them on the counter in front of him. "Now, I just want to see the CCTV of the person who left this ring. And who bought it. Also the buyer''s information on when he wille to pick it up. I meant no harm. I want to know so I can buy it from him." I was talking calmly this time.


    He didn''t talk, but his eyes were on the cash in front of him.


    "You can buy many things with that money. Buy something for your wife or kids if you have any. I''m not even going to take the tape or the recording. I just want to see it."


    "After this, you will leave?" He asked in a low voice.


    "Once I see the video and after you give me the information about the buyer." I made it clear.


    He grabbed the cash on the counter, inserted it into his pocket, and walked to the back of the shop. He then led me to a door that had a narrow hallway before it came to another door.


    The security room. I didn''t say anything and watched as he operated it, rewinding the recordings for the day, and my heart dropped because I was sure I saw Adessa.


    "That one..." I didn''t know where I found the voice to speak.


    He stopped and rewinded a bit more before ying it all.


    The door opened, and Adessa stepped in, looking at her back before going directly to the counter. She spoke to the woman behind the counter. It took a while before she finally took the ring from her pocket. My hands coiled onto my tight fist as my breathing hitch.


    "Do you want to record it?" The man spoke.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Record it from your phone. I''m not going to rey it again for you on another day. You know, after this, I might lose my job."


    I should feel guilty for putting him in this position, but I didn''t. I was desperate.


    I took the phone that Dexter had bought for me earlier and asked him to start the video again. It took a lot of effort on my part to refrain from punching anything while watching the same scene.


    Adessa disappointed me. I expected more of her. But I could see why Dexter said he expected her to take that ring. She was probably with me because of my money. She didn''t even wait for a day to sell or pawn it.


    I wondered if she had been stealing from me while we were married.


    I didn''t know how I was able to get back inside my car. He informed me that, ording to their records, the individual who had reserved the ring would pick it up next Friday before the shop closed.


    I didn''t say anything to Dexter and just told him to drive home.


    It was the longest three hours of my life. I was drowning in silence. I felt betrayed.


    I had no idea why I was hurting.


    I was still quiet when we arrived home. Desiree met me by the entrance and began chattering about how inconsiderate of me to leave the territory without letting her know. I didn''t say anything. I didn''t try to exin. I just walked away and locked myself inside my office. My eyes fell on the trash bin. It was untouched.


    I grabbed the crumpled piece of paper and brought it to my table. The folders were still stacked up, and I opened the first one.


    The same person clearly wrote the signature and her instructions.


    I just kept giving her the benefit of the doubt, but they seemed right about her.


    It was already past ten in the


    evening when decided to go to my room. I expected to see Desiree there, but was d she was not inside. She was probably sleeping somewhere, pissed off at me. But if she expected me toe to her tonight, she''d be waiting in vain.


    I was not in the mood to console or pamper someone. I just wanted time alone.


    After I showered, I closed the curtains and was about to charge my new phone when I suddenly had the curiosity to watch the video again.


    So, instead, I connected the phone to the TV and checked where the remote control could be. I opened the drawers until I finally found it, and beside it was another phone.


    I took the phone and turned it on.


    The wallpaper was me and Adessa. She was smiling, and I was smiling too. We looked happy, and it left a pang of pain inside my chest.


    Maybe I could find answers here.


    The first one I went to was the photo section. I only had a few, but all of them were of me and her or just her alone. I took too many photos of her.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    I went to the videos and yed the first one.


    "Happy birthday to you. Happy


    birthday to you... Happy birthday, dear Alpha. She sang, and it was so sweet and angelic. She approached me, holding a cake with a candle in just her nightwear, But she had her golden robe on her. The recording started midway. Thad probably grabbed the phone to record her when she appeared


    singing.


    I watched her sit in the space next to me. I wasn''t even capturing the cake at the angle of the video. It was all on her face.


    She let me make a wish and blow the candle, which I did.


    "How did you even hide that cake in the bathroom?" I asked in the video.


    "I have magic. I''m a witch. I can hide things and make them appear out of nowhere..." She winked at me.


    "That I know," I said, and she giggled again. "A beautiful witch."


    "Can you stop filming me? Turn the video around..." She pretended to scowl, making her more alluring.


    "It''s my birthday. I can do what I want." I teased her, making her giggle more.


    "Happy birthday, Kael." Her face softened, and her voice turned serious. She smiled sweetly at me, and for some reason, the tears fel from my eyes. I was not there, but it seemed I knew how I felt that night. "I know you don''t want a big party or things like this, but I want to celebrate you."


    "Thank you," I replied.


    "I''m happy you found me..." She said as her eyes watered. "Even if what we have is unusual, I hope I''m making you happy."


    The sincerity in her voice and the words she used confused me. She said I found her. And what we have was out of the ordinary.


    "I am happy. I''m d it was you I found that day, Adessa." I replied before my hand reached for her arm, rubbing it gently. "Are you happy?" I asked her.


    She nodded her head, and the camera moved too fast until the video was cut.


    I was thinking, I kissed her.


    I yed another video, and her giggling voice came again. "Stop that. I''m trying to write something."


    I moved the camera away from her face toward the paper in front of her.


    The table was familiar. It was on my office desk in the central hall, and I could see her legs on top of mine. She was sitting on myp and writing on my desk.


    "Why do you always write in cursive? Try writing in block and print letters."


    "My hands are shaky if I write separate letters. looks distorted. I can control my hand more with cursive." She replied.


    "You write beautifully," I told her, and the camera shook but remained focused on the paper. She had stopped writing and just kept giggling.


    "Thank you, sir. But can you stop..." She giggled more. "...kissing my neck? It tickles! I can''t write.."


    I checked other videos, and they would always start and end the same-focused on her and then would be cut off because it seemed I would grab and kiss her.


    The birthday video and the others were taken before my ident.


    This didn''t look like we were having trouble in our marriage. Plus, I had taken pictures of her almost every day. Thest one was the day of the ident. If I were leaving her, why would I keep taking pictures of her?

 Chapter 14

    ADESSA.


    My hands were trembling, and I knew I couldn''t drive further. I had been in this car for thest four hours, driving slowly and carefully to make sure I would never hit anyone or anything. Thankfully, no one was following me, or I would easily get caught. I didn''t like driving. But I had no choice. I had to get away before someone found the bodies of the men I killed.


    I turned off the engine and rested my forehead against the steering wheel.


    I had no idea where to go.


    I ended up in Bayson Bay, a human territory. Although humans were very much aware of the existence of shifters like me, we continued to live in harmony. But for their safety, they seldom travel or stay in shifters'' territory, but we were often found in theirs.


    So, I knew I could thrive well in this ce. The problem was, I had to hide my identity, and this ce being near Kael and Draco''s pack, I would easily be caught here. I needed to go further.


    I wasn''t even sure if the men I killed were just ordinary messengers or held high positions. Either way, I was sure Alpha Draco would look for me if we didn''t arrive by nightfall in their territory.


    I had a few more hours ahead of me before he''d start wondering where we were. Unless someone had already found the dead bodies and informed him.


    But where will I go? I didn''t have anything with me.


    My wallet was in my luggage, and I didn''t see it anywhere in the car. They were probably still on the sidewalk where they grabbed me.


    "I think I have a little money in my pants," I mumbled to myself, and my body jerked up.


    I eased back against my seat and stretched my leg before inserting my hand into my right pocket.


    I didn''t feel any bills, but I touched something small and hard. My forehead creased as I pulled it out, only for my eyes to widen when I saw my wedding ring.


    How did it get here?


    This Edwardian Ruby gold ring, with encrusted small diamonds, was Kael''s family heirloom and had been worn by the Lunas of the Ironcrest Pack, except for Miranda, as Kael refused to hand it down to her in respect to histe mother. He gave it to me instead as our wedding band, while I chose a in gold ring for him.


    I was confident that I had ced this ring on top of the bank cards I had returned to Kael''s desk. Howe I got it here?


    I was still trying to make sense of it when I remembered someone pushing something into my pocket while I was in the car.


    Was Miranda trying to set me up? Did she find it on his desk and give it to me so Kael thought I stole it?C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Of course, she would. She sold me to another pack and had me take this so I would be a thief in Kael''s eyes.


    That bitch!


    I gritted my teeth as I mmed my palm on the steering wheel, annoyed and furious. Then I realized I had nothing except this ring. I could pawn it, but who would ept it without raising suspicion on me?


    I was sure this cost a fortune. But then I need to get away, and I could use the money I could take from it.


    It didn''t matter anymore what Kael would think of me. I had to stop thinking about him and move on. I want to go away from here and survive on my own like I did before I met him.


    I got out of the car and locked the doors before walking with my head held up so no one would think something was strange, but all the while, my heart was thudding loudly.


    A part of my shirt had a blood stain on it. I probably touched blood when I tried to take the key from the driver.


    I grabbed the part with the stain and


    held on to it as if I were just holding it as I walked through the sidewalk wheremercial shops were lined up. I knew there were pawnshops in here, but for some reason, I couldn''t see one.


    Until I spotted a jewelry shop. I was not sure they would let me pawn this, but I got to try. Maybe I could convince them, as this ring is worth something big.


    I took a deep breath before walking


    toward it. I pushed open the ss door, and it chimed. I looked behind me to make sure no one had seen mee inside, but as soon as my eyes fell on the woman behind the counter, my body froze.


    I wanted to turn around, but it was toote. She already saw me.


    "Adessa? Is that you?" The woman asked, and I nodded my head as I hurried forward toward her.


    She was the mother of my good friend way back in grade school. I didn''t know they moved in here. I''d lost touch with them when I had to stop going to school so I could work and help at the orphanage 24/7. "Hi... How are you? How is Gracie?" I asked her.


    "She works at Greenfield, and I only see her during holidays. Look at you! So beautiful..." Her smile faded as


    her eyes wandered on my arm. An bruise was starting to show. I guess it was when they grabbed me "Are you okay?"


    I shook my head. "I need help."


    "What''s wrong?"


    "I left my husband, and I have nowhere to go. But I do have a ring that I can pawn here. I just need some money."


    "We don''t take pawns here."


    "Please..." I begged before taking the ring out of my pocket. "Here, you can check it. It''s pure gold, and the diamonds are worth something."


    "I can see that. Where did you get this?"


    "It''s from my husband. Our wedding ring. I nned to return it, but I just need money for now. So if you can lend me some, I promise I will return before the week ends to buy it again."


    "And where will you find the money to buy it back?" She asked, her eyebrows raising.


    Her questions might be sarcastic, but her tone was not. She hadn''t changed. She still had that motherly aura she had always shown me.


    "I don''t know. I''ll think of something, but I only need a couple of thousand. I don''t think I can pay back more if it''s too much."


    "Where will you find a couple of thousand to pay it back?" She asked again.

 Chapter 15

    LADESSA.


    "Where will you find a couple of thousand to pay it back?"


    I let out a sigh, and my shoulders slumped. "I''ll think of something."


    "We don''t take jewelry here. We have a pawnshop on the other side of the city."


    "Do you think you can ask your boss to make an exception? I don''t have enough money to get to the end of the city. Please."


    She looked at me, and we stared at each other for a while before she took a deep breath. "I''m the manager here. I can make an exception, but are you sure you''ll return for this? I also have to put an interest on the amount you will loan."


    I nodded. "I wille back. I don''t want to lose that either."


    "Fine. Let me check this first andbel it. Sit there."


    I nodded and went to the nearby couch to wait. I had no idea how long I waited. When she came back, she handed me two thousand, two hundred dors. She informed me that the listed amount was two thousand. Her eyes told me not to question anymore, but I wanted to assume the extra two hundred came from her own pocket.


    She had always given me food when I was younger. She was helping me more this time.


    "Thank you," I told her as I epted the paper that I needed to present to im it back.


    "You have five days to im it from Friday. If you don''t return on time, the interest will shoot up, and we will open it for sale after a few days."


    "I wille back." I smiled at her and walked toward the door. I had no idea where I should go, but for now, I needed to find somewhere to eat. I hadn''t eaten since breakfast yesterday. I was supposed tost night, but Kael cornered me, and we went to the guest room. "Adessa..." She called me before I reached the door. I turned and looked at her, waiting for her to continue talking. "Do you have a ce to stay today?"


    I shook my head.


    "Wait for me somewhere until two in the afternoon. I''ll take you home. You can stay in Gracie''s room tonight or until you have decided what to do next." My eyes watered, but I kept my tears from falling. "Thank you. I would love that."


    "Good. There''s a cafeteria nearby that offers good food at cheap prices. Stay there while I sort my day, and I wille for you there."


    She told me the name of the restaurant, and I smiled back at her. "Thank you. I''ll see youter."


    MIRANDA.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    I drew the curtain closed when Kael''s car entered the grounds of his house. I decided to stay for the night to hear what happened to their trip to Bayson Bay.


    Dexter was foolish enough to inform him that he had found the ring in one of the nearby jewelry shops. He should have shut his mouth and not said anything, making Kael believe Adessa wanted to keep it.


    I wanted that ring, but Kael was selfish and refused to give it to me. He said it rightfully belonged to his mother. Which was, of course, wrong. It belonged to the Luna of the pack. Since I was the new Luna when I married his father, I expected it to be mine.


    However, Khalid, his father, was


    stupid enough to let his son decide for him. So, as much as I wanted that ring for its value, I couldn''t keep it. Therefore, it was better off Adessa''s possession. Kael would think she stole it if she did not return it to the pack.


    I should have known better that she would pawn it.


    As soon as Alpha Draco took her, her life would be a living hell. I didn''t get anything from this transaction. No money or favors. I didn''t want my hands dirty. I just sent her off to him after confirming he still wanted her. I wanted her away here so she couldn''t get in between Desiree and Kael.


    Desiree was my daughter out of wedlock. I was young then, and my parents had her adopted by a friend. But I never let her out of my sight.


    Her adopted family was also a close friend of Kael''s, so they basically grew up together.


    When Desiree turned fourteen, I introduced myself but told her she couldn''t let that secret out. But I''d been pushing her to get closer and be intimate with Kael.


    She had a boyfriend but also wanted


    to be a Luna, so she agreed.


    However, she made a foolish mistake by sleeping with someone else and got caught. Before we could rectify that mistake, Kael had taken Adessa home and married her, spoiling all my ns to make my daughter the Luna of this Pack and eventually eliminate Kael.


    Yes, I wanted Kael dead like his father.


    Because someone else deserved to be the Alpha of this pack - my mate. My fated mate.


    The doorknob rattled, and I watched as it turned before the door opened.


    "What are you doing here?" My eyes narrowed at him. "If someone sees you..."


    "Rx. Kael is hiding in his office and doesn''t want to be disturbed. I said I would take a shower." Dexter replied, locking the door before bridging the gap between us. In no time, his arms were around me, and his lips had crashed into mine. Dexter was eight years older than Kael and five years younger than me.


    He became Khalid, my husband''s Beta, when his brother, the then Beta, died. He remained to be Kael''s Beta after my husband passed away, and the title was passed on to his son. Mates are a rarity in this generation. I never thought I would meet my mate.


    I didn''t care about it. All I wanted was a good life for myself. So when I met Alpha Khalid in one of the socialite banquets we both attended, I didn''t stop trying to lure him to like me.


    I was 12 years younger than Khalid, and with my charm and seduction, I was finally able to make him choose me as his new wife. It was through him that I met Dexter.


    We both knew we were mates the moment our skin touched and the mate scent was activated. But even before that encounter, I wouldn''t deny I was already attracted to him. But he was just a Beta.

 Chapter 16

    MIRANDA.


    Even before I found out Dexter was my mate, I was already attracted to him. But he was just a Beta, and I dreamed of bigger things.


    I wanted to be a Luna.


    Dexter was smart enough not to tell anyone that I was his mate until we were able to find time to talk.


    Since Khalid and I were not fated mates, even if in the end he marked me, he was not able to feel my infidelity. The same way Dexter never felt anything whenever I had sex with Khalid.


    Only fated mates who marked each other could feel their mate''s infidelity. Without the bond sealed by marking, everyone was free to fuck around.


    So I fucked around behind my husband''s back.


    Sex with Dexter was explosive. From the get-go, I knew I wanted him, but I also wanted this pack. So there was no way I was leaving Khalid for him.


    I did my best to make him understand. I swayed him to continue with our pretension that we had nothing while formting a n together. Besides, Dexter didn''t want to step down from his position. Like me, he dreamed of bigger things. Khalid entrusted me to Dexter during my trips outside of the pack. He had no idea I scheduled those trips so I could have a taste of Dexter without interruption.


    Then, the day I''d been waiting for finally came. Khalid died. Given that Kael was only twenty-four at the time, the right process was for Dexter to be Alpha until Kael turned twenty-five, the ripe age for handling a pack.


    But I thought that once Dexter stepped up as Alpha, we could cast out Kael.


    However, I underestimated Kael. He raised his concern with the Alpha King and sent proof that he was capable of handling the pack, and his request was granted right away.


    I had no choice but to pretend I was happy for him so I could still stay in this house. It was then that I realized I needed to push Desiree further.


    If I couldn''t be the Luna, at least my daughter would be, and I would still not be disregarded.


    Everything went well at the beginning. They got engaged, but then my stupid daughter made a mistake, and Kael ended up marrying Adessa.


    Kael admitted to Dexter that his rtionship with Adessa was merely an agreement. No emotions attached.


    So, for thest whole year, I''d been trying my best to kick Adessa from Kael''s life and from this pack. I even resorted to sending rude letters signed by her to establishments and businesses within the territory so they would hate her more. But regardless of how the people see her, Kael didn''t budge. He remained faithful to her.


    Until Dexter told me that Kael was falling in love with her and was nning to propose to her. Kael began preparing everything needed to renew their vows.


    I panicked.


    I asked Desiree toe back from traveling with her boyfriend, and I began nting doubts in Adessa''s head on days that Kael was not home by letting her hear that Desiree was back.


    I seeded. I heard her ask Kael where he''d been for most of the day, and he would just shrug his shoulders. He told her she would know one of these days.


    I saw Adessa cry after that. I knew she felt Kael was nning to divorce her. I thought she would leave on her own, but she stuck around.


    And the day of Kael''s proposal to her was approaching. I was running out of time, so I had no choice but to tell Dexter to eliminate Kael.


    Someone tampered with his car, and the ident happened.


    Unfortunately, my stepson survived. And with Adessa guarding him like a hawk, we knew we had no other way out but to wipe out his memory. Or he might end up marrying her again when he wakes up. Or worse, he would realize someone had broken his car, and that could be our downfall.


    So, while unconscious, Dexter had been injecting Kael with high doses of banned solutions that could alter a person''s memory. With the number of injections he gave him, I was expecting him to lose his full memory.


    I also thought Adessa would be


    picked up by Alpha Draco''s Beta


    before Kael could wake up. Then, it''d


    be easier not to tell him about her existence since Dexter had already wiped out all evidence that he was nning to propose and marry her including disposing of the new ring, canceling the venues and caterers, and burning the invitations.


    But Kael woke up unexpectedly and with just a memory loss of two years.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    I guess it was better than remembering thest year.


    And the good thing was, it seemed he was still smitten with my daughter. Until Desiree broke the news to me, saying that she thought Adessa and Kael had been intimate. It was the scene Kael saw before I handed her Adessa''s letter. Everything kept messing up. If this continues, I might have to do another n of eliminating Kael because this has been going on for too long now.


    I moaned as Dexter''s kiss deepened, and his hand squeezed my ass, but I remembered I had questions that needed an answer, so I abruptly turned my face to the side before pushing him off me. "What now?" He growled lowly.


    "I need to know first what''s going on, and you can''t stay here."


    "Oh fuck! Then why are you staying here? Go home so I can go thereter."


    "Oh, please. We have things to discuss. What happened? Is Adessa the one who sold the ring?"


    He brushed his palm over his hair. Annoyance was written on his face. "I think so. He didn''t entertain any of my questions, but he said we''reing back to Bayson next Friday. I think he wants to buy the ring." "Of course, he would. But I don''t understand why Alpha Draco''s Beta allowed her to stop at Bayson."


    "It''s none of our business now. I think Kael is furious with Adessa because of that ring, which is good news. Plus, the fact she''s not here anymore and probably caged by Alpha Draco, then that part is. solved." Dexter smirked, making him look more handsome. "And who knows, he might give that ring to Desiree."


    "Well, I hope this time everything works. Because if not, you need to continue what you failed to do in that ident."


    "Rx..." He stepped closer, wrapping his arm around my waist before pulling me closer. "That''s the ultimate n, isn''t it? I got you."


    "You better move fast while you''re still the next in line for the Alpha position!" I snapped at him.


    "I know what to do. So, again, just rx."


    I rolled my eyes at him, but I couldn''t do anything when his mouth crashed against mine, and I just let him devour me. But I was starting to believe my mate was useless, as all the ns we orchestrated always ended up failing in his hands.


    As much as I wanted to believe he got this, I better prepare myself. Maybe this time, I needed to take the matters into my own hands.

 Chapter 17

    KAEL.


    I yed the video I got from the jewelry shop on my TV and watched it repeatedly, trying to make sense of her actions.


    She received a small amount of money. I could tell by the number of bills she had received.


    Was she stupid enough to believe the ring had no value?


    I also noticed she was trembling when she entered the shop. It was not a clear video, but I could tell by the way she hugged herself and shook her hands. Her demeanor was too different from that of confident Adessa, who had signed our divorce papers. She looked lost in that video. As if she was afraid of something or someone.


    "Fuck!" My hands rose to my head, and I gripped my hair tightly. I shouldn''t worry about her and just focus on getting the ring back.


    Right. She was moving on. I must do the same.


    I shut off the TV and threw the remote control on the couch nearby before turning off the bemp.


    I forced myself to sleep, but sleep seemed to be impossible at the moment because of the many thoughts running through my head. I kept remembering how her face lit up when she entered the room when I woke up and how it fell when I told her not to touch me. I shoved my nket aside, got out of bed, and walked to the balcony connected to my room.


    The moon was shining brightly, indicating a good night to let my wolf out for a run.


    Without any more thought, I pulled down my sweatpants, including my boxers, before stepping onto the concrete banisters and leaping into the air.


    Inded on the dusty ground below my balcony with a loud thud, and already in my paws. I didn''t waste time and dashed off to the concrete road that would lead me to the vast forest nearby.


    As soon as my paws hit the forest grounds, my wolf stopped running and let out a loud cry to the moon-rying to Selene the confusion in my heart.


    I kept telling myself Adessa was someone who was not important. I should forget about her. And yet, a part of me didn''t want to. In just 24 hours, she awakened something in me even though she wasn''t here anymore.


    And then there was Desiree. My mind told me I wanted her, but a certain voice in my head told me otherwise.


    I didn''t want to make a decision I would regretter on. I had to move on.


    Alone.


    I will start reorganizing everything and just focus on my pack until I figure out what I want to do with my life.


    A WEEK LATER (Thursday Night).


    ADESSA.


    "Adessa!" Corrine''s voice startled me, and I immediately lowered the fire on her gas burner before brushing my hands on the apron I had on me.


    "Hi! I''m d you''re home." I greeted her even though I hadn''t seen her yet.


    It didn''t take long before she appeared in her small kitchen with stic bags in her hands. I took them from her and ced them on the sink counter.


    I was about to take out the groceries when she spoke. "We need to talk. Leave that for a while."


    I swiftly turned around, my forehead creasing. "Is there something wrong?"


    "You tell me." She sat down and patted the table. "Sit down."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    I swallowed and sat on the chair opposite hers. "What''s wrong?"


    "Someone called today and asked if your ring is still there."


    "What?" My eyes widened. "Someone knows about the ring? Or is it just a regr customer who took fancy at it?"


    "That''s what I thought too. But then I listened as my employee spoke with him, and I heard the man on the other line ask if the woman who sold it came back. And guess what? He''sing tomorrow, as he wanted to buy that ring from the person who reserved it." "Which is me..."


    "Right."


    My heart thundered. Did Alpha Draco have me followed, and someone saw me in that shop? "Did the man leave a name?"


    "No. But my employee knew him. Of course, everyone who has a shop here knows him, as their family used to own themercial buildings in this area She paused for a while and just looked at me before she continued. "I didn''t believe him at


    first, but when my emid he imed that the owner of the ring was his wife, I had to check the CCTV when he visited a few days ago so I could see for myself. And it was indeed him."


    I swallowed.


    "Tell me, Adessa. Is Alpha Kael of the Ironcrest Pack your husband?"


    I nodded. "Ex-husband," I said.


    She palmed her forehead and let out a sigh. "Oh Goddess, Adessa. Your husband is looking for you!"


    "He''s probably looking for the ring, not me."


    "So, what do you n to do?"


    "Does he say he wants to buy it back?"


    "Yes. He wants to talk to the person who reserved the ring."


    "Can you sell it to him instead, at a reasonable price? I would rather that he has that ring in his possession. It will be safer in his hand."


    "I still don''t understand why you left him. Are you really ipatible? I know he doesn''t smile, very distant or cold, and never looked at anyone, but I never heard hideous things about him, unlike other Alphas around here."


    I didn''t say anything to her aside


    from saying we didn''t get along. I didn''t say anything about Desiree or the fact that he lost his memory. trusted Corrine, but I didn''t want to put Kael or his pack in a vulnerable position once someone found out he lost his memory.


    "The marriage just didn''t work."


    "Fine. I won''t ask more if you want to keep it to yourself. But feel free to talk whenever you''re ready." "Thank you..."


    "Hmmm... Dinner smells nice." She sniffed the air before a warm smile curled on her lips. "Corrine..."


    She looked at me and raised her brows but didn''t say anything.


    "Tell him the one who reserved the ring changed his mind. Don''t let him know it''s a woman. Sell the ring to him."


    "How about you?"


    "It''s not my ring."


    "I mean. Are you not going to show yourself to him? He told my employee that he was looking for his wife and wanted to know where she was."


    "I don''t think that''s true."


    "Fine. It''s your decision to make. I will just tell him what you want me to say, so make up your mind and tell me before I go to work tomorrow." "Thank you..."


    "I also got you a job interview in one of the cafeterias around the university. Unfortunately, the cloth shop has no vacancy."


    "Thank you. I''m fine with any work." I smiled at her as I stood up to prepare our dinner.


    Before I became Kael''s Luna, I had been addicted to designing and sewing clothes. I just used whatever textile I could find at a cheap price. Once got married to him, I was able to buy fabrics that I loved but didn''t have the time anymore.


    So when Corrine asked what work I preferred, I suggested anything that had to do with sewing clothes or selling fabrics.


    But I was grateful for any job I could get. The problem was that maybe this ce was too near Kael or Alpha Draco''s territory. I didn''t want to always watch my back whenever I crossed the street or entered a public ce.


    I shrugged off any more thoughts about that because I still had to decide what to do tomorrow.


    Corrine said Kael woulde a few hours before the shop closed. I knew I shouldn''t go there. But it''d been a week since Ist saw him. A part of me wanted to see him.


    Hmmm. Maybe a glimpse of my ex-husband wouldn''t be that bad, right?


    I just hope he doesn''t take Desiree along with him.

 Chapter 18

    KAEL.


    I woke up early today, ready to drive to Bayson Bay to meet up with the buyer of Adessa''s ring. I hope he wouldn''t make it hard for me, as I am willing to pay a hefty sum of money to get it back. After that, I also nned to drive around the area to check if she was there. Not for anything but to make sure she was safe and okay.


    The entire week, I made time to watch all the videos on my phone and read all the notes that I found inside my wallet. They were small pieces of paper that were tucked in between my cards. They all came from her, and I kept them. Nothing much was written there but just her wishing me a good day or telling me that she was excited and looking forward to our date nights.


    But there was no I love you, or I miss you a clear indication that what we had was not born out of love. But I could feel her excitement.


    And we do have date nights.


    The Adessa I could picture while reading the notes and the Adessa that giggles in every video I took of her was too different from the woman that they paint in my head. Miranda said she was cold and rude. Dexter said she was indifferent and would seldom talk to anyone. But the Adessa in the video couldn''t stop talking and giggling. She was so beautiful. How could someone with an angelic face like her be cold and indifferent?


    "Are you ready?" I asked Dexter, who had just entered my office.


    I stood up from my chair and opened my desk drawer to grab the farewell letter she wrote me, as well as the list she made for some of the territory projects.


    The other day, I made calls and finally found someone who could authenticate if the letter and the listing were written by the same person. Adessa had said multiple times in some of the videos that she couldn''t write in print letters, and I enjoyed teasing her about it. This letter they found in her office was written in print and block letters.


    I didn''t want to think that someone was sabotaging me, but with no memory of thest two years, I had no idea who to trust.


    Two years was a long time for something to change.


    Like how I felt whenever I looked at Desiree.


    I could vividly remember our moments together and how excited I would be whenever I had to pick her up so we could spend time together.


    I couldn''t feel that anymore.


    Unless my heart was also damaged by the ident, then it seemed my feelings for her were not as strong as before.


    I could tell she felt it.


    In just a week, we had fought more than we ever had since we became a couple. I asked her not to move into my room just yet until I could get my memory back or figure out where I was at this stage of my life.


    Of course, she cried. She told me it was like losing me again, but this time, there was no Adessa between us, just me deciding I didn''t want her.


    I was taken aback and felt guilty, so I apologized and hugged her. We almost ended up in bed if I didn''t remember that I had made a vow to myself not to be intimate with her until I got out of my confused state.


    "I can''t go with you," Dexter replied, shing me an apologetic smile. "The contractors want to meet up with us. It was a sudden request. I assumed you wouldn''t want to miss this thing in Bayson Bay, so I decided I''d stay behind and meet then. You can take someone else with you."


    "Hmmm... No one can take over and meet them?" I asked him. I was used to having Dexter around me 24/7 whenever I left the territory, so this felt different.


    "Adessa took care of this matter with the construction, so unfortunately, no one knows about it except you, me, and her."


    "Fine. I''ll take Delta Landon."


    "Better." He smiled at me, and the way he did it made me raise my brows. He seemed to be excited, but I didn''t have time to contemte more as I heard a voice behind him.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    "You''re leaving again?" Desiree asked as she moved forward, and I just nodded my head. "Can Ie with you?" She added.


    "I think the Alpha wants to do this


    business alone, Desiree," Dexter answered right away, and I was grateful for th grateful for that. I didn''t want her toe along and see that I would be looking around the city for Adessa.


    "I don''t have anything to do..." She groaned.


    "I think you should buy flowers and decorate the whole house. It looks dead..." Dexter told her, and I wanted to chuckle.


    Did my Beta just order her to do something?


    "I''m not a housemaid!" She red at him.


    "The former house mistress had done that. It made the house look alive." Dexter said, and my eyebrows raised.


    He was right. The house looked


    dead. Thest time it had flowers was the day I woke up, and nothing more came after Adessa left. But my reaction was more for Dexter paying a subtlepliment to Adessa.


    "Whatever!" Desiree rolled her eyes and turned around, exiting the room without talking to me.


    "It appears that you don''t want her to go with me. Am I missing something?"


    Dexter scratched his head and smiled sheepishly. "I just thought you might not want her around when your Bayson trip is rted to Adessa. It''ll just hurt her more." "Sounds fair." I shrugged my shoulders before picking up the receiver and dialing Landon''s number. I asked him, and he immediately agreed to go with me. Luckily, he was already on his way here, so we could leave right away.


    I grabbed my jacket and headed


    toward the door. I saw Dexter grab the car keys from its holder and


    follow me. I was d the hallwain et


    was empty, and Desiree was


    not


    around. I didn''t have time to argue with her at the moment.


    Landon''s car entered the grounds at the exact moment we stepped out of the front door. Dexter handed me my car keys, and I hurried down the steps.


    I threw the keys to Landon, who just stepped out of his car but remained by the door. He caught them, but he immediately threw them back to Dexter.


    "What the fuck?" Dexter eximed. He was just as surprised as I was that it made me stop walking.


    "The Alpha and I will take my car," Landon replied.


    "I just washed the Alpha''s car." Dexter sounded annoyed.


    "Well..." Landon smiled and tapped the roof of his car. "I bought a new carst month, and the Alpha has never ridden this one. So... Alpha Kael, ready to ride my baby?"


    I chuckled. "As long as it gets us to the destination, I don''t mind."


    "Nice!" Landon said before giving a salute to Dexter. He immediately went to the other side and opened the door for me before I could reach it.


    I slipped inside, and in no time, we were driving out of the vicinity of my house, but my eyes were still on the front door.


    "Did he just throw the keys?" Landon asked me, his eyes ncing at the rearview mirror. Dexter seemed to be so upset that he threw something toward the front door.


    "I saw that too," I answered.


    "Strange. Your Beta is getting older, Alpha. He''s throwing tantrums." He snickered, and I just shook my head. "Maybe it''s time to look for a new one." He added.

 Chapter 19

    LADESSA.


    I''d been staring at the clock the whole morning, and by lunchtime, I finally decided I couldn''t just sit still and wait for Corrine toe home.


    I wanted to see Kael, even if only for a moment and from a distance.


    I put on ck jeans and a ck hoodie before leaving the apartment and walking toward themercial area. Corrine''s home was just three blocks away, so I didn''t need to take a bus or a cab to get there.


    It should be an easy walk, but I had to keep my guard up all the time. I didn''t want him or any of Alpha Draco''s men to see me if they were looking for me.


    I honestly have no idea if Kael knew I was sold to Alpha Draco. If I based it on what Corrine told mest night that Kael was looking for me, it seemed he didn''t know. But then a part of me thought that maybe he was just faking his statement so he could buy the ring back.


    I still remember the way he treated me after he woke up and how he dismissed my feelings by letting Desiree crawl all over him while I was still in the house, married to him.


    Or how he yed with me and fucked me only to let me know he wanted Desiree.


    Now that I''m gone, it''s possible that they''ve already made their rtionship public. Maybe they were inseparable, and I was long forgotten.


    My heart clenched in pain as I stopped walking.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    Wanting to see Kael was a stupid decision. I should move on.


    But then I guess I was really stupid.


    I let out a sigh and continued walking toward the cafe, which was across the street from the jewelry shop. I could sit there and drink tea. Hopefully, they weren''t yet there, so they wouldn''t see me along the sidewalk.


    I bowed my head and continued walking with regr steps even though I was itching to walk faster.


    Finally, I reached the cafe. I went in and bought my tea before choosing to sit by the window, where I could clearly see the entrance of the shop.


    ss windows surrounded the shop, allowing me to see Corrine and one employee inside. They were the only ones there. I hope I wasn''tte, and Kael has yet to arrive.


    I was drinking my tea slowly, but I''d been here for almost an hour, and I could see the people at the counter looking at me. I had money to order more, but I knew I didn''t have the luxury for more. This tea was already out of my budget. I had to be careful with my expenses, so I just ignored them and swallowed my pride.


    After this, they will never see me here again. I just wanted to see Kael.


    My eyes widened when I noticed a car parked two shops away from the jewelry store. It was the only area with vacant parking. I was certain that this red, shiny car was Landon''s new one.


    Landon came with him.


    A smile curled on my lips at the memory of Kael''s Delta. If anyone in that pack treated me with respect and took my words seriously, it was him. But despite the respect, he was not afraid to goof around with me. Bragging about his expensive new convertible red car was the highlight of his day. He took pride that he was able to buy his dream car after scrimping on his sry so he could afford it. And I think he had every right to be proud of himself. Although he was more than five years older than me, he was a child at heart, and I honestly liked him.


    The door to the passenger''s side opened, and I shrunk in my seat, hiding my head amongst the flowers and nts by the window, but my eyes never left Kael.


    The stubble on his face was shorter. He shaved. I remembered that I was the one doing it for him while he was in aa. And even before that, he would let me shave it whenever I wanted to. He would teach me how, and we would sometimes end up with smudging shaving cream on each other''s faces.


    Remembering the good old days made my eyes water.


    He looked so good. His hair was brushed up like he always does.


    I dropped my gaze from him to gather myself, or I might end up sobbing. There was no doubt that missed him. I didn''t know it would still hurt. I thought I would feel better when I saw him, but it was the other way around.


    Both he and Landon went inside the shop. He spoke with the man there, but after some time, Corrine approached them, and they began talking.


    My forehead creased as I watched Kael throw his head back as if he wereughing.


    He wasughing. And smiling.


    Kael rarely smiles-more so,ughs-in public. Was he happy without me?


    "Excuse me, miss." A voice snapped me back to the present. I tilted my head and noticed the server looking at me. She didn''t look pleased. "Yes?"


    "Are you done? We have some customers who would like to take the window seat."


    I looked around and saw many empty tables, but she was right. All the window seats were taken. If I didn''t feel bad already, I would order more to keep the seat, but I had no more energy to discuss anything with anyone.


    So I just smiled at her and stood up, leaving my table and heading toward the door.


    But instead of walking along the sidewalk, my feet moved on their own and turned to cross the street. My mind was floating, but I knew I wanted to see Kael.


    Beep.


    A loud honk snapped me out of my thoughts, and my head snapped to the right. A vehicle was rapidly approaching, and if I had not reacted and jumped back, it would have struck me, but it caused me tond on my ass on the concrete sidewalk.


    "Shit!" I mumbled under my breath.


    "Look where you''re going!" The driver of the car yelled at me and then pointed in the direction of the pedestrianne. She then rolled her window up and drove away.


    My eyes followed her car as I stood up, only for me to sit on the pavement again.


    Two men who looked familiar were walking on the side of the jewelry store. They kept turning their heads around and checking the disy windows of shops they passed by, probably checking the people inside. "Oh, Goddess!" I mumbled as I recognized one of them.


    Sweat formed on my forehead and all over my body. I ced the hoodie back on my head, slowly rose from the ground, and turned around, heading toward Corrine''s apartment.


    Alpha Draco''s Delta was the one in the green shirt. I met him at the banquet, where The Alpha and Kael almost shed. I remembered him because he stood in front of his Alpha to break the tension between the two. What was he doing here? It seemed they were looking for someone.


    My heart thundered as I hurried away. It had been a week since I killed Alpha Draco''s men. I was sure they had found their bodies already, and I was sure they were looking for me.

 Chapter 20

    KAEL.


    When we arrived at the shop, the ring was still on disy. I expected them to tell me to wait until the buyer showed himself, which I hated. I was never the one with the patience to wait, but I had no choice. But then, waiting never happened.


    The store manager was there; I was sure she was the female in the video with Adessa.


    "Alpha Kael..." she greeted me as she approached. The man I spoke with, Philip, just told me the buyer hadn''t shown up yet.


    "You know me," I told her.


    "Of course," she smiled as she bowed her head at me, and I returned her nod. "Everyone around here knows you."


    I just shrugged my shoulders. We used to own the building in this block and the other side before Dad sold them because Miranda insisted it was too far to manage.


    "My name is Corrine. I''m the manager here. I was told that you''re interested in that ring," she said, pointing to the disy case on the other side.


    I nodded my head. "I am."


    "Oh, it''s a good choice. It''s beautiful." She smiled broadly. "Perfect for an engagement ring or a wedding ring. Really exquisite, and the diamonds are pure." "I know." I chuckled.


    I was not used to smiling orughing with strangers, but I forced myself to. I wanted her to feelfortable with me, and then maybe I could ask her about my ex-wife.


    "So... Is it for a proposal?" She asked, raising her eyebrows. If this were another scenario, I would be frank and tell her it was none of her business, but I needed something from her.


    "A proposal?" Iughed, throwing my head back as I did. This was getting weird, but I just let it y. "I just want the ring back. This ring belonged to my wife. She left me and took that ring." "She left you? Oh, I''m sorry. I didn''t know you got married. But then Ironcrest is too far from here, and your pack has always been..." She paused, her eyes rounding as if she realized something. "Isted..." I continued for her.


    "I''m sorry, Alpha. I talk too much."


    "No harm done." I smiled at her. "Do you think I can buy the ring back?"


    Corrine nodded, and my heart picked up its pace. "The buyer called yesterday and said she was not interested anymore."


    Philip''s head snapped in her direction, and she smiled at him before patting his hand on the ss counter in front of us. "Complete the inventory for the sale next week. I''ll take care of Alpha Kael." He didn''t say anything and just left after excusing himself.


    She took out a calctor and pressed something before showing it to me. "This is the price of the ring."


    "This is quite lowpared to what I expected," I told her, my gaze scrutinizing her face.


    "The one who sold that didn''t want to take too much money for it. She said she just needed emergency money and would return for it. I guess she didn''t get any money to buy it back."


    "So she''s just letting it go." My forehead creased. The first part gave me joy, but the realization she would just let this ring go annoyed me.


    "She knows you''re interested in buying it." She smiled, but she had already dropped her gaze away from me, but her words left me speechless. Adessa knew I was buying it.


    "Are you still interested in buying it, Alpha?" She asked, snapping me back to the present.


    "Did she know it was me, as in Alpha Kael, or did she know someone was buying it?" I had to be sure.


    "I told her that Alpha Kael of the Ironcrest Pack is interested in buying it." She replied. "Do you want to see it first?"


    "I''ll buy it." I slipped my hand inside my pocket and pulled out my wallet. I took my card, and she gave me the terminal to swipe it into.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "Perfect," she said once the transaction was done.


    I slipped my wallet back and was about to say something when the door chimed, drawing my attention to it, and I saw Alpha Draco''s Delta stepping in together with one of his men.


    "I will prepare the item and the receipt. I''ll be back," Corrine said and I just nodded, even if I was already facing the door.


    "Alpha Kael, I didn''t expect to see you here. It''s been a long time since we felt your presence. I heard you''ve been sick."


    "Been sick. I''m good now and functioning well. Anything I can do for you?" I replied, crossing my arms against my chest.


    "I just want to say hi. We''re off. We have things to do. Have a great day, Alpha Kael." He gave me a salute before he turned around.


    I didn''t reply and just looked at them as they left the shop.


    "I''m still not on good terms with Draco, right?" I asked Landon, who stood beside me.


    "Yep. I don''t think you''ll ever be. Alpha Draco tried to make a pass at Luna Adessa one time, and it almost ended in a brawl."


    A scowl formed on my face. "Did he hurt her?"


    "He tried to grab her when she ignored him."


    "The fuck!" I grunted.


    "Don''t worry. The Luna pped him, and he attempted to strike her back, but you came and stopped him. It almost turned into chaos if the people around were not fast enough to stop both of you."


    "I wish they didn''t stop me."


    "Me, too, Alpha. I wanted to strike him, but I didn''t want to leave Luna Adessa unattended while you handled him."


    "You like Adessa." My head snapped to the side to look at him, and I was sure I was frowning.


    "I like her for you." He chuckled. "Stop looking at me as if I were lusting over your ex-wife because I don''t."


    "Excuse me, Alpha Kael. Here''s the ring and the receipt." Corrine spoke from behind me.


    I turned around and took the small paper bag she handed me. "Thank you."


    "Are you not going to check if the ring is there?"


    "I''m sure you won''t double-cross me."


    "No." She chuckled. "Not in this lifetime, sir."


    I wanted to ask about Adessa, but she was already asking questions before I could say something. "The one who sold the ring, she''s your wife, right?" "How did you know?"


    "The picture in your wallet. That is the woman who came herest week."


    She was too nosy, but I was grateful for it.


    "I see." I used the wallet I saw in my drawer and didn''t take anything from it, so I still have her notes and her picture. Have you seen her again? I know you mentioned she called yesterday. Do you know if she''s okay?"


    "I haven''t seen her again. And I''m sorry, I don''t know if she''s okay. All I know is she was worried about how she would buy the ring back, but when I mentioned your name, she calmed down and said I could sell it forward to you. She actually


    Ove


    requested that we don''t put a higher


    price on it. Of course, ita higher


    not good


    for the business, but I tried to meet her halfway. She seemed to be a sweet woman."


    "She is..." I answered even before I could think of my reply and my action. "You know what. Can you give this to her?"


    I pulled out my wallet again and took Adessa''s bank card. "It''s hers, so she knows her code. She left it, and you said she needed money. She can use it."


    "I don''t think I will meet her again."


    "I''m sure she will call and ask about the ring. Tell her I bought it, and I left something for her."


    She nodded her head. I let out a sigh and thanked her before turning around, motioning for Landon that we were leaving. We were about to open the door when she spoke again. "Do you want to see Adessa, Alpha Kael?"


    One question, but I felt my soul leave my body.

 Chapter 21

    KAEL.


    "Do you want to see Adessa, Alpha Kael?" Corrine''s question made me stop walking forward.


    "Yes," I answered a little too fast, and I could see Landon suppressing a chuckle toe out of his throat. I scowled at him, then turned around to face the woman at the counter. "Do you know where she is?"


    "I took her home with me because she didn''t have a ce to stay. Give me thirty minutes, and I will just leave instructions to Philip, then we can go home. But, Alpha, only if you promise not to force her toe home with you if she doesn''t want to."


    I raised my palms up and nodded my head. "You have my word. My Delta will stay outside the house, so you won''t feel like we''re overpowering you and Adessa. I just want to speak with her."


    She smiled, and we agreed to go with it. Thirty minutes wasn''t that long, but it felt like it was. I was eager to see her again.


    Landon and I went outside the shop to wait for Corrine. My Delta pulled out a cigarette from his pocket and asked if I minded if he smoked. I shrugged my shoulders in response. I waited for him to offer one to me, but he didn''t.


    "Give me one." I finally told him.


    "Are you sure?" he asked.


    My forehead creased as I scoffed. "When did I ever be unsure about smoking?" I reached for the pack of cigarettes he was holding but stopped taking one when he spoke again.


    "You quit smokingpletely a couple of months after you married Luna Adessa." He said, puffing his cigarette in the opposite direction. "She hates it. She never told you, but you heard her tell a housemaid it was the one smell she couldn''t tolerate. You even asked me not to smoke around her and make sure I don''t smoke in her car when I drive her around."


    I handed him back the cigarettes. "No wonder I haven''t craved it since I woke up," I told him.


    It was the truth. I never even thought about it and just got curious when I saw him smoking. Dexter didn''t smoke, so I didn''t remember it when I was with him.


    If Landon wasn''t lying, it seemed I cared for Adessa a little too much topletely give up something I''d been doing since puberty. Especially since I knew myself no one could dictate me on what to do if I didn''t want to.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    After what felt like an eternity, Corrine was finally ready to leave, and it took a lot of me not to show my excitement.


    I was so good at showing a poker face, but deep inside, I couldn''t deny I wanted to see her again and was d that she was not alone. No wonder Corrine asked about proposals and marriages. She checked if I had someone else or was nning to marry someone. It seemed Adessa didn''t tell her about Desiree, or she would not be this pleasant with me.


    But all the excitement died when we entered her apartment, and no one was around.


    Corrine panicked as she searched for her, so I checked, too. Her ce was tiny, so there was no room to hide. She was really nowhere.


    My heart clenched when we found a note pinned in a small fridge.


    *****


    Dearest Corrine,


    Thank you for taking me in. I will forever be grateful, but it''s time for me to go. I''m fine, and you don''t have to worry about me. Please take care and send my love to Gracie. I will visit you one of these days. Love, Adessa


    *****


    "I''m sorry, Alpha. I didn''t know she would leave. We didn''t talk about it."


    "Maybe she wanted to stay until she could get the ring back, but since she couldn''t, she left," I spoke, not hiding the animosity in my tone.


    "It''s very unlikely for Adessa to leave without waiting, but then I haven''t seen her in many years, so many things could have changed in her."


    I just nodded. "Thank you for your time. I will take my leave. I can find my way out."


    "Alpha," she called for me once I was already by the door. "I know where she parked the car she brought with her when she arrived. We can check it. Maybe she''s still there, as that car has no gas."


    "A car?" My forehead creased. She didn''t take her car with her, as it was parked in my parking lot. But I didn''t say that and just let her take me to where it was.


    It was a van.


    It was still there at the far end of the parking lot. When I asked the parking attendant, she said no one hade in all day in this area.


    This zone was reserved for those who wanted to park their cars for a week or more because they needed to go somewhere. It was near the airport and train station, so it was not unusual.


    I could see Corrine was sad or maybe disappointed when we parted ways. I felt the same, but I didn''t let it show.


    "I got the information about the te number," Landon said as soon as I sat beside him. I instructed him to make calls to find out who owned the car.


    "And?" I asked as he drove away.


    "They didn''t divulge who owns it, but they told me it belonged to someone from the Knight''s Stone Pack."


    I felt my head be heavy as if the car space were closing in on me.


    Everything was starting to make sense. Knight''s Stone Pack belonged to Draco.


    "Fuck!" I punched my coiled fist onto the dashboard closet and saw Landon''s eyes widen. This was his car, but he didn''t say anything. He knew better than to speak when I was in this state.


    Yes, I was furious. My worries turned into anger.


    "So that was the n she had." I scoffed.


    "What do you mean?" My Delta asked.


    "Draco was probably the Alpha that Dexter said Adessa was having an affair with."


    "I cannot believe you believe him!" Landon eximed.


    "No, you fucking listen to me! Draco left his car for her to use so she could drive to his territory, but my lovely wife ran out of gas and was so stupid to leave without any money!" I exined sarcastically.


    "All she got was this fucking ring!


    She sold it to survive while waiting


    for Draco to pick her up and


    probably told him to bring her


    money to get the ring back! But she was aware I wasing, so she gave up on it and just let me buy it so she would never get the chance torun on me today! That is why Draco''s Delta was here today! He probably wanted to m it on my fucking face that he was here to pick up my wife! My fucking wife!"


    I punched the dashboard twice before mming my back against my seat and tilting my head up. I closed my eyes and ced my. fingers against my temples, trying to steady my breathing, but it was


    getting harder.


    My chest was constricting with pain. I had no idea what to feel anymore.


    And then I felt the car swerve as if making a turn.


    I opened my eyes just in time to see Landon driving in the opposite direction. "What are you doing?"


    "We''ll get to the bottom of this. I''ll drive you to the Knight''s Stone Pack, and you can ask Alpha Draco directly where Luna Adessa is," he said in a low voice, but I could hear his determination.


    I just stared at my Delta. I couldn''t read his emotion. I had no idea if, after all that I said, his faith was still in my ex-wife.

 Chapter 22

    KAEL.


    I didn''t have the energy to object anymore. So I just let my Delta drive us to the Knight''s Stone Pack while my mind flew to whatever I could remember of Adessa.


    She was beautiful, no doubt about that, so it didn''t surprise me that Draco took a fancy to her. Plus, Draco and I had been rivals since our youth.


    Our packs were in the same county, with only three human cities separating us. In short, our werewolfmunities were closest to each other, but we never got along well. The rivalry had begun with our forefathers and had carried on to the generations after them. But in all honesty, I was not bothered by them. My pack had been thriving well without any help or disturbance from them.


    Draco was another case. He would show superiority whenever he could, and I would usually ignore him. Adessa was not the first female he tried to take away from me. There were some while we were studying at Alpha University.


    I thought he had grown out of that habit, as he had not made any attempt toward Desiree as far as I could remember. But then, I had never really brought Desiree outside of my territory for any Alpha or Pack functions, as she was not officially my Luna then. So Draco had never seen her in my arms.


    Looking at it now, it seemed Adessa was histest victim, just to get on my nerves.


    I wondered if he knew we were officially divorced. Once he finds out, will he let her go, or will he continue to y this game?


    But Landon was right; I needed to get to the bottom of this so I could sleep well tonight.


    As expected, we were stopped at the checkpoint, and upon realizing I was Alpha Kael, we were not given permission to enter. I requested to speak with him, and fucker made me wait longer than I should.


    It made me think he was speaking with Adessa first.


    I honestly didn''t know what to believe anymore. Landon imed Adessa pped him for daring to grab her, but what if it was just a facade? And since we got separated, there was no stopping them from being together.


    I grabbed my head and leaned forward, bumping it into the dashboard softly. I wanted to believe Adessa would not do such a thing, but then I had no idea who she was. No one knew her before I took her home. Unlike Desiree, who came from a reputable family, Adessa had no family I could check.


    What if I just found her in a stripper club and fucked her? Then she pretended to be pregnant, so I married her.


    "Argh!" I bumped my forehead once more, this time harder. There were many thoughts in my head, yet they were not mine, leaving mepletely helpless.


    I should just let her go and move forward as if she didn''t exist.


    I have no memory of her, and it shouldn''t be a problem, but why the fuck it felt like my heart was being ripped just thinking of the idea that I would let her go?


    "Why the fuck did you ignore her and then divorce her without thinking?" I punched the dashboard again. My voice came out growling this time.


    Over the course of a week, I came to regret numerous decisions. I should never have ignored her attempts tomunicate with me when I woke up. I should have asked her more questions because she was my wife and not anyone else. I shouldn''t have shoved Desiree in her face and demanded she divorce me without even letting her exin what we were to each other.


    A knock on the window interrupted me from crucifying myself more. It was Landon. He remained outside and spoke with the security at the checkpoint.


    I didn''t need to ask if he had arrived because I saw a car approaching, and I was sure it was the fucker.


    I ran my fingers over my hair before opening the door and slipping out of the car.


    Draco came out and immediately shed me an arrogant grin. My nose red, and the moment he stopped a few feet before me, I didn''t even wait for him to acknowledge my presence.


    "Where the fuck is my wife?" I growled at him.


    Heughed, just as expected, but then he stopped abruptly, and his eyes narrowed as he met my gaze. A scowl was written on his face. "I should be the one asking you that question. Where the fuck is your wife?" "Stop ying games with me, fucker! Give me Adessa. I want a word with her."


    "So after you threw her my way, you traveled all the way here to pretend you want her back?"


    My forehead creased at his words, but before I could counter him, he was already speaking again. "If you thinking here and pretending you don''t know where she is with save her from her sins, you''re wrong. I will not stop until I find her v will make her pay with every ounce of her blood."


    My head was starting to spin with questions. I couldn''t understand what the fuck he was talking about. But looking at him, he didn''t look as if he was mocking me.


    I had known Draco all my life, and even though I knew him to be an asshole and an arrogant bastard, he had never told me any lies.


    "What did she do to you?" I asked.


    His wickedugh erupted from his


    throat, making him tilt his head backward before pulling out his hand from his pocket and pointing a finger at me. "Tell me, Kael. Did you know Adessa was given to me as a gift to me because the Alpha of her pack no longer wanted her?"


    "What?" I growled at him.


    "I knew it. I fucking knew it!"


    "Tell me what you fucking knew!" I pulled my arm back, my coiled fist ready to throw a punch at him.


    "Rx, Alpha." Landon''s arm extended in front of me.C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    "I never believed you would give her to me even if you were done and tired of her, but I didn''t question it. I was happy to have her." Draco continued. "Adessa was supposed to arrive here a week ago. My brother picked her up from your pack." Heid his hand on the man beside him, and he was handed some photos that were turned upside down, so I couldn''t see anything. "Do you know what happened to my brother?"


    He handed me pictures, and I immediately scanned them.


    Two dead bodies. Gun wounds in the head and chest.


    "He''s dead. His car was gone, and we found his revolver fifty kilometers from the crime scene, buried inside the forest. It has a GPS chip, as all registered guns are. I am sure you are aware of that, but it seems your wife was not." He scoffed.


    The van-the one in the parking lot.


    The trembling of her hands when she entered the jewelry shop and her looking over her shoulder, checking if someone was behind her. Her leaving our house without money or anything with her except her ring. The farewell letter that didn''t look like her handwriting.


    Everything was starting to make sense. She was taken from my territory by force.


    I was just staring at the photos, still trying to make sense of these deaths. Did Adessa kill them, or did someone help her?


    "The gun was full of fingerprints," Draco said as if he had heard my questions. "I paid someone to get me a record of her fingerprints from the King''s Tribunal. It matches."


    My jaw clenched at his words.


    "She''s considered a fugitive." He added.


    "Not if she defended herself!" I snapped back at him.


    The fuckerughed again before he answered. "It doesn''t matter to me. A life for a life."


    "Who gave Adessa to you as a gift?" I asked, furrowing my brows as I stared at him.

 Chapter 23

    KAEL.


    "Who gave Adessa to you as a gift?" I asked.


    I didn''t want to believe that anyone around me could have done this. But at this point, I knew everything was possible even friends could be enemies in the shadow.


    Was she abducted by someone from my pack and handed to Draco''s brother? Or was she taken by them the moment she stepped out of my border?


    "Answer me!" My patience was running thin.


    Instead of answering, Draco let out a sarcastic chuckle and shook his head. "Are we friends?"


    I already knew what woulde after this, and I was right. He would never tell me more.


    "Why would I tell you? I''m not going to help you weed out the snakes in your prairie, Kael. Go figure it out yourself."


    I was so close to throwing another curse on his face, but I stopped myself. I didn''t want to add more to the arrogance in him. I would not let himugh at me any more.


    "Then, I guess my time is up here." I patted my Delta''s back and turned around, heading toward the car.


    "Are you not going to send any condolences for the death of my brother?"


    "No. I''m sure he got what he deserves." I answered without stopping from walking.


    I opened the door and was about to get in when he spoke again, but this time, I stopped and looked at him.


    "Make sure you find your wife before I do. And make sure you hide her well because once I get my hands on her, she''ll regret pulling that trigger on my brother and running away from me. I will make sure she will live for the rest of her days being reminded of that moment."


    "You are a fucking coward for aiming to put justice in your hands against a female you and your brother were obviously trying to abduct. I will make sure you will never touch even a strand of her hair. So, throw your threat somewhere else. I''m not terrified of you." I told him before slipping into my seat and closing my door.


    I didn''t need to say more. Landon immediately drove away.


    "Is Stefan still our head tracker?" I asked.


    "Yes, do you want me to call him?"


    "I''ll do that. Drive me back to Corrine''s apartment. I need more information from her." I told him before pressing the number to call Stefan.


    I made my call short, ordering him to send men to track Adessa in all cities connected to Bayson Bay and expanding forward if they couldn''t find her there. I also advise all details must be directed to me and not to Dexter or Landon.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    "Did you ever think it was me who gave Adessa to them?" Landon asked as I dropped the call. He heard about my instructions.


    "I don''t know what to think anymore."


    The rest of the ride was spent in silence. Landon and I would asionally talk, and he would answer my questions. I didn''t want to doubt him, but at this point, I couldn''t trust anyone but myself.


    After I spoke with Corrine and found out Adessa had not contacted her yet, I left her my number and told her to let me know of any news of her. I also left her cash so if Adessa called and needed money, she could send it to her.


    I went to Bayson Bay with a confused heart, but I was returning home with a more fucked-up mind and heart.


    "Did you know why I got into an ident? What ident was it?" In all the turmoil of Adessa leaving, I didn''t even have time to think of my own ident.


    "It was a car ident. The car was speeding, and Onald lost control, so it flipped over."


    "How''s Onald?"


    ""He''s dead."


    "What?" Goosebumps rose from my skin. No one even told me that.


    "I was not there when they rescued you, but they said his legs got stuck, so when the car exploded, he was inside."


    "And me?"


    "You don''t have a seat belt, so they were assuming you flew out of the windshield as they found you unconscious meters away from the car." "Is there foul y?"


    "Dexter is the one coordinating with the investigation team. The case was closed, and they ruled that it was Onald''s speed that caused him to lose control." "Did Miranda contact Onald''s family?"


    "Luna Adessa did. She was present for nearly an hour each night during his wake. I know because I drove her there. She helped them financially and offered schrships for Onald''s kids until they graduated. The Luna coordinated the wake and the funeral. A big help to his grieving wife, as they didn''t have any families around."


    I didn''t have anything to say, so I just listened as he continued.


    "I heard Luna Miranda was pissed


    off with the schrship she offered


    and told her she should have waited until you woke up to make a decision because you might not have agreed to it as Onald caused the ident. Luna Adessa was firm with her decision and said she knew you would never disagree with that regardless of who caused the ident, as, at the end of the day, his family was left without a father. She also added, that in case you overturned her decision, she was willing to use her own money to pay for those kids, and if needed, she would also work to get more money."


    "She said that?"


    "Yes. The tension was palpable over dinner when they had the argument, as your stepmother wouldn''t back down as well. Luna Adessa even warned her not to interfere with that subject or change anything, as she had already made a decision. Of course, your stepmother didn''t like that and shouted at her. She used her of being a gold digger. That it was the Luna who caused your ident because she wanted to be the Alpha of this pack..."


    My forehead creased.


    "That''s bullshit." Landon shook his head. "I was supposed to drive you that day. I could have been the dead guy..." "What happened?"


    "Luna Adessa wanted toe with


    you, and you refused. She kept


    insisting until a little disagreement broke out that you were always away, and all she wanted was to spend time with you. She said she could stay in the car and just sit there while you do your business so she wouldn''t get in the way. You still said no. In the end, she walked away, clearly upset." He paused and let out a breath. ¡°So you asked me to stay behind and offer the Luna to drive around and shop. We both knew you couldn''t bribe her like that, but you still let me stay and take Onald instead, so if the Luna decided


    she wanted to have a breather, I


    could guard her."


    I remained silent, letting his words sink in before I spoke. "So if I had taken her with me, it could have been the three of us."


    I nodded. "You have no idea how Luna kept ming herself for not insisting oning with you. She said if she were there and I was the one driving, I would never speed off, as she would always scold me when I did." "Was she sad when I was in aa?"

 Chapter 24

    KAEL.


    "Was she sad when I was in aa?"


    "She was miserable." Landon nced at me and gave me a weak smile before turning his attention back to the road. "Her eyes were always puffy by morning, so I knew she was crying herself to sleep. But she would still do her duties, running the household and making decisions for the pack. She lost weight. The colors in her eyes were gone. She would smile, but not the same smile she carried before. She kept her agony to herself, but she made sure the surroundings looked happy. She added more flowers around the house and your room so when you wake up, the house wouldn''t look dull."


    The flowers that Miranda said were Desiree''s doing. This was, of course, a lie, as since Adessa left, the house had never had any fresh flowers around.


    "And you know what''s funny? She would dress up every day in blue because that''s your favorite color. She wanted to look pleasant in your eyes once you wake up."


    "And I told her to fuck off when I did," I mumbled under my breath as I closed my eyes and gently rubbed my temples. My eyes were starting to water, and I was doing my best to keep them at bay.


    "She declined many invitations and moved all meetings at the central hall to your home so she didn''t have to be far from you. No one else cleaned you up or changed your clothes except her. She would have maids assisting her, but it was all her shaving your stubble and clipping your nails."


    "Stop making me feel more guilty," I said after letting out a sigh. "Why the fuck do you know all this? Was she confiding in you?" I couldn''t deny the jealousy that rose in my chest.


    "People talk, Alpha. The maids talk with each other, and you know me. You know where to find me when I''m not working."


    "In my kitchen," I replied.


    "Exactly. And they talk all the time about what they see. That''s why I told you that woman is a gem. I could tell she loves you." He added.


    "She''s in danger, Landon. I know Draco won''t stop until he finds her." I didn''t know what to say, so instead, I blurted out my worries.


    "Then we need to find her first. She is safer with you than being out there alone."


    "I know that, but I also need to get to the bottom of all this. I need to find out who sold her and if my ident was a real ident. Because if it''s not, then maybe taking her home means more danger for both of us."


    "We grew up together, Kael. I have no one but you, so if there was anyone in the world I would not kill, it''s you, or I will end up alone again. I will gain more with you alive than with you dead."


    I didn''t say anything, but he was right.


    I met Landon when we were kids. He was from the orphanage. He was one of those smart kids who got a schrship to study at the Alpha University.


    We became ssmates, teammates, and partners in ss. He saved my ass more than I could remember during presentations and research work. I was smart too, but I could be aszy as fuck.


    When we graduated from high school at sixteen, I asked him to move in with us with permission from my father. I already wanted him to be my Beta. My father also saw the potential and let him train under his Beta then, Dexter''s brother.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    But then his Beta died all of a sudden, and Landon was too young. So Dexter took over his brother''s post. But when I took over as Alpha, I took him with me as my Delta and let Dexter stay as my Beta, as I had no other better option than him. The car stopped in front of the house, and I reminded Landon to follow me to the office after he parked his car.


    My eyes squinted when I saw my car was gone from its parking space. My Beta, as well as the others, could use it to drive me around, but I was not here, and I didn''t ask anyone to do something on my behalf using my car.


    I shrugged my shoulders and continued walking. I had thought Dexter probably used my car instead of his, but that theory was proven wrong once I entered the house.


    I saw hime out of his office, and we met along the corridor.


    "Are you alone?" He asked.


    "Yes, Landon is outside, but he''sing in. I want you and him in my office."


    "Okay." He nodded. "How was your trip?"


    "Is Miranda here?" I asked instead of answering his question.


    "Yes," he replied, his forehead creasing. "Do you need her?"


    "Tell her I want her in my office."


    "I''m here, too." A sweet voice rang in the air, and I swiftly turned around to face the direction from which Desiree''s voice wasing.


    "I''ll go get Luna Miranda," I heard Dexter say as he walked away while I watched Desiree approach me with a broad smile on her face.


    Desiree was beautiful. There was a


    point in my life when I believed she


    was the most beautiful woman Thad everid eyes on, but meeting Adessa, even just for a day, made me unsure about that.


    Their features were the exact opposite, even their body frames. I didn''t want to lie to myself and say Desiree still had my attention because I knew I would rather see Adessa.


    "I''m sorry about my outburst this morning. Desiree''s words snapped me back to the present as her arms wrapped around my neck before she leaned closer and pressed her lips


    against mine.


    en


    In no time, she was kissing me, and I was caught off guard-my lips slightly parted, and my eyes widened.


    My hands went to her waist, and she took it as an invitation to push her tongue into my mouth.


    I felt guilty, but I had no idea why. Was it because my lips were locked with hers, but I thought of Adessa, or was I guilty because it was her with me and not my wife?


    There must be something funny on


    my face because the moment


    Landon stepped inside the house and our eyes met, his body hunched forward, and his hand mped over his mouth to stop himself fromughing. But whatever his reason was, I was grateful because it snapped me back to the present, and I was able to gently pull Desiree away from me.


    "Did you miss me?" She asked seductively.


    I opened my mouth to speak, but before I could say something, Landon had already spoken.


    "I''ll go ahead and wait for you at your office, Alpha." He said and walked past us.


    I nodded my head even though he couldn''t see me anymore before facing Desiree again. "I need to meet up with them."


    "Can Ie?"


    "Yes. I want you there, too." I said before letting go of her arms, turning my body around, and stepping away, not even waiting for her to walk with me.


    I told Desiree we shouldn''t be intimate for a while, but maybe I was running out of time. I needed to break it off with her before the thoughts of Adessa consumed me.


    I knew it was unfair that I would break her heart the second time around, but it was better than letting her believe we still have a rtionship.

 Chapter 25

    MIRANDA.


    I was supposed to be at my friend''s housewarming party, but I had to cut short my presence because my ipetent mate failed his task again.


    Dexter had only one job-to eliminate Kael before he realized who was running the show in his life-but he couldn''t do it perfectly.N?velDrama.Org ? 2024.


    I was getting frustrated.


    He was supposed to eliminate Kael and Landon in the ident that took Kael''s memory. For some reason, Landon didn''t drive Kael that day, and poor Onald became the victim. But Kael survived. Again.


    This was not the first time Dexter staged an ident for him. Dexter also attempted to set fire to one of the warehouses he and Kael visited. Kael was in the middle of the warehouse and was far from the exits when the fire broke out, but someone noticed it right away before it reached an explosion. No one was harmed, and Kael didn''t get even a scratch.


    Today, again, he failed.


    Dexter made sure he had an excuse to stay behind and let Landon drive them to their deaths, but like a cat with nine lives or more, he was saved from his death.


    I should n the next one since I was the only one who could get things moving around here. Like sending Adessa to Alpha Draco. I was sure by now she was already living the life she deserved-treated like a scum of the earth. It would make her realize never to cross me again and never to raise her voice at me. I was not born to be anyone''s ve, but she surely was.


    I looked out the window when I heard a vehicle approaching and saw Landon''s shiny red car entering the grounds. One day, this car, which he worshipped as if it were the entire world, would bring him and his Alpha to their demise. All I needed was to get my hands on it. I closed the curtain after making sure Kael came out alone without Adessa. I knew I shouldn''t worry. Alpha Draco would surely call me if anything went wrong with taking her to his territory. So I was sure it was a sess, but for some reason, I felt my stomach churning when I saw the car.


    And my uncertainties were answered when a knock came through the door. Dexter came in, and I could see a nervous expression on his face.


    "What''s wrong?" I asked as soon as he was done closing and locking the door. "Did he look for his car?"


    Dexter had to send his car to the same people who tampered with it to bring it back to its previous condition. If it were me, I wouldn''t change it and just wait for Kael to use it. But Dexter was right. Kael always insisted on using his own car whenever he and Dexter drove around doing their jobs.


    As much as Dexter annoyed me for being a poor executionist of our ns, I didn''t want him dead. I had yet to experience being his mate out in the open and ruling this pack with him.


    He shook his head in response.


    "But when are they bringing the car back? What if Kael realizes it was not there?"


    "It''ll be here soon. Don''t worry, I''ll handle that when he looks for it," he replied.


    "Oh, same old line, Dexter! Leave it to me! I will take care of it! I will handle it! However, as of now, nothing has happened to move us forward!" I snapped at him, and I was sure he could hear the frustration in my voice. "Can you calm down? We can argue about thatter, but now we need to face Kael. He requested our presence in his office."


    "Why?" My body jolted in surprise. Kael never let me join any meeting, even before he lost his memory. He would rather speak to me one-on-one than meet me this way together with his Beta and Delta. So this was something new. "I don''t know. That''s why we need to hurry and go there before he realizes it took me too much time to advise you."


    I tapped my fingers all over my face, rxing my facial muscles before letting out a deep breath. I walked toward the door, about to grab its handle, when Dexter''s hand snaked around my wrist, pulling me back.


    Our eyes met, and I could see his were dting in ck. "Make sure you don''t throw me under the bus, Miranda."


    I let out an exaggerated gasp. "How could you think I would do such things? I''m not as weak, as you presume I am."


    "I didn''t say that. I want to make sure you will remain by my side until the end."


    "Yes, my love. You and me. So make sure you don''t betray me as well."


    A smile tugged on his mouth, and my knees weakened, as always. And before I could stop him, Dexter had already captured my lips, and I let him kiss me, reveling in these stolen moments between us.


    I walked inside the Alpha''s office with my head held high. I went to my favorite couch, pping my hand, to order Landon to stand up and move away, as it was the seat I wanted to take. I didn''t want to sit beside him.


    As soon as I sat down, my eyes roamed around the office, wanting to see who was there. It was just Kael, Landon, Desiree, and Dexter.


    I glowered at Desiree, hoping she


    would get the hint that she should be sitting on Kael''sp and not too far from him. However, my stupid daughter didn''t even attempt to understand my message. Instead, she discretely rolled her eyes at me.


    At times like this, I wished we had the abilities of our wolves tomunicate with each other''s minds. But our human forms didn''t have this ability, or it would have been easier to execute ns and lies.


    "Why am I invited here? Are we


    nning your engagement ceremony? Or are we nning the wedding directly?¡± I smiled broadly, my eyes shifting between Kael and Desiree, but based on the stoic expression on Kael''s face and the difort on Desiree''s, this was


    not it.


    But no one could stop me from running the show. "I know wedding coordinators who can do magic in a lesser..."


    "Enough, Miranda." Kael''s cold voice rang in the air, cutting my words and making chills run down my spine. "We have more important things to discuss."


    My brows raised, and I saw Desiree''s as well.


    "So what''s more important than our wedding?" She asked, and I could hear the hostility in her voice.


    I smirked. This was what I wanted


    Desiree to be Desiree needed to


    take charge of her rtionship with


    Kael, jus as she had done before Kael met Adessa. And this poor Alpha woulde crumbling on his knees to appease my daughter.


    "Adessa is in danger," Kael said almost immediately after her question, and I couldn''t stop the gasp that came out of my throat.


    I was surprised that he ignored Desiree''s question and sentiment as if she were worth nothing to him, but my gasp was from hearing him talk about Adessa as if he knew where she was and what had happened to her.

 Chapter 26

    DELTA LANDON.


    "Adessa is in danger." Alpha Kael said, and I wanted to jump out of my seat.


    What the fuck happened to his statement: "I can''t trust anyone at the moment?"


    I wanted tough, but the seriousness on the Alpha''s face made me swallow my chuckle. I had no idea what he nned to do, as he didn''t tell me anything, but I guess I just had to wait and see.


    "What do you mean Adessa is in danger?" Dexter asked. "Where is she?"


    "I thought she left." Desiree butted in, her arms crossed against her chest. "Did she identally trip on her own feet andnd face down on the ground full of shattered ss so she looks so awful that she became a danger to herself?" "Enough, Desire..." Miranda cut her off, and Desiree just rolled her eyes before letting out a huff.


    Miranda then turned her attention to the Alpha. "Where is she? And why is she in danger?" She sounded so concerned that I wanted tough again.


    If anyone here didn''t like Luna Adessa, Miranda would be the first on the line.


    "At the moment, she''s safe. I put her in a secure ce until I can figure out why someone is trying to hurt her." Kael answered her.


    "You mean to say you know where she is?" Miranda repeated. "Right?"


    Alpha Kael nodded before leaning forward, resting his sped hands on his desk. "She''s safe at the moment, but I don''t know for how long. I have to find out who''s trying to hurt her."


    "Hmmm..." Dexter mummed, and all eyes went to him. "Don''t you think it''s much safer for her if she''s here in the pack? We can all protect her rather than have her somewhere where no one is around her."


    "No. I''m not moving her from where she is. It''s more dangerous." Kael answered.


    "How did you find her?" Dexter asked again. "Did you meet her today?"C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    "I don''t need to exin that further. What is important is that she''s safe. I called you here so we could discuss more important details." Kael eased back on his chair, one hand remaining on his desk. He grabbed a pen and began ying with it as his eyes roamed around his office. "Since I don''t have any memories of thest two years, I want the names of people I shed with and any potential enemies that want to hurt her. A list of people who disrespected her, whether pack members or from another pack."


    "I''m sure... I''m sure there''s a lot. Adessa has never had a good rtionship with anyone in this pack. So everyone can be a suspect." Miranda immediately spoke.


    "Is that true?" Kael asked, his forehead creasing as he stared at his stepmother.


    Miranda nodded her head a little too quickly in response.


    "That means even you can be a suspect, right?" He pointed the pen in her direction. "You never seem to like my ex-wife."


    "What?" Miranda gasped, hands clutching her chest as her face showed disbelief.


    "Ex-wife! Ex-wife!" Desiree burst into a sarcasticughter as she rose from her seat, and all eyes went to her.


    I knew another emotional speech woulde out, and it would always melt Kael''s heart. This pattern had been consistent throughout their years together. Emotional ckmail, I would say, and Kael would always fall for it. "Desiree..." Kael said, and I was right. I could see guilt in his expression.


    "I''m not sure why I was invited here. Am I supposed to hear how you are willing to go all out to protect your ex-wife? She''s no longer here, but it seems she''s still the Luna of this pack and still your priority while you can''t even spend time with me." Kael was just looking at her with the same guilty expression.


    "And how sure are you that Adessa


    is not making all this up that someone is trying to hurt her? What if this is all a game she''s ying so you can manipte you to get back with her? And where does that leave me? I''ll be disposed of again, like what you did to me before?" She added.


    The Alpha let out a sigh before speaking. "Everyone out except you, Desiree. We need to talk."


    Miranda didn''t need any more instruction. She stood up and headed straight for the door while Dexter gave the Alpha a nod before following her. I was on the verge of following her when Desiree spoke again, so I took my time getting up from my seat to watch her.


    Her eyes squinted as she walked


    forward and stood in front of Alpha Kael''s desk. "No. We are not going to talk right now because you demand it. I''m not in the mood. Next time you discuss your dear ex-wife and how you are willing to pull heaven and hell together to protect her, make sure I am out of earshot. I''m not stupid, Kael. I''m not going to stand here and let her destroy our rtionship like she did a year ago."


    She didn''t let him say anything and just walked away, shutting the door as she left.


    I went after her, but just to lock the door before turning around and standing in front of the Alpha''s desk, my palms resting on the table as I leaned forward. "What the hell happened to: I can''t trust anyone? Why did you tell them she''s in danger?" I asked in almost a whisper.


    The office was soundproof, and you could barely hear anything from the outside, but better safe than sorry.


    "My primary concern is that if any of


    them are working with Draco, they will soon find out she didn''t make it to his pack. But if they know she''s in my care, they will watch me instead of sending people out to track her. I need them out of her way


    I can


    find her." He replied in a burched tone


    as well.


    I let out a sigh of relief before slumping my body on the chair in front of his table.


    "I''m putting my whole trust in you, Landon. I want to believe your loyalty is with me."


    I sat straight and looked him in the eye. "When did I ever fail you, Kael?"


    "No one has to know that I have no fucking idea where she is, but I need to find her soon before it''s toote."


    I nodded my head.


    "We need to keep the pack going while we do that. I will contact Rasmus and ask for his help tracking Adessa. That way, I can be sure no news will spread out that she''s missing."


    Alpha Rasmus is his cousin from his mother''s side. He ruled the territory on the other side of the country.


    Unlike Kael, Rasmus was more of a happy-go-lucky kind of man. He''s a year older than him, and we all went to the same university. They were inseparable then, but the contact almost ceased once they both stepped up as Alphas of their pack, aside from the asional invites for big events.


    I was aware that Alpha Rasmus received an invitation to his wedding with Adessa, but he failed to attend. Despite that, there was never any bad blood between them. They were simply upied with their own duties.


    "How about Stefan? He knows she''s missing." I asked.


    "Stefan and Dexter never got along well, so I''m sure there''s no problem in keeping that information away from him. I doubt he will go directly to Miranda, as my stepmother never bothers..."


    "To speak with lowly creatures who just suck money from the Alpha." Ipleted it for him. It was a joke, but Kael didn''t even smile or shake his head as he usually did. This topic was surely a serious matter to him.


    "I need the case for my ident reopened." He added, and I nodded my head. "I don''t want to think it this way, but it''s possible that the person who did this to Adessa also wants me out of the way."

 Chapter 27

    MIRANDA.


    I couldn''t believe Kael''s revtion!C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    How on earth did he find Adessa? And why did Alpha Draco not call me to inform me that Adessa had escaped him?


    I was not sure if Adessa knew or met Alpha Draco when she was kidnapped or if she was able to run away before she realized where she would be taken. So I had to be careful, as she might have told Kael about him. Even if I wanted to confront Alpha Draco, I knew I shouldn''t do it, as Kael might be watching him closely if Adessa dropped his name.


    This was getting messier! Everything was spiraling out of my control.


    If Dexter had driven with him to Bayson City instead of nning the failed car ident, then he could have known where he had taken Adessa. But he was stupid to think the car ident timing should be today.


    Aah!


    I was fuming mad, and even if Dexter wanted a word with me after we left Kael''s office, I pushed him away as I thought Landon woulde out of the office and might realize we were talking or had gone off somewhere together.


    I needed Dexter away from me as much as possible and for him to be visible wherever Kael was so he would know his every move.


    I was about to head upstairs to take my anxiety medications when I heard the door to the Alpha''s office mmed. I peered through the corners and saw Desiree walking out with a scowl on her face.


    I slipped inside one of the receiving rooms, and the moment she was about to pass by, I opened the door and pulled her inside once I was sure no one was following her.


    "Aaah..." She let out a shriek, then shrugged her shoulders, indicating that I should release her. "Careful!"


    "Why are you here?" I snapped at her, my eyes ring at her.


    She red back at me. "And why not?"


    "You''re supposed to pacify Kael and not anger him more!"


    "Oh, excuse me, Miranda! Did you notice howpletely enamored he was with Adessa? He wasn''t the same man I had a rtionship with before, so obviously, this scheme of throwing myself at him doesn''t work anymore!"


    "It''s your fault!" I pointed a finger at her temple, and she swatted it with her hand.


    "Don''t you do that!" She shrieked.


    "Shut up! If you''re not stupid to y around, you should be the Luna of this pack already!"


    "Who said I wanted to be the Luna of this pack? I just want a good life, but if Kael..."


    "Shut up!" My hand flew andnded on her cheek. The sound of my p resonated around this small room. I raised my hand and pointed a finger at her face. "I am doing this for you! You should be thankful I''m looking after your future! So stop throwing tantrums at Kael!" Her chest heaved as her eyes squinted. I could see tears pooling in them, but I knew my own daughter. She would never shed a tear. I made her strong this way.


    "You should be the one thankful because I just saved you asses out there!" She said, gritting her teeth.


    "What do you mean?" I asked, my forehead creasing.


    "Kael thinks you were after Adessa, and I stopped him from interrogating you more with my tantrums. Didn''t I?" She scoffed before looking at me usingly. "Did you do something to Adessa?"


    I swallowed. Desiree knew nothing of the n to eliminate Kael and nothing of Adessa being sold to Draco.


    "Answer me."


    "That is none of your business. But no... Why would I do that?"


    "I know when you''re lying, Miranda. When did you ever care about Adessa? But you were acting as if she were your daughter, and you were so concerned about her whereabouts!" "Does it make you jealous?"


    "Enough! This is not what I signed up for! You told me Adessa was nning to leave Kael! That the email I received was from Kael, wanting me back! Was that email a lie, too?"


    "No. I didn''t even know about the email until you told me he emailed you!" I kept shaking my head, trying to soften my expression even when I wanted to pull her hair for raising her voice at me.


    Before Kael''s ident, while he was busy discussing his n to propose and marry Adessa to Dexter, Dexter essed his personal email in my instructions and sent an email to Desiree, professing his love for her and how he wanted to get back with her.


    I needed Desiree back here for Adessa to doubt Kael''s feelings for her while he was neglecting her-not knowing he was preparing his proposal to her.


    Dexter made sure Desiree would never reply to that email, as he wrote that Adessa had ess to it, so she should never reply and just flew back here. To be sure, Dexter connected his email to Kael''s so he would get a notification if there was an iing message. Desiree didn''t reply but showed up here weeks before Kael''s ident.


    "The only reason I''m pushing myself here after he woke up is because you were so sure that it was me he wanted and not her! But obviously, these were all made-up stories because even without his memory, his actions were all crying for Adessa!" "Lower your voice!" I snapped at her.


    "Did you do something to Adessa?"


    "No!"


    "Stop lying to me! Are you nning to kill her?"


    "She should be the least of your worries! You need to go back


    there..." I smiled at her and held her shoulders before brushing one hand on her blonde locks. "Tell Kael that you''re sorry for shouting at him, and ask fum if he needs help with Adessa. That you understand, he''s a good man and cannot just neglect a


    V


    woman in need. Offer to help him..."


    She shoved my hand as tears pooled in her eyes again, but I could feel the anger radiating from her. "We''re not supposed to kill anyone." She said.


    "Of course not. That''s wicked. How


    could you think of that? Adessa seduced Kael. I told you he told Dexter that he was about to forgive


    you for cheating on him, but then Adessa seduced him and threatened to tell everyone he raped her


    Adessa is the enemy, Desiree. Not


    me."


    "I''m going home to my apartment." She stepped back, tilting her head up as she looked at me with raised brows. "I need time to think."


    "Don''t give me that attitude, Desiree. I am still your mother. You do as you''re told."


    "I said I needed time to think if I really wanted this." She turned around and was about to reach for the doorknob.


    "If you walk out of this house, you will never be able to walk the streets of this territory or the nearby cities with you head held high." I scoffed. "I still have every indecent video and photo of you, my dear daughter. With just a single click, it can quickly be a viral scandal."


    "I hate you." She said in a low, broken voice, and I knew I won again.


    "You can hate me more, but I still hold the ace in this game. Go back to your room and fix yourself. Then go to Kael, and I don''t care if you go to him naked or what. Just make sure you get to his good side again."

 Chapter 28

    KAEL.


    After my conversation with Landon, I asked him to drive me to the center. I bought a new phone and called Rasmus.


    It took three transfers before I was finally able to catch him.


    "Holy shit! Is that you? Damn, Kael, I thought you''re already dead." He began as soon as our lines connected.


    I chuckled. "What do you mean?"


    "I haven''t heard from you for a long time. Thest time I called you, Dexter said you went out hunting. I called three times that day, and you were still out hunting. I called a weekter and was given the same reason." He snickered.


    It must have been during the time I was in aa. I wondered why they didn''t tell my closest family about my condition.


    "I didn''t know hunting has been your new favorite pastime." He continued. "I thought no one can beat fucking, especially when you have a Luna..."


    "I need help." I cut him off.


    As much as I wanted to joke around with Rasmus, I had no more energy today. Not when I had many things in my head.


    "Should I feel hurt? You only remember me when you need something."


    "Yeah, my bad. So, will you help me?" Again, I had no time to waste joking around.


    Rasmus and I were close during our university days but seldommunicated after we became Alphas. However, we were both ready to assist each other if needed.


    "I don''t even know what you need."


    I began talking, and Rasmus''s demeanor changed from yful to business.


    I told him about Adessa being taken and Draco hunting her. I told him Draco thought she had killed his brother, and I had no idea where she was.


    I also asked for assistance for my own protection andid out the ns I had in mind. Like always, Rasmus didn''t hesitate, and we confirmed what needed to be done.


    The call ended on a positive note, giving me hope that I would find Adessa soon. I hope I was right.


    "Please don''t do this again. You don''t have to decide now. I can live with the setup that we have at the moment. Just don''t cut me out of your life..." Desiree sobbed, her voice breaking as her arms around my neck tightened, her head resting on my chest while I remained standing still, keeping my hands on my side.


    I came home after my conversation with Rasmus and found Desiree waiting for me. She was in a better mood.


    She apologized for shouting at me earlier and asked if I wanted to unwind with her tonight at our favorite grill house or visit some bars nearby.


    I declined and told her we needed to talk privately. I couldn''t hold off breaking things off with her. My mind was already upied with the pack and Adessa. I didn''t need another woman to worry about.


    "It''s not fair for you if we keep this rtionship going," I replied. I had the urge to hug her and pacify her cries, but I knew doing so would only make her assume that I would change my mind.


    "I said I was sorry for my outburst earlier. Any woman in my shoes would feel the same way..."


    I raised my hands and held her arms, peeling them off my neck. This time, she didn''t struggle and loosen her hold on me.


    "That''s why we need to end this. It''s unfair for you because there''s no way I would stop protecting Adessa. She needs me now." I tried to exin in a calm way.


    Her hands mped over her mouth, tears continued to fall from her eyes, and she struggled to keep her body from shaking. I didn''t like what I was seeing, but I kept a stoic expression.


    She lowered her hands, her lips


    quivering as she spoke. "What if I''mContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    okay with that? Will you let me stay?


    §Ö


    We don''t need to be intimate, too. Just don''t throw me out of your life again. You did it a year ago, and you have no idea how horrible life had been after we broke up. don''t want to experience that anymore."


    "Desiree..." My heart clenched in pain, knowing I was hurting her again. "I''m sorry. I wish I could remember everything. Why we broke up. Why I chose Adessa... But couldn''t. All I know is she''s my wife, and it was unfair that I just threw her out of my life without even thinking about it."


    "She''s not your wife anymore."


    "She is not anymore because I made an abrupt decision when I was not in my right frame of mind."


    "Do you love her?" she asked.


    I ced my fingers on my temples, massaging them before I stepped backward and turned around, heading to where my ss of scotch was. "I don''t. I don''t know. I can''t remember her. But I have an obligation to protect her." "How about me? Do you still love me?"


    The ss I was holding hung in the air, almost on my lips. Instead of proceeding to drink, I ced it down on the table and turned around to face her.


    "I don''t know." I answered, my eyes looking straight at hers.


    "What do you mean? Didn''t you tell me you loved me when you woke up? When you picked me up from my apartment? When you told me you arranged to have the divorce paper ready? What was that? Were those lies?"


    I swallowed before I brushed my hands against my face, not knowing how to answer that without hurting her more. But it was now or never.


    "I woke up, and all I remembered


    was that I love you. So, I did what I


    thought was the right thing to do. kicked Adessa out of my life and took you back in. But days after that, I realized I was living in the idea that


    I loved you. I don''t feel anything...


    not anymore."


    Her lips quivered some more as her eyes watered again, but she didn''t take her gaze off me. Her pain was breaking my heart, but there was no turning back.


    If I had to be the bad guy, then so be it.


    "And Adessa? Do you love her?" Her tone was sharper, and her eyes narrowed as she waited for my response.


    "I answered that already."


    "I want an honest answer. Do you love her?" This time, she raised her voice slightly.


    "I don''t know. I can''t remember anything about her, but..." I paused.


    "But?" she asked.

 Chapter 29

    KAEL.


    "I don''t know. I can''t remember anything about her, but..." I paused.


    "But?" she asked.


    "But I crave her." I didn''t know why I let those words slip out. I couldn''t even admit that to myself, but for some reason, it flew out of my tongue as if it were the general truth. Desiree''s chest heaved as her nose red.


    In just two steps, she was in front of me. Her hand flew andnded on my cheek. She pped me hard, and it sting. But it didn''t break anything within me. It didn''t rattle my senses, unlike when we were younger, whenever she was fuming mad at me. So I knew this was the end of us.


    I didn''t want to hurt her, but I also didn''t want to shower her with words she would rather hear.


    "Shame on you, Kael! Adessa tricked you into marrying her once, and she''s doing it all over again! And you''re just letting her! Who knows, maybe the danger she''s in is just a game she''s ying to get your attention!" She stopped to take a deep breath, but then she continued. "Oh, how I wish she was really in danger and that sooner, she''ll end up dead!"


    A growl reverberated from my chest at her words.


    My hand grabbed her arm, tugging it. "Take it back!"


    "No!" She shoved my hand, and since I was not holding her too tightly, she was able to get away. She stepped back and smiled sarcastically at me. "I wish her dead! And if you think I will leave this house, you''re wrong! I''m not leaving, and I''m not going to give you up without fighting! I''m iming what''s mine!"


    She turned around and walked out of my office, mming the door on her way out.


    I growled again and aimed for the nearest wall, punching it hard to release all the pent-up frustration inside me.


    I had no one to me but myself. We all ended up entangled because I let her believe there were still us. I might be guilty, but that didn''t mean I would let Desiree take control of me again.


    I needed her out of my house, not just because she was no longer my girlfriend, but because I couldn''t trust her or anyone at the moment.


    Within twenty-four hours of our breakup, six of Rasmus'' trusted men arrived, and I immediately asked two of them to escort Desiree out of the house. She didn''t want to, but when she realized these men meant business as they packed her things for her, she had no choice but to leave.


    I could have my own men do that, but I didn''t want any news to spread that I kicked her out. At least with Rasmus'' men, I was sure they knew no one from here, and I could tell them to keep everything happening here between us.


    I trusted no one-not even my own men.


    Rasmus men became the security of my home.


    Dexter, Miranda, Desiree, and even Landon were not allowed entrance into my house anymore. Any business, conversations, and meetings were held at the Central Hall.


    Entering my home would always be at my discretion.


    I also let go of my housemaids and transferred them somewhere else. So at the moment, I lived with six men in this house and used a car provided by Rasmus. A car that was being watched 24/7.


    New security cameras were also installed around the packhouse as well as the Central Hall. And the main system was inside my home, in Adessa''s old office. Separate from the centralized security system of the pack.


    Dexter, of course, didn''t like this and was badly hurt because I was making decisions without letting him know. He said I didn''t trust him when he was the one that helped me carry this pack from the beginning.


    I told him I was just taking precaution, and if he had nothing to hide, he shouldn''t worry and instead, just keep supporting me because what I was doing was giving me peace of mind.


    I hadn''t heard anyints from


    Miranda, but she did send me


    ret


    pastries a couple of times. All of them ended up in the trash bin. Of course, I didn''t tell her, so the food kepting. Desiree, on the other hand, was too quiet. And this one was making me worry.


    I was told she was constantly leaving the territory, and that didn''t sit right with me. This made me suspicious of her, so I had someone follow her today.


    It had been five days since I found out Draco was after Adessa.


    Although I tried to function normally,


    with no memory of thest two years, I felt like I was starting again as an Alpha: But the disadvantage was I didn''t even know where to begin tried to familiarize myself with the businesses and concerns alharound the pack while letting trusted men search for Adessa and


    watch Draco closely.


    At the end of the day, I would be tired, and with no news about her, I was slowly losing my spirits.


    "Alpha Kael," Martin greeted me as he entered the kitchen.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I was seated at the counter and eatingte dinner. "What''s wrong?"


    "Alpha Rasmus is on the phone. He tried to call you, but you didn''t pick up." He said as he handed me his mobile phone. I took it from him, and he left me alone to speak with his Alpha.


    "Do you have news for me?" I asked, chewing my food while my hand slipped into my back pocket to pull out my phone. I put it in mute earlier, but I didn''t know that I forgot to have it in vibrate mode. I had four missed calls from him.


    "I''ll send you a photo to confirm if it''s her. The hair is different, but the facial features look the same. But I''m sure you can identify your wife better." He began, not even letting me speak.


    Rasmus had no idea I had lost my memory and that I divorced Adessa. He thought was still married to her. I didn''t have the time to exin, or maybe because I didn''t want him to know Adessa was already single, as


    he did say she was beau when I


    sent him a copy of her photos.


    "Check my message." He said.


    I pushed my te away and grabbed my phone again, just in time for an MMS to arrive. My heart thudded loudly as I pressed it open, and a photo immediately popped out.


    I swallowed hard as my eyes soaked in the sight of a female with long, straight ck hair.


    He found her.

 Chapter 30

    LADESSA.


    It had been a week since I got here, more than two weeks since I left Kael, but the sickening feeling of someone watching me all the time had never faded.


    Being grabbed in a ce I considered home and safe was traumatizing, and ending up killing two people was a never-ending nightmare I was still trying to get away from. Most nights, I would wake up sweaty and shaking as they invaded my sleep. The men I killed would crawl up from the ground and reach for me with their bloody hands.


    I had no idea what I feared mosttely: being found by Alpha Draco''s men or dying from my nightmares.


    Why did it alle to this? All because I let Kael into my life. I didn''t see anything wrong with loving him. And whatever I did as his Luna was all done with a good heart. I never took advantage of my position nor talked down to anyone like how Miranda had always made it


    seem.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    Miranda. I wished I could tell people how badly she treated me. But of course, no one would believe me. She was the sweetest person around, except for me. Everybody loved her.


    I wiped the tears threatening to fall using the back of my hand as I walked with hurried footsteps along the narrow alley that would lead closer to the hostel where I was staying in.


    It was already eight in the evening, and the bars leading to this alley were bustling with partygoers and booming with rave music. It was too loud, but the noise was slowly fading the farther I went.


    I gripped the paper bag of groceries I was hugging against my chest as I doubled my footsteps. I bought a little food that I could take with me once I leave this city tomorrow. This was farther than the shop near the hostel but way cheaper. With little money left from the pawning of the ring, I had to be very careful if I wanted to survive.


    I actually had no idea where I was heading. I would just jump on the first train I would find tomorrow and then give it a few days before making a detour and heading back to the rural area near Kael''s territory, in the same ce where he found me. I was hoping the small cabin where I was living before was still there. My former boss owned it, and he told me it had been abandoned, so he let me use it.


    If I were able to get there, I could restart my life and forget about what happened to me in thest year-the good and the bad. My only hope was that I would not be haunted forever by the crime Imitted. I was just protecting myself.


    I passed by a big ss window and saw my reflection. I dyed my hair ck from its natural light brte color and cut my bangs. I also bought a hair iron and religiously iron it straight whenever I go out.


    It would have been simpler to cut it short, but I worked so hard to keep my hair long and healthy all my life that I didn''t have the heart to do it. Besides, Kael loved running his fingers against my hair that a part of me didn''t want to cut just in case I bumped into him.


    I let out a sigh and shook my head. I meant nothing to him, so my hair surely wouldn''t make a difference. Who knew if he was the one who ordered Miranda to sell me to Alpha Draco?


    I should forget about him.


    Easier said than done. Especially when I had nothing to do but stare out from my hostel window and look at the passersby. All my thoughts were consumed by him.


    On some days, the happy memories would bring a smile to my face, but on most nights, the memories were painful and would grip my heart tightly that it was harder to breathe.


    I turned to another empty alley, and my heart began thudding loudly. I had walked this area before, but tonight, it felt like a ghost alley-with frost smoke clouding the area, making it creepier than usual.


    I put my guard up, pressing my groceries closer to my chest. I could hear my own footsteps, but then I realized I could hear others'' footsteps, too. Before I turned the corner, I was certain that I was the only one heading in this direction. Where did the footstepe from?


    I doubled my steps again and tilted my head to look back without stopping. The alley behind me was dark, but I could see two figures from the lights on the main street, and they were following my direction-walking a bit faster than usual.


    "Oh, Goddess! Oh, Goddess!" I mumbled softly as cold sweat formed on my forehead and everywhere in my body.


    Please let them be ordinary humans who were just taking the same direction as I did.


    I was already half-walking and half-running. I made the mistake of turning my head back to look at them because it made them realize that I noticed them, and they began running forward.


    I was still way ahead of them, and I had time to get away-only if my little feet could run faster.


    I dropped the groceries in my arms and abruptly turned to the right. It was a different route going to the hostel, but I had to steer them away from it kept turning in every corner, but could still hear running steps behind me, echoing as if they were just a few feet behind me,


    I had never run this fast, and I couldn''t see them anymore. I was hoping I lost them. One more turn was where the hostel was. I hoped the gate was open so I could dash in without them seeing. My eyes were blurring with tears, and I didn''t have time or strength to wipe them away.


    I kept running.


    I kept praying.


    I tried to tune out all other noises from the factories and cars honking at the other side, focusing on the sound of shoes thudding against the concrete tiles.


    And just when I saw a glimmer of hope-a bright light on the space where my hostel was-an indication the gate was left fully opened, something got in the way of me reaching the ce.


    A hand extended as I was passing a


    dark, small corner where trash bins were located. One hand grabbed my waist, and another hand mped over my mouth so that I wasn''t able to scream. His back mmed against the walls as he dragged me backward.


    This corner was too small, and we ended up standing behind trash bins. No one from the street could see us unless they stepped in the dark as well.


    I wriggled to get away from his hold, fighting for my freedom as my tears finally fell. They caught me.


    "Ssssh..." A low voice hissed behind my ear, and a few secondster, the two men running after me passed the area. They were still running and didn''t even check this dark corner.


    It was only then that I stopped struggling and tried to steady my breathing.


    Focus, Adessa. Focus. I kept chanting in my head.


    "I got you." The man behind me said, and my body froze.


    His voice was so low that it was almost inaudible, but I heard it loud and clear.


    I knew this voice. I used to fall asleep and wake up to the sound of this voice. And these words-he would always say this whenever I worried over little things.


    My hands went up to the hand


    mped over my mouth and pried it


    off my face. His hold on me


    loosened, and I slowly turned my body around to face him. Tears rolled down my cheeks as I stared at


    ears


    the piercing eyes that had captivated


    ne from the moment I first


    He found me.


    "Kael..."


    saw him.

 Chapter 31

    ADESSA.


    "Kael..." I had no idea how I was able to speak as my throat felt dry.


    I felt like I would copse-tired from all the running and shocked upon seeing him before me.


    Was I imagining things? But the warmth of the hands that went up to my arms and began rubbing them was real. I could feel him.


    "Did you sell me to Draco?" I asked him in a hoarse voice. I could say many other things, but I wanted to know if I was right that I was feeling relieved to see him. That he wasn''t the person behind the mess I was in. "What? Why would you think that?" He asked back, but before I could respond, he was already cursing. "Fuck!"


    My body was abruptly turned around, and I ended with my back mmed against the cold, rough wall. Kael pressed his body against mine with his hand resting on the wall beside my face and our foreheads touching each other''s. My eyes grew wider when I realized the position we were in.


    He was hovering over me, covering almost my whole body, and if you were looking from behind him, I was sure it looked like he was kissing me.


    I couldn''t breathe.


    My heart was palpitating.


    There was no doubt he could still affect me. He could still make my knees weak.


    I was used to us in this position before the ident, but it had been too long since thest time he was standing this close-if we didn''t include the night we had sex before I left his home.


    "Sssh..." He hissed, his peppermint breath fanning against the skin of my face. "They''reing back."


    My hands on his chest tightened their hold on his shirt as I slowly closed my eyes. My heart was beating erratically, but I couldn''t decide if it was that way because of the danger we were in or because he was this close. "Fuck! We lost her again! Are you sure she didn''t enter any door here?" I heard the voice of someone approaching.


    I closed my eyes tighter as I held my breath., reminding myself not to make any noise.


    "I swear I saw her cross that street." The other answered.


    "But it''s a dead end there."


    "She might have climbed the wall."


    "What is she? Fucking spider woman?"


    "Shut up! Let''s just go around and check."


    The sound of their voices was fading, and so were the echoing footsteps against the concrete walkway, but my breathing got heavier.


    Kael moved, and I felt him pressing his body more into mine. The feel of his breath became warmer against my lips, making my cheeks burn.


    I was sure he was too close that if I puckered up my lips, I would be touching his.


    "They''re gone." He whispered.


    "Kael..." I wanted to p myself. I sounded so needed.


    "How many are there running after you?" He asked as he moved away, prompting me to open my eyes. I got lost in his gaze until I saw his eyebrows raised. Only then did I try to recall what his question was. "I saw two," I answered.


    He moved away and peered his head out the sidewalk. "I think they''re gone."


    "How did you find me here?" I asked.


    "I''ll exinter. I want to take you to my car, but it''s parked on the other side, which is exactly where they are heading."


    "The room I''m staying in is just four or five doors away from here." I didn''t know why I said that. I was not even sure if he was here to help me or crucify me.


    All I knew was he was Kael. And I had always put my faith in him.


    I knew it should change that outlook, especially since he kicked me out of his life, fucked me, and then let me hear he wanted Desiree.


    He was surely not the same man I married.


    I was still thinking of all the reasons I shouldn''t go with him when I felt a hand grab mine before I was pulled away from this corner and dragged in the direction of my hostel.


    "Which one?" he asked.


    But then I still pointed at the open gate.


    We were walking faster with Kael looking back from time to time to check if there was anyone behind us before we entered the gate. This time, I took the lead and walked ahead of him without peeling my hand off his. "Excuse me." A man''s voice rang in the air, and my heart almost jumped out of my chest.


    Kael and I turned around, and he must have felt my relief when I let out the breath I was holding because he gently squeezed my hand-the same way he would always do to assure me that I had nothing to worry about. ""Yes?" I answered.


    "You can''t bring anyone in your room even for a few hours of hook-up." He said nonchntly, and my eyes grew bigger. Before I could exin, the man spoke again. "You only paid for one person. He cannot go inside your room." I was about to argue, but Kael beat me into talking. "How much is the additional for one more person?"


    "Hmmm..." He raised his hand on his chin and began rubbing his stubble. "I can check in the office. Follow me."


    "We don''t have time." Kael said as he


    let go of my hand to grab his wallet.


    I saw him hand him bills, which wereContent is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    Kn


    three time''s what I paid for, but ? didn''t have room to argue with him as he was speaking already. Here. I hope that''s enough."


    The man''s eyes twinkled as he nodded his head a little too much.


    n¨¨t


    "Make sure you don''t tell anyone that we are here. Any man or woman, especially my wife or the men she hired to follow me. I can''t get caught I''ll add more before I go if we can have a peaceful night Kael said before letting out a boyish grin.


    "Yes, sir." The man answered happily before motioning with his hand to show us the direction of the stairs going to my room.


    My eyes rolled the moment I turned my back to them and hurried to the stairs with Kael following me. I wanted to snap at him that he made it appear I was his side chick, but I guess that could wait.


    But on the other hand, it might help so the hostel keeper would not wonder why people were looking for me if someone inquired. And hopefully, he''d do what Kael asked him to do.


    We finally reached where my floor was. I could hear the sting music from the room a few doors before mine, and I was sure we would still hear it in my room likest night and the other nights before.


    My hand trembled as I tried to insert


    the door key. After two failed


    attempts, Kael mped his hand over mine to stop it from shaking before taking the key from me and inserting it into the keyhole. In just a


    matter of seconds, he was able to


    open the door and ushered me in.


    I stepped inside, and my heart began thudding too loudly. But I mustered all my courage to turn around and face him.


    "I didn''t steal the ring, I swear."


    "The men who took you, did they hurt you?"


    We both spoke at the same time, and it took a while before his words registered in my head.


    My mouth hung open as I felt this small room getting smaller and closing in on me, making me feel suffocated.


    He knew. Kael knew I had killed them.

 Chapter 32

    ADESSA.


    "The men who took you, did they hurt you?" He asked, and I contemted whether I should admit my crime, but I didn''t want to. Telling someone I killed two people meant I really did it. I was still trying to pretend it was just a nightmare. "No. I was able to get away." I replied before throwing another question to distract him. "So, you and Desiree. Did you get married?"


    "What?"


    "You said your wife might be hunting you and..."


    "I''m sure I said that so he wouldn''t wonder why people are looking for you just in case theye here."


    "Well, I just want to know." I smiled, pleased that he got distracted, but I knew sooner orter, we would be back on this topic. "Nope. Not married. Not engaged. Divorcee here." He said.


    I dropped my gaze away from him, shaking my head and forcing augh. "Yeah, right."


    Then, my stomach growled.


    My head tilted up, and I met Kael''s eyes. I smiled, embarrassed, as I ced my hands against my tummy. "I''m sorry."


    His eyes flew to the side table where a phone was sitting. "Do you know the number for the reception?"


    "Just press 9," I replied.


    Kael didn''t say more and picked up the phone. He pressed the button connecting to the man downstair and asked him if he could buy us something to eat. The man informed him that there was a fast food ce nearby. They agreed, and Kael would pay him for the food and his service when he delivered it up here.


    I was sure I heard the man ept the extra job excitedly, knowing he would get paid more.


    I remained quiet, grateful that he thought of letting me eat first because I was really hungry. I was not even sure how I could stand straight at the moment because I was already feeling dizzy while walking home from the shop.


    "When was thest time you ate?" He asked after he disconnected the call.


    I swallowed. I could lie and just move on from this topic, but I was really hungry. So I decided to tell him the truth. "Last night. I ate thest of my food stock, which was one and a half crackers."


    His forehead creased before his eyebrows raised, waiting for me to exin further, so I continued.


    "I don''t go out in broad daylight, like vampires." I forced a chuckle, but my eyes began to water. "And the groceries I bought just now, I had to drop them because they were making me slow down from running."


    My tears fell, and I immediately swiped them with my hand. I thought of how I calcted the items I picked up to make sure I wouldn''t go over my allowed expenses only for me to throw them away.


    "I''m sorry. I don''t cry easily, but..." I gasped for air as I tried to stop more tears from falling, but I wasn''t seeding. "I don''t know what I did wrong that everything is falling apart for me. These past few days, these past few weeks, I felt like a mouse trapped in this world, and everywhere I turned, people just wanted to grab me. All I want is a simple, peaceful life..."


    "Adessa..."


    "It''s your fault," I told him. "There, I said it. It''s your fault. I took care of you. I spent sleepless nights watching over you when you had a high fever while you were in aa. I washed you, clipped your nails, and shaved your beard. I brushed your hair. I changed your clothes. I took care of you, and the first thing you did when you woke up was to throw me out of your room and out of your life like I did something horrible."


    "Adessa..."


    "You didn''t even give me time to exin. You didn''t even ask me how I was while you were sleeping. You were nice to everyone except me. I was the one with you 24/7, Kael. Not them. Not Desiree. Especially not Desiree."


    He turned his back to me and leaned at the window, looking at the view outside through the thin,ce curtains.


    I wiped my tears and sat on the bed, my back on him.


    Silence ruled over us. I wanted to say more but stopped myself. It was no use telling him everything when he surely couldn''t remember me still.


    I tried to stifle my sobs, but it was getting harder. I had tried to be stronger these past two weeks-stronger than I had been my whole life. I refused to cry and sumb to the danger, but seeing him tonight surely crumbled all the walls I built around me.


    "I woke up confused." He spoke after


    a long while. The room I was in


    looked different from how I remembered it. It was the same room, but somehow it felt bigger, fuller and more colorful. I wanted to get out of bed, but there was paraphernalia attached to me."


    I closed my eyes, trying to understand him. The paraphernalia were the ones Dexter attached to him for his daily medication. It was also why I was not there with him, as I didntlike seeing him prodding needles on Kael. It was painful


    but not a sounding out of his throat.


    see him flinch in his so


    "I saw I had a wedding ring. Then, I was told I was married. Of course, I thought I was married to Desiree."


    I stood up and turned around and found him already looking at me. All the words I wanted to say got stuck in my throat, and I ended up just staring back at him.


    "The idea of me cheating on Desiree to marry you filled me with guilt. I could only imagine the pain she went through when I left her for you. And the fact that I couldn''t remember you..." "She cheated on you," I said in a soft voice, not sure how he would take this.


    He stopped talking and looked at me. It took a while before he asked. "Why did no one tell me about it?"This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "Because you didn''t tell anyone except me. No one knows the reason why you married me either. Everyone just thought I seduced and forced you to marry me."


    "And I just let them think that way?" A scowl on his face.


    I nodded. "You didn''t mind. You said people will eventually forget about it. But I don''t think they forget, because one year after we got married, I''m still not wee. I''m still the other woman." "Why would I do that to you?"


    "You didn''t want the people to know she cheated on you. To save an Alpha''s ego." I answered, and I couldn''t stop the sarcasm in my voice.


    He took a deep breath before he asked another question. "Did Desiree confess about cheating, or did I catch her?"


    His question seemed more out of


    curiosity. I could see no pain or rage


    in his eyes. It gave me the


    impression that he didn''t believe me, just as he did the first time I brought it up in his office. He merely asked inis questions to see if I would be


    consistent with my "stories."


    "You caught her," I replied. "In bed with another man."


    He swallowed and pushed himself away from the window. His eyes bored deeply into mine before he threw the next one, which I was hoping he would ask. "Did I tell you who the man was?"


    I nodded. I waited for him to ask who it was, but he didn''t. However, I could sense his curiosity. So I decided to tell him.


    "Rasmus. You said you caught her in bed with Rasmus."

 Chapter 33

    KAEL.


    "Rasmus. You said you caught her in bed with Rasmus." Her lips uttered these words, and rage surged within me.


    I had no idea if I was furious because Desiree cheated on me or because Rasmus was my cousin, and I expected better from him. "So we fought over her."


    She shook her head. "No. I was not aware of any confrontation. You tried to move on while he tried reaching out to you many times over the first few months of our marriage, and then he stopped. He began calling again when he heard about your ident, but Miranda didn''t want any other Alphas to know you were in aa, so every time he called, like with other Alphas wanting to speak with you, Dexter or Landon would make up excuses. But before that ident, you would simply decline his call."


    The fucker had the audacity to talk to me like nothing had happened. I grunted in my head.


    "Have you met him? Face-to-face?" I asked.


    She shook my head. "We were supposed to attend an event, but you backed out when you found out he was attending."


    I asked because I was intrigued by Rasmus''ment that she was beautiful. Did he have a thing for her too? Was Rasmus like Draco, wanting to have every woman I had? Why did he assist me in locating her? Was he really helping us, or was this a trap?


    Before I could contemte more, a knock came to the door. I checked the window first and saw the man from downstairs carrying two food bags, alone and whistling.


    He was fast, but then the fast food was just across the street.


    I grabbed my wallet and pulled out some bills before opening the door, just enough so he wouldn''t see Adessa inside, and he could think we were already doing something.


    He gave me the paper bags, and I handed him his money. His eyes twinkled again, and he thanked me before pulling something out from his back pocket.


    "Here, take it. It''s a gift from me." He said, and I couldn''t stop chuckling as I took the pack of condoms from him.


    "Thanks, man."


    "No problem, sir. Getting her pregnant will make it messier. Better safe than sorry." He stepped backward, gave me a salute, and then turned around.


    I couldn''t wipe the smile off my face as I closed the door and was still smiling when I turned around. Adessa was watching me, her forehead creasing in confusion because a moment ago, I was scowling.


    I wiggled the pack of condoms, and her eyes widened.


    "Did you ask him to buy that?" She asked, and she looked bbergasted. Her cheeks tinted with red, and it made her look innocent.


    "Why not? We might need it." I chuckled. I think I would enjoy teasing her. A little more wouldn''t hurt.


    "No!" Her hands raised as she shook them, her head shaking as well while she continued to blush. "No. No. Not again. That one after we signed the divorce papers was already a mistake! It''s not going to happen again. Not ever." "What do you mean? Did we have sex after we signed the papers?" I asked, confused again.


    Did I have a memorypse? Because I was sure, I hadn''t seen her after we signed the paper.


    Well, I did. In my dreams. She was riding me, and I was fucking her. Just the thought made something twitch inside my pants.


    But hold on, was it a dream, or was it real?


    "I don''t want to talk about it, Kael." She sneered at me, then grabbed the paperbags from my hands and turned her back on me. She went to the small, round table nearby and took out the food inside burgers, french fries, and soft drinks. I just watched her, but I had no n of letting the topic go.


    "When was thest time we had sex?" I finally asked.


    "I said..." She said in a sharp tone. "I don''t want to talk about it."C0ntent ? 2024 (N/?)velDrama.Org.


    "For Goddess'' sake, Adessa, just answer it!"


    She swiftly turned around, her nose ring as she red at me. "So what now? Did your amnesia extend up to thest two weeks of your life? Are you just going to pretend that you don''t remember?"


    "Answer me..." I was trying not to raise my voice. I just wanted a fucking answer, and I had no idea why she had to go and beat around the bushes.


    "That night after we signed the


    divorce papers." She snapped at me, turning her back and facing the table again. She ced the food back inside the brown bags, and it made my forehead crease. When she realized what she was doing, she let out a sigh and pulled the food out of its bag again.


    "Where?"


    "Excuse me?" She was really annoyed, and I was too.


    "Where? In my room, your room, the office, the kitchen, the..."


    "Guest room. Thest room before the balcony door on the second floor. In the bed, oh, we did it on the couch too. And standing by the window. Satisfied now?" The anger in her expression told me she wasn''t lying.


    My mouth hung open as the image of Desiree''s expression came flooding into my head. She looked furious when she came in, but it was wiped out the moment I asked her if we had sex.


    "Are you wearing a gold robe that night?" I asked her in a low tone, my gaze following her as she sat on the only chair in the room.


    "Yes. And I couldn''t find it the next morning."


    I knew it. That was why the gold robe in one of the videos I watched looked familiar. It was the robe Desiree grabbed from me. She knew I had Adessa there, and it was the only logical exnation why she looked for clothes under the bed-to make sure I wouldn''t see any traces of Adessa.


    My chest heaved. Desiree had been ying me.


    If she knew I fucked Adessa, shouldn''t she be upset and not cover it up? Unless she had her own fucking agenda.


    "I couldn''t remember. I was too drunk." I was still trying to exin when she suddenly pushed her chair back, and the screeching sound of its feet scraping the floor made me hiss.


    And before I could guess what was about to happen next, her hand flew andnded on my cheek, making my head swing to the right.


    I was about to growl at her, but the anger on her face made me stop.


    "Don''t. Don''t you dare say it was my fault!" She said, her lips quivering as her eyes watered. She raised her hand, pointing at me with her finger. "In the one year that we were together, I never pushed myself at you! If we had sex, it was because


    you wanted to! So you don''t dare say..."


    I grabbed her cheeks, cupping them, and her hands began hitting my chest, but I didn''t budge. I remained holding her face. "I didn''t say anything like that. All I was saying was, I couldn''t remember it because I was so drunk, but I didn''t say you raped me." Her chest was still heaving.


    "Stop lying. I see it in your eyes. You were disgusted and furious." Her hands on my chest pushed me away, and since I wasn''t expecting it, she was able to get free from my hold.


    How do I tell her the disgust and anger were for Desiree and not her?


    "Why are you even here? You kicked me out, and now you showed up. Do you want to see how much of my life is in a mess?"


    "Can you calm down and let me exin? I didn''t travel all the way here just to argue with you."


    "I didn''t ask you to be here!" She red at me again.


    "Eat." I pointed at the table.


    "I''m not a dog."


    "Who said you''re a dog? You''re a wolf! Now, Adessa, please. You''re definitely hungry. I think you''ll calm down once you''re full."


    "Oh, you have never seen a hungry Adessa." She sneered at me before sitting back on her chair, and I couldn''t stop myself from smiling. She was upset, borderline furious, yet she looked so cute when she glowered those eyes on me.

 Chapter 34

    KAEL.


    She began eating without inviting me to join her, which should be expected as she was still mad at me. But I didn''t mind. I had no appetite to eat. So I stayed back, leaning against the wall and watching her eat in silence. "How did you find out I''m here?" She asked after a while.


    "Rasmus told me."


    Her head snapped to look at me, and at the same time, I realized something. "Fuck! Are you done eating? We need to go." I told her.


    She nodded her head and didn''tin. She came to the same realization-that this must be a trap, and we were both in danger.


    Adessa drank the soft drink up to thest drop without using any straw before putting the fries and the burgers back inside the brown bag. "Can we take the food? I don''t want to throw it."


    "Yes," I responded while peering out the window.


    "You have a car, right?"


    "Yes, but it''s Rasmus'' car. We''ll take a cab."


    "Okay, okay. I''m ready." She stood, holding the paper bags in one hand and the backpack in the other.


    "No. No, not the same clothes. We might need to walk a while to find a cab, and the men running after you will surely remember those clothes."


    "Right. I''ll change into something." She dropped the bag on the bed and unzipped it.


    "Dress, Adessa. If they see you in a dress, they wouldn''t think you''re someone hiding your identity, so they won''t focus on you." I tried to speak as fast as I could.


    "Okay." She answered in a high-pitched voice and pulled out something from her bag. I thought she would run to the small toilet to change, but she just stripped off her clothes in front of me, making my eyes grow bigger.


    I knew I should look away, but I couldn''t stop staring and swallowing. She had a perfectly toned stomach and bigger-than-average-sized breasts.


    "You should turn around if this makes you ufortable." She said as she continued to wriggle her way out of her pants.


    My face must have looked funny for her to say that. "I won''t. I''m sure I''ve seen that numerous times over the course of a year.


    "Yeah, right. A lot. I walked around our room and slept naked at night. So you''ve seen every birthmark and mole I have." She said it nonchntly, but I saw how her eyes rolled at me while she slipped into a floral dress that ended just above her knees. I had to swallow again as my throat felt dry-really dry. Especially when she bent over to get into her dress through her feet.


    She then walked and stopped before me, turning around and asking me to zip up her dress. If we were not running out of time, I would take my time doing it, as I wanted to run my fingers on her back but I needed to hurry up. "Done." "Thank you," she said while shoving her pants and shirt inside her bag. She then pulled out a light gray cardigan and put it on. "Does this look okay?"


    I nodded my head. I was at a loss for words. In all my encounters with Adessa, she wore pants and a shirt or blouse. I had never seen her in a dress until tonight, and she looked stunning.


    "I bought them because I love flowers." She said.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "It looks good on you."


    "Thank you." She finally smiled, and this time, I felt it was genuine as a red tint crept across her cheeks. She liked it when she was beingplimented, and I should take note of that.


    "They''re secondhand clothes, but I washed them thoroughly. I didn''t know it woulde in handy tonight." She spoke as she slipped on her white sneakers. "I''m ready. But how about you? I''m sure they know what you look like." I grabbed the p of my hoodie and put it over my head. "I can hide my face."


    She nodded.


    "Are you sure you got everything you need?" I asked.


    "I don''t have anything, just a couple of clothes, and it''s prepared as I was about to leave this ce by dawn."


    "Good that I got here on time before I lost you again." I grabbed the backpack from her, slipping the pack of condoms that I was holding in its pocket before flinging it over my shoulder.


    Then I took her hand and sped it with mine. I expected her to object, but just like earlier, she didn''t and simply allowed me to hold her.


    I picked up the keys that were sitting on the bed and opened the door before we hurried out and down the stairs.


    The man at the reception met us with a surprised expression. I saw the disappointment in his face when I told him we wouldn''t extend.


    Adessa smiled at him and told him we would be back for sure. It was only then that he smiled and moved away from blocking our path.


    Once we were on the street, I quickly scanned our surroundings before directing Adessa toward the main road. I was not easily rattled or terrified, but the idea that Rasmus might set up a trap for us by telling me where she was made me worried. I had no idea who to trust anymore. And the fact that his men were still in my packhouse was making me uneasy. But I could deal with thatter. I needed to make sure first that we could go somewhere safe so I could think of our next move.


    We reached the waiting area for buses or taxis. The next bus was scheduled to stop here in less than five minutes, so either that or a taxi if it arrived sooner.


    We were just standing still, looking


    everywhere, when I felt her body stiffen and her clutch on my hand tighten. Iwas about to ask her when my eyes caught sight of two males walking on the other side of the street. A few more seconds, and they would be passing in front of where we stood.


    "Don''t move, or they might look here."


    "I''m sure they will still look here." She mumbled softly.


    She was right. They would definitely do that.


    Without giving it a second thought, I grabbed the nape of her neck and tilted her head to the side to face me. Without warning, I crushed my lips onto her.


    She went rigid, but just for a while,


    before voluntarily turning her body in my direction. Soft moans escaped her throat, making her lips parted. deepened our kiss while moving my hands to her face, cupping her cheeks so they wouldn''t be able to see any part of her face while my mouth explored hers-excitedly and


    eagerly, as if we were not in a sticky


    situation.


    I knew I wanted to kiss her, but seeing how she repulsed the idea of sex between us in our conversation earlier, I thought it would not be a possibility. At least not tonight.


    But luck seemed to be still on my side. I had the perfect excuse, and I was able to calm her down at the same time.


    Her lips were so soft and sweet, and I was immediately sucked in, making me forget we were in a public ce. Her arm wrapped around my neck as her lips moved aggressively kissing me back in a way that felt familiar. And it seemed she knew


    how to kiss me in a way


    And then a vehicle stopped before us.


    that I liked.

 Chapter 35

    LADESSA.


    I tried not to breathe so as not to draw any attention, but my heart was thudding so loudly that I felt I would copse soon. I knew there was nothing to worry about because Kael was by my side. But then the possibility of them hurting Kael also terrified me. My hand raised, and I was about to grip his arm, but before I could touch him, my head was turned to the side, and his lips crashed into mine.


    I had no idea what just happened, but the moment his lips moved and began sucking and kissing me, I just found myself turning my body to face him so I could kiss him back. Like always, whenever he kisses me, the rest of the world ceases to exist.


    A soft moan escaped my throat as my arms snaked around his neck, and I pulled him closer, letting his body provide me warmth on this cold night. I would not deny that I missed him and the kisses I would get from him, so I savored the familiar way he held and caressed not just my lips but my whole being.


    I was still lost in the moment when he suddenly pulled away.


    I felt my face burn, and I immediately removed my arms around his neck. I was d he wasn''t looking at me. He picked up the brown bag I ced on the bench behind us before he grabbed my hand, ushering me to step inside the bus, which I didn''t even notice was already in front of us.


    I just followed his lead and sat on the seat he pointed to.


    "I think we lost them," Kael said after he looked back. We were sitting in the middle part of the not-so-crowded bus.


    "I think so."


    "Are you okay?"


    I nodded.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "I''m sorry about kissing you. I have no idea how to hide your face, and i I was the first thing that came to mind."


    My cheeks were still burning from embarrassment. I totally forgot the danger we were in. While he was thinking of ways to get away from them, I was enjoying the kiss and thought he wanted to kiss me.


    How more desperate could I be?


    I forced a smile, rested my back against the seat, and closed my eyes. Of course, the kiss was necessary, and it certainly didn''t affect him the way it affected me. I should shut down any idea that he was still the same man I married. But why was he here?


    I''d wanted to ask, but someone sat behind us, so I kept my mouth shut, as I didn''t like the topic to go where on the part where I killed two people, but I knew I needed to tell Kael sooner orter.


    We got off the bus at the next stop, and he hailed a taxi. He said the name of a motel, and we were driven there.


    He told me that he drove almost the whole day, and he was starting to have headaches. His physician told him not to stress or overwork, so he wanted to rest before we moved again tomorrow. "I can bring you to a luxury hotel, but..."


    "I don''t mind." I cut him off. "It''s safer in small ces like this. We can always provide a false name, unlike in hotels where they require identification."


    "Exactly." He answered, and we walked on the concrete path leading to the lobby of this motel. "You''ll be fine with one room?"


    "I have some money if it''s the..."


    "No. Not the money." He shook his head.


    "Is there only one room avable?" My head tilted up to look at the billboard just above us. It usually shows if there were no vacancies or how many rooms were avable. But nothing was written there. "No. But I''m not letting you out of my sight."


    I gulped, remembering the way I acted when he kissed me. I was sure he didn''t have any reason to kiss me again, but the problem was me. I was so used to just jumping on to him, especially during bedtime. I needed to control myself. "Adessa..."


    "Yeah. Sure." I smiled at him. "But maybe we can get two separate beds."


    "Yup. Sit there, and I''ll talk to her."


    I nodded and sat on the small couch, watching as he approached the female on the small counter. It didn''t take long before he returned with keys in his hand.


    "Let''s go." He waited for me to stand up and let me walk ahead, and then he walked behind me and pointed toward the elevator.


    "There''s only one bed." He said this as soon as the elevator door closed. My head turned to him, and he looked up at the ceiling as if something was interesting in there.


    "Are there no rooms with two beds?"


    "Nope." He answered, still not looking at me.


    "Did you ask for a room with a couch?"


    "I did, but the room they have only has a small round table and two chairs. And a bed."


    I would have asked more, but the elevator pinged, and the door opened. The first door beside it was our room. And it was so small-smaller than the room in the hostel I upied.


    "Will you be okay in this little space?" I asked as I put the paper bag on the table, and he dropped my backpack on the chair.


    "Yup. I can sleep sitting up in this chair." He replied.


    "No, you''re not. You need to rest. You still haven''t recovered from your ident. I can sleep leaning on the table. I''ve done that before, so it''s not a problem."


    "Will it be bad if we sleep in the same bed?" He asked. He was already standing in front of me, and I had nowhere to turn or go, where it would not be too obvious that I was avoiding facing him.


    Before I could answer his question, he spoke again. "Thest time we had sex..."


    It took a lot of me for my eyes not to widen at his words.


    Rx, Adessa. Do not show he can still make your knees weak. I reminded myself.


    "Did I force you?" He asked.


    "What?" I asked back, my forehead creasing.


    "It was already established that I was drunk, and I couldn''t remember anything that night. So, I want you to uto be honest about whether I forced myself into you. You know... like, marital rape. Or I don''t know what to


    caltit if we are already exes


    My eyes finally widened. I could tell him he did force me and save myself from the embarrassment me just opening my legs at him even if we were already separated, but I didn''t have the heart to let him think he abused me that way.


    "It was consensual sex," I replied.


    He let out a breath of relief, his breath fanning my face, and I stepped back in surprise, bumping the back of my knee on a chair. almost tipped back if his reflexes were not fast enough to grabme.


    "Aaah!" I shrieked.


    "I got you." He mumbled before a smile cracked on his face, and I swear to the Goddess and all the gods watching us that my pussy throb so hard on how beautiful that smile was.


    That kiss at the bus stop was a mistake. It made me spiral back from 1 million steps away from him to zero in an instant.

 Chapter 36

    KAEL.


    I asked for one bed, with no couch and little space to move around. In my defense, I wanted to make sure she was within reach in case someone barged in on us in the middle of the night.


    But I also want to feel her warmth. Not that I wanted more than just sleep, but... damn it! I had to admit I wanted her close.


    "I got you," I mumbled, focusing on her amused face.


    Her eyebrows hiked up as if she couldn''t believe whatever she saw in my face before she straightened her posture.


    "Thank you. I want to rest now." She said.


    "Of course." I motioned with my hand, showing her the bed that was just three steps away from us. But instead of going directly to it, she picked up her backpack and made a run to the bathroom.


    Or should I say she made two steps to the small bathroom?


    I remained seated in the chair while she was in the bathroom. I tried to concentrate on our next move for tomorrow. I reached for my phone in my pocket, only to realize that my battery was empty and I had left the charger in Rasmus'' car.


    I thought I could keep myself busy and call Landon so I wouldn''t hear the water cascading, which was giving me filthy thoughts about Adessa.


    I leaned back on my chair, my legs spread out and my fingers tapping on the table, diverting my mind on other things-like Desiree''s infidelity and Rasmus'' betrayal-but my thoughts would always go back to her and how sexy she looked bent over while stepping out of her pants earlier.


    Her breasts, although being held by her bra, were hanging, and I loved the way they looked so full and soft.


    "Oh, fuck me now!" I grunted at the same time the door to the bathroom opened, and my legs immediately retracted. I slid them under the table so she wouldn''t see my erection.


    "Do we need to wake up early?" She asked as she dried her hair with a towel.


    "Yes," I said with conviction as if I had already nned our next step.


    She was dressed in thin pajama pants and a white shirt. Nothing fancy, but it was not bad either. In reality, the fact that I could see her erect nipples through her shirt made her sleeping attire too fucking sexy in my eyes. "Are you not sleepy yet?" She asked.


    "I am. I don''t have any pajamas or clothes to change into, so I''m not sure if you''re okay with having me in these clothes."


    "You sleep with just your boxers." She said as she slipped inside the nket. "I don''t think you''ll befortable with your pants on. As long as you stay on your side of the bed, we''re good."


    Of course, I knew I slept with just my boxers, but I didn''t know she''d be okay with it.


    "I left an extra toothbrush in the bathroom. It''s new, so you can use it." She said before she covered the nket up to her neck and closed her eyes.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "Can I ask you something?" I asked her as I knew she was still awake.


    We were lying on our sides on this double bed. I was facing her while she had her back on me.


    ""Hmmm..." She mumbled but didn''t move.


    "I did you really dirty with that divorce paper without talking to you."


    "I''m d you acknowledged that." She said almost immediately.


    "But why do you still trust me? What if I''m the bad guy?"


    She didn''t say anything, and I didn''t add more.


    I waited.


    I let out a sigh when I thought she might have fallen asleep or decided to ignore my question. But it didn''t take long after that when she slowly turned around. We ended up face-to-face, with just a little space between us.


    "Because I have no one to trust." She swallowed before forcing a smile. "I actually have no one."


    "Don''t you have a family?"


    She shook her head. "I am an


    my


    orphan. Even the sisters in the orphanage never met my parents. They said I was left by the door. You know, the typical storylines you would find in a movie. But that''s reality. I don''t even know where I came from. When you found me, I was hungry. Not tonight, although I was also hungry when you found me tonight." She softly chuckled, but I could see the sadness in her eyes. "But the first time we saw each other, I was trying to catch fish, so I had something to eat. When you asked me to marry you, I said, why not take the risk? You seemed to be a good man, and I could be assured I could get to eat three times a day."


    Her eyes pooled with tears as she chuckled again. "It was the best risk I had ever taken. I may not be in the best ce at the moment, but thest year... I had noints until the ident. Until you woke up, and


    I was discarded."


    She closed her eyes, probably stopping her tears while still forcing herself to smile. "So I don''t have a choice. Either I run away from you, or I must trust you again." Then her shoulders shook as tears trickled down her face.


    "I killed two people, Kael." Her voice


    broke as her sobs wracked her body. "I tried to tell myself it was a nightmare'' and not real, but I know I was just fooling myself. I''m terrified they will find me or the police will find me."


    My heart broke at her agony. This was my fault. My hand raised, wanting to touch her, but I didn''t know how to console her.


    "I swear I''m a good person. I got scared and..." She tried to stifle her sobs as she kept wiping her tears, but they kepting. "Please help me... I don''t know where to go."


    I moved toward her and slid my arm under her body before pulling her into my chest. She didn''t struggle. She didn''t fight. Instead, she wrapped her arms around my neck and rested her head on my shoulder while her cries got louder.


    "I got you. I got you." I kept mumbling. "I promise I will get you out of this mess."

 Chapter 37

    LADESSA.


    I wiped the drool from the corner of my lips and scooted my body closer to the warmth I was hugging. I was already being pulled back to sleep when I realized I was leaning on a hard torso. I didn''t mind it at first, as I was so used to this position until it dawned on me that I


    didn''t have the privilege to do this anymore.


    My eyes snapped open, and I tilted my head up only to meet Kael''s gaze. He was already looking at me.


    Did he see me wipe my drool? Or worse, did my saliva drip onto his chest?


    "Hi..." I mumbled, but my hand quickly covered my mouth. I didn''t want him to smell my morning breath, but he was not even bothered at all by the looks of it.


    He smiled broadly at me before he winked, making my forehead crease.


    What was the wink for?


    Kael didn''t move and remained looking at me, the wide smile still stered on his face.


    Until it slowly sank into me why he was smiling too much.


    Half of my body was almost on top of him. My arms were wrapped around him, and one leg was coiled around his hips, resting on top of his crotch, which I was certain was hard. He had a hard-on.


    But then, it was natural for men to have a morning wood when they woke up, so I was the one who made this position awkward.


    I smiled sheepishly at him, scrunching my nose as I removed my legs and arms away from him. "I''m sorry... I got toofortable."


    "No, harm done. You''re not that heavy. I can still breathe." He said before cing both arms under his head while Iypletely on my back and stared at the ceiling.


    Why did we end up in this position?


    I remembered crying, and he hugged me, whispering consoling words. He promised he would get me out of this mess. I had no idea how, especially because he was an Alpha. Protecting a criminal would meanmitting a crime against justice, too. "I slept so well," I mumbled, and all the while, I kept the beating of my heart steady.


    "I think so if I base it on how the bed shook with your snoring." He said before snickering, and the ambiance felt like home despite the room being too small and crowded for both of us.


    Kael''s statement was so familiar. On days I asked him if I snored, he would always answer the same whether it was a bed, a couch, or the car shaking.


    It brought a smile to my lips. He couldn''t remember me or us, but he was subconsciously saying things he was used to.


    "As much as I love the smile on your face, Miss Adessa, we need to start moving."


    "Where are we heading?"


    "I''m taking you home," he replied.


    I got up from lying down and looked at him. "Are you sure? Won''t that cause any problems with you?" It was not just about protecting a


    fugitive but with Desiree as well


    Unless, of course, he believed me that Desiree cheated on him and


    he''d break it off with herter on.


    Kael stood up from the bed and grabbed his pants. He put them on while his back was facing me, and all I could do was stare, my eyes marveling at the sight of his back covered by only his boxers.Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    I used to trail my fingers on his back and smack his ass before running away. And he would grab me before I could, and more often than not, it would lead to us having sex.


    "I''ll think about the consequencester on." He said, snapping my mind from running filthy memories in my head. "What''s important is that I have you nearby. It''s hard to n something when I''m not sure if you''re safe or not."


    I bit my bottom lip, tempted to tell him Miranda sold me to Alpha Draco so she would probably tell him I was back home.


    But then, I was not sure what his rtionship with Miranda was like at the moment. What if I turned out to be the bad person again, likest time when he saw me yelling at her? Maybe he would think I was trying to ruin Miranda''s image. Think, think, Adessa.


    "Kael... How do we get there if we don''t use Rasmus'' car?"


    ""I''ll rent a car."


    "It''ll cost you."


    "It''ll cost me more having people track you, Adessa. So don''t think about expenses. I have no one to spend my money on, so I decided to use it on my wife instead."


    "I''m no longer your wife." I softly chuckle, but that hurts.


    "I think I have a problem with my head because I keep forgetting that." He winked at me. "Get up, snore queen. We need to get going."


    I giggled as I stood up. I decided to tell him about Miranda in the car, and if he turned out to be on her side and the real bad guy in my story-who sold me to Draco-I would jump out of his car and roll to death.


    Yeah, right. He would pretend to run away with you to get your trust instead of just grabbing you and sending you to hell.


    I let out a huff. I should not doubt Kael. If I told myself I would trust him, I should trust him.


    I began to move and picked up my backpack, all the while feeling his stare on me. No matter my confusion, I liked that he was silently watching me like he used to. But I knew thepliments would nevere-the ones I always get from him. Kael was not shy about showering me with those, and I missed them. A woman could never get used to it, which helped build my confidence.


    I stepped out of the bathroom with


    the same clothes I hadst night


    when we came here, and my eyes swiftly scanned the room. It was already tidied up. I shouldn''t be surprised as Kael was never a messy man and had always looked after himself-just one of the reasons that made me fall for him every day.


    "You really look lovely in a dress. You should wear those more often than pants." Kael said, breaking the silence between us.


    "Dresses are not good clothes for


    running," I replied as I tucked all my belongings in my small bag, a smile itching toe out of my lips because that was a


    surely made my morning. "I''m ready


    when you are."


    I tilted my head and saw him looking at me with a face devoid of emotion. "I''ll make sure you won''t need to run any time soon." He said.


    "Thank you." I smiled at him.


    "You don''t need to thank me. It''s my fault you''re in this mess," he said as he took the bag from me after I zipped it up. "I just need to figure out who''s messing up our lives."

 Chapter 38

    LADESSA.


    "I just need to figure out who''s messing up our lives," Kael said, and I tried to make sense of his words.


    Our lives? Or did he mean my life? Did I understand him correctly? I was sure someone was trying to sabotage mine, but him?


    I was still conversing with myself when he grabbed my hand and guided me out of the room. Everything after that became a blur.


    As much as I wanted to talk about what he said, I remained mummed, as I didn''t want any discussion in public. Hopefully, he could rent a car where we could talk privately.


    "Ready to go home?" Kael asked after he gave me the takeout bag from the drive-through. I nodded my head, and he began maneuvering the car to drive away.


    This was it. I needed to tell him about Miranda before we exited this city.


    But just when I was about to open my mouth, his phone rang. We bought a charger before renting a car, and he charged it right away as soon as we sat inside this vehicle. He turned it on just before we got our food. "Landon..." He mumbled and picked it up.


    He was not even able to say anything when Landon''s voice came, and I could hear it clearly despite not having the phone on the speaker. "What happened to you? I''ve been calling you since yesterday." "Rx, I''m okay. My phone battery was empty, and I don''t have any charger." Kael said nonchntly before he put the phone in speaker mode and ced it back on the dashboard. "How''s the pack?" "That should be the least of your worries. Did you find Adessa?"


    "Yup. Alive and well." He turned to me and gave me a wink, and I discreetly mped my legs together. Kael should stop winking at me.


    "Hi, Landon." I butted in.


    "Thank Goddess." I heard the relief in his voice, and it warmed my heart.


    "So stop worrying. We''re on our way home." Kael chuckled, but I saw his forehead crease.


    "No. No. Fuck no!" Landon''s voice raised. "Take her anywhere but here."


    "What the fuck is going on?"


    "Alpha Draco brought his brother''s death to the King''s Court. It''s all over the news now that she''s a fugitive. Police were herest night, asking people if they''d seen her."


    My mouth hung open as goosebumps rose from my skin. I killed his brother, not just an ordinary man.


    Oh, Goddess! This was real, not a nightmare. I was officiallybeled a murderer.


    "Fuck!" Kael growled as he punched the steering wheel with his fist.


    I swallowed and sank deeper into my seat. I could feel the color draining from my face, and he might have sensed my uneasiness because he nced at me.


    His eyes softened, and he reached for my hand, squeezing it gently.


    "Take her somewhere else. Maybe at Rasmus?" Landon suggested.


    Kael''s chest heaved before he threw a question at him. "Do you know why I married Adessa and not Desiree?"


    "You tell me..." Landon chuckled sarcastically.


    "The fuck! I want answers."


    "I don''t think this discussion is necessary..."


    "Just fucking answer it! Damn it!" Kael''s voice raised.


    "No! I asked you a million times, and you just shrugged your shoulders! So no! Can we discuss the problem now?"


    "Does Rasmus know Desiree was my girlfriend?" I had to ask because, as far as I remembered, I had told him about her but had not introduced them.


    "I don''t think so. You seldom meet him, and thest time he was here, Desiree was not around. Unless you meet him somewhere else or not here. Nor did you bring Desiree to his territory."


    "Thank you. I''ll think first about where I''ll take her. Make sure no one knows I went looking for her."


    "Got it. Maybe it''s also best not to tell me where you''ll take her."


    The call ended with Landon. He removed his hand from mine to press his phone. I didn''t expect him to take it again, but he did, sping our hands together.


    "Are you okay?" He asked, throwing me a quick nce before focusing on the road again.


    I shook my head, and he squeezed my hand. "I''ll think of something. We''ll get through this."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "Thank you," I mumbled. "Please don''t think I killed them because I wanted to. I didn''t n it."


    "I never thought of it that way."


    "All I wanted was to get away from them." I paused for a while, but I continued when he didn''t talk. "They talked about wanting to taste me before handing me to Alpha Draco. That it shouldn''t matter if they had a fill of me first because I was going to end up as one of his sex ves anyway..."


    His grip on my hand tightened, and I was fighting my tears from falling. "You were the only sexual partner I, had, and even if not, women should never be forced into something like that. It was horrible, sitting in the car with them and having all these horrible scenarios running through my head on ways they could break me."


    I couldn''t stop my tears anymore as the fear came back. "I told myself it was either I cry for my fate, or I try to get away. When I got the chance, I took it. I let one of them kiss me. It was repulsing. I wanted to vomit. kneed him and ran... I got into their car, but the key was not there. And they came back... belt in their hands, and their eyes told me I would be severely punished. I grabbed the gun from the dashboard and pointed it at them. I thought it would scare them, and they would give me the keys. It didn''t. One tried to jump at me, and I knew he would shift. I panicked. I fired once and then twice. Until I couldn''t stop anymore... I kept firing at them until I ran out of bullets."


    My body trembled as I cried. I didn''t even realize the car was already parked on the side of the street and that Kael had removed my seatbelt so he could pull me into his arms until heard him murmur into my ear "Sssh... They deserve it would kib them myself if I were there, and I''d be more brutal."


    "I''m sorry I brought you to this mess," I said in between my hups.


    "It''s not your fault. I chose to bring myself into this. For sickness and health. Till death do us part, remember?" He spoke the final line with such gentleness that it caressed my soul.


    I felt his lips press against my head while my hands on his chest gripped his shirt tightly. I wanted to remind him again that we were no longer married, but I didn''t because even if we weren''t, I felt that way, too. If Kael needed me, I would surely run my way back to him.


    We stayed in the parked car and ate our breakfast before he told me he needed a new phone and number to avoid being tracked in case the police investigated him as well.


    In no time, he got a new one, and I saw him save only Landon and Rasmus'' numbers. I wondered why he didn''t save Desiree''s number. Or Dexter and Miranda''s.


    Did it mean he doesn''t trust them?


    Kael pressed the phone on his ear the moment he began driving away. I had no idea who he was calling or where we were heading, but I didn''t mind.


    After his conversation with Landon, I had no reason to doubt his intention. I knew I could trust Kael, and I would trust him wholeheartedly moving forward.


    I heard the phone ring on the other line, and someone answered after a while. "This is Alpha Rasmus, Hallowed Crest Territory."


    "Why Desiree?" Kael asked him right away. He didn''t even greet him.

 Chapter 39

    LADESSA.


    "Why Desiree?" Kael asked him right away.


    He didn''t even greet him.


    "Finally, you asked! Now, make sure you don''t fucking drop the phone on me while I''m trying to exin." Rasmus was talking too fast.


    I understood him because whenever he called and attempted to speak Kael, Kael would hang up without hearing the rest of his speech. "Talk! I''m listening." Kael said.


    "I don''t know any Desiree! That woman I fucked was named Savannah. That was the name she gave me, and it was too fucking far from Desiree!"


    "Why should I believe you?" Kael asked, and I tried to gauge his reaction if hearing Desiree fuck another man would elicit a foul reaction from him like he used to whenever this topic came between us at the early part of our marriage. But he was acting nonchntly and


    "For fuck''s sake, Kael, you should know better that I would never take any woman that had gone to bed with. I would never take any leftovers for my ego and for my sanity! If I knew she was the Desiree you were head over heels in love with..." His words were cut short because I couldn''t stop myself from coughing. I felt like choking.


    The word "leftover" didn''t sit right with me. Desiree and I might not be on good terms, but I think I had to teach Rasmus a lesson not to describe women that way.


    "Who''s that?" Rasmus asked.


    A smile tugged at Kael''s mouth before he replied. "My wife."


    "Oh shit! Hi, Adessa. I apologize for my words. I didn''t mean to say he was head over heels with her. I was just exaggerating." He exined in one breath, then he paused for a while before continuing while my eyes just got rounder listening to him. "Fuck, Kael! You should have told me your wife is with you! I don''t have ns to mess up your marriage!"


    Kael motioned with his hand and mouthed that Rasmus didn''t know we were separated, and I just nodded my head.


    "Wait, you found her."


    "Yes."


    "Does that mean I am forgiven? Or did I mess it up again with my big mouth?"


    Kael shook his head and asked him another question. "Did Desiree know you were the infamous Alpha Rasmus?"


    "No..." He let out a sigh. "I gave her a different name. I didn''t even tell her I was an Alpha. Man, I just passed that city and saw her in that bar. She was not marked, had no wedding or engagement ring, and was acting all single. She looked like fun, so I hooked up with her. We hit it off that night. I didn''t know anything about her. I didn''t even get to ask her what pack she belonged to, as I thought she was living in that city."


    Kael didn''t say anything.


    "The next thing I knew, you came in like a fucking hurricane and threw me out on my ass."This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    My hands mped over my mouth as the image of a man butt naked being thrown out shed in my mind, and I was trying not tough. I didn''t know this part, as Kael never really borated on the scene where he caught them. Kael looked at me, still smiling, before winking at me.


    Why did he look so happy when he was speaking with the man with whom Desiree cheated?


    "In my defense, I don''t go investigating women I hooked up with in the first hours of meeting them." Rasmus was still talking nonstop. "She looked hot and ready to mingle. If I knew she was yours..."


    "You can have her," Kael told him, and it made me swallow hard.


    Was he serious?


    "No way, man. I''m good. It was just a one-night stand like the others, but if I knew she was..."


    "It''s enough. Stop blubbering."


    ""You don''t believe me."


    "It doesn''t change anything, does it?"


    "And why the fuck did you ask?"


    "Nothing. We need entertainment. My wife is bored." Kael sounded bored too. Or at least he was good at pretending he was.


    "Fuck you," Rasmus growled at him.


    "Watch your mouth. I''m married to an angel. She doesn''t need to hear how filthy your mouth is." Kael was talking calmly, while Rasmus was the exact opposite.


    "I bet she''s an angel because that''s the only fucking reason she stays married to you. Or did she realize how evil you are, and she tried to run away?"


    My eyes got rounder at their exchange, but if anything, Kael didn''t look pissed off at all. He was still smiling while shaking his head.


    "I still haven''t forgiven you," Kael told him tly.


    "The fuck, man. One year had gone by! You already have a good life and a good wife. What''s stopping you from moving on?"


    "I don''t trust that you won''t go after my wife," Kael said again, but this time he avoided looking at me.


    "Hey! I made a mistake once, which was not even intentional, but it doesn''t mean I will run after all the women connected to you. But I must admit, Adessa is beautiful." "Fuck you." Kael snapped at him.


    "What happened to watch your mouth? My wife is an angel?" Rasmus chuckled after he mimicked Kael''s voice.


    "Touch my wife, and I''ll be the devil you''ll regret crossing." He answered in a serious tone, and my heart fluttered.


    I wasn''t sure if this was just for show, but I was enjoying the possessiveness and warning in his voice.


    "I get it. I have no ns of taking her away from you. Can we move on from Desiree? She''s out of your life and not in mine, so..."


    "I''ll think about it. I''ll call you again." And just like that, Kael hung up the phone.


    "I thought we were heading there. Why didn''t you tell him?" I asked.


    "I don''t trust anyone."


    "And why are we going to his pack?"


    "His mother. I''m not sure if you met Aunt Aria."


    I nodded as my smile got wider. "I met her at our wedding. Lovely, lovely woman!"


    Aunt Aria was Kael''s mother''s sister and Rasmus mother. She was pleasant to be with and really charming. No wonder Rasmus was overhyped all the time because his mother was really bubbly and friendly.


    I had a fondness for Aunt Aria, but I liked her more because I knew she didn''t like Miranda. She actually warned me not to trust Miranda fully, as she liked stabbing people behind their backs. This was also the reason she never visited Kael often, as they never got along well.


    "Can I tell you something? And please listen to me first before you decide if you''ll believe me or not."


    "Don''t tell me you killed more than two." His forehead creased, but his lips twitched into a smile. "Do you need help in hiding more bodies?"


    I bit my bottom lip to suppress my giggles before I spoke. "I''m serious here."


    "Talk then."


    I swallowed and tried to control the


    erratic beating of my heart. But there was no turning back. He needed to know. "I believe Miranda was the one who sold me to Alpha Draco," I said.

 Chapter 40

    LADESSA.


    "I believe Miranda was the one who sold me to Alpha Draco," I said in a soft voice, but enough for Kael to hear.


    His grip on the steering wheel tightened, and my heart began to thud loudly. I sank deeper into my seat, thinking if this was the part where he would shout at me for trying to smudge his stepmother''s name.


    "Listen first. I was inside the van, and they forced me to sign something-a paper. I didn''t even get a glimpse of whatever it was. I just signed because they pointed a gun at me."


    He didn''t say anything or didn''t even look at me, but I could see his expression darken.


    "The car drove by to her home, and one of the men inside went out and gave her the paper I signed. I knew it was her. It was her home, and I saw her face. She took the paper from him." ""Your farewell letter..."


    ""What?"


    "Did you write a farewell letter for me?"


    "No. The only things I left on your desk were the credit cards and the wedding ring. But then they put the ring into my pocket when we were in the car. I had no idea why. I had no intention of taking it with me. I know how much you value that family heirloom, and I''m sorry I sold it. I had no choice. I had nothing, and I was terrified they would catch me. I had nothing on me except my clothes." "Don''t think about the ring. I got it back." He cut me off. "So, no farewell letter?"


    "Why would I leave you one when I was so upset with you? I hurried to get away from the house. I left at dawn, and I was grabbed almost near the taxi stand. Then, we drove around until I signed that paper, and they gave it to Miranda. After that, we headed out of the territory. So I knew it was her who gave me to Draco. She never liked me from day one."


    Kael''s silence was rattling my confidence.


    "I know she''s your stepmother, and you trust her."


    "Not anymore," he said.


    "Do you believe me?" I asked, wanting to be sure.


    "If you see her that day, then there''s no other exnation for that. I only need to know if she''s working alone or if more people are in this scheme to remove you from my life."


    It was then that my shoulders rxed.


    "I already have a gut feeling that something was off because some of her words failed to connect with what I was seeing as if she was trying to manipte the memory I''d lost. My memory of you, or that Desiree and I were still on good terms even when we were married. And things as simple as telling me it was Desiree who maintained these beautiful flowers around me-but the moment you went away, the house became empty of them. She also gave me that letter and told me you took the ring because you wanted the money for all its worth."Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "If that is the case, I should have pawned it at a bigger amount because I could. But I only took a few thousand for it so I could work and get paid and easily buy it back. I had no intention of keeping that ring away from your family." I chewed my bottom lip before I continued. "You love fresh flowers, so even when you were sleeping, I kept putting them around the house and our bedroom so you''d wake up to them."


    "They''re beautiful and lovely to look at." He nced at me, and the smile he gave me made butterflies anddybugs flutter in my stomach.


    Kael really should smile more often.


    "Why did you leave Corrine''s apartment?" He asked, snapping me from my trance.


    "Corrine told you about me?"


    "Yes. But you had already left by the time we arrived."


    "I went to the cafe in front of the jewelry shop. So I saw you and Landon when you arrived, but then Alpha Draco''s Gamma came, and I panicked. I knew they were looking for me. I didn''t want to bring Corrine into my mess, and I didn''t want to be found." "You could have run to me."


    "I didn''t even know then if it was you who sold me away."


    "Why would I do that?"


    "You can''t me me if I thought that way. You didn''t want me, remember? I was in the way of you and Desiree, so I thought that maybe you wanted me away, and Alpha Draco holding me captive was the only sure way I could never approach you and Desiree again." "You came to a point to think so low of me that I would sell you for my own gain."


    "I never thought of that of the man I married, but the one that woke up was a different person. I didn''t know you anymore. That man was far from the Kael I knew, so everything was possible."


    He didn''t say anything and just kept driving. I didn''t say anything as well, keeping my mouth shut and leaning my head against the window beside me.


    "Do you trust me now? That I would never do that to you." He finally broke the silence between us.


    "I won''t be here if I don''t. If I didn''t trust you, you wouldn''t see me when you wake up this morning."


    "Good." He said in a firm voice before his hand reached for mine and entwined it with his. My head tilted to his side, and I met his gaze.


    "From now on, with all the danger surrounding you, I want you to trust only me. Just me, Adessa. I promise I will do everything so you can walk freely again." He squeezed my hand before returning his attention to the road. "I need to ce you


    ronto the


    somewhere safe, and I will take care I of Miranda."


    "Thank you for believing my words, Kael."


    "You trust me. It''s only fair that I show the same trust to you."


    My eyes watered at his words. My heart was overwhelmed by the sincerity of his voice. I wanted


    nothing in the world but to walk free again, and I knew there was no one in this world I could trust more than Kael-whether he remembered the past between us or just what we had at the moment. Content Belongs to


    I removed my hand from his and ejected my seatbelt before scooting closer, throwing my arms around his body and hugging him tightly. "I''m d you''re here, Kael. Thest couple of months were horrible while you were in aa. Then,


    when I left home, I felt so alone." I


    said in almost a whisper.


    His arm moved, and he hugged me back while he continued driving. I felt him pressing my body closer to him. "I''m sorry. I will do better this time. I''ll be here from now on."


    Kael pressed a soft kiss on the top of my head. I closed my eyes and hugged him tighter, fighting the tears from falling.


    The big world didn''t seem scarier anymore because I got him back. Having him on my side was enough-I could fight against the whole world and still keep my head high. Just Kael and me, like it had always been before he forgot about me.

 Chapter 41

    LADESSA.


    "You were on the phone with me, and you didn''t tell me you wereing here?" Rasmus'' voice rang in the air after he barged into the living room of Aunt Aria''s home. "Maybe because I don''t trust you." Kael rose from his seat next to me and turned to face him.


    "And yet you''re in my territory." Rasmus scoffed.


    "I''m not here for you, but Aunt Aria."


    "Enough, you two. We have a more pressing thing to discuss." Aunt Aria stood up before walking toward her son, cing her hand on his chest and rubbing it softly. "What''s going on?" He asked his mother.


    "Have you watched the newstely?"


    "I don''t watch TV, you know that." He replied.


    Aunt Aria moved away from him and picked up the remote control. She scanned the channels until she found one with a breaking news advisory.


    Kael''s hand grabbed mine and pulled me up from the couch before letting me stand in front of him. He gripped the corners of my shoulders, keeping me close to him.


    My face shed on the TV, making me flinch, but Kael held me in ce while Rasmus kept shifting his gaze between me and the screen.


    After the segment ended, his mother switched it off. No one said a word, but my face began to heat up as I knew the attention was all on me.


    It was Rasmus who finally broke the silence.


    "She looks way, way beautiful in person. Why did they choose that photo to use? Well, that''s to your advantage, as they could never identify you." He chuckled, and when no oneughed, his face turned serious, and his eyes turned to Kael. "Is it true? She killed them?" "Self-defense," Kael answered.


    "No doubt about that if we''re talking about Draco''s men."


    "So it means she can still be acquitted for it." His mom said.


    "I don''t doubt that she will be, but we all know how brutal the King''s Court procedures are for criminals until they are released. I''m not going to let them put my wife behind bars." "So, what are your ns?" Rasmus asked.


    My hands raised to Kael''s hands on my shoulders, and I gripped him tightly because my knees were buckling. It was only then that it dawned on me how serious my crime was.


    I was terrified of being caught by Alpha Draco''s men that I totally disregarded the King''s Court.


    The King was focused on eliminating murderers, and he made killing a shifter a high crime. There were not many crimes like this in recent decades,pared to very, because of how brutal the penalties were.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    But when it came to very, the King seemed to turn a blind eye, as he himself had a harem of women, and most of them were forced into it.


    So even if they were saying I would be acquitted, I knew I was treading a thin line because it was connected to very, and I wasn''t physically assaulted. It would be my word against them.


    "I will take Adessa to the King myself," Kael said, making my eyes grow bigger.


    I swiftly turned around, and he dropped his hands to his sides.


    I didn''t know this part, as we had never talked about this. "Kael..."


    His gaze fell on me, and his eyes softened. He reached for my arms and gently smoothed them with his hands. "Only the King can overturn your case without having you go to a trial."


    "But what if, instead, they took me and ced me in prison?"


    "I will think of the right approach, but I can assure you, I won''t let them take you away from me."


    I didn''t know what to say anymore as fear coursed through me. I mmed my body against him and wrapped my arms around him. The thought of being taken away was terrifying, and I couldn''t stop myself from tearing up.


    His arms snaked around me as he


    hugged me back tightly. "At this


    point, we don''t have a choice but to plead directly to the King. The police and other enforcement will not stop


    looking for you, as they ar


    do that. Once they caught you..."


    He stopped talking, and my hold on him tightened. He didn''t need toplete his statement. I already knew what woulde next, and I didn''t want to hear it.


    "Do you want me to go with you?" Rasmus asked.


    I loosened my hold on Kael until Ipletely let go and turned my body around to face him and Aunt Aria.


    "No. It''ll be easier to move ces if it''s just the two of us. Besides, I need you somewhere else."


    "What do you mean?"


    "We can talk in private when I return, but for now, I need to leave Adessa here for a while."


    I already knew this part. I was okay with it earlier, but I was not sure anymore after the conversation about the King''s Court. I felt something would go wrong if he left me. "Adessa will stay here with me." Aunt Aria said.


    "She''ll be safer in my house," Rasmus suggested.


    "No," Kael responded right away.


    "Are you still thinking I would sneak my way into her pants?"


    "This is not about you." Kael snapped at him. "My wife will not befortable living in a home with another man."


    "Fine," Rasmus replied, shaking his head.


    "But you need to add more security around here," his mother said. I smiled at her, grateful she didn''t hesitate to take me in when Kael asked her earlier.


    "I can do that."


    "And screen peopleing in," Kael told him.


    "What if theye here and investigate?" I asked.


    "You won''t be staying here long. I just need a day, and then we''ll move."


    "Where are you going?" Rasmus asked.


    "I need to go back to my territory. I need to take care of something first."


    I swallowed. He had told me earlier that he wanted to confront Miranda, but I was not sure what he would do to her. All he said was that he wanted her out of his territory.


    "Don''t worry about Adessa. She''ll be safe here. Do what you need to do." Aunt Aria said.


    "I don''t know who to trust anymore. But I''m banking on you, Aunt Aria."


    "You can trust me and Rasmus. I will


    vouch for my son. He might be reckless and a womanizer, but he will never betray you. At least, intentionally." She emphasized thest word. It seemed she also knew what happened and why the etwo


    had fallen apart. "I didn''t raise him that way. We are the only family you have, Kael. We''re not going to turn our back on you and Adessa."


    "Thank you," Kael responded, and I mumbled the same thing.


    "You need to start moving so you can return sooner. We are running short on time. Even if I want to say they won''te here, they might do if they realize Rasmus people are in your pack." Aunt Aria said, and I


    knew she was right.


    I turned around again and met Kael''s gaze. I heard Aunt Aria ushered her son out of the living room to give us privacy.


    "Will you be okay here without me?" Kael asked.

 Chapter 42

    KAEL.


    "You need to be careful," Adessa said. Her eyes softened, and even if she was trying to smile, I could see the worry in her expression.


    I raised my hand and let my knuckles run over her soft cheek. "You''ll be safe here. I wille back as soon as I can. Keep the phone I gave you close, and never call me unless they''re here. I will call you when I can." She nodded.


    "I have to go."


    "Thest time you said goodbye to me, you came back unconscious, badly beaten, and on the brink of death." Her eyes watered before she continued. "Can you make sure toe back alive?"


    I smiled and nodded before wrapping my arms around her and pulling her into a tight embrace. "I wille back alive. I have many things to make up for, and I need to get you out of this mess first."


    She didn''t say anything, but I felt her squeeze my body as she hugged me tightly, as if she didn''t want to let go.


    I turned my head to the side and kissed the side of her cheek, but I let my lips linger there, wanting to revel in the softness of her skin and the sweetness of her scent.


    Adessa slowly tilted her head in the direction of my face, and just like what I was hoping for, her lips brushed against mine, and I didn''t waste time capturing them.


    My hands moved and cupped her cheeks as I began kissing her, softly and carefully at first, but the moment her lips moved against mine and her hold on my body tightened, I began kissing her aggressively, devouring every part of her that I could. Her lips parted, and my tongue plunged into her mouth, making soft moans escape her throat.


    In one swift motion, I was already moving us, pressing her back against the wall while I pressed my front onto her. And Adessa didn''t disappoint. She kissed me back in the same hungry manner, her hands slipping inside my shirt and skimming her fingers against my skin, igniting more fire in my already heated body.


    "Adessa..." I growled lowly as I parted our mouths.


    "Don''t stop..." She whispered to me, her lips still pressed against mine.


    I kissed her back gently, sucking and nipping her bottom lip. "I need to leave, or something will keep getting harder, and I won''t be able to walk."


    She chuckled softly before tilting her head down so that my lips ended on her forehead, our arms wrapped around each other.


    "Come back alive, and we''ll do something about that hard thing there." She said in a soft voice, but I heard it loud and clear.


    Despite the danger and knowing I''d be away from her for a day or two, her words excited my whole being.


    I curled a finger under her chin and tilted her head up. "You can''t take that back anymore."


    She shook her head, and a warm smile was stered on her face. "Juste back soon... and alive."


    Adessa''s words kept ringing in my head as I drove all the way from Rasmus'' territory to mine. And every time, I had to adjust my pants because just the thought of her and the kisses we shared was enough to make my cock hard.


    I didn''t have time to stop and do something about it. I wanted to get things done so I could get my reward. But of course, aside from that reward, I just wanted Adessa to be able to walk free so I could take her back into my pack.


    I left the rented car with Rasmus and took another car. I hesitated when he offered his car but eventually borrowed Aunt Aria''s. Rasmus'' men would return the rented car and pick up his other car, which I had left near the hostel where I found Adessa. I had been driving the whole night and just made a stop to tank up and make a quick trip to the toilet. I wanted everything settled so I could go back to my wife.


    My wife. Not anymore.


    Either I stop addressing her as my wife or I marry her again so I would have the right to call her that. But l was d that Adessa never scolded or corrected me every time I used words. Either she still wanted married to me or she simply didn''t care at all.


    I hoped it was the first.


    I parked the car and turned off the engine before walking toward the front of my house. Dexter and Landon were already there, waiting for me as I had advised someone from the border when I entered to


    inform them to meet me.


    It was alreadyte at night, but I couldn''t wait until tomorrow. I hoped I would be out of here before lunchtime, so I needed to let them know about my ns without divulging everything.


    Both greeted me, and I just motioned for them to follow me. We all headed inside the house, going directly into my office.


    As soon as the door was closed and I was already seated, I began with my agenda. "How''s the investigation with Adessa?"


    "So you''ve heard she killed people? I didn''t know we had a murderer..."


    "Enough." I cut Dexter off before he could say a more offensive word toward her. "Did anyone interview you or ask questions about her?"


    They both shook their heads before


    Landon answered, "But I know


    they''re still here, asking around.


    They didn''t present any formal documents on what they were doing so I n to usher them out of


    the territory tomorrow because they are causing difort to our people."


    "Good." I was about to ask about that part, but I was pleased Landon was already on the same wavelength. "Anyway, I want Miranda here first thing tomorrow morning." "She''s gone," Dexter replied.


    "What do you mean she''s gone?"


    "She left today before sunset. We didn''t know until someone from the border notified us that Luna Miranda drove past them, and they said she had her car full of luggage." Landon exined. "Fuck!" I growled, mming my fist onto the desk. "Did you check her home?"


    "Yes. All her personal belongings are gone. What''s going on?" Dexter asked.


    "She''s running away from her crime," I said, trying my best not to throw another punch.


    "Can you borate?" He asked again.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "Whatever mess Adessa is in is Miranda''s doing."


    "How did you know?" Landon asked.


    "Adessa told me," I replied as I leaned back on my chair and pressed my fingers against my temple.


    I didn''t see thising.


    I thought she would still be here, but I guess she knew it was only a matter of time before her part in this was to be revealed.

 Chapter 43

    KAEL.


    I saw Dexter''s hand coiled on his sides. I met his gaze and told him what to do next. "Go to the bank first thing tomorrow morning and freeze all her ounts. I also want records of her transactions in thest two years, three if possible." "I can do that," Dexter said, nodding his head in respect. "Where is Luna Adessa?"


    "I don''t know," I answered, leaning forward on my desk again. "I''ll be out for a week or two starting tomorrow."


    "What?" They asked in unison.


    "Where are you going?" Dexter asked.


    "I have some business to attend to. All I need is a guarantee this pack will be handled efficiently."


    "I don''t think you''ll have a problem with that. I''ve been managing this pack in your absence while you were in aa, but I need to know your whereabouts and what else to expect."


    "But you have Luna Adessa giving the final decisions for everything." Landon butted him, debunking his words.


    Dexter''s forehead creased before he responded to that. "She has thest say, but we both know that she knew nothing about this pack, and I was telling her what to do and what decisions to make."


    "Really?" Landon scoffed. "I''m not saying you''re not capable of handling this pack, but it seems we have a different Luna because the Luna Adessa I know has her own mind. She would take our opinions but would decide things based on her own judgment. Remember when she fired a contractor and got a new one even though you said no?"


    "That''s enough. I need both of you to stop fighting like cats and dogs, especially when I''m not here. Alpha Rasmus will stay here while I''m away, so any major decisions have to go through him."


    "What? I can handle the pack, Kael. He has his own pack that he needs to take care of!" Dexter sounded upset.


    While I agree that Rasmus should take care of his own pack, his Beta and Delta were his trusted men and could function without him. Unlike me, where I was already doubting my own Beta. But of course, I couldn''t voice that out.


    "You are still free to handle the pack as you want, but then Rasmus will have thest say," I said firmly before I stood up and went to my liquor cab.


    I twisted the rhum cap open, only to close it again. At this point, I could not guarantee anything in my house was safe, especially since they had ess to my office before I kicked them all out and let Rasmus'' men take over the house. I had to be careful. I didn''t want to be poisoned before I could save Adessa.


    "My decision is final. Either you agree with that, or you can both resign as my Beta and Delta." I added.


    After that, no one said a word, so I proceeded to state all the instructions so the pack could continue functioning without me.


    I noticed throughout the meeting that Dexter asked where Adessa was more than twice, but I kept ignoring him.


    I sent them out after the meeting, and Dexter hurriedly left my house. Landon was already driving away when I asked one of the Rasmus'' men to stop him and tell him to return to my office.


    "Fuck, I''m d you called for me. I was already thinking of calling you to tell you something." He said this as soon as the door was locked.


    "Talk."


    "Did you see how Dexter reacted when you said that Luna Adessa had told you that Miranda was the one who caused her this mess?"


    I nodded.


    "What do you think?"


    "I want to believe he was upset that Miranda did this to his Luna, but I knew he never liked Adessa," I told him, as Dexter had never said anything good about her since I woke up.


    "Gotcha!" He sat down on the chair in front of my desk. "So I knew he was furious that Adessa pointed at Miranda and not the other way around."


    My brows hiked up, and I was just looking at him.


    "Look, Alpha. You already know I


    don''t like your Beta, and I''m not trying to badmouth him, but I have been thinking about everything these past few days while you were away, Did you know Luna Adessa installed more cameras around the packhouse when you were in aa? She wanted to see the whole house if ever she was not home for work, so she knew who was in the house with you."


    "I didn''t know that."


    "That''s not the story yet. I installed one on the balcony of the second floor. The one facing a wall."


    I knew that one. We had to build a wall for the extension on the other side, and it blocked off that balcony.


    "She wanted one there, as there was still space to sneak in, so I put one. And I didn''t inform Dexter until two dayster when all the cameras were already in ce. Guess who I saw there a few hours after the camera started functioning?" He opened his phone and yed a video.


    Dexter was standing on that balcony, and a momentter, Miranda came. They talked, and in just less than a minute, they were already kissing and groping each other. The encounter didn''tst long. Miranda went away while Dexter used that little space to exit the balcony. "The fuck..." I grunted.


    "At the beginning, I thought it was


    just nothing. I mean, everybody can have a little fun, right? So I just ignored it and thought it was either they just stopped or they would eventuallye out as a couple. And forgot about it until I caught him staring at Luna Miranda a lot, and this moment came to mind. I found out he''d been visiting her at midnight and leaving her home before dawn."


    "Are you suggesting..."


    "Will I be the bad guy if I say, yes, I don''t trust your Beta, and he surely knew what Luna Miranda did to Adessa?"


    "So you think he knows where Miranda is?"


    Everything Landon said just strengthened my belief that Dexter wanted Adessa away. The only thing I was missing was the part where he and Miranda had a rtionship. But everything made perfect sense as to why he hated Adessa when he should have been the one protecting her.


    "That part I think he doesn''t know." He said.


    "What do you mean?"


    "Dexter is not good with hiding his


    reaction if caught off guard. He seemed surprised and upset when we were notified of Luna Miranda leaving the territory. He told me right


    away he would check her he


    drove off immediately, and I


    followed him after a while.


    le. Lwas


    already parked somewhere when he exited her home, and he began


    kicking the side of his car before


    driving away. He didn''t even look around. He looked really upset."


    "Miranda ditched him too."


    "Could be. But we can''t ck off. This may be part of their n to keep her informed about things happening here."


    "If I don''t have anything to do, I will stay and deal with them, but I have other pressing matters to attend to," I said in exasperation.


    "Luna Adessa, right? You don''t have to tell me what your ns are. I understand that you don''t trust anyone around you right now, which is a good thing. So do what you need to do. Let me take care of things here, and with Alpha Rasmus, I know he can control whatever ns Dexter had in mind. I would be more worried if you left and put Dexter in charge."


    I just nodded my head. The goddess knew how much I wanted to tell Landon my ns, but he was right-it was better to be careful because this was Adessa''s life on the line.


    "By the way, the person you asked to trail Desiree came here this morning." He added.


    "Did he tell you something?" I closed my eyes, not really wanting anything to do with Desiree at the moment.


    "No. He said your instruction was clear-not to tell anyone except you. But he said he has information you''ll be interested in."This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    My eyes snapped open to look at him as curiosity got the best of me. "Call him first thing tomorrow morning. I want him here before breakfast."

 Chapter 44

    KAEL.


    I looked at the photos in my hands, and I still couldn''t believe everything that was revealed to me. The man who gave me this information had been gone for some time, and yet the conversation between us kept ying in my head.


    "I have the information about your girlfriend, Alpha Kael." He said after I acknowledged his greetings.


    "Ex-girlfriend." I corrected him before I pointed to the chair in front of my desk, motioning for him to sit down. "Let''s get to the point, as I don''t have the luxury of time today."


    He nodded his head, then ced a brown envelope on the table and pushed it toward me before taking his seat. "That''s what I collected in the forty-eight hours that I followed her. She didn''t go anywhere besides that apartment. They went out three times to a drive- through and bought groceries.


    My forehead creased. "They?"


    "You will understand more once you see the photos inside."


    Without saying anything more, I grabbed my letter opener and proceeded to open the envelope. I ignored the written documents and went for the photos, and my heart began pounding loudly at the first one that I saw.


    "How old is the baby?" I had no idea how I was able to manage the words out of my mouth because my mind went haywire in an instant.


    A part of me didn''t want to ept that it was mine. But what if it was?


    "They just moved there a month ago, so I was unable to confirm the age with anyone. They seldommunicate with their neighbor next door. However, based on the baby''s physical features, it appears to be around four or five months old. ""Is there a man with her?" I asked.


    "No. But there is a woman who I assume takes care of the baby when she''s not there."


    "How sure are you that the baby is hers?"


    "If you check the other photos, you will find one where the otherdy opened the car door, and she was inside, breastfeeding the baby. I don''t think she''d let another woman''s child feed on her."


    His words made sense, and the way she was clutching the baby was possessive.


    I was told Desiree left the territory and went abroad when Adessa and I got married. Did she leave because she was pregnant? And came back when she gave birth?


    Is it mine? I kept asking in my head.


    If it were mine, she would throw it to my face and demand I take responsibility. So there was a big chance that it wasn''t, but who was the father?


    The neighbors he asked confirmed there was no other person who came and visited the child except Desiree. The child and the woman, who was around fifty, were the only ones residing there. The neighbors also said she would visit more than twice a week, and there were days she would stay overnight.


    That meant this was where she went whenever she left the territory-not to meet another man-during the two weeks where I observed her routine. That was how often she would be gone in a week.


    I wanted to believe the child was not mine. She would have demanded money or introduced it to me the moment Adessa left. That would secure her and would make me think before breaking up with her.


    But it seemed she wanted to hide it from me as well.


    I honestly didn''t know what to feel looking at the pictures in my hand.


    The Desiree holding the child was far from the Desiree I knew. Her hair was tied in a messy bun, and she was going around without makeup. She also looked tired, and her posture was too different from her usual confident stance.


    In the three instances that she was out of the apartment, she wore regr flip-flops as well as a loose shirt-something I had never seen in the years that she was my girlfriend.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Desiree was always dolled up, that even if we only needed to go to a nearby shop, she would slip on her high heels and sexy clothes.


    Was she living a double life?


    What kind of mother would leave her child to someone else so she could hook up or pursue another man? Because that was obviously what she was doing-living under my roof when she had a child that was not even a year old and needed her. And if this child was hers, why didn''t she leave it with her parents if she couldn''t attend to it?


    I had so many questions in my head, and I knew I would never find an answer today. And as much as my curiosity was piqued by this, I had other things to do.


    I could deal with Desiree when Ie back. At least with me gone, she didn''t need to pretend around me and could spend more time with her child.


    I sent the investigator to follow her again and find out the hospital where she would take her child for checkups or the like so he could extract more information-who the father was and exactly how old the child was.


    I also wanted a closer photo if he could, because on the ones he gave me, I could barely see the face. Desiree was holding it protectively, so I had no idea if it was a girl or a boy. I wanted to see its face-a final confirmation that it wasn''t mine. But at the moment, I would put her at the back of my mind.


    If Desiree was something I could disregard at the moment, Miranda was a different thing.


    Dexter told me that Miranda had


    cleaned all ounts in the banks inside the territory and had not transferred any money somewhere else. I was informed she had been slowly withdrawing money until she I


    took all the day I left to for


    Adessa and closed her ount.


    I didn''t believe him, so I made the call to the bank myself after he left,


    but I was given the same


    information, confronted the bank manager. I asked for the reason for the withdrawals and why they allowed big withdrawals. He


    answered that it was part of their


    protocol not to ask the ip and his immediate family for any reason and to never deny any request. So he could not provide any answer, and he was baffled himself about the need for those withdrawals and the request to close all her ounts, but


    he dared not ask anything.


    Miranda''s bank records were also clean. There were no unanimous transfers either way, so it seemed that Miranda knew what she was doing and how to keep her record clean.


    I was trying to read Dexter while he


    was reporting to me, and it seemed


    Landon was right-he had no idea of Miranda''s ns and was left hanging. Even if I wanted to feel bad for him, I couldn''t find it in me. If he were part of Miranda''s n to kick Adessa out of my life, then he fucking deserved his misery. He


    trusted the wrong woman and, in the process, betrayed his own Alpha.


    Even though Landon had given me a good reason to fire him, I knew that keeping him close and under a close watch would be better than letting him go and not knowing what his next move would be.


    I only needed to deal with Miranda at the moment to make sure she couldn''t get to Adessa while Rasmus and Landon would take over and make sure Dexter would not be an aplice or essory to Miranda.

 Chapter 45

    KAEL.


    I left the territory after lunch. But before that, I met my staff at the Central Hall. I informed them I would be out of the territory for the next two weeks, and Alpha Rasmus would take charge of the pack in my absence.


    I could see they had questions about why Rasmus was needed, so before anyone could ask, I told them there was serious going on in the pack that needed a decision from an Alpha. They didn''t argue anymore or question that.


    But then someone asked about Adessa and what I knew about what happened to her. I was itching to tell them I would stand by their former Luna and support her, but I kept my opinion to myself. I reminded them that I would not entertain any more questions about her as her case was ongoing.


    It looked like I was turning my back on her. But it didn''t matter to me. It was enough that Adessa knew I was on her side.


    Thest thing I wanted was for news to spread that I was defending her. The person handling her case might assume I was hiding her and include me in the investigation.


    I didn''t want to be the center of their attention or for them to track my whereabouts, especially considering that I was nning to take Adessa to the Alpha King''s Pce. This journey by car would take several days because it was not safe for her to take public transportation.


    It was already midnight when I entered the border of Hallowed Crest Territory. The area I was passing by was peaceful, and it appeared there was no disturbance today, or they would have informed me at the entrance. Adessa was probably sleeping already.


    I was on the phone with Rasmus an hour ago, and he informed me that he was able to secure me an invite to the King''s Moonlight Ball next week and add a plus one for me. I didn''t receive the full details of the name or information he provided for Adessa, as the connection was not stable earlier.


    We would meet before breakfast and discuss all thest-minute instructions I needed to give him for my pack and details for my trip to the North, where the Alpha King resided.


    I was fortunate to remember that Miranda told me a couple of weeks ago that the Alpha King was throwing another ball, and she wanted to attend. She pleaded with me to contact the pce so I could request an invite. She wanted me to take Desiree and her, but I ignored her as my mind was upied with Adessa.


    Getting an invite from the King was hard, and I was fortunate to receive some. Those invitations starteding after I raised my case to him about the rules on the age of an Alpha, which disqualified me from taking over this pack after my father''s death. Fortunately, he epted my request for a meeting, allowing me two days of his time to discuss my capabilities as the Alpha despite being a year younger than the minimum age required.


    Maybe he was impressed with how I handled my time with him, or he saw something in me that made him decide to grant me my pack before the two days were over. But although I received invitations from him, I only attended his event once.


    It was also a Moonlight Ball, to which bachelor Alphas and unmated women of high society were invited for a chance to find their fated mates-a rarity in this world. After attending it once, I declined other Moonlight Balls because I was already fixated on taking Desiree as my Luna.


    I didn''t receive an invitation this year, but because I knew Rasmus had a friend who worked at the King''s Pce, I seized the opportunity and asked him to request one for Adessa and myself.


    It was the easiest way to meet the King and have him remember me as the young man he inducted himself as an Alpha. Hopefully, he will listen to me again and hear Adessa''s case firsthand.


    It was a great risk, but I was hoping the pleasant exchange and our mutual respect for each other would help her.


    "We were not expecting you tonight," Aunt Aria said as I entered her home. "I thought you''d arrive at dawn."


    Her housemaid opened the door, but she was still awake and was standing in the foyer. I went to her and dropped my duffel bag onto the floor before I kissed her cheek.


    "I''m d you came back safely. Your wife was worried the whole time, although she tried not to show it." She told me as she hugged me.


    I couldn''t help the smile that tugged at my mouth. "How is she?"


    "She went to bed two hours ago, so she''s probably asleep now."


    "I was told at the border no one came here, so I assume everything was calm."


    "Yes, it was a


    a calm


    day." She ruffled my hair as she spoke. "You look tired. Rasmus told me you n to leave tomorrow after lunch. Are you sure you can drive more? You''ve


    been driving non-stop for many days


    now." .


    I could see the concern in her eyes-the same eyes as my mother.


    "It''s safer for her to reach the North early, as I''m sure they''re concentrating here in the South, searching for her. I''ll take a long vacation once everything is resolved."


    She nodded her head. "I understand. Have you eaten anything? Should I ask someone to prepare something for you?"


    I shook my head. I had no appetite and wanted to see Adessa already. I wanted to check on her and make sure she was safe.


    "Go to bed then. Sleep well.


    Tomorrow is another long day for


    you." She hugged me before I picked up my bag and went toward the stairs was already halfway when I stopped and looked back at


    "Aunt Aria, what room is she in?" I asked.


    her.


    "Where do you think I''d ce your wife? Of course, she''s in your room." She paused her conversation with the helpers to answer me, a teasing smile on her face.


    I had a guest room specifically for me, although I stayed at Rasmus'' packhouse most of the time when I visited here.


    "Gotcha!" I chuckled before continuing on my way up.


    I slowed down from walking once I reached the corridor toward my room. I took a deep breath before turning the knob. She didn''t lock the door, which was not good when it came to safety.


    I pushed it open and peeked inside.


    Only onemp was on, and it was on


    the other side of the bed. Even the curtains were drawn closed, so the whole room was dimmed, and could only see a silhouette of someone in the bed under the


    nket.


    I locked the door and stood at the foot of the bed, looking at her. She had the nket up to her head and her back to me. I couldn''t see anything, but I knew it was her because I could smell her. Instead of going to bed, I went to the bathroom and took a shower, recounting the events of these past few days and the big risk I would be taking in taking her to the North.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Would I be strong enough to protect her? Or am I driving her into more danger?

 Chapter 46

    KAEL.


    Would I be strong enough to protect her? Or am I driving her into more danger?


    I wanted to mark her again to keep my wolf stronger than he already was. Regardless of whether it was fated or just a regr mate, the venom of an Alpha mixing with a female feeds strength to his wolf. I felt that when we rejected each other, a part of my wolf lost its strength. He was still strong, but he could be stronger.


    As much as I wanted to maximize my strength to protect her, the Moonlight Ball was specifically organized for unmated Alphas and females. She might not be allowed entrance if she had a mark on her neck.


    Rasmus was able to sneak in an invite for me because I finally confessed to him that Adessa and I were divorced. He asked why, but I told him I would exin when I came back.


    I had no choice. Aside from the ball, sooner orter, he would still find out through the news that she was no longer my Luna, as I was sure the investigators were already digging into her life.


    However, it appeared that Rasmus had not yet informed his mother, who still referred to Adessa as my wife. Or maybe, just like me, she wanted her to stay my wife.


    I emerged from the bathroom, d only in a towel. I was holding the sweatpants that I would put on, but the urge to smell Adessa won me over. So I went directly to her, the mattress dipping under my weight as I inched closer to her side. Just one kiss on her hair. I told myself.


    I held the nket covering her head and pulled it down gently, and with the lights illuminating from the bathroom, the color of it blinded me.


    The person sleeping in my bed was a gingerhead.


    "The fuck!" I growled, and it startled the female, making me jump back, and I fell backward on my side of the bed.


    "Fuck!" I groaned. Inded on the floor with my back first, so it took time before I was able to bnce myself. But before I could push myself up, a figure hovered over me from the bed, her hair cascading and caging her small face. "You''re home!" A wide smile was ying on Adessa''s lips. "Are you okay?"


    "I am. Safe and sound, but what happened to your hair? Last time, you colored it ck, and now red?" I asked, my face frowning, but deep inside, I was mesmerized by how the color fitted her. Any color seemed to work well on her. She giggled as she curled a finger around it. "I think it''s pretty."


    "It is, but you''re destroying it."


    "I''m a shifter, Kael. Eventually, my hair will grow back beautifully. Rasmus said I needed to change my hair color for the identification card he made for me. It was Mama Aria who suggested we try red." "Alpha Rasmus..." I told her, this time, the scowl on my face was real. "And Mama Aria?"


    "She said I could call her that." She told me before moving away. It was only at that moment that I realized I was still on the floor, lying on my back. "But yes, I should call him Alpha Rasmus. Thank you for the reminder, Alpha Kael."


    I could picture her rolling her eyes, and it annoyed me. I didn''t like that she wasparing me to Rasmus and calling Aunt Aria "Mama." It might be that my aunt really took a liking to her, but what if, because they knew she was no longer my Luna, they saw a possibility for her to be Rasmus'' mate?


    I pushed myself and stood up, hands on my hips.


    "I''m your husband. You can call me Kael or anything. But Rasmus must be addressed as Alpha unless he is someone special to you." I said in one breath.


    I watched her turn to look at me. In seconds, her eyes widened before she bit her bottom lip, suppressing a smile froming out. Still, she couldn''t stop it, especially when she opened her mouth to speak. "You''re naked."


    My eyes darted down. The towel was on the floor, and I was stark naked. My cock was slowly turning hard, especially when she was looking at it.


    I had two options: turn around and pick up my towel or own it.


    "Should I hide? Or it shouldn''t matter, as I''m sure you''ve seen it before."


    "I''ve seen it before. I''ve also yed with it, so no need to hide." She said nonchntly as she eased back on the headboard, resting her back against i before she reached for themp on her bedside table and


    turned it on without taking hotel. Bel


    offme. All the while, a teasing smile was on her face. "I''m putting a little more light to see if nothing has been destroyed by your new fiancee."


    "I broke up with Desiree on the same day I bought the ring back," I told her, picking up the towel on the floor, but instead of wrapping it around me, I tossed it on the single couch nearby. "Well, it doesn''t mean you never used that with her before you broke up." She said, her eyebrows raising.


    "We didn''t have sex." If she was indeed the person I had sex with while I was drunk, then Desiree and I never engaged in any sexual activity together.


    "Why?"


    "I don''t know. Maybe forgetting my memory made me forget how to have sex, too." I shrugged my shoulders.


    I should be slipping inside the cover,


    but I liked the way she would discretely lower her gaze to watch my cock but was still appearing unaffected by it. But I knew it was the exact opposite. My hard cock was affecting her because was beginning to smell her arousal.


    "No. I don''t think so. You still fuck me so good and hard just the way I..." She paused. Her eyes widened when she realized what she was saying.


    I chuckled softly and crossed my arms against my torso. My chest was puffing with pride while my cock was already saluting her. "So, are you saying I''m good in bed? Always been good in bed."


    "Again." She red at me. "I never had any sexual partner other than you, so maybe even if you just stick it inside me and do nothing, I will still find it good."This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Really? Why don''t we try?"


    "What?" She gasped.


    "I''ll stick it inside and not move. We''ll see if it''s still good."


    She forced a chuckle before sliding down her body to lie down, pulling her nket up to her chin. "Go to bed, Kael. It''ste, and I''m sure you''re tired. This conversation is going nowhere." She then turned to the side, with her back to me.


    I chuckled and grabbed the nket,


    sliding in and moving closer to her. I


    leaned forward, hovering my head on hers. "Not going to happen. I''m not sleeping yet. I dodged too many bullets avoidedndmines, and escaped natural catastrophes toe back to you safely because you said you''d do something about this hard thing."


    She giggled, but she didn''t move, and I saw her close her eyes, clutching her nket tightly. "I''m sleepy..."


    "A sleepy shifter won''t emit an aroused scent, Adessa," I told her as Iy on my back, sliding my arms under my head and staring at the ceiling.


    I couldn''t wipe the smile off my face.


    I had no intention of putting her on the spot and forcing her to do something she didn''t want to. I was only teasing her.

 Chapter 47

    LADESSA.


    "A sleepy shifter won''t emit an aroused scent, Adessa," Kael said, and I felt him move away from me.


    I remained still with my eyes closed, clutching my nket tightly. I was so brave yesterday in telling him I would pleasure him as long as he returned safely, but I was cowering at the moment. What if he ended up not satisfied? What if I couldn''t make him cum?


    Or what if, likest time, we had sex and his mind drifted off to Desiree?


    Wait!


    Did he say he broke up with Desiree after he bought that ring back?


    "Kael?" I said in almost a whisper.


    "Hmmm..." He mummed.


    "Why did you break up with Desiree?"


    "I have a wife." He answered in a monotone voice.


    ""We are divorced."


    "Because I decided hastily. I shouldn''t have done that. If I didn''t, then you''re still my wife."


    I remained quiet, not knowing what to say.


    "Up to this moment, I''m still trying to connect the dots on things I don''t understand. Sometimes, I would knock my head onto something to see if I would end up remembering anything."


    "It must be hard not to remember anything."This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "It''s not easy. I felt stupid and dumb at times."


    "You''re not stupid or dumb."


    "I''m sure you thought of me that way when I kicked you out of my life without asking for your side of the story."


    "I won''t deny I was upset, and I got angry at some point, but I never thought of you that way. I knew what happened was more because this is how my life has always been. I never get what I want. I assumed it was life''s way of saying "no" to me one more time." "You want me." He said in a low voice, but I heard it loud and clear.


    I swallowed. It was unfair if I had to tell him that when I didn''t even know where I stood in his life. All I knew was that he was here because he was a good man, and he felt guilty for all the chaos in my life.


    I sensed his movement, but I couldn''t tell if he turned his back on me or faced me, as I stayed in the same position.


    "Adessa?" He spoke, breaking the silence between us.


    "Hmm..."


    "After we clear your name and we get out of this mess, do you think..." He paused, and my heartbeat began picking up pace. I gripped my nket more tightly, anticipating the worst as I waited for him to continue.


    "Do you think we can give our marriage another try?" Kael''s voice was so low, as if he had a difficult time speaking.


    I closed my eyes, stopping the tears from falling. This was better-much better than I expected.


    I gathered myself and controlled my breathing before I replied. "Yes... I would love that."


    I wanted to say many things, but it was the only thing that came out of my lips. I felt the mattress dip behind me before his arm slipped under me, snaking around my body, and he pulled me back. I ended up resting my back against his naked torso. His other arm wrapped around me, hugging me while his lips pressed against the back of my head. My shoulders rxed, and my hold on the nket loosened until Ipletely let go of it and abruptly turned my body around.


    I didn''t stop myself this time. I wrapped my arms around his neck and pressed my head on his chest, my leg snaking around his thigh.


    I could feel his hard cock prodding against my front, but more than the tingles spreading between my legs, I was overwhelmed by the intimacy of our position and the warmth his body was giving to my entire being.


    "I''ll be a better mate this time..." He mumbled.


    "You''ve always been a good mate."


    "I wasn''t. If I were, then I shouldn''t


    have let the whole pack think you seduced and tricked me into marrying you." His arms tightened around me, squeezing my body. was a bit painful, but I didn''tin. I was basking in his warmth and the words he was showering me with. "I promise, once we can resume our lives back in our pack, I will fix that part."


    "How about Desiree?"


    "She made her choice when she cheated on me. I shouldn''t have protected her because I became unfair to you."


    "You love her. Of course, you''d protect her."


    "But I don''t anymore."


    My head tilted up and met his gaze. I still couldn''t believe these words wereing out of his mouth.


    At the beginning of our marriage, he was vocal about missing her, and it went on like that for many months until we never talked about her. We never had a conversation in which he admitted he didn''t love or miss her anymore. "How sure are you with that when she''s the only woman you can remember?"


    "I don''t know what happened. I woke


    up from mya and knew she was the one wanted to marry. But as days went by, I realized I was waking up every day detesting having to encounter her¡ªthat avoided every possible moment we were alone. I was dreading intimacy. But if anything, Desiree never


    pushed harder when I said no."


    I didn''t say anything, as I was never there when they were together and didn''t see more of them when he lost his memory, except for that one encounter where she was sitting on hisp.


    "Let''s not talk about her," Kael said, snapping me from my thoughts. His hand brushed against the skin of my arm. "Let''s talk about the redhead in my arms."


    "What about me?" I asked as I lowered my gaze and rested my cheek on his chest.


    "Landon told me you''re an orphan. No family. Not even ast name. Tell me more."


    "Are you sure you want to talk about that and not about the one I promised you?" I had no idea why I suddenly had the courage to raise this topic.


    Kael took a deep breath, and I felt something harder poking on my thigh. "Look at me, Adessa."


    I titled my head up and met his gaze. He had one arm under his head, and the other was still snaking around me. He was staring at me with face devoid of emotions. "Are ready for that? Or are you trying to finish what you started but didn''t really mean it?"


    My mouth parted, but nothing came out. My throat felt dry. He smiled warmly at me before he moved his hand and tucked the stray hair on my face behind my ears. "I can wait." "Kiss me, Kael," I said in a hoarse voice.


    I saw him swallow as his eyes dted. "Are you sure?"

 Chapter 48

    KAEL.


    "Are you sure?" I asked Adessa to confirm that I wasn''t hallucinating.


    She didn''t reply but cupped my face and pulled me toward her. My hand moved up and grabbed her nape, pushing her closer as our lips collided.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Soft, sensual moans escaped her throat, and it gave me the assurance that she wanted this as much as I did. I began kissing her brutally hard, and Adesa didn''t disappoint. She kissed me back hungrily, moving her lips sensually and aggressively as her arms wrapped around my neck.


    I rolled us over, lying her on her back as I hovered over her body, making sure that I didn''t put my whole weight on her.


    She pulled away to gasp for air, tilting her head up, and my mouth dove into her neck, kissing and nibbling her soft skin as my hand trailed down her thigh. She wore satin short pajamas, which made it easy for me to reach her ass.


    Adessa''s legs wrapped around my hips, pressing her core into my already hard cock, making a growl rumble in my chest. Her fingers coiled around my hair, and she tugged it. I followed her lead and moved up, crashing my mouth into her eager lips, and kissed her again while my hand inside her shorts finally found the wet spot I was aiming to touch.


    I pulled away from kissing her, and her eyes opened, but the ecstasy on her face sent me into oblivion. Adessa was so beautiful, regardless of the expression she carried, but this one overwhelmed my senses and pride because I knew I was the one giving her this ecstasy. "Aren''t you too wet for me?" My voice came out raspy.


    "Kael, more..."


    I licked my lips and slid a finger between her pussyfolds. Her eyes rolled, and her hands dropped to her sides, clutching the sheets.


    "Can I taste you?" I asked, my cock getting harder just at the thought of going down on her.


    She shook her head and opened her eyes, making our gazes meet.


    "What?" I almost growled.


    "Me first. I said I would suck you."


    I let out a breath of relief. I thought she wanted to stop this. "I can wait. I want to...''


    15


    I was not able to finish my words because she pushed me, and since I wasn''t expecting it, she was able to get away from under me. She straddled my thighs, her hands resting on my chest as she leaned closer, her red hair brushing against my skin. "No. You first..." I held her waist and hoisted her up, cing her on her back again before I kneeled before her, caging her legs between my knees and pinning her hands over her head.


    "Who''s the Alpha here?" I asked, my eyes squinting as a triumphant smile tugged at my mouth.


    "You..." she replied sensually.


    "Good girl."


    "But who is the Luna here?" She asked while wriggling her hands from my hold.


    I chuckled heartily. More than the cockiness in her question, my heart swelled with pride because she was asserting her position as my Luna. "You," I answered firmly.


    "What the Luna wants, the Luna gets." She raised an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips. "Right?"


    "Yes. And I''m going to give you what you want but don''t want to say out loud." I told her as I moved my knees and positioned myself between her thighs. "Now be a good Luna and spread those legs for me."


    I thought she would try to defy me, but she stopped squirming and instead opened her legs wider without taking her eyes off me.


    A low growl reverberated from my chest, and I didn''t waste time capturing her lips again, kissing her harder than I had ever kissed her.


    I let go of her hands and grabbed her chin before plunging my tongue into her mouth. She immediately grabbed my hair, pushing my face more onto her as we devoured each other''s lips.


    Soon, I was peppering her throat


    with kisses and helped her take off


    her satin top. I kneaded one breast while I yed with her nipple, sucking and biting it, making her


    moan louder and for her arousal to


    be more potent in the air.


    I moved lower, skimming her skin with my lips until I reached the hem of her shorts. I tugged it down, together with herce underwear.


    I felt her breathing hitched as my fingers brushed against her pussyfolds.


    Adessa was so wet.


    I anchored her feet to the mattress before lowering my head to almost touching her core. I sniffed her sweet scent before tilting my head to look at her. She had her elbows propped on the bed, her upper body slightly up. No words were exchanged between us as our eyes locked.


    I extended my tongue out and slowly swiped it over her folds. Her lips parted, and she whimpered softly.


    Her reaction was all I needed to see before I dove into her. In no time, I was already sucking andpping on her juices, taking everything I could of her sweet pussy.


    "Oh, Kael!" She moaned, mping her legs on my head and tugging my hair painfully, but I didn''t mind. The pain only added to the fire of lust she ignited within me.


    My thumb yed with her clit, circling and rubbing it while my mouth continued to devour her. I was about to insert my fingers into her when a loud knock came from the door, startling both of us.


    Adessa shrieked and pulled the nket to cover herself, and in the process, kicked my face, making me growl.


    "Kael! Open the door!" Rasmus''s loud voice emerged as his knocks intensified.


    "What the fuck!" I growled louder than him as I grabbed the sweatpants on the couch.


    "Oh, Goddess! Oh, Goddess!" I heard Adessa mumble repeatedly.


    When I looked at her, her cheeks were tinted with red as she scrambled to find her clothes. She eventually found her panties but couldn''t find the rest.


    "Open the fucking door!"


    "Give me a minute!" I shouted as I pulled a ck shirt from my bag and tossed it to Adessa. She caught it and immediately put it on her.


    "It''s urgent!"


    "It''s better to be, or I will fucking kill you!" I told him, but I already had an inkling of what was going on. I hoped I was wrong.


    I looked back at Adessa and made sure she was covered. She only had my shirt. She remained under the nket as I made my way to the door.


    "I don''t fucking care what position


    you''re in. Open this door, or I will


    kick...¡± Rasmus was not able to finish his words because I already opened the door so hard that it bumped against the wall and almost hit me back, but I was able to stop it, and so did Rasmus.


    "What the fuck?" I growled at him.


    "Shit! You reek of sex!" He eximed, but I was grateful his eyes didn''t pass through me.


    "What''s going on?" A voice came from the corridor. Aunt Aria was hurrying toward us while wrapping the rope of her robe. "They''re here," Rasmus told me.


    I heard a gasp from behind me as well as from Aunt Aria, who stopped beside Rasmus.


    "Who?" I asked. I wanted to be sure who they were.


    "My men at the border informed me two cars came, and they were looking for you. They said they were the ones handling Adessa''s case So I assumed they went here because they didn''t see you in your pack. I had to allow them entrance. You need to leave. Now!"

 Chapter 49

    KAEL.


    "You need to leave. Now!" Rasmus said, and I could hear the urgency in his voice.


    "Shit! It''s fucking midnight!" I brushed my hand over my hair while the other was on my hips.


    I turned around to look at Adessa. She was sitting, the nket covering up to her waist. The color had gone out of her face.


    "You need to go. In approximately forty minutes, they''ll reach the packhouse," Rasmus said.


    "Put your clothes on. We''re leaving," I told Adessa in a much calmer voice. She nodded, and I stepped out of the room and closed the door.


    "I''ll prepare something that you can take with you on the road," Aunt Aria said as she walked away from us. I thanked her, but I was not sure if she heard me because she was walking too fast.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "How the fuck they ended up here? And at midnight?" I asked, still in disbelief.


    "I have no answer for that, but it didn''t matter at this point. Here..." He handed me a pouch, and I opened it. "Good thing they gave me this after dinner. Or tomorrow would be toote."


    The ID cards were for Adessa with her red hair.


    "Those are Adessa''s ID cards that you requested. I also got her some credit cards. I suggest you don''t use your personal cards for safety, as they might be tracking you. Use the one with Samantha Grey for any transactions." "Thank you, that part slipped my mind."


    "No problem. I''ll charge you double for all the expenses once she''s off the hook." He chuckled. "The other ID card-that''s the name listed on the Moonlight Ball, so she needs to present that. It''s a masquerade ball, so choose a mask she won''t be recognized easily." "Nice." I couldn''t deny the relief in my voice.


    At least no one will notice her until I find the King that day. It seemed fate was on our side this time.


    I was checking the rest of the cards when I saw the one she needed to use for the ball. "Savannah Gray? Why the fuck did you use Savannah for her?" I asked, my forehead creasing.


    Savannah was the name given to him by Desiree when they met and fucked each other. It was not that I was still bothered by it, but I didn''t want to associate Adessa with her.


    Rasmus raised his hands up. "Let me exin. I gave my friend, Kevin, your name and requested a plus one for you. He asked me what the name of the plus one was. I wasn''t fucking prepared. I was caught off guard, and that was the name that came first in my head, and I was staring at my gray-colored wall. Be grateful I got you in."


    "Fine," I said before I let out a breath. "Thank you. Did you get me a car?"


    "I got you a rented car. It''s downstairs. The new car is in the Bellouf Theme Park parking lot. This is the key. I''ll take care of the rented car after that."


    I took the keys from him and tucked them inside the pouch. Bellouf was two hours from here.


    "Thanks, man."


    "After this, you''re on your own. Don''t call me just in case they tap my lines. I will find a way to call you. Hopefully, whoever is investigating Adessa''s case had checked the list of guests for the Moonlight Ball before Kevin added you and Savannah. It''s the reason I provided another identity for her credit cards, so if they try to trace you and Savannah Gray, they won''t be able to."


    I nodded my head, grateful that Rasmus was already steps ahead of me. "I don''t know how to thank you."


    "Just tell me I''m off the hook for that one night with your ex."


    I chuckled. "Maybe. I''ll see you downstairs."


    "Yup, hurry up." He said as he stepped back.


    He had already turned around when I called him again. "Rasmus,"


    ""Yes?" He replied without stopping from walking.


    "Did you use a condom during that encounter?" The idea that he was the father of Desiree''s child just came to mind.


    He stopped walking and turned around. His hand went to his hair and scratched his head. A sheepish smile tugged at his mouth, and I already knew the answer.


    "Everything happened so fast. I had no ns of gettingid that night..."


    "I see."


    "If I got her pregnant, then you should know that already. Or was this about some fucking disease I might have passed on to you? I don''t have any..."


    "What made you think, after what happened, I would still wee her in my bed?"


    "I have no fucking idea! I was just guessing why you''re asking that when there are important matters to attend to."


    "Go away." chuckled before


    pushing the door open and stepping


    inside the room. I could have told


    him about the child, but then what if it wasn''t his? I would just mess up many lives.


    Besides, Desiree knew what she was doing. She should be thest of my worries.


    "I''m ready Adessa approached me with a shirt in her hand, the same one I had given her earlier to use. "Do you want to wear this, or should I get you a new shirt?" She asked.


    "I can take that." I took it from her before tucking the stray hair on her face at the back of her ears. "Your name is Samantha Grey while we travel to the North."


    She nodded her head.


    "I got your IDs in here," I added.


    "I''m scared, Kael." She confessed.


    I slung my shirt over my shoulder before I cupped her face. "I got you. I''m here."


    "Don''t abandon me."


    "No, never again. We''re in this together." I leaned closer and pecked her lips before I spoke again. "From now on, we only have each other to trust. My words above everyone else, and I promise you, your words above all."


    She nodded her head before wrapping her arms around me and hugging me tightly. I could still feel the uneasiness in her aura.


    "We need to go." She said before she let go of me.


    I immediately put on my shirt and slipped into my shoes. I had no underpants, but it didn''t matter. This was not the first time I had gone out without one, so it wasn''t a big deal.


    I handed Adessa the small pouch that Rasmus gave me before grabbing her backpack and my duffel bag.


    I took her hand in mine, and we rushed out of the bedroom.


    I had no idea what more bumpsy ahead of us before we reached the King''s Pce, but I was sure as hell that I would face them head-on just so I could take my Luna home with me.

 Chapter 50

    KAEL.


    We''d been driving for almost two hours, and Adessa had fallen asleep. She was tired from all the running and hiding she''d been doing these past few weeks, so I let her sleep while I did my best to keep myself awake.


    I could take my sleep once we were on our way to the north. For now, I needed to get us as far away from here as possible.


    I was almost at the Bellouf Theme Park when my phone rang.


    It startled Adessa. Adessa''s hands flew out in the air as she gasped for breath. My hand went to her thigh, tapping it twice before rubbing it gently.


    "I''m here..." I mumbled loudly enough for her to hear while the phone continued to ring.


    She turned her head in my direction, and when she saw me, it was only then that her shoulders rxed, and she sank back into her seat.


    I smiled at her before I spoke. "Rasmus is calling. You can go back to sleep."


    She shook her head before she leaned her head to the window, crossing her arms across her chest, her eyes focusing on the dark road in front of us. "I want to listen."


    I picked up the phone, pressed the speaker button, and ced it on the dashboard. As we had discussed, I wouldn''t talk until he started by saying my name. "Kael..."


    "Are they gone?" I asked.


    "Yes, and those assholes are not investigators nor representatives from the King''s Court."


    "What do you mean?"


    "They were Draco''s men."


    "What the fuck?" I could not stop myself from eximing as anger brewed within me, especially when I felt Adessa move from her seat. When I looked at her, she had a worried expression on her face. "Why are they looking for her? They shouldn''t be meddling with this anymore, as it was already raised with the Court."


    "Exactly. They tried to deny it, but my Beta recognized one of the men as part of Draco''s entourage and alerted me. I requested documents to show they had rights to the inquest, but they couldn''t show me anything. It appeared that someone had tipped them off that you were using Mom''s car.


    That was also a possibility. I got careless when I took her car home with me.


    "Did you check if Aunt Aria is safe?" Adessa asked.


    "Yes, I have people around her home. Plus, I drove that car back to the packhouse since I drove there using the car you were driving now. So they saw that car parked here, and if they were thinking Kael is here, then Mom is safe from them for now." "SO, where are they now?"Content is ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    "I asked them to fuck off and kicked them out of the territory. I made sure they exited the same border they came in, far away from the border and route you took."


    "Thank you."


    "I gave Draco a midnight call."


    "You did not," I said.


    "I didn''t say anything about you. I told him he was an asshole for sending his men in my pack in the middle of the night for some nonsense shenanigans. The asshole just fuckingughed." "Did he say anything about me or Adessa?"


    "Yes."


    "Say it," I said as my hand crawled to Adessa''s, sping it with mine before giving her a gentle squeeze.


    "He said he was convinced that you and I are helping her, and we better hide her good or turn her over to the King''s Court."


    "Or he''d be her worst nightmare if he catches her first." I finished for him. I was used to this kind of threat from Draco even before we became Alphas.


    "Yup..." He replied. "And I told him to shove his mouth into his own ass."


    "But we know he won''t stop looking for her."


    "I never doubted that just to get on your nerves. So you need to be careful, as two groups are looking for you now."


    "Make sure no one knows I''m heading to the north." I reminded him.


    "Did you tell Dexter and Landon?"


    "No. I can''t trust anyone."


    "Even Landon? Come on, man. That man willy down in the bed of fire for you."


    "I know." I let out a breath. Landon and I were a tag team during our university days, and Rasmus would hang out with us most of the time "But the less he knows, the less danger he''ll be in. So it''s up to you to


    work around what you and


    make sure you don''t tell anyone in my pack."


    "Got it."


    "When are you driving there?"


    "Give me two days. I need to make sure everyone is ready here and Mom is secured."


    "I''m sorry for dragging you and Aunt Aria to this mess, Alpha Rasmus," Adessa spoke.


    "Don''t worry about it. I owe Kael a lot. It''s the least I can do." He replied, and we talked a little more before the call ended.


    Adessa didn''t say anything and remained silent, but I knew she was still awake.


    "I saved Rasmus in a burning house when we were younger." I broke the silence between us.


    She tilted her head to look at me before she spoke. "Is that why you have burnt skin on your back?" "Yes," I replied.


    It looked like I didn''t tell her about it


    when we were married, but it was not a surprise. I didn''t want to talk about this part of my life. "I saved him, and in the process, I lost the chance to save my mother"


    "Oh, Goddess..."


    My eyes watered, but I did my best to focus on the road. "We were at the cabin in the territory. Mom was in a room upstairs, taking a nap, while Rasmus and I were outside. We walked further, trying to hunt animals. When we came back, the house was burning. We didn''t talk about it, but we both rushed inside, catting for my mother. I had already reached the stairs, heading towards my mother''s room, when a log from the roof fell on Rasmus, trapping his leg. I didn''t hesitate toe back to him and pull him out of the log. He couldn''t walk, so I carried him out. When I was about to go back, I couldn''t anymore. The fire had already consumed the whole cabin."

 Chapter 51

    KAEL.


    "He couldn''t walk, so I carried him out. When I was about to go back, I couldn''t anymore. The fire had already consumed the whole cabin." I continued speaking. "They said a candle caused it, and she might not have sensed the fire until it was toote. It was almost winter, so all the windows were closed. She was trapped in her room."


    "I''m sorry..."


    "They found my mother in the ensuite bathroom. It was probably the only ce she was able to escape to. She was naked. She shifted into her wolf but probably couldn''t get out." My voice broke.


    Adessa took my hand and cupped it with both her hands, squeezing it gently.


    "For many years, I struggled to ept the reality that I could have saved her, but I was not able to do so. While Rasmus spent many years trying to save me from everything, proving that he was worth costing my mother''s life."


    Silence befell us before I decided to say more. "I don''t know what I felt when I found him with Desiree, but it must have been painful, not only because Desiree was my fiancee but because it was Rasmus. But after I spoke with him, I wanted to believe he would not do it on purpose. So, even if I was still confused about what happened between them, I knew he and Aunt Aria were the only people I could rely on. Because they promised on my mom''s grave that they would look after me. They would never fail her."


    Adessa removed her seatbelt and slid an arm around my back before hugging me with both arms, resting her head on my side. "Your mom, she must be a wonderful woman."


    "She was. It was the reason I couldn''t bear to give her ring to anyone. Not to Miranda or any female that would try to take her ce in our home. It was the only thing left of her in the room where they found her body. It was on the sink counter. She took it off before she shifted."


    "And I almost lost it."


    I wrapped an arm around her. I held her head and then nted a kiss on her forehead. "I want to believe it was Mom''s way of leading you to Corrine, so you had a ce to stay and money to use while I was still lost."


    She nodded her head. "Thank you, Mom." She mumbled, and it made me smile.


    "You would have loved her."


    "I''m sure I would."


    "She looked like Aunt Aria."


    "Aunt Aria loves you so much, Kael. She talks so highly of you as if you were her son."


    Those words made me smile broadly. "She helped shape me and gave me my confidence back after Mom was gone. She made sure Rasmus and I would have each other''s back all the time." "And Rasmus delivers."


    "I think so." I chuckled, and then I realized we were approaching the area where I would pick up the car. "We''re here."


    I entered the parking lot, scanning the area, before I spotted the car Rasmus described. "Can you drive this car to the space I will vacate with the other car?"


    "Hmmm, I think so," she replied, but I sensed her nervousness.


    "Is that a yes or no?"


    "I''m not good with parking, Kael," she confessed. "But I can do it."


    I stopped the car and left the engine on before getting out. I didn''t say anything and helped her out of her seat. She was about to take the driver''s seat when I tugged her and guided her to the new car. "I thought I''d park the car," she said as I opened the door and ushered her into the passenger seat.


    "I changed my mind."


    "I can drive. I drove Alpha Draco''s car for many hours."


    I rested my elbow on the car''s roof before leaning closer to her. "Tell me, my beautiful wife, did you crash the car somewhere because I was sure I saw some dent at the rear."


    Her mouth opened before she squinted her eyes, but I saw a yful smile crawl on her lips. "It was dark when I backed the car to park, so I hit something."


    "I see." I pressed a kiss on her forehead because she looked too fucking adorable. "Tell me, how many of our cars did you crash while we were married?"


    "Did Landon tell you?" Her eyes rounded as if she couldn''t believe the betrayal.


    Myughter echoed on the closed walls of the parking area as I shook my head. "I was only guessing. So, you did..."


    "Just two."


    "Did I get upset?"


    "Worried. You scold Landon for letting me drive."


    "I''m surprised he could still walk."


    "Oh, you would never hurt him, or I have no one to drive me around."


    "Right. So now, stay back and just watch me drive all these cars. I need you alive and breathing."


    She giggled, and her eyes twinkled


    that I could not stop myself from reaching her face, cupping her chin before pulling her closer to me and


    rel


    crashing our lips together. Her


    a split


    second, she was already kissing me


    back.


    I was the one who pulled away. "We need to get out of here before they catch us."


    Her cheeks reddened, but she nodded her head, motioning with her to shoo me away. "Go, go, before we get hot and heavy and get disturbed again."


    I wanted to say something more, but it might just backfire. Having a hard-on while walking was not ideal, so I shut my mouth and gave her a salute before closing the car door and walking to the other side to take the driver''s seat.


    We didn''t talk more as I navigated


    the car out of the parking slot and


    reced it with the other car. I grabbed our little belongings, and after making sure Adessa still had the pouch with her cards, I locked the other car and began driving away.


    "Kael." She broke the silence between us after a while.


    "Hmmm..."


    "I asked Alpha Rasmus to find us a wedding ring. So while we travel, people will leave us alone and not try to hit on you."


    "On you, you mean," I said, my brows raising.


    "Well, to both of us," she giggled. "If that''s okay with you."


    "Did he get us rings?"


    "He said he was not sure he could get one, but there are rings in this pouch. In the same sizes as I told him."


    "Then it''s ours. Give me your ring."


    She handed me the small one before Iid my hand in front of her with my fingers spread out. "Do the honor, wife."


    She giggled softly and ced the


    pouch on the dashboard beforeThis belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    taking my hand. "I take you, Alpha Kael Daeyra, as my husband," she began as she slipped the ring on my finger...to have and to hold from this day forward." She then smiled and tapped my hand twice before


    letting it go.


    I flipped my hand over, and she ced her hand over mine. I turned the car on autopilot before taking her hand in front of me. "I take you, Luna Adessa Quejeros, for better or worse, for richer, for poorer..." I paused as I slipped her ring. "...in sickness and in health." She continued, and I felt every word of that.


    I opened my mouth to the next part, which was love and to cherish, but she beat me into it.


    "...to honor and to cherish,"


    Yeah, maybe it was too early to tell her I might be falling in love with her already.


    "...to honor and to cherish," I repeated. "...till death do us part."


    "...till death do us part." Her voice broke, and I knew she was struggling not to cry.


    Her arms wrapped around my neck as she mmed her body against mine, and my arms wrapped around her, hugging her tightly as she sobbed softly in my hold.


    This was supposed to be a light moment, us joking about the rings, but like me, Adessa was also affected. I wanted to believe we felt the same way about our marriage-we could still make it work.


    But it was all up to me now to get her out of this mess alive.

 Chapter 52

    LADESSA.


    "I think we can stop here, but we need to make it fast," Kael spoke, and I nodded in agreement.


    After two hours of driving from the Bellouf Theme Park, we finally stopped so he could tank up, and I could go to the toilet.


    I was about to unbuckle my seatbelt when he stopped me. I turned my head to look at him, and he immediately grabbed my chin before pulling me toward him. He then leaned forward, capturing my lips and began kissing me passionately.


    "Kael..." I mumbled against his kisses. I wanted to tell him that we needed to leave, but instead, my arms moved on their own, wrapping around his neck, and my lips started kissing him back.


    He pushed me back onto my seat, his upper body leaning on me as he kissed me harder and deeper, his grip tightening around my chin.


    He then pulled away from kissing me, leaving inches between our lips. I gasped for air as he spoke. "I''ve been wanting to kiss you for many hours now."


    "Then stop talking," I told him before pulling him closer again. This time, I was the first one to kiss him. Maybe it was the ring around my finger that made me aggressive, or possibly because I really liked Kael, and I was taking advantage that he wanted to kiss me.


    His hand moved under my shirt, and his fingers skimmed over my skin before they trailed upward and grabbed my breast. My eyes opened wide, but when I saw him with his eyes still closed, lost in kissing me, I shut them again and reveled in the sensation he was giving


    me.


    I was moaning as our kisses became aggressive, and his hand under my shirt was already ying with my nipples, sending more tingles to spread between my legs.


    "Fuck, Adessa. I can smell your arousal... If we don''t stop," he was not able to finish his words and began kissing me again.


    I unbuckled my seatbelt, ready to adjust my position so I could straddle him, but the beam of another car''s headlight distracted us, causing us to abruptly separate from each other.


    The car then drove away, not knowing he just disturbed us.


    Kael growled as he pressed his back against his seat, throwing his head up and palming his forehead.


    I sank into my seat, not knowing what expression I should be showing-embarrassed or disappointed.


    Kael then straightened up, wiping his mouth with his thumb before smiling at me. "You make me forget what we''re supposed to do."


    "It''s bad..." I replied.


    "Yeah, very bad. We need to focus on reaching the north." He shed me a teasing smile before he cupped my chin again, wiping the corner of my lips with his thumb. "You taste so good I can''t stop myself."


    "Stop luring me to kiss you again." I teased him back. "I need to pee."


    "Fine. Go, and I''ll tank up." He leaned closer and pecked my still-wet lips before he turned around and opened his door.


    I thought he would just let me go to the open store, and he would put gas, but he walked me to the door. He went in first, and after checking, he pointed me to the restroom and went out just when I was about to get in. The simple gesture made me feel special. He was really looking out for me.


    While inside the restroom, I took time to fix my hair. I brought the pouch with me because Kael wanted me to take it anywhere for safety.


    My ID picture for Samantha Grey showed me with sses on, and I was d that Rasmus did not forget to add the sses inside the pouch.


    To be honest, it was a small bag, but it seemed to have so much stuff in it.


    I put the sses on and checked myself in the mirror.


    Perfect! I like it.


    I then went to grab the small envelope inside the pouch. It had Kael''s name written on the outside, but it was left unsealed. My curiosity got the best of me, so I opened it and took the paper out. "For protection. Don''t get her pregnant until it is safe to do so." - Rasmus


    I bit my bottom lip and peeked more


    inside the envelope. I saw a


    one-piece condom pack there. I


    wanted tough, knowing one would not be enough if we decided to finally have sex until a certain thought crossed my mind.


    I didn''t get my period this week. Or was my period duest week?


    My heart thundered as I looked in the mirror. I looked pale.


    "No, please. Not now." I mumbled.


    I didn''t want to worry about pregnancy when my name was not yet clear. And I didn''t want to pressure Kael.


    He didn''t want to have kids yet when


    we married He said we could wait for two to three years since I was still young but I knew he was just using it as a reason. He probably was not sure if it was me with whom he wanted to have a baby,


    No. I can''t be pregnant. It was just one time. I told myself.


    But the possibility was high. I stopped using pills when he went into aa, and I knew the period after stopping had a high fertility rate.


    "No. I''m not." I said out loud before shoving everything back inside the pouch. I made sure it was zipped up before going out of the restroom. "Kael, is that you?" I heard a female''s voice, and it made me snap my head up.


    I saw Kael on the other side. He was standing in the store''s magazine aisle while the female was in the other aisle, facing him. My eyes


    darted down to his hands as he


    discretely removed his wedding ring and slipped it inside his pockets.


    The thought of him not wanting the female to know he was married made my heart clench in pain.


    "Brooke? What are you doing here?" He smiled widely at her.


    "Thirsty. So I stopped over." She smiled alluringly at him and crossed her arms across her chest. "I''m surprised to see you here. I didn''t know you go to ces such as this."


    Kael chuckled heartily as if he did enjoy their small talk, and I was already getting annoyed. I moved to the aisle near them and picked up some chips.


    ¡°I


    got hungry." He replied.


    "Well, I thought someone else would do that for you and just give you a ready meal." She giggled seductively. "Anyway, would you like to grab a coffee?"Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 53

    LADESSA.


    "Anyway, would you like to grab a coffee?" The woman asked him.


    My eyes rolled, and I was about to head to the counter to pay for my chips when I remembered Kael had the credit card we could use. So I put everything in my arms and walked out of the shop without looking back at them. "So, where are you heading?" It was thest thing I heard before the door closed.


    "So, where are you heading?" I mimicked how she spoke while rolling my eyes again as I walked toward the car.


    I wanted to scream. Thest time I felt jealous like this was when Desiree was sitting on hisp. And while we were married, it was always Desiree but no one else.


    In the one year we were together, Kael never made me feel invisible around other women.


    I was almost near the car when it beeped, startling me, only for me to realize it was Kael who opened the door with his key. He surely saw me going out.


    I sat inside and tried to steady my heavy breathing.


    I wanted to think rationally. Maybe since the female knew him, he knew Kael was already divorced, so there was no reason for him to have a ring. Yes, that could be it. But why did he look like he enjoyed talking to him?


    Kael had always had the same poker expression around people, even around beautiful women.


    It didn''t take long before the car door opened, and he came in with a bag of stic full of chips-almost the same one I had picked up and returned.


    Did he see me there beside them?


    He dropped it in the back seat and didn''t say anything, and neither did I. I kept my silence as we drove away.


    Once we crossed the intersection, he pulled the ring from his pocket and ced it back on his finger.


    I rolled my eyes discreetly, turning my head to the side, and looked at the view from my window.


    "Did you just roll your eyes at me?" He asked.


    I nced at him and noticed that he was checking the rear-view mirror. His shoulders looked tense, but I didn''t mind it, as I was still upset. "No. I yawned." I replied.


    "I didn''t know people could roll their eyes while yawning."


    "I requested the ring so we could wear it, not take it off when there''s a woman in front of you." There, I finally said it.


    ""Are you jealous?" He asked.


    "I''m annoyed," I told him.


    "Do you have your belt on?" He asked, and I saw him looking in the mirror again. He swallowed, and sweat formed on his forehead. "What''s going on?" I asked as my hands gripped my seat tightly.


    "Belt, Adessa," he said firmly this time.


    I buckled up while my heart began to pick up its pace. I didn''t like to think of the worst, but Kael''s expression scared me.


    I looked back, but it was dark, although I saw headlights behind us.


    "Don''t look back. Just hold on tight and just trust me." He stepped on the elerator, and the car sped up. He swiveled in between lines before turning abruptly to the right, but he didn''t slow down. In fact, more. .


    Sped up


    "Kael..." I moved my hands, gripped the grab handles, and shut my eyes.


    He was driving so fast that even if I couldn''t hear anything from the outside, I felt we were being thrown into a pit, and it was making my stomach churn.


    "I needed to take my ring off so she wouldn''t think I''m stillmitted to you. She knows me. She belongs to Draco''s pack."


    "What?" My eyes opened and widened as my heart drummed loudly as if it woulde out of my chest. "Oh, Goddess!"


    "She''s one of Draco''s warriors. And I''m sure she''s in one of the cars following us right now." I didn''t hear the rest of his words as he made another abrupt turn.


    The road was so dark, and even if I didn''t want to look back, I could see headlights in my side peripherals, and I was sure it was getting closer.


    "Fuck!" Kael growled lowly, and I saw him raise his hand, but he didn''t continue to m it on the steering wheel, probably not to scare me more, and just gripped it tightly. He nced at me one more time, our eyes locking.


    "Don''t let her take me," I said.


    "The hell I would."


    "How many cars?" I asked.


    "Two."


    My lips quivered, and I bit the bottom so hard to stop them, but it was no use. I sent a silent prayer to Selene to let us get away from them.


    Terrified was an understatement. If I


    had to choose between being taken by the King''s Court or Alpha Draco''s men, I would choose the first. At least the King''s Court will give me a trial Alpha Draco would certainly hand me the punishment right away.


    "Fuck! This fucking car is useless!" Kael growled loudly. This time, he didn''t stop himself from mming his palm against the steering wheel.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    We were already driving fast, but then they were almost behind us.


    "Adessa,"


    "Kael..."


    "You killed two before. Are you up for killing one or two more?" He asked in a calmer voice as if he was just asking me to pick up apples from the orchard. "Kael..."


    "Open the dashboard." He ordered.


    With trembling hands, I opened it


    slowly, and there inside were two guns. I already had a hint of what he wanted me to do. But for Goddess''


    sake, had no idea how to aim perfectly.


    "If they came closer, you need to shoot their tires."

 Chapter 54

    KAEL.


    The moment Brooke entered the shop, I knew she was trouble. I had no idea if she was among the ones sent by Draco to find us, but I wasn''t taking chances.


    She belonged to his pack and was part of his Delta''s Shield-the top security squad of a pack.


    Brooke also attended the Alpha Academy as she belonged to an affluent family. I was sure Draco had been ignoring her existence until she hooked up with me, and the next thing I knew, he was fucking her too.


    So, I cut off all ties with her, and he eventually moved on from her as well. It only went to show that Draco had an obsession with taking females from my arms-whether I was serious with them or not.


    I knew this was the reason he was after Adessa.


    I discreetly removed my ring, not wanting Brooke to associate me with my wife in case she was sent to track us.


    Like I believed it would happen, she showed interest in me, whether ordered by Draco or she was simply flirting.


    I heard the door to the restroom open, and my heart stopped. I didn''t want Adessa to approach me.


    She didn''t, but I saw her expression whenever I nced at her when Brooke wasn''t looking. She was upset. As much as I wanted to think she was jealous, I couldn''t focus on it. I had more things to think of at the moment. I paid attention to the surroundings, wanting to check if Brooke was alone.


    And then Adessa left the shop. I almost grabbed her back, but I was able to restrain myself.


    Brooke kept talking to me. I had no idea how I managed to converse with her, pay for the chips that I grabbed along the way, and simultaneously check on Adessa.


    As soon as she was seated inside, I locked the car door using my keys and prayed to the Goddess that no one came for her. I was ready to bolt out if I saw movement anywhere near her, but everything was quiet outside. However, I already knew the moment I left the shop and walked to the car that there were eyes watching me.


    My hunch was confirmed when I saw Brooke get inside a car. Once her car door was opened, the light turned on, giving me a glimpse of two men inside. I saw them nodding their heads as if they were a confirmation of something.


    So I knew we needed to get away.


    I drove fast, but they also sped up.


    I was sure these men had weapons, but I would bet that Draco wanted Adessa alive and not dead. Draco never cared about anyone, not even his brother. I didn''t think he was affected by his death. He was only using him as an excuse to terrify Adessa and to show superiority over me.


    I hope I was right that he wanted her alive. So, as long as they couldn''t point the gun at her to threaten her, we were still at an advantage. I only had to make sure they couldn''te close to us.


    The view of the city blurred as I swiveled through the traffic, trying to distance my car from the two ck vehicles tailing us.


    Loud honks and tires screeching against the asphalt filled the air as I swerved on the lines, nearly cutting off a van. It almostnded on the dike if the driver was not able to control his car. "Fuck!" I growled.


    This chase had to end.


    Soon, I would not be able to outrun them without harming innocent people.


    I stepped on the gas again as my clutch on the wheel tightened. I abruptly turned to the left, and I ended up on a rural road with fields of rice or wheat on both sides. There were no houses around-a perfect ce for crimes.


    My eyes shifted between the rearview mirror and the shing neon arch sign of a bridge ahead. It was still too small, which meant we were still many meters away. "If theye closer, you need to shoot their tires," I told Adessa.


    "Kael, I''m not sure I can. I killed two already."


    My hand cupped the back of her head, and our eyes met. I pushed her face toward me and kissed her forehead in a swift motion.


    I could see the tears brimming in her eyes, and I did my best not to show her any emotion, but I knew I could not let her go through the same torture again. But someone had to do it.


    "Jump at the back. Stay on the floor behind me. On my mark, open the window and shoot." I said. I needed to distract her.


    "What if they shoot us?"


    "They won''t," I answered as if I knew what they were thinking.


    Adessa crawled toward the back of my seat, taking one gun with her while I grabbed the other and ced it on her vacated seat. She was on the floor but was looking out at the back window from time to time.


    I saw one of the two cars speeding up.


    I moved to the left side of the road, and I could already see the faster car approaching the right side.


    "Duck and rise on my signal!" I shouted, wanting to make sure she could hear me despite the sounds of the roaring engine. "Aaah!" Adessa shrieked as the car behind us bumped my rear.


    A growl ripped from my throat as I fought hard to control the wheel. The thought of Adessa holding a gun and that she could have fired it at herself at the impact pushed me tomy limit.


    I nced again at the rearview mirror. The second car was too far away, and saw the one behind us speeding up, gearing for another, bump. hastily swerved to the far right and slightly loosened my foot on the gas, making the car catch up and drive at the same range as us.


    And everything after that felt like slow motion.


    I pressed the window button on the passenger side, and it rolled down as my hand grabbed the gun and raised it. With a steady pulse that had mastered over the years, three consecutive shots rang out in the air, making Adessa scream louder.


    One shot on the driver''s neck and the next two at the back where the gas tank was.


    It sent their vehicle swerving violently, nearly hitting my car, but I was able to escape the impact as I sped up.


    In a split second, Adessa''s screams were drowned out by a big explosion of two ck cars colliding and flying behind us as we made it to the next exit.Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 55

    KAEL.


    Adessa''s screams were drawn by the explosion behind us as we made it to the next exit.


    I shifted my eyes from the side mirror to the rearview and caught sight of her looking through the back window. I could only see the back of her head, but I could tell she was shaking.


    I wanted to check on her, but I needed to be far away from here before any of their backup came, or worse, the police officers.


    I reached the end of the bridge and found myself at a roundabout. I had no idea where the road I chose would lead us, but I kept driving. Anywhere would be fine, as long as we ended far away from the scene.


    It didn''t take long for the siren''s sound to reverberate through the air, but it quickly faded as my car elerated away.


    "Adessa..." I was finally able to utter a word, and it snapped her from looking at the back window. It had already been a long time since the explosion was no longer visible, yet she remained staring.


    She moved swiftly, crawling back to the front seat just in time after I shoved the gun back to the dashboard. She sat in her seat and put on her seatbelt, looking at the road in front of us with her chest heaving and heavily breathing. "Adessa..." I grabbed her shaking hand. It was cold-too cold.


    "Do you think they''re dead?" She asked.


    "Yes."


    She closed her eyes, one hand gripping her seat while the other was sped with mine tightly. "I didn''t want people dying because of me."


    "It''s either you or them. I''m not going to sit here and watch them take you." I told her, and I meant it.


    She was still shaking, no matter how tight she held on to me or to her seat. I could only imagine how she was when it was only her alone, and she shot two men dead.


    I ejected her seat belt, and she looked at me. There were no tears in her eyes, but fear was still flitting in them.


    I adjusted my seat back, leaving more space between me and the steering wheel. I then patted my thighs as I spoke. "Come here."


    "What do you mean?"


    "Sit on me," I replied, opening one arm.


    It took a few seconds before she moved and crawled toward me. I slowed down a bit until she was settled in myp, straddling me with her arms around my neck.


    "I don''t know what I did wrong... Why must I run like this?" She rested her head in the crook of my neck, hugging me tightly until soft sobs ripped through the air. My eyes watered as I gently rubbed her back. "Sssh... You did nothing wrong."


    "I should have let them take me to Alpha Draco. Or do what they want with me..." Her voice broke, and I could tell she was trying to suppress her cries.


    My knuckles turned white as I gripped the steering wheel tightly while one arm wrapped around her.


    "I''m d you killed them. And I don''t regret killing the others. If we need to run and move away from this country to keep you safe, we will do that." I told her.


    I knew I had a responsibility with my pack, but I also knew I couldn''t leave her alone, not like this-not when everyone wanted to harm and ruin her.


    She withdrew from my neck and


    cupped my face. She began peppering my cheek with kisses as she mumbled in between her sobs. "I thank the Goddess every day for you, Kael. More so today than I had for the past year. Thank you." Exclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    I smiled at her as our eyes met before she hugged me again and softly sobbed against my neck.


    How could I tell her it was all my


    fault that she was in this situation? I didn''t want her to think I was only here because I felt guilty. I wanted her to feel I was here because


    wanted to be here. I wanted to keep


    her safe.


    I looked at the road ahead-it was long and seemed endless, but I could see blinking lights far ahead. It might be a city or a residential area that was already waking up at dawn.


    I had one more thing to do before we exited this road.


    I grabbed my phone and told Adessa not to make a noise. I waited for her confirmation before I pressed the number I asked Rasmus to give me earlier.


    Just as I expected, he was awake, probably waiting for an update.


    "I''m warning you! If you send people again to trail me, they will end up with the same fate as Brooke and herpany!"


    "What did you do to her?" Draco growled.


    "Wait for the morning news, and you''ll find out."


    "If you think I will stop, you''re wrong. If I need to send my whole pack toe for Adessa, I will do so."


    "If you think I''m scared, then you''re fucking delusional."


    "Give me Adessa and this will be over."


    "I guess this won''t be over then because there is no way you''re getting your hands on her."


    Dracoughed maniacally. "I enjoy installing fear on you."


    "Fear?" I scoffed. "Don''t forget I''m Kael. I fear no one, and I enjoy the chase. See you at the other end, fucker."


    I dropped the call and put the phone in between my teeth before one-handedly disassembling it and pushing the SIM card out. I broke it into two before rolling down my window and tossing it out in the rice fields. "How about the phone?" Adessa asked.


    "Soon," I told her.


    We drove another kilometer before I threw the phone on the road in front of us and let my tire run through it, breaking itpletely.


    If someone was tracking us based on the phone call I made to Draco, they could find that phone here. Because moving forward, I wouldn''t be making any calls-not even to Rasmus or to my pack.


    We''d been driving for many hours,


    and the dawn was already breaking.


    Adessa was back in her seat and


    had fallen asleep. Dry tears were on her cheeks, and despite the regr beating of her heart, her forehead was still creased. Even in her sleep, she had a worried expression.


    We were just getting started. I knew more bumps woulde along the way, and I needed to be more prepared for another encounter.


    We ended up on a different road than I intended to take. Our arrival in the north might have been dyedpared to what I originally thought, but we were still on track.


    This route would also allow us to rest somewhere other than an inn or hostel, which was safer, so no one could track us.


    But I hope the person I was intending to seek refuge with is still alive and living here.

 Chapter 56

    KAEL.


    Adessa''s eyes fluttered open. She was looking straight ahead, still lost in her thoughts, and I just let her be. We were already threading a narrow, rough road through the deep part of the forest. The canopies of the trees filtered the sun, casting shadows across the path


    and making the area darker and gloomy, even if it was already midmorning.


    The road was barely wide enough for a car, but it only meant I was in the right direction. It had been almost a decade since I''d been here, but it looked and felt the same.


    "Where are we heading?" she finally asked, breaking the silence between us.


    "We need a ce to stay for at least a day so you can rest, and I can make some adjustments on our way to the north."


    "This seems to be too far from civilization already."This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "Are you scared of where I would take you?" I teased her.


    She turned her head to me, and a smile slowly curled on her red lips. "You can tell me we''re on the road to hell, and I will stille with you. Hell with you sounds better than alone and with Alpha Draco."


    I smiled and focused my eyes on the road, as I knew I needed to do a right turn soon. "You can drop the Alpha in his name."


    "I''ve been wanting to. But thest time I dropped the Alpha from another Alpha''s name, you went ballistic."


    I chuckled. She wasn''t wrong there, but Rasmus was totally different from Draco. "My bad. Call them by their first name if you''re morefortable with it."


    "Unless it''s a formal gathering or meeting." She added. "That''s what you told me before."


    "That''s right. But feel free to call them names when it''s just us. It can be wicked or gross, I don''t mind. The uglier, the better." I chuckled again.


    Her mouth hung open as the smile kept ying on her face. She pped her hands gently on herp before she spoke. "Tell me again, you have no memory of our time together? Because you''ve said those words, not word by word but almost exactly!" "And tell me, why do you have such a good memory that you remember every little detail of us?"


    Her face dropped, and her shoulders slumped.


    "Hey, did I say something bad?" I asked, furrowing my brows.


    "All my memories are just with you. Not that it''s a bad thing, but I mean, of course, I''d remember everything we talked about, as I barely spend time with anyone except you."


    I swallowed. I recalled Landon telling me that she had no friends and would asionally visit women from different departments and centers of the pack, but she rarely spent time with them.


    "Why don''t you have friends?" I asked. I might know the answer already, but I still didn''t want to believe it.


    "They don''t like me." She answered before drawing her gaze to the window beside her. "I tried to be friendly at the beginning, but after many unwee faces and being not looked at when I spoke with them, I gave up."


    "I''m sorry. Was it about me not telling them you didn''t steal me from Desiree?"


    "Maybe. Maybe not. Maybe they just


    don''t like me." She then turned her head to meet my gaze, forcing a smile on her face. "But thedy in the flower shop where I get all the flowers I decorate our home- mean, your house-she was nice and lovely. She would offer coffee, and we would chat for a while. Other times, I brought her coffee when I visited."


    "She must be the woman who gave a bouquet of flowers for you when I was in the za one time. You just left then, but I took it with me and put it in my office at the Central Hall." "She did? Wow. It must have been beautiful!" Her eyes twinkled, and a part of me ached. "I love flowers."


    "Tell me, did I give you flowers on special asions?"


    She nodded, but she didn''t say anything more.


    "On ordinary days?"


    She shook her head. The glow on her face was already gone.


    "I''m sorry." I felt like punching myself for being indifferent to her.


    "What for?" She smiled, but it wasn''t the same smile she had earlier when I told her about the flowers the woman gave her. "Flowers are just flowers. And..."


    "Those flowers during special asions," I cut her off. "I gave them to you, or someone handed them?"


    Even with Desiree, I wasn''t the type to give flowers, but I wanted to learn more about our rtionship and how I was treating her.


    "Landon." She turned her head away again. "He would alwayse with flowers and cards. Gifts, too. From you."


    "I''m an ass for a husband, yet you stayed."


    ADESSA.


    "I''m an ass for a husband, yet you stayed," Kael said, and I had no idea how to react to let him know it was okay, even if deep inside, I was hoping he would be sweeter.


    There were just two asions I got


    flowers from him in the one year we


    were together my birthday and our first anniversary. I should be happy with that, but I heard Landon ask Kael if he had prepared anything for our anniversary the next day. Not that expected him to, as I was already nning a dinner for us. But


    when he said he had forgotten that it was our anniversary. Landon berated him and told him he only had two asions he needed to


    it still made my heart si ut


    remember-my birthday and our


    anniversary-and he forgot both.


    It was a blow to my heart, but I still smiled and pretended to be happy when the flowers and a gift showed up the next day, even though I knew it was Landon who had prepared them.


    I always tell myself Kael was the


    perfect mate. He provided for me, gave me mind-blowing sex, hugged me and peppered me with kisses, let me decide about our home, and gave me the freedom to do what i wanted. I got flowers and gifts for my birthday and our first anniversary, even if not directly from him. Hemitted to our marriage and did exactly everything a husband should do, as written on the paper.


    We both knew that was all it was supposed to be and that he never loved me to make an effort for extra sweet things. Our marriage was a contract. I shouldn''t beining. "I''m notining. It was a good one year." I told him.

 Chapter 57

    ADESSA.


    "I''m notining. It was a good one year." I told him, still smiling, and this time I nodded my head to convince him more.


    He took my hand and brought it to his mouth, kissing my knuckles. "The best is yet toe. I promise..."


    He lowered our hands but kept holding mine as we continued to drive in silence.


    Despite losing his memory, Kael was still the same Kael I knew. He was always calcted and never seemed fazed by uncertainties or danger, but something about him changed. He became more expressive.


    Before his ident, he would always kiss me or hug me, which frequently ended up with us having sex. Buttely, he would do the same but never push more. He was content to simply hold my hand or give me a hug. And I liked it.


    If I were being honest, I had no idea if I should be grateful for all the things happening in my life at the moment because Kael was being extra protective and attentive to me like he had never been before.


    "We''re here." His voice snapped back to the present, and it was only then that it dawned on me that he had already stopped the car, and ahead of us was a log house.


    It was of decent size-but big for someone like me who had never owned a house. It was beautiful and well maintained despite being located somewhere deep in the forest.


    "Who lives here?" I asked as I looked around. Even the outside area was well maintained and clean.


    "Erika," he replied.


    My head slowly tilted to look at him. I wasn''t expecting him to be looking at me, so I was not able to hide the grim expression on my face.


    He chuckled before flicking the tip of my nose, making me scrunch my face. "So I assume, based on your expression, that I have never spoken of her."


    "How many exes do you have?" I asked, yfully rolling my eyes.


    In all honesty, I only knew of Desiree. He only talked about Brooke and their past today on our way here, so even if I didn''t want to, I was already jealous of Erika. "Erika is not my ex. She was my father''s ex."


    ""What?"This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    "She was almost my stepmother if Miranda didn''t pop out of nowhere and take my father away from her."


    "Ohhh..." My eyes widened. So the real homewrecker was Miranda and not me, like how she was ying it.


    "But..." He paused.


    My heart drummed. I didn''t like the but part.


    "She has a daughter almost the same age as me." He added.


    "And she likes you." I assumed because everybody liked Kael.


    "She liked me. Past tense. But,st I heard, she was already married."


    "Do you like her? Or did you do her like you did Brooke?"


    ""No. Never."


    "Great. So it shouldn''t be an issue, right?"


    "Yep. That''s what I''m thinking, and I doubt if she lives here, so it shouldn''t be an issue, but I still want to tell you ahead of time, or I might get some eyes rolling at me the whole time we are here."


    "I don''t roll my eyes," I told him defensively. I did my best to control my eyes, as I was having an urge to roll them.


    He leaned closer-so close our noses were touching. "Well, the only time your eyes should be rolling back is when I''m deep inside you."


    My eyes widened at his words. I was caught off guard again. My pussy throbbed in an instant as the butterflies swarm around my stomach. I discreetly mp my legs together, not knowing how to react.


    I was still busy trying to control my arousal when Kael''s hand cupped my cheek and his mouth pressed


    against mine. Soon, his lips were et


    moving-sucking and biting mine and I found myself closing my eyes as I kissed him back.


    Kissing Kael just felt natural and had always been the highlight of my days.


    I was softly moaning as we devoured each other''s mouths, only to be disturbed by a knock on his window We immediately separated, and our heads tilted down to look at my chest. His hand was on my


    breast, still squeezing it.


    He withdrew and raised both hands in the air. He was about to say something when I pointed at his back, where a female outside was standing with her hands on her hips.


    The car window was tinted, so she couldn''t see us. She looked stern and upset to find us in hernd.


    "She''s Erika." He told me before he pressed a button to roll the window down.


    I bit my bottom lip, watching as she looked at us once the window was already down.


    "Kael?" She gasped, and her expression changed. Her face lit up as she moved closer and grabbed his face, tilting his head to both sides before she kissed his cheeks. "Oh, Goddess! It is you!" She eximed.


    I was still biting my bottom lip, but I


    couldn''t help the smile that graced my lips. She looked truly happy, and the way theughter ripped from Kael''s throat told me they had good connection-way better than Miranda and Kael, as I had never


    seen them like this.


    Her eyes watered, and so did mine.


    I never knew what it felt like to have a mother, and witnessing Aunt Aria and Erika dotting on Kael made me long for the mother I never had.


    "Is she your wife?" she asked, and her face told me she was being overwhelmed by too many good emotions.


    Kael nodded as his attention shifted to me.


    "Oh, Goddess! She is more beautiful in person. Both of youe out here, as I''m not tall enough for hugs over a car window." She moved a few steps back, motioning with her hands for us toe to her. Kael smiled at me and whispered. "She''s lovely. I''m sure you will like her."


    "Do you think she will like me?" I whispered back.


    "She likes you already. She never fakes displeasure." He winked at me, then opened his car door while I unbuckled my seatbelt.


    I thought Kael would go directly to her, but he rounded the car and went to my side. He helped me out of my seat before wrapping an arm around my body and drawing me close to his side as we walked toward her.

 Chapter 58

    LADESSA.


    Meeting Erika was a pleasant surprise. She was very motherly and immediately offered a home-cooked meal that I''d been missing. In thest three weeks, my only good meal was when I was with Aunt Aria, so my growling stomach weed the warm meal she shared with us. During mealtime, she finally confessed that she had seen the news that the King''s Court was looking for me. But the moment I showed up here with Kael, she knew there was something more to it than just me killing them. And I was grateful for her honesty.


    Kael then talked about his ident and him losing his memory. She didn''t hide her animosity with Miranda and directly told Kael how disgusting her behavior was toward me. I was d Kael didn''t defend his stepmother this time.


    "I''ve heard about the ident, but I never thought it was that bad as I called, and I was told you were resting. I called twice after that, and I was given different excuses. The excuses seemed like you were working and not in aa." She said, and I could see the displeasure in her expression.


    "I was in aa for a month."This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    "Have you been thoroughly checked after you woke up, or did you just go ahead and work? Not checking your blood and vitals?"


    "They did check me."


    "Was it Gideon who checked you?"


    Gideon was the family physician, but he was not the one who took care of Kael. He was out of the country when the ident happened and had not been back even before I left.


    "No. He was on vacation when I was in aa."


    "What?" She gasped in surprise. "And he didn''t cut his vacation to check on you? Something is fishy here. He is your godfather, Kael. He dropped everything when you had a wall-climbing ident, and you were barely injured then. Now you''re telling me he didn''t even pay you a visit when you are almost as good as dead? Unless they didn''t tell him like they hid it from me."


    "I''m sorry. I should have been the one who kept contact with Gideon, but I did call him, and he was unreachable. Then Dr. Carlitos came, and they said he was also a family physician. In the one year we were together, we never really had medical emergencies, so I was not that familiar with that aspect, and all I wanted was for Kael to wake up." I exined.


    "No one is ming you, sweetheart," Erika said as she looked at me, and her expression softened. "If Miranda was around, I''m sure she''d use her authority over everyone else."


    She then shook her head. "I will call a friend. He''s a doctor. I want you checked and see if you are already okay."


    "I''m okay."


    "I know you would say that, but let''s make sure you are really okay. Adessa needs you one hundred percent and not just a portion of your strength."


    "Fine." Kael chuckled.


    "In the beginning, they made it appear in the news that you were the suspect in that ident. Until they couldn''t find any proof." Erika added, looking at me again. Kael''s head snapped in my direction. "They did what?" He was almost growling. "Why didn''t I know that?"


    "I just didn''t have time to tell you, but I was not sent for trial or anything as the crime scene investigator immediately ruled that ident as no foul y." "This is not good," Kael said.


    "What do you mean?" I asked, my heart thundering.


    "If people heard from the news they initially pointed my ident to you, they might use it in the case against you. That you have a record..."


    "Don''t say that. I didn''t do anything wrong. They can kill me for killing Draco''s men, but I will stand my ground that I didn''t do anything to hurt you or never n to hurt you!" My voice was slightly higher. I meant


    every word I said. The World


    could judge me for killing two people, but I wanted to make sure Kael would never doubt that I would never harm him.


    "Rx. This is not me saying you harmed me." He reached for my hand on the top of the table and rubbed it before entwining it with him.


    I saw Erika''s eyes looking at them before letting out a deep sigh. "I''m d I''d spoken with you two, or I would still be under the impression she was guilty of those killings, basing it on the news I watched."


    "I did kill them," I mumbled.


    "Oh, I would, too, sweetheart. I would butcher them until no one could identify them anymore. Just because they thought they were stronger than women, they could do as they pleased. No. Not with me. I''m d we are two people short of those gross bastards." I bit my bottom lip and caught Kael winking at me.


    "So, what are your ns? You don''t need to tell me everything, but why are you here?"


    "We need a ce to stay so we can sleep without worry, even for a night," Kael told her.


    "You''re not nning to run away forever, right?"


    "No."


    "Good. Because that''s not the life I want for you, Kael. And since you are married, it means life for both of you. I don''t want to visit your kids in a secret location while keeping an eye out for anyone who might be following me."


    I couldn''t help the smile that graced my lips with her words.


    "You will let me meet my bonus grandchildren, right?"


    "Of course," Kael said.


    "Good. Because Miranda kicked me


    out of your lifepletely, and I understand that because Khalid was still alive then. But now that he''s


    gone, there''s no reason for her t


    think want to connect with you because of him." She was smiling, but I saw the pain in her eyes, and for some reason, it made me sad.


    I was certain that the pain I saw in her was the same pain I saw in mine when I looked at my reflection in the mirror days after Kael rejected me. She still loved him.


    "Did you remarry?" I asked before I realized I was being intrusive


    But Erika seemed not to mind my question. She shook her head and responded. "No. I''m done with all the heartbreak. I''m better off alone." She chuckled softly before she sped her hands together. "Oh, Sasha is on her way here with her son. I can''t stop them from going here today, as the reception is bad around here."


    "Sasha?" I asked, but I already had an inkling who it was.


    "My daughter. Her husband, a human, passed awayst year due to illness. They oftene here when my grandson is on school break."

 Chapter 59

    LADESSA.


    Sasha came, and I felt out of ce right away because she made it seem she knew Kael more than I did. Or maybe I was just overthinking things, as they obviously knew each other way before I existed in Kael''s life. But to be fair with Kael, he made it a point to include me in their conversation or at least exin things when Sasha would throw remarks or tell a story like it was their little secret.


    Maybe I was just being jealous, but I couldn''t help it. It seemed every female I encountered these days was, in one way or another, rted to Kael and had a past with him.


    "More drinks?" Sasha approached and filled Kael''s ss with red wine. Kael was sitting beside me, his arm resting on the back of my chair so his skin was brushing against the back of my neck.


    "Tell me, you really don''t drink?" Kael asked as Sasha sat back on her chair in front of us. The three of us were seated at the dining table while Erika took four-year-old Gabe, Sasha''s son, for a bath before bed. I shook my head in response, our eyes just staring at each other.


    That was a lie. I did drink. But since Kael didn''t have any memories of us together, I felt it was safer to lie than to exin why I didn''t want to drink.


    I was not sure if I was pregnant, and I wouldn''t be taking risks.


    I smiled at him sweetly before caressing his cheek because I could feel the hair on my skin standing. Sasha must be staring at me with dagger eyes. "You''re drunk already. Don''t drink more, or you might pass out and..."


    "Will you take care of me when I get too drunk?" Kael cut me off from talking, and his eyes were twinkling. He was definitely drunk. That was their second bottle of wine.


    "I always take care of you when you''re drunk." This time, I answered from the heart, not because I was showing off.


    "I must be really lucky." His head dropped down, and his nose nuzzled my neck, sending a shiver of pleasure down my spine. "You smell so sweet."


    Typical drunk Kael.


    He was drunk, but I was sure he still knew what he was doing. He just couldn''t control his actions and his mouth.


    "No more drinking." I reminded him because his hand on the table was about to lift the wine ss again. I took the wine ss from him and moved it where he couldn''t reach it.


    "Oh,e on. Don''t tell me you are mothering your ex-husband." Sasha said sarcastically.


    I wanted to roll my eyes at her. Unfortunately for me, she was able to see the news stating Kael and I were already divorced, and she made it a point to always point that out.


    "I need him sober tomorrow," I answered nicely.


    "I''m sure he just needs sleep, and he''ll be fine." She then scoffed as she yed with her ss. "I''m surprised you have no idea how he reacts after drinking."


    "He''ll be fine, but he''ll have a headache. He just came out of aa, so I''m sure excessive drinking and head pains are not good for him." I was still smiling, even if I wanted to re at her.


    Of course, I knew he could still function well after drinking, but he told me that thest time he drank-the day after he woke up and after we had sex-he had a terrible headache the next day.


    "Yup." Kael chuckled. "I need to be sober because my lovely wife can''t drive a car. We might end up in a ditch if I let her drive tomorrow." Kael added before he began sucking my neck.


    If this was another time, I would have asked him to behave, but I was feeling wicked tonight, so I just let him while my hand on his thigh brushed against his leg, like I was telling him I was enjoying what he was doing. "She''s no longer your wife." Sasha reminded us.


    "She is..." Kael mumbled, and I ended up staring at Sasha.


    I didn''t stop myself from raising my brows. I was silently daring her to


    say more, and I wouldn''t stop my


    mouth this time, especially sinc


    Kael was already shoving it on her face that he was with me her.


    nov


    "Mommy!" Gabe''s voice rang in the air as little footsteps approached.


    I tapped Kael''s thighs before adjusting his head and yfully ring at him. "Behave. Gabe is here."


    He chuckled, and it made my heart flutter. He was really handsome and charming with those ssy eyes and an extra broad smile.


    "He wants to say goodnight before going to bed." Erika smiled as she leaned against the wall, her arms crossed, while she looked at all of us.


    Gabe kissed and hugged his mother before Sasha whispered to him, but it was loud enough for us to hear. "Go say goodnight to Daddy Kael."


    My eyes rolled. I was not able to stop it. The good thing was that I was facing Kael, and he was the only one who had seen it. He tapped my nose as if reminding me to behave. "He''s not my Daddy," Gabe replied in a whisper as his shoulders slumped.


    And it broke my heart. Why would Sasha tell him that when he was not asking for it? Of course, I knew the answer.


    "He''s family." She told him. "I''m sure it''s okay with him. Go now."


    Gabe came over to our side, his smile broadening as he saw me. He was really cute with deep dimples, but before he could approach me, Kael already called him. "Come here, kid." "I want to go to Adessa first." He said, pouting, but he went to him.


    "You can call me Papa Kael. I don''t mind." He ruffled his hair, and I saw Gabe''s face lit up until he added more. "And you can call her Mama Adessa. I''m sure your mom won''t mind." "No. I don''t want that." Gabe pouted again.


    "Why?" Kael asked.


    "She''s going to be my wife."


    "Ha ha!" Kael chuckled before ruffling his hair again. "Nice try, kid. She''s my wife."


    "Grammy said you''re almost ten years older than Adessa. So I know you''ll die before her, and then she''s allowed to marry again. I''ll be big then."


    "Aren''t you too smart for your age? But nope. You can''t go around stealing someone''s wife. Find your own woman."


    I giggled softly. How I wanted to repeat thest part to his mother.


    "You can say goodnight to Mama


    Adessa," Kael told him, emphasizing the Mama. "But behave. Because I''m


    watching you." He pointed two


    fingers near his eyes, then directed


    them toward Gabe.


    Gabeughed heartily, warming my heart, before they hugged each other again. He then turned around to say goodnight to me, addressing me as Mama, much to his mother''s annoyance.


    After Gabe and Erika left, I told


    Sasha that Kael and I were going to


    bed. Of course, she tried to stop us and told me if I was sleepy, I could go ahead. I was d Kael butted in and told her that he was tired and wanted to rest. Because if not, I right have slipped some sarcastic reply to her.


    I had to keep reminding myself that we were in their home, but she was really irritating me.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.

 Chapter 60

    LADESSA.


    A drunk Kael was heavy to assist, but a pretending to be "too drunk," Kael was heavier.


    He was surely having a great time throwing his weight on me as we walked down the corridor to our room while singing the same song he had sung to me thest time he was drunk.


    "And it''s you and me and all of the people. And I don''t know why I can''t keep my eyes off of you." He sang, off-tune of course, but I loved it more.


    I hoped that song was meant specifically for me, as he had started singing it a few weeks prior to his ident. But as much as I wanted to believe that, it was also the time he began to feel a little more distant and the time that Desiree came back to the territory. "Kael, you''re heavy," I mumbled.


    "I thought you''d take care of me when I''m drunk." He replied, pausing from singing and pressing a kiss on my cheek.


    "I said, take care of you, not carry you!" I feigned a scowl despite feeling giddy with the kiss. I still held his arm around my shoulders while my other arm snaked around his waist.


    "Such aining wife I got," he chuckled, and in one swift motion, our positions changed.


    He scooped me from the floor and immediately wrapped my arms and legs around him, giggling as he carried me toward our room.


    "See, I have to carry you, and you''re not even drunk, but I''m notining." He teased me.


    "Well, Mister Alpha, you should stop pretending to be drunk just to grope me. Did you think I didn''t notice you were taking advantage of me the whole night?" I teased back.


    He chuckled heartily as we entered our bedroom. "I didn''t see anything wrong with what I did. Besides, my wife seems to like it. And I''m here to do as you please."


    I felt giddy at the attention he was giving me. I continued to giggle as he sat on the bed, with me perched on hisp. I let go of my arms around his neck before pushing him into the bed. He ended up lying down in the middle, arms spread out, and he began singing again. I got up from him and went to the window to close the curtains.


    I saw Sasha by the front porch, smoking and checking her wristwatch. For some reason, her simple action made my heart thunder. Was she waiting for someone?


    I shook my head, forcing any negative thoughts out of my mind. She would never ce Kael in harm''s way.


    "Adessa..." Kael spoke.


    "Hmmm..." I mumbled as I drew the curtains closed, but my gaze was fixed on him. He was still lying in bed, but his eyes were staring at the ceiling.


    "Didn''t I tell you not to roll your eyes at me? Not unless..."


    "I can''t help it!" I cut him off before he could put me on the spot again. "It''s like she wants to pick me up and throw me far away from here." I was d I was able to air that out, and I hoped he wouldn''t defend her. "I would never let that happen."


    "I know. You''ve been good there." I smiled, remembering how he was too intimate with me, even in her presence.


    "Good, what? Friend? Alpha? Husband?" He asked, his expression stoic.


    I bit my bottom lip before climbing onto the bed, positioning my knees and hands on the sides of his thighs and shoulders, caging his body. Then, I lowered my head, keeping it parallel to his. "Husband..."


    "You''re beautiful, Adessa." A smile slowly formed on his lips as his hand cupped my cheek, gently caressing it with his thumb while his eyes turned ssy.


    "And you''re drunk. Tomorrow, I''m back to the ugly Adessa,"


    His forehead creased. "No. No, please don''t tell me there was a point in our lives together when I told you you were ugly. Because that''s impossible. I know beauty when I see one."


    I giggled, lowered my head onto his chest, and put my whole weight on top of him.


    He wrapped his arms around my


    body and chuckled. "But I am sure I told you you were heavy because you are really heavy, and you are suffocating me now. I might die." He exaggerated. "But nothing is betterExclusive content from N?velDrama.Org.


    than dying in your arms."


    I giggled more and louder this time. I then moved my head to nuzzle my nose against his neck. It was payback time for seducing me in front of Sasha.


    "Adessa..." He groaned, and I felt something turning hard between us.


    "Hmmm..." I mumbled as I began sucking his neck.


    "Are you aware of what you''re asking with that?"


    "I don''t know. Tell me." I teased him while still letting my lips savor him.


    He grunted loudly before his hand gripped a fistful of my hair. His cock was fully hard, prodding against my front, but I ignored it as I continued sucking while moaning.


    If Kael wanted sex, I was sure I wanted more. It was not a joke not having sex with him for many weeks when I was used to us doing the deed almost every day before his ident.


    Even when we had arguments, we


    would end up having wild sex. It


    usually helped us to calm down and resolve our issues. And sometimes, I would infuriate him just so we could end up having makeup sex


    "Aah!" I let out a shriek as my body unexpectedly turned over,nding on my back with Kael hovering above me.


    A wicked grin tugged at his mouth before he licked his lips, but he didn''t say anything. He was just looking at me as if he wanted to eat me right up.


    I couldn''t stop the arousal brewing within me. My pussy was throbbing, and my throat was turning dry.


    I wanted him.


    "Fuck me, Kael." I finally said it.

 Chapter 61

    LADESSA.


    "Fuck me, Kael." I finally said it.


    A growl reverberated from his chest, and his lips crashed into mine without a warning. My arms wrapped around his neck as we hungrily kissed each other.


    I couldn''t hear anything but the loud beating of my own heart and the gruntsing from him.


    In no time, I felt cold air brushing against my skin, waking me up from my trance.


    Kael had let me go and left me fully naked, syed out in the middle, while he stood at the foot of the bed without a shirt and unbuckling his pants. He was undressing himself slowly while his eyes were devouring every part of my naked body.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    I was sure he could smell my arousal as his eyes were dting, and I could see lust all over his face. His reaction was giving me the confidence I needed to y the seductress that always made him want me more.


    I anchored my feet on the mattress and spread my legs wider before letting my hand crawl my belly down to my core.


    The moment my fingers touched my wet pussyfolds, another growl escaped his lips as he kicked off his pants, followed by his boxers.


    Kael looked like a god, standing in front of me in all his naked glory-his hard cock pointing in my direction.


    A seductive grin curled on my lips as my fingers parted my folds before sliding one finger in between them and coating it with my leaking juices, rubbing it gently as I began to moan his name.


    KAEL.


    I knew the game Sasha was ying.


    She had yed this game even before.


    When I was still a hormonal teenager, I had no reservations about taking women home with me so I could fuck them. So, when we both lived in the same house while our parents were still together, she made it a point to make these women feel inferior to her. Most of the time, she was sessful in her efforts.


    I honestly didn''t care. Like I mentioned, I had only taken them home so I could fuck them. But, I was determined not to allow her to intimidate Adessa, even if it meant pretending to be smitten with my wife.


    Or maybe I wasn''t ying the part. I was really smitten with her and how good it felt to nibble on her skin. And I was d Adessa was tolerating me.


    "Fuck me, Kael." She said in a hoarse voice, but I could tell she was nervous.


    A growl reverberated from my chest, knowing she wanted this just as much as I did.


    I didn''t waste time and attacked her


    lips while my hands moved to strip her of her clothing. In no time, Adessa was fully naked in front of me while I struggled to take off my clothes because I couldn''t stop


    staring at her.


    I had seen her naked in Rasmus'' territory, but this was the first time I was able to run my eyes over her full, naked body. She was perfect. She had the perfect curves in all the right ces.


    Her big breasts were making my throat dry and my cock really hard. I wanted them in my mouth as much as I wanted to eat her pussy again.


    Adessa looked too innocent, but it seemed she really knew how to stir up my lust.


    She propped her elbows against the mattress as she raised her upper body before she parted her legs wider. Her hand trailed down her


    body until she reached herpet


    parting her pussy lips for me to see before letting her finger slide in


    between her folds, coating it with her


    juices.


    I swallowed hard, torn between wanting to taste her and wanting to watch her pleasure herself.


    Adessa slipped her middle finger inside her and began fucking herself, moaning as her eyes closed while her finger rhythmically assaulted her leaking pussy. And I knew I couldn''t stand still anymore.


    I dropped to my knees and grabbed


    her ankles before dragging her toward me. As soon as her pink pussy was in front of me, I removed her finger from her core, ced it in my mouth, and started sucking her juices without taking my eyes off hers.


    Her mouth parted as she watched me suck her finger before I tilted my head down andpped at her, still with my gaze fixated on her.


    A soft moan escaped her lips as her eyes began to flutter, and I couldn''t help the pride rising from my chest.


    She was giving me the reaction I wanted from her.


    I grasped her legs and pulled them halfway up, causing her pussy and ass to slightly elevate. She was too wide and open for me to see.


    I swiped my tongue on both of her holes numerous times, watching her reaction before I focused on sucking andpping her pussy.


    "Kael..." She lustfully whimpered as her hands flew to hold her thighs, keeping them steady for me until she couldn''t hold them anymore, so she wrapped her legs around my neck while I continued to devour every part of her. "You taste so good, baby..." I grunted as I slipped two fingers inside her and began finger-fucking her while my tongue yed with her clit.


    I had no idea how to eat her out in a way that she would like because I couldn''t remember a thing about pleasuring her, but it seemed my mouth, and my fingers already knew how they should work around her pussy.


    And they were doing a fucking job because, in no time, Adessa was squirming and whimpering under my assault, throwing filthy words I never usually hear from her. And I liked it.


    "Oh, fuck, Kael. My pussy loves that! Oh, Goddess..."


    "You like that?" I asked huskily, in between sucking her.


    "Yes! Yes! Oh, more..." Her hands gripped my hair, tugging and pressing my head toward her core. She rubbed herself against my mouth until her legs tightened around my head and her body stiffened.


    I doubled my pace, ramming my fingers in and out of her, harshly and deeply, while rubbing her swollen clit with my thumb before wholeheartedly weing her sweet release into my mouth.

 Chapter 62

    KAEL.


    Adessa continued to whimper, her body shuddering at her release. I didn''t even give her time to enjoy her orgasm before I reached for her waist and lowered her from the bed, positioning her onto my thighs while I remained half kneeling on the floor. She looked at me with her mouth parted and lust in her eyes.


    I didn''t need to tell her what to do. She knew exactly how to proceed like we had done this in this position before.


    She reached for her pussy and opened her folds wider before I positioned her onto my erection. The moment her folds weed the tip of my shaft, she removed her hand and arched her body backward.


    I plunged my throbbing cock into her without warning, causing a sultry moan to escape her lips as she threw her head back.


    A growl escaped my throat at the feel of her pussy clenching around my hard cock as she adjusted to my girth. She was so tight and warm, and if I didn''t take time to gather myself, I might end up exploding soon. My hands on her waist tightened as I closed my eyes and held my breath. I needed a moment to control my arousal.


    But then she began moving, bouncing up and down on my cock. My eyes flew open, and I found her staring at me with a seductive grin on her face while her hands gripped the end of the bed behind her for support. She was a seductress-a sight to behold-and I felt lucky to be the only man ever to see this kinky side of her.


    A smile slowly cracked on my face as my hands flew to her full breasts, massaging and kneading them as I began to buck my hips, meeting her every bounce until she let me take full control.


    I held her waist again, and I rose from the floor, holding her body in a half-angled position as I fucked her, mming my raging cock in and out of her pussy.


    Her wild moans echoed around me, making me hornier than I had ever felt in my whole life.


    It didn''t take long before she trembled, letting me know she had her second orgasm, but I wasn''t done with her. I kept fucking her, not even slowing down to regain her strength, and in no time, she began shuddering again.


    "No! No! No!" She whimpered, her eyes rolling back as she tried to reach for my shoulders, but she couldn''t, so she gripped my arms instead, her nails digging into my skin.


    And then I felt it-something was pushing my cock out.


    I thrust into her harshly before withdrawing abruptly, and a thin jet-like liquid squirted out of her and wet my stomach down to my thighs as her legs shook.


    I licked my lips and watched her squirt run down us until it stopped. It was only then that I pulled her closer and hugged her tightly, letting her head rest on my shoulder.


    Her body was still a bit stiff, telling me she was still riding her orgasm.


    "I want to fuck you more..." I whispered huskily.


    "Yes..." She mumbled so softly. "Yes... More."


    "Good girl." I grabbed the nape of her neck and moved her head before crushing our lips together.


    Adessa kissed me back with the same intensity as her arms wrapped around me tightly, and she began rubbing her core into my wet stomach.


    This girl, my sweet Adessa, could surely keep up with my stamina.


    I groaned. My hunger for her was coursing through my whole body. I gently lowered her to the bed and let her go. She whimpered in disappointment, but the moment I grabbed her hips and flipped her around, an excited shriek slipped past her throat, and she immediately rose on all fours, hiking and wiggling her ass up as she did.


    My hand rose and smacked her ass, causing her to scream even louder.


    Adessa knew how to get my attention and how to keep it.


    I parted her cheeks and began devouring her ass, then lowered my mouth and ate her pussy again,pping and sucking the juices from her orgasm while she continued to move and rub herself on my already wet face.


    "So fucking tasty..." I grunted as I pulled away and smacked her again.


    "Fuck me, Alpha... Please..." She begged in an innocent voice, and my cock got harder as I positioned my dick onto her wet entrance.


    "Yes, my Luna. Anything you want..." I groaned and mmed harshly into her, and this time, I didn''t let her adjust.


    I just fucked her from the get-go, and Adessa weed it wholeheartedly as she bucked her hips and met my hard thrust.


    My hand went to her red hair, coiling it around my fingers and tugging it upward while I continued to ram in and out of her.


    Our moans and groans filled the room, as well as the sound of our skins pping against each other and my hand smacking her already red ass from time to time.


    My orgasm was building up, but instead of slowing down, I fucked her harder-senselessly, as I grunted loudly. "You''re mine, Adessa!"


    "Yes!" She moaned back in a throaty voice as her body stiffened and her clutch on the sheets tightened.


    I smacked her ass one more time. "This pussy is mine, mine alone..."


    "Yes, Kael. Only yours..." Her toes curled as she whimpered, and her body shuddered at the intensity of her orgasm.


    I tugged her hair more, and her head tilted up again, and I saw her eyes rolling back.


    "That''s it, baby girl. Roll those beautiful eyes for me..." I groaned hoarsely as I slowed down on mming my cock into her a few more times, letting her ride her orgasms. And then I picked up my pace and harshly fucked her leaking pussy again.


    The sight of my cock coated with


    her cream as rammed in and out of


    her spiraled my own release. I thrust


    into her Karshly before a guttural growl ripped from my throat,


    signaling my orgasm and spewingThis is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    my cum into her warm pussy.


    MS


    "Fuck...." I growled again, knowing I just had the best orgasm I experienced in my whole life.


    I was still standing, my head tilted back as I slowly released her hair from my grip. I wasn''t moving, still reeling at the feeling of her warm and wet pussy, when she suddenly withdrew.


    My eyes snapped open, and I was about to growl, still wanting to have my cock inside her.


    But then I found her kneeling in front of me.


    A little smile crawled across her mouth, and a scarlet flush was creeping into her cheeks.


    Her lips parted, and her eyes caught my gaze before she took in all of my cock, making my muscles clench. She began to sloppily clean me, tasting the mixture of our orgasm as she fapped and sucked around my erection.


    Right then and there, I already knew that even though I couldn''t remember her, my heart and cock knew her so well.


    I was finally convinced that the


    reason we were still together after a year, despite just having a contract marriage and everyone around us not in favor of her, was because she had already wrapped me around her fingers.


    Adessa had captivated me in a way no one had.

 Chapter 63

    LADESSA.


    We had just calmed down from a wild sex.


    My head rested on Kael''s arm while my hand was ying on his chest while he was staring at the ceiling, his heartbeat already returning to its normal pace.


    "Kael..." I mumbled, letting my fingers trail down his chiseled abs down to his washboard stomach.


    "Hmm..."


    "Next time that we have sex, we need to use a condom."


    "Next time? Will there be a next time?" He asked.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    I felt my cheeks burning, but I tried not to show his response embarrassed me. "Oh, I mean. Of course, only if you want. I''m not going to force you. Sex should be consensual..." I couldn''t stop my mouth from talking, but even before I could finish my litany, Kael had already moved in a swift motion.


    It was so fast that I just found him hovering over my body, our faces parallel and just inches away from each other, while his arm was on my side, propped against the mattress so that he was not crushing me beneath him.


    I swallowed and smiled sheepishly.


    A smirk tugged at his mouth before he licked his lips. "That means I''m allowed to fuck you again tonight? And many times in the future? Like tomorrow morning, then at lunch? Then tomorrow night? And so on..."


    I giggled softly, my arms crawling between us until I ended up snaking them loosely around his neck. "Why not? You have always given me good sex."


    "Best you ever had?"


    "I never had sex with anyone except you."


    "I see... So that means anyone can take that badge of honor from me."


    My eyes widened, but before I could say anything, he moved again, taking me with him.


    A shriek escaped my lips when my body was swung around. I ended up on top of him in a sitting position, straddling his navel while hey on his back with his hands gripping my waist tightly, not letting me move anymore.


    "They can try, but I''m not letting anyone get past me to get to you." His voice sounded raspy as his eyes traveled my naked body.


    He released his grip on my waist, and I adjusted my ass to sit on his growing erection. His hand immediately flew to my pussy and began massaging my folds in a slow, torturous motion.


    "Kael..." I moaned as my body arched back and my hands rested against the mattress, gripping the sheets tightly. My legs were wide open, so I was sure he could see all of me. "I love fucking you in this position. I like it when you bounce on top of me." He said.


    His voice and his fingers were causing my juices to leak out. I closed my eyes and bit my bottom lip, suppressing any whimper froming out.


    Thatst statement-he told me the same thing when we were still married. He said he loved seeing my breasts, my pussy, and the expression on my face, all at the same time. "You''ve said that to me before." Myshes flutter, and I eventually open my eyes and tilt my head down to meet his gaze. "Did I tell you why?"


    I nodded.


    "It''s because I can see your beautiful pussy and these big babies." He groaned as he cupped one breast and kneaded it. "Plus the ecstasy on your face when I fucked you."


    I wanted to tease him and tell him to stop pretending he lost his memory because, again, he was repeating the same words he told me before. But any coherent thoughts fled away from my head when his thumb prated my pussy, and he began thrusting it in and out of me, pushing harder and deeper each time.


    "Kael..." I moaned, my hands gripping his wrist as his thumb continued to work its magic inside me.


    I kept whimpering, with my mouth parted and my eyes not knowing whether I should shut or roll them.


    Kael let out another growl and pulled his thumb from me, making me glower at him, ready to berate him for cutting my lustful moment, but when he grabbed my waist and lifted me slightly higher, I realized what he wanted to do.


    I didn''t need to be asked. I grabbed his hard cock and positioned it in between my folds. My pussy was throbbing hard, aching to have him inside me again.


    And Kael didn''t disappoint. The


    moment I let go of his cock, he


    thrust inside me, eliciting a sultry moan to escape my lips before he began pounding my wet pussy and I knew, in no time, I would be on my way to another explosive orgasm.


    KAEL.


    My mind woke up all of a sudden, but I remained with my eyes closed. I tried to make sense of my surroundings even without seeing anything.


    I felt Adessa''s soft body leaning against me while my arm was coiled around her. She was softly purring in her sleep, her warm breath running against my chest.


    I didn''t hear anything strange. But I felt something was off.


    Then, I began to hear faint footsteps, which gradually became louder. The footsteps seemed to be hurried.


    I snapped my eyes open at the same time the doorknob rattled. I pulled Adessa closer to me.


    I sat us up from the bed at the exact moment the bedroom door opened.


    "What the fuck?" I growled. The growl was so loud that it startled Adessa, causing her hands to fly up. I grabbed them and ced them between our chests as I stared at the intruder. "What the fuck, Erika!" This time, I was able to identify her as she switched the main light on and closed the door behind her. "How did you get in?"


    "I have keys to my own house, Kael!" "I have keys to my own house, Kael!" she responded as she moved toward the sofa.


    Adessa clung to me tightly, but she was also looking at Erika, and I could feel the rapid beating of her heart against my chest.


    We were both naked with no nket as it fell off on the floor or somewhere.


    "There''s no time for decency!" Erika said in a loud voice as she grabbed my sweatpants and shirt. She tossed it on me before going to the window to check outside.


    I let go of Adessa and grabbed my sweatpants, putting them on before helping her pick up her clothes.


    "What the fuck is going on?" I asked at the same time Adessa asked the same question without the cursing.


    Erika then turned to face us. Her eyes were puffy, and her nose was red.


    "Are you crying?" Adessa slipped on the shirt I gave her and attempted to go to her, but Erika motioned with her hand, stopping her from approaching her.


    "I will exin, but while I do, pick up your things. You need to leave. Now!"


    "What?" I growled.


    "Move! Move! Move!" She pped her hands together each time she told us to move.


    Adessa didn''t ask more and began picking up our things and shoving them either into her backpack or my duffel bag while I remained standing, staring at Erika. "Exin, please." I tried to sound calmer.


    "I woke up and realized you left the


    lights on in the main living room. I went there and found Sasha. I questioned why she was still awake. She lied at the beginning, but she finally confessed when I didn''t


    believe her. She called the


    authorities, the department handling


    Adessa''s case, and..."


    "Holy fuck!" I growled as I brushed my hands over my hair before I grabbed my boots and put them on. "How much time do we have?"


    "I don''t know," Erika replied.

 Chapter 64

    KAEL.


    "How much time do we have?" I asked Erika as I put on my shoes.


    "I don''t know." She replied while helping Adessa to zip up our bags.


    "Adessa, the pouch." I reminded her.


    "I have it."


    "Where is Sasha?" I asked.


    "In her room. I will deal with herter. You need to leave now. Don''t use the trail you took going here, as I''m sure that''s the same one they wille from. Do you still remember that secret exit I showed you before?"


    I nodded. It had been decades, but I knew where it was. I just hoped thendmarks hadn''t changed yet.


    "I''m sorry. I wished I had seen thising. I knew she would never hurt Kael, so I thought..." Her tears fell again, and I felt the misery inside her.


    I should have told her about all the other things Sasha did to the women in my life. Then, maybe we could have avoided this. But more than Erika, this was all my fault. I should have seen thising. She would never hurt me, but she surely didn''t have any reservations about the women in my life.


    But I had no time to discuss this with Erika or even to console her. We''ve got to get moving.


    "Did you know if she told them I was with Adessa?" I kept asking questions as we walked in a hurry down the corridor, my hand gripping Adessa''s hand and the other holding the duffel bag.


    "No. She specifically told me she just told them it was Adessa here, not you. I don''t know how she would exin why you were also here, but she went on to say she would never hurt you, and it was Adessa who needed to answer for her crimes."


    There were many things I wanted to say, but it was no use at the moment. So, I kept my mouth shut as we exited her home. But in all of this, only one thing was sure: this world was so big, but it seemed I couldn''t find anyone to trust.


    It didn''t take long before I began driving away, taking a path not mainly used for traffic, but one that would lead me somewhere, an exit leading to a regr road.


    But we weren''t even driving for five minutes when the gas meter began blinking.


    "What the fuck?" I growled as I mmed my palm on the steering wheel. Adessa was also looking at the dashboard screen, so she knew we had run out of gas. "I fucking swear the gas was over halfway when we arrived here!" "Did you think she..."


    "Of course, I know she did!" I cut her off before stepping on the brake. "We need to do this on our own. Grab your bag."


    "What do you mean?" She asked, but she had already jumped out of the car and opened the back seat to pull her backpack and my duffel bag.


    "We''ll run with my wolf," I told her.


    "Kael..." Her eyes widened. "I don''t have a wolf."


    "I know. I''ll carry you. Leave the duffel bag. We don''t need it. It''s just my clothes."


    "Wouldn''t they know then that you''re with me if they see your bag?"


    "I''m sure they already know."


    "I''m taking your bag. You need clothes after you shift back," she said as she put the holder of my bag into her arms as if they were backpacks, before cing her own bag to her front.


    "Where is the pouch?" I asked her as I pulled my wallet from my back pocket and opened the zipper of her backpack.


    "In my backpack." She replied and helped me ce my wallet in there. "Your wolf might not like carrying me."


    "Rx, I got you." I smiled at her, but I was discreetly hoping my wolf would not throw a fit.


    He surely was very territorial with his body, and like me, he didn''t want to be touched or be in proximity to anyone.


    My wolf was domineering and had always instilled fear in anyone fortunate enough to see him. But despite that, I knew my wolf would always protect me. I just hope I can also let him protect Adessa. Wolves usually follow their human''s wishes, but with an Alpha wolf like mine, making him follow my orders was like trying to order myself. My wolf was more stubborn than I was.


    But I had no choice. He was our only way out here.


    ADESSA.


    I had never been on his wolf''s back. Or any wolf, for that matter.


    Kael was very personal with his wolf and had not let anyone touch or pet him, but I guess he had no choice tonight. It was either his wolf, or we had to walk.


    He didn''t waste time and shifted before me. In no time, I was already staring at his wolf''s ck eyes.


    My chest began to heave as panic arose within me. He wasn''t moving, and I was not sure I was wee to order him to lower himself on the ground.


    "Hi..." I mumbled before forcing a small smile to curl on my lips.


    "Grrr..." His wolf bared his teeth, and it made me step back. I thought he would walk forward, but instead, he lowered himself to the ground and began whimpering, letting out a soft purr.


    "Okay..." I said, still smiling, but my chest was going up and down at a fast pace. "I will hop on your back. Please, don''t drop me. Okay?"


    When he showed no reaction and just continued to stare at me, I took a step closer. I bent forward and patted the space between his ears. He tilted his head up and swiped his long tongue over my extended hand, making me giggle.


    This was a good sign.


    "Thank you," mumbled before clutching the bags in front of me and walking to his side. I carefully climbed onto his back and lowered my upper body so my chest was lying on my backpack before clutching the fur of his neck. This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Kael''s duffel bag on my back was notfortable to have, and I wondered if it would be a problem once hiswolf started running. But had no time to contemte it, as the moment my grip on his fur


    Love


    tightened, his wolf immediately


    stood up and sprang forward.


    No warning, no slowly picking up his face he just ran. Fast.


    A shriek passed my throat until I was able to get hold of myself. "Oh, Goddess! Oh, Goddess! I kept mumbling over and over again as I tried to bnce my body. The weight of the duffel bag was messing with my bnce. I should have listened to Kael and left it instead.


    "Stop!" I screamed.


    I wanted to drop the bag on my back as the force of the wind was knocking me off, and in return, I was surely hurting his wolf with how hard I was grabbing his neck. "Stop!" I screamed again, but before I could let out another one, the sound of an approaching car rang in the air. And by the sound of it, they were already nearing us. "No! Don''t stop!" I screamed, but I knew he must have heard the vehicle as well, as he began running faster, and everything we passed by just became a blur of sight. My grip on his neck tightened as I closed my eyes, praying to all the gods and goddesses to save us. I was not even done with my prayer when a gun was fired in our direction.

 Chapter 65

    KAEL.


    The moment the gun fired, I knew I couldn''t just keep running. I was sure my wolf could fight off the bullet as long as it was not silver, but it could be fatal for Adessa.


    She stopped screaming, but her legs and arms around me were in a vice grip, and despite my movement, I could feel her body shaking. I knew it wouldn''t be long before her tiredness and fear could take over, and she might eventually slip and fall from my back. I had to do something.


    I made an abrupt turn to the right, navigating a narrow path that would make it hard for a car to follow but still possible, especially since they were prepared for this and were driving a Jeep Wrangler.


    The thing with this forest is that the trees grew with wide spaces between them, so a hardcore car could definitely just sweep over those little bushes here and there.


    I stopped running when there was already a great distance between us, and I couldn''t see them. I immediately lowered my body to the ground, and Adessa slid down from my back.


    I instantly transitioned into my human form and assisted her in removing the duffel bag from her back.


    "You need to run as far as you can," I told her.


    "No..." She shook her head. "Not without you."


    "I can''t concentrate while you''re around. I need to make sure you''re safe. Run as far as you can, and I wille for you. I will find you."


    Her eyes watered, but she was trying to hold herself together.


    "You need to do this. If I can''t find you, you need to go on the journey on your own. I already told you how to get there and what to do next." I added. "Please..."


    "Go, now. No more questions."


    "Kael,"


    "Your Alpha is ordering you to do this!" I snapped at her.


    Before she could say anything more, I moved away and shifted into my wolf. I growled loudly toward her, baring my fangs at her.


    Tears fell from her eyes, but she stood up and, without saying anything, turned her back to me and ran toward the direction I pointed, with her arms clutching her backpack tightly.


    Once she was out of my sight, I made my move and ran forward, returning to the path I had taken before we got here. I couldn''t hear any cars approaching, but I could hear heartbeats. They got out of the car as well.


    Four heartbeats.


    The moment they felt my presence, one wolf immediatelyunched at me, and my paws caught him midair. We rolled over to the ground as the other two jumped at us, but they couldn''t keep up with our rolling bodies. One of the four was missing.


    The thought of him running after Adessa gave me the push I needed. I wed the eyes of the wolf on top of me, eliminating his vision in an instant before I kicked him off me.


    i.ne


    His body mmed on the nearby tree, and others immediately went for me once I was freed of the first A tooth sank onto my shoulder, eliciting a loud howl of pain from my wolf, but instead of trying to get him offme, I tilted my head and sank my teeth into his exposed neck.


    I ripped his skin in a matter of seconds, and he abruptly let go of my shoulder. But before he could move away from me, my paws had already made their way to his chest, wing and piercing through his skin until they were deep enough to catch his heart, ripping it from his body.


    Another bite came from my hips, and my foot kicked him off me. I had always had a strong kick, so it didn''t surprise me that the fucker flew far from where I was. My only mistake was that I threw him in the direction where Adessa headed off. And it seemed he smelled her. He chose to ignore me and pursue her instead.


    "Fuck!" I growled in my head at the same time my wolf growled out loud. We could have followed him right away, but the first one I threw off came attacking me. Our wolves fought in the air and on the ground, but his size and strength were nothingpared to my Alpha wolf, and in no time, his head was already


    rolling off the ground.


    Then, I felt another movement behind me.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    I swiveled my body and found him across the other side, still in his human form and holding a gun, covering himself behind a tree. My shoulder was hurting, and so were my hips, but I had to keep moving.


    I sprang forward, ready to take him, when he fired a shot at me and hit my already wounded shoulder.


    My body jolted, and an earth-shattering growl ripped my throat, but I didn''t let the pain stop me from springing forward in his direction. He shot another fire but missed. He continued to shoot until I heard a single click, but nothing came out of his gun. He ran out of bullets.


    My legs were wobbling, but I pushed all my energy to reach the tree. Knowing he had no weapons against me, the coward turned around and ran away. He leaped in the air, ready to shift into his wolf, but even before he could transform, I was already leaping behind him. I grabbed his human body and, without any restraint, ripped him to pieces, only stopping when I remembered Adessa and the other wolf trailing her.


    ADESSA.


    I had two choices. Either I cried and begged Kael to let me stay with him, or I got up on my ass and did as I was told so he could do what he needed to do.


    I chose thetter.


    Even with a heavy heart, I put my big girl pants on again and sprang forward to the unknown, clutching the bag that could help me face the King-even without Kael.


    Tears continued to streak down my cheeks as I kept running, not minding the branches and twigs scratching my skin. I had to keep my faith that Kael would survive he always did.


    I could hear growls and grunts from a distance, and the earth would shake from time to time. It must be him fighting with other wolves.


    "Please, keep him safe..." I continued to pray until a loud gunshot ripped through the air, followed by an earth-shattering howl of pain, stopping me abruptly from running and making me stumble on the ground.


    I held my breath, listening for more. Then, more gunshots rang out, causing my eyes to flood with tears.


    "No!" I screamed and turned my body around, pushing myself up. I was on the verge of running back to him when I noticed a wolf approaching from a distance, heading in my direction.


    It was not Kael''s wolf. Someone found me.

 Chapter 66

    ADESSA.


    It was not Kael''s wolf. Someone found me.


    Instead of running back to Kael as I originally nned, I spun around and started to sprint away. But this time, I went to where I saw many trees that were closer to each other. I had no idea how far I could run before it would reach me. All I knew was I needed to survive so I could find Kael.


    I kept looking back, and when I was sure the wolf was treading the same path I took, including maneuvering himself on narrow bushes and trees, I ran head-on to the two trees standing close to each other and slipped my thin frame in between them, hoping his momentum would not let him steer away from this path.


    My bodynded on the other side with a big thud, and I immediately turned around, hands gripping the earth as I anticipated his next move.


    With wide eyes, I watched as the wolf leaped into the air, only for his body to be trapped between the two trees.


    He growled loudly, saliva dripping and eyes dting as he struggled to break free.


    I grabbed the big stone nearby and threw it at his face. It went directly to his eye, angering him more.


    I had to run, but even before I could push myself off the ground, I felt warmth enveloping my whole body-something I had never experienced in my whole life.


    My heart thudded loudly as I saw smoke rise from my skin, and it also caught the wolf''s eyes, causing him to stop moving and stare at me.


    I raised my hands and looked at my palms. I was not hallucinating a golden smoke was rising from them.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    A growl reverberated from the wolf''s chest, and I heard branches snapping and breaking. I immediately inched backward, watching with wide eyes as the wolf slowly destroyed the tree that trapped him until he managed to escape.


    I knew I should get up. I knew I should run. But my body was rendered immobile as fear coursed through my veins, and the only thing I was able to do was scream my loudest the moment the wolf leaped in the air, ready to attack me.


    My hands flew, and I was about to cover my head with my arms when a shadow came and intercepted his jump.


    Before I knew it, Kael''s wolf was rolling with him on the other side.


    I watched with fear as they fought, but it didn''t take long before Kael overpowered him and shoved him away. He threw the wolf against a tree, but it was able to bnce itself right away. He stood up and, without any hesitation, ran off-away from us. Kael immediately shifted back into his human form, and without his ck fur, the blood trickling down his shoulder was visible.


    "Are you okay?" He asked me, but I could see pain in his expression. His face was pale, and he was having a hard time breathing.


    "Kael!" I yelled as I pushed my body up when I saw him crumble to his feet.


    He dropped to his knees, his hand holding his wounded shoulder.


    "Oh, Goddess. Show me..." I told him as I stood before him.


    He groaned as he lowered his hand but immediately wrapped his arms around my waist and buried his face in my stomach, hugging me tightly-as if drawing strength from me.


    He was shot, and blood was everywhere on his body.


    With trembling hands, I covered his wounds with my palms to stop the bleeding as I fought my tears.


    I must remove the bullet from his skin. But how?


    The warmth I felt earlier came back, centering on my palms. And then Kael''s body jolted, making me loosen my hold on him.


    He stared at me dumbfounded before asking. "What did you do?"


    "What? Nothing." I mumbled.


    He didn''t say more and tilted his


    head to look at his shoulder. I slowly moved my hands away from covering his wound, and my eyes widened as my mouth hung open.


    The head of the bullet was already at the opening. But it was still not possible to pull it out.


    "Do it again?" He said without taking his eyes off his bloodied wound.


    "I didn''t do..." I paused and remembered the warmth that enveloped my hand. I had no exnation, but I was willing to do anything to save him.


    I ced my hands over his shoulder again and mumbled in my head. ''I must remove the bullet from his skin.''


    The warmth returned, and the smoke glided around my hands.


    My heart was hammering in my chest. I had no idea what kind of sorcery was happening, but it didn''t matter as long as it could save Kael.


    I felt something nudging on my palm, and I was right. Once I removed my hand, the bullet rolled off from his shoulder down to the ground.


    We just looked at each other. No one


    said a word, but I nodded my head


    at him before cing my hands over his shoulder again. This time, wished for his wound to be cleaned and closed.  en


    And, like a dream, it happened, and I had no exnation for it.


    Kael stood up as if earlier he was not in pain while I was just looking at him, biting my inner cheek so hard as if it could give me an answer.


    He cupped my face, and I immediately smelled blood from his hands. I was sure my face was smeared with it.


    "Thank you!" He was smiling so widely as he kissed me.


    As much as I wanted to return his kiss, I was still baffled. Did I really heal him? But how?


    "Let''s go." He said, snapping me back to the present.


    "Wait!" I stopped him. "I don''t know what happened."


    "Me, too. We''ll talk about itter. First, we need to get away from here. I hid their car keys. We just need to get back there and use their car."


    "But the other wolf?" I was referring to the one that ran away.


    "He ran in another direction. If he returns to his car, I can take him. All others are dead." He exined before letting me know he would shift into his wolf again. I just let him decide for us and did as I was told.


    In no time was back on his wolf''s


    back, and he sped off toward the enemy''s car, unaware that a set of


    eyes the same wolf we thought had already fled-was watching us.


    en


    He witnessed me healing Kael.


    BUMS

 Chapter 67

    LADESSA.


    My mind was flying the whole time I was on Kael''s back. If he were not with me, I would think I was hallucinating, that all of this danger around me has resulted in my head going crazy.


    But I knew everything was real. I felt it in my hands. I saw it with my eyes. And I heard Kael confirm it.


    I healed him, but I had no idea how it was possible.


    Kael opened the car''s passenger door and let me in before throwing his duffel bag at the back seat. We stopped to pick it up when we passed by the area where I left it, and he was able to change into his clothes after he shifted back into his human. "I don''t know what I did there," I told him the moment he started driving.


    "Have you done it before? Am I aware that you could heal before I lose my memory?" He asked without looking at me, concentrating on navigating around bushes and trees.


    "No. I have never done it before. This is the first time."


    "So I was the first one you healed." He said, and a smile cracked on his face, which made me furrow my brows in confusion.


    "Are you not worried?" I asked.


    "Yes and no."


    "What''s that supposed to mean?"


    "I''m d that you saved me. But I''m worried that that power will lead you to more danger."


    "I hope not. I can''t even get away from this danger yet."


    "I''m sorry. I shouldn''t have brought you here. I just thought Erika was a safe ce."


    "I believed she was, but not Sasha," I told him.


    "I should have known better. I should have..."


    "Can we stop talking about her for a moment?" I cut him off. "There''s nothing we can do about what she did. And I don''t want you to me yourself. It was her, not you." "Right. No more Sasha." He let out a sigh. "No one should know that you healed me."


    I didn''t reply and just looked out the window. We drove in silence until I couldn''t hold my curiosity anymore. "Do you still feel pain, or is it gone?"


    "Totally gone. Even the pain of hitting my back when I was thrown off was gone. I felt refreshed and renewed."


    "I''ve been trying to order my hands to warm or produce that smoke I saw earlier, but nothing is happening," I admitted as I stared at my hands.


    Wolf Shifters never had any gifts aside from their strength and heightened senses when in wolf form. So, it was impossible that the power to heal came from me. "If I''m right, you might be a Fire Wolf."


    "A what? I don''t even have a wolf."


    Kael didn''t reply, but his forehead was creasing.


    "Kael? What is a Fire Wolf?"


    "I have never met one, as not everyone knows who and where they are. But they did teach us in the Alpha Academy about the Four Wolves of the Lunar World."


    I swallowed. I''d heard of them but thought they were only myths, as no one talked openly about them.


    "The Earth, Air, Water, and Fire Wolves. There''s only one of each in a lifetime. Once the Lunar Wolf dies, it is passed on to a new one."


    "The Lunar Wolves are a myth."


    "Says who?"


    "I can be a witch. It''s easier to exin that."


    "You''re a wolf, Adessa. Even if one of your parents fucked with a witch, you will never be a crossbreed. Thew of nature doesn''t allow that. It''s either you''re a wolf or a witch." "Maybe I''m a witch. This exins why I don''t possess a wolf."


    "Witches cannot heal without their


    potions and incantations. I never heard you say anything or use


    anything to heal me. The healing


    power came from within you." met


    will


    paused for a while before continuing. "And besides, you smell differently if you''re a witch. You''re a wolf. An Omega Wolf."


    "Precisely. An Omega. How could a powerful Lunar Wolfe out of an Omega like me?"


    "I don''t have answers."


    "Don''t make me bigger than I am. Maybe it wasn''t me. Maybe someone was watching us heal you and made it seem like I did it."


    "It''s you, Adessa. The power I felt came from you, not anywhere around us."


    I shook my head. "It''s impossible. All my life, I have nothing. I am nothing. Nonexistence for everyone around me. I am only seen now because I married you."


    "Then maybe it''s me?"


    "What?" I tilted my head to look at him, not really understanding his words. "What do you mean it''s you?"


    "You said you were seen because of me. What if you got that power push out of you because of me again? Because I was in danger?"


    "Who am I? Guardian of the Alpha?" I forced a chuckle, but my heart was beginning to drum loudly.


    "My mate..." He said without batting an eysh.


    My eyes widened as I swallowed and sank onto my seat, not knowing how to respond.


    I''d wished for that badly while I was married to him-for my wolf to surface and let me be identified as his mate. But it was a long shot from reality. I am an Omega, and he is an Alpha.


    A strong blood will never be tied to a weak one. That was why I was frowned upon when he married me. I never belonged to his ss.


    But what if? But what if he was right? What if I had power within me? Would it be possible then for me to be fated with him?


    Wake up, Adessa. Fated mates are a rarity. I shook my head as I reminded myself of these words.


    I shouldn''t be asking for more. It was enough that Kael was protecting me.


    "What does that shaking of your head mean? Don''t you want to be fated to me?" He asked, his forehead creased.


    I was still thinking what to say when a phone ringing ripped through the air. My eyes met with Kael''s, and without speaking to each other, we both moved to find the phone.


    He opened the car lights while I fumbled around to find where the sound wasing from. I eventually located it in the space between our seats.


    "Oh, Goddess..." I murmured as we stared at the screen of the phone in my hand.


    Alpha Draco was calling.


    "What the fuck? Did Sasha call Draco and not the police?" He growled. "No wonder they aim to kill me but not you."


    He took the phone in my hand before motioning for me to remain quiet.


    He answered and put it on speaker mode.


    "Did you get them?" As soon as the line connected, Draco''s voice rang out.


    "How many times do I have to tell you to stop sending your people to death?" Kael answered with a voice full of animosity.


    I heard a low growl from the other line. "How many fucking lives do you have?"


    Kaelughed maniacally as if earlier


    he was not pissed off. He surely knew how to mock Draco back. "I


    sold myself to the devil, asshole.


    So


    keep trying. But if I were you, I''d stay the fuck out of my way, or you''ll be the next one in line to hel belongs to


    I


    "If you think I will stop just because you told me to, you''re delusional. IThis is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    will make sure your perfect little wife will bow down to me and eat


    whatever fucking thing I will serve her! And I will make you watch it..."

 Chapter 68

    LADESSA.


    "I will make sure your perfect little wife will bow down to me and eat whatever fucking thing I serve her! And I will make you watch it..." Alpha Draco''s words echoed in my head. Goosebumps rose from my skin as cold chills ran down my spine. I tried not to be frightened, but hearing him talk like that was like hearing a devile to life.


    I coiled my hands into tight fists to stop my body from trembling. And Kael saw that.


    He kept looking at me as he spoke back to him. "Over my dead body, fucker. Stay on your line, or hide. Because this time, I''ll be the one hunting you!"


    He didn''t allow him to respond. After he was done talking, he dropped the call and threw the phone onto the dashboard before stepping on the brakes, halting the car.


    He turned to look at me and reached for my hand. "Adessa, look at me!"


    My eyes were watering, and I knew my tears would fall if I turned to him. I didn''t want to cry anymore.


    "Adessa, look at me." He repeated, softer this time.


    But as much as I didn''t want to, my body betrayed me. I slowly tilted my head to look at him, tears streaming down my face.This belongs to N?velDrama.Org: ?.


    He cupped my face and tried to wipe my tears with his thumb. "I meant what I told him. I will not let him take you."


    "What if there are more peopleing after us? What if they separated us like what almost happened tonight?" My fears were real. Everything was too much. I just wanted a simple life, and my life at the moment was so far from it. "I don''t know what to think about this, but what if you''re not here? Maybe he had taken me already..."


    "I''m here, Adessa. Death is the only thing that could take me away from you, but like Draco feared, I have too many lives. I don''t mind using all of them to save you from this madness."


    I nodded my head before forcing a small smile to sh on my face. "Just stay with me, and I promise, whatever catastrophe that wille your way, I will save you, too. I will use all the healing power I have to save you."


    "We''ll be a team to beat then." Kael smiled back, wiping the tears that fell on my lips with his thumb. "Who would have guessed this little sunshine in my arms held so much power within her?"


    I chuckled softly. I had no idea how my healing power worked, but I would do my best to protect Kael with it.


    His eyes softened before his whole expression turned serious. "You''re mine, Adessa."


    I felt a tightening around my throat. I took a short intake of breath before I murmured a reply. "I''ve been yours, Kael. Ever since I said, "I do," at the altar."


    My lips trembled as I stared at his piercing eyes, not knowing if my confession was a good thing or not.


    He leaned closer, and then heat rose from my stomach up to my chest. My heart skipped a beat as I watched his lips close in. And the very moment his lips brushed against mine, time stood still and collided with my senses.


    I closed my eyes as my lips moved in rhythm with his while my mind was screaming for me to tell him how much I loved him.


    I was torn between confessing and wanting to wait until he felt the same way about me so I didn''t have to be embarrassed by my boldness.


    His lips withdrew from mine, and a soft whimper ripped from my throat, disliking the distance between us.


    "I love you, Adessa." He whispered, and my eyes snapped open.


    "I don''t know when it happened or how it happened. I just woke up, and I wanted you beside me." He continued, and my lips parted as I stared at him in disbelief.


    I felt his words washing over me like a wave of warmth, unfurling all the passions I had kept within me.


    But is this real, or am I hallucinating?


    A red tint crept onto his cheeks as


    he smiled sheepishly and then scratched his head, causing my heart to warm even more. He looked adorable, appearing flushed and embarrassed, a far cry from the confident and cocky Alpha had grown ustomed to.


    "You don''t need to say anything. Whether you feel the same way or not, I''ll still help you get out of this mess. I just thought I''d let you know."


    My eyes grew wider. Is he for real?


    He cupped my face and pecked my forehead before he adjusted his position so he was looking at the road again. He started the engine, and I was still speechless.


    ¡°Let''s get going. Let''s get us to the North before someone shows up again." He chuckled softly as he began to maneuver the car.


    I sank into my seat and crossed my arms across my chest. My heart was drumming loudly. I should have told him what I felt.


    KAEL.


    Have you ever felt so inappropriate that you just wanted to sink into your seat?


    I had many ufortable moments in my life, but nothing prepared me for tonight.


    Adessa said she''d been mine since we got married. I took it the wrong way. She probably meant she had no choice but to be mine because I was all she had.


    I wanted to take back what I said. I


    didn''t want Adessa to think I only said those words when I found out she had power. I didn''t intend to tell her what I felt, not until I got her life back on track, but it unexpectedly came out of my mouth.


    After that, I was given a silent treatment.


    I had already Swallowed too much saliva as I drove the car. I had things to do, like call Rasmus and ask how the fuck Draco''s men kept showing up. But I couldn''t concentrate. was already struggling to drive this car out of this fucking forest.


    "I love you, Kael." Adessa''s voice came out soft, but I was sure I heard it. Or am I hallucinating?

 Chapter 69

    KAEL.


    "I love you, Kael." Adessa''s voice came out soft, but I was sure I heard it.


    My foot stepped on the brakes, and the car came to a sudden halt, making our bodies jolt forward.


    "I''m sorry," she gasped as her hands held onto the dashboard before her as if it could stop her from mming there, but she had a seatbelt on, so I knew she was safely tucked in her seat.


    "Did you just say what I heard you say?" I asked, ignoring the apology that came out of her lips because I had no idea what she was apologizing for.


    "Well..." She stammered, then shed me an embarrassed smile. "You said it first."


    "I said. So you think..." A smile tugged at my mouth, but my eyes were watering. "...it was appropriate and polite to say it back?"


    I couldn''t contain the happiness in my chest.


    I had always been a storm, and Adessa was definitely sunshine.


    It was easy to love her, but I felt good and exhrated knowing this little ball of sunshine and butterflies had fallen in love with me despite the bad way I shook her whole life.


    I was not made for sweet nothings, and I love yous, but for Adessa, I was willing to bend. There was no denying she could make me weak on my knees. The words she said were warming my whole being, and it was getting harder to control the tears brimming in my eyes. I was still smiling while she shook her head in response.


    "No, not like that. But I hope I heard you right." A red tint crept on her cheeks as she dropped her gaze to her fidgeting hands resting against herp. "That you want me as much as I want you."


    "You heard me wrong," I mumbled, and her head snapped up to look at me. I saw confusion in her eyes, but I continued talking before she could say anything. "I said, I love you."


    She swallowed but didn''t take her gaze off me this time.


    "But yes, I want you. I love and want you, Adessa. I know it''s not the right time to say these words because we still have a lot of things to do. I don''t even know where the road will take us. Instead of me pampering you when we wake up, here we are. We couldn''t even get a straight night''s sleep. Every..." I was not even done talking when she ejected her seatbelt andunched herself at me.This is property ? N?velDrama.Org.


    Her arms wrapped around my neck as she hugged me tightly. Despite the awkward position we were in, I held and embraced her back just as tight while nuzzling my nose onto her neck.


    "Oh, Kael. If I end up dead today, I''ll be the happiest ghost to leave this earth!"


    A rumble formed in my chest before I shook my head. I pulled her away from me before cupping her small face. "No one is dying here. Not you, not me. I just confessed how I felt for you, and there''s no way that this is the end of it. We are just getting started, butterfly. I promise that life will get better for us-for you, after this mess."


    She nodded her head. "I can''t wait to wake up beside you and make breakfast for you..."


    "You don''t need to cook and make breakfast for me."


    "I want to."


    "You''re all I want for breakfast..." I said huskily before capturing her lips, kissing her for a brief second before mumbling again. "And the one I want for lunch... and dinner."


    Adessa giggled as I continued peppering her lips with kisses. "And all the snacks in between."


    "Are you sure you love me, or do you think I''m a food?" She asked, stifling her giggles, and for a moment, the happiness radiating from her made me forget the danger we were in.


    I pulled away from kissing her and just stared at her. "Both. I love you, Adessa... And you''re my favorite meal. Afterst night, I don''t think I would want to taste another."


    She took a deep breath and smiled, but her eyes were watering. She then raised her coiled hand onto my temple and knocked it with her knuckles. "I think your amnesia made you fall in love with me."


    "Maybe..." I teased her before I turned serious. "Or perhaps I was already in love with you before."


    She opened her mouth to speak but immediately closed it. She instead wrapped her arms around me and hugged me again. "I''m d you''re here, Kael."


    "Me too. I''m d I''m here with you." I


    turned my head to kiss her cheek, and at the same time she did that, our lips ended up brushing against each other, and the next thing knew, I was already kissing her.


    Soft moans escaped her throat as our kiss got aggressive until she pulled away, panting, but her eyes were sparkling as she gripped the shirt on my chest tightly. "If we ve keep


    kissing, the one following us might find us. I don''t want to die. Not yet...¡± She spoke, her lips curling into a wide smile.


    "Right. We need to get out of here." I pecked her lips and let her go, doing my best not to be distracted by the smell of her arousal.


    As soon as she was back and buckled in her seat. I began driving again. The forest road already looked familiar. It seemed I was heading in the right direction.


    "I need to call someone," I told her.


    She just nodded and watched as I grabbed the phone that Draco called earlier. I will use this and throw it away so he can''t track us.


    "Rasmus," I said as soon as my cousin answered the phone.


    "Are you okay?" He asked. "Was it you? The explosion involving Draco''s men?"


    ""Yes."


    "I knew it. But all over the news, it said both cars were speeding in the opposite direction before colliding. Someone obviously hid the real reason."


    "Draco found us again. Someone reported us to the police, but it was his men that came after us."


    "Well, that exins why the reason for the explosion was covered. He might have men in contact with the authority handling Adessa''s case."


    I took a deep breath, annoyed that Draco was always a step ahead. "Has there been any news about Adessa recently? Is my name dragged, or that I was with her?


    "No. Actually, it''s been quiet for thest 24 hours. The news is primarily focused on the Alpha King. He had returned to the country and was already in the North for the Moonlight Ball."


    "I hope no one will drag me into Adessa''s name until we get to the ball," I told him before I asked another question. "When are you checking my pack?"


    "I''m actually preparing to leave. I''ll be there by sundown."


    "Not a word on where I am. Just tell them I''m trying to have a breather and make sure you do what I want you to do with Dexter."


    "I know. I know. I''ll take care of it."


    Author''s Note: I''m putting this here


    so everyone can read it. Adessa''s POV in Chapter 66 (ending)¡ªit''s her POV, but it''s stated in a way that tells us she was not aware that someone was watching them. They had no idea the wolf/man was still there as they saw him flee. So, for now, they thought no one knew of Adessa''s healing power but them. I just want to make it clear to avoid confusion.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 70

    LADESSA.


    We finally reached the regr road, and in no time, we were driving into the city. I kept looking back, checking if anyone was following us, but everything seemed normal so far. "You can sleep," Kael told me.


    "I''m not that sleepy anymore. I will rest once we transfer to another car. I''m notfortable here."


    He simply nodded his head and continued driving. Kael called someone after his call with Rasmus, and we got confirmation for a new car we could use once we reached that ce. And from there, it would just be a couple of hours before we reached the North. It was noon, and my stomach was churning from hunger, but I didn''t say anything. I wanted to have a new car first. So when we finally reached the car dealer building, Kael wasted no time and grabbed the keys, and we were already on our way out.


    He was holding my hand, and we were walking to the big parking lot where they pointed when my head suddenly felt light, and I almost stumbled if Kael was not able to hold me steady.


    "Are you okay?" He asked, his brows furrowing.


    I nodded. "I think I''m hungry."


    "We''ll buy food along the way." He smiled at me before he wrapped an arm around my body as we walked toward the car.


    "Kael, what if I''m pregnant?" I blurted out.


    I felt his body freeze, and we both stopped walking. My eyes watered as I knew this was not the right time to check, but not knowing if I was pregnant was killing me.


    Kael could be upset, as he was clear with me during our marriage that we were not ready for a baby yet. Or he could also question me about who the father is. But I had to know because if I am, I want to make sure my baby is okay. "Have you missed your period?" He asked as he turned to face me. I couldn''t fathom his expression.


    I nodded.


    "We can buy a pregnancy stick along the way. I''m not sure if there''s any shop nearby..."


    "Are you not upset? Or are you not going to ask if it''s yours?"


    A smile crept on his face, and my eyes watered more. I knew right there and then that my worries were irrelevant.


    "I know it''s mine. Unless I misheard you when you said you never had sex with anyone." He told me.


    "Are you okay with a baby? With me?"


    His smile widened as he cupped my cheeks. This time, I didn''t stop myself from smiling. His happy expression was so contagious that at that moment, I forgot about the danger and secretly wished I were really pregnant. "Of course. I want a baby with you. It might not be ideal at the moment, but we can''t tell our baby to go anywhere else. It''s ours."


    I nodded my head and wrapped my arms around him, hugging him tightly.


    "We need to know, and if you are, we need to get you warmer clothes before we reach the North. It''ll be a lot colder there." He was hugging me tightly before he prepared my cheeks with kisses. "Now let''s get you something to eat and that stick."


    ALPHA DRACO


    Alpha of the Knight''s Stone Pack


    It had been hours since that call with Kael, and I still couldn''t get over it.


    Kael always seemed to be a step ahead of me all the time. Like he always was, even when we were younger.


    Kael and I were almost the same age. He was older by a few months, and as much as I didn''t want to believe it, it seemed I was conceived so I could be a shadow of him.


    My father was madly in love with Kael''s mother, Luna Liana. But she chose Alpha Khalid, Kael''s father.


    My father had no option but to choose another Luna. My mother became pregnant, and I was born. But ever since I was able to grasp words, I was alreadypared to Kael.


    Kael could do this and achieve this. That I was mediocre. That I should do more of this or that.


    My father always pointed out that everything I am was of my mother and that I could have been better. It would hurt me while growing up until I learned to swallow everything and just let his words slide in my ears.


    But then Luna Liana died, and even though it was already many years since she chose another man, my father still grieved for her. He even med my mother for causing her death. He was delusional, thinking it was Mom that caused the fire.


    My mother died a few months after Luna Liana''s death. She took her own life and left me without a mother, without anyone on my side.


    It was after my mother''s death that my father brought Samuel in. He was my half-brother from a woman my father had gotten pregnant.


    Samuel was a piece of shit, and we never got along well. I sent him to pick up Adessa to give her a bad experience. But I didn''t know she could outwit and kill him.


    Good for him. The world didn''t need another stupid bastard.


    As for my father, I banished him from my territory the moment I took over as Alpha.


    He couldn''t believe what I did. But I didn''t exin anything. It was enough that he paid for what he did to me for ruining my whole life.


    He was the reason I''d been trying to push Kael to the bottom from day one. But regardless of my father being gone from my life, the obsession to be better than Kael didn''t stop. Especially the fact that he seemed to find a woman he wanted to be with while I was left alone by the only one I ever paid attention to.


    My story about her would be for another day. And my time for revenge for her woulde, but for now, I wanted Kael to grieve once Adessa was out of the way-dead in my hands.


    The phone rang, and it snapped me out of my thoughts.


    "Where are you?" I asked as soon as Agustin introduced himself.


    "I just got out of this mountain."


    "I thought you were dead."


    "The others are. I got away."


    "I have men heading that way; tell me your exact location so they can pick you up."


    "Boss, I have more important things to tell you."


    "You better. I''m beginning to think all of you are crap because you couldn''t corner two people, one of whom is fucking wolfless!"


    "That''s what I''m calling about. No wonder we couldn''t get them and that she killed two people. Luna Adessa is a powerful wolf, Alpha." "What do you mean?"


    "She can heal. I saw her heal Alpha Kael. She has the power within her."


    "No way. No human has the power to..."


    "I''m not telling any lies, Alpha. I saw with my own eyes when she healed Alpha Kael from a gunshot. I picked up the bullet, and it still has his blood if you want to check." "How exactly did she heal him? Are you saying she''s a witch?"


    "I''m not sure, Alpha. She didn''t even open her mouth to say anything. She just glowed, and the bullet came out of Alpha Kael''s shoulder. Then the wound was gone."


    My chest heaved as I listened to him. I didn''t think he was lying. I had instilled fear and authority within my men that they would never try to tell me bullshit.


    The call ended, and I was still left staring at the wall in front of me, trying to piece all the events together.


    I thought Adessa slipping from my brother''s hand was pure luck. It was beginning to make sense.


    If she had the power to heal another, she had the power to protect herself from danger. No wonder she was still alive.


    A grin crept on my face as more thoughts ran through my head.


    If I had wanted Adessa to infuriate Kael before, the reason had shifted.


    I wanted her for my own good.


    Adessa might be a blessed wolf and could heal any sickness. If this was the case, I needed her. I needed her to heal me.


    I had been diagnosed as impotent and could not carry a child. It was the reason I had gone all out and fucked every female possible, as my physician couldn''t seem to find a cure. But Adessa could be the one I was waiting for.


    If she could heal me, then I didn''t need to worry about having an heir. And it didn''t matter if she was the one to give it to me.


    I could hit two birds with one stone get an heir and sink Kael more to the bottom.


    I grabbed the phone again and dialed the number of the convoy that was already heading north.


    "Alpha Draco..." Gregory answered the phone after just one ring.


    "Change of n. Do not intercept Kael and Adessa. Let them reach the North safely and attend the Moonlight Ball, but watch them on where they are and where they are staying." "Do we need to do something else while watching them?"


    "Make sure Adessa is safe. If the police or any authorities run after them, make sure she gets out of it alive."Exclusive ? material by N?(/v)elDrama.Org.


    I dropped the call and opened my drawer, taking out the invitation that I received yesterday.


    It was a reminder to RSVP that I


    hadn''t done yet, as I had no ns to attend. Along with it was the list of attendees, and I saw Kael''s name


    there was certain that he was not included in the primary invitation.


    BUMS


    Even though Adessa''s name wasn''t on the list next to him, I was certain he would take her.


    It made sense that the path they were taking was heading North. He was aiming to make a plea to the King himself, just as he had done at the time of his father''s death, to overturn the decision that he could not be an Alpha.


    If abducting Adessa would get me on her bad side, maybe it was time to soften and charm thedy herself.


    I just needed a way to get Kae away from her without her knowing it was my doing.


    I grabbed my cell phone and messaged Roman, my Beta, to see me in my office.


    In just a few minutes, he arrived, and I didn''t waste any more time before announcing my ns.


    "We will attend the Moonlight Ball. Prepare suits for me. We''ll leave tomorrow after lunch."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 71

    LADESSA.


    After I told Kael that I might be pregnant, I started to rx.


    In fact, I began to feel excited.


    I didn''t expect his reaction, which made everything perfect. Earlier, he told me he loved me, and his reaction to the pregnancy news supported that im.


    Despite the fact that he couldn''t remember me, it was enough that he wanted me in his life, and he wanted to have a baby with me.


    We bought the pregnancy test kit and stopped by a fast-food restaurant.


    Kael ordered our food while I went to the restroom. He wanted to see the results with me, but he was taking too long to get here, and the results were ready. The line at the counter might be long, so I had to check this on my own.


    My hand trembled as I raised the test stick in my hand.


    One line.


    I was wrong. I wasn''t pregnant.


    I took a deep breath just in time for a knock toe. I lowered my hand and opened the door.


    Our gazes met, and I could still see the excitement in his eyes. I didn''t want to prolong the suspense for him.


    "I''m not pregnant," I informed him before he could ask while trying to keep a straight face.


    His face fell, and it told me how disappointed he was.


    "I''m sorry. I overreacted. I thought, I thought I was. I never skip a period, and I''ve been crying a lottely. Like all I have done is cry since you found me at the hostel. I thought..." I was stammering while fighting my tears from falling. "But maybe it was the stress, so I missed my period, and I... I don''t know what made me think it was like that."


    Kael gently pushed me back as he entered the toilet with me, locking the door behind him before he spoke. "I''m not upset with you. Yes, I''m a little disappointed, but not with you. I''m sorry for the disappointment that showed in my expression. Like you, I was looking forward to this baby, but you know what? There''s nothing there because it''s not the right time yet. We need to get out of this mess first, and then we can try again. We won''t stop trying until I get my little Adessa in my arms." "Kael, don''t make me cry..."


    "We can also have little Kael. One or two, maybe more." He cupped my face as he continued speaking. "Nothing changes, Adessa. You''re still mine."


    I nodded my head as tears fell. I kept staring at him.


    All the suffering I had gone through the feeling of being alone all my life, the men running after me I could finally tell they were all worth it. Kael letting me know how important I was to him made all of this worth it. "For a moment, I pictured us with a baby..." I spoke in a soft voice.


    "I pictured you with a big stomach, holding on to me so you can walk."


    I forced a chuckle, but I kept crying.


    "It will still happen. It may not be right now, but it will happen eventually. And when that dayes, we''ll be more prepared. You won''t have to run being chased by assholes. Instead, you''ll be


    pampered while you carry our


    baby."


    He added, warming my whole heart.


    "Yes... Right now is not the right time." I mumbled.


    He gave me a nod. "But it will happen. I will make it happen."


    "I can''t wait for that day," I replied before throwing my arms around him and hugging him tightly.


    "Me too, butterfly." He mumbled lowly as he kissed the side of my cheek. "But we have each other. It''s more than enough for now."


    I nodded my head, hugging him tightly. He was right. I got him, and he was more than enough.


    "Do you know why you''ve been crying a lottely?" he asked as we pulled away from hugging each other. "Because you feel safe to cry around me."


    I was just looking at him, listening as he spoke.


    "When I was younger, I was a tough


    boy." He began as he wiped my


    tears. "No one and nothing could


    make me cry, even when it hurts. Even when I failed at something, it didn''t break me. But every time I came home and found Mom alone, I would cry to her. One time, IO apologized for crying, and she told me she always weed my cries because it showed her that she was my safe space. The world couldn''t make me bow down to it, but with her, I could let my guard down. It made her feel special."


    My tears fell again because I felt it in my soul. I''d been trying to be tough on my own, but the tears never stoppeding ever since he came back for me.


    "I''m d to be your safe space,


    Adessa. It made me feel special.


    Although I would rather not see you


    cry, I want you to know you can always ¨¨ry to me for whatever


    reason. My arms are strong enough to hold and embrace you, and my shoulders will never push your head away."


    "Oh, Goddess. What did I do to deserve you?" I mumbled in between my sobs.


    "I asked the same thing of her, so here I am, trying my best to be deserving of you." He replied.


    I bit my bottom lip to stop myself from sobbing more. Kael was overwhelming my whole being like he had been doing these past few days.Content (C) N?v/elDra/ma.Org.


    "With or without a baby, we''re still a team. Okay. We got this. Now, let''s go and grab our food. It might already be ready. We still have a long way to go." He said as he pecked my lips one more time before wiping the remainder of my tears.

 Chapter 72

    ALPHA RASMUS.


    Alpha of the Hallowed Crest Pack.


    The drive to Ironcrest Pack territory went smoothly but was boring as fuck.


    I drove my own car, and another car followed me, with two of my men in there for security purposes.Published by N?v''elD/rama.Org.


    I didn''t have any enemies like Kael, but Draco knew I was helping him, so I also had to watch my back. I honestly didn''t know if I should thank Kael or not because my boring life was suddenly flipped over.


    I felt I was also running against time, making sure Kael and Adessa got safely to the north. In the past few weeks, I had made more phone calls and bribed more people than I had in all my years as an Alpha, all to ensure they had what they needed. But I had no regrets. Why the fuck do I help them or Kael in particr?


    No, not because of Savannah or Desiree, whoever the fuck she is, especially since I could tell Kael was smitten by his own wife or ex-wife.


    The desire to help him was primarily motivated by guilt because he saved my stupid ass, and it cost his mother''s life. Although he never once med me or said anything in that regard, I knew it was difficult for him.


    Kael and his father were not as close as Kael and his mother. And they drifted more apart because of her death. So I knew that on the day Luna Liana died, Kael also lost his father. So I wanted to make sure that even if he lost his parents, he would always have a brother in me.


    So Savannah getting in between us tortured me for one whole fucking year.


    It was only recently I had learned to ept that I pushed him to a better woman with that one-night stand. So, I tried to put all this at the back of my mind and moved forward.


    Kael and I were mending, and I would never let another woman get in the way of our brotherhood.


    I was seated in Kael''s office and staring at the wall, my fingers flipping a pen as I went over my conversation with Beta Dexter and Delta Landon, Kael''s second and third inmand. Kael instructed me to watch both, specifically his Beta.


    I think he was right that I paid more attention to Dexter because I instantly felt I was not wee here.


    Of course, if I weren''t here, he''d be the one acting as the Alpha of this pack.


    Dexter could give me a sour or foul mood day in and day out, but it wouldn''t make me run back home.


    My own Beta was stubborn as hell as well, but I surely knew where his loyalty stood. So, dealing with Dexter should be easy. And since Kael allowed me to go all out with him to the point of banishing or putting him in jail if needed, this task already looked like fun. I chuckled and shook my head when my attention was drawn to somemotion outside my door.


    I removed my feet from resting on the table just in time for the door to open. Martin was behind it-one of my men who had been here since Kael requested security.


    "Alpha, Alpha Kael''s ex-girlfriend demanded toe here." He spoke even before I could ask what was going on. "I already told her..."


    "I just want to know where Miranda is!" Someone yelled that Martin was not able to finish his words.


    Then, the door was pushed wider, and woman with perfectly curled blonde hair came in.


    My fucking mouth hung open, but I was able to catch myself right away and close it.


    I eased back in my chair and crossed my feet, resting my forearms on the armrests as I watched Savannah or Desiree step forward.


    She red at Martin before tilting her head back to the front to meet my gaze.


    In an instant, her eyes widened, and the color faded from her face as if she had seen a ghost.


    I refrained fromughing or showing any emotion. Instead, I looked at Martin and gave him a nod, a simple instruction that everything was okay and that he could leave us.


    I watched as he closed the door, and only then did I return my attention to the woman who still bore the same shocked expression.


    "What are you doing here?" she


    asked in a high-pitched voice that


    allured me the first time I met her. I


    couldn''t deny that, despite the high


    pitch her


    voice really sounded


    sweet.


    en


    "What are you doing here?" I asked back, making sure my face was devoid of emotions as I raked her body up and down.


    She was skinnier when I first met her. Her body became more voluptuous, which suited her well, but she was still as sexy as fuck. Did her breasts grow bigger?


    I discreetly swallowed and returned my eyes to her face, reminding myself that I had a whore in front of me.


    "I want to talk to Kael." She said, her eyebrows raising.


    "Obviously, he''s not here," I answered in a bored tone.


    "How did you know Kael?"


    I shrugged my shoulders.


    It seemed Kael didn''t tell her our connection or even my name, as had never spoken to her again after Kael threw me buck-naked out of the hotel room where I was fucking her.


    "We''ve be friends after that night." I lied, still with a poker face.


    "I can''t believe this!" She threw her hands in the air, and I could tell she was upset. Really upset. "Did he regain his memory?"


    I leaned forward and rested my


    arms on the table, sping my hands together before letting a


    wicked grin curl on my lips. "What if I


    tell you Kael never lost his memory? Yes.


    nodded my head, supporting


    mydies. "He yed all of you."


    Her hand went to her mouth as her eyes widened again. She stepped back before turning her body around, ready to bolt out. "Savannah!" I roared.


    I had no idea what had happened to me, and I reacted like that, but the thought of her leaving didn''t sit well with me.


    I wasn''t done with her yet.


    Her body froze as my voice echoed around us. It took forever before she slowly turned around and faced me again. "My name is Desire." She said with gritted teeth.


    "I know. My name is Alpha Rasmus. Alpha of the Hallowed Crest Pack."


    Her jaw dropped again as anger shed across her face. "You lied to me!" She shrieked, and I didn''t suppress myughter this time, letting it echo all around us.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


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 Chapter 73

    ALPHA RASMUS.


    "You lied to me!" Desiree shrieked.


    I didn''t stop myself fromughing loudly. The audacity of her to scream that to my face when she did the same thing, and she did way worse than I was.


    I immediately cut myughter short, and a scowl formed on my face. "I lied about being an Alpha to avoid women clinging to me as if I were a jackpot prize, while you lied because you wanted to cheat on Kael!"


    In seconds, she was already standing in front of my desk. Her hands mmed on the oak table as her eyes dted. "Do not judge me when you''ve never been in my shoes!"


    My nose red. I abruptly pushed the chair back and stood up, resting my hands on the desk before leaning my face closer to her. "Trust me. I never want to be in a whore''s shoes."


    Everything happened so fast after that, and before I could react or do something, her small hand had alreadynded on my jaw and made my head swing to the right.


    I wasn''t expecting that. And it stung.


    "I''m not a whore! Take back what you said!"


    A growl rumbled in my chest. No one had ever pped me, and I couldn''t ept this bimbo was the first one to seed.


    I wiped my cheek with my calloused palm before slowly tilting it back to meet her gaze. "Fucking whore." I said it slowly, enunciating every syble.


    Her eyes dted again, and her hand raised, but before itnded on my face again, I grabbed it and pulled her to the side as I walked in the same direction. When there was no more table between us, I let go of her hand and grabbed her jaw before moving us to the nearest wall.


    All the anger simmering inside me was unleashed when I mmed her back against the wall, my hand still cupping her jaw tightly.


    "Let me go!" She was ramming her coiled fists onto my chest as she struggled to remove her face from my grip. But she was nothingpared to my strength.


    I pushed my front onto hers, pinning her whole body to the wall before crashing my mouth against hers.


    She bit my bottom lip hard, but it didn''t do anything to me. I continued kissing her despite the taste of my own blood as she struggled to break free. Eventually, the fists hitting my chest slowed down, and her suppressed screams turned into moans. In less than a minute since I attacked her mouth, her arms snaked around my neck as she held on to me while her lips began to move in rhythm with mine.


    I couldn''t stop the wicked grin forming on my lips as I kissed her harder one more time before pulling away abruptly.


    Her eyes snapped open as her arms loosened around me. The color drained from her face as she stared at me.


    My grip on her jaw tightened before I pulled her gently from the wall and mmed her back against it one more time. "Tell me you''re not a fucking whore. One kiss, and you''ll surely spread your legs to anyone." "Fuck you!" She said in a low voice, gritting her teeth as her eyes watered.


    "No, thanks. I''m done fucking you!"


    She pped my hand away and pushed me off her. This time, I didn''t resist and stepped back away from her. There was already a distance between us when the door opened, and Dexter was behind it. "What''s going on?" He asked in a cold voice.


    Desiree''s chest was still heaving, but no more tears were pooling in her eyes. Instead, all I saw was anger in them before she stormed out of the office without ncing at Dexter or me.


    "What''s that about?" He asked again, his gaze following Desiree even outside of the office.


    "None of your business."


    "I''m the Beta here." He snapped back as he stepped forward and closed the door.


    "So? That was a personal affair."


    "She''s Kael''s fianc¨¦e."


    "Ex." I scoffed. "Why do you care anyway?" I scowled at him as I sat and eased my back against the chair. I saw the way he looked at her. I could see the concern. Or worry-or maybe, lust.


    I had no fucking idea. But the thought of them having an affair didn''t sit well with me. It seemed Desiree was too good at stringing too many males around her. And I was fucking too hormonal to fall for it.


    I was not a saint. I sinned a whole lot. I was sure my soul was already burning in hell because Desiree was not the first woman I fucked that was cheating on their partner.


    I didn''t care at all. I just wanted a good fuck. We were all adults and could do whatever we wanted. If they want to cheat, then it''s on them.


    But Desiree- she was Kael''s girl. She should have been off-limits. That was her fucking mistake because she didn''t tell me.


    "Are you listening?" Dexter''s annoyed voice snapped me back to the present.


    "Huh?" I asked as my head tilted up to look at him. He was already standing in front of my desk. "Again?"Original content from N?velDrama.Org.


    "I said, the people looking for Miranda still had no lead about where she went after she left the territory."


    "She might be dead already," I said, shrugging my shoulders as I picked up the pen and twirled it around my fingers. I was acting nonchntly, but I saw his forehead crease while his eyes dted for a brief second. He surely didn''t like myment.


    I listened as he provided more details on the ces they checked, including the banks they contacted to see if she had any ounts in them, but I also watched his expression.


    He was having a hard time putting on a poker face. He was affected that she was gone. Kael might be right that he could be an aplice to her but I could also feel there was more to it than just them working together.


    And then, like a lightbulb, something came back in my head.


    I remembered overhearing Uncle Khalid confiding to my father that he thought Dexter and Miranda were having an affair. Dad shrugged it off and told him Dexter''s family had been this pack''s Beta for a long time, and he would never ruin that because of just one female.


    But what if Uncle was right?


    So did this mean he was fucking Miranda? But what about Desiree? Was he fucking her too?


    I tried to shove any thoughts of Desiree to the back of my mind and focused on Dexter and Miranda.


    Was this also the reason Mom and I were kept in the dark when Kael was involved in an ident and was in aa for a month?


    Many thoughts and questions ran through my head. And they were all not good.


    I needed answers, and I was determined to find them. There was no way I would let Dexter near me if he had been sabotaging all the Alphas in this pack.


    I didn''t want him around me. One of us had to go, and it surely wouldn''t be me.


    Only one tonight. We will return to


    ed.ne


    Adessa and Kael in the next chapter as they finally reach the North. I Happy New Year, lovelies! Thank you for a wonderful year! To those reading my other series, please find me on my so cia Is to know where my next book will be serialized. Thank you for all the gems! Don''t forget to use them before they expire on the 31st.


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!

 Chapter 74

    THREE DAYS LATER.


    ADESSA.


    Thest few days have been calm. We arrived at the North without any more trouble.


    Since this ce was cold, we could go around without any worries. I could wear a winter hat, scarf, and thicker coat. The same was true for Kael. So it was not easy to spot us.


    Thest days were the best I ever had if I didn''t include the times we talked about what needed to be done in case our mission failed. It made me nervous, but all of this showed me how much Kael was putting everything in his life on the line for me. I kept falling in love with him more and more.


    And the sex. Oh, Goddess! They were explosive.


    With us not restraining ourselves on how we felt, Kael had been adventurous and would always leave me wanting more. But despite us being disappointed I was not pregnant, we were not trying to have a baby. We were actually using contraceptives. We decided to wait until we could fix this trouble I was in.


    And I was okay with that. Maybe not getting pregnant was life''s way of telling us to enjoy "us" first before we let a little life take all of our time.


    I couldn''t stop the smile from curling on my lips as I stood in front of the full-length mirror at the thought of having a family with Kael. This was all I ever wanted-a family of my own with the man I loved.


    Once I get back to Ironcrest, I will make sure the people begin to like me. Or at least learn to trust me. And I knew this time, Kael would help me achieve that. And maybe this time, everything will finally fall into ce.


    But first, I needed to be a free woman.


    I let out air from my mouth as I scanned myself from head to toe.


    I couldn''t recognize me. I looked different.


    I still had the red hair, and I just let it down. And the makeup was so beautifully done that I couldn''t believe I could look this sophisticated.


    Kael and I decided to go for a simple evening gown to avoid drawing attention. It was simple but sexy, and I liked it. I liked what I was seeing.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    I had anticipated that the Moonlight Ball would feature ball gowns, evoking a medieval look simr to the themes they had in the previous year. However, the invitation that Kael got from Kevin, Rasmus'' friend, had a ck and gold theme. Strictly no ballgowns. They were going for a contemporary style this time.


    A knock came before I heard the knob twisted, and the door to our hotel room was opened.


    I knew it was Kael. Kael had gone out earlier to ensure we had a full tank and had already secured our small bags in the car. We were ready to leave this ce in case we couldn''t get the King on our side.


    I slowly turned around as he locked the door behind him.


    My heart was thudding loudly. He hadn''t seen me in my makeup and dress yet, and I wanted to see his reaction. I wanted his approval, not because I wouldn''t like it if he didn''t like this. I just wanted to make sure he still saw me as me and not as another woman.


    I held my breath as I stared at him. He was raking my body up and down, licking his lips as he did. The moment our eyes locked, my smile finally cracked. His expression told me he liked what he was seeing.


    "Damn, Adessa. I could dress you in rags, and you''d still look beautiful. But putting all this mour around you suits you so well. Are you sure you''re an Omega?" He teased me.


    I softly chuckled and remained looking at him. "Do you still recognize me as Adessa, not any other woman?"


    "Yes. My Adessa." He smiled warmly


    at me, hands in his pocket, and the


    softness in his gaze told me he wasn''t lying: "You can change your hair color, put in crooked teeth, and wear sses, but I always know that smile and those prominent


    nov


    cheekbones. I know how your body smells. I know how your body reacts to my touch. I know the sound of your moans."


    "Kael..." My voice came out hoarsely. For some reason, whenever Kael used his deep baritone voice on me and talked in a sensual way, my core would instantly throb. "You''re beautiful, Adessa."


    "Thank you. And you look dashing,


    too." I smiled before my eyes widened because he took off his coat and tossed it to the chair


    nearby before unbuttoning the


    first


    two buttons of his white shirt He then began walking toward me as he rolled up his sleeves.


    "Kael, what are you doing?"


    "I want to have a little taste of the beauty in front of me."


    "We have to..."


    "We have time." He smiled wickedly before licking his lips again.


    In a swift motion, he scooped me off the floor and ced me on top of the desk at the corner of our room After sliding my evening gown to the side, he parted my legs and dropped onto his knees before me-my thighs caging him.


    And without warning, Kael dipped his head into my throbbing and wet pussy.


    I didn''t even notice how he got rid of the tiny fabric that was covering my core. All I knew was his mouth and tongue werepping and sucking me while his hands kept my legs wide apart.


    My hands gripped the edge of the table, restraining myself from grabbing his hair. It was already brushed up nicely, and I didn''t want to ruin it.


    "Kael..." I moaned loudly as my eyes rolled back and my grip on the table tightened. Like always, Kael would set fire to me, and I always ended up sumbing to my desires. "More... Oh, Goddess!"


    My legs were shaking as he tongue-fucked me, and he must have noticed it after a while because he withdrew from my pussy and stood up.


    My eyes snapped open, disappointed. My orgasm had already begun to build, only for him to stop abruptly.


    "No..." I shook my head, my eyes giving him a warning. "We are not leaving until..."


    "I know, baby." He grabbed my ass off the table and pressed my back against the wall before hiking my leg to wrap around his hips while carefully maneuvering my long dress.


    He had already had his zipper down, and I could feel his cock prodding into my wet entrance.


    "I want to kiss you, but I don''t want to ruin your lipstick." He said in a raspy voice as he pressed his arm against the wall beside my head, our faces inches from each other.


    "Good boy..." I teased him as I blew soft air on his face, making him part his lips as if inhaling my breath before a cocky smile tugged at his mouth.


    "I am. Always been. But I can be a bad boy, too." Kael plunged his cock harshly into me at thest three words, and a sultry moan ripped from my throat.


    His hips began bucking faster as he rammed in and out of me while my back mmed against the wall for every hard thrust.


    "Open your eyes, butterfly. I want to see you. All of you, until youe."

 Chapter 75

    LADESSA.


    "Open your eyes, butterfly. I want to see you. All of you, until youe." Kael''s voice was heady, and it made me feel wanted.


    My eyes were rolling as the heat in my body continued. I badly wanted to shut my eyes, but like a good girl, I kept them open, staring at the man who was the only light in my badly beaten life.


    My mouth parted, and myshes fluttered as my orgasm built up. Kael picked up his pace, his hand on my waist, gripping it tightly as he kept pounding into me. It didn''t take long before I shuddered as my orgasm rippled through my whole body.


    Kael didn''t stop fucking me. All the while, we kept staring at each other, both panting and inhaling each other''s air. A few more hard thrusts and a guttural growl ripped from his throat as he let out his release.


    Inside me.


    "Fuck! Fuck!" He groaned after a while when the realization hit him. He leaned his forehead against mine, and we both closed our eyes. "I''m sorry, baby. If I pull out, it can spill on your dress...." He mumbled, still panting.


    After our little tryst, Kael cleaned me up, and I put on new underwear. I didn''t make a big fuss about him releasing inside me. We were both at fault. There was no need to worry about it anymore.


    What was done was done, and I enjoyed every bit of it.


    And we had to get going.


    The drive to the King''s Pce went smoothly, and despite us not conversing for most of the ride, it was afortable silence with him holding my hand.


    The party would start at seven in the evening, and we arrived ten minutes before, but we decided to wait until it had begun before walking inside. Kael said they rarely tell the public when the King will appear, but he knew it was never at the start of the party. The King also never stayed for a long time, so we needed to grab that small chance to meet him.


    We waited until the entrance was devoid of people before taking our invitation and heading to our designated gate.


    "Don''t forget you are Savannah Gray tonight. The only time we would admit you are Adessa is when we are alone with the King." Kael reminded me, and I nodded my head.


    I had been practicing introducing myself with this name and telling myself to turn my head whenever Savannah was mentioned.


    "Are you sure Alpha Draco is not one of the attendees?" I asked him even though I had asked this beforehand.


    "Rasmus had Kevin check the list, and he was not there," he replied the same thing. "So we only need to watch out for the authorities."


    Kael told me that the Juridistic section, or the King''s Court, usually does not involve the King with cases as trivial as mine. So he might have no idea of my crimes as Adessa. Hiding my identity was more for the authority and security surrounding this ce, as they might grab me before the King could even set his eyes on me.


    We were let in without any problem. They handed me a gold mask and Kael a ck one with a reminder that the mask must stay on in the main ballroom, but in all other halls, such as the banquet hall where the food was, they could be removed.


    I initially thought we could bring our own masks, but the invitation stated that masks would be provided for security purposes. They didn''t want anyone hiding their whole face for security purposes.


    I put on my mask as we began


    walking inside. I couldn''t keep my


    area


    mouth closed as I walked in awe through the corridor of this big castle. We were in the court or for events, and splendid was an understatement to describe this ce.


    This ce was truly magnificent. I felt like I was reliving a fairy tale. The pce was overwhelming, with medieval structures blended with contemporary decor.


    And as much as everything was new in my eyes, I never felt out of ce. In fact, looking at the grandeur before me made me feel at ease.


    Maybe I was a princess in my past life.


    I chuckled at my own thoughts, but my daydreaming was cut short when Kevin, Rasmus'' friend, met us, and he ushered us to the Casino Hall.


    He discreetly informed us that the


    King would make an appearance at the main bathroom in two hours. So, if we wanted to have a glimpse of him, we needed to move to the other hall before that. He told us the dance floor was the best ce to see the King, as it was directly in front of the


    dais where he would be sitting.


    I had no idea how much Rasmus told Kevin that he was giving us this information, but whatever it was, I was grateful. It made it easier for us to position ourselves within the King''s presence.


    After Kevin left us, Kael scanned the casino room and chose a poker table where we would sit and y. I removed my mask, as everyone in this room didn''t have theirs on.


    "Have I taken you to casinos before?" he asked, guiding me toward our table after we had exchanged money for casino chips.


    I shook my head as I sipped the white wine in my ss. "I didn''t even know you yed poker."


    "I usually don''t, but sometimes, just as a pastime. I used to go with Rasmus in some instances." He exined in a low voice before he pulled a chair for me. He took the ss in my hand and gave it to the server that passed by.


    I had no idea how poker was yed,


    so I really had no clue if we were winning or not, but I could tell the people Kael was ying against were checking my expression. To bad for them, I totally had no idea what was going on. But I knew how easily some could read expressions, as Kael briefly exined, and I was d to be clueless. I didn''t want to be the reason he''d lose this, especially because he removed his own mask and put on sunsses to cover his eyes.


    We both promised to enjoy the night until it was time to face the King. And it looked like Kael was serious about winning and having fun.


    Well, Kael had been winning and calling the shots while I kept watching the clock. We had 40 minutes left before the King''s appearance, and we had to go there at least 15 minutes before that.


    Our table was fun, and Kael, despite focusing on the game, would never forget to check on me and would rub my waist from time to time. I could also see him checking the area.


    He asked me if I wanted us to go to other halls or eat, but I had no appetite. And sitting was the best option at the moment, as the ticking of the clock was slowly giving me anxiety. A few more minutes, and we needed to move.


    I was having some conversation with the female next to us when I felt Kael''s body stiffen.


    "Fuck!" He mumbled under his breath.


    My heart began thudding loudly as I followed his line of sight. And I almost fell on my chair when I saw where he was looking.N?velDrama.Org ? content.


    Alpha Draco, together with his Beta, was approaching our table. I held my breath as I watched him take the vacant seat exactly in front of us. It was only then that I regretted taking my mask off.


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 Chapter 76

    KAEL.


    Even if I was ying poker, I made sure my eyes would roam around this vast hall, so it caught me by surprise when I found myself staring at Draco as he headed for our table.


    I didn''t see him or his Beta before this.


    And it was toote to leave.


    I eased back on my seat, wanting to be able to grab Adessa if worse came to worse. But the good thing was, I was sure Draco could not bring any of his men inside this pce except for his Beta. The main entrance to this whole I just needed to be wary of his actions so that he could not alert anyone of Adessa being here.


    "I didn''t expect to see you here, Alpha Kael." He began as I imed the chips that I had won just before he sat down.


    "Same here," I answered curtly.


    "It seems you''re eager to rece your ex-wife."


    I scoffed and did not say anything. I was sure I lookedposedpared to how tangled my mind was. What the fuck was he ying? Did he not recognize Adessa?


    Adessa and Landon confirmed Draco personally met Adessa only once, and there were no other instances they were able to meet again up close.


    Could it be that he didn''t recognize her at all?


    If I were topare the photos of her that they shared all over the news-with those photos being their only basis on how she looked and the Adessa sitting beside me, then there was a big possibility they would not recognize her. But he''s Draco, and I would never rx if he were around Adessa.


    "Let''s not talk about his ex-wife when I''m here. That''s very rude." Adessa spoke beside me in a tone I had never heard her use before. It was full of confidence and authority, not the meek and sweet wife I got to know this past week.


    "My apologies, ma''am. I will make sure not to mention her again." Draco spoke, but he wasn''t looking at her but at his cards. "Will I get a name, as it seems Alpha Kael has no intention of introducing hispanion?" "Savannah. Savannah Gray."


    "A pleasure to meet you, Miss Savannah."


    "Same here, Alpha Draco." She replied nonchntly. She was already angled in my direction. Her long nails trailed on my cheek down to my throat until they stopped on my neck. I assumed she was acting differently from how Draco had seen her act around me before. The "Savannah" next to me was aggressive. She wasn''t saying anything but softly humming a tune. Her finger raised and found my lips, ying with them and distracting me excessively.


    I felt my head was going to explode at any time. It was challenging to focus on my card when I was also watching Draco discreetly and managing my cock because the show Adessa was putting on was turning me on.


    The game immediately ended with Draco winning. And the next set began. Draco wasn''t showing any animosity, and neither was his Beta-whose eyes were everywhere except on Adessa.


    Whatever fucking game they were ying at, I knew it wasn''t good.


    I folded midway after Draco raised his bet, so he had no choice but to continue the game.


    "I''m done," I said as I stood up and took my remaining chips, not caring that the other yers frowned because of the disruption. At this point, I didn''t fucking care about any game etiquette.


    I button my coat before taking Adessa''s hand and guiding her from the table. We passed by the counter, and I dropped my chips, but I didn''t wait for the exchange. I also dropped my sunsses on the trash bin we passed by and slipped on my mask.


    We left the casino hall and went directly to the ballroom. I hoped the Alpha King would arrive on time or earlier while Draco was still sitting at the poker table.


    "It''s still twenty minutes before the King will arrive," Adessa spoke softly as she slid her mask to cover her eyes.


    This time, I could hear the loud


    beating of her heart. She was


    nervous, but she did really well there because had never heard her heart beating this loud in front of Draco.


    to do.


    She certainly knew what needed


    BUMS


    "I know, but I don''t want Draco to follow us directly. Him ying and looking for us will buy us some time. And I''m sure he won''t make a mess in front of the King." "I''m nervous, Kael."


    "You''ll be fine. Use what we practice when the right timees and never look back. Not even for me."


    She nodded her head as she fought her tears as we entered the ballroom. Adessa''s hand, which I was holding, was too cold. Although I worried for her safety, I knew she was no longer the helpless woman I met when I woke up from mya.


    Adessa was slowly discovering her abilities.N?velDrama.Org holds text ? rights.


    Thesest three days, we would sneak into the middle of the forest, in the cold winter snow of the north. I let her heal wounds that I had inflicted on myself, and then we moved on to test her other capabilities. It took a while until we realized her emotions were her power.


    She could generate heat in her


    hands, and it could burn anyone she


    touched, including me. It was my only hope that no one would be able to touch and grab her. It didn''t matter anymore what would happen tome as long as she could get away if needed.


    "May I have this dance, Miss Savannah?" Iid my free hand before her and stared directly into her eyes.


    Despite the worry in her expression, a smile slowly curled on her lips as she ced her hand on top of mine, and I immediately swung us to the dance floor, exactly in the front, where we could easily see the King. Despite the worry surrounding my whole being, I felt blessed to see Adessa in this light.


    She was terrified, but she was doing well in keeping her head up. My only wish was that I could fulfill my promise to her that I could keep her safe. That we could make it out alive here.


    It wasn''t even a couple of minutes of dancing when Adessa''s grip on my shoulders tightened, although her expression didn''t change.


    "I apologize for interrupting, but I would like to dance with Miss Savannah if that is okay with you, Alpha Kael." Draco''s voice came from behind me.


    I felt like growling, but I restrained myself.


    Adessa lowered her hands from my shoulders, but she remained standing in front of me, her eyes looking at Alpha Draco. This time, her eyes bore no expression-no fear, no animosity. Nothing.


    I was about to turn around to face him when I noticed a group of people walking and were about to pass us as the people murmured around.


    The Alpha King had arrived, but there was no introduction. No warning.


    I forgot about Draco the moment the Alpha King was about to pass us.


    It was now or never.


    "Alpha King Essak," I said in a full voice, wanting to draw his attention.


    The Alpha King stopped exactly in front of me, his brows furrowing, but it didn''t take long before a smile tugged at his mouth. "Alpha Kael, is that you?"


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 Chapter 77

    LADESSA.


    "Alpha King Essak," Kael spoke in a voice full of confidence, and the hair on my skin rose.


    Did the Alpha King arrive?


    I was torn between turning around and keeping my eyes on Alpha Draco. I didn''t trust him, not a bit. And with Kael looking in a different direction from him, someone needed to keep an eye on him.


    But not turning around means disrespecting the Alpha King.


    So I did, slowly, so as not to make a scene.


    The Alpha King had his back slightly to me. "Alpha Kael, is that you?" King Essak''s deep and loud voice came, and the music lowered until I could barely hear it anymore.


    "I feel honored that you still remember me." Kael bowed his head in respect. "A pleasure to see you tonight, Alpha King. If I may, I would like to address this matter directly. I want to request an audience with..."


    Kael was not able to finish his word when another man, who must be one of the King''s Guards, spoke and interrupted him. "Excuse me, Alpha. All requests for the King''s time should go to his Court. We..."


    "It''s okay." King Essak raised his hand, and the man immediately shut up. With a smirk on his face, he turned his attention to Kael again. "Years have gone by, and you''re still using the same tactic, Kael. Ambushing me in the middle of my ceremonies." "My apologies, my King. I am only eager to hear your wisdom about my woman." Kael spoke in one breath beforeying his hand on his right, almost before me.


    I epted Kael''s hand, and it was only then that the Alpha King tilted his head in my direction.


    I swallowed hard when his smile suddenly disappeared, and his face''s color was drained. He stepped back, and my whole world shattered as I fought my tears. Did he recognize me as one of the criminals they were looking for?


    I wanted to drop my gaze from him, but I didn''t, and we remained staring into each other''s eyes.


    "Remove your mask." He ordered.


    My heart thudded loudly as the whole room fell into a deafening silence. I couldn''t even hear my own heartbeat, but I wanted to pat myself on the back because, despite the turmoil in my head, my hands were steady as I slowly took off my mask. "Adine..." One word, but it echoed in my ear.


    Kael looked at me, and my eyes found his. He was confused, but he moved and stood beside me, circling his arm around my waist. "You must be mistaken, King Essak. This is Savannah Gray."


    I tilted my head down in respect. "A pleasure to meet you, my King."


    "No. I could never be wrong. Tell me you''re twenty years old." The King said, disregarding my greeting. "Who are your parents?"


    He was right. I was twenty years old.


    I opened my mouth to speak even if I had no idea if I should lie or not, but before any word coulde out of my lips, somebody spoke from somewhere. A female.


    It gave me goosebumps all over my body and made my hand on Kael''s back grip his coat tightly.


    "She is not Savannah Gray nor Adine that you spoke of, my King." Miranda''s voice was loud and full of confidence.


    Kael moved us so we could turn around to look at her, and we ended up standing beside King Essak.


    "How dare you interrupt our conversation?" The King asked her in a cold tone.


    "My apologies, my King." She bowed her head slightly before tilting her head up. A smirk formed on her red lips as her eyes glistened with wickedness. She hated me with her whole being, and I knew she was here to push me more.


    I was already preparing myself to heat up my body, ready to run away, but Kael was gripping my waist tightly, steadying me in my ce beside him.


    "The woman beside you is Adessa


    Quijeros. Former Luna of the


    Ironcrest Pack and a fugitive for killing two men from the Knight''s


    Stone Pack." She then tilted


    head


    to the two men beside her. "She is


    the one I was telling you that


    sneaked in here. Which was a


    disgrace to the King''s men for letting this happen."


    "How dare you mock my guards?" The King snapped at her.


    "That is not my intention, King Essak." Miranda immediately answered. "I just want to let everyone know that she''s a criminal. A murderer!"


    "How dare you use anyone of such a heinous crime? Do you have an invitation to this banquet?"


    Miranda''s face paled. She probably didn''t expect the King''s animosity toward her. But she couldpose herself right away, and I saw her nce at Alpha Draco.


    And I knew I was doomed.


    "Kael..." I whispered, but he was not able to reply as Miranda spoke again.


    "I am not invited, my King, but I''m also not lying to you. You can ask the Alpha of the Knight''s Stone Pack himself. Alpha Draco will tell you I''m not lying. She is Adessa Quijeros. Am I right, Alpha Draco?"


    I stepped back, ready to bolt out if this became a lot worse, but I felt something was pushed onto my back-a spear, a knife, or a sword.


    It must be from one of the King''s guards. I really had no idea, but I knew if I stepped back further, it would pierce my skin.


    Alpha Draco cleared his throat as all eyes went to him. He then tilted his head up beforepletely turning his body to look at Miranda.


    "I don''t understand why you are


    insisting that Miss Savannah is Luna Adessa. I have met Miss Savannah on a few asions, and I know she is definitely not the woman who killed my brother." Alpha Draco spoke in a voice full of conviction that if I were not the person he was talking about, I would believe him.


    He was lying for me because I was sure as hell that he knew I was Adessa the moment Miranda announced it. And that this was the only time he had met Savannah Gray. Something was going on.


    My hands were too cold, and if Kael were not holding me, I would have already dropped onto the floor on the way my knees were buckling.


    "Take her out of here!" The King roared, and everything happened so fast. The one pointing at my back released me, and more men came out of nowhere and grabbed Miranda. She struggled to break free from them and began being hysterical.


    "She is Adessa Quijeros, my King! She has a red birthmark on her hip bones, almost looking like a heart!" She kept shouting nonstop. "I knew because I lived with her. I am her former mother-inw! And Alpha Kael is an aplice! He should be stripped of his title for lying!"


    Her yelling echoed all around the hall, and the moment she was gone from the ballroom, the murmur began.


    "We should leave." I mouthed at Kael, and he shook his head.


    The King walked toward the raised


    dais and turned his attention to the crowd. "My beautiful werewolves, your King is.extending an apology for themotion. Do not let it rain your night. Pleasemence with the event, and I will grace you with my presence again before the night ends." As soon as he stopped speaking, the music went up, drowning out all the talking all


    around us.


    I thought he would leave, but he stopped in front of me. This time, I couldn''t fathom his expression.All content is ? N0velDrama.Org.


    "Do you have a red mark on your back?" He asked in a low voice as he stared into my eyes.


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 Chapter 78

    LADESSA.


    "Do you have a red mark on your back?" King Essak asked the moment he stopped in front of me. He asked in a low voice as if he didn''t want anyone to hear.


    I saw many guards approaching and dispersing the crowd around us until it was just Kael and me with the Alpha King. I didn''t see Alpha Draco anymore.


    "Do you have a red mark on your back?" The King repeated his question, snapping me back to the present.


    Then, a surge of strong current rippled through my body, and I knew he had used his King''smand. I made the mistake of looking back into his eyes. I thought he would never use it on me.


    Only the Alpha King had this power, and from what I heard, he had never even used this to get any criminals to admit their crimes. He would leave judgment to his Court. But I had no idea why he was using this on such a trivial matter. Why was he asking me too many questions?


    "I do..." I answered in almost a whisper as I dropped my gaze to the floor.


    I had no choice; lying could cause me to bleed severely until the King stopped the punishment or until I died.


    "Take her!" He said to the man beside him. "And follow me."


    My whole body trembled as Kael ced his arm across me and slightly pushed me back. "I''ming with her."


    "No." The King stopped walking. "I only need her."


    "She is the reason I wanted an audience with you, King Essak."


    The King slowly turned around and stepped toward us. He stopped just a few inches from Kael. "You lied to me, Alpha Kael. Tell me again, what is her name? The loud woman was not lying. Am I right?" Kael swallowed hard but didn''t reply.


    "You have two choices: let here with me, or I will throw you out of this banquet, and you will never know what fate she will get within the four walls of my pce."


    "I am not leaving her alone..."


    "Take him out of here!" King Essak pointed toward the exit.


    "No! No! Please... Kael, I will go with him. I''ll be okay." I said as I stood between them, but then Kael was grabbed. "Stop, please!"


    I tried to take the man''s hands off him, but someone grabbed me and pulled me away. I shoved the hands holding me before I ran after King Essak. "Alpha King! I beg you!" The moment he turned around, I dropped onto my knees and sped my hands together.


    "Please do not throw Kael out of the pce!" I begged him.


    "You shall not kneel to me or anyone!" He roared that I thought I had turned deaf. He grabbed my arm and pulled me up harshly, and a loud growl erupted behind us.


    The King dragged and ced me behind him as he stared at Kael, who was already red in the face with his fangs protruding.


    He tried to fight off the people holding him until one of them jabbed his stomach with the long baton he was holding, and someone elbowed his back, making him drop to the ground.


    "Kael!" I tried to go to him, but the King pulled me again. I faced him with a tear rolling down my cheeks. "I will do whatever you want. Just let Kael stay and not be harmed. Please, my King."


    "I do not want anyone disturbing the peace of my pce." He said in a cold voice.


    "He will behave. Kael is a peaceful man, my King. He will never hurt anyone. He was just worried about me."


    "As long as he doesn''t make any scene, I will let him stay."


    "Tell them to stop hurting him. Please..."


    "Enough!" He said in a loud voice, and they stopped hitting him.


    I wiped my tears and kept my head up. I didn''t want Kael to see me crying, or he would be in a rage again.


    "Thank you..." mumbled and bowed


    my head to the King before I turned to look at Kael again, who was still on his knees, his hands on the back, with three people restraining him and two others pointing long spears at him.


    Our eyes met, and it was getting harder to stop my tears. "Kael, please calm down. I''m okay."


    He nodded his head, but I could still see the worry in his expression. I couldn''t me him-this was our first time apart since he found me.N?velDrama.Org content rights.


    "My apologies, King Essak. I''m just protecting her." His voice was broken, far from the Kael who always knew what to say or do next.


    "I will not harm her."


    "That is the only thing I want." He bowed down, his jaw tightening. The moment he tilted his head up, he looked at me. "I will wait for you here."


    I nodded and forced a weak smile to form on my lips, trying to pacify him, but I knew I failed.


    One of the guards held my elbow


    and motioned for me to follow King


    Essak, who had already begun walking away. I followed his lead but I kept looking back, checking on Kael, making sure they were not dragging him out.


    I saw someone help him up, and they talked to him, but his eyes remained fixated on mine. We kept looking at each other until we made a turn somewhere, and I couldn''t see him anymore.


    I stifled my cries as I puffed my chest. I was back on my own again, but I could do this. I would plead to the King myself.


    The important thing was that he would not harm me or Kael. A King never breaks his word. I kept repeating this to myself.


    After many turns and what felt like forever, we finally reached the end of the long corridor. A double door opened, and the King stepped in. The doors remained open until the guards and I reached them.


    I was ushered into a huge receiving


    room with Victorian-style furniture. If


    I had not been in a bad position, I would have taken time to take in the beauty of the room, but instead, I let my eyes focus on the Alpha King.


    He motioned for the guards to leave us alone, and the door was closed. I stood in the middle of the room while the King was standing almost ten meters away from me.


    I studied his features. He must be around in histe 50s, and his face already looked calmer than it was in the banquet.


    "Will you tell the truth for all my questions, or do I have to use mymand on you again?" He began.


    "I will not lie, my King," I responded.


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 Chapter 79

    LADESSA.novelbin


    "Will you tell the truth for all my questions, or do I have to use mymand on you again?" He began.


    "I will not lie, my King," I responded.


    "Good." He then motioned with his hand, directing me to the couches. "Take your seat. Is it Savannah or Adessa?"


    With my head down, I headed for the nearby single couch and sat there. I tilted my head and found him looking at me, still standing where he was earlier.


    "Adessa. My name is Adessa Quijeros." I replied, doing my best for my voice not to crack. "I killed two people from the Knight''s Stone Pack, but if you would let me exin..."


    He raised his hand, and it made me stop talking.


    "Enough." That was all he said, and cold sweat formed everywhere on my body. He turned around and walked toward the table where a vintage telephone sat.


    Is he going to call someone to arrest me?


    I stood up abruptly. "My King!" This time, I couldn''t stop my voice from trembling.


    He ced a finger on his lips after he pressed a number, and I held my breath, but my heart was racing against my chest. There was no way I could outrun his men. I looked at the big window nearby, checking if I could push or draw it open.


    I might need to use the heat power to get away from them, but what if they fire bullets or throw spears at me?


    "Get me all the information about Adessa Quijeros of the Iron Crest Pack." I heard him tell someone from the other line, and my head snapped back to look at him. He didn''t even wait a few seconds after he talked; he just immediately dropped the call and faced me again. "Sit down, Adessa." He ordered me.


    I slowly lowered myself to the couch, my hand gripping the armrest tightly. I didn''t dare blink, keeping my eyes focused on him and the door.


    "Rx, my child. No one will take you under my presence."


    I could not stop myself from letting out a breath of relief that my whole body jolted forward as tears trickled down my face. "I didn''t want to kill them, but they were nning to rape me, my King. They talked about how they would abuse me while I could hear them. No woman, no one, should feel that kind of torture. I have to save myself. I thought then, it''s either me or them. I don''t want to die."


    I tilted my head and looked at him while saying thest sentence. Despite my blurry sight, I saw his hands on his side coiled into fists.


    "I just want a fair trial, my King. To protect my rights and to say my pleas." I continued, and the tears kept rolling down my cheeks. "I can ask forgiveness from their families too. I will do vebor if I must, but I want to protect my dignity. It''s the only thing I have. I have nothing. Nothing."


    "They took you out of your free will." He stated as he approached me, handing me a white handkerchief embossed with the pce seal.


    I hesitated and looked at him again, wanting to be sure I was allowed to take it.


    "Take it."


    "Thank you, Alpha King," I mumbled as I took it from him.


    "Luna Miranda sold me to Alpha Draco." I began when he remained silent and just looked at me as I wiped my tears.


    I would not hesitate to name Miranda anymore. If this were the old me, I would have shut my mouth, but as long as she kept doing what she did, I would never be free. "What do you mean?"


    "After my divorce from Alpha Kael, I was told Luna Miranda sold me to Alpha Draco. To be one of his harem."


    "He divorced you. And he allowed this to happen? Yet he showed up here as if he wanted to protect you."


    "You got it wrong, King Essak. He was not aware." I wanted to tell him about Kael''s memory loss, but it might not be a good idea as it could jeopardize his right to rule over his pack in that condition. "When he found out someone took me, he looked for me. But then, I already killed the men that were supposed to bring me to Alpha Draco."


    "Your mother, where is she in all of this?"


    "I never met her." I dropped my gaze and fiddled with the hanky in my hands as I continued. I wondered why he only asked about my mother and not my parents in general. "I was raised in an orphanage. I was left by the door one winter night with nothing but my clothes and a regr nket wrapped around me. And a paper where the name Adessa was


    written."


    I tilted my head to look at him and saw his eyes water.


    "The headmistress of the orphanage added herst name to mine so I could be registered. My birthday was when they took me in, as they assumed I was only weeks old then." I continued.


    "They tried to look for any trace or


    track of the person who left me. There were no car tires, horse marks, or even a track on foot. I told them maybe it was because it was snowing. They said snow was all around, but it had stopped snowing for many hours before they found me. They wondered how was able to get there without any


    "Or she wiped out her tracks." He added.


    tracks."


    I smiled at his joke. I remembered how I also innocently saw this part when I was seven, and I asked how I came to the orphanage. "I told them it''s magic. That a Stork dropped me." But then the smile faded almost immediately as my tears came again. "Because even my own family doesn''t want me."


    I had no idea why I was telling him this. I had never told anyone about this part and how I felt. Not even to Kael. This part was thest confirmation that even as a child, I was never wanted. I was never loved.


    My body shook from my cries, and I had to look down because I didn''t want to see the pity in his eyes. "You see, my King. I have nothing except my dignity. And I will fight with my life so I can keep it."


    There was silence between us, and I had no idea how long I had been crying. It felt good to cry, but it hurt to remember all of this.


    "I''ve been looking for you for twenty years." He finally spoke, and it took a while before his words sank in.


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 Chapter 80

    LADESSA.


    "I''ve been looking for you for twenty years," the King said, and it kept resonating in my ears.


    I looked at him, and slowly, the words came out of my lips. "Looking for me? For twenty years? I''m not sure I understand."


    "Your mother''s name is Adine."


    It was the woman''s name he mentioned earlier when he first saw me.


    "She was taller, but you look just like her. And even with that mask on, I could tell."


    "My King, you must be mistaken." I forced a smile despite the loud beating of my heart and the sweat on my palms. "This is not my real hair. And they put too thick makeup on me. What you see..."


    "I know what I felt."


    I swallowed hard as my stomach churned. King Essak turned away and headed for the window. He looked outside while I remained silent, waiting for him to continue.


    "A King''s senses are heightened. My sense of hearing, reflexes, taste, everything. And I could feel a bond. I felt it for every one of my children that came into this world. I knew someone was born twenty years ago, and I felt that same connection when I saw you." I was just staring at him as more questions formed in my head.


    "I didn''t know she bore a daughter. I was prophesied that I would only have sons but not a daughter." He continued while I tried to keep up with everything he was saying.


    The King has five sons, all of which are ruling their own territories. And one of these days, one of them would rise as the New Alpha King.


    "What that foolish woman Miranda had said only backed my assumptions. A secret we never confirmed to anyone. All royals were born with a red mark on their hip bones. And they change in every stage of their life." He then turned around to face me as goosebumps rose on my skin.


    If he were lying, then he wouldn''t know about the changes in my birthmark. I thought it was a defect, but the people at the orphanage stated I was hallucinating when I told them I thought my mark had changed its form while I was growing up. So, I never opened the topic again.


    "What form do you have on your back now?" He asked.


    "It''s almost a heart. But not yet..."


    "You''re ready, then." He said with a poker expression.


    "What do you mean, my King?"


    "Call me Father, Adessa."


    "I''m not sure I understand what is going on. If you were my father, where is my mother? Why was I left alone in the orphanage?"


    "I know you will have many questions. I will answer all of that when the right timees."


    "Is my mother the queen?" I knew it was a stupid question because the deceased Queen''s name was not Adine. But I wanted to understand more.


    "She''s not your mother."


    "All your sons..."


    ""Your brothers..." He cut me off.


    "All your sons..." I repeated firmly. "...are children of your Queen. And they''re older than me. Am I an illegitimate child?"


    "You''re my daughter."


    "You cheated on your Queen," I mumbled as tears fell from my eyes. I had no idea where I got the courage to say that to him. But maybe his thought that I was his child gave me that confidence.


    "I was not proud of that, but I couldn''t change a thing anymore. All I know is I am d I finally found you."


    "We are not sure if I''m your daughter."


    ""We will find out soon."


    "And what if I''m not?" I asked as I closed my eyes, waiting for the worst.


    "You will be trialed for your crimes." He said almost immediately.


    I tilted my head as I fought the tears from falling. My mouth hung open as we stared at each other. "I want to see Alpha Kael."


    "No." He said as he dropped his gaze and went back to the phone.


    "Why not?" I asked in a soft voice.


    He talked on the phone for a while, asking someone toe here before dropping the call. He then faced me. "Because the King said so."


    "As your daughter, don''t I have any rights to speak with whom I want to speak with? Kael is my husband."


    "Ex-husband."


    "You don''t know what we have. He didn''t divorce me because..."


    "I don''t need to hear an exnation." He cut me off and then cleared his throat.


    The softness in his eyes was gone, the one I saw when he recognized me at the ball. All I saw was a man with a stoic face-an expression as cold as the night. "As my daughter, who''s at her peak of having a mate, you''re not allowed to speak to any man without my approval,


    My mouth fell open.


    "Or, as a fugitive waiting for a trial, it is your punishment to be isted from the rest."


    My eyes watered as everything was sinking in. Either way, he was not allowing me to contact Kael.


    "If I may ask, what do you mean by being on the peak of having a mate? I don''t think I will ever meet my fated mate."


    "I assume you will not meet him like all of us."


    "Then I have the right to choose my mate," I said, hoping the worst was me having suitors for selection.


    "The Kingdom of Absalom will choose the right mate for you."


    The Kingdom of Absalom is the old-times name for this country-the one he governed as the Alpha King.novelbin


    He must have seen the confusion on


    my face, so he continued talking. "It had been far too long since thest time this kingdom had a princess for royalty Decades after decades all the Kings were only given sons."


    "So there''s no guarantee I am your child. I couldn''t be that special." I blurted out, still confused with his statement about the Kingdowm choosing a mate for me.


    He chuckled and shook his head as hisughter boomed around me. He looked carefree and happy, far from the stoic man he was showing me in this room the whole time. "Aren''t you a stubborn young woman? Tell me, my child, would you rather face the fate of the dungeons than be my daughter?"


    I wanted to tell him that either way, it seemed my fate was no longer in my hands.


    "All I want is to speak with Kael, my King."


    "Father." He said again, slower this time, as if teaching a kid how to speak.


    "Father, please..." I said softly, my voice pleading. I would do whatever he wanted so I could speak with Kael, even for a few minutes.


    "No." He said at the exact moment the door opened.


    I stood up and moved further away from the door when two men and a woman entered. One man seemed to be a doctor because he was carrying a medical kit.


    The three who entered bowed their heads to him before turning to me and bowing to me.


    My eyes widened. I was used to being bowed down to when I was still Kael''s Luna, but definitely not anymore, and not from the King''s men.


    "Rx, Princess Adessa. I will just swab something from your mouth."


    I swallowed and looked at the King.


    He nodded at me. "It''s just a test to prove to you that I am your father. After this, I will let you rest."


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 Chapter 81

    KAEL.


    It had been hours since she was taken, and I had no idea where she was.


    King Essak returned to the ballroom and stayed for ten minutes, but I was not able to get to him. Unlike earlier, he was fully guarded this time. No matter how I tried to ask politely and professionally, I was not allowed to talk to him. And regardless of whether I positioned myself within his peripherals, the King would always avert his gaze away from me.


    Something was off.


    It was taking too much of me not to snap and create chaos. I was worried, but I knew that if I let out an outburst, I would be in a bad position. Thest thing I wanted was to give them a reason to throw me out of the perimeter of the Absalom Pce. After the event, there was an after-party. I also went there, hoping to find Kevin or meet someone who could tell me anything about Adessa, but I was not sessful.


    I then proceeded to Mindorf Manor, which served as the hotel for guests. Everyone invited to the Moonlight Ball had automatic amodations, as no one was allowed to leave the area until the next day, where a clear pass would be needed by anyone exiting. I was grateful for that, as this benefited me tonight. I didn''t want to leave without Adessa.


    I saw Draco in the manor, but I didn''t approach him. I isted myself. I didn''t want any trouble at all.


    It was already one in the morning, and I just came back into my room.


    "Rasmus..." I spoke as soon as he picked up his mobile phone.


    "Kael," His voice was throaty. I woke him up from his sleep. "How was the ball? Were you able to talk to the King?"


    "I need Kevin''s number."


    "Yeah, yeah. Does this mean you were not sessful?"


    "They took Adessa!"


    "Fuck! I told you this is a wrong idea!" He sounded more alert.


    "Not the authority, but the King himself. He requested to speak with her alone, and it had been more than six hours... and fuck!" I punched the wall and rested my forehead on it, still gripping the phone tightly. "Shit! Don''t tell me he fancies Adessa?"


    "I don''t know, man. It doesn''t seem like that, but he called her a different name as if he knew her."


    "Rx. I''ll give you Kevin''s number so he can check with someone to find out where she is." "Thanks, man."


    "Why the fuck did you only call now?"


    "I don''t know. Stop asking questions!"


    "Rx..."


    "How can I fucking rx when I don''t know where she is?!" My voice kept getting higher.


    "I know, but acting crazy won''t help you. Here''s the number, or do you want me..."


    I didn''t hear his words because a voice sounded somewhere, announcing an important update from the King. I was puzzled until I realized the room had a built-in speaker.


    "Attention, people of Absalon. The pce formally announces the arrival of the youngest royalty of the Absalom Kingdom...."


    Goosebumps rose from my skin as I turned around and focused my eyes on the speaker attached to the roof somewhere near the door as if I could see the person speaking.


    "Her Royal Highness, Princess


    Adessa of Absalom, has finally graced us with her presence. The King is extending an invitation to every guest of the Moonlight Ball for a Royal Breakfast Banquet in honor of Princess Adessa tomorrow at exactly 30 minutes past the seventh hour. We ask every guest to arrive before the set time, or entrance will be refused once the Royal family has arrived. We expected to see you in formal, casual attire."


    The announcer was still stating reminders, but I had already sunk down to my knees as my eyes watered. I didn''t know I dropped my phone until Rasmus spoke from the other line. "Kael... Kael, do you hear me?"novelbin


    I picked it up before slumping my body on the floor and bent my knees, resting my elbows on them as one hand gripped my hair and the other ced my phone on my ear.


    "Yes..." My voice broke, and I was struggling to stop throwing punches everywhere.


    "Did I hear it right? Princess Adessa of Absalom."


    "Yes..."


    "Holy fucking cow!"


    "What do I do now?"


    "Are you thinking what I''m thinking?"


    "Yes."


    "With Dexter as your Beta, you have no chance, man."


    "I know. I don''t know. Do you think it will happen this fast?"


    "I don''t know. Better prepared than not. Just give me a go signal, and I will fix it for you."


    "I can''t think."


    "Do you trust me?"


    "Do I have a choice?"


    "No," Rasmus answered almost immediately.


    My shoulders shook as my tears fell. I didn''t even try to hide my sobs. I rarely cry, but I couldn''t stop it this time.


    I was not hallucinating. This was not a nightmare.


    Adessa was dered the Princess of Absalom. The missing princess.


    There were rumors that the King was looking for another child. No one confirmed it, and it looked like hearsay. But I thought he was


    looking for a son, not a daughte


    Even the was, I would never, in a million years, have thought that it was Adessa. But they would never announce this if they were not sure.


    "Kael, listen to me." I heard what Rasmus said but I didn''t know what to say. "Go to bed. Get as much sleep as you can. Go to her


    breakfast banquet, but for Adessa''s sake, do not make a scene. I will take care of the rest. I will call you again tomorrow."


    "She''s mine, Rasmus." I had to say it out loud.


    "She is, Kael. But she''s also owned by Absalom."


    My tears kept falling, and I tried to rock my body. I didn''t know what to say anymore.


    "If there''s anything positive about this, I''m sure she was granted absolute pardon for the people she killed." Rasmus added.


    That was something I always wanted-for her to be free from it. But I had no idea if I still wanted that.


    I didn''t know if I should regret taking her here. I should have run away with her and gone somewhere far-outside the country. On a different continent. Anywhere but here.


    "Cry if you must tonight, but once you leave that room tomorrow, I need the brave and confident Alpha Kael back. You can''t just give up Adessa."


    The Novel will be updated first on this website. Come back and


    continue reading tomorrow, everyone!