KATE'S pov

I stormed out of our room in anger, because I knew that if I spent one more moment in that space, I was going to do or say something that would trigger Paris and leave me in regret. But as for being rejected by him, or even daring to reject him, my decision still stood. None of it was happening. I cared not whether he loved Ember, or deluded himself that what he did, he was doing for me. But I wasn't going anywhere.


But I could not simply go about this on my own, I was going to have to speak to Christina. Cry to her. I mean the woman was on my side, I just needed her to make her son see the reasoning, because something had to have gone wrong with Paris for me to even consider rejecting me this way. We had our squabbles and our banters, but none of them had ever come to this.

So what had gone wrong this time?

I paced the grounds of the garden trying to think about the next best thing to do. And then it came to me like the dawn. It all started and ended with Ember.


Of course!

Why did I even have to waste so much time thinking about this one? If I destroyed Ember, then Paris wouldn't have any other woman that he dreamed of returning to, simply because I was going to be the only woman in his life. I just had to deal with the one who constantly manipulated him into believing that he needed or wanted someone else.


"stupid b*tch. You really have no idea what's coming your way. But you'll know soon," I said, smiling to myself. By the time I was done with Ember, she was going to be sorry she ever tried to play with me for Paris.

I picked up my phone and sent out a text because calls were too risky in a home where the walls had ears and anything I said could have been diluted and spread toward every corner of the house.

So, I sent out the text, and smiled to myself when I got one back that simply read, "Yes ma'am."

"Ah, Ember, you thought you could get away with everything. But let me see you try to wiggle out of this one."

EMBER's POV

I rarely went out on my own anymore. I was either always with Jean, William, or my brother Axel.

But today, I decided that in an attempt to clear my head, I would do just that. More than just the walks I took in our field, I had actually made a point to go out to a restaurant. And yes, I actually did eat by myself. It was a little treat for myself, and I indulged further by heading to fashion for a new pair of shoes.

By the time I was done that day, I judged it a time well spent.

I was considering my return back to work and had reached a quiet road before it occurred to me that there were footsteps behind me. Heavy ones, that had me slowing down and turning to face their owners.

"I didn't think I was worth the hassle anymore. " I drawled when I faced the burly men. One had a grin that made me feel very irritated. But I thought it in my best interest to tread carefully.

"What do you want?" I asked, slowly losing my patience with them,

"It's pretty obvious. We have a bone of contention with you. The boss wants to settle some scores, seeing as you made her pretty angry."

"I raised a brow, "her?" I didn't know I had an enemy who would go to this lengths. Although, considering the women I knew to hate me. Perhaps this wasn't exactly out of the ordinary,

"That's enough conversation for now." one of the three said. This one actually looked a whole lot meaner than the remaining two, "We don't play with our food." and that was enough reason for my anger to erupt,

"You've crossed the line," I said as I felt reason leave me. I was no man's meal. much less these three idiots. I balled my hands into fists as one began to advance on me, and for the first time in what felt like years, I took pleasure in throwing the first punch, as I heard a sound that sounded like a cracked nose, I smiled to myself happily.

"devil's spurn." one of the other men crooned and advanced toward me. I ducked so that he only reached for air, and then killed him in his balls. He screeched like a girl and his knees buckled and I wondered who it was that said that violence was never the best option. It certainly was, when you needed to defend yourself.

"I see you've been training, little wolf." the last man said, still grinning. I had the separate urge to wipe that stupid grin off his face. And I was going to,

"And I see you've decided to be a lap dog. Life is evolving." I said and he sneered,

"that smart mouth is about to get you into trouble."

"That's what everyone says," I said and smirked before gathering momentum and coming after me. I sidestepped him so that he fell face forward and I kicked from behind. I watched him buckle and kicked him again.

"idiot." I spat when he finally landed face forward on the ground."

The first one, the one with the cracked nose, started toward me, blood drooping down his nose, and he looked really angry.

"Are you sure you want to be fighting? I think you should really get that checked out though." we both turned in surprise to Jean, and I was bewildered,

"Jean?" I asked in stark wonder,

"in flesh." he said, with some of his charms, but his eyes were cold as he scanned my face, "are you okay?"

"just some strain. But I think I've given enough."

"good. I'll take it from here," he said, and with delicate speed, he attacked the man with the bloodied nose, when he swung at him with a miss,

"I'm going to make you sorry for doing that," he said, and indeed, he did make him sorry. He finished all three of them in a matter of seconds and left me with an understanding of why he was considered one of the cruelest and coldest Alphas ever.

And then he turned to me, blood on his white tunic, and I think my knees buckled. Because even though I knew the blood wasn't his, it was a sire sight.

He caught me before I fell, and I shook my head at him, "I know I didn't get hit, but I can't seem to be able to use my legs properly."

"then I'll carry you." and he did. He lifted me off the ground with such efficiency and made me feel as though I weighed nothing.

"they said a woman sent them," I said weakly when he set me on a bench. I had no idea what was happening to me. I had been perfectly fine while I was fighting those men. In fact, I felt more than fine, I felt ecstatic. Like I could take on the world. Now I felt as weak as death.

"do you have any Idea who though?" he asked when he sat beside me,

"I have a couple of ideas. Kate, Paris's mate, or perhaps his mother. Or who knows, it might actually be his sister who's been MIA, for ages. She certainly has some scores to settle with me."

"It could be any of them. They are out cold, but perhaps I could take them in, question them."

"If they are still alive after this, it'll be a miracle," I said and he chuckled, but I was actually being very serious.

"They'll survive," he said and got out of his phone and called his beta, asking him to send some men over.

"there. Whichever one wakes up first we'll be our first songbird. If they don't speak up, we can simply just send them to their maker. It'll be less misery, compared to what I have in mind."

"I think I'm a bit scared on their behalf."

"Whatever they get, they actually deserve." he said, and looked at me intently, "you're pale." he said and ran a hand down my temple, "and somewhat clammy. You say they didn't touch you?" I shook my head, no.

"But, I think I might have overworked my wolf. I don't know if that makes me sound like a weakling though. But it's been a while since I fought anyone in self-defense. "

He fingered my moonstone, "This is to help your wolf come alive, is it not?"

"it is."

"then perhaps your theory might be right. You might have drawn too much from its power just now, and have overwhelmed yourself. A little rest and a good meal, and I think you should be fine."

I sighed and shifted closer because instinctively, it was what my wolf wanted, and I had no desire to deny what she wanted right then. I didn’t even think I had the mental strength for it.

He kissed my temple and my wolf purred, and somewhere deep inside of me, as we waited for me to regain some of my strength, and also for Jean's beta to appear, I wondered why I was even trying to fight my bond with him any longer.