'This is preposterous!"

After fighting continuously for twenty-four hours, Alpha Eric realized that it was just a game by Alpha Bryson. He wanted to divert the Council's attention to his explosive's deal, and he was successful in it.


Boiling at his stealth method, Alpha Eric's head was spinning, threatening to explode. He stomped his foot on the ground, nearly making a hole.

'You should be more careful, Alpha Albus. This problem wasn't worthy of wasting the Council's precious time."

He glared at the kneeling Alpha Albus with narrowed eyes, his teeth clenched with fury.


'I have presented a letter of war before respected Council members. It has Alpha Bryson's stamp on it."

Alpha Albus's voice was trembling, unlike his strong figure. Eric let out a growl of annoyance, he balled his fingers into a fist and drove them away through the wooden table.


'Secure the borders, increase your security. This matter will be discussed in the next meeting."

As soon as the meeting ended, the whole lot of Alphas surrounded him.

'Where is our invite of Mating Ceremony, Alpha Eric? You came alone here, this isn't fair. We want to meet our Luna."

'I want to see my Luna!"

Rick whimpered along the exclaims of the fellow Alphas, Eric's mood was refreshed at Charlotte's mention.

'I will invite you all to a banquet. But not now, after first heat."

'So, we are supposed to attend your son's birth, not Mating Ceremony."

Alpha Simon joked, and they all laughed, dinner went well with all the happy chatters. Eric checked his phone several times in the hope of any call or message, but only work notifications irritated him.

He looked at other Alphas who were busy with their mates or on their phones, a sense of desolation seeped through his soul.

General secretary delivered Charlotte's office supplies to him, seeing his disturbed countenance compelled him to inquire Eric.

'Aren't you missing your mate, Alpha Eric? Buy a gift for her otherwise, get ready to have a grand fight on your return."

Eric was shocked at Alpha Joseph's free advice, he decided to ask for the details as they already fought a lot.

'I did not understand your meaning behind it?"

'Problems of newly mated boys."

Middle-aged Alpha Joseph cackled as if he was demented.

'Every female expects a beautiful gift after a trip, Alpha Eric. This proves that you remember them all the time.

Ana and I fought many times and at last, she kicked me out of the room for a week.

Now, I always buy two gifts for her."

The dread of being thrown out and sleeping alone was almost alarming for Alpha Eric, so he went straight to the pet market which wasn't a secret anymore.

'I want a young girl."

Sitting in the guest's lounge, he was tapping his foot on the marble floor continuously.

'So you want a breeder."

A sired vampire judged the reason behind a werewolf's interest in young girls.

'We have fine pieces, you can pay for your selected item after checking it."

'I want a pet, not a breeder!"

Eric's sharp Alpha tone startled the shopkeeper. He rubbed his brows and specified his demands.

'Which one of them tastes better? Actually, it's a present for my vampire Luna."

'He is Alpha Eric Dietor. Run!"

Eric literally followed them to buy a nice slave for Charlotte. All the workers in the market were convinced that Alpha was there to punish them for their business, so they hesitated to take Eric's money.

'Pets are a safe way for the survival of vampires, Alpha Eric. You made an exception for us, please accept it as a token of gratitude."

Grabbing the leash of that horrified human girl, Eric was in the middle of an argument about payment.

Finally, he won and boarded the plane gleefully with the gift.

'Mate will be happy."

Rick was equally excited as Eric, howling and jumping in glee. He was going back in less than seventy-two hours, but it felt like he hadn't seen Charlotte in ages.

At first, he thought about calling her, then he changed his plan later.

'I will give her a surprise."

Eric took a nap to stay available for Charlotte, although he knew that all of his exhaustion would fade away after his mate's touch.

Lost in these thoughts, he reached the Pack after midnight. Planning about seeing his mother in the morning, he entered the Pack house silently, as if he was a thief there.

'Eric!"

In the dim glow of a night bulb, a petite figure jumped at him and he gaped, uncertain whether to breathe or scream.

'Maddy?"

His entire body became impossibly still and he stood rigid with a terror, too overwhelmed to respond.

'Yes, Eric. I am your Maddy. I missed you so much."

'What?"

Eric asked as if he hadn't heard what had been said by her. Suddenly, the lights of the living area were switched on, revealing Melinda in a sleeveless nightgown.

Luna Lily was standing at the door, as Veronica (her wolf) informed her about her pup's stealth mode.

Eric breathed in sharply, and barely constrained a shriek.

'You died, Maddy? I, I, …."

His voice got caught in his throat, words halted in the mid-sentence. His crimson orbs darted around the hall, searching for the confirmation, seeking reassurance that what he was witnessing wasn't a fragment of his imagination.

'Maddy lost her memory after falling off the cliff."

Luna repeated the story that Melinda told her.

'Maddy!"

Eric hugged her back tightly, as if she would disappear in thin air. They stood there in each other's embrace for quite some time, tears streaming down their eyes.

Emotions of happiness and sadness gathered and made the air heavy, a reunion of the two lovers brought tears in Luna Lily's eyes.

'I can't thank much for this blessing, Goddess. You have healed my son's broken heart, nothing can go wrong from now on."

She wiped her tears and walked back to her room, her gaze fell upon Charlotte in the corner.

'Shift your stuff in the guest room, Charlotte. Eric needs some privacy with Maddy."

...

'I have saved your life, Melinda. How will you repay my favor?"

A tall figure wearing a black cloak inquired curiously.

'I have nothing to give you, my savior."

Melinda quivered, covering her body with a quilt.

'Why should I keep you alive when you are of no use to me?"

That vile person unsheathed the silver knife and stalked towards her bed dangerously.

'I'll do anything you say. Please don't kill me. I want to live."

'Good!"

Melinda's expected response amused the savior.

'I have plenty of plans for you. You will live well under my protection."