ALAIA
I felt myself getting weaker by the minute. Using my power, I stood in the shadows of the woods listening to the little celebration they were having in the packhouse. It was easy to sneak into this place, but staying hidden was still using up my power. I needed to move before I lost too much energy. I waited for a minute before I saw Omega Mary sprinting through the garden…
“What did I say about running,” I snapped at her.
“Of course. Sorry Luna.”
I dismissed her apology. “Whatever. Here, just do as I asked.”
Omega Mary took the bottle I handed her and ran back in the packhouse. It was only a mild sleep potion to make sure no one interrupted me while I completed my little mission. All I have to do now is wait for the right moment and it looks as if the moment just came.
Jack came barreling out the pack house and shifting into Deacon. They headed for the treeline and I waited for anyone to come after him before tailing him. He could feel his rage as he weaved through the trees and he stopped in a small clearing. He shifted and sat on a log with his head in his hands.
“You know, it’s not safe being out here alone,” I said, taking off the hood of my cloak.
He snapped his head up and noticed me. “Alaia?”
Still the way he says my name gave me a little jolt. It was nothing compared to Isaiah but it was what I wanted. I walked towards him as he got and backed away.
“What are you doing here,” he asked while glaring at me.
“Why do you think, James? I left him for you and by the looks of it, it seems Zira might do the same thing.”
He growled at that and I held up my hands. “Why the hostility towards me? She’s the one who’s talking to him right this minute. Didn’t even bother to come after you.”
“You know nothing about her, Alaia. You’re just as crazy as you were before,” he spat at me.
I put my hand to my chest to pretend that his words hurted me as I moved closer to him. “Isn’t it funny that life keeps pulling us together? I mean first, you’re mated to Mar-”
James charged me and wrapped his hand around my neck. My back hit a tree and he held me there. “You don't deserve to say her name. You don’t even deserve to breathe.”
I could easily disarm him with power but this was the first time he has touched me in a while and strangely I was loving every part of it. I smiled as his grip tightened but I was never afraid. I might be risking death right now but I didn’t care.
For years, this man has had me going mad and I could never get over it. He was all I wanted, ever part of him, and I would do anything to make him mine.
“Go ahead. Kill me. I know you want to,” I said, staring into his rage filled, beautiful green eyes. Even in all this anger he was breath-taking.
He scoffed at me. “No, your death is not mine anymore.”
My body reacted to how close he was and memories of when we first made love flashed in my head.
“I see you remember how I liked it,” I said as he quickly stepped away.
“That was a mistake and you know. You tricked me,” he snapped.
True, I might’ve used magic to look like Maria in order to get him to sleep with me but I had no choice. The time was perfect. Maria was finally out of town with some friends and James was inebriated enough to control. My heat was starting to come like clockwork and I wanted him to be my first. Was it so crazy to want to be with the one you love?
“I don’t know why you pretend there’s nothing between us.”
“You have lost your damn mind, Alaia. Especially if you ever think I had ever or would ever want you. I have Zira. I have a family. You need to let this go or…”
“You talk about me loving you when you love another but what about your precious Zira, hmm? Where is she now,” I asked, knowing he wouldn’t like the answer.
I used my power to bring up an orb showing Zira hugging Isaiah at this moment. James stared at the orb and I could tell his resolve was cracking. The orb disappeared as James walked away from me.
“You’re fooling yourself if you think they don’t love each other more than they let on. You will always be the third wheel,” I said to him while watching him consider what I was saying. I moved closer to touch him and happily he didn’t pull away. “Never to me though, James. You will always be first and I can give what she can’t.”
He turned on me. “Yeah, because you’re such an expert in love and having children.”
It was my turn to step back. That was actually painful to hear.
“I have what I want, Alaia. I have my mate. I have a son. There’s no room for anyone else.”
I could sense someone getting near and so could he. I could feel the power inside me wanting to kill the very person moving through the trees. My eyes turn black as I turn to see Zira’s wolf slowly approaching us. I would rather die than watch him with her and her son. Before I could do anything James jumped in front of me.
“You will be mine, one way or another, James. Willingly or forced,” I said as I pulled him into a kiss.
I could hear Zira’s wolf growling and lunging for us, but I expected it. I used my power to push her away. She quickly recovered but by the time she looked up, I was gone.
I portaled my way in the packhouse. If Omega Mary didn’t fuck up, most everyone should be alseep or heading in that direction. I didn’t have much time to go to plan b and I knew exactly where he was. I met Omega Mary near the front of the packhouse.
Omega Mary nodded and led the way inside. Everyone was knocked out all over the place. It was laughable as I stepped over a few people to go up the stairs. Despite my misfortune earlier, this was going to be easier than I thought.
I knew going directly to James wouldn’t work. He still had hatred in him from Maria’s death. There was only one way to get him on my side. I needed a bargaining chip and the chip was upstairs asleep.
I slowly opened the door to his room and there he was, asleep in the bed. He looked a bit rough around the edges but still handsome. I felt a small bit of guilt for having to do this to him. This must’ve been from Elena. I shook my head and focused on the task.
Sleeping halfway on his chest was my ticket to James. I reached my hand out towards the child and felt something. The voices in my head were feeling a tremendous amount of power. A power they really wanted and it was coming from him. This baby.
I started to move closer when the room’s door opened. I clinged to the wall and used magic to conceal myself. Isabella stumbled through the door to the floor. What the hell? F.ucking Omega Mary. Speaking of the devil, she scurried in behind Isabella.
“Miss Isabella, you shouldn’t be in here. Let’s get you to bed, ok?”
“Something is wrong, Mary. I don't feel…I don’t feel so good. Everyone is…wait, except you. Why aren’t you loopy,” Isabella asked, trying to get to her feet. “Did you do something?” Her speech was slurred and she looked as if she was to…
She fell to the floor. Omega Mary tried to drag her out but realized she was too heavy. I quickly moved from the wall spooking Omega Mary and opened a portal for Omega Lisa to come through. I directed them to drag Isabella out while I moved towards the bed.
I reached over to grab the child but as soon as I did, Isaiah grabbed my hand and I froze. His touch still sent tingles up and down my body but they weren’t as strong as before. I tried pulling my arm from him but he held on tighter.
I called for Omega Mary and directed her to grab the child from the other side. I pulled again and finally got my hand away from him while Omega Mary climbed on the other side of the bed. The moment she touched the child Isaiah growled and immediately grabbed her and threw her across the room.
“Mary, what the hell are you doing here,” he growled, not noticing me near the bed but noticing Omega Lisa near the door. “You.”
I took this chance to grab the child who was starting to wake up and immediately a white orb surrounded him. It burned my fingertips and I pulled back. Why did touching him hurt I wondered. That’s when Isaiah turned to me. Our eyes locked and we stood there for a moment.
“Alaia,” Isaiah whispered as his eyes went from gray to blue.
I will distract him. Just get the child and leave I linked Omega Lisa.
Maybe I still had a bit of control over him or at least his wolf. I walked around him so his back was to the bed. I didn’t want him to see the portal or the fact that Omega Lisa was picking up his child. I stopped when I was only an arm’s length away. His eyes followed every step.
When the child made a small noise from Omega Lisa picking him up, Isaiah was about to turn around but I stopped him. I caressed the side of his face and pulled his attention back to me. I watched as Omega Lisa disappeared in the portal with the child and planned my own escape.
I stepped closer so our bodies were touching and moved my hand against his chest. I could feel his pulse starting to speed up against my palm on his chest. He still loved me. What a fool I thought. I stood on the tip of my toes to where my lips were hovering just over his.
“Just so you know, I did love you, Isaiah. As much as I could but-”
The door to his room burst open to reveal James and Zira. Zira looked around, probably for her child, before they landed on me. That was my cue to leave. I kept my eyes on them, on James, as I spoke to Isaiah.
“You had to know my heart wasn’t fully yours but don’t worry. You'll get over it soon, as will I.” His eyes went wide as I stabbed him through the chest.
“NO!” Zira charged me as I used my power to throw him into her. They both went crashing into the wall. I stepped near the portal and before going through, I turned to James.
“You know what I want and don’t take forever,” I said, disappearing through the portal.