DANIEL'S POV

Yesterday's party was a blast. Though Victoria's attention was particularly not on me, I liked the fact that she enjoyed herself. ​​

I know she likes Alexander and probably has fallen in love with him too. I don't know who to blame for that. Should I blame my funny luck, or should I blame this freaking mate-bond that Alexander and Victoria share?

I don't know what this was all about, it made me happy when she smiled the whole night, but a part of me kept on hoping all night that it should be only me she is smiling at and who is making her happy.

After my morning routine, I went back to my room to take a quick shower when I noticed the cyan light in my phone going on and off, indicating the arrival of a new message.

Opening the message, the towel in my hand slipped when I read the contents of it,

"They have already mated and completed the second step, what are you waiting for? Do you want to torture yourself seeing them making love right in front of you? We should've done it earlier, but it isn't too late either. Do the job today. We'll handle rest."

I read the message over and over again and couldn't help but clench my fists when my conscience kept on bugging me that I shouldn't do it and should be loyal to my alpha king. However, I knew I was too far gone in this game now.

I need to do it to make Victoria mine, and I'll do it

______________________________

VICTORIA'S POV

It hurts. It hurts like hell, but how am I supposed to tell Daniel about it?

Do I confess to him about this increasing feeling of pain and torturous agony that I have been feeling for the last thirty minutes, since the moment I and Daniel had come out to meet this pack doctor to treat me?

"What's the rush, Vic? Can you slow down your tempo? Didn't you hear what the doctor said? He said you need to take proper rest for at least two days, and you are running like this right after you came out from his clinic. You are seriously beyond me." Daniel bellowed as he was running along with me.

Looking at Daniel, who had a concerned-filled face, I was tempted to stop and go slow with him, but this agony was too much for me to handle.

"I don't know. Something's wrong. It feels like I am burning from inside." I breathed heavily before trying to increase my pace.

"Hey, what are you talking about? Stop. Tell me what are you feeling? Do we need to go back to the doctor?" Daniel asked as he held my shoulders, making me stop abruptly.

I looked into his genuinely concerned eyes, feeling tempted again, but how can I tell him the truth? How can I tell him, it's actually Carla who is screaming at me to reach Alexander as soon as I can.

I don't know what's happening, but this was the first time I have seen her acting so anxious after we transformed. It's definitely something important and urgent or she won't rush me even after knowing I am wounded like this.

But how am I supposed to tell this to Daniel, who thinks I am nothing more than a lantern? How should I tell him that my wolf I urging me to do it?

"Okay fine. If you don't want to tell, then it's okay. At least let me carry you to the destination where you are heading. That's the least I can do." Daniel said, and I couldn't help but feel tempted by his offer, but remembering how Alexander is always so edgy about my friendship with him, I shook my head in denial.

"Fine. You are seriously something. So annoying." Daniel said before he nudged me, making me laugh, and we started jogging again.

Where was my destination? I was going to Alexander's mansion because Carla was practically shouting at me to fasten my pace and reach there.

It wasn't long before I finally entered the mansion breathing heavily, with Daniel on my tail.

"Seriously, Vic? I know you are in love with your alpha, and the feelings have become stronger since you mated yesterday night, but I think it could've waited for some time since you were wounded like this. What's the rush?." Daniel said as he panted beside me.

However, whatever he was saying felt like just a string of words that didn't want to register in my mind anymore.

Seeing my unresponsive state, Daniel looked at me before smiling,

"Now, what are you waiting for? Go ahead? It's a few stairs only. Go to your love." He said with a hint of mockery, but I still couldn't bring myself to react to it as my eyes were fixated on one thing only.

As if he observed my shocked state, I could see Daniel following my line of sight, and I knew he was quite shocked too when he saw Alexander like this.

To say my heart was broken into million shreds would be an understatement. The feeling of pain, agony, helplessness, and all the negative emotions that I have been feeling for the last half an hour was because of this maybe.

I looked at the scene unfolding in front of me like a movie reel since I was too shocked to say anything or do anything.

In front of me was Alexander on the staircase in front of his room that faced the living hall. In his arms was none other than my enemy Laila, but that wasn't what shocked me.

It was the fact that Alexander was only in shorts while Laila was in a skinny dress, and they both were engrossed in an intense make-out session with each other.

"Xander?" I couldn't help but speak softly, still not believing if what was happening in front of me was real or not.

I didn't have to witness the scene for long as I felt Daniel placing his hands on my eyes and engulfing me in a hug to stop me from staring at the heartbreaking scene.

~~~~TWO HOURS AGO~~~~

Waking up in Alexander's arms was something I had always imagined since we met, and when it happened for the first time today, well, let's say that the feeling didn't disappoint me.

It felt like bliss.

To be honest, I was a little shy after our lovemaking session last night.

It wasn't a joke when Alexander was saying that it would be bad if he lost control. He was like a real beast in the bed, and I won't say that I didn't like it. I liked every part of it.

We made love to each other more than five times, or was it more than ten times? I lost count after the fifth one. I was a bit exhausted after that one, but God forbid his stamina in bed. I think I need to work out a little to at least match his tempo.

After waking up, he had wished me good morning and wanted to go for one more round, and if I hadn't warned him that I won't let him repeat this and won't allow him in my house anymore, he wouldn't have dropped the idea.

Like a real gentleman he was (rolling my eyes), he dropped the idea and got dressed.

He wanted to stay for the whole day, but his dad called him saying it was something urgent that they need t to discuss with the council members, and he as the present alpha king was needed in the meeting.

After making me a sweet and healthy breakfast, he left and I felt loved at his thoughtful gesture.

Thinking of taking a walk in the town since it was a day off, I ventured out. However, I didn't expect everyone to look at me with that knowing gaze and smiling faces when I looked at them while walking.

I had checked my attire and face quite a few times, feeling confused until I spotted Daniel doing his morning run.

I couldn't help but call him to gain his attention and ask what was going on with the town, but what I hadn't expected was his gaze to immediately turn angered as he looked at me with animosity for a brief second before those emotions vanished and were replaced by the sad ones.

What the-

"Hey, are you okay?" I asked, involuntarily touching his arm, which he immediately jerked off.

"I am sorry for that. It's just, you can see I am doing my morning run, and is probably dirty. Won't want your hands getting soiled now, do we?" Daniel chuckled before continuing.

"About why they all are looking at you like this is because your scent has changed and now has a hint of Alexander's a.k.a their alpha king's scent which means you guys have completed the second step to mating, and you have moved one step closer to become their Luna Queen," Daniel said with a weird smile before leaning on the wall of the cafe.

"What the real hell?! This is just so creepy? I mean now everybody knows that I and Alexander had done the intercourse thing?" I almost shouted before looking apologetically at an elderly couple who was passing by.

"Hey, umm... I am going to go now. Won't want to slack on the duties now, right?" Daniel said before running in the direction from where he came, without even waiting for my reply.

This leaves me with me again.

After taking the chocolate shake from the café, I ventured into the woods that has now become my personal calming space.

Closing my eyes, I used my powers to check if there was anyone near me and smiled when I didn't found anyone.

Azrael indeed had mentioned practicing these powers from time to time, and now that I have turned 19, it has become more crucial for me to practice and keep them in check so that I can control them and not let them control me.

Concentrating on my hands as I extended my right hand, I pointed a finger before closing my eyes as I felt the energy from surrounding engulfing me and the rustling of trees as I was now trying to master the power of Earth.

Smiling when I felt vibration below me as the rustling of trees intensified, I was about to open my eyes when the smooth vibration immediately turned into full-on shaking, and before I could open my eyes, I was lifted and thrown, my back hitting a nearby tree as I felt blood oozing out of my hands that had multiple cuts.

What just happened? This was the first time my powers had retaliated like that and hurt me in return.

Looks like I need to practice more. I looked at the time on my mum's wristwatch and couldn't help but raise my brows when I noticed it's already been an hour since I started practicing.

Sipping on the remaining chocolate shake, I sat Indian style before closing my eyes again and placing both of my hands on the ground to feel the energy, however, before I could even feel the energy seeping my body, I was jerked out from my sitting position before my back hit the large stone and I felt like my bones were almost broken this time.

Coughing out blood, I closed my eyes before trying to locate what was happening and why was I not able to do anything and why my powers were getting angry and retaliating at me, but before I could do that, I heard an anxious voice of Daniel who rushed to my side before looking at me in horror.

"What the fudge, Vic!! Why are you wounded like this? Who dared to hurt you?!" Daniel asked, and I couldn't help but smile at him, signaling that I will tell him about it later.

Picking me in his arms since I was too wounded to retaliate and move, he took me to the nearest clinic of the pack doctor.

Laying still in his arms, I felt my bones in the leg straightening that might've broken or dislocated earlier. I know I was healing slowly, but since I wasn't a regular transformer, my healing process was 10 times slower than normal wolves. All I can do right now is wait for my witch powers to take control and help me heal.

As the doctor was attending to me, from his gaze, it was clear that he was highly suspicious about how I suffered these internal wounds because he was sure no wolf can do this.

However, I was too lost in the feeling of my pain and agony that had started not long ago for me to answer him.

Looking at Daniel urgently, I paid the doctor without even taking back the changes and asked Daniel to handle the matter because Carla was urging me to go and see Alexander.

I don't know what it was about, all I knew was I need to rush fast, or I'll surely regret it later.

As my legs were still feeling the immense pain, as soon as I started running I immediately fell to my knees, but I was too dazed to notice my newly formed scratches on the knees that had started to bleed.

"Stop it, Vic. You are making your wounds and health worse running like that." Daniel said, but I couldn't care less at this moment.

~~~~Present time~~~~

I looked at Daniel, my eyes tearing as I was still contemplating if what I saw just now was true or not.

There must've been some misunderstanding, no? Maybe it was someone else with Laila, and I misunderstood it to be Alexander because I was feeling suggestive about their relationship from the very beginning, right?

Yes, that could be the reason.

I was about to side Daniel and check again when his trembling hands stopped me.

"Don't look, Vic. You won't be able to bear with it. Let's get out of here first. Let me handle this. I can't believe Alexander is doing this." He said and just like that, my whole world shattered in a minute.