CHAPTER 1 (A Second Shot At Life)
“You're naughty,” Aya said, cupping her husband's face with both hands. He revealed a shiny set of teeth, moving his lips closer to hers.
“Isn't that why you love me this much?” Rowan replied, marrying his lips with hers. Her grip on his neck grew tight as she wrapped her legs around his waist.
“Easy, easy! I just got back from the council meeting. They all think I deserve to be our pack's Alpha, but it's all thanks to you. I'm always grateful that you chose me, an unworthy beta with...” he said, brushing his fingers over Aya's hair while she placed her index finger over his lips.
“Not a word anymore, my love. You deserve it all for loving me as much as you do,” she told him, tilting her head a bit higher to trace his lips.
“You're so horny. I'll get dressed, and grab some wine as well. Give me a few minutes,” he joked, disengaging himself from her.
“Make that fast. I have something to tell you,” she announced, watching him move into the other part of their chamber, while she rubbed her hand over her belly. “He'll be very excited,” she giggled, rolling her eyes around the bed area to the bathroom.
She hurried from the bed, and sprayed in more fragrance to set the mood back on the bed. She took off her clothes, leaving her inner garments on. It was her favorite thing to seduce Rowan, so they'd end up doing more work over the night.
“Here you go,” Rowan handed her a wine glass, and filled it up. He held another glass, and sipped it. She hurriedly gulped it all down, while he tucked at her dress, pulling it up. He walked his hand up her thigh, while she fondled with his trousers.
“You’re always in a hurry,” he teased, wetting her palm with kisses. His face glowed with his left cheek dimple. Then he stood up to pull his trousers.
Aya suddenly grabbed the edge of the bed, her eyes were turning red, and a crimson red blush appeared all over it. “Rowan —, I can't breathe. Row — an,” she mumbled, stretching her hand to him. He instantly turned to see her spiraling on the bed for help.
“What's wrong? What happened?” Rowan raced to her side, taking her hand, while he laid her head on his lap. “Talk to me, Aya. Don’t do this. Don’t die on me,” he cried, shaking her. Her eyelids were closing up, and her lips had lost their color.
“Anyone out there!!! Help!!!” he cried. His beta, Aya’s gamma, and omega maids rushed in.
“Call the physician, right now!!! Hurry!!” his deep voice rumbled, and his beta rushed out, while Aya’s maid spread out around the bed to help.
“I’m sorry—” Aya muttered, raising her hand steadily to hold Rowan’s face, but it dropped lifelessly before she could say her final goodbyes.
Rowan’s cry pierced her mind as she felt herself drowning in a tearful unfamiliar voice. Her eyelids, which had been tightly shut for a few minutes, struggled to open.
“What’s going on?” she stammered, her blurry eyes were trying to capture where she was.
“Where am I?” she questioned, moving her head from watching the sky to the ground to understand her present situation.
“Praise be to the moon goddess. You're alive, Pluto. I thought you would leave me,” the unfamiliar voice stated. She looked to her side, looking at a lady in a tattered gown and messy hair.
“Who are you? Where the hell am I? Where's Rowan?” she muttered, then suddenly grabbed her belly. “I can't feel it anymore. My baby,” she continued, pulling herself off the stretcher.
“How can this be? The physician said she was dead,” she heard a man's voice say. She turned in his direction where her face met with two startled men who had frozen at the sight of her.
“It's a miracle. I told you that Pluto can't die. She's special,” the female said, and raced to her side, wrapping her arms around her.
“Who are you?” Aya asked, watching the lady who ran her fingers over her hair, massaging its surface gently.
“How could you think of poisoning yourself?! We promised to stick with each other no matter what. Now, see how the poison's messing with your head,” the lady chuckled.
“I don't understand what's happening here,” Aya said, believing that she might have been kidn*pped. She turned on her heel, but the throbbing pain in her waist made her wince.
“Don't worry. You'll be fine. The poison will wear off soon, and you'll remember everything. I'm your friend, Lily. We all thought you had died after you left Madam Debrose last night, and poisoned yourself. Thankfully, the moon goddess has not forsaken us,” Lily said, touching her forehead and neck.
“Poisoned myself? Who is Madam Debrose?” Aya demanded. The men, who had their mouths agape as they watched the scene, raced off towards a building behind them.
“Madam Debrose is your stepmother,” Lily told her. She pulled Aya's hand over her shoulder, helping her walk back to the building. Aya looked down at her dress. It was a worn out dress just like Lily's, and her unusual hair stuck out pretty badly.
“You were unconscious for eight hours. I don’t know what Madam Debrose might do to you, but whatever happens, just follow. I'll find a way to help you out,” Lily explained, while Aya's eyes widened. She could not run off at that point. Her wolf was silent, as if she had lost contact with it. She wasn't healing, and she felt weaker than ever.
As they approached the partially cemented building, two men appeared. They yanked her off, and pushed Lily to the ground.
“Pluto, you must think you're smart. You can't fool me by pretending to be dead!” Madam Debrose scoffed. One of the men hit Anya’s right leg, upsetting her balance. He forced his hands down her shoulders, and she winced. Lily peeped through the window, but her breath let out a fug on the pane, blurring her sight.
“Who is Pluto? Is that me? What happened to me? I'm supposed to be with Rowan. I had died. I died only for a few minutes, but Lily said I was out for eight hours. Where the hell am I?” she muttered, paying no attention to Madam Debrose.
“I’ve warned you countless times to stop talking to yourself. It’s creepy!,” she snapped, then faced the men, “see to it that she gets dressed. We leave immediately. I would prefer to hang you over the asbestos, but you must appear perfect to the King.”
“I’ll go nowhere with you. Take me back to my husband, or I’ll have you decapitated for k********g” Aya growled, writhing her teeth.