Meadow

Second Chance… 

I blinked my eyes, trying to digest the fact.

No, that can't be possible. The Alpha, who is part of the Trident, can't be my mate.

“Say something, love?”

Again, the soft smile, the warmth in his eyes. It was unlike the cruelty far cried about the Trident Alphas.

I looked in his amethyst orbs. And only one thought ran through my mind; no hell can be worse than the one I have run away from.

My eyes ran between Aioto and his friends and back to Alpha Avernus. 

“Trust him!”

My wolf cried out. I could hear the desperation in her voice.

I looked back at Alpha Avernus as if he were waiting for my response.

“Save me…”

I whispered, looking at him. I could see his eyes darken as he walked in my direction. His muscles were stiff. But somehow I couldn't find it in myself to move.

He placed his rough palm on my cheek as sparks zapped through my body, shaking me to my core.

Now there was no denial that he was my mate, my second chance. 

He placed his warm forehead against mine.

“Sleep, love. You are safe now. Forever.”

As soon as the words left his mouth, my body started to shut on its own accord as I welcomed the abyss of darkness with open arms…

| • | • |

Beep… Beep… Beep

“You sure, Alpha? Will it be safe for her?”

I could hear a voice. It was filled with pity. And I was sure that it was directed towards me.

“I am. I will keep her safe at all costs.”

Warmth spread through me at the words… 

Who was he?

Beep… Beep… Beep

“Too much wolfbane in her system. She might need blood to clean her circulatory system from the inside.”

Wolfbane, my food, the cellars, and the poison…

My head started to hurt, but it seemed how much I tried, I couldn't open my eyes.

“Take mine. As much as you want. I just want her to heal…”

Beep… Beep… Beep

A groan left my mouth at the irritating noise.

Shit! I overslept. My eyes opened on their own accord as I hissed at the sharp sun rays penetrating through my eyes.

I tried moving my arm towards my eyes, but before that, someone closed the curtain.

“Don't strain yourself.”

I could hear a deep voice from nearby. I turned my head to look at the source of it as my eyes landed on a man with amethyst eyes.

Everything came crashing back to me as if hit by a train. 

Running Away

The Forest

Being Caught

My Second Chance

“Sleep, love. You are safe now. Forever.”

Alpha Avernus… The Trident Alpha!

I jolted up in a sitting position as tears gathered in my eyes, ignoring my screaming muscles. I looked around the room I was in to see that I was in a well-furnished room.

Panic arose in me. Though Alpha Avernus has been nothing but kind to me. But that can't be the truth. It seemed the same as how it started with Beta Kyle. 

I flinched inwardly as I took that name. Same warmth, same safety and protection…only to turn into a demon later.

“Say something, love…”

I turned my head once again in Alpha Avernus' direction to see the worry in his amethyst eyes. Maybe he was able to feel my inner panic. But how? We haven't bonded?

In and out

In and out Meadow…

Not wanting to make him wait any longer, I said the only thing I was drilled to say in the past years.

“I am sorry, Alpha.”

I whispered, but I knew he could hear me loud and clear due to his advanced hearing.

“What are you sorry for?”

I looked at Alpha Avernus to see a frown etched on his forehead.

“For everything, sir, for the trouble I caused you. For saving me to…”

“Stop!”

I was cut by Alpha Avernus. His voice was harsh. 

Shit! Maybe I must have annoyed him with my words or voice. Beta Kyle always stated I had an awful voice. 

I started to shake in fear as I looked at everything from the fresh white duvet wrapped around my lower body to the chandelier up above in hopes of distracting myself.

Anything was better than angering a Trident Alpha.

“Please, mate. Look at me. I - I won't hurt you. I am extremely sorry for raising my voice. It's just that I don't enjoy my mate demeaning herself in such a manner.”

The words and the vulnerability in his voice caught me off guard. But I couldn't trust him. Not yet, and maybe never after the scars I carried on my back. 

But not wanting to take chances at angering him, I looked in his direction, towards my left once again.

“I don't know of your past, but I know it's no good after all the scars on your body. And I even know my reputation gives you no reason to trust me. But love, all I want from you is to regain your health. I expect nothing more than that. I - I promise you I will never hurt you. You are my mate, I can't… I can never. I know it's hard. But just try to trust me. Please…”

Alpha Avernus was cut in between due to the knocking on the door to this room.

I flinched at the sudden noise and shrank back. What if it was someone from my old pack, trying to take me back there…

“It's nothing of that sort, mate. It's just… would you be fine in the presence of my Beta?”

A chill ran down my spine at the mention of the word beta. I can't. I didn't want to face yet another greedy demon of that sort…

Was this my punishment? Being thrown in the lion's den!

“Alpha, I am sorry if I said too much. Please no… don't… no… I can't… please…”

Tears trailed down my face as Alpha Avernus placed his finger on my lips in an attempt to hush me. 

“That fucking Kyle scarred you so bad.”

I flinched at the crude words projected towards Beta Kyle. I could see the swirls of Amber in his amethyst eyes. At any other moment, I should have been awing the changing colors of his eyes, but right now…

“Relax, love. No need to worry. If you don't want my Beta anywhere near you, then he won't. I will be back in a moment. Just lie down and try not to get out the bed. If you need anything, just give me a call.”

Alpha Avernus stated as I nodded my head.

I was thirsty, but I surely couldn't ask an Alpha for water. 

Suddenly, a sigh left Alpha Avernus' mouth as he filled a glass with water from the pitcher and forwarded it in my direction.

“I am sorry, I never asked you before. Here, take some water. You must be thirsty.”

I frowned…

Was he able to hear my thoughts? Ignoring my wandering mind, I took the glass from my shaky hands as I brought it to my lips and emptied the glass in seconds. 

The water was soothing my throat as well as breaking the symphony of tears.

“I never got your name? How much I would love to call you by endearments, I still wish to know your name. Only if you wish to give it to me. I believe you already know my name. But let me reintroduce myself, Alpha Avernus Bane, the Alpha of Black Myst Pack. It's an honor to meet you, my mate.”

I looked at Alpha Avernus to see the sincerity in his eyes as my wolf rose to the surface, wagging her tail. 

The fact that he was giving me choices was warming my heart. No one has ever done that to me.

Maybe I could…

“Meadow.”

I said softly. It felt refreshing to introduce myself by name to someone. 

Not as someone's mate or slave. It felt good.

“Meadow”

A pleasurable shiver ran down my spine as Alpha Avernus tested the name on his tongue. The yearning I felt to hear it once again, even shocked me as my wolf playfully barked.

The presence of my wolf has been way too much since I have been here. Or maybe it's just the rest I got while in Alpha Avernus' Pack.

“It is a really beautiful name, Meadow. I will just be back after I talk with Kai. Wait for me…”

I nodded my head as the question of how long I was out for kept bouncing in my head.

“You can always ask me if you have any questions. Don't fret.”

Alpha Avernus stated softly.

“How long was I out for?”

I questioned as Alpha Avernus' smile fell and the amber returned to dance over the amethyst splashes in his eyes.

“Three days, Meadow. Three painful days, where I could hear you scream and shout during your nightmares, but I couldn't do anything to help you.”

Alpha Avernus stated as he bent down to my level. The bond sizzled between us.

“Never scare me like that again, mate.”

I was so engrossed, looking at his facial features. From his light stubble, to how black hair framed his face, giving him the rough look, to his hypnotic amethyst eyes…

That I never noticed when he looped his finger under the slipping end of the loose shirt I was wearing to place it back into the shoulder. 

Covering me up.

“Tha-ank you, Alpha.”

Alpha Avernus smiled softly at me as he rose to his full height, dwarfing me. From this angle, the intricate, red lines running down from his neck to his fingers were visible.

“It is Avernus for you, love. Only for you.”

I nodded my head, still a little dizzy with the closeness as he started to walk towards the door.

Soon, the door closed as I could hear footsteps walking away from the door. 

I took a deep breath as I tried to absorb everything.

It all seemed too good to be true.

Suddenly, I could hear hurried footsteps coming towards the door as the door slammed open with a bang, making me flinch at the loud noise.

“Who the fuck are you, rouge!?”