Sorry for the delay sweet readers!
-RAINA’S POV- The Worgen sighed and put his hands into his white pockets. “It’s a long story.” “Well, isn't it obvious that I won't leave my mate for you?” I retorted, putting too much force behind it. I had to bend over and put my hands on my knees to reinforce my body. “Nonsense. Why would I be here with you and not him? Where was he to take care of your wound? He was not there when you kept having nightmares in your sleep and I took them away. Neither was he there when you were dying,” he replied sardonically with a flat gaze. “I deserve you more than he does. So, tell me I have permission to court you and I shall.” “People are dying and you want to flirt!” My blood boiled and I straightened my posture to send him the heat of my eyes. “I feel their pain in my heart.” I clutched my chest. “Everyone deserves to live.” I didn’t miss what he said about my nightmares, but I wasn’t going to get into that. Not now. “My obligation is to you. No one else,” he commented, hard and rigid.
-VALEN’S POV-“Val, hurry up down there.” Devin mind-linked me using his teleportation ring.“Well, it’s a great summer party down here. Want to come?” I was annoyed and couldn’t help the sarcasm.Inside the abhorrent funnel-shaped sinkhole was like a trip to hell. Diving through the fathomless, gloomy void and plunging into a deep sputtering fire pit, I struggled to get beyond the volcanic flames. It compressed against the invisible force field that Zuzu enshrouded me in, threatening to end my life.The magical energy shield kept me safe from the hostile crustal movements and any toxic scents that were fusing. Nyx ensured that my oxygen revolved in the protective barrier. Otherwise, I would have died.After an almost never-ending journey down the macabre inferno, I burst through a thick nebulous fog that thinned out into a craggy, turquoise-blue cavern. This was another dimension and the portal ahead of me resembled a swirling geode with crackling, red electrical streaks that whipped
-RAINA’S POV-“Why do you want a war? Can’t we negotiate?” I stalled. My mind scrabbled to think of a way to get out of this.“The war is revenge against Selene. It's about being the black sheep and wanting to kill her favorite children.” He explained with one arm folded and he tapped his nose. “Murdering all of you hurts your goddess. Maybe she’ll have to come herself to stop the war and save her wolves, Raina.”“So that’s your agenda ― to force Selene to show herself?“You are my agenda and I know all of your secrets. I also know things that might interest you.” Gustav gloated while flicking the mussed veil of white strands from his forehead.“What good is a bond with me when I lost my wolf?” I realized that his ultimate intention was to use me as leverage against Valen. I bit my lip, writhing in suppressed fury.His hand froze and then he stooped before me. “There are remnants of her within you. My brother will still come for you because you will have to tell them what happened, and
-VALEN’S POV-Back stroking through the air, Raina’s body fell like a flailing fledgling. The entire time on my flight upwards, my eyes shifted back and forth from her to the white-haired man above her. Panic threatened to seize control of my mind.“Get to her, Valen!” Zeus roared, even though he understood my steadfast resolve.I huffed with zipped-up determination and increased my thrust.Striving to deter my flight, the enemy threw black bomb balls at me. Once they sailed past Raina, I counteracted by flashing out an energy wave with my right hand. Boom! Boom! Boom! Each one of them exploded into amber flames and black smoke.This repeated three times before I reached Raina. Her back slammed into me and I grabbed her around the waist while I narrowed my eyes on the descending Worgen.Swiftly, I gripped the Worgen’s wrist. I tugged and twisted it, and rapidly slammed it into his chest with such a powerful force that sent him backflipping away from us.My flight ceased, and I hovered
-VALEN’S POV-Directly after I teleported Raina to Mom’s chief medical office, I mind-linked her that Raina was safe and with me. No matter how much I tried to put Raina on the bed to lie down for examination, her arms would not unwrap from my neck.“Don’t let go.” Her heart was racing at an incredible speed.So, I lifted her trembling legs and let them encircle my waist with one hand under her buttocks, holding her. I kissed her temple, leaving my cheek on hers.“I didn’t want to ― I didn’t mean to ― Valen,” Raina repeated with a low cracking voice, sniffling. Her moist button nose pressed into my neck.My free hand caressed the length of her back in an attempt to give her warmth and security. I whispered in her ear. “It’s okay. You’re my strong queen. You had no choice.”Her clothes were soiled with dried blood and grime. Plus I wanted to quickly check her body and in this state, I was hampered. It hurt to see her like this. I was feeling a lot of things and Zeus reminded me that he
-VALEN’S POV-“Um―” Raina faltered as she stared at the ceiling.The acknowledgment of her regret hit me. The sorrow she felt nearly knocked the wind out of me. My heart spasm in my chest thinking that the kiss actually happened.“He―” Her head turned towards me with a pained expression.Waiting for her answer, I squeezed my eyes shut and pinched the bridge of my nose. A throb of anger pounded on my temples.“No.” Raina’s blue eyes were very guilt-ridden, and my anger deflated just a notch.“The fealty requires that he swears his sword to you, and then you will have to kiss him on the lips to seal the bond.” Mom’s eyes hardened on me.“Like fucking hell!” I cracked cynically as my veins pulsed with unexplainable rage and my fist made another hole in the white wall.It wasn’t enough. My frothy wrath needed release, but it seemed that more and more anger bubbled inside as I lost control.Him kissing her ― touching her. My mate? Mine! Every thought of that kiss occurring jabbed me in the
-VALEN'S POV–Raina stirred beneath my arms. Zeus purred, as I nuzzled my nose on her mate mark, lightly nipping on it.I was a bastard for wanting to wake her up because I wanted her attention. It was that simple. Venus mentioned that she had been sleeping for the past three days and I couldn’t bare another minute without her.Determined, I rubbed my thumb up and down the side of her cheek, trying to gently coax her out of dreamland.“Mmm.” She moaned and shifted. I enjoyed the soft sounds of contentment that she made in her sleep as her muscles loosened and relaxed."Raina ―" I whispered, watching her facial expression change and twitch as I slowly pulled her from sleep. "Time to wake up, baby.”Arousing from slumber, I watched her eyes flutter open. She lifted her head and stretched out her arms and legs.“Good morning, Bluebella,” I whispered, kissing below her ear.She shivered, twisting her body to lay flat on her back. A few straying strands of her burgundy hair lay on her face
-RAINA'S POV- “You’ve been avoiding me,” an angry voice came from behind after I descended the glass-bifurcated stairs of the exquisite Saturn Striders Hotel. “Alpha Kain,” I acknowledged when I swung around to the six-foot man with hands crossed that made his biceps appear larger and ready to crush me for neglecting his messages. I said coolly, “I didn’t know that you were coming.” “You would if you had replied to my recent messages.” He dropped his hands to his side and his vexation toned down. The seventeen-year-old Alpha of an external pack licked his lips as his steps approached me with a cocky swagger. His nomad eyes lit up as he roamed them over my body and I took a deep breath. I was not afraid of him, but he has been one of those guys who constantly expressed an interest. “May I have the pleasure of enjoying your company or am I too late?” He stood too close to me with a taunting smirk as he gazed at my rose-mauve-coated lips. “I’ve been looking for you all evening.” He