Juniper
11:59pm. That was the time on my phone. Exactly 24 hours had passed since I had turned 19, and nothing that had happened had turned out the way I had expected.
I set my phone down with a sigh, my eyes scanning the stars above me, waiting and hoping to see a shooting star, or a comet, or… something… I could make a wish on, something that I could pin my hopes on for the coming year.
I still had so many questions, so many thoughts running through my head after the events of today. When would I get to meet my birth parents? Where were they that they couldn’t raise me? How would I be able to rule a kingdom that I knew nothing about? When would they expect me to take over?
And of course, the biggest question of all: who would be my mate, and when would I finally meet him?
Juniper **********Dream********** The sun was bright; the light burning through my closed eyelids. When I opened my eyes, I found myself in a bright environment, filled with colorful flowers and dense plant life. The vivid colors around me were unlike anything that I had ever seen on our packlands, completely taking my breath away with the overwhelming beauty that surrounded me. I found myself drawn to the flora, my bare feet moving me through the soft grass to examine everything before I could even think about what I was doing. Upon closer inspection, the wildlife seems to be a mix of plants that I am familiar with, having seen them on our packlands or studied them in my advanced botany classes at school, and plants that I had never encountered before in my
Lukas My head was pounding, the feeling completely overwhelming and unbearable, the light from a giant window causing me to squint my eyes closed in pain. I groaned, hauling my body over as I rolled and tried to sit up unsuccessfully, only causing me more discomfort. The pulsing in my forehead was incessant, growing louder and stronger every time I made even the slightest movement. “Hey there, easy now,” a male’s voice sounded from nearby. I felt a bottle of some sort of liquid being handed to me, and I grabbed it wordlessly. “Here, drink this,” the voice told me. I finally sat up, eyeing the bottle of water in my hand warily before turning to look for the source of the voice, every movement causing a bigger pulse of pain in my brain. My eyes
Lukas I blinked, because I wasn’t expecting that question at all. “I’ve never really thought about it, but Drew isn’t a full wolf. You know that,” I reminded him. “I’m not opposed to it, and I know the pack will be fine with it. I want someone who is a hard worker and who I can trust and rely on. Being a wolf doesn’t automatically make them those things,” I said. “Still, how would that work? Would they be able to join the pack, be part of the pack link?” Phil smiled knowingly. “It can be done, yes. It will have to be done under the radar, since King Tobias likely won’t approve, but there are ways around that.” He stood, and I stood with him, following him out of his office and through the front doors of the building, towards the training yard. “The elite class is training right now. That’s where you’ll find the people I have in mind for you.” He glanced back at me as he continued to speak. “You’ve already met a few of them, actually.” “Finn?” I asked, and he nodded. “And who else?
Lukas “Birthday boy! Hey, birthday boy! Wake up!” Chloe’s voice bellowed at me through the closed door of my bedroom in my suite in the guest hall, but I just rolled over, shoving my head under the pillow to block out her voice and the sunlight. I had planned on spending the day alone in my bed, letting my misery wash over me as the memories of my birthday two years ago played repeatedly in my head. It sounded like the perfect way for me to spend my birthday this year, since I wouldn’t be celebrating it with my mate or my pack or my family. Chloe had other ideas, however, and before I knew it, my door was slamming open and Chloe was marching into my room like hell on wheels. “Seriously? What the fuck is wrong with you?” she yelled as she saw
Lukas I sat for a moment in my car after I parked, staring at the windows and the signs of the shop, mustering up my courage to go through with what I had planned. I had done nothing like this before. The people I knew who had said it hurt like a bitch even with our shifter healing. Still, I knew this was what I wanted. I knew this was one way to have June’s “mark” on me before we could actually be together. I finally exited my car and walked the few steps to the door, yanking it open and setting off a chime that alerted the employees that a potential customer had entered. I glanced around the shop, taking in the interior. Artwork littered the walls, mainly sketches from the employees that worked there, I assumed. The walls themselves were a dark hunter green, and there was a matching green couch in the lobby, with a table in front of
Finn This fucker is taking too long, I grumbled in my mind as I waited in the lobby of Hank’s shop. My beast was restless. The trip here was not enough to settle his restlessness. He’d been on edge ever since Lukas arrived. Not that we had anything against Lukas himself. He was great. Almost perfect, which was frankly annoying. My beast respected him to where he almost even liked him, which meant a lot for him. He was ready to follow Luke when he finally went back to his pack, and I thought that was the best idea for both of us. No, Lukas wasn’t at all what had us both on edge. I glanced at my watch again and leaned forward with a sigh, resting my elbows on my knees, when Hank finally walked out of the back. I glanced up at him, and he eyed me quizzically. “What’s eating you?” he grunted. I huffed in response. “The same old shit,” I muttered under my breath, standing up. “Well, take care of it,” he scolded me with rolled eyes. I whipped my head at him and narrowed my eyes; I
Chloe I stood with my hands on my hips and wiped a stray hair out of my face as I surveyed my apartment’s kitchen and dining room, checking to make sure it would pass my dad’s scrutinizing inspection. It wouldn’t, because he was a drill sergeant with unrealistically high expectations, but I tried anyway. Tonight was our weekly father-daughter dinner, and it was my turn to play hostess, while my dad would cook us dinner. And by cook, I meant he would order pizza or Chinese food and have it delivered to the academy, since the only food he could actually “cook” was cereal. With no milk. I checked my watch and blew out a frustrated breath. He was running late, which was unusual for him. He had a background in the Royal Werewolf Army, and he was always, always
Chloe “Finn?” I inquired, and he turned his ear slightly towards me. My eyes were getting watery, blurring his massive form from my vision. “Are you making me dinner, or…” My voice quivered, my nerves and my self-doubts coming back and getting the best of me. “Or are you… are you… providing for me as… as…” I choked on a sob and covered my mouth with my shaking hand, turning my face away. I couldn’t say it. I couldn’t get the words out. I was too afraid that I would say it and he would deny it, or reject me, or walk out on me. I had lived every day since he arrived knowing that he was mine, but he didn’t want me. But if I actually heard him say the words, I knew that would be the end of me. My heart squeezed in my chest, the pain a mixture of my hope of acceptance and my fear of rejection. There was a clatter of a dropped pan, and Finn’s heavy footfalls echoed through the kitchen as he strode purposefully over to me, his firm hands a gentle caress on my cheeks as he turned my face t
A LITTLE OVER 1 YEAR AFTER THE EPILOGUEJUNIPER I paced back and forth in our bedroom as I waited for Lukas to come back from morning training with Drew and Finn. He’d left me sleeping. Or, at least, he thought I was sleeping. I was half awake when he brushed a soft kiss on my cheek and tucked the blankets around my naked body before he walked out of the room. I had been too antsy and on edge to sleep, too ready to enact my little surprise for him. The double doors to our room opened just as a wave of nausea rolled through me. “Oh goddess,” I whimpered, and then ran into the bathroom before Lukas could see me. I turned the faucet on so he wouldn’t hear me retching, but it was pointless. The bathroom door slammed open and his worried gaze scanned over my body right before I hurled my guts out into the toilet. But instead of turning and leaving me, Lukas walked straight to me, kneeling down next to me and rubbing my back underneath my pink and blue plaid shirt, the skin to skin co
Note: This chapter was written as a special holiday chapter during Christmas, right after the chapter where Eric and Claire passed away. It gives a little bit of insight into their lives before they were in hiding. I hope you enjoy it!EricAnother Winter Solstice. Another birthday, come and gone. Another year without a mate.Growing up, having my birthday on the Winter Solstice was always fun. I got extra presents, and it was as if everyone was celebrating my birthday, even though they were really just celebrating that the days would get longer again. But in my innocence as a child, it seemed, of course, that it was mainly about me.Now, at 25, and still mateless, it was less exciting. Now, I dreaded the holiday, and dreaded my birthday.It didn’t help that this year, my best friend, my future beta, Damien, had found his mate only weeks ago — a witch named Veronica — and they were joined at the hip now.I had no ill feelings towards him — truly; I was ecstatic for him. Finding your m
JuniperI breathed out a sigh as I slipped away from the party to get some fresh air on the balcony. My heavy sparkly green skirt swished against the marble flooring, and I smoothed my hands over the velvet belt as I inhaled the fresh honeysuckle scent from the planters. The silver and diamond crown on my head felt heavy, but a good heavy. It was a reminder of everything we’d achieved, everything that had led us to this exact moment.Our coronation after party was in full swing — all of our closest friends and family were celebrating just on the other side of the double doors. The elders had officially crowned us king and queen of Volkor earlier that evening, had a huge fancy ball where anyone who wished to could attend, and now it was just our inner circle having our own celebration.It had been a few months since our victory over Tobias and his regime. The time passed quickly, but the work was difficult, and far from over. This coronation, and ball, and party, was a much needed repr
LUKAS POVThe evening was warm, the sun setting behind the foothills, leaving behind streaks of red and purple and orange in the otherwise clear blue sky. My hands were in my pockets, and I breathed deeply, my face upturned towards the disappearing sun.I lowered my gaze back to my surroundings, taking it all in so I would never forget this day, the day my June and I claimed each other in front of the realm.It was just a formality, really, since we were already marked and mated, but it was tradition to have a ceremony, especially since we would be the rulers of both the werewolf and the fairy kingdoms. And June wanted a Fae ceremony, and what my June wanted, my June got.Not that I wasn’t excited. I was over the moon. I had been waiting for this day since my 19th birthday. Longer, really. Probably my whole life, if I was being honest.I bounced on my toes, a grin spreading across my face as I counted down the seconds until Juniper would start walking towards me, her dad and her fathe
Lukas I woke up to an empty bed, the space next to me cold. I jerked upright, my heart racing in my chest as I scanned the unfamiliar darkened room, trying to remember where I was, trying to find my mate. I knew she had been next to me, remembered falling asleep with her held in my arms, our legs tangled together, her head resting on my chest as we talked late into the night, talked of our past and our future, of what we felt for each other and what we wanted to accomplish as both mates and rulers of two kingdoms. But, she was no longer next to me, no longer in my arms, or even in my bed. I was about to jump out of the bed and sprint out into the hallway when my eyes finally landed on her. She stood in front of one of the large floor-to-ceiling windows; the drapes pulled open, so the moonlight framed her body, casting an otherworldly glow around her. Exquisite. She was just… exquisite, standing there, in a floor length golden robe, her hair loose and tumbling down her back. I
JuniperA deep, loud, rhythmic rumbling broke me from my slumber. I squeezed my eyes tighter, praying to Gaia that maybe it would help block out the sound, but of course, it didn’t, since ears couldn’t be turned off by shutting your eyes.I peeked out through one squinted eyelid to find Drew sitting in a chair, his chin resting on his left hand, his eyes closed and his mouth wide open. And he was snoring. Loudly.I covered my mouth so my laugh wouldn’t wake him, then turned my attention to the surrounding room.The last thing I remembered was Lukas holding me, kneeling in the grass of the ceremony grounds outside.Now, I found myself in an opulent bedroom, laying in a white four-poster bed with gauzy drapes, fluffy gold and white pillows and bedding. Ornate furniture was placed throughout the room, and there were two large doors leading out of the room, and a single door leading into what I can only assume was the bathroom.As soon as I had that thought, I realized my bladder felt lik
LukasI scratched my beard and then scrubbed my hand over my face to hide my yawn. I had lost count of how many times I had done the same move in order to hide how exhausted I was.All I wanted to do was find whatever room and bed they had put my mate in, and wrap myself around her and sleep until next week.But we had all agreed that there were some things that needed to be discussed before we all turned in for the night, things that just couldn’t wait until morning.So, with reluctance, I had relinquished my hold on June, handing her over to Drew, who had followed his mom through the palace to find a room to put her in while she slept. Finn offered to stay on the battlegrounds to help with cleaning up the area and interrogating some of Tobias’s men. Leo then led us to one of the conference rooms on the ground floor of the palace, and we each collapsed into our chairs in exhaustion.When Veronica returned, she was alone. Drew remained with Juniper, both for my sake and his own, to wa
LukasThe next few moments were a blur. One second I was standing over Tobias’s body in triumph, and the next, I was in front of Drew, trying to get to my mate, who he had clutched against his chest.But I couldn’t get closer than a foot away from him. He had a force-field raised around them, keeping everyone out of his space.I pressed my palms against it, trying to push my way through, but it was pointless.“Drew!” I shouted, but he didn’t even react to my voice, either too caught up in his grief to pay attention to his surroundings or unable to hear me over his sobs.“Drew, drop your shield!” I roared, pushing my alpha tone into my voice.He didn’t even flinch, didn’t even budge an inch or drop the protective barrier he had raised around himself.My heart was racing in my chest, and my hands were trembling, and everything was growing blurry. I growled and screamed out, “DREW!” one more time, but his own screaming and sobbing didn’t let up in the slightest.“He’s in a complete prote
WARNING GRAPHIC DETAILS IN THIS CHAPTERLukas“I love you, Lukas,” June’s voice murmured in my head.And then everything went black.Only, it wasn’t black for long. There was a split second of darkness, and then a bright golden light blazed beneath my eyelids. On my chest, just above my heart, there was a warmth and a tingling sensation.Power and strength surged through me, originating from that spot on my chest. The weakness I felt from the poisoned silver on the dagger dissipated, leaving behind a renewed vigor.A pulse of magic jolted my body, and my eyes sprang open. I stared at the empty space where Juniper had been only moments before.I knew she had been there, but I didn’t have time for confusion. I had a challenge to win, a usurper to overthrow, and a kingdom to save.I turned back to Tobias, who was still crouching over me in his wolf form, stretching out his supposed victory over me. I could see it in his eyes. He’d thought he’d won, thought there was no way I would come b