Drew The sounds of the party at the packhouse faded behind me as my steps took me further into the forest and away from the celebration. The closer it got to midnight, the more I felt the need to be somewhere else, to be anywhere other than in the crowd of waiting, unmated males. I hadn’t even waited to see Everly come out of the house. I wanted to leave before I saw her, because I knew I would change my mind once I had. Logically, I knew this was the ending we had been hurtling towards since the first time we kissed, but emotionally, I was still not prepared to see her claimed by her mate, to find out that what happened with June and Luke was repeating itself with us. Call me a coward, a wimp, a pussy; I would be the first to admit that I was all of those things. The previous week was already painful enough, rejecting her and pushing her away when she asked for just one night with me, but I knew it was the right call. I knew that if she found her mate on her birthday, he would kn
Drew “Baby girl,” I began as I stood at the edge of the bed, my hands sliding up her thighs under the skirt of her dress. “If you don’t want me to rip this dress to shreds, I suggest you remove it quickly.” As my hands reached the top of her legs, I moved my palms around to cup her ass, and I realized she wasn’t wearing anything underneath her dress. “Fuck, Everly, what are you doing to me?” I groaned, massaging her cheeks roughly. “Get naked. Now,” I growled, stepping away from her so I could do the same. Our eyes remained locked on each other as her hands undid the ribbon around her waist, and, using a small amount of magic from my witch half, I helped her by sliding the zipper down her back without moving from my spot. She gave me a grateful little smile, and reached up to the neckline of her dress, slowly sliding it off of her shoulders inch by inch, teasing me by making me wait. I pulled my black t-shirt over my head as fast as I could, not wanting to miss even one second of
Chloe This was it. It was finally here. The day of our mating ceremony. The day Tidirath would officially recognize me as Finn’s mate and as a Princess of the Kingdom. I spent the entire week prior going to teas and luncheons and fancy dinners and dancing lessons and etiquette lessons. I felt like my feet were going to fall off and my brain was going to explode out through my ears from the information overload. There were so many rules and customs to learn, and I wasn’t sure how I would ever remember all of them. I understood why Finn had left his home. The strict policies and the intense formal atmosphere were not his style at all. I was glad that we were just here for a short while, and he didn’t want to remain here after our ceremony or even come back here to raise our children when we had them. The last two days, they had completely sequestered me in my room, as was the custom here. Finn and I could not lay eyes on each other until the mating ceremony. Not that it stopped us.
Finn I was pacing back and forth at the front of the Temple of Eos in the royal palace, one hand on my hip and the other stroking my chin. I did not know why I was so nervous. She had already accepted me, already mated with me, and already bore my first mark and I bore hers, but, for whatever reason, I was a bag of anxiety. My mom sat with my dad and my brothers, so I knew Chloe wasn’t far behind. I stopped in the spot where I was supposed to stand while Chloe entered, and I fidgeted with the bow tie around my neck. Lukas stepped in front of me and swatted my hands away, fixing the tie for me. “Relax, Beta,” he smiled. “She’s already had plenty of opportunities to run and she hasn’t yet. I think you’re safe,” he winked. “Shut up, fucker,” I growled, and he just laughed, clapping me on the shoulder and standing off to the left of me. Normally, it would be one of my brothers or my dad standing with me, but there truly was no one I would have wanted other than Lukas to be our primar
Lukas Home. At last. After almost a month, I was finally back at Midnight Moon, back with my pack and my people and my mate. Even though it hadn’t been long, I felt like a different person than I was when I left. I hated to admit it, but Selene had been right when she’d visited me three years ago and told me the challenges I would face would strengthen me and make me a better Alpha. I still wished I didn’t have to have these challenges, these hardships, but I couldn’t deny they had, in fact, strengthened me. As soon as we had crossed the border into the packlands, I handed the wheel over to Finn and took off for Simon and Sofia’s house to see June. Imagine my surprise when they told me she moved out, and was living in a cottage just down the path from them, closer to the stream than they were. I paused along the path to June’s new house and picked a handful of wildflowers and then continued on my way, enjoying the sounds and smells and sights of my packlands. My home. I had misse
Juniper “What just happened?” I asked, staring after Lukas as he stormed out of our house. I thought everything was going fine. He hugged me, and held onto me for longer than necessary. He brought me flowers, flowers he had picked himself. He rested his hand on my hip and stood close to me as he got the vase down for me. I swear he even sniffed my hair when I hugged him in the front yard. And then he stormed out after Drew got there. I didn’t get it. What was he so upset about? Was he still that mad at Drew for quitting as his beta? If he was back, then I’m assuming that meant he found a new beta, since that was why he left. But I guess finding a new beta didn’t automatically mean forgiving Drew. “Just Lukas overreacting,” Drew grumbled as he slammed the door shut a bit too hard. I set the vase on the counter, then turned to look at Drew. “Overreacting about what?” “Did I just hear the sweet, dulcet sounds of my dear brother throwing a tantrum?” Everly asked as she walked out o
Juniper :I’m telling Lukas,: I linked Drew. :About your undying love?: he replied. :No,: I sighed. :About what I am.: He was silent for a long moment. :Are you sure?: he finally asked. :It’s supposed to be a secret, and—: :And he’s the future alpha and our best friend and we should have told him to begin with,: I finished. :I know you’re worried about protecting me, and thank you, because you are the best protector I could ever ask for, but I need you to trust me on this, Drew.: :Of course, Princess,: he said resignedly, then dropped the link. I dropped Lukas’s hand as the portal closed, then turned to face him again. He put his hands in his pockets, as if he needed to keep himself from touching me again. I was still reeling from what he had all but admitted to me, but I would not focus on that until I got this revelation out of the way. I couldn’t focus on that until I explained what I was to him. I closed my eyes and concentrated on my magic, creating a sound barrier using t
Lukas June did her magic fairy portal thing, and I stepped through it, straight into what I was assuming was her bedroom. It smelled like her, and it was filled with art and plants, so I could only guess that it was hers. As soon as the portal closed behind me, I was kissing her again, soaking up every moment of her in my arms and against my body. The only thing I wished was different about all of it, was that I wished she could feel the mate bond, feel the warmth and the sparks and the tingles everywhere our skin touched. With the way she was moving against me and the way her body responded to my touches and my kisses, I could almost forget that she didn’t feel it. I was eating up all her little gasps and moans, and my fingers were loving the feel of her skin and her curves under my touch. I squeezed her perfect ass again, and she pressed her pussy against my cock, grinding herself against the length of it. My hand on her thigh moved closer to the hem of her little cutoff denim
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