Raise your hand if you just let out a sigh of relief!
Finn I was pissed. I was so fucking pissed at that fucker. I was going to kill him. I was about ready to march over to the packhouse and demand to find out what sort of game he was playing with his mate. I knew firsthand the damage that kind of rejection could do. I wished I didn’t, but I did. At least with my mate, there hadn’t been another woman in the picture. Just a misunderstanding. I wasn’t sure what was going on with him and that Bianca bitch. Drew and I had both tried to link him when he introduced her, but he blocked us out faster than I could blink. I wanted to trust him, trust that he wasn’t completely fucking up his life, trust that he had something up his sleeve with this whole situation, but fuck, it was hard to have faith in him with how it affected June. Her reaction in the driveway was heartbreaking. To see her being so strong when he was outside, to then watch her break down once he was gone — it was awful. It pissed off both my dragon and me. We had both become e
Lukas I adjusted my black tie as I stood in front of the mirror in my bathroom, my stomach a jumble of knots, my heart beating erratically in my chest. It was a mixture of excited nerves because of my upcoming ceremony, and anxious nerves because of the impending attack from the royals. I set all of my plans, and everything and everyone was in place for the ceremony and what would happen after. I could only hope that nothing would go awry. A soft knock came at my door, and then it cracked open. “Lukie? Are you ready?” Bianca asked me, her eyelashes blinking. I bit back my growl at the ridiculous nickname and gripped the edge of the counter tightly with my hands before I turned to look at her. If I wasn’t already mated to the most stunning woman in the realm, then I’m sure I would have found Bianca beautiful. Well, that and the fact that she was a witch in disguise, and a potential spy for the king. I hadn’t missed how she’d looked right at the mark on June’s arm that linked her
Juniper “Mate…” I gasped out slowly. Lukas’s eyes were still locked on mine, and as soon as the word was out of my mouth, his lips twitched into a smile, and he nodded his head to me, a silent confirmation that he was, in fact, my mate. My real mate. Not just a chosen bond, but a true bond. A fated bond. “What?!” Drew exclaimed. “You can feel it now?” “I can see it,” I told him, looking down at the gold thread connecting me to Lukas. I brushed my hand through it, and although it looked solid, it was not tangible. It was clearly something that only I could see. “I don’t understand,” I muttered. “Why am I only just now feeling this?” I asked him. “I turned 19 weeks ago.” “I don’t know, Princess,” Drew answered as he glanced at Lukas. “I’m sure there’s a reasonable explanation, that your parents will tell us when—” “Wait, what did you mean when you said, ‘you can feel it now’?” I asked him, my shocked brain finally registering his words. “I… uh — well, you see—” He looked over a
Lukas “Mate…” Juniper said from her spot hidden among the trees. My lips twitched as I tried to hold back the broad grin that was threatening to break through. She knew. She finally knew. I kept my eyes locked on hers and I nodded my head just slightly, just enough so she could have confirmation from me that she was mine. But I couldn’t let my gaze linger on her for too long. The ceremony was almost done. Dad had officially transferred the power to me, but there were still a few ceremonial steps we needed to complete. I had to tear my eyes away from her and put them back on my parents, who were both wearing shit-eating grins. Whatever had happened, whatever the reason for her finally feeling the bond, they both knew. They both had always known what it was and when she would feel it. I wanted to be upset with them, but right now wasn’t the time. I needed to finish these last steps and then we had a potential battle to worry about, before I could go get my June and then yell at my
Juniper We escaped a world of chaos in one realm, and entered a completely different type of chaos in another. The clearing we landed in was filled with fairies of various types — although they were mainly Fae — and the Midnight Moon pack members. The real pack members, not the ones from the illusion planted in the courtyard by my mother’s strong Fae trickery magic. My birth mother, that is. They were chatting and talking, and the pack children were running around and playing, completely carefree and without a worry about what was happening back on their pack lands. The volume of the gathered people slowly diminished as they saw us, and saw Myles bleeding in his mate’s arms. The dull roar became dead silence, broken only by one shrill scream. “My baby!” my mom — Sofia — cried out, tears streaming down her face as she ran towards us to see her injured son. Leo growled slightly as she reached out to touch him, pulling Myles closer to his chest. She snarled and raised her gaze to h
Lukas After the howl ended, and the pack and gathered fairies left to retreat to their quarters for the evening, I stayed in the clearing, leaning against the tree with my mate in my arms. Her presence and the love I felt flowing towards me from her end of the bond — even without us being marked — helped a sense of momentary peace to settle within me. Losing my parents was painful, but having her with me made it seem bearable. I closed my eyes and buried my face back into her neck, inhaling her scent, which was now even more intoxicating than it had been when I first discovered our bond. When I opened my eyes again, we were on the floor of the clearing. My back was against the giant tree, and I held my June tightly against my chest, her eyes closed and her breathing deep and even in her sleep. I kissed her forehead, letting my lips linger there for a moment. My hand lazily stroked the skin exposed by the open back of her dress, then I lifted my head and let myself take in the bea
Lukas We followed Lyssa out of Myles’s room and into the open air, winding around the paths that connected the trees to each other in silence. It was late, and most everyone was asleep now, save for those of us who had been in Myles’s room. I heard footsteps behind us, and I turned to see Drew and Everly following us, their hands clasped together tightly. :Sorry, Alpha,: Drew winced. :I’m feeling extra protective of the Princess again right now,: he mindlinked me. I just nodded to him, and he visibly relaxed, then wrapped his arm around Everly’s shoulder and pulled her closer to him. :You ok?: I asked her. :At least I could save Myles,: she replied. I swallowed back the lump in my throat. :I love you,: I told her. She blinked, and Drew looked down at her and then at me, his eyes filled with the same sadness as my sister’s. “I love you too, Luke,” she choked out. Drew squeezed her shoulder and kissed the side of her head. I felt tingles on my hand, and I turned around to see
Juniper “I am Matthias Aidamir, and this is my mate, Alessia Drakos.” “Drakos?” I breathed out, and at the same time, Lukas said, “Aidamir?” “I don’t understand,” Lukas continued. “The scroll I read said you both died.” “We did,” Alessia said. “Or, at least, we almost did,” she clarified. “Almost?” Lukas asked. “Wait,” I interrupted. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean to be rude, but I am so lost. Who are you? How do you have our surnames? Or, I guess, how do we have your names?” Alessia smiled. “We were the first interspecies mates,” she told me. “They’re like us, beautiful,” Lukas murmured, pulling me to his side and speaking against my hair. “A Fae princess and a werewolf prince,” he finished, looking back at the couple. “But I’ve never heard of either of you,” I said. “There is no mention of a king and queen of either kingdom with your names.” “There wouldn’t be,” Matthias sighed. “Come. Break bread with us while we speak.” He gestured to his left, to where there was a small floo
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