Eve’s POVAs Stefan’s jeep parked in front of a beach house, he alighted from the car and turned around to my side, pulling open the door for me. As I exited the car, I stared in awe at the beach house which was sitting like a quiet retreat, nestled against the backdrop of swaying palms and the rolling, rhythmic sound of the ocean. It looked…perfect. And relaxing. Otherworldly too.“Come on, babe.” He circled his arm around mine, a soft smile playing on his lips. “Let’s go have dinner.”I smiled as he led me past the beach house a little, to the side where the water met the lands. As we walked, arms in arm, in this heavenly tranquility, all of this felt like something straight out of a dream. A romantic dream. Like a scene I had seen in a movie and never thought for once that I would experience it in my life. I glanced at him as we walked, my heart fluttering as I did so. Just like the other day at the cafe shop and the amusement park, he looked different. Not that I hadn’t always
Eve’s POVI felt like I hadn’t had a peaceful sleep like this in my entire life. And I could bet that I had a smile on my face as I slept all through the night, cuddled tightly by Stefan and feeling his warm breath fanning over my neck as we both slept peacefully.The next morning, I woke up to the gentle touch of Stefan’s lips on my forehead, and for a second, I wasn’t not sure if I was dreaming or if he was really here with me and everything that happened yesterday was real. I blinked my eyes, slowly coming back to consciousness, to see Stefan seated at the edge of the bed with that faint, almost smug smile on his face. The scent of freshly brewed coffee and something buttery filled the room.“Morning, gorgeous.” He said to me and I couldn’t help but smile as I stretched my body. I was still feeling sleepy and left to me, I would like to remain in this bed forever and in Stefan’s arms. “Wake up already.” He laughed lightly as he planted more kisses all over my face. I chuckled an
Eve’s POVThe morning, Jameson pestered me to take him for a stroll and I had no option but to oblige. We strolled through the fields together, his little hand clutched tightly against mine. As we walked, his laughter echoed as he picked up a rock and threw it as far as he could, looking back at me with pride.“Did you see how far that went, Mommy?” He exclaimed, with his eyes shining with excitement.I nodded, matching his grin. “It almost went to the moon, didn’t it?”He laughed and we kept walking. My mind traveled to Stefan again and my smile dimmed. Why hadn’t I told him about Jameson yet? What was still holding me back? He deserved to know that Jameson was his son. So why was I still holding back?I spotted Luna Jessica a little further down the path. She was standing alone, watching the horizon. Before I could think of dodging her by taking another path, she turned around to see us and a small smile crossed her face as she caught sight of Jameson. “Luna Jessica.” He called o
Eve’s POVThat afternoon, Apollo drove me to the Broken Moon Kingdom and as we drove into their territory, I watched through the tinted glass of the car. The shifter witches were like normal people, going about their daily lives. The only thing different about them was the way they used magic to get their things done. And with everything, they looked happy and peaceful. Unlike what I’ve heard about them.I glanced over at Apollo, who was focused on the road as he drove us. “Have you been here before?” I asked him and he nodded, his eyes still trained to the road. “A few times.” He replied, then a few seconds later, he added. “They are... different here. With the shifter witches, you never quite know what to expect.” Then, he finally gave me a sidelong glance. “I would keep my guard up if I were you. Don’t let yourself get too enchanted.”I let out a quiet laugh, even though his warning settled in my chest like a stone. “I’ll keep that in mind.”As we continued our drive through t
Eve’s POVAs Morwenna led me through the winding streets of her kingdom, Apollo followed us closely, his gaze scanning the surroundings as if on the lookout for a potential threat. I couldn’t blame him. A few minutes ago, he had told me that Stefan had called him aside after he had told Stefan that he would be accompanying me to Broken Moon Kingdom. Stefan had then warned him that if any harm as little as a missing strand of my hair was to go missing, he would have Apollo’s head fed to the vultures.I found it cute. Not the whole talk of Stefan feeding off Apollo’s decapitated head to the vultures of course. But it was the way Stefan cared about me.“Most people misunderstand shifter witches.” Queen Morwenna said to me, interrupting me from my thoughts. Her eyes were set to the street where her subjects carried on their everyday activities, stopping only to bow before her as she passed. “They see us as unstable, unpredictable. Wild animals with too much power.” She continued. “They a
Eve’s POVAs we continued our tour, Queen Morwenna seemed to notice how I had grown a little distance now. And as if she knew it was because of our talk about the alliance, she took it upon herself to cheer me up. Leaning closer to me, a small smile of mischief tugged on her lips. “Besides, I think Apollo has other things on his mind. Like you, for instance.”I blinked, caught off guard. I turned my head to glance at him sharply. He was still walking a few steps behind us and our eyes met briefly before I looked away again and turned to Queen Morwenna.“What?”“Oh, come now, don’t act like you didn’t notice.” She chuckled lightly. “I have seen the way he looks at you. The man can’t take his eyes off you.”I cleared my throat and blinked my eyes. Apollo developing more feelings for me was the last thing I needed right now. “I… I hadn’t really thought about it.” I lied and Queen Morwenna laughed again. “You’re too modest, my dear. But I’ll let you in on a secret. While Apollo may ha
Apollo’s POVCarrying Eve on my back, I pushed through the castle doors with Queen Morwenna hurrying in front of me. As we rushed upstairs to her chambers, I didn’t really pay attention to my thumping heart and the sweat that was covering my body or even the fear and worry that clawed at my heart. All I could focus on was the weight of Eve’s limp form against me, the faintness of her breath, and the cold sweat dampening her forehead. “You need to tell me what the fuck happened back there.” I hissed at Queen Morwenna. This was the third time I was asking her this same question and she was ignoring me. “What is wrong with her?”Again, Queen Morwenna said nothing as she continued to lead us through the winding halls toward her chamber. Her silence only heightened my panic. She had seen everything, she knew more than she was letting on, but whatever knowledge she held, she was clearly too shaken to share it with me now."Can you talk to me already?” I pressed again, louder this time, whi
Jade’s POVThat bitch is using me.I cursed under my breath as I carried a tray of drinks from the mansion to the garden, my face reddening in anger. Emilia’s friends had stopped over to visit her and Emilia had ‘kindly’ asked me to get them some drinks. I knew very well that Emilia was only keeping me around as her lackey, her personal errand girl. And I had been stupid enough to go along with it. Or maybe it wasn’t her fault but mine. I was the one who wanted to get back at Eve so bad by making her jealous of my newfound friendship with Emilia.It was all my fault. And even though I had told myself a thousand times that Eve had lied to me, that she had hidden things from me, especially about Apollo’s feelings for her, deep down, I knew she had been honest. I knew that she would never intentionally hurt me. Yet, I was just too angry and hell bent on blaming someone for my misfortune. As I neared the garden, I heard Emilia and her friends’ voices filter through the air, followed by E
Eve’s POVTWO YEARS LATERAs the midday sun cast a gentle warmth over the packhouse, I moved around the garden, directing the maids with the final touches for our lunch setup. I was engrossed in the details, ensuring that every plate was perfectly placed and every napkin was folded just so. Across the yard, Jameson was playing and practicing his newfound powers by sending tiny ripples through the grass and shifting little pebbles in the air. I glanced at his direction and a small smile crossed my lips. But that didn’t stop me from calling him and reprimanding him.“Jameson. Careful, okay? You’ll wear yourself out.”He stopped and sent me a mischievous grin that spread across his face. The older he was getting, the more he looked just like Stefan. The resemblance was uncanny. “I won’t, Mommy! I’m strong!”I laughed, shaking my head. “Yes, you’re very strong, but don’t go overboard. You don’t want to spend the afternoon recovering, do you?”He gave me a proud, stubborn look before tu
Eve’s POVI woke up slowly, stretching out my arm across the bed, expecting to feel Stefan’s warmth beside me. Instead, my hand brushed empty sheets. My heart fell in disappointment and I sighed, blinking my eyes open to the early morning light filtering in through the window. The waves crashed softly outside, tempting me to go back to sleep. But Stefan’s absence pulled me out of bed. It was a week after our mating ceremony and we were on our honeymoon at Stefan’s private beach house. Apollo and Jade were here too as it was a double honeymoon.Rubbing the last bits of sleep from my eyes, I slid out from under the covers, my feet brushing the cool wood floors as I padded toward the door. My steps were lazy, still a little groggy from waking up, but I kept walking. As I opened the door and stepped outside the beach house, the faint smell of smoke and something savory and delicious reached me. And there he was, standing over a barbecue grill with Apollo and Jade beside him, the three
Stefan’s POVI stood at the altar, my hands clasped in front of me, trying to steady the slow hum of nerves thrumming beneath my skin. Beside me, Apollo shifted, glancing over his shoulder at the door for what had to be the tenth time in as many minutes. The place was filled with soft chatter and expectant whispers, and anyone could feel the excitement and anticipation in the air. Apollo gave a low whistle, nudging me with his elbow. “I still can’t believe it, Stefan. Your aura point is literally a thousand out of a hundred. You bagged one of the realm’s most beautiful women.”I chuckled softly under my breath. “Well, you don’t have to sound so shocked. I’ve always had my way with women.”Apollo shrugged and a smirk danced on his lips. “Honestly, I thought you would end up with someone a lot more intimidated by you. Not Eve. She matches you in every way.”I smirked back at him, unable to hold back my satisfaction. “Trust me, Apollo, I know exactly what I’m in for. And besides, I
Eve’s POVThe entire room was buzzing with life, not just the room but the packhouse and the entire realm in a whole. Around Jade and I, stylists fluttered around us, adjusting and smoothing out the lace on our sleeves and adding the final touches to our intricate updo. The entire space felt surreal. A room of mirrors, flowers, and stylists. We were getting ready for our big moments.It was the mating ceremony of Jade and I. Because Apollo and Stefan had proposed to the both of us on the same day, they had arranged for the mating ceremony to be held together and to be honest, that was the best thing that Jade and I could have ever asked for. Just me and my best friend, side by side in a place we never thought we would be.As the stylists and makeup artists worked on me, I glanced over at Jade, catching her in the mirror. Her gaze was distant and thoughtful as she stared at her reflection. Her gown was breathtaking. It was a cascade of ivory lace that spilled around her like a soft, sh
Eve’s POVWhen Stefan returned to the room again, he was carrying a tray of food and my mouth practically watered at the sight of it. He set it gently on my laps. “Breakfast in bed. How romantic!” I blinked at him, musing and teasing as I picked up the cutleries.M“I know right? Give me my flowers.” There was a tinge of pride visibly in his voice as he sat down beside me again.On the tray sat a spread that looked straight out of a gourmet magazine with eggs that were perfectly golden, buttery toast, and a delicate arrangement of fresh berries. The aroma filled the room and as I perceived the aroma, I shut my eyes briefly and hummed. This was the kind of breakfast that promised the start of a good day.I finally dug in, savoring the first bite. It tasted just as good as it looked, and I couldn’t help but smile impressively at Stefan again. For the second time, his breakfast had blown my mind again. I guess he was never bluffing when he said he was a good cook.“This is amazing, Stef
Jade’s POVApollo’s room was a stark contrast to the way it was the first time that he had brought me here. It was not filled with his shy laughter or the way he talked about his art, or the sounds of our moans as we made love for the first time. It was quiet. Too quiet, save for the soft rustle of pages as I turned them. I was seated at Apollo’s bedside while he was lying unconscious on the bed. His arm and the side of his stomach where he had been wounded was bandaged. Even though he was lying peacefully, I couldn’t forget the pain he had passed through last night when they had brought him and Eve back to the packhouse. Thankfully, we had Queen Morwenna around and she had saved both of them. Since that night, I had remained in his room and close to his bedside. The only times I excused myself from him for a moment were the times that I had gone to check in on Eve too. It ached my heart that the two people who were most precious to me were hurting at the same time and there was
Eve’s POVI opened my eyes slowly, squinting against the soft and muted light filtering in through the window. As my eyes scanned the familiar walls of my room, I felt a sense of deja vu and nostalgia. This wasn’t the first time I was waking up in my room like this. Or even the second. It had become almost like a routine. This room had become a marker of survival. I had lost count of how many times that I had woken up here, teetering somewhere between life and death, and with my body piecing itself back together. And each time, I half-expected that maybe I wouldn’t make it, that this would be the end. Yet, here I was again, breathing, alive.As if reading my thoughts, a familiar low, amused voice murmured beside me. “You’ve died and come back to life so many times now that I’m starting to think you’re immortal.”I blinked, my gaze sliding over to the side of the bed where Stefan sat with a faint smile on his dangerously handsome face. He was holding a tiny brush in his hand, and focu
Stefan’s POV“Eve! No!” I screamed at the same time that Eve’s body collapsed to the ground. A chill raced through my spine and I stared wide eyed, unable to believe that Lukas had got her just in one second that I had looked away.“Fuck!” I rushed to her, scooping my body into my arms. Blood pooled around her and her eyes were shut now with her skin now turning pale. Tears clouded my vision as I held her body closer, my heart shattering to pieces.How could I have missed this? How could I have failed to protect her when I promised her that? How? “My apologies, Stefan. And like I said the other time, there are no hard feelings involved. This is for my own political interest.” Lukas’ voice coming from behind me made the hurt I was feeling to turn into rage. Hot, flaming rage. I lifted my gaze to meet him, glaring at him through blood red eyes. I was going to kill him. There was no way he would get out of this alive. As if betraying me wasn’t enough for him, he had gone ahead to touch
Eve’s POV“Attack!” Stefan’s battle cry came and in an instant, his soldiers shifted seamlessly into their ferocious wolf forms and with a thunderous cry, they surged forward and towards Vesper’s men who had also shifted into their wolf forms. Apollo was at their helm with his brown fur glinting as he launched himself into the chaos. Within seconds, Stefan’s soldiers and Vesper’s men clashed and the battle began.“Remember what I told you yesterday.” Stefan turned his gaze to me. The expression on his face was the most serious that I had ever seen him. “When I tell you to run, you fucking run. Understand me?”“I understand.” I nodded my head at him and my heart melted as he gave me a quick kiss on the forehead before unsheathing his silver sword and headed straight for Vesper who was waiting for him with a dark, amused smile on his face. “I still don’t get why you’re doing all these for that slut.” I heard Vesper yell to Stefan over the noise of the battle clash and howls as he prod