Stefan’s POVThe waiting room was painfully silent except for the sound of Eve’s sobs, each one a small, jagged sound that shattered the stillness. I held her close to me, my arms wrapped around her. My heart broke seeing her this way and imagining the kind of pain that Jameson would be experiencing right now.I wished I could go in there and hug him too. To ease away all of his pains. But I couldn’t. I could feel Eve’s fears as she sobbed in my arms. I felt helpless, wishing I could do something to stop both of their pains. But there was nothing I could do except to stay beside her and be strong for her. “Eve.” I murmured, stroking her hair in what I hoped was a comforting way, even though I was not sure it was working. “Jameson might be a little boy but he is one hell of a strong kid. He is going to make it and the doctors are going to help him make sure of that.” Eve looked up at me, her eyes red-rimmed and desperate. She had been crying ceaselessly ever since we got here almos
Eve’s POVJameson recovered quicker than I thought he would and a few days later, we returned to the packhouse. Once we alighted from Stefan’s car, I noticed the group waiting outside. Luna, Jade and Apollo were in front of the group and as soon as Jameson’s feet touched the ground, his face broke into a grin and he scrambled, practically catapulting himself toward Jade.“Aunt Jade!”“Jameson!” She squealed and rushed forward. She wrapped him in a hug that was so tight, it almost looked like she might squeeze the breath right out of him.“How’re you feeling, sweetie?” She asked him and he raised his shoulder in a bit of boyish pride. “I feel better. See? I’m strong. Nothing can take me down.”Jade laughed and I smiled, shaking my head as I got out of the car. My gaze met with Luna Jessica’s and I saw how her eyes softened with relief. Jade’s arms loosened around Jameson, and she walked up to me, her eyes now turning teary and carrying guilt. “I’m so sorry, Eve.” She wrapped her ar
Eve’s POVThat night, I had the most peaceful night sleep with my arms wrapped tightly around Jameson who slept peacefully in my arms. His gentle breaths gave me a kind of peace I could never get elsewhere. The next morning, I was awakened by the golden morning light that filtered through the curtains. As my eyes fluttered open, I reached out to space beside me, expecting to find Jameson curled up in a little ball like he sometimes did, with Jade keeping watch nearby. But the room was quiet, too quiet, and Jameson was nowhere in sight. A twinge of panic shot through me and I immediately swung my legs out of bed. The silence felt unnaturally thick and I pulled on a robe over my silky night dress. My heart pounded a little faster. “Jameson.” I checked the bathroom but he was not there. “Jade?” I proceeded to check Jade’s en-suite bedroom but she wasn’t there either. All that greeted me was total silence and somehow, it scared the shit out of me.Not again. I slipped into the hallw
Eve’s POVThe mess of clothes in front of me was getting out of hand. I couldn’t believe I would ever be this nervous over clothes. Tops, dresses, and jackets were strewn across the bed, even spilling over the dresser. I picked up a black, elegant dress, one that I had worn exactly once, and held it up to my chest. It was silky, fitted, and… sophisticated. That should work, right? But as I examined it in the mirror, trying to picture myself in a crowd of concertgoers, I felt a familiar twinge of doubt creep in. Ugh. It was so difficult picking a proper outfit for this concert. And I couldn’t completely blame myself. I had never been to a concert before in my entire life. Then Jade’s voice suddenly cut through my thoughts. “You’ve got to be kidding me.” She was standing in the doorway with her arms crossed over her chest, looking at me like I had suggested going to the concert in a ball gown.I turned, letting the dress dangle from my hand. “What?”“Eve, that’s what you wear to
Eve’s POVThe question felt like a slap.“When were you planning on telling me that Jameson is my son?”I blinked and my heart hammered against my chest. The way he looked at me, I could see the excitement from earlier had been wiped away and was now replaced with what looked like a mixture of anger and betrayal. Fuck. I had screwed up, hadn’t I? I gulped and stammered. "Stefan, I… I can explain..."“Explain?” He scoffed, cutting me off before I could even finish my sentence. “You think there’s anything you could say that would justify keeping my own son from me?” He took a step forward, his face tight with a fury I had to see. “So, tell me. When were you planning to tell me, Eve? How long did you think you could hide something like this?”My mind was a hot mess now and words tangled in my throat as I reached out instinctively to touch him. “Please, Stefan, just let me…”He pulled his hand back sharply, stepping away from me as if my touch was a threat. “Don’t.” He warned me. And
Eve’s POVThis afternoon, Stefan had called an urgent meeting to his planning room and almost all of us were here. Me, Apollo, Lukas, Luna Jessica and Queen Morwenna. Apollo cleared his throat, pulling a slim black portfolio from the conference table that he was leaning over. “It’s Vesper.” He said, opening the folder. My heart caught at the mention of Vesper’s name.“Moonsong pack is suffering.”With a grim precision, he laid out several photographs in front of us. My hand shook as I reached for them. My heart broke at the images of my subjects being oppressed by Vesper. Some were being tortured mercilessly in the photos and others were either malnourished or unsheltered. The people in the photograph looked broken. My people looked broken. I bit down hard, my lips pressing into a thin line as continued to flip to the remaining photos. As I looked at each picture, my anger simmered, heating my veins. Each one showed a different face, another soul that had fallen under Vesper’s brutal
Eve’s POVIt was the next evening and I was in my room,fastening the last strap on my training vest when I heard a knock at the door. I half expected it to be one of the servants coming to remind me about my training session with Queen Morwenna. But instead of the servant, it was Stefan’s face that greeted me when I opened the door. He was standing there with a football tucked under his arm and a wide, almost mischievous grin on his face.“Good morning, babe.” His eyes twinkled as he held up the football. “I’m here to take my son to the football field for a friendly match.”The words took me by surprise, and for a second, I just stared at him, absorbing what he had said. Then, I burst into a laughter that I couldn’t hold back. “You want to tell him now?”He shrugged, casual but confident. “Why not? He’s going to be so thrilled.” I took a breath, still caught between nerves and laughter. “Well, I haven’t told Jameson yet that you’re his father.”“No worries, babe.” Stefan leaned an
Eve’s POVThe whole week, Queen Morwenna and I trained on my powers and strength and with every training, I got even better, finally able to control my powers. On the last day of our training, everyone was gathered at the training field to watch us and to probably gauge my strength to know if I was good enough for tomorrow or not. Stefan, Luna Jessica, Apollo, Lukas and Jade were all here and I could feel their eyes assessing me.Queen Morwenna started at me first, launching herself toward me with a speed that made my heart stutter. But I didn’t flinch or step back. Instead, I lifted my hands and summoned the wind, letting it flow from me like water breaking through a dam. The blue energy surged forward, meeting her head-on.She dodged gracefully, sidestepping my attack with a skill that made it look easy. But I wasn’t deterred. I called the wind back, whipping it around her, trying to find an opening. She was fast, countering my every move, and each time our powers collided, a shock
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