[Alphonze's POV]I keep my gaze fixed on the door of my room until Aera appears with a look of relief plastered on his face.Immediately, my heart constricts painfully as I'm reminded of how much of a burden I truly am, not only to him but to everyone around me."How are you feeling?" He asks, making his way toward me. "Does anything hurt? Should I have Hanson come back?"'Calm down,' I sigh through mindlink. 'I'm fine.'"Are you sure?" He counters, not seeming convinced. "You don't have to pretend to try to be strong. If it hurts, say it."'You're one to talk,' I chuckle. 'Maybe you should take your own advice.'"This isn't about me," Aera snaps, going on defense as he always did when anyone broached the topic of feelings. "I'm not the one who almost..."'I didn't,' I argue. 'It was just a bit of fluid on the lungs, nothing major.'At my words, Aera's face falls, and his eyes shoot toward the door. I'm sure he is silently cursing Ayla, even though she wasn't the one responsible for m
[Ayla’s POV]I lay in bed staring at my roof while trying to get Alphonze’s current condition out of my head. Even though he looked rough regularly, to see him so vulnerable was just a bit too much. In a way, he looked as though he was on his last leg, but despite that, he tried to pretend that everything was alright.Flipping over, I pull my pillow to myself while inwardly debating whether or not I should break my biggest rule since learning about what my blood could do.Back then, it was purely by accident that I found out what it could do.If I hadn’t convinced Isabella to go out with me that day, it never would have happened. I knew that it was dangerous to roam outside of the pack grounds given mine and her identities, but I did it anyway.The minute we were past safety, we were attacked, and Isabella was severely injured. In my desperation, I clung to her, crying, and at some point, the blood from a wound on my head got into her mouth.When Uncle Silas and Aunt Lennox found us,
[Aera’s POV]I must be imagining things. This had to be an illusion from the alcohol, especially since the last time I approached Ayla, she turned me down immediately. But the body that is beneath me feels so real and warm."Is this an illusion?" I murmur."No, this is real," Ayla responds.Frowning, I lift onto my elbows and stare down into her flushed face, taking in the sparkling forest green eyes that watch me.Positioning my weight on one arm, I lift my other hand and slap myself in the face, causing Ayla’s eyes to grow wide with shock."What are you doing?" she gasps. "Why did…""This isn’t my imagination," I hiss, sobering up instantly and sitting up. "Dammit!"Immediately, guilt begins to slam into me as Alphonze’s face flashes in my mind.What the fuck was I doing? He had said that he was interested in Ayla, but here I was attacking her, and what was worse, she was responding to me."Aera?" she repeats, sitting up and attempting to touch me. "Are you al…""DON’T FUCKING TOUCH
[Ayla's POV]Pain shoots through my head as the world around me slowly begins to take shape.Wincing, I attempt to lift a hand to touch the spot that is stinging so badly, only to find that I'm unable to move.Eyes flying open, I begin to look around, taking in the small cell that I'm currently in and the chains that hold my hands and feet in place.Frowning, I try to recall exactly how I got here.I remembered lying on Aera's living room floor with him, all but begging him to take me, and then his anger as he threw me out of Caelum Estate.After that, I stood outside for a while waiting to see if he would change his mind, and when he didn't, I began the long trek from Caelum to Crimson Tides.By the time I reached the border of Crimson Tides territory, the sun was already up.Then… Corinna appeared, and when I approached her, the bitch jabbed me, and then I was surrounded by a bunch of men.Before the world faded, I remembered calling out to Uncle Silas, but after that, everything wa
[Ayla's POV]I cut off the connection with Aera while fighting against my chains. Within me, I can feel the darkness begging to be released, but I ignore it while trying to calm myself so I can think rationally. If it were to take control, then my chances of escape would greatly diminish. I couldn't let it win—not now, not ever.Above and around me, the cracks are growing bigger, allowing more water to fill my cell. As it rises inch by inch, my need to survive kicks up, and with it, the thought of maybe allowing the darkness to take over hits. It's becoming near impossible to keep it at bay, and at this point, what did I have to lose? If I was near death, what was to stop it from taking over anyway?Immediately, I feel a jolt within me as it attempts to make my desire a reality, but I quickly squash it down.No, I couldn't give in until it was absolutely necessary. If there was still a will, there was a way.Feeling my need to live kick in, I strengthen my attempts to break the chains
[Aera's POV]I begin to move, making my way to the shore while trying to make sense of what I'm witnessing.Shifting back to my human form, I move forward until I'm standing beside Silas so that I'm able to fully take Ayla in."What's wrong with her?" I ask, fixing my gaze on her crazed one. "Why is she like this?""The Lancaster curse," Chandler replies for his father.The Lancaster curse—wasn't that what Silas mentioned earlier when he came to Caelum to attack me for what happened to Ayla?"And what exactly is that?""You can see it for yourself," Silas snaps.I could, but I still couldn't quite understand it.How was it possible that someone could become that feral?As I watch Ayla lash out, digging her canines deep into Silas’ forearm."Shit," he hisses, continuing to hang despite the pain I was sure he was going through. "We need to get her to Brian," he says, turning his attention to Chandler."Isn’t this past what Brian can help?" Chandler asks quietly. "She’s never been...""W
[Ayla's POV]I stare into Aera's dark gaze, trying to make sense of what is happening.I remembered being in that cell and desperately trying to escape, and then the darkness taking over, and then the prison's roof crumbling, then... I was floating in darkness until a tiny light began to form. Something about that light was so damn comforting that I did everything I could to reach it, and then… Aera's face appeared.Frowning, I lift a hand and touch his cheek, trying to determine if he was real."They must be mates."Chandler's exclamation slams into me like a ton of bricks, causing me to jerk my hand back and fix my disbelieving gaze on Aera's.Mates… How the hell could that be possible? Aera and I went together about as well as two negative ions. We didn't work, and anyway, there was no way we could be mates since neither of us felt it that night.Brushing off Chandler's words, I untangle myself from Aera's hold. He was here too? Then did that mean Uncle Silas was also here?Right n
[Aera’s POV]I stare up at the large mansion in front of me while wondering exactly how I was supposed to do this without making enemies with the elementalis pack. There was no way they were going to just let me take Corinna that easily, but I made a promise to Silas.Sucking in a breath, I square my shoulders and march up, then knock on the door.After a beat, it opens, and I find myself staring up at a large man with multiple piercings on his face and long, shaggy purple hair that surrounds his chiseled face."Hello?" he says, snapping me out of my confusion. "May I help you?""Aera!"Before I can respond, Corinna pops out from behind the man, and a smile spreads across her face."What are you doing here at this hour?" she asks, wrapping her arms around me. "Did you miss me?"The minute she touches me, I feel a repulsion that I’ve never felt toward her."No," I hiss, untangling myself from her hold. "That isn’t why I’m here."As I speak, I snap my gaze at the man who opened the door
[Aera’s POV]9 months Late"Mmm, Aera, right there."Ayla’s voice echoes around me, spurring my movements even more. Knowing she was enjoying what I was doing to her was all the encouragement I needed."Ah!" she gasps, leaning more into the chair in front of her. "Not so hard."Chuckling, I lean forward and nip at her ear, earning myself a small whimper and a shiver of delight."Sorry, you’re just really tense," I chuckle, lightening my massage.Since the triplets were due any day now, the doctor suggested that I help Ayla relax however I could, and since she requested a massage, I was more than willing to oblige. This was the least that I could do, given what she was about to go through. I knew childbirth was hard with just one child, but I couldn’t even imagine what it would be like with three."Why’d you stop?"Cursing, I look down to find Ayla’s big green eyes staring up at me, but I barely register them as I take in her huge belly.Smiling, I let my hands slide down her shoulders
[Celia’s POV] I stare up into Alphonze’s dark, unreadable eyes while trying to figure out exactly what I was feeling. Was I just caught by surprise because he suddenly appeared, and that was why I suddenly felt jittery and my heart was racing? Right, that had to be it; there couldn’t be anything else. I was already horrible at social events due to being afraid of the judgmental eyes of others, especially when they compared me to my perfect twin sister. So to suddenly be alone with a man twice my age and handsome as hell, of course, I would feel weird. "S-sorry," I stammer, deciding that the only correct way to handle this was to run as quickly as I could. "I should…" "Wait," Alphonze hisses, holding up an arm as I attempt to sneak past him. "Just… wait a second." Frowning, I try to remain calm and not shove his arm away. As the heir of an alpha, I was strong, and my strength would easily be on par with Alphonze's, especially since he just regained his strength and power thanks to
[Alphonze’s POV]I stand to the side, watching as everyone present for the evening enjoys themselves, laughing, dancing, and being merry. It had been a while since I had attended something like this, so it was taking a bit to get used to it again.The last time I came to a full moon ball was when I found Gloria. It was the day my whole life changed for the better and then for the worst.Immediately, memories of that day began to come crashing into me, from the falling of autumn leaves to the sounds of crickets that chirped around us. I was only twenty-one then and forced to attend the ball, so I found somewhere to hide to avoid being bothered until it was time to leave.Back then, I hated social events and only wanted to focus on my alpha duties, as I had just taken over for my father.After having my heart ripped out of my chest by Hana, I didn’t want a damn thing to do with things like love and mates. That was another reason I didn’t want to be at this damned ball: I risked finding
[Aera's POV]Soft music drifts toward me as I stand to the side of the large ballroom, waiting for my date to arrive.Despite all the chaos that had been happening in our world, Silas and Alphonze insisted that we have a small, intimate gathering for the full moon as a way to relax and unwind after all the headache of cleaning up Barren's mess.That's why I was forced into an uncomfortable black tux with a purple vest beneath it and a white button-up beneath that and made to wait while Ayla was dolled up by Isabella and Celia."You look like someone killed your puppy," Alphonze chuckles, coming over to join me. "Try to loosen up, will ya?"As he speaks, I take him in while still thinking that this is some type of alternate universe.Never in my wildest imagination did I ever think that my brother would be returned to the man he was before his accident, but here he was, standing in front of me, dressed in a white button-down with the sleeves pulled up so his strong, lean muscles could
[Ayla's POV]The next day, I sit in the passenger seat of Aera's car, staring at Crimsone Tides Estate while fighting the urge to run away. When I entered that building, I'd be making the toughest decision of my life, and I wasn't exactly sure if I was ready.Beside me, Aera remains silent while holding my hand, so that soothing warmth radiates through me, but it doesn't do a thing to calm my nerves."We can go back," he offers, breaking the silence that has settled around us. "You don't have to do this so soon; you can...""No," I sigh, giving him a small smile. "This needs to be done. You didn't see him there. He's suffering, and despite making some ridiculous choices due to being tricked by my mother, he doesn't deserve to live like that."After much deliberation, I decided to grant my father's wish and put him out of his misery.To live your life trapped by the curse was no way to live, and as his daughter, I had an obligation to grant his request."Come on," I continue, gently pu
[Aera's POV]I watch as Ayla turns around so that her ass is almost in my face while she begins to undo my pants and free my dick.From my point of view, I can see everything from her perfectly shaved pussy to her glistening lips and her throbbing clit, which is just begging for me to please it.However, with my hands cuffed above my fucking head, I couldn't do anything but continue to stare while she slowly took me between her lips so she could begin attacking my tip with her tongue."Fuck," I hiss, lifting my hips so she would swallow more of me. "That feels so fucking good."Giggling, she continues her attack while beginning to slide her body across mine until her thighs rest on either side of my face.'Eat me,' she growls through mindlink while wrapping a hand around my shaft and the other around my balls so she could drive me even crazier.Not needing to be told twice, I dip my tongue between her folds and begin to glide it up and down her clit while using my teeth to nip at her
[Aera’s POV]I remain in place, staring down at Ayla, who is fast asleep, as her face twists into a look of pain. I can’t help but wonder what exactly it is that she is going through there in the dream plain, where I can’t protect her. Did she find her father, and the result wasn’t what she expected? I wouldn’t know until she awoke and told me.Feeling utterly useless, I turn my gaze to Vince and begin to take him in. When Ayla introduced us, I pretended to not know him, but I remembered the great alpha he once was. To see him like this was painful, but it was proof that even the mightiest could fall, and when they did, they fell hard."I’m sorry," I murmur, feeling somewhat responsible for his condition.Maybe if all of us realized the corruption that was going on back then, this wouldn’t have happened, but we were all blinded, and in the end, we only realized when things were too late."Mmm."I snap my gaze away from Vince to find Ayla beginning to stir.Her bright green eyes slowly
[Ayla's POV]I stand in front of Crimson Tides Estate while my stomach churns and my heart races. Even though this place had always been my home, I wasn't back here for something pleasant.After mine and Celia's discussion, I made the choice to come home and see the man that haunted my dreams and try to see if I could help him.Of course, I had to wait a few days so that Brian and Gwen could be sure that everything was alright, and when I was released, Aera came to fetch me after I explained to him what I wanted to do."Ready?" He asks now, after a moment too long of standing in place. "Or have you changed your mind?""I haven't," I respond, snapping my gaze to the window of my father's room. "This is something that needs to be done.""And what if he is a hopeless cause?" Aera continues to push. "What do you plan to do then?""I'll figure that out when the time comes," I sigh, beginning to move."Welcome back," Aunt Lennox beams when we enter the estate. "I'm so happy you're alright."
[Ayla’s POV]I sit alone in a bed, staring at the door in front of me, while the soft beeping of machines fills the silence around me. One had multiple little beeps as it was monitoring the baby's heartbeats, while the slow and steady one was my own.After dealing with the elders, I was rushed into the temple and taken to their medical wing so that Brian and Gwen could do a thorough examination on me and the babies to make sure that everything was fine after the ordeal I went through.Despite my protests, in the end I lost out and found myself bedbound.Sighing, I lean back and close my eyes, thinking maybe I could try to get some sleep, only to find that the noise makes it damn near impossible.Huffing, I snapped them open and turned my attention toward the small monitor that showed the babies heartbeats. I found myself taking comfort in the fact that their hearts beat strongly, as they should.It was the only reassurance I had right now, given the fact that Gwen had to go back to Cr