[Ayla’s POV]When we arrive at the academy for my training, I scurry out of the car and quickly go around to Alphonze’s side and pull open the door while Aera heads around back to pull out his wheelchair. Once he has it set up, I begin to reach in to help Alphonze but stop as Aera’s hand clamps on my shoulder."What?" I ask, trying to ignore the delicious energy I feel from where Aera touches me. "Do you need something?""I’ll help him," Aera responds easily. "You’ve done enough."Frowning, I simply nod and take a step back to watch as Aera easily lifts Alphonze out of the car and sits him in his seat. After he is settled in, I prepare to grab his chair and roll him to the training field, but am beat by Aera."I told you I’d help him," Aera repeats, shooting me a look. "Shouldn’t you go ahead and get ready for training?"Instantly, a smile begins to spread across my face as I finally realize what has been bugging Aera since we left Caelum Estate.When we piled into the car and took of
[Aera’s POV]What was I doing? Why was I doing this? Why the hell was I going this far to disprove the truth about the relationship between Ayla and me?It was because anytime I touched her, something came over me, and all I wanted was to possess her and claim her. What the fuck was this? What in the actual hell was wrong with me?"Mmph."Hands touch my chest and push hard enough to snap me out of the fucking daze I find myself getting lost in.Pulling away, I stare down into Ayla’s dark eyes. I take in her flushed cheeks, and despite myself, I let my gaze dip down to take in her cleavage, which is rising and falling rapidly as she works to collect her breath."What the hell are you doing?" She hisses, her gaze narrowing. "Did you forget that we’ve got an audience?"Her words are like a bucket of ice-cold water that clears the last bit of the haze that I’m stuck in.Cursing, I take in all the students that are watching us, waiting for more of a show, but they won’t be getting it."As
[Ayla's POV]The sound of voices drifts to the second floor of Caelum Estate, where I currently stand with Alphonze. Against my better judgment, I peeked down to find Aera and that bimbo who was waiting for him making their way towards the stairs."Don't mind them," Alphonze murmurs, drawing my attention away. "As my caregiver, you should be focusing on only me.""But I'm not your caregiver," I point out, beginning to wheel him toward his room. "So I don't actually have that obligation.""What if I made you my caregiver?" He challenges. "I'm actually in the market for a new one. Mine has quit thanks to Aera's nagging."I was even noticing it more and more, but Aera truly did treat Alphonze as if he would break at any moment. Was what happened to Alphonze in the back truly that traumatizing?"You're thinking about him, aren't you?"Gasping, I snap my gaze to find Alphonze smiling at me knowingly. Shit, I fucked up, and I couldn't even deny his claim. Dammit!"I have to admit, neither o
[Ayla's POV]I stare straight ahead, trying to process what it is I'm seeing, but before I can fully wrap my head around it, I'm being yanked and then pulled along behind Barren.We burst out of the house we are currently in and out into what looks like space."What the hell?" I hiss, taking it all in.Up until this point, I had only been able to be in the space that others created. Never in all my years of dream walking had I stepped foot in the dream space itself, but here I was. Was this Barren's doing?As this thought hits me, another roar sounds way too close for comfort."I need to wake up," I hiss, realizing that once that happened, I would be safe. "Wake up, Ayla!""It won't work," Barren hisses."What do you mean it won't work?"Before he can answer me, pain shoots through my back as I'm yanked backward.Gasping, I find myself being lifted and then thrown."Ayla!"Barren's voice rings out around me as my body slams into the ground.Hissing in pain, I move to get up but am sto
[Aera’s POV]I wait as Ayla’s eyes flit from me to something on the bed behind her. Whatever it is, it’s clear she doesn’t want me to see it, and that just spurs me to want to know what it is even more.Not speaking, I move forward while Ayla goes on alert, jumping in my way and holding up her arms."What are you doing?" she demands as I peer over her shoulder and see something red on the plain white sheets. "Why are you even here? Shouldn’t you still be with your friend?""I was," I confirm, eyeing Ayla. "But I heard a scream, and as the master of this place, it is my job to check things out.""Now that you’ve checked and seen that things are fine, you can go," Ayla counters, not backing down."Are they?" I ask, turning my attention to Angelica since she was the one who screamed. "Don’t worry, you can say whatever you want; she won’t touch you."For a moment, Angelica remains silent as her eyes flit from me to Ayla and then back."It’s…""I STARTED MY PERIOD!" Ayla shrieks. "I ruined
[Ayla's POV] My core throbs as Aera's hot breath, strong body, and obvious erection attack all my senses. Fuck, this man was dangerous, and he was right; when he was near me, all I could think about was how damn good it felt to be touched, teased, and fucked by him. But I couldn't do this. WE couldn't do this. Not given how this thing between us, whatever it was, started. I was only approached because of a bet, and he only stuck around because he wanted to know my secrets. With those circumstances keeping us together, there was no way I could ever let him in because I would always be questioning his every action and word. "No," I say slowly, my determination slamming into place. "This can't happen." "It can," Aera counters, beginning to trace kisses along my jaw and then down my neck until his lips drift across my mark spot. "All you have to do is say..." "AERA!" The shrill cry rings out around us, completely obliterating the mood that Aera was trying so damn hard to put in pla
[Aera's POV]"Get out."Hanson's voice rings out around us, reminding me that Alphonze and I weren't the only ones here."If the two of you want to have a moment, take it outside," he continues. "I've got work to do, and I need to focus.""Then shall we step out?" Alphonze asks, releasing Ayla's hand and beginning to move. "Privacy would be good."For a moment, I examine Ayla, whose expression is blank, trying to determine how she felt about what Alphonze asked."Fine," I snap, feeling a twinge of disappointment that she doesn't seem the slightest bit curious about my response. "Let's step out."Neither of us speaks as Alphonze leads me to his room. It's only when we are inside that he turns and fixes his dark gaze on mine."Now that we are alone, will you answer my question?""I will, once you answer the same thing."I didn't know what he was up to, but there was no way that he had developed feelings for Ayla. I knew my brother well enough to know that he would never betray Gloria, e
[Ayla’s POV]"Let go." Aera’s voice is cold as he speaks, and his body tenses. "Now."I don’t have time to react before my shoulders are grabbed and I’m being yanked back so that our bodies are inches apart."Who said you could touch me?"Who… That was a damn good question. Even I was shocked by my own actions, but he looked so lost in the moment that I..."This may have worked on my brother, but it won’t on me," he continues, drawing a fine line between us. "And remember, if you touch me again without my permission, I won’t be so lenient."There it was—that wall that he kept in place when it came to me because of his grudge against my family and my parents.Fine, if he wanted to be like that, then I would oblige.But you can’t, a small voice in the back of my head says. You promised Alphonze.Frowning, I find myself wanting to pummel that damn voice for reminding me of my promise, but how in the hell was I supposed to keep it when Aera so clearly didn’t want me around?"I expect you
[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