[Ayla's POV]'You're stronger than this. Keep fighting!'Aera's desperate voice echoes in my head as images of us begin to cloud my mind. Most are of me, but they aren't the me that I see when I look into a mirror. Instead, it's this beautiful, confident woman who almost glows with power.Her eyes sparkle brightly with determination, and her whole demeanor exudes strength and determination. She's beautiful, and she glows with so much light that it's damn near blinding. Was this how Aera saw me?'This is the real you,' Aera continues while the images continue to appear. 'You aren't the monster Barren is trying to make you out to be.'Monster… That word is so loud, and it makes my heart squeeze painfully as all the voices from the past begin to echo it again and again.No, I wasn't a monster. I was far from that, and I fought each and every day to make sure that I didn't end up like everyone claimed I would.'So you finally realize?'The voice is gentle, but it resonates within me so de
[Ayla's POV]All eyes come to rest on me as I work to try to control myself, but something about this scene seems so normal after all the days of stress, fear, and worry that I wouldn't have the chance to witness something like this again."Ayla, are you alright?" Aera asks, giving me a look of concern."Of course she is, idiot," Marah snaps, bouncing toward us. "Everyone is safe and secure in there.""I'm fine," I manage between giggles. "I'm just…."I don't get the chance to finish my sentence before the ground begins to shake and then buck, sending everyone crashing to the side while roots erupt and begin to form a dome around me and Barren."Shit," I hiss, turning my gaze toward Barren to find that he is sitting up and smiling. "You!""Did you really think I would be that easy to defeat?"As he speaks, I can hear the yells of my friends and family from the other side of the dome as they desperately try to get to us, but I fear they won't be able to get through in time."You should
[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
[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."
[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
[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
[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]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
[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