Torrin’s POVThree hours. They have been gone for three hours.I’m meant to be sleeping right now after spending the night standing guard at her door. How can I sleep when I have no idea what they are doing and the pack house is bustling with activity? Zaine has taken her off to his cabin in the woods, the mate bond driving him to act completely out of character if Luca’s crazy arse is to be believed.You only need to watch one horror movie to know that nothing good comes of going to a cabin in the woods with someone slowly taking leave of their senses.Maybe that is a bit dramatic but with all the madness going on with the omegas, it feels like anything is possible here right now. By the way Luca told the story of the notorious Alpha Zaine rolling around on Sophia’s bed, through fits of giggles and doubled over laughter, it sounds like our Alpha has cracked.He wouldn’t hurt her or force her to accept him, would he? Not after spending so long searching. Maybe that is what will tip hi
Torrin’s POV “Hush girls, don’t make a nuisance of yourselves before we even get to our rooms.” Mrs Crook loudly whispers a scolding. Things are certainly going to liven up around here now. I’m not sure that Zaine knew what he was doing when he gave the order for Hattie and Becks to be assigned rooms up here. Sophia will enjoy having her friends so near, and it will definitely help having Mrs Crook so close by although the risk of discovery greatly increases. I couldn’t honestly say what I think Zaine’s reaction would be if he found out about her gifts. He would probably shrug it off as superstition and old wives tales. I have never really given it much thought myself. Aggie and I were thrust into the same arena when Sophia was born, and I took it all in my stride back then. The king and queen trusted their nanny, and I trusted them. I was younger then. Not that I am old now. There is still some life left in this old dog yet. I have known her too long now to start asking questions,
Zaine’s POVSophia jumps out of the car and disappears into the crowd the second we pull up at the pack house. I have to park on the grass halfway up the drive due to the six or seven vans out front. I don’t know how he does it, but Luca really has a knack for making the impossible, possible. It’s like a circus out here and he is the ringleader, he revels in the chaos and watching him work as he directs people to where they are needed is a show in itself. He might gripe but he is in his element when under pressure.When I told him I want the omega wing closed down and everybody resituated before tonight he pissed and moaned, telling me it would be impossible and for a minute I thought maybe he was right and the timescale I demanded was unreasonable. He has done it though, by the looks of beds, drawers and wardrobes being humped into the pack house.Sophia had said she wanted to rest, but I’m fairly certain she wants to find her friends and make sure they are okay. I tried to reassure
George’s POVWell… the shit has well and truly hit the fan this time.If Zaine finds out his mate was nearly killed because I was busy watching over Hattie and her little friend rather than doing my job, it will be my head on the chopping block along with my nuts.She doesn’t even notice how many heads she turns when she walks around in that little dress and apron with her hair in pigtails. Pigtails. Who the hell knew pigtails could look sexy? I can’t be dealing with this drama for the rest of my life. Warning men off her innocent little arse without giving away what she is has become a full-time occupation. They are like flies around shit, and she hasn’t the foggiest what they are after or that they want it from her.I thought I would have time. When I began my campaign to make her hate men I never gave much thought to what I would do when the time came that she realises who I am to her, or rather, her wolf does. Yeah, I know, I never said it wasn’t messed up from the very beginning.
Sophia’s POV“It’s alright baby. You’re okay. Don’t try to move, I’ll get you a drink, one second.” Zaine’s voice is calm and soothing, but I can sense his worry throbbing along our tenuous bond. My body feels tight, like the skin all across my chest and back is one size too small and it itches so much I think even razor blades wouldn’t scratch it. The bed moves as Zaine stands and walks across the room.“Mrs Crook?” I peel my tongue off the roof of my mouth and ask for the one person who has always helped ease my pain.“She will be here in a moment sweetheart. Here you go, take a sip of this.” a cold metal straw rests on my lip and a take a few welcome sips of the ice-cold water.“What happened?” I slowly open my eyes and squint against the blinding light in the ceiling. He must notice my discomfort because he jumps up and hits the switch on the wall, now the only light in the room comes from the moon and it filters in through the long black net panels at the windows.“We don’t know.
Zaine’s POVThe consequences of my actions are right in front of my face and it takes every ounce of resolve not to react.The first time Mrs Crook booted me out of my own room to do Sophia’s treatment, she didn’t mince her words about how Sophia felt about her scars. She wasn’t disrespectful about it, but she said what needed saying and left it at that. Needless to say, I left the room every time she visited from then on. It was the only time I have left her side for the last four days.Luca is probably just about ready to kill me since I have left him to almost single handedly take care of the pack and all that goes along with it. He is more than capable under usual circumstances, but with everything going on with all the changes, now is not the best time for me to disappear. George has been working tirelessly to try to make up for his fuck up. There is something else going on with my temperamental beta, he will disappear for hours on end and his mood has been up and down like a who
Sophia’s POVI nod when he asks if I like what he’s doing. I don’t trust my voice to answer and even if I thought anything more than a squeak would come out, there is no air in my lungs anyway.“Use your words little moineau.” His voice is low, and quiet and it vibrates right through me, igniting every nerve on its path.“Yes.” I gasp as he squeezes and rolls my nipples between his finger and thumb. It is almost painful but not quite and he loosens his grip as soon as I answer.“Good girl. You don’t need to be shy with me sweetheart. You were made for me, and I for you. Your nipples are my nipples.” He squeezes again, making his point. “Your pussy is my pussy.” He whispers into my ear and kisses my cheek. “Your lips, are my lips.” He trails kisses along my jaw between each of his words until his lips find mine.His kiss is feather light, his lips only just brush mine and his tongue darts along my bottom lip before retreating. I strain to lift my head, to feel him closer, deeper, but h
Zaine’s POVHer inexperience is as evident as it is alluring. The look of horror on her face, as I lean down to finally get my first taste of her, is a picture of innocence ruined.The feel of her warmth on my lips and tongue and the way her juices glaze my chin, is a reward from the heavens that I’m not sure I deserve. I drink from her like a parched man under the midday desert sun and my scalp burns as she grips my hair in both hands. She tries to pull me away as she thrusts against my face, her poor little body has no idea how to handle these new sensations.I could take it easy on her. Actually, what I mean is, I should take it easy on her, but the second I sucked her essence from my finger, I knew her pussy was going to be the only thing I want to dine on for the foreseeable future.“Zaine.” She mewls as she lets go of my hair and grabs fists full of the bedsheet under her. The hedonist in me wants to hear her screaming my name and to know that she has forgotten about what put he
Sophia’s POV It would be impossible and maybe even foolish to try to please everyone. I doubt there is a single person here who isn’t owed a pound of flesh by the monster. Ari constantly reminds me that as the Queen, there will be times that I cannot please everyone and that my duty is to do what’s best, not what’s easiest or sits well with my own ideals.Of course I want blue moon to heal, and part of that healing process is giving the wolves the justice they seek. After this we can move forward. It’ll take time, and the two packs merging is likely to keep everything up in the air for a while, then there is the matter of what to do about the humans and other people Acheron has been holding in his dungeon.Torrin means well and he has a point. “Honestly, the thought had already occurred to me that this plan could be a perfect opportunity for someone to kill me. The thing is, I know there will always be people who want me gone, it’s the story of my life, but I cannot hide if I want
Torrin’s POV Well strike me down where I stand. The old codgers family lives. Seeing the pure delight on Sophia’s face was indescribable. Everyone around us saw it too. They saw the true heart of their queen. There will have been doubters amongst them, no matter how encouraging Wayne’s reports to Sophia have been. The reports I received were less... censored. I told him not to make the queen aware of the men who threatened her life before fleeing Blue Moon altogether. I have no doubt in my mind that the traitors will regroup and return, intent on continuing the usurpers reign of terror. There was even talk of some of the men challenging her for the throne. As ludicrous as that would have been, I have no doubt that many people here have lost their wits from living under Acheron’s rule for so long. I know that Sophia would grin and bear it, if she knew about the threats, but she already has the weight of the world on her shoulders. We will cross that bridge when we come to it.
Cronin’s POV My chest might explode. The instant my eyes settle upon her face, I’m sure my heart stopped beating. I can’t breathe, the air is too thin to sustain me.The world around me grows muffled and I’m barely aware of Torrin and Luca stood either side of me. My guts bubble with disbelief and I fear I may throw up right where I stand making even more of a spectacle of myself.All this time I stayed away, unable to face the pain of returning to an empty home. Years of my life I have wasted and all this time it was a lie. They are alive. Adriana and Beth are alive. Jackson swore blind that he had seen their bodies swinging from the gate when he and some of the others came back one night to attempt a rescue. If I had set foot back on this land the king would have known and killed them for sure. So, I entrusted their rescue to the only person I could.He didn’t spare me any details upon his fruitless return, even down to the description of the moonstone necklace I gave Beth whe
Sophia’s POV Is this what my life has been leading me towards? The murder of my parents? The pain, the hunger, the hopelessness of my late childhood? Part of me knows everything happens for a reason, the other part is angry that so much was lost to get to this point.There was pain in the eyes of the people who attacked our convoy on the outskirts of the city. Well, pain and distrust. Wayne has been keeping me apprised of everything happening in the city centre, but he never once mentioned the unrest near the border. Maybe he doesn’t know. I imagine he has had his hands full, but it doesn’t seem like him, to have overlooked those who have obviously suffered the most.I will be sure to send some of our people back to the run down, outlying community, to bring food and resources whilst we do what we can to undo the damage done by Acheron and his men. As our car rolls through the castle gates and into a massive courtyard, I get my first glimpse of where I was born. Of course I have
Zaine’s POV It wasn’t even a decision really. I have known for some time that my pack and I would end up in Blue Moon. I hadn’t dared to hope we would be here, and at such an advantage, so soon. We have been planning for a hostile takeover, stocking supplies, preparing for the worst whilst praying for the best.Thank heavens none of the visiting Alphas or their people were harmed, and they took their leave with very few questions. Sophia really showed herself as the Queen she is, by reassuring everyone that their questions would soon be answered, but for now they should return to their pack and assure their people that all is well. She was obviously disappointed that the celebrations had to be cancelled and that she wouldn’t be able to meet and get the measure of our guests. I’ll surprise her with the ball to end all balls once we have sorted everything here. It looks like we will have a lot to do, and the reception we got from the outlying town doesn’t inspire much hope.“What are
Aggie’s POV My body is being jostled about and my old bones can’t take much more. I don’t remember how I got here, or even where here is. I think I’m in a car. The light keeps changing on the other side of my closed eyes, flickering between light and dark like a strobe. “How long do you think it will be until she wakes?” I hear Torrin’s voice beside me.“How the fuck should I know?” Abe snaps back. “Will you two pack it in, we have a long drive, leave her to rest.” Soph sounds just like her mother, oh how I miss her. I can only imagine how Abe must be feeling. When I told him that my body would grow weaker the longer all those souls were crammed inside me, he only hesitated for a minute or so before sticking his blade in my side and releasing the building pressure.I’m glad. I underestimated how much of a strain they would put on me. If he had waited, even a few hours, I doubt I would have had the strength to heal. I know, it sounds dramatic, but I really nearly died. That is not
Sophia’s POV I am so unbelievably ready for this to all be over.When I woke up and felt the change inside of me, I knew there was only one way this shit show would end. Alcmene was strong, there is no doubt in that , but my new wolf, my true wolf, is different. She is strong but not in the maniacal way her predecessor was. My true wolf, Lia, is ready to burn it all to the ground and begin again. I think I see her point. There is so much poison, fear and hatred festering amongst our people. I just can’t allow the innocent to suffer along with the guilty. Some people do terrible things to survive, does that make them terrible people? I don’t know.“Blue Moon must be cleansed Sophia. It is the root of the evil.” Lia pleads with me to see her reasoning.“Blue Moon is my birth pack and where this all started. My parents were not evil, their kingdom is not evil. Acheron is the root, not the innocents who lived under him waiting for the axe to fall. I will not punish them Lia.” I hate tha
Acheron’s POVThe musty stench of dirt and mold is familiar to me. It stinks of decay and death, just like my own dungeons. I can’t sense my beast. What did he do to me?“What have you done? I am your king, you will die for this.” I scream as anger floods me. The thick iron bars between me and the arsehole betas is all that stands between me and vengeance. They took my wolf. How the fuck did they take my wolf?What is Cronin doing here? That fool was killed by my pet rogues years ago.“You are no king of mine. Our queen will decide your fate after the party, and I... can’t... wait, to carry out your sentence myself.” George comes close to the bars and snarls his threat in my face. He has no idea what I am capable of. My men will follow their orders, I have no doubt of that. If taking Zaine and his little bitch down is the last thing I ever do, it will be worth it.“Your Queen,” I snort, almost chocking on laughter. “Your Queen is weak, just like her father. Weakness has no place on t
George’s POV“Where is Alpha Zaine?” A purple vein pulses right next to Acheron’s temple as he demands to know Zaine’s whereabouts yet again. If I didn’t tell him the first six times he asked, I have no idea what makes him think the seventh time would be the charm.I do know that whatever Aggie is going to do, is not something Acheron should know anything about. I sent Frankie to keep my pain in the arse and her meddling sidekick in their rooms and out of harms way. Maybe they will give him a little taste of what I’ve been putting up with. More than one man here has found it amusing, watching me pull my hair out over the little Imp and her antics. To be honest I was close to throttling her myself more than once, but now that there is real and present danger on our land and in our home, my mind is on her more than I ever thought it would be.Acheron’s rancid breath warms my face and his canines elongate in front of my eyes. Luca looks as if he wants to pull the crazy off me, but a subt