Zaine’s POVWalking through the lavishly decorated grand hall did nothing to lift any of our moods. Usually the annual coalition dinner and dance would be the perfect thing to take our minds off the shit that seems to happen every other day around here. As a pack, we don’t usually need much of an excuse for a party. Drinking, feasting, playing foolish games and running through the pack lands until the sun rises, those are the things that lighten the burdens we all carry, even if only for the night.The guards need that time most of all, and until tonight they had been high on the anticipation and promise of the visiting packs and the females they would bring with them. It’s not uncommon for mates to find one another when so many packs come together. And even if mates are not found, company for the night usually is.Not shitting on ones own doorstep is common sense, and I have to say that I haven’t had to deal with mate and mistress dramas since letting go of the reins a little when vi
Sophia’s POVScalding drops of water hit my bare skin, but I am numb. I cannot trust the voice inside my head. The wolf I waited for so long is not a wolf at all, and worse than that, the person living inside me is hiding something she doesn’t want Zaine or Tryon to know about.“What are you thinking about little moineau?” Zaine lifts my chin with his finger until I’m staring up into his sapphire blue eyes. The rough pad of his thumb grazes my cheek as he swipes away the tears that have been silently falling and washed away by the water pouring down on top of me.“When did life become such a mess? I don’t know what she wants, but I can’t get rid of the feeling that no matter what happens, someone is going to end up getting hurt.” The nauseous feeling I’ve been fighting threatens to take over and a cold that won’t leave my body spreads down my arms.Zaine has become the one person who keeps me from drowning in the tidal wave that keeps trying to pull me under. His arms wrapped around m
Zaine’s POVI could have told her she had nothing to apologise for, but she never would have accepted that. Despite her blocking our emotional tether I know her well enough to know that she is doubting everything, and I cannot stand by whilst she doubts us. I know I had a moment of weakness earlier. I should never have allowed such a ridiculous thought to enter my mind.“We have a long day tomorrow and an even longer evening. Let’s make the most of tonight.” The wet head of my cock slides easily between her folds and into the heat he has been craving. Our bodies move as one, her hips coming up to meet each of my thrusts. Her arms snake around mine, pulling me closer, her fingers sink into my flesh as I bury deeper and deeper inside her.Our noses barely touch and our long shallow breaths mix in the vacant space between us. The feint moonlight from the window shines through a gap in the curtains and highlights her glistening eyes. She is the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. She
Torrin’s POV Joseph’s hurried conversation with Zaine was heard by every guard in the pack, and within minuets there was the unmistakable rumble of a couple of hundred paws thumping on the ground as every man ran for the southern border, instinct driving them to protect their Alpha and the pack.Luca and George’s insistence that they can handle shit went ignored as soon as Joseph said Blue Blade would only speak to Zaine, and I knew there was no way Sophia would turn down this opportunity to end the monster who killed her parents. She reluctantly agreed to wait until after the feast, but when an opportunity presents itself...My first instinct has always been to find and protect Sophia at the first sign of trouble. She used to seem so vulnerable, even with Aggie’s watchful eye on her and a wing full of omegas surrounding her. Now I’m torn between protecting my queen, my mate, or going after the blue prick myself and finally feeling that satisfaction of shredding the beast who has tau
Zaine’s POV I have walked, run and been dragged into battle more times than I can possibly count. Usually it is just another fuck wit who has gotten too big for their boots, or a new Alpha looking to make a name for himself by challenging me or encroaching on my land. It never ends well for them, and contrary to popular belief, I do not enjoy taking the lives of the morons lacking in basic survival instinct.My own survival instinct is on high alert right now and Tryon hasn’t stopped talking about the herb and the dagger since we started chasing Alcmene. Sophia gave the ancient body snatcher control, and Alcmene erupted out of her, leapt straight through the bedroom window and has been running towards the southern border for the last few minutes. Yet again we are running into danger and what’s worse is that Sophia seems to be revelling in it. I get it. That rush of battle and the feeling of victory can be the most intense high, but there are also the lows of losing your men and the
George’s POVHattie seems to think blue balls is hilarious. Not the fucker our new queen is hell bent on ripping to bits, actual blue balls, my balls to be precise.Since the day I pulled her up off the floor in the dining hall, my life has been plagued by her. Before feeling her soft, warm body in my arms, I could ignore the electric buzz that drew me to her. Now I am living a life of constant frustration. Not only does she refuse to let me slate my sexual hunger, she is going out of her way to make me pay for my dumb fuckery in the past.Luca has been insufferable in his, “You reap what you sew,” and, “I told you this wouldn’t end well,” remarks. He is right, but I’ll be damned if I’m going to admit it. I’ll just put up and shut up for another twenty or so hours, then when she gets her wolf, the fight will be overtaken by her instinct. At least that is what I have been telling myself to get through each day.Of course, that was before finding out my wolf isn’t actually my wolf. So n
Sophia’s POV Zaine turned back halfway to the border. I felt the shift of energy in the pack bond but didn’t think much of it. I was more concerned with Alcmene and her short temper. Every footfall as she hurtles towards the southern forest she repeats something under her breath which I can’t quite make out.It isn’t until I see the backs of my guard on the ridge before the trees, that Zaine’s anxiety hits me in the chest. Whatever he turned back for has got to be worse than Blue Blade, or he would never have left me alone.“You aren’t alone. These men are all here for you, for us. Zaine and Tryon can take care of the pretender without us.” Alcmene’s voice leaks into my mind between thoughts of what Zaine could be facing.“The pretender?” I ask, but she gives me no answer. Her eyes are trained on one man who is stood amongst a dozen rogues. That must be him. Blue Blade. “Where is your Alpha, bitch?” the grotesque figure spits out the words like they are poison.In a sarcastic displ
Sophia’s POV It’s like a waking nightmare. Just as I get used to the new way of things, something else comes along and turns everything on its head. Discovering my lineage pales in comparison to Aggie’s bombshell and the real identity of the life I harbour inside me, and now… this.. What possible reason could a human man have for wanting my mother, father and me, dead? His world and ours rarely mix and from what I have been told, exposure of our kind is dealt with swiftly and without mercy. We keep our existence hidden for our own safety and theirs. “What is your name? I cannot continue to call you Blue Blade, that is your weapon, not you.” I ask the withering man who walks silently by my side as the group heads towards one of the cabins on the border of our territory. I can see by the looks on my men’s faces that they think I have taken complete leave of my senses, but I am not crazy enough to take this man back to the pack house. As much as Zaine may have changed of late, he is
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