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
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.
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
Sophia’s POVToday is just another miserable day in my life as an orphan omega, overlooked and forgotten by almost everyone in the pack. Today should have been so different, it should have been a celebration with my family, but I am alone in the world. There will be no party, no congratulations and perhaps most sadly of all, no first run with the pack. To them I am a burden, my life is not something to be celebrated, my presence is merely endured.Today marks my eighteenth birthday, a sacred day in the life of every young werewolf. In the early hours of this morning, whilst the full, blue moon was still hanging in the sky above the forest, I shifted into my wolf form for the first time and the true nature of my being was finally set free.It wasn’t the joyous occasion it would have been if my parents were still here. In fact, nobody even gave me a second look as I trudged out into the forest on my own. The other omegas all remained in their beds, knowing that if they were caught out o
Sophia’s POVI stand in silent shock in the centre of the locked room for what must be a good hour or so. My eyes scan the opulent surroundings that hold me captive. The walls are adorned with intricate patterns of vines and leaves, bringing a touch of the outside world into this gilded prison. Soft sunlight filters through the pale green voile curtains, casting a warm orange glow over the room. In any other circumstance it would be the kind of room I would enjoy.No amount of luxurious decor can mask the fact that this is still a prison, a luxurious cage designed to keep me under Zaine’s control and within his reach. This room is usually reserved for visiting alphas and their Luna, only the best for the best. I have cleaned it on a handful of occasions and often daydreamed that I would have had a room something like this. In another life perhaps.The pack must be seen as one of power and influence, and this display of wealth and comfort is all part of the show. It is the polar opposi
Zaine’s POVI sit at my desk, rapping my pencil against the highly polished dark oak, my emotions swirling in a maelstrom of anger and disbelief. I barely got a wink of sleep last night. Between dealing with the rogues who once again tried their luck at the southern border and my wolf pining for his mate, I don’t think I managed to steal more than twenty minutes.I felt the second her mind link with me formed. Soon after that our bond became stronger and I knew there was no point in fighting the will of the moon goddess. I hadn’t planned on fighting the mate bond, but her utter disgust and declaration that she would never accept me, made me wonder if this is a fight worth enduring.I could feel Sophia’s turmoil inside me as if it was my own. She is hurting deeply, and the physical pain it caused me was a shock, to say the least. She hates me, so why is it that I feel like the arsehole in this situation? I didn’t choose her, just like she did not choose me. A higher power has seen fit
Sophia’s POVThe bathroom shares a wall with his room and as the cool water rains down on me, forcing my tired body to wake up, I hear his door click closed. There must be two, maybe three feet between us, physically at least. Mentally and emotionally, we are separated by a giant, bottomless chasm.Physically, the mate bond is screwing me over. The whole time he was stood in front of me I had my legs tightly crossed at the knees and my arms folded over my chest in some ridiculous attempt to hide my body’s reaction to him.I have spent years daydreaming and fantasising about the day I found my mate. I didn’t really think it would ever happen, the only men I ever see are Mr Fulch, who is happily mated, Luca, let’s just say I’m not his type and he has a colourful reputation amongst some of the unmated men in the pack, and Zaine’s other Beta, George. George is a dick.The only times we see either of the betas is when they come into the kitchen every morning to give us our orders for the d
Zaine’s POVThe look on Torrin’s face is one of shock and fear when I come to stop at the top of the stairs and see Sophia sobbing in his arms. Well, not in his arms exactly, they are hanging limply at his sides, but she is pressed up against his chest and he is just stood there, still and silent as if cast in bronze.My wolf tries to leap out of me before my foot even hits the top step. He wants to shred the man limb from limb until only ribbons of his flesh are scattered up and down the corridor. I supress the shift and keep him caged inside my own body, but his roar escapes from my throat and the sound is primal, possessive, a warning.“My mate. Mine.” he growls and snarls inside my skull, pissed that I won’t let him free.Torrin hurriedly starts explaining why my mate is clinging to him like a limpit, and after the first few words my beast is calmed somewhat. At least he stops clawing at my insides trying to get out. She was concerned, for me. She feels our mate bond more than she