Mrs Crook's POVSophia listens intently as I tell her about the days leading up to her birth and how loved and wanted she had been before she even existed. Her eyes gleam with unshed tears and her hand shakes in mine, as I try to keep control over my own emotions. I have imagined having this conversation with her so many times over the years. I have gone over it again and again in my head, wondering what to tell her. Do I leave the worst of it out, of tell her every single detail? Will it really help her to know everything or will that only add to her heartache?I see Abernathy fidgeting uncomfortably out of the corner of my eye, which makes sense when I feel Torrin’s strong, supportive hand on my shoulder. For someone who is convinced his wolf and mine are crazy, there sure is a whole heap of possessive jealously rolling this way.“Your father did all he could to protect Genevieve and you, but by the time we realised what was happening right under our noses, it was too late. His brot
Zaine’s POVGeorge looks around the room until his gaze lands on Luca. My beta’s usually back each other up in everything, but I decide to keep my mouth shut and see how this plays out. My beast watches closely through my eyes as he gushes in my mind about his warrior mate and how long he has been waiting for her to return to him.“Let her find her feet again Zaine. She needs time and opportunity to feel like herself. When she remembers all of who she is, you will understand. I can’t believe it is really her.” The depth of his reverence is so foreign and unsettling to me. My wolf has never submitted to anyone, but a few minutes of muted conversation between him and Sophia’s wolf, and she is practically leading him around on a chain. “What’s with blocking me? You never do that. Who is she?” I sound like a whining pup in my own head. I’m not used to secrets or someone else taking charge, and the fact that Sophia’s wolf has her ready to run head on into the man who my own Betas and her
Sophia’s POV The heavy weight of Zaine’s sweaty body slumped on top of mine is strangely comforting, if a little suffocating. My insides feel like they have been stirred up and displaced and my legs are dead but still shaking from the effort of keeping me standing during his possessive onslaught.The second the bedroom door clicked closed my wolf hinted at what was in store for me after our little display of power in Zaine’s office. ‘It’s a male thing.’ She told me. ‘They need the illusion of power and control and if you are lucky, you will benefit greatly.’ She chortled in my head.“Are you okay baby girl?” Zaine pulls slowly out of me as he sucks on my marking spot which makes my skin prickle with goosebumps. “Mmm hmm.” I wince a little as the huge head of his still hard beast stretches my swollen insides on its way out. It’s an unexpectedly satisfying kind of dull ache which makes my nipple tingle and my toes curl. My pussy tightens, making him growl against my skin. The vibratio
Luca’s POV The grand ballroom is coming together nicely. I know the annual coalition ball couldn’t have come at a worse time as far as Zaine is concerned, but perhaps this is exactly what we need. Something to take our minds off of everything and give us the illusion of normality, for a little while at least. To be honest, I could have done without us being the hosts this year. The last time we hosted this thing was just before Zaine's parents were killed, so I had no hand in the preparations. Every ball since then has been hosted by one of the other ten alphas, and each year it grows in both attendance and magnificence. I will not be shamed by producing anything less than spectacular, and luckily for me the drama that kicked off when Alpha Tomlin of Gibbous Moon hosted last years shin dig, means that as long as this thing doesn’t crash and burn, our reputation should remain unscathed. Aggie Crook tells me that our new Luna and Queen has a deep love of everything winter and woodlan
Torrin’s POV My faith in the Moon Goddess waned when King Sebastian and Queen Genevieve were ripped away from us. How could she allow someone so corrupt and power mad to rule over her people? How could she leave Sophia with nobody? I mean, yeah, she had me and Aggie, but I had to keep my distance, and Aggie had the loss of her mate and the responsibility of so many orphans. So, I turned my back on the goddess, and when I sensed my bond with Luca, it felt like a slap in the face, so I turned my back on him too. I told myself I needed to be there for Aggie, that having a mate would distract me from my duties, that my reason for being here was to protect Sophia at all costs. Seeing and feeling the hurt my indifference caused him in the beginning, was hard, but over time it became our normal.I have been dreading my re-Gilding ever since finding out Sophia and Zaine were fated. When I could see that the mate bond magic was working, and Sophia was softening towards our beastly leader, I k
Sophia’s POVMy first dinner with the pack went better than anticipated. Mr Fulch actually left the kitchen to personally bring me his famous boeuf bourguignon, creamy, roasted garlic mashed potatoes, griddled tender stem broccoli and honey butter savoy cabbage.He never even left his post at the enormous industrial range cooker to serve Zaine, so the side eye and raised eyebrows from the rest of the table were to be expected. This meal is the one that would have me salivating like a rabid beast every time it was on the menu. The sweet, pungent aroma of the roasted garlic would linger for days after, and the fall apart tender chunks of beef would feature in my dreams every night for a week. Hours of love and care go into this meal, and it is usually only served for special occasions, cooking for hundreds of ravenous men and women and serving up something so tantalisingly indulgent, is no easy feat. I got to taste it once in my life, the yule after my parents were killed. Mrs Fulch i
Abernathy’s POVAt the time I thought Sebastian and Theo were being over the top with their preparations for Sophia’s future. After Luca and Torrin slipped away, I bowed out of the dining hall as inconspicuously as possible. I needed answers and there was only one place I could think to find them. The unmarked bunker near the western boulder field will take at least an hour to reach at a flat out run, and I need to be back in time for the debrief. The vast grey expanse of rocks comes into view as I round the edge of the forest. When I am on pack lands this is my patrol area and I have checked the vicinity of the cache at every opportunity, but haven’t had reason to bust it open until now.Over the years I have wondered what could be stored inside. What treasures might Jonathan have brought with him when he arrived two days after his mate and the royal family. Of course I asked, but he only ever told me that he hoped I would never have cause to find out what is safely stowed under th
Zaine’s POV“Alpha, there is something you need to see in the woods.” Torrin bursts into my office with an ashen face and wide eyes. Five more gilded pile up behind him and Wayne almost sends him flying into the room when he doesn’t put the breaks on quick enough.“What is going on?” Sophia calmly stands, straightens her jumper and smooths down her ruffled hair.“Abernathy is at the western edge of the woods, near the boulder field. He linked to tell me to get out there sharpish, but he sounded… not like himself…” Torrin fidgets and gives Luca a look as he walks up to the doorway where everyone is gathered.“The west? So, it’s not about the assassin? What could possibly have affected Abernathy enough for you all to be so nervous?” Sophia rounds my desk and walks over to Torrin as she tries to make sense of the situation. She talks calmly but I can feel her concern tugging at our bond. Her wolf’s energy is flowing off of her in thick waves. It’s hard to bite my tongue and not demand an