Mrs Crook’s POVI was there when Sophia came into the world. She was calm and peaceful, a gift from the goddess herself. Genevieve laughed and told me I was overwhelmed with emotion when I told her the princess arrived swaddled in celestial light, but I know what I saw with my own eyes. The Goddess has plans for this little one, that much has been obvious from the very beginning.I have never been blessed with pups of my own, not for lack of trying. Jon and I prayed, pleaded and bargained with the goddess for many years, but our prayers went unanswered and eventually we accepted that it wasn’t in the goddess’ plan for us.Learning midwifery and herbal medicine from the small group of women in the town who practised the old ways, I made myself useful as a midwife of sorts. Those women opened my eyes to the gifts of nature all around us and I began to see life in a whole new light.Delivering pups gave me peace and a reason to wake up every morning. Supporting the mothers through one of
Zaine’s POVI hope it looks like my wolf is hanging back to give Sophia’s wolf the lead on our run. In truth, my beast can just about keep pace with hers. I don’t mind the view from back here though, there is something hypnotic and captivating about the way the sun highlights her glossy coat. When she moves, a vivid purple colour shimmers on the surface of her fur like oil on tar, it’s like nothing I have ever seen before.When she took off running, she knew not to head south, and headed around the pack house towards the lake in the north-east corner of our territory. At first she was a little unsteady but she soon found her feet and the trail we often use for pack runs. Torrin and the other guards are a few meters away, spread around Sophia and I in a semicircle, all of them running like hellfire is nipping at their heels. If my own muscles weren’t burning, I might find it funny. I didn’t realise how out of shape I have gotten.The last couple of years I have spent much of my time vi
Sophia’s POV Our wolves run side by side in the shallow water, splashing and playfighting until the sun begins its descent behind the tips of the trees. When I see Torrin heading over from the tree line I know it’s time to head back to the pack house, and my heart sinks a little. I have loved every second of the feeling of the freedom out here, as my wolf sniffs at the ground, picking up scents, and hides from Zaine’s beast in the tall grass. I know she will want to be out here as often as she can, and I have absolutely no intention of stopping her.“I don’t want to go back yet. It’s so peaceful here.” I think to Zaine over our mind link. I haven’t been out here in over ten years, and not much has changed in that time. The trees are taller than they were and the huge flat boulder that sits half submerged in the water has been worn smaller over the years, but it is still the haven I remember.Zaine’s wolf looks past mine, in the direction of Torrin, and comes to nuzzle his head again
Zaine’s POV She is with me, she wants this, she is practically clawing at my arms to pull me closer, and for some fucked up reason I can’t move. I have been waiting for, and fantasising, about this day from the moment I caught her scent when I was on my way to tear George a new one for sewing his wild oats all over Alpha Harolds Fields, or more specifically his niece. Now that everything I want is literally at my fingertips, I have a sudden case of… not performance anxiety, but something akin to it. The balance of power has shifted, and when I thought I was on top, no pun intended, I knew without a doubt that I could be everything she needed. Now, I know I will do everything I can to protect her from the king who wants her dead, but when I mark her, it will set into motion a chain of events I’m not convinced I can protect her from. I could tell her everything, but I want her to have a chance at a life free of fear and suffering, or as free from it as I can manage. That does not inc
Sophia’s POVThe backs of my thighs and my calves are tight and aching, my pussy is throbbing, and I’m pretty sure if I looked at my clit right now it would be angry, purple and bruised. I'm not complaining, but I had no idea how unfit I really am. You would have thought cleaning the pack house every day for ten years would have me in better shape.“Are you alright sweetheart?” his voice sounds muffled, like I have water in my ears, and the lights dancing in front of my eyes do absolutely nothing to help me see him any clearer in the darkness of the night.“I need you inside me Zaine… now.” my voice croaks and my throat is dry. My wolf is hovering just beneath the surface, she wants me to mark him and her patience is paper thin. Her canines are extended and ready, and their sharp points dig into the insides of my cheeks. The coppery tang of a few droplets of blood on my tongue shocks my senses and brings the world back into focus. “I don’t want to hurt you.” His eyes give away how wo
Torrin’s POV It’s not like we didn’t know what was happening down by the lake, and we all stood inside the treeline with our backs turned, affording them as much privacy as possible whilst guarding their safety. I have been hoping for and dreading this moment for years, and when Aggie mind linked me from the kitchen the day Zaine lost his mind when he found her, I was ready to go in, guns blazing, take Sophia and run for the hills. It’s not that Zaine is a bad person. He is the best Alpha the pack could have hoped for after his father was killed. His ruthlessness has kept us safe, his reputation has been our shield and there was no way I was going to let him break her heart and kill her with a rejection for being the omega she was never meant to be.I was in the middle of the dining hall, on my way to the kitchen, when Aggie mind linked me again to tell me Sophia told Zaine off right there in the kitchen in front of everybody. The way Aggie tells it, Sophias mouth really ran away w
Abernathy’s POVMy beast and I felt the magic of the gilded gift when it came to us. The late King Sebastian had tried to prepare me for what would happen when Sophia came of age, then it didn’t happen, so I assumed the old man had been crazy and thought nothing more of it, as convincing as he had been.There have been stories of the royal family’s golden eyed protectors for generations. My own Grandfather claimed to have been one of King Lucian’s Gilded Guards before he met my grandmother. His tall tales amused every pup around the campfire when the rest of the pack went on hunts, and I always wanted to believe him, but everyone knew they were just urban legends.I can still picture the deep creases around eyes that had seen everything and then some, if his stories were to be believed. My dear old grandad was a crotchety son of a bitch, except for nights like the Yule hunt. The Yule hunt before I tuned eighteen was the last time I sat with the other unshifted wolves and listened to h
Zaine’s POVI could have easily slept for a week but a few hours after my head hit the pillow I was up again. The gaggle of guards outside the door are up to no good, I can feel it in my bones, and if Abernathy has anything to do with it, it’s probably going to end in bloodshed.I don’t recall ever being so exhausted in my life. At least I managed to get Sophia and I back to the room before collapsing into bed. Torrin’s concern was written all over face when he saw me carrying Sophia up from the lake. The brave soul even offered to carry her for me. My shoulder aches as I chuckle at the memory.“What’s funny?” Sophia’s hand takes hold of mine and she gives it a gentle squeeze as she lays beside me. The scheming in the corridor can wait. Right now, I need to be here, with Sophia. How much trouble could they really get into anyway?“Nothing sweetheart, I’m just wondering how I got to be so lucky.” I turn to give her a kiss but am stopped in my tracks only inches away from her cheek. Her