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*** POV Unknown 1How could I be so lucky to find a river so close—a shallow one at that? I nearly fell into it, crawling out into the water with the last of my strength. I flipped onto my side, lying fully in the shallow stream. With a trembling hand, I skimmed through the pebbles along the bottom. Lovely colors glistened up at me from the water—quartz, jasper, pyrite—all so beautiful, but none nearly as precious as the deep black hematite stones that came up in my first handful. Thank the goddess.Yelling in the distance— I could hear it. Not wasting a moment, I swallowed the whole handful of pebbles I’d scooped up. I wasn’t sure how much hematite I needed to counter the wolfsbane, but hopefully, this would do.I didn’t have the strength left to get back up, but I did have the strength to crawl and float. As quietly as I could, I scooched farther out into the stream and started making my way on my belly downstream. After a short distance, the water began to get deeper quickly, and t
*** Alpha Eamon's POV"Clever," Fenri whispered in my mind, his tone a mix of admiration and caution.“If she’s that clever, how’d they ever capture her to begin with?” I retorted, my eyes narrowing as I scanned the area where she had been just moments before."Lout," Fenri huffed, clearly unimpressed with my doubt, before retreating to the back of my mind, leaving me alone with my thoughts.I watched her float down the river from upstream, keeping myself downwind so as not to alert her to my presence. I’d stayed ahead, observing her movements, ready to intervene if necessary.But she was managing far better than I’d expected, and her littl
*** Unknown POV 1I was almost asleep when I heard it—the sound of nothing. Winter sounds are limited, but there’s always the slight hum of nightlife, even in the dungeons. The scurrying and scampering of small creatures, the distant rustle of leaves. But the sound of silence? That always woke me up—it usually meant they were close.I felt that familiar sense of dread creeping up on me now. Peeking out from my hiding place under the evergreens, I saw that the moonlight had revealed the start of snowfall. Such luck; it could cover my tracks.Tentatively, I slipped out from under the branches, testing the strength in my legs. Surprisingly, I had some. Hematite might just be my new favorite “jewel.” Testing my legs further, I crouched and began to take wide steps, keeping my movements as quiet as possible. Luckily, I have small feet, and at the rate the snow is falling, I imagine it’ll only take about te
*** Alpha Eamon's POVI mind-linked my trackers a little after sunup, telling them to give up the hunt. She was good—very good—and they weren’t even close to finding her trail. The only trace she left behind was a pile of rocks that smelled pungent of bile.I also sent a quick update to my Beta and Gamma, letting them know what I was up to. Occasionally, they’d send me updates on other goings-on, but my focus was entirely on the scene unfolding before me.It was astounding how far she had traveled on foot. We were well outside the regional kingdom now, moving south at an impressive pace. I knew that in my wolf form, I could make it back to the war pack in less than a day, but she had managed to cover this distance in such a short time without any aid. It spoke volumes about her determination and resilience.The she-wolf sat beneath a Pinus strobus, facing the trunk in a submissive prayer pose. I watched her closely, noticing a faint ripple across her neck, and then, slowly, a growl beg
*** Luna Nailo’s POVThere was nothing around me—not even dead dandelions to scrounge for roots, no food to be found. If I couldn’t feed my body, perhaps I could feed my soul.As I wandered further, I began to suspect I had passed beyond the borders of the Regional realm. The white pines had begun to tower above me, their imposing presence a sign I had ventured out of the prince's territory. These trees were not native to the Regional areas, yet they stood here, sacred and beautiful, as if guarding the land itself.It had been so long since I had walked beneath their majestic branches that I felt compelled to honor them. These pines, ancient and wise, had stood sentinel over the land for centuries. Their presence was a reminder of all that had been lost and all that still needed protection. I owed them respect—no, more than that, I owed them my devotion.I knelt beneath the largest of the pines, an elder among giants, and prostrated myself before it. The earth was cold beneath my skin,
*** Eamon’s POVI had no intention of pushing Liliana's control any further tonight, though it was tempting to keep her teetering on the edge just a little longer. The long, lonely years had twisted me a bit like that, turning my need for connection into something slightly sadistic.But I’m working on it.Instead, I treated her to some vanilla love for the rest of our evening until we were both too exhausted to move. The intensity of our earlier connection had drained us, leaving only a tender warmth between us.I think she was halfway to sleep when she reached her last orgasm, her body completely relaxed as she let go. Fenri curled up in the corner of my mind, thoroughly satisfied with himself.The night had taken its toll on both of us—Liliana, physically, and me, emotionally. I wasn't afraid to admit that her awakening had stirred things in me I hadn’t felt in centuries. Over two hundred years had passed since I lost my first mate, and I couldn't help but marvel at the improbability
*** Liliana's POVI was startled awake by a buzzing sound, the kind that drags you from the depths of sleep whether you’re ready or not. Reaching for my phone on the nightstand, I squinted against the light from the screen.——— > Don’t leave the apartment.Well, that’s a little cryptic for the morning, I thought, frowning at the message. Eamon. He’d left again before I woke up, and a pang of irritation twisted in my chest. Was this how it was going to be? Long nights together followed by longer days spent apart, with only mysterious messages to hold me over?——— > Tonight we’ll talk.I sighed, setting the phone down beside me. There it was—confirmation that the pattern might continue. I glanced across my studio apartment, my eyes landing on the gaping hole in the sheetrock and the bent wood in the doorframe. A sh
*** Liliana’s POVI regretted coming as soon as I got here. 2 hours later and I my endurance was spent.“I’m taking off,” I tell Lisa, trying to mask my discomfort with a casual tone. She smirks knowingly, her eyes flicking toward Ryan, who was in mid-conversation across the yard.“Guess Ryan was chatting you up again,” she notes, not hiding her amusement. Lisa always invites Ryan to her summer BBQs—they’ve been friends forever—and she’s decided that my grieving period should be over. For the past couple of months, she’s been subtly trying to play matchmaker, convinced that Ryan and I would make a perfect couple.“He’s sweet,” Lisa presses, her tone suggesting she’s thought this through far too much. “You could give him a chance, Lil.”I force a smile. “I have a date,” I say, trying to sound firm. Lisa eyes me suspiciously, sensing my reluctance to engage.“Oh really?” she teases. “And if you’re talking about ‘Glenda Jackson,’ she doesn’t count.” She knows I haven’t dated anyone since