BRANTLEY'S POVIt was a question I really needed to ask because this was our reality. I didn’t know anything about the evil except that it haunted me for a long time and it had it out for Bentley the most.“From what I gathered, it’s out for me the most, and I’m going to guess that it’s because it knew that we were mates before we did, but I refuse to let it get the best of us. You want to be with me and I want to be with you. We’ll fight it,” she smiled, caressing my cheek. She was still laying on me.“You promise?” I whispered. She leaned down and kissed me again.“I promise,” she replied.We spent the rest of the morning together, getting to know each other. It turned out that we knew the basics about each other, based on the observations we'd made in the past. I was more than happy that she was giving me a chance to prove myself worthy. We separated for a while, just so that we could each go and get ready for the day. We met up again in the hallway and she was wearing a beautiful
BRANTLEY'S POV When Clay and I found out that we were suddenly millions richer, we spent it on building this place up. He knew of the regret I had for hurting Bentley, so he allowed me to build this diner in memory of her since we didn’t think we’d see them again. It very quickly became the most popular place for people to come. It turns out people are crazy about Bentley’s favourite foods. I only employ the best people as Bentley would’ve wanted. The only thing the place is missing is her favourite music since I didn’t know that. “I can’t believe it!” she whispered. Recognition seemed to have dawned on her as the tears shone in her eyes. I hugged her from behind. “Believe it babe.” She turned to face me. “How did you know?” “I overheard you speaking to your dad about this place when you were ten. I didn’t think I’d ever see you again, and since I lived with the regret of knowing what I did to you, I figured that opening this place would serve as a great reminder of you for me,”
CYRUS’ POVI woke up and it was really bright around me. By the looks of things, I’d survived being in the cave I found shelter in for the night. I had to blink a couple of times to readjust my sight. My parents warned me that my senses would become heightened, but it’s not as bad as they made it sound.If anything, the whole heightened senses thing is pretty cool. My hearing was the only truly sensitive thing, but everything else was fine. I’m yet to get my wolf, though I could feel something stirring within me.Being a Lycan so far is amazing really. I’m stronger and faster than I’ve ever been, and the enhanced sight and smell are the coolest things. It’s like I’m a better version of myself, which is ironic because I’m actually the real version of myself.It took a while before it dawned on me that I’m also royalty. My parents explained to me that should Azalea take up the throne, I’m next in line as her Beta, which would explain why I was so intent on being her friend to begin with
CYRUS' POVI followed it to a beautiful woman. She didn’t look a day over thirty, though her eyes showed pure panic. Her hair was in a single braid with flowers in it. She approached us with caution as Shay started to shake a little.“Simi!” Shay said in relief.“I couldn’t get your calls because my sister’s magic is blocking them, but young Cyrus’ worry sent me right to you,” Simiyan said, slowly getting closer and closer.“You know who I am?” I asked.“I was there when you were born, young Beta,” she briefly smiled at me before turning to Shay.“Simi, it hurts,” Shay whimpered. That seemed to awaken my wolf as I growled. It was such a foreign action, and yet it felt so right.“Calm down young Beta. Your protective instinct is good, but not at this very moment. I need you to try and keep your wolf at bay. I’m going to try and help her, but it will hurt her. It is up to you to nurse her when I’m done. I will leave you with the necessary supplies,” Simiyan told me before she lunged for
CYRUS' POVI raised an eyebrow at her. “I’m sorry? For a moment there, I was sure you said the castle.”“Think about it Cy! That’s the place where this whole mess began. Don’t you think that it’s then the perfect place to start?” she argued.I shook my head. “You’ll die before you even have the chance to find your parents Shay. It’s a bad idea of all sorts.”“Then what do you suggest I do? Sit and wait around?” she snapped.“Or you could go back to The Rebelution and use their resources. Perhaps you could even tell them who you are?” I suggested.She shook her head. “I can’t do that until Simiyan gives the go-ahead.”“Ok, then just exploit their resources. If they’re trying to take down the evil, then you can bet that they’ve run their research on your parents. Rather find out what they’ve got and take it from there. It’s the safer bet right now,” I pointed out.“I guess you’re right, but then your plan suggests that I have to go back to that psycho wolf,” she noted.My parents had al
BENTLEY’S POVThere was nothing but a huge hole in the wall.Brantley and I stood in shock, both of us not knowing where to even start. There were so many questions that I was sure were swirling in both our minds at the sight before us. Besides the gaping hole, everything else seemed to be in place. There was no evidence of claw marks or a struggle.But that didn’t mean we weren’t worried.The fact at hand was that Azalea was missing, and so was Clayton. There were so many endless possibilities for what that meant. Obviously my main concern was for Azalea. Clayton is a shifted Lycan who can very well take care of himself, while Azalea isn’t.Going up against an Alpha who refuses to acknowledge her as his mate is the last thing she needs right now.I was beyond shocked to find out that Clayton was the one to mark her. He was the last person I would’ve ever suspected, much less accused. When Brantley explained to me why he marked her then left her, I was more than ready to hunt Clay dow
AZALEA’S POVI was sure that I would go insane because of this world!So much had happened to me that I was failing to see the positives in being here. Things were definitely not turning out the way that I’d hoped they would. I was supposed to be well on my way to finding my parents, and yet here I am worried for my life.Hiding from a certain black wolf.The thought of the huge beast took me back to that night – the night I truly feared something for the first time in my life. I didn’t know why I’d spent so much time with Clayton. It had been both unnerving and comforting, which is what put me on edge about the situation.It wasn’t supposed to be like that.We spent more than a week in each other’s company, barely saying anything to each other. He’d only talk if he was asking me if I was ok, which was every thirty minutes at best. That’s the part I can accept though. The part that scared me, or at least rattled me, was when he held me when I felt like the evil was consuming me whole.
AZALEA'S POV“I don’t know. I’m terrified,” I confessed.“Of him?” he frowned.“No,” I whispered.“Shay, you need to tell me so that I can help you,” he said frustratingly. I didn’t say anything for a while because I honestly didn’t know where to start.“I’m terrified of the emotions I feel for him,” I finally concluded.“What emotions?” Cyrus asked.“I don’t know how else to put it except to say that I like him,” I told him.“Like, like him?” he smirked. I smacked his arm.“Don’t tease me about this!” I grumbled.“I’m not Shay! I actually find it adorable, but what’s terrifying you?” he questioned.“The fact that these feelings may be developing for him, while he may never see me as more than what we currently are,” I voiced in aggravation.He raised an eyebrow. “And what exactly is it that you currently are?”“I don’t know! We’ve slept together and cuddled, but we don’t talk,” I replied.“SLEPT TOGETHER?” Cyrus choked on air.I glared at him. “Yes; as in slept in the same bed you di
AZALEA’S POV“I can’t believe two years into your marriage and you’re still pulling these stunts!”“How else am I supposed to keep the romance alive?”“He’s going to kill you, you know that much, right?”“He wouldn’t kill me while my dad still lives.”“At this point, Hugh would welcome your death. You truly are a menace.”My mouth dropped as she giggled. “You don’t mean that!”“Oh, I believe it too. When they told me you’re a menace, I didn’t know just how right they are,” my aunt teased.“You all just hate me,” I argued.“No one hates you because you won’t even allow us to do that much,” my mother commented.I gasped, and the evil women just laughed at me. “I can’t believe you’re in on this too!”“You and I are connected, and while the reason why is still a myth to all of us, at no point in my life did I swear to stand by your foolishness, especially when it involves tormenting that poor sweet boy,” Simoa stated.“There’s nothing sweet about him. You guys just don’t get to see how he
CLAYTON'S POV“I underestimated Eligor’s memory spell. I was desperate to explain myself and my actions, and to ask for forgiveness. I wasn’t sure if going to Aragon would help, so I went to the only other two people who knew me better than he did. Avril and Val were my best friends, so I thought if I could get them to understand, then they’d help me make sense of everything and help me deal with my new reality. I was lost, and in pain, and I just needed someone to understand me, except it was in that moment that I realized it would never happen. If the people closest to me couldn’t remember me, then I had no one. I was officially all alone,” Alyx explained.“What happened? Where have you been all this time?” her brother asked her.“After what happened with Avril, I knew I had to find a way to control what I’d become. I got some of Eligor’s powers through our mating, and they helped me to an extent. I found out he was abusing the Xeglan, and they asked for my help in keeping them from
CLAYTON’S POVOnce King Brennus lifted the spell from them, it was decided that we should head back while their memories started to trickle in. With everything over, the packs had been instructed to stack the dead hybrids and burn them.We suffered a couple of casualties and injuries on our side, and it was decided that the bodies of the dead would be put aside and we’d have a funeral for them the following day. We needed to let everything settle down first.With Eligor out of the picture, King Brennus ordered the Xeglan to return to Advalur, and they happily complied, while the Xeglan hybrids were imprisoned. At the end of the day, they were traitors, and it would be decided later what we’d be doing with them.Azalea led her aunt to our room, refusing to leave her side, while Pixie was quickly at mine. “You’re coming with us.”I followed after her, and she led me to a room with our friends in it, including Brantley and Bentley. “When did you guys get here?”“That’s not important! Wha
AZALEA'S POVThe turned Lycan looked my way. “I’m the source of a lot of your problems. With me out of the way, you stand a better chance of taking over this kingdom, but you’re going to have to catch me first.”I closed my link to my family and friends as I turned and made a run for it. I could hear him following after me, as well as my family following after him. I had absolutely no clue what I was doing, or what the plan was, but this distraction was giving me some time to think.And before I knew it, I was running past the border and into the Forgotten Lands.Being here, I knew that only Eligor, Clayton, King Brennus, Greier, and my aunt could follow after me. My father and Clayton’s father didn’t have the bracelets on them, so they’d be affected if they came through.I finally let my mate through our link as he ran in after me, shifted back and changed into shorts. “Now what?”“I have no idea, but I know this is where everything has to end,” I told him just as Eligor’s beast grow
AZALEA’S POVShe looked more badass than she had in the vision. Confusion surrounded us as we watched everyone wondering why the Xeglan hybrids weren’t fighting, and who the woman was. Much like in the vision, she was preceded by smoke, and when it cleared, I could see recognition from our inner circle.“It’s her. It’s the woman from the painting,” Pixie was the one to state.“It’s Alyx, isn’t it?” Cleo asked, but no one responded.Instead, we watched as Eligor took in his mate, surprised to see her in her true form. “You can control the faces?”“I can do a lot more than that, but I’m not here to tell you all about that,” she told him.“Well, it’s about time we joined hands and finally took over the kingdom as planned,” he smiled, walking over to her.She put her hand out. “You either didn’t hear me, or you’re choosing to ignore what I said. I’m here to stop you.”It was a slight opening in his emotions as the vulnerability showed on his face. “Tell me that these people aren’t right.
CLAYTON’S POV“Avril and Valencia were my closest friends. Lost as I was, I thought if I went to explain myself to them, they’d understand, but I underestimated Eligor’s spell. They really had no idea who I was, and the changing faces and my changed form weren’t helpful. That’s when I realized that I needed to learn how to control the faces and my body.”Azalea was crying beside me, and I put my arm around her. “Where was Eligor during all this?”“I didn’t want anything to do with him, and he agreed to give me my space. However, in that time apart, I realized that my love for him was turning to hatred. Every time he checked in on me, he would let me know about his efforts to undo what he’d done, but I’d already lost too much. Being with him didn’t feel like something I wanted to do anymore, so I kept to myself. One thing I got through our mating is some of his powers, and I used them to travel the dimensions, learning as much as I could about what they knew about shapeshifters. I also
AZALEA’S POVThere she was.She was dressed in a dark emerald dress, and there was smoke around her, but I knew it was her. The same eyes I’d seen in the painting were looking straight at me. She was unmoving, showing no emotion on her face.“It’s her.”I didn’t know if I could even bring him with me, but I was relieved to look to my side and find Clayton there. “Do we go to her?”He shook his head. “We wait for her.”I agreed, and we waited. Before getting pulled in, we moved off the battlefield, hiding, and I could only hope that we’d stay hidden given the fact that we had no idea what was going on outside this vision.After a while, she finally moved towards us. I unintentionally squeezed Clayton’s hand a little harder, and he put his other hand on top of mine. I looked up at him, and I knew what he was telling me through his eyes.He was with me, and he had my back.She walked until she stood before us. Much like I’d felt back in the castle, it felt like I was looking at an older
CLAYTON’S POV“Report?” my father asked.“They’re coming from the direction of the castle, so we can confirm that it’s Eligor and his army. There hasn’t been any movement from the Forgotten Lands,” his man reported.My father nodded. “Take to the skies and stay there waiting for my command.”“And Isaiah?” the man asked.“Tell him to stay where he is,” my father replied.The man nodded before leaving. “What’s going on Hunter?”“Like Theo just said, Eligor is headed this way with his army. There’s no word from Alyx’s side,” my father replied.I was about to ask a question when my mind link was prodded. “CLAYTON!”“Simoa?” I asked.“Yes, it’s me. Where is your mate?” she asked.“She’s here with me. Why?” I countered.“Eligor is on his way. I have been trying to let her know, but I haven’t been able to reach her,” she huffed.I turned to my mate. “Love, is there anything going on with your link to Simoa?”I heard the murmuring, but I didn’t care for it as my mate scowled. “I can’t feel he
AZALEA'S POV“Are you sorted?” I asked him.He nodded. “Ariel and Cleo are directing everyone here. Greier and the Lyca will join us shortly. Your uncle linked to say there’s a bit of a delay with the archives, but that he’ll be here as soon as he has the information with him.”“Should we maybe not talk to our people before they get here?” Clayton suggested.“He’s got a point Aragon. While we may be understanding of how you reached the decisions that you did, your people may not be,” Clayton’s dad joined us.“I’ll address them once they’ve all assembled,” my father agreed.As expected, our pack members were the first to assemble, and I could see the pride on my mate’s face at seeing his people still as efficient as ever. The pack members of The Rebelution were officially the pack members of the royal pack.I had read up on the royal pack, with my father answering any more questions that I had. Apparently, the royal pack that he was Alpha of was either taken over by Eligor, or those wh