Zane’s POVSkylar rampaged a little while longer. We all just stood and watched. He kept ordering his Gammas to attack, but they shook their heads. There was nothing left for him to do but surrender. It was almost comical, watching him. He’d been so sure he would win this war and become the Alpha King. And now that he knew it was over? Well, he was hanging onto his last thread of hope.Eventually, though, like all threads, his snapped.His expression changed. He was accepting his loss. And with that came the realization that he was in deep, deep shit.He had betrayed me. He had ransacked and killed countless packs. He’d murdered werewolves. He’d made a deal with the witches and used illegal potions. He’d kidnapped Eden and tortured Astrid. These were ALL crimes.He came forward and knelt at my feet.“Please, King Zane,” he said, his voice small and humble. “I surrender. Have mercy on me?”I snickered.“Have mercy? Why should I have mercy? You’ve committed unspeakable crimes, Skylar,”
Eden’s POVHe fell to my feet and clutched at my ankles. He wailed and protested. Begged and begged. It was a disgusting display. I was embarrassed for him, Skylar.“Please, Queen Eden, no! Exile me. Imprison me. Give me a different death! Anything but that!”Blah blah blah. I watched him, my eyebrows furrowed. “Are you done yet?” I asked. “You’re making a mockery of yourself. Stand back up. Be a man. I have cast my sentence. Take it like an Alpha.”Beside me, Zane smiled with pride. I was surprised he’d given me this decision. I knew how much he hated Skylar. I knew how much he wanted to tear him to shreds right here, right now. And Slade? I could imagine what he was thinking.I didn’t know yet everything that Zane had been through. Just as he didn’t know what I’d been through. But I could feel his pain and anger. Just as I knew he could feel mine.Skylar wouldn’t stand. He just kept crying at my feet. I kicked him off.Death by white lace poison was a cruel sentence. I knew that. It
Eden’s POVDusk was falling by the time we made it back to the palace. Zane was shocked to see the grounds in such disarray. The gardens were completely ruined, remnants of the refugee camps everywhere. It looked strange to me now, empty and vacant.We all trudged alone, Beta Brighton, Adrian, Astrid, Brinsle, and Storm, who carried Lucia in his arms. She had shifted back and thankfully, with a little help from Brinsle’s healing spell and her own wolf, Lucia was on the mend.We were all too tired to talk, even though we all had a lot to talk about. We decided that everyone would meet tomorrow morning over breakfast so we could start planning our next steps. For the time being, we all just needed a nice, hot shower and a quiet evening.As soon as we entered the palace, though, Chloe came running.“Zane? Oh Zane! I’ve missed you SO much!”She threw her arms around Zane’s neck and kissed his cheek. Truth be told, I’d forgotten about Chloe. Her stomach was swollen now too, but
Eden’s POVHe didn’t have to ask me twice. A nice, hot shower sounded heavenly. He reached around and undid the zipper of my shirt. It fell away, revealing my bra. Then he slowly pulled down my pants.At first, I was a little embarrassed by my pregnant belly. I didn’t feel like it was very sexy. Zane however, thought very differently. He moaned and started rubbing my belly.“It’s beautiful,” he sighed. “Eden, YOU’RE beautiful.”“I want to feel your chest,” I said.He removed his shirt. His chest was just as I remembered it. Muscular and smooth. I ran my hands over it, biting my lip.I had to control myself. If I didn’t, I would start begging him to take me right then and there.“Let me start the shower,” he said. “I’ll get it nice and warm for you. Come join me in five minutes.”I nodded coyly and he walked away. Moments later I heard the faucet start.Five minutes felt like a lifetime. I removed my bra and panties. Then I made the mistake of looking in the mirror.I was filthy!There
Zane’s POVShe was a goddess. A sexy goddess.I led her from the shower by the hand and toweled her off. Her eyes were liquid. She quivered under my touch. I brought her to the bed and laid her down.She was even more beautiful than that Goddess who had brought Slade back from the dead. In my eyes, anyway.Eden was everything to me. She laid back on the bed, her damp hair spread out on the pillow, her clean skin glistening. Her swollen belly protruded from he centre, a mound of life.He gritted my teeth. It took everything in me not to pound into her right then and there. She fixed me with lustful eyes. She bit her lip and ran her finger along her collarbone seductively.“I’m waiting,” she whispered.God, woman. Do you have any idea what you do to me? I thought to myself.My dick was hard as a rock. It pulsated and throbbed, begging to enter her soft, wet folds.But we had both waited so long. I wanted this to last.I went to the foot of the bed and drew her knees up. Then I let them
Eden’s POVAs soon as I woke up, I bolted upright.Where was I?I squinted against the morning sun. I was naked. And this bed was so soft. And…“Good morning,” Zane smiled lazily at me. “Where do you think you’re going?”He pulled me back towards him. Right. I was back at the palace. The war was over. Zane and I had found each other again. We’d spent last night…Oh my. I blushed when I thought about what we did last night.He wrapped his arms around me and I melted into him. He nibbled at my neck.“This is how I want to wake up for the rest of my life,” he whispered in my ear. Then I felt something pressing against my back.It was…it was his…member?He was already hard!I blushed again. He reached around, his hands groping for my breasts.“Zane,” I said, “we can’t. We have a breakfast meeting. In case you’ve forgotten, the entire boundary is in shambles. We have to restore it.”“Nooooo,” he sighed. “We have to stay here in bed all day while I ravish you.”His hands found my breast. An
Eden’s POVEveryone at the table fell uncomfortably silent. They all avoided my eyes.“What’s going on?” I asked, feeling uneasy. Beta Brighton had just mentioned a burial? For a woman with the same name as my mom? And now everyone was sitting in awkward silence?Even my grandfather wouldn’t look at me.“Zane?” I asked, confused.“Eden, I think we should go for a walk,” he said gently. “There’s something we need to talk about.”“I don’t want to go for a walk. Just tell me now.” The tension at the table only increased. “Why are you planning a burial for a woman named Calista?” Zara stood on alert. She felt the same uneasiness I felt.“I officially adjourn the meeting,” Zane said. “Everyone can go. We all have things to do. Eden, come with me.” He stood and held out his hand. His eyes were earnest. I relented. Whatever he had to tell me, he didn’t want to say it in front of everyone.Everyone went their separate ways. I walked with Zane through the palace and outside into the fre
Eden’s POVI sat there, by the lake, reflecting on everything Zane had told me. I think I felt just about every emotion possible.I was angry that she’d lied. She was alive this whole time and she let me believe she was dead. I felt betrayed by that, even though I knew Zane was right…it was complicated.And of course I felt sad. My heart went out to her. From the sounds of it, she wanted to be a werewolf. She was raised in a pack, but she harboured a deep, dark secret. There was a witch in her. That couldn’t have been easy, carrying that secret around. And then?She’d been married. And she’d had a child. And all the while, she could feel the witch inside of her, rising.She HAD to leave. She didn’t want to. I was sure of it. She tried so hard for so long to belong. But in the end, the witch won out and Calista’s hands had been tied.What was it like for her, I wondered. Leaving the pack and asking to join her half-sister’s coven? I didn’t know much about this ‘Lucinda’ person, but fro
Eden’s POVEighteen today. How the time flies by! It seems like only yesterday I was lying on the bed, crying in agony as wave after wave of labor crashed over me. She was a difficult birth, Jupiter. But I made it through, of course.Who could have known the woman she would grow into?She is standing in front of the full-length mirror, admiring herself in her new gown. She’s glorious. Soft, pink cheeks and glacier blue eyes, just like Zara’s. She is the best of witches and the best of wolves – a unique hybrid that brings out both in this fluid, magical way.“Aunty Brinsle and Aunty Astrid?” she asked, looking at my reflection standing behind her. “Are they ready?”“Yes, love,” I tell her. “They are both waiting.” There’s a gentle knock on the door, and as if on cue, Brinsle and Astrid enter.“Oh Jupes,” Brinsle says, rushing to her side. “Look at you. All grown up.” Tears well in her eyes and she turns away.“I told you, no tears today,” Jupiter scolds Brinsle. But then she smiles sof
Zane’s POVSometimes, I don’t know who I love more, Eden or Jupiter. What a I saying? I love them equally.I was shocked, of course, the night our baby was born. I couldn’t believe it when Eden said the name, Jupiter. It all came together in that moment. Calista told me that visions always come true. Lucinda has the vision of a young girl born with both wolf and witch, a girl that would rule over both.Lucinda assumed it would be her daughter.She was wrong.It was ours.Eden has witch blood and wolf blood. Jupiter was born with both. She is our daughter and she will one day unite the wolves and the witches. For now, though, she’s just a bright-eyed, mischievous little five year old girl.And she is our world.Brinsle counsels Jupiter on the ways of witches. Sometimes, she takes Jupiter to different covens. The covens welcome her, this little daughter of ours. Astrid is in charge of Jupiter’s wolf training. And of course, Astrid is Jupiter’s god-mother. I know she is in good hands wit
Eden’s POVThe wedding was small but lovely. Zane gave Brinsle away and he was so honored to do so. It was a traditional human wedding, and Brinsle was lovely in her white dress. Adrian was handsome in his traditional human tuxedo. They chose a human wedding because they couldn’t have a werewolf one since Brinsle wasn’t a werewolf and they couldn’t have a witch wedding since Adrian wasn’t a witch. So they chose a human wedding instead.After the ceremony, we all mingled and sipped champagne while the children ran around playing tag on the grassy knoll. I was so happy for Adrian as I watched him great his guests, as was Zane. We both had a soft spot for Adrian and Brinsle. They were family as far as we were concerned.But it hadn’t always been easy. It had been a slow love between Brinsle and Adrian. They were both a bit broken and they both had serious trust issues. Brinsle had a magic that was too powerful for her and a history of lashing out. She had some pretty dark secrets in her
Eden’s POV“Lucia, how many times I have told you – get off the warrior training grounds!”I giggled. Lucia had a basket in her arms. It was lunch for Storm. I was sure of it. Lucia was notorious for this. She’d just scuttle right out onto the field, a basket full of food for Storm, and completely disrupt his warriors.“But it’s lunch time,” she said, cocking her head to the side.Storm was clearly embarrassed as she shook his head. His warriors smiled slyly. They were used to it. Lucia was a doting wife. She brought Storm lunch every day without fail.I was visiting for our monthly dinner date. Once a month, I made the trek out to see Lucia at her pack, the Santonio Pack. It was a bit of a hike, since her pack boundary was up in the hills. We’d chosen the location because of the view. After spending all those years on the island at the estate, Lucia swore she never wanted to see water ever again. So her pack was built up on the mountain on a flat plateau, surrounded only by tree tops
Eden’s POVI cursed Zane. I cursed sex. I cursed every one in that room and the sun and the moon and anything and everything I could think of. I had known pain in my life, really bad physical pain, but nothing had prepared me for the pain that ripped through my insides every time I had a contraction.We were back in my room. The doctor and several maids were by my side, as well as Astrid and Zane. Those were the only two people I wanted in the room with me. I gritted my teeth and did my best to breathe while contraction after contraction ripped through me. Zane wiped my forehead with cold clothes. Astrid held my hand, even though I was pretty sure I’d broken her fingers with my tight grip.I was only vaguely aware of the time, but I knew it was night.“It’s a long labour,” the doctor said. “I’m sorry, but that’s just the way it goes sometimes.”Outside my window, the guests waited with baited breath. It hadn’t taken long for word to spread right after the crowning that the queen was i
Eden’s POVI knew we invited a lot of people, but I didn’t really know how many until I saw them all sprawled out there in the garden. Thousands of people, for as far as I could see. Little children waved excitedly as I passed. Little girls giggled and whispered to their mothers:“She’s the most beautiful queen I’ve ever seen.”We walked slowly, through the crowds. I took my time, nodding and smiling as I went along. Everyone smiled back.Once or twice, a strange cramp ran through my stomach and I gripped Astrid’s hand. She looked at me, a worried expression on her face.“Eden, tell me the next time you feel a cramp, okay?” she asked.“Sure,” I said.The walk to the stage took a long time. I was so humbled that this many people had come to see my coronation. Some of them had travelled a very long way. I saw the pile of presents Astrid had commented on. Holy crap was right; it was massive!My eyes swelled. Such generosity from my people.“Oh,” I said, suddenly stopping. It was a cramp
Eden’s POVThe sun burst through the window and I bolted out of bed. I was so happy I could sing. It was here, it was finally here! Coronation day!The baby kicked, really hard. I pressed my hand on my stomach.“No no no,” I said. “You be a good girl and stay in there just one more day.” Then I went straight to the washroom to shower.Zane and I had stayed in separate rooms last night. The girls had stayed in my room with me: Astrid, Brinsle, Murietta, Lucia, and Chloe. We’d played silly games and talked late into the night. It had been a perfect evening, with the exception of a few major cramps. It was probably just too much food I told myself. We had, after all, stuffed our faces all night long.The women were still fast asleep when I got out of the shower. I jumped onto the bed and said in a sing-song voice:“Get up! It’s coronation day!”They all groaned. Astrid rolled over sleepily, tossing her arm over her head. “Not yet,” she said.Brinsle sat up immediately, as did Chloe. I’d
Eden’s POVMy mind reeled. A hundred thoughts ripped through my head. My heart and my stomach hurt.There was a baby?A baby with that…witch?But how? Why? This didn’t make any sense. I looked to Brinsle. If anyone would know, besides Zane, it was her. The look on her face said it all – apologetic.There WAS a baby.“Just listen,” Zane said.“You didn’t tell me?” I asked, embarrassed and angry. “You and…her? She’s carrying your baby?”“Eden, please. Just…come with me. Let’s talk.”But I didn’t want to talk. I wanted to run. I wanted to jump back into the lake and swim away again, like I had all those months ago.Had he been unfaithful to me? With a witch?He rushed towards me then and reached for my hand. But I shrugged him off.“I don’t understand,” I said.“So let me explain,” he told me.“Eden?” It was Brinsle. She was suddenly beside me. I felt like the world was spinning. I felt like I was going to be sick. “Just…just hear him out. Okay. It’s not what you think. I promise.”Her e
Eden’s POV“Excuse me?” I asked.The woman stopped in front of us. I was furious. Who the hell did she think she was? This was a private affair! This was an intimate, royal burial for MY mother. What was she talking about?“I’m guessing my invitation got lost in the mail?” the woman asked sardonically. “Zane, Brighton, Alpha so and so, nice to see you all again. Although I wish it were on happier terms.”I let Zane tense beside me. How did she know Brighton? And Zane? And was that my grandfather she was referring to.“What are you doing here?” Zane said, his voice low.“What do you mean?” she asked. “Of course I’m here. You’re burying my sister.”“This is a wolf’s burial. On wolf territory. You’re not welcome here, Lucinda,” Zane hissed.Lucinda?I knew that name. She was the head of the coven, the Falcon Crest Coven. She was the woman who had kept Zane and all the others prisoners. The woman who had personally provided Skylar with the potion for his warriors.What WAS she doing here?