Zane’s POVTwo days.That’s how much time I gave Alpha Miles when Eden went missing. Of course, I wanted to take over immediately and arrange my own search party. But as Eden’s grandfather, I also wanted to show him respect. So I didn’t say anything. I simply stepped aside and let him run the search.But in my head, there was a time limit.Waiting was really tough. Slade was going crazy! I was, too. The minutes felt like hours, the hours like days. Eden was missing! What if she was hurt! Or worse? All I could do was pace around my room, watching the clock tick by.Alpha Miles planned an extensive search party. But he was unsuccessful. As soon as the two days were up, I approached him.“I’m taking over the Silvermist Pack,” I said.He narrowed his eyes. “It’s your right to do so, as the Lycan King. However, can you delay the take-over? My granddaughter is missing.”“I know,” I told him. He looked surprised, and rightfully so. From his point of view, he probably thought I hadn’t even no
Zane’s POVNo. That was ridiculous.I wasn’t the father, I mocked myself.Just because Eden was pregnant, didn’t mean it was MY child. I thought about our night together. Our amazing, sensual night, when I entered her and we unleashed our passion.It had been a beautiful night. But it had only been ONE night. Eden and I only slept together ONCE.What was the probability that ONE night had created a child.‘The curse,’ Slade whined.Right. Of course. It was unlikely that one night together would impregnate her, but even LESS likely because of the curse.Impossible, actually.I was the cursed Lycan King, destined forever to be without children. I couldn’t plant my seed in Eden. The curse wouldn’t allow it. Defeated, I lowered my head.The child wasn’t mine.Even though I wished it were. Even though I longed for it, dreamed of it, wanted it more than life itself. Eden was pregnant, and the baby wasn’t mine.Another thought came to me then. A vile thought. It crept its way into my mi
Zane’s POVI turned my gaze to the woman at my feet.“Please,” she cried. “I’ll tell you. I swear. Just let him go.” There was agony in her voice. I looked back to Adrian. His face was red, almost purple. “I know where she is. Eden.”I loosened my grip and dropped Adrian. He fell to the floor with a thud.“Fine. But you have ONE chance, do you understand,” I warned her. I fixed her with a look that said she better not lie. Adrian gasped for breath on the floor, rubbing his neck. Her face was wet with tears. She started to crawl towards him, but I stepped on her arm. “Tell me,” I said. She was trembling uncontrollably.“Two….two days ago…” she stammered. “I…uh…Eden said…”“Tell me faster,” I snapped at her. She nodded, her eyes flooded with fear.“Right. Eden said she wanted to go on a picnic. But I was…I was busy. She…she said something about going…past the pack boundary…or something.” She was crying so hard her words came out in large gulps. “That was right before she disappeared. So
Eden’s POVI did my best to keep my distance from Jacob. Which wasn’t easy since I was chained to the wall. He just sat there, watching me. He had nothing better to do, I supposed. Serena had instructed him not to touch me. And he hadn’t. Not again. But that didn’t stop him from staring at me, with a lewd look on his face.Every so often, he’d lick his lips and his hand would graze his private parts.I knew exactly what he was thinking.It made me want to vomit. I couldn’t help but gag.Jacob snorted. “Seriously?” he asked. “You know, I’m the next Alpha of the Obsidian Pack. Do you have any idea how many she-wolves want to fuck me?”I gagged again. This time, I actually spat up some bile.“ALL of them. I’m hot as hell. They swarm around me, vying for my attention. Praying I’ll let them touch my nice, hard, cock.” He clutched his private parts again. “And here you are. Throwing up? Right in front of me? You’re disgusting. You don’t DESERVE this.” Again, he shook his package for emphasi
Eden’s POVMy mouth dropped open.Scarlett?My eyes flew to the figure beside her.Caleb?But how could that be?I hadn’t seen either Caleb nor Scarlett since their wedding.I’d heard rumors that Zane had taken over the Sequoia Pack. In retaliation for hurting me. I’d also heard that both Scarlett and Caleb had been tossed into prison.So how were they here?I eyed them warily.“Who the hell are you?” Jacob spat out. He clearly had no idea who they were.“I’m the Luna of the Sequoia Pack. Scarlett,” she said, smiling slyly. Caleb clasped his hand in hers. I flinched.“And I’m Caleb. ALPHA of the Sequoia Pack.”“I don’t think so,” Jacob scoffed. “The Sequoia Pack was taken over by the Lycan King. You’re not the Luna and Alpha. Not anymore.”Now, as much as I hated Jacob, and I really did hate him, I couldn’t help but smile at his little burn. Scarlett and Caleb’s faces contorted at his insult.“How dare you!” Scarlett seethed.“You have no right talking to an alpha like that,” Caleb qu
Eden’s POVUgh! I took a step back, disgusted by his offer.Seriously?Jacob had a really bad habit of not being able to think past his dick. Was he seriously considering letting me go if I….slept with him?What kind of proposal was that? He wanted sex that badly.“You’ve got to be kidding me,” Scarlett chuckled. “You’re willing to put your on life on the line for a roll in the hay? You’re pathetic.”A horn blew again, closer this time.“What do you say, Eden? I’ll be the best fuck you’re ever had.”I highly doubted that.“Are you insane?” Caleb interjected. “She’s the Lycan King’s mate? He’s crazy possessive. He’ll kill you if you sleep with her.”“Nah,” Caleb waved his hand. “I’ll say she seduced me.”“Right. And the King will believe that because you’re soooooo irresistible,” Scarlett mocked.“Enough. This is a pointless conversation. There’s no way in hell that Eden will sleep with you. Not even for her freedom,” Caleb sighed.It was true. I wouldn’t even consider it, not even for
Adrian’s POVSerena didn’t know I was following her. She denied having anything to do with Eden’s disappearance, but I didn’t trust her. As soon as she got the chance, and she thought know one was looking, she snuck out of the packhouse.She ran through the forest, glancing back every so often. I was careful to keep a good distance so she didn’t see me, but not too far away that I lost her.We crossed through the pack boundary and into a different forest. I wondered for a moment if maybe she was lost. How could she make her way through this forest so confidently? But she never paused. She knew the way.After a while, we came to a valley. She stopped dead in her tracks.I was close enough to see what had made her stop.The valley was swarming with warriors.She turned around quickly, panic on her face. Then she veered to the right. She darted across a trail, away from the valley.It was clear that Serena was heading somewhere, but the warriors were in her way.This was a detour.Eventu
Zane’s POVIt was…HER?This whole time?This young, weak werewolf, cowering before me? She was the one responsible for Eden’s disappearance?And what about Adrian? Why was he here? He knew? He knew that Serena was responsible?I shook with rage.Astrid had found blood on a tree trunk not too far away. It was in a clearing at the bottom of the canyon. There were footprints, too. And a long line in the dirt.“See here?” Astrid had said. “It looks like someone was dragging something. Or someone along the ground.”I nodded. We looked everywhere but the trail just suddenly stopped.The thought of someone dragging Eden? My poor Eden? It was horrific.Astrid had put her hand on my arm. “We’ll find her,” she’d assured me.We searched and searched. Every inch of the valley. But it was all just a dead end.Until….“Zane!” Astrid called me over. She was looking up squinting. “I think I just saw something. But I’m not sure.”“Saw what?” I asked.“Well, it’s pretty far up, but see there?” She poin
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?