Chapter 19Logan's POV"How dare you!" I snarled, every inch of my body tensing as the feral instinct to attack surged through my veins. Mia flinched back, eyes widening as she registered the full, lethal threat I represented. Good, let the treacherous bitch reap the consequences of her actions.I moved to lunge, to tear into her vulnerable flesh and make her pay for daring to strike at what was mine. But a firm hand on my bicep stopped me short."Alpha Logan, please." The placating tones came from the male beside Mia - Nathan, if I recalled correctly. An alpha in his own right, though clearly outmatched here. "This was just a misunderstanding between my mate and yours. There's no need for violence."My lips peeled back from my elongated fangs as I fought for control. Part of me recognized his words as the diplomatic truth - I couldn't simply rip out Mia's throat in front of the humans, no matter how richly she deserved it."A misunderstanding?" I bit out through gritted teeth, throw
Chapter 20Nathan's POVWatching Logan and Selene drive off together, so wrapped up in their newfound mated bliss, felt like a gut punch. Seeing two people build a life and future with each other when that chance was ripped away from me...it's the hardest thing for any man to witness.If not for my foolishness and stubborn beliefs all those years ago, maybe it could have been me embracing my true mate with such unrestrained joy. But I'd squandered that precious gift through arrogance and pride."Mia, it's time to go." I reached for her hand, desperate to escape this torturous scenario before it carved any deeper into my fractured psyche. But Mia merely wrenched her arm away from my grasp, stormy eyes flashing defiance as she stalked toward the car without a backwards glance. She moved with jerky, angry motions, dropping her purse in a dramatic huff before wrenching open the driver's side door.I stood rooted to the spot, mouth slightly agape asI watched her unraveling tantrum play o
Chapter 21Logan's POVToday the big dinner with council and elders of Blood Moon pack. My heart beat fast as I approach hall, Selene by my side. My beautiful mate.The whole pack stand when we enter. They respect me as Alpha, their leader. I give nod to show I see them. Selene walk close, I hold her tight like somebody gonna try take her from me. We sit at head table, Selene to my right. My mama and sister Gina on other side. Luke and Zara next to them, Luke my beta. My mother want me mate with Zara before but Moon Goddess choose Selene for me instead.Elder Raph, he old friend of my father, he signal for me to make speech. I squeeze Selene's hand under table and she smile up at me. Her face give me strength.I stand tall and clear my throat. "Greetings, my fellow pack. It been too long since we gather like this for council meeting."I look around at all my people. "Important for Alpha to share bread with those who guide our great pack. Discuss problems and victories as family."I p
Chapter 22Zara's POVI stomp out of Logan's office, face burning with shame and fury. That arrogant bastard! How dare he reject me like that after everything I did to seduce him? I seethe as I recall stripping naked right there, putting my perfect body on display just for him. Yet he didn't even spare me a second glance once that...that nobody Selene walked in.My lip curls in disgust at the memory of Logan shamelessly fawning over the unworthy little outcast. Throwing away his chance with me - an Alpha female of impeccable pedigree - all for some disgraced reject from a lesser pack.This insult cannot go unanswered. My hands clench into fists as I stalk toward the packhouse exit. I don't care if he is Alpha. No one treats me with such disrespect and gets away with it.Bursting outside, I barely make it past the tree line before a low growl rumbles behind me. I whirl to see Luke emerge from the shadows, eyes gleaming in the dimness."What's got you so riled, little sis? Trouble with
Chapter 23 Mia's POVI sit back, drinking in the pungent fumes swirling through Littne's dark ritual chamber. That acrid, swampy stench of dark magics and incantations never fails to fill me with wicked satisfaction these days.A sly smile curves my lips as I recall how gloriously my vengeance against Selene initially unfolded. That naïve little bitch never suspected a thing back when we were supposed "best friends." Made it laughably easy to sabotage her at every turn until she was the one exiled in disgrace instead of me.Of course, my carefully constructed schemes hit a bit of a snag when Selene somehow ended up in the arms of Logan himself - Alpha of the fearsome Blood Moon pack. I sneer at the thought of that arrogant brute and the way he fawned over my castoff trash of an ex-friend.Still, even having that idiot mutt take Selene as his mate shouldn't have posed much issue in the grand scheme. Not if the hex I cast on her wretched former packmate Nathan held true like it was mea
Chapter 24Mia's POVLittne's gnarled claws rake across the aged parchment almost reverently as she outlines the obscene ritual. "To summon a force capable of countering this...Angelicus threat you speak of, a most profane covenant must be undertaken. One requiring the vital essence of your enemy herself as primer."She fixes me with those hollow pits that pass for eyes. "You must present me with a substantial offering of Selene's blood, hair, anything bearing her life force. Only then can the rite be properly channeled."My brow furrows slightly at the daunting prospect. Selene has been granted sanctuary with the full might of the Blood Moon pack protecting her. Extracting anything from her, let alone some kind of biological sample, won't be easy."And I'm supposed to obtain these...offerings directly from under Logan's watchful eye?" I can't quite disguise the mocking skepticism in my tone. "In case you haven't noticed, that arrogant dog has made it his life's mission to keep his ne
Chapter 25Mia's POVThe putrid, swampy reek of Littne's lair clings to my clothes like a viscous miasma as I finally emerge, wrinkling my nose in distaste. Honestly, I'll never understand why that twisted old crone insists on dwelling in such repulsive squalor.I pause to draw in several steadying breaths of fresh forest air, allowing the familiar scents of pine and petrichor to chase away the foulness as I re-center myself. My gaze shifts toward the lightening sky just peeking through the canopy overhead, streaks of pre-dawn violet already starting to bleed across the horizon.A cruel smirk twists my lips as I think of the seeds of beautiful, glorious ruination I've planted this long, profane night. Soon enough, everything in that sacred celestial expanse will come to fear the name of the one true Lich Queen ascending.But first, there's the delicate matter of upholding certain...domestic pretenses in the interim, lest I arouse suspicion about my nefarious schemes from any undue cor
Chapter 26Nathan's POVI wake up with a start, heart pounding. Mia's side of bed is cold and empty. She not here again. I frown, looking around our small den. No sign of her nowhere. Where she go at this hour before sunrise?Worry twist my gut. Mia been acting strange lately, like part of her drift away somewhere I can't follow. I want help her, be good mate, but she not let me in no more.Rustle outside make me tense. Ears perk up, catching familiar bootsteps and sweet herbal scent. Just Mia coming back from one of her lone forest walks. But why she out roaming alone so early, before light even? Not like her to take such risks these days, not after all the troubles that plague us.Making up my mind quick, I tug on clothes and slip out after her trail. Need to understand what troubling her so. If she won't confide, at least I can settle my own fears about how she been lately.I follow her winding path through the dark trees. The quiet only broke by night critters and soft footfal
Sophie's Trial Before the Elders.“Do you know why you have been summoned here? Traitor?” Nathan asked. Raging on while the elders of the council exchanged looks, Sophie, on the other hand, didn't budge a bit; she didn't mind; as a matter of fact, to her, they were all fools, eating out of her hand.This was exactly where she wanted to be; this was the entire plan she had in mind. as knew Matt was forever, but apart from the crazy love obsession that Matt had over her, there was also a slight issue that raised a hell lot of problems.It was the blind love and stupendous loyalty he had for Logan ; of course she knew eventually he was going to eat her out. Besides, what was she ever going to gain from including Matt in her plan from the beginning?.She could have taken the babies by herself, for all she knew; however, she wanted them distracted. Turned against one another."Yes, your highness, I am here to stand trial, as the customs of the pack are the only chance I get to prove my i
“I will be a better man." selene , I said I'm sorry.” He pleaded, straining his voice, Hw pulled closer to her, but she ignored him. He said not even a single word, panic and pain coursing through his vein, swallowing hard. He had rolled his eyes before sinking into the chair.She had been this way all day, apart from the constant cries of the babies. Nothing else had been said between them both.“I'll be out for some air," Nathan added reluctantly. More pain coursed through his veins, yet he could not help himself. The more he tried to think of it, The more sorrow had plagued her mind, it was one thing for the constant arguments; it was another when she had shut him out.He ! I certainly knew she would keep up with her icy attitude towards him for just about long enough, and the mere thought of it made him really weary, thinking down into things like that wasn't what he needed.He rested against the balcony; he hacked the wall while he drew out a cigarette and lit on the end; the e
“Matt?” Sophie called out; her heart skipped beats as soon as she cast her gaze against that of Logan's and nathan 's; it was Matt who had betrayed her and screwed her over.“I'll ask Sophie, Where are my children? '' Nathan asked, glaring widely, anger wallowing within him.Of course, he was told by the wall that it was what he needed to do. In a bit, all he had to do was speak, rage on, and lash out! Whatever, he knew he wasn't going to repeat himself, and he was certain the words were clear enough.“I'm sorry… I'm really sorry.” She mustered beneath her breath, pain and anger eating away at her.Logan didn't like the fact that Nathan was doing too much; it was his babies, his kids, and so far as pleased everyone knew the pups didn't belong to Nathan and that selene had been pregnant when she came to join their pack.Yet he wasn't prepared to face his wrath at a moment like this, nor wasn't seen calling him names and passing on blame to him.“They are right, right here.” Sop
!“Selene ?” Logan called out her name, almost as though he had seen a ghost. His heart hammered in his chest. He had a lot to say to her, a whole lot to explain, but he knew at the moment he dared not voice out a single thing.“I'm sorry, we should have done this a long time ago.” Logan Wolf added in, feeling the pain he had felt, and it ate away at both of them, barely holding up to them.“What part of don't step out if your room did not get yours?” Nathan asked, becoming angry himself. He balled his fast signs and approached selene s' horse.“Don't get out of my room. Or keep her locker DUP like some rabid dog?” selene asked my response while staring deep down into nathan 's orbs. She felt no empathy, love, pain, or regret of any kind as she spoke with him. It was safe to say that every form of butterflies she'd had in her belly before, the ones he'd given her, entirely made me sick down to the core. He could barely understand it.“What do you mean? It's making no sense right n
“Do not make me repeat myself; I want those doors opened now!” Selene yelled at the top of her voice, and the maids shook their heads in response. Passing each other questioning glances and gazes, uncertain of how to handle the entire situation, cold sweat broke off from Selene's temples. She wasn't certain what to do or how to handle the entire situation.For the fact that she had woken rather late and weak but couldn't find her babies, two things settled into her mind, but then Matt passed by saying he had taken them to the shaman for preparation of rites. She had zero problems with that, apart from when the issue began. And yells, and then Matt has not returned.She felt it must have been something else, but it became rather unsettling again, seeing guards stand by her doorstep, bolting the door closed. And when she asked the maids, they claimed she was meant to be in confinement, nothing else; that certainly rang a bell—a crazy one at that."Oh, please... I'll make you regret this
“Your highness!” Matt yelled at the top of his voice while he hastened his steps into the room. Nathan tilted his head slowly before adding more colleges to his shirt. Nathan glanced at himself in the ! mirror, feeling somewhat more accomplished. He was a father, so he had to start dressing responsibly.He was a father now.The mere thought of it made him smile baselessly while taking a long and lasting look at his reflection in the mirror, admiring every little piece of exposed skin that he had. He always argues himself not to be a narcist, but when it got down to terms of his body, he did really well at that. He always had a thing or two to say about how perfect his body was and how drop-dead gorgeous he looked.“Your highness, it's urgent.” Matt repeated it again, scared to the brim while his heart raced in his chest, yet still, he knew for a fact that breaking down would make things worse. “Your highness!” he called out again, raging inwardly while sweat trickled off his templ
PREPARING FOR THEIR NAMING CEREMONY “Bring out the best wines we have! The best cattle; have them prepared; let the people in as I call for celebration; my wife has given birth to two boys; we have two young alphas and heirs to the throne." Nathan yelled at the top of his voice, happiness seeping into him while he made the announcement, loud yells as I lunated a follow-follow while very rammed their hands together.Each one pauses the gist of the news to another. Smiles upon their faces at the happiness of the alpha, good news was needed in the pack, and it had to come as a double blessing.Everyone hailed the Lord for all that had happened, as happiness shook them totally, meekness and joy, they all chanted and yelled. Smiling ear to ear.That was all that had been needed—the very thing that was expected.Yet amidst the happy crowd, Sophie had a very ugly frown on her face.“My love," Matt had called out to her, running his hands over her shoulder and down to her exit.She closed th
LEXUS POV.Soft, gentle knocks were placed on her door repeatedly. I got no response on the first few knocks, and later on, I panicked a bit and pushed the door, but it had been bolted from inside, which meant she was still in.“Zara , it's me!.” I spoke up. I heard footsteps approaching the door while she pushed it open, revealing her fluffy eyes and black circles beneath them. Her face seemed rough, as did her hair. She looked a little sleepy, almost like I had woken her from her sleep.“Why did it take you so long to get to the door? Besides, why are you looking like this?” I asked, breaking off but having the end slurred out long enough that she understood what it was that I had meant.“I'm so sorry, but I don't feel too well; you seem a little... Confused, if I might say, besides, what's the deal with you? I'm not making complaints, but I'm sure Logan doesn't want to see you around me, and if he doesn't get what he wants, he makes everyone else into the bad guy.,” she retorted,
“That color suits you, love.” Nathan teases while selene spins around hastily, a smile curving up on her lips as she listens to Nathan 's words.“You aren't meant to be here, Nathan ; it's nothing but bad luck to see the bride before she is married off to you.” selene added in, sounding quite chirpy with a smile on her face, and Nathan rolled his eyes at the person who never cared much about diabolical rumors.“All I wanted to do was take a sneak peek at my bride and also be sure she's on board with the entire thing. selene If you feel like this'd be way too much for you to handle, I'm very sorry, but we can stop this. I don't want you overthinking or working yourself up because of my decision. All you need to do is say the word. I promise I'll call it off in a heartbeat.” Nathan reassures Hee, who had been up listening to two, however it was that Nathan would not help but push a smile against his lips.What exactly was the entire deal about? She knew herself to be one person