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
Chapter 27 Mia's POVI wake before the sun peek over the trees. Time to set next move in motion. I slip quiet from bed, not want to wake Nathan yet. He make bad actor and I need him blind for now. I grab quill and parchment from my pack sitting by the door.The words flow easy, practiced lies dripping from my pen:"Dear Luke, You surprised to hear from me, but no need. I occupied with pack work Logan don't want to hear. Feel he never let rogues like us get too close now. I think we should meet, talk in person. Just you and me.Mia"I smirk reading it over. Just enough truth sprinkled in to not raise too much suspicion from that half-feral lout.Outside, I hear the cawing cry of the raven Littne send to be my herald. Bony talons scrape at the window shutter as the clever bird waits for its message. I hurry over and gently tie the folded note to its scaly leg. One firm look in those beady black eyes is all it need to screech out a hoarse cry and take wing over the canopy. Off to f
Chapter 28Mia's POVI lay back on the rumpled furs, feeling Nathan's solid weight shift off me. That was...satisfactory enough, I suppose. He certainly seemed pacified and pliant for the time being after our joining, as usual.Though in truth, the entire ritual of physical intimacy grows more distasteful with each repetition these days. I can't even muster the faintest flickers of arousal or release anymore, simply going through the motions out of pragmatic necessity to maintain control over this pathetic pawn.With a slight frown, I drag myself into a sitting position and survey Nathan's prone, sated form beside me. He's already drifting back toward unconsciousness, chest rising and falling in the steady cadence of meaningless slumber. How utterly oblivious he remains to the cataclysms steadily engulfing his paltry existence.Well, I can't have him getting too complacent just yet. Not when there's still so much delicious discord left to sow before this day is through. One slender ha
Chapter 29Nathan's POVI woke up early in the morning, expecting to find Mia by my side, but to my surprise, she was nowhere to be found. The empty space beside me felt cold, and a sense of unease crept over me. I recalled our discussion from the previous night about her Luna ceremony, and I couldn't help but wonder if her absence had something to do with it.Pushing aside my concerns, I got out of bed and headed to the bathroom to freshen up. As the warm water cascaded over my body, my mind raced with thoughts of Mia and her whereabouts. I hoped she wasn't still upset about our disagreement.After my bath, I made my way to the training ground, hoping to clear my mind and focus on my duties as the alpha. As I approached, I spotted Gaza, my trusted beta, already engaged in his training routine."Gaza!" I called out, grabbing his attention.He immediately stopped and bowed his head in respect. "Good morning, Alpha. How can I assist you?"I hesitated for a moment before asking, "Have yo
CHAPTER 30 Luke's POV: I was cleaning the backside of our pack's training area, the place where Logan and I used to train together. As I worked, I noticed a raven perched on a nearby tree, making a lot of noise. Curious, I moved closer to investigate. As I approached, I saw a small piece of paper tied to the raven's leg. The bird dropped the note, and I picked it up, unfolding it carefully. A smile spread across my face as I realized it was from Mia, my childhood friend from our days as rogues before Logan took Zara and me in. Excited, I quickly scribbled a reply, suggesting we meet at the lake where we used to play as kids. I tied the message to the raven's leg and watched as it flew away. Just then, I heard footsteps behind me and turned to see Zara approaching, looking upset. "Luke, you won't believe what happened!" she exclaimed, her voice filled with frustration. "What's wrong, little sis?" I asked, concerned. "It's Alpha Logan," Zara complained. "He keeps ignoring me and c
CHAPTER 31 Mia's POV: I returned to the Night Fall pack, my heart heavy with worry. As soon as I stepped foot inside the pack's boundaries, I heard the news that made my blood run cold: Nathan was sick. I felt my face crumble, tears threatening to spill from my eyes as I raced towards the pack hospital, my feet carrying me as fast as they could. Bursting through the doors, I saw Nathan lying on a bed, looking pale and weak. I rushed to his side, my heart pounding in my chest. "Nathan!" I cried out, my voice filled with anguish. I turned to Gaza, who was standing nearby, his face etched with concern. "What happened?" Gaza shook his head sadly. "He went out looking for you and collapsed. We brought him here as quickly as we could." I fell to my knees beside Nathan's bed, clasping his hand in mine. Tears streamed down my face as I pleaded with the moon goddess to spare my mate. "Please, please don't take him from me," I begged, my voice barely above a whisper. As I wept, a single t
Chapter 32 Logan's POV: Days had passed since the attack in the dinner hall, and I found myself growing weaker with each passing moment. Olie, my wolf, was restless and unhappy, yearning for Selena's presence. Her disappearance, orchestrated by Mia, had left a gaping hole in both of us. "Luke!" I called out from my office, my voice strained. "Luke!" But there was no response. I knew he was just outside the pack office, yet he pretended not to hear me. Frustration bubbled up inside me, mixing with the ever-present pain. The door creaked open, and Gina, my sister and Luke's mate, stepped inside. "Brother, are you okay?" she asked, her voice laced with concern. I kept my face hidden, not wanting her to see the weakness etched upon it. "No, Gina. I'm not okay. Please, you have to get Luke." Gina nodded and left the room, her footsteps echoing as she descended the stairs. I could hear their muffled conversation, Luke feigning ignorance to my calls. Finally, he entered the office, a l
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