I round the corner, and the sight that befalls me is just what I saw in my head. Orrin really is here, and so are Adrian and Tracey.Both Adrian and Tracey spot me first, but they both seem to be in shock, so neither says anything.Orrin is hypnotised, and my heart lurches.“Byron!” I yell my brother’s name while using my vampiric speed to reach him.I hold my hand up towards him, throwing him against the wall. But for some reason, it didn’t break his hold on Orrin, who is still standing stock still and staring into space.It seems my brother’s power has grown in the time I’ve been gone.“What the hell was that?” Byron yells while getting to his feet.“What the hell do you think you’re doing, Byron? This is my husband!”He yanks on the lapels of his suit jacket while rolling his neck. “I know who he is, Anja. However, he brought others with him; no one should be able to do that! The portal is for direct descendants of the Crowley-Beaumont family, not strangers.”“What have you done no
Charles led Adrian and me to a room down the hallway in which we landed. Anja and Orrin didn’t follow; they were led away by Anja’s father.I’m not going to lie; I am terrified right now. What Charles said in the hallway about him being my real father shocked me.I mean, it can’t be true, right?My mother wouldn’t be that cruel, would she?I sit beside Adrian on the old-fashioned sofa and keep my hand in his.I’ve never seen anything like this room. I’m not sure what year we’re in, but it seems to be the 1800s or thereabout. From the décor and furniture, I’d say I was right.If that’s the case, and if what this man is saying is the truth, then I’m related to my best friend. Christ, it would make Anja my aunt! And to think, I thought I was older than Anja.It also means that my mother has been lying to me my whole life. She bound my wolf, but she kept my true identity from me.How am I supposed to forgive that?I don’t want to believe Charles could be my father; I feel I would be betra
“You don’t have to do anything you don’t want to do, Tracey. Just know that I’m right by your side, and I always will be.”‘I know,’ I tell him through the mind-link. ‘But what about the baby? I don’t want to do anything that would harm him, Adrain.’We found out that we were having a boy just yesterday. Liam sniffed out the gender of our baby, shocking Adrian and me. We’ve decided to call our child Adam, and we can’t wait to meet him.I know that neither Adrian nor I will ever treat our son the way we were treated. My mother may have loved me, and Adrian’s father loved him, but they did everything wrong. We want the best for our child, and we’ll make sure he gets it, no matter what.Adrian smiles while tucking my hair behind my ear. ‘Adam will be just fine, Tracey. I would never allow you to do this if I believed it could harm Adam in any way. Looking into the past won’t hurt him because you won’t be moving from this room. You’ll be seeing Charles’ memories, nothing more.’I accept A
I watch Charles as he scrubs his hands over his face and sighs. Then out of nowhere, a woman appears, as if by magic.‘What are you doing here?’The woman I can see is one of the most beautiful I have ever seen. Her long, dark red wine hair falls in waves around her shoulders and back. Her red lips shine in the light, her big midnight blue eyes have light blue swirls, and her porcelain skin shimmers. Her curves are covered in gothic attire, and she wears a dagger at her waist. I see it because her long coat shifts as she moves toward Charles.‘I came to check on you,’‘You shouldn’t care about me; I’m not worth your time.’‘Maybe not,” The woman shrugs. ‘But it won’t stop me.’‘You shouldn’t be here, Victoria. My grandfather didn’t grant you the power of time travel so that you could follow me.’‘No, he granted me that power because I’m a fierce warrior. I protect our people because it’s what I was born to do, and I’m good at that. Theodore trusts that I would never abuse time travel,
I take a deep breath while pulling my hands away from Charles.“None of what you showed me proves that you are my father. I don’t understand why you’d even think that you were.”“I have many abilities, Tracey. One of those abilities is to recognise my own kin.”“All wolves can recognise their own kin.” Adrian points out.Charles nods his head once.“This is true. However, my ability is amplified when it comes to my children.” Charles looks at me. “The moment my eyes landed on you, I saw myself in your eyes. When I looked at you, the love that filled me could only come about for my child.”Tears fill my eyes.Though my mother told me now and again that she loved me, Robert never did. I don’t remember him ever saying it to my siblings either. But the truth is, I never really felt loved or wanted by Karen or Robert. I always felt as though I were a burden to them.I know now the reason was that Karen was terrified Robert would find out what she had done and she’d lose him. She treated me
Victoria stops and looks at me for a second. She smiles at me, then at Adrian, who gets to his feet and tips his head in greeting.“Victoria, is everything okay?”“I’m sorry, Charlie,” I like that she calls him Charlie; it’s cute. “Briar said that you were busy, but William snuck off, and I didn’t realise right away.”“There’s nothing to be sorry about. Victoria,” She moves to Charles’ side, wrapping his arm around her shoulder. “I’d like you to meet Tracey and Adrian.”Victoria shakes my hand, and then Adrian’s. “The Prince of Zidiah?”I narrow my eyes.How did she know that?‘Timetravel, idiot.’‘Thanks, Simia!’“That’s right,” Adrian smiles. “And Tracey is my mate.”Victoria looks at me again, furrowing her brow slightly.“Charles, is there something you forgot to tell me?”Victoria has her back to me, but Charles, I can see, is staring into her eyes. His own have turned red. From what I know, this is how vampires communicate when talking to their mate, the same way wolves do.I’m
Whatever the arsehole standing against the back wall did to me has left a massive headache behind. I don’t know what happened; I just know I couldn’t break out of his hold. After a moment of struggling, mentally against Byron’s hold, everything went black.I don’t remember anything until a light hit me, and I fell to the floor. Then there she was, my Anja, right in front of me. I had never felt relief like it!Finding out Anja’s older brother is Tracey’s father is a lot to take in. That wasn’t something I expected when I fell through the portal. If it turns out to be accurate, I don’t know where that will leave my brother.Will Charles expect Tracey to live in the past with him?No, that can’t be true. It would never work. Besides, I know Charles Crowley-Beaumont is alive in the future. My grandfather did business with him years ago. Not that we consort with vampires, but the Crowley-Beaumonts are hybrids, which grandfather believed meant he wasn’t going against his own rule about sta
‘Asha, please calm down.’‘No! It’s alright for you, you’ve got your father. I want mine!’I sigh as Asha pushes me back into my mind. I can’t keep control when she’s like this, and nothing I say will calm her down.‘Asha,’ Alarick speaks through Orrin’s mouth, trying to calm his mate. ‘Everything is okay, my love.’‘No, everything is not okay!’Asha stands, looking right at Papa. ‘Tell me where my father is right now!’‘Asha?’ Mama stands, and I see that her wolf, Alice, speaks through her mouth.‘Mother,’ We rush into our mother’s arms, and she holds us closely.I understand how Asha is feeling; I’ve spent time with my parents, leaving my wolf to look on in. Of course, she’d want to be with her parents too.‘Calm, my little wolf, everything is alright.’‘I cannot sense father. Where is he?’Alice smiles while touching Asha's face. ‘He’s right behind you,’Asha spins on the spot, coming face to face with Atlas, who has taken over Papa’s body. His eyes are white over, and Papa looks e
Twenty-Five years later “Dad? You okay?” I turn away from my bedroom window and face my daughter with a smile. “Something I can help you with?” Lilly says nothing, just walks into my open arms. My daughter will one day take over the throne. My sons are strong Romarians, but Lillian is an Omerian, much more powerful than anyone predicted. It’s been many years since there was a crowned Queen of Zidiah. My daughter will be the first in two hundred years. My children have struggled with having Lorcan’s spirit share Luther’s body all their lives. The witch who stole him from us did the unthinkable. Killing the child as we thought was bad enough, but what she’d, in fact, done was force Luther and Lorcan to share one body. It took twenty-five years and Luther’s little mate to separate Luther and Lorcan. But Jenna did it, and Lorcan is now here in the physical. I love Lorcan, none could ever say that I don’t, but the boy is insane. All those years living inside his brother have left Lo
I gasp and stumble as blood falls from my mouth. The power of the Firsts rips from my body, flowing back into them.What the fuck just happened?I fall to my knees, gasping for air and clutching my chest. I feel as though I’m in another dimension, but, strangely, I feel like my old self once again.Thank the Goddess!However, I remember every vile thing I’ve done over the past weeks, and my heart is breaking.Tears fall from my eyes, and I sob. I’m a monster! There is no other word for it: I’m a monster and will never be anything more.“Anja?” I look at the man crouching in front of me. “My child,” Mythius cups my cheek. “You are free.”“I don’t know what happened,” I admit.“The blood of the Firsts corrupted your heart and mind. It almost stole your life force, but your mate saved you. How did he do this? No one knows.”“Orrin,” My eyes widen. “Where is he?”Mythius smiles sadly. “I’m sorry, young one.”“No,” I shake my head while clambering to my feet. “He’s not gone; I would feel i
“Are you sure this is the way?”“Yes, Freddy,” I mumble.Today is the day. I have but moments to save Anja, and I cannot fail. It’s taken days to find her hiding place, yet it shouldn’t have – not when we’ve followed the bodies along the way.So many shifters have been killed, too many to count. It seemed that no one was safe from my mate. Anja cared not for who she killed nor the land she destroyed.What has become of my mate?If I do manage to save her, will she ever be the same?Will she be my Anja or someone I don’t recognise?I feel sick with nerves as I approach the cave in which Anja is hiding. Liam, Adrian, and Freddy all insisted on coming with me. It didn’t matter how many times I protested; they wouldn’t listen. I also know the Firsts are following, hiding out of sight, but they’re there.They’ve come to the end of their tether, and no amount of me protesting would stop them from ending Anja. Onyx, the first dragon, almost angrily set fire to my pack!I’ll never know how th
“You need to sort this, Orrin!” I roll my eyes at Mythius. Fucking vampire prick is driving me nuts! I know that I need to sort things, but I’m at a loss for what to do here. “Your mate is out of control, and the Firsts have been talking. They want Anja neutralised before the week is out.” I know what that means; they want Anja put down. It won’t happen, but I don’t know how much longer I can hold them off. After what happened in the woods the other day, things have been slowly getting worse. Anja has killed more people than even I can count. Goddess knows I understand where Mythius and others are coming from. But I cannot stand back and allow anyone to hurt my mate. Our cubs need her; I need her! Four days ago, I was called to the forest, where I found my mate torturing rogues. Adrain, Liam, and I ran as fast as we could when Mythius called. Bodies were littering the ground, decapitated, deformed, and bent in unnatural ways. Dozens upon dozens of rogues were dead as the Firsts,
It’s dark, always so dark.My life was once filled with love and light, but that’s all gone now. All that is left behind is rage and darkness.I don’t want to be this way; it’s lonely where I am right now – locked inside my head. But I can’t deal with the pain of losing my son.Lorcan was cruelly snatched from me by a madwoman for no other reason than she could. I am one of if not the strongest person in our world. One witch should not have been able to curse me; I should have been able to take her voice and stop her.Why then couldn’t I?Why was I frozen and unable to speak?But I couldn’t speak, and I couldn’t stop that woman from taking my son from me. I still don’t understand her words, and I don’t even care to try. That bitch took something from me that I will never be able to get back.No one will ever understand what that witch did to me that day. I knew that I was out of control, hurting my own people because I couldn’t stop myself.But did I really deserve to lose my son beca
Some Months Later. . .Time is getting closer. I have around a week to save Anja, and I still haven’t worked out how to do that. She’s so out of control that the whole city is coming down around me.The Elders are on my case to contain Anja, while my people are terrified of what their Queen will do next. My pack will end in rack and ruin at this rate, and it won’t be long before my enemies swarm in.I have dozens wanting to take Anja from me. Many of whom would use her powers for their own ends, just as my cubs informed me.I am doing everything in my power to keep Anja safe, but it’s not easy. Anja fights me on everything, and just one person disagrees with her, and she ends their lives as if they were nothing.I feel as though I’m being pulled in ten different directions. The Elders, though they stay in hiding away from Anja, have been on my case to put her down. Like she’s a fucking dog!I know Anja is bringing around the destruction of our pack. But I can’t bring myself to hurt he
On the other hand, Amanda and Leopold felt the mate bond the moment they laid eyes on each other. They sparked in a way no other Kulumi bear ever has, and their love story is one that will last the ages. A woman out of her timeline with the face of another ended up being the King’s, destined mate. Nothing could have been more perfect.“Amanda,” Leopold wraps Amanda in his big arms, lifting her slightly because she’s a foot and half shorter than he is. “My love.”Though I knew Leopold loved Amanda, I never realised how much until this moment. The pale blue and lilac auras swimming around their heads as they kiss tenderly only provides more evidence that they belong together. They’re deeply in love, and nothing could take that away from them, not even death.I understand now why Leopold would never take another wife. He wasn’t and never would be over his true mate.Is it wrong to keep from the King his wife’s true identity?I don’t believe so.Why cause more pain when it won’t change an
I hadn’t heard Brody come into the room, but he’s certainly made his presence known since. “What have you done to my father?”“Brody, stand down,” Leopold waves his hand at his son.“Stand down? She was banished from Kulumi and ended up the damn Queen of Zidiah.”Leopold narrows his eyes, confused by what Brody just said about me being banished from Kulumi. But of course, he would be.“Does the King know she’s here? Or should we be expecting Orrin Dalgaard to bring war down on us?”I get to my feet.Brody is no threat to me, but I won’t have him stand over me, trying to intimidate me.“Orrin knows that I’m here, Brody. No, he wasn’t happy about it, but when I explained why I needed to come, he took a step back.”“Why are you here?” The man who used to be my best friend grinds between his teeth.I take a deep breath before using my vampiric ability to wipe Brody’s memories of who I was to him, just as I did with Leopold.I then explain everything to Brody. Every little thing I told Leo
“It is true, Leopold. But there’s more.” “What more could there be, Anja?” I know this is a lot for Leopold to take in, but he needs to know everything. So, I explain his sister-in-law’s plans to kill his child due to Amanda’s death. Leopold’s eyes widen in shock, and I see the bear within trying to break out. Not once did Leopold blame Dania for what happened. “I’ll kill her!” Leopold roars. ‘Why did you tell him that?!’ Asha screams inside my head. ‘You didn’t need to say anything. You planned to glamour the clan into forgetting who you were here and believing Amanda hadn’t even died. ‘Everything would have been as it always was, but you had to go and spill this shit to the King. Once you’d glamoured everyone, nobody would have wanted to kill Dania. What the hell is wrong with you?’ Crap! Asha is correct, but I wasn’t thinking. I am so overly tired, and I’ve used so much power today that I’m starting to slow down. ‘Wipe the memory, Anja! Amanda’s sister was acting due to gri