Raven, Dora's head tilted, and her gaze met mine, breaking into a smile and waving like a child on Christmas morning. My legs felt like lead. I stood there, not knowing whether to turn around and gallop out of there or brace up and go to them. My breathing felt compressed, like two hippos with a chest cold. I wasn't foolish to mistrust them. They were vampires, after all, and I had no idea what they were up to. The almost empty coffee shop had only a handful of patrons, old men arguing over politics. Gradually, I approached them and played it cool, glazing at Vlad's twin like a wolf in a trap. My eyes surveyed for any escape route when he swung around and shove upright like he was sitting on a cactus when our eyes met. His mouth widened in alarm like one who'd seen a ghost. Dora must either be telling the truth or they were damn good actors. I would go for the latter one. "Come on," Dora gestured with her hands. I approached them, giving Vlad's twin a crisp nod, and slipped int
Lucian My mind wobbled with lots of thoughts. Dora and Raven's expectant gazes were on me, waiting for me to speak. The pressure was too much, and I didn't know what to do or think. "Listen, guys, this is not as easy as you think. First of all, that place is filled with lots of Dimitri's bad men. Secondly, Dimitri doesn't trust me anymore. And thirdly, even Vlad himself hated me the last time I tried to see him. He beat me so hard." "We know all of this, but there's no harm in attempting to at least try. You need to help us get Vlad out of there, not just for his life but for the life of the kingdom." Raven was staring at me. I could tell she didn't trust me, and she had every right not to. All I wanted was for this to end. I was surprised and even ashamed that she knew I was a phony all along. After about an hour of planning and strategizing, darkness descended upon us. "Here's what you should do. Don't attempt to hide, because that would rouse their suspicion. Go through the ma
Raven My heart pounded like a frightened bird, racing to escape, as I ran through the night. The darkness was consuming, making the hairs on my nape raise with raw fear, but I moved swiftly along, ignoring my rising panic. The area was a vampire coven, so I couldn't shift into my wolf. I had to trust my human gut feeling and continue running. "What if something goes wrong? What if Vlad has been caught? What if you die?" Several nasty thoughts kept flying in, causing me to get frightened beyond measure, but I put a fire under my feet, attempting to lighten my mood with the hope of seeing Vlad tonight. "I'll see Vlad tonight," I chanted like a mantra. I hastened because it was almost midnight. The hotel Lucian recommended didn't seem to be popular. I stopped to take a breath when I began seeing spots in my vision and closed my eyes, taking a deep breath to regain control. A screech made me jolt into motion and I staggered slightly, my breathing unstable, and scrunched my nose i
Raven Vlad grinned at me and our breaths mixed hotly. It was an intimate moment for us as we forgot about our problems and focused on each other, savoring the warmth and peacefulness that emitted between us. My legs felt like jelly after he made me orgasm so hard. Vlad leaned back, breathing heavily and stroking my arm. "That was… wonderful." I nodded with a satisfied smile and my heart slammed with love for him. "You're so beautiful," his breath came in soft pants. " I still can't believe you're here by my side and I'm not in that fucking Manor. It feels like a dream." He stopped smiling and his face held a whiff of bitterness in it. I kissed him, whispering gently to him. "You're out and I'm the happiest person alive right now." He broke into a small, tight smile, trying hard not to ruin the moment but I could see the string on his face as he held himself from ranting. I straddled him and kissed his anger away. Despite the surplus of problems we were facing, Vlad made me f
Lucian I couldn't take any more of that heartless bastard's manipulations and wickedness. It was time to do what I should have done a long time ago. Yanking the microchip off my ear, the stupid tracking device Dimitri forced me to use, I held the device in my hand and my heart pounded. It was time to break myself away. Dimitri was constantly monitoring me and Dora advised me not to destroy it yet until Vlad was safe so as not to raise any suspicion. "What are you doing?" Anna whispered harshly, with her widened gaze focused on me. "Time to rebel." My breath sounded loud in my ears and my heartbeat pounded with blinding, pitiless hatred for Dimitri. My fingers clenched around the microchip until the fragile casing began to crack under my pressure. Blinking light flickered faster as if gasping for survival. "Enough is enough," I muttered, applying more pressure. With a satisfying snap, the microchip split in two. The blinking light died and relief washed over me. "What have
Nova Nothing felt right when I blinked, trying to adjust to the brightness of the hospital room. My head spun like wheels and the room thickened in a blur. Why was the damn fluorescent light overwhelmingly harsh for my eyes? I shut my eyes, taking several breaths before trying again. The first thing I noticed were the bandages wrapped around my arm. It dawned on me that I was in a hospital judging from the smell My parents sat on a sofa opposite my bed, facing each other and speaking in hushed tones. They hadn't noticed that I'd woken up. My dad nibbled from a half-eaten plate of fish and chips while my mum yawned, exhausted with bed hair. It made me wonder how long I have been here. The accident flashed back in my mind. I remembered walking aimlessly past a two lane road, close to my modeling agency and was trying hard to clear my head after the crazy heartbreak Vlad had hurled at me. He treated me like a dog and shattered my heart beyond repair. I'd never felt so devasta
RavenI stood by the window, fixated on the bustling street below as people hurried back and forth. Vlad's desperation to retrieve the staff was becoming more evident, evident in his suppressed anger and edgy behavior.Small things would annoy him now, and our conversations would often turn into arguments. The staff had consumed his thoughts, and the abduction had left him on edge. It was clear that his life was at stake, aside from his father's.One day, when I tried to discuss telling my dad about our situation, he snapped at me, and I couldn't take it anymore."Listen, blood," he said, trying to control his temper. "I know how important finding the staff is to you, but it's not easy for me either. You have to understand. This situation is tearing us apart. Look at where we are now, separated from our families. I can't even tell my dad where I am. I should be in school right now, preparing for my aptitude test."His gaze softened, and he reached out to cup my chin. "I'm sorry, baby,
Raven My legs scrambled into motion, fighting to maintain speed with Vlad. We continued our journey on foot, and I felt a shakiness in my limbs, paralyzed with fear. Everywhere looked more sinister now that my dad wasn't with me. Knowing how smart my dad was, he was probably going to suspect foul play and find a way to get the staff before me. Vlad wasn't helping matters; he was so irritated and impatient, with his eyes like flint stones and a dark scowl playing on his face. I needed to do this for him before he loses his shit. We kept moving, with Vlad waiting for my direction. I was so tired and needed a break but I didn't dare tell him. My heartbeat raced with a fluttery feeling in my belly when I recognized a sun-baked road that we had driven past when my dad and I came here. Then I recognized the colored huts, the tall flagpole, and the wooden benches scattered throughout the place. "Vlad, I think this is the place," I pointed out the road. His face lit like a sunburst
JalenThe overpowering smell of old, musty leather filled my dad's beat-up sedan, and the sound of his angry voice rose above the roar of the engine as he scolded me for shifting into my beast form. Tension filled the car, and my anger radiated off me in waves."Is it such a difficult task to control yourself in public? Have you never seen a girl before that you had to shift into your beast form? Now everyone in the pack will yap about how my son was aroused by a stupid werewolf.""I wasn't aroused by her," I lied, trying to defend myself, but he was too far gone in his rage to listen."Griffin, please hear him out. There may be other reasons why he shifted, and besides, Jalen can't be attracted to that spoiled brat.""Oh, shut up," my dad barked at my mom, who had stepped in to try and calm the situation. "That's all you do, make fat and silly excuses for him. He never does anything right. I'll be retiring in a year, and I don't even know the future of our pack."She sat in silence,
Clarissa I fell to the stage, surrounded by flashing cameras and concerned faces, I couldn't believe what had just happened. My heart was racing and I was hyperventilating, trying to process the fact that a Lycan was my mate.All around me, my family rushed to my side, trying to help me up and calm me down. My mother's caked-on makeup was smudged with sweat, a proof to her concern and worry. And all around, people were talking and trying to make sense of what was happening. 'Breathe, Rissa,' I encouraged myself, breathing out of my nostrils.Why was the moon goddess doing this to me? My brain couldn't process this at all. I'd been mateless for twenty-three years only to become a forbidden Lycan's mate?Fucking great!My mum squeezed my hand to comfort me. She was going to keep blaming me for months for disgracing her. "Here, sip some water," she said. My brother, Bryon, held my head while my dad checked my temperature. I felt lightheaded and was breathing quickly, inhaling and exh
Dearest gentle readers, *wink. This book is a sequel to Bound By The Lycan's Curse, which is Raven's dad amd Stepmom's love story. Kindly support by reading and enjoying the rollercoaster of emotions and unwavering love between a werewolf and a Lycan after fifty years of rivalry between both factions. Below is an expert.Chapter 1 I gazed out at the bright sun through the tinted windows of my dad's limousine, and rhe diamonds on my dress seemed to mock me, reminding me of my failure.Growing up, I thought all the males would fall at my feet because I was the Alpha's daughter, and my dad was a billionaire. But now, at twenty-three, with a first-class degree from Harvard and all the money in the world, I had no mate.To crown it all, my longtime boyfriend had been cheating on me with my best friend for months before I found out, thanks to the moon goddess, who paired them as mates.Thinking about it now made my chest tight. The two people whom I loved and trusted betrayed me in the mo
EpilogueSix years later "Raven, my love, ever since I met you, I've fantasized about this moment," Vlad's voice trembled with emotion. "I can't imagine a world without you. We have everything we need – money, a loving family, and a future ahead. Please, baby, will you marry me?"Caught off guard by Vlad's proposal, I burst into tears, turning to mush and ruining my perfectly done makeup."You naughty boy! Why didn't you tell me about this," I blubbered, hitting his shoulder? His perfect dentition broke into a killer smile, as my head bobbed in a yes. "Of course, I'll marry you," my heart sang with delight. "you own me after all.""I owe you my life," he said and I threw myself at his arms. He wrapped them tight around me, the smell of his cologne and our mating bond engulfing me and sending shivers down my spine. Gently, he slipped a Tiffany style round cut engagement ring onto my third finger, and the diamondsglinted brightly against my skin. "So this is why that silly girl, Ta
Raven The Doctor and King Vladislav walked in slowly, with the king standing beside me.I sobbed uncontrollably to the point that I began seeing spots and my vision became blurred, and I could hardly see the people in front of me anymore. The king's eyes were clouded with sadness and regret. I could feel the pressure building in my throat, making my breathing feel constricted. "Raven, please don't cry. You have done enough. Let's just say goodbye to Vlad.""Goodbye?" I spat, and he took a step back. "How will I do that? How do you expect me to say goodbye to my mate? My partner for life!""Raven, Vlad is my son," King Vladislav said with a resigned tone. "I feel so hopeless right now. But we have to face reality. Hybrids are different from humans and werewolves. The earlier we accept the reality that Vlad can never regain consciousness, the better for everyone. False hopes and delusions will get us nowhere."The king's voice cracked. "Please understand, Raven." I stumbled forward,
Raven On the night of day six, I couldn't sleep. My mind was restless like a rolling stone and I kneeled by Vlad's bedside, begging him with everything in me.King Vladislav had begun preparing for Vlad's funeral. According to him, Vlad deserved a befitting burial. How could anyone be comfortable burying their child?My tongue felt swollen. I was helpless and needed a miracle for Vlad. He was the only thing that brought joy and light to my life.The king was broken. All he did was mope and answer questions with monosyllables. Reality had begun to hit him but matter how much I begged him to extend the date, he didn't budge."Raven, there's nothing we can do. This is pure torture," his voice choked. "Let him rest.""Vlad, my love," I gripped his hand. "Did you hear your father? Is this what you want, to be buried? Talk to me. Wake up before they turn off the life support. Come back to me. Don't leave me, please. Just come back!"The answer I got was the beep of the machine and Vlad's s
RavenI couldn't sleep all night, and all I kept thinking about was Vlad. It was so bad that when I finally managed to drift off to sleep, it was filled with nightmares of them burying Vlad and all our classmates placing flowers at his gravesite. I felt even worse when I woke up, rolling over to face the wall and pulling my knees tight against my chest. The darkness of the night wasn’t comforting enough for the pain in my heart. The silence didn’t help either. What if Vlad never makes it? What if he doesn't come back to life? And then the memories from my dreams replayed over and over again in vivid detail. Taylor never left my side and even shared my bed with me. She sat up, staring at me with sympathy in her green eyesMy head rested on her shoulder as she whispered soothing things into my ear while rubbing my arms and whispering ‘It's okay’ every few minutes.At one point, she had to go out and make me some hot chocolate because I had started shivering so badly. Early the nex
Raven On day three of my stay in the specialist hospital, I had to return to school to write an important test that couldn't be written online. It was the last screening part to get admitted to college."You need to go," King Vladislav pleaded with me. "You're young and have a full life ahead of you. Vlad wouldn't want you to waste your time here and spend a year doing nothing just because you missed your college entrance exam." He paused to let his words sink and sadly, he was right. It was a good thing that I had been accepted into the best college program on campus on a full scholarship. My dad was wealthy enough to train me but that didn't mean I should waste his money on tuition. I sighed and the King begged me to stop making excuses. "you've got to graduate, Raven. I'm here with Vlad and you can always come back whenever you wish.""I don't trust you enough," I muttered. I don't know what you'll end up doing the second I step my foot out the door. You have been looking for h
LucianI'd seen too much, witnessed too many painful scenes. I returned home, terrible regrets and guilt assailing me. Vlad's condition was my fault. I let out a choked, desperate laugh. The king was so mad at me that he couldn't stand my presence. He hated me so much. Blood pounded in my temples as I felt humiliated and deflated remembering the disgraceful way he sent me away from the hospital. Not that I blamed him anyway. I deserved to be ridiculed. Everything was all my fault. If I hadn't fallen for Dimitri's stupid antics, I would have exposed him instead and saved my brother.Now Vlad's blood was forever spilled on my hands. It made me want to cry like a baby.How could I have been so stupid? How was I so careless as not to recognize how evil Dimitri really was? When I returned home, that wicked bitch, Elvira, was nowhere to be found. She could run, but she was definitely not going to hide forever. She was the mastermind of all this calamity and the reason why my mother d