AVAI opened my mouth to reply, but immediately let it close again. How do you tell this kind of story? That’s the question.When my Kings and Alex all saw my expression, they all gained a worried look.“Do you know who he is, Ava?” Callum asked.“Yes.” I paused for a moment, biting my lip. “Unfortunately. Before I tell you this story, you’ve got to understand that Lycan packs are a monarchy that is operated in a much more old fashioned way than most wolf packs. There are a lot of things that I plan to change when I take over.”I let my eyes fall closed, face tense. When I opened them again, I knew Artemis was forward. She wasn’t looking forward to this conversation either. “Callum, can you pour me a drink for this conversation, please.”He nodded, grabbing a glass and a bottle of rum. He poured a generous glass for me, and put the bottle next to me on the table. He knew me well enough to know that this wasn’t going to be good.“I was betrothed to the Rogue King before I was even born
CALLUMIt broke my heart more than I ever thought possible to hear what Ava went through. It's disgusting that arranged political marriages are still even an acceptable thing in any pack, regardless of whether it's run as a monarchy or not.Absolutely despicable that people would put their children through that.I'm sure there are genuinely happy marriages that come out of that arrangement, and I know Ava's biological parents were happy despite being in an arranged marriage… but I couldn't put my child through that. Absolutely never.I'd lock up anyone who tried to force someone into that and throw away the key. The fact that someone is trying to force Ava… well. I would come down on them like a tonne of bricks.The room was deathly silent once Ava finished telling her story. I walked around the table towards her, sitting on the desk in front of her. I pulled her into my arms, pressing a kiss to her forehead. “He won’t take you away from us, little one,” I whispered. “I promise you th
NOAHAs soon as I heard Ava thought she knew where Theo was… I couldn’t help but get my hopes up. I know I needed not to; I needed to be prepared for the worst, but I couldn’t help it.Theo is my twin. My other half.We’ve been together our entire lives.Him being missing… is pain beyond belief.Between that and my parents… well. Without Ava, I’d be a mess.As soon as the plan was in place, we got ready to go. Our trackers and the first group of Lycans sprinted off in advance, finding the best route for us to get through. All being well, the run from Blood Moon to where we believed Matthew’s camp would be should only be a couple of hours. I needed my brother back; but I was very aware of how little time we had.The first hour went swimmingly, but we didn’t expect that it would be for the full trip. And that was why when I saw Ava stop and shift back with her eyes glazed over… I couldn’t help but panic.AVAThe first time the Moon Goddess came to me… I was asleep. The second, I was sp
THEOI wasn’t sure what it was, but something told me that this was finally going to be over soon. It felt like a positive thing, but at the same time… I was exhausted.I’d fought for so long.I just needed it to be over, one way or another… and I was starting to lose the ability to care which way it went.AVAOnce we got the go ahead to move, we met our trackers in the forest half a mile out from the bunker. “A train is due in ten minutes, Your Highness,” one of the warriors stated. “Our best bet is to move in when the train is coming past. The noise will cover our movements, and fewer guards patrol this area when trains pass too.”“Perfect. Everyone, be ready to move.”And we did.The door was completely unguarded when we reached it, making slipping in easy. “Callum, I need two warriors to stand guard at the main door and take out any wolves that are hovering around.”“On it, my Queen.”I shifted when we came through the door, choosing to move through the complex as a Lycan rather t
AVA“Your Highness,” one of the warriors suddenly mindlinked. We were still on the way back to the Blood Moon territory; but fortunately, we weren’t that far away. We could get Theo settled in the pack hospital, and then all go after his parents.“What’s happening, Jeremiah?” Jeremiah was one of the oldest Lycans that would go on to form part of my Queen’s Guard when I officially took over on my birthday.“We’ve got eyes on the Alpha and Luna.”I almost squealed with excitement. “You’ve found them?”“Yes,” he replied, voice low. “They’re at the bottom of a cave network. From here, we don’t believe there are any rogues throughout the rest of the complex, but we can’t be sure until we get in there.”“Thanks, Jeremiah. We’re taking Theo home; we’re driving because he’s in no state to run, and we’ll be back at the pack grounds within twenty minutes. As soon as he’s settled, we’ll head your way. Can you send me a GPS location?”“Of course, Your Highness,” he replied. Within seconds, my pho
NOAHI cried when Ava told me she’d found my parents.It had been too long since my mum, dad and brother had all been home. None of them were out of the woods yet; they all had physical injuries that they needed to recover from and who knows what kind of mental demons they would have picked up.For now, I could just be excited to see them all again.Goddess, I missed them.AVAOscar, Callum and I jumped in the car to drive Jacob and Amelia back to the packhouse. I had wanted to run so Artemis and I could clear our heads so we could work out a plan for tomorrow, but Callum would have insisted on coming with us… which would have made it impossible.He’d never agree to what I’m planning. But unfortunately for him… there was absolutely no way I was going to let my Kings put themselves in harm’s way when it could be avoided.I groaned inwardly. It was going to suck, trying to sneak away from them and go after the Rogue King on my own, but it needed to be done.I let my eyes fall closed, ac
23 hours until the moon is fullAVAIt was past midnight by the time we’d gotten back, gotten everyone settled and I had a chance to make sure everyone was okay. I needed to somehow sleep so I was at my physical best, but sleep was definitely going to evade me…Who would manage to sleep when the hours were ticking down like this? The moon would be at its peak in the sky at midnight. Which meant I had 23 hours until I’d be face-to-face with Elijah. Twenty. Three. Hours.I’d told Callum and Oscar that I wanted to try to get some sleep, so they’d joined me in their room. Noah was spending the night with Theo and his parents. We’d managed to arrange a room big enough that the family could be together.Callum and Oscar were snoring away on either side of me, but I couldn’t sleep. I was staring at the ceiling, my mind was blank. Both Artemis and I were trying to force my mind to let us sleep… but that wasn’t exactly going to plan.In the end, I dug out my phone, and pulled the map back up t
20 hours until the moon is fullAVAThe sun would set at about 7pm, so five hours before the moon peaked. In fifteen hours… I needed to be at that clearing, ready to confront Elijah. If what Artemis and I had put together was true, the Rogue King was planning to attempt to force the mark on me when the moon peaked…So at that point he planned to either have me restrained, unconscious or force me into a situation where I had to agree to him marking me.Being in the direct light of a full moon could make mate bonds stronger, so that just meant I’d have to make sure that one way or another, one of my Kings was there. From my conversation with Selene… it had to be Callum and/or Oscar.She specifically talked about my protector and lover… so did she mean it had to be Oscar?It was incredibly unlikely Theo would wake up in time to help, and if he did, he wouldn’t be well yet. Noah needed to be here, not just for his family, but because if it came down to it, the Lycan warriors would turn to
AVAI sank into the plush armchair, my body feeling like lead. The room was dimly lit, shadows dancing on the walls as the fireplace crackles softly. Oscar lay on the chaise lounge nearby, his chest rising and falling steadily. Relief washed over me, but it was tinged with a lingering anxiety that refused to dissipate."How are you feeling, love?" Theo's voice broke through my thoughts.I met his concerned gaze, and I knew my eyes were full of pain. "Like I've been hit by a truck, then run over by a train for good measure."A weak chuckle escaped Oscar's lips. "That's my girl, always with the colourful descriptions."My heart clenched. He nearly died saving me, and there he was, still trying to make me smile. I reached out, grasping his hand tightly. "We need to talk about what happened," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Callum leaned against the mantle, his jaw clenched. "Agreed. We can't let something like this happen again."I could feel the weight of their worry, their lov
AVAI couldn't bear it anymore. The pain of feeling Oscar slipping away was too much. With a surge of desperate strength, I pushed against Theo's chest. "Let me go," I choked out, my voice barely above a whisper.Theo's arms loosened, surprise flashing across his face. I took advantage of his momentary hesitation and scrambled away, my legs giving out as I reached Oscar's side. I collapsed to my knees, my hand finding his."Oscar," I whispered, squeezing his fingers. They felt so cold. Too cold. "Don't you dare leave me."I could feel our bond stretching, thinning like a gossamer thread about to snap. Panic clawed at my throat. This couldn't be happening. Not after everything we'd been through."Ava," Callum's deep voice c
CALLUMI could feel Theo's anger radiating off him in waves as we strode down the dimly lit corridor toward Sera's cell. My own fury simmered just beneath the surface, barely contained."Remember, we need information," I said, my voice low and tight. "Don't let her provoke you."Theo's jaw clenched. "I'll try."As we approached the heavy iron door, I took a deep breath, steeling myself. The guard unlocked it with a harsh clang that echoed off the stone walls.Sera sat on a narrow cot, her raven hair tumbling over her shoulders. Those unnerving violet eyes locked onto us as we entered."Well, well," she purred. "To what do I owe the pleasure of a royal visit?"
OSCARI couldn’t tear my eyes away from Ava's lifeless gaze as the healers swarmed around us like agitated bees. The scent of herbs and magic hung thick in the air, mingling with the acrid tang of fear emanating from my brothers and me. My fingers tightened around Ava's limp hand, desperately seeking some flicker of response."Damn it, why isn't anything working?" I growled, frustration boiling over as another potion fails to elicit even a twitch from our mate.Noah placed a steadying hand on my shoulder. "They're doing everything they can, Oscar. We have to be patient."Patient? How could I be patient when the love of my life is lying there like an empty shell? The urge to lash out, to find that witch and tear her apart with my bare hands, was nearly overwhelming.
AVAThe moon's absence cast an eerie darkness over the ritual circle, the air thick with anticipation and the scent of herbs. I took a deep breath, steadying myself as I stepped into the silver-etched boundary of the circle, my heart pounding against my ribs like a caged bird. Sera's violet eyes gleamed in the flickering candlelight, her raven hair seeming to absorb the shadows around us. I could feel the tension radiating from my Kings through our bond, their worry and love intertwining with my own determination."Are you ready to begin, Your Majesty?" Sera's melodic voice carried an undercurrent of excitement that set my nerves on edge.I swallowed hard, casting a glance at my mates. Callum's jaw was clenched, his blue eyes stormy with concern. Theo's hands were balled into fists at his sides, while Noah's gaze was fix
AVAI bolted upright, a scream tearing from my throat. The room spun, shadows dancing in the dim light of dawn. My heart pounded, sweat plastering my nightgown to my skin."Ava!" Noah's voice, thick with sleep, cut through my panic. His strong arms encircled me, pulling me against his chest. "It's okay, love. You're safe."I couldn’t stop shaking, the nightmare's grip still tight around my mind. The empty crib, the hollow ache in my arms - it felt so real."The nightmare again?" Theo asked softly, his hand finding mine in the tangle of blankets.I nodded, unable to speak past the lump in my throat. Oscar shifted closer, his warmth a comforting presence at my back. Callum's fingers brushed my cheek, wiping away tears I hadn't realised I'd shed."Talk to us, Ava," Callum urged gently.I took a shuddering breath. "It was... worse this time. I could hear a baby crying, but no matter
AVAThe library door crept open, and Theo stepped in, his blue eyes immediately finding mine. My heart rate picked up as he approached, his muscular frame taut with tension."Ava," he breathed, sinking into the chair beside me. His large hand engulfed mine, calloused fingers tracing soothing circles on my skin.I swallowed hard, bracing myself. "Theo, I—""Wait," he interrupted gently. "Let me speak first, please."I nodded, biting my lip.Theo took a deep breath. "I understand how much you want this. Truly, I do. The thought of having a child with you... it's something I've dreamed about." His voice broke slightly. "But Ava, the risks..."
AVADays passed, and the tension in the castle grew as thick as the snow piling outside. I could feel it in every glance, every touch from my Kings. They were worried, and I couldn’t blame them. But I couldn’t let this go, either.I was poring over ancient tomes in the library when Sera glided in, her presence as ethereal as ever. "Any luck, Your Majesty?" she asked.I shook my head, frustration bubbling up inside me. "Nothing. Not a single mention of the Fertility Invocation outside of what you've told us."Sera's lips curved into a sympathetic smile. "It's an ancient and rare ritual, My Queen. Few have the knowledge or power to attempt it."Her words sent a chill down my spine, both thrilling and terrifying. I closed the book before me, dust motes dancing in the air. "Tell me more," I whispered, my heart racing.Sera leaned in, her voice low and intense. "Think of it, Avelina. A chi
AVAThe howling wind outside the castle walls mirrored the turmoil in my mind as I stared out the frost-covered window. Days have passed, and the relentless snowstorm showed no signs of abating. I pressed my palm against the icy glass, feeling the chill seep into my bones."My Queen," a guard's voice cut through my thoughts. "There's someone at the gates seeking refuge."I turned, eyebrows raised. "In this weather? Who would be mad enough to travel?"As if in answer, the doors to the great hall burst open, a gust of snow and a cloaked figure blowing straight into the castle. The hood fell back, revealing a woman with raven-black hair and piercing violet eyes."Greetings, Your Majesty," she said, her voice as smooth as silk