ADRIAN I was hit with the smell of the wolves overpowering, lingering on the trees, to the very air that I breathed. It felt like their presence weighted down and choked, like this land belonged only to them, spewing out everything else in its wake. But I had not come here for them. I had come for her. Turtela. The name itself was a whisper upon my lips, a yearning buried deep within the recesses of my immortal heart. The bond that tied us together was ancient, strong, and unbreakable-whether she accepted it or not. It was time for her to return to my side, to accept what had been written between us by the hand of fate. My boots barely made any sound as I stepped past the thick tree line, crossing into the wolves' domain. The shadows danced at my will, bending in the moonlight to move with me, like loyal subjects waiting on my command. I knew they had already scented me. Let them come. I wanted them to. Because no force, no army, no king-not even the mighty Alpha Wolf Ki
MARISSAThe castle halls had never felt this cold.Even with the comfort of warmth from the torches dancing along the stone walls, a chill ran deep into my bones. It wasn't because of the night air, nor because of the tension that had thickened since the triplets returned.No, it was something more.This was fear.Fear for her.For my daughter.Alexia.She was here, finally back home where she belonged, but not under the circumstances I had prayed for. She had been taken from the human world, thrust back into a destiny she hadn't chosen, surrounded by mates she refused to accept.And worst of allShe had lost her wolf and then regained her wolf, who is a goddess of Chaos, and I played a part in her predicament; I was desperate for power, acceptance, and love, so I messed things up terribly, yet I can't undo the wrongdoings even as I feel bad.The very thing that connected her to this world, to our kind, to herself has been restored without so much preparation or any prior notice, and
MARISSAThe space was tight, suffocating beneath the presence that stood in the doorway.A shiver darted ice down my backbone as I tightened my hold on Alexia, her trembling just noticeable but there.The knock sounded again—this time louder, more insistent.I shifted my head toward the door, my heart pounding against my ribcage.They had arrived.Jaden. Jermaine. Jackson.The triplets had returned for their mate, my precious child.Alexia gasped and stepped back from me. I saw the storm build in her eyes, the raw defiance that wavered between fear and determination."I don't want to see them," she whispered.I raised a hand, brushing a strand of golden hair from her face. "You don't have to, at least not now when you don't want to. I'd talk to them."Her mouth parted as if she wanted to believe me. As if she needed to believe me.But destiny was cruel.The doors opened without welcome.They entered, their tall figures stretching out in long shadows under the soft glow of the torches.
LOGANThe castle had never felt this empty.Not in the early years when Hailey and I struggled to rebuild our kingdom, not even when Marissa and I stood at the altar with ghosts of the past haunting our vows. This emptiness wasn't from the walls—it was from within.From me.From my daughter.Alexia.She was here, under the same roof as me again, but she felt further away than ever. The sudden rift between ùs was created as a result of the Seer's vision, I could've been visiting her steadily in the human world but I couldn't bear seeing her then walking away hence I never visited her even once and now she believes she was abandoned and is hated by me but that has never been the case.I had spent years imagining this moment, rehearsing the words I'd say, the apologies I owed, the promises I'd make. But nothing had prepared me for the look in her eyes tonight.She wasn't my little girl anymore.She was a woman now broken, furrow broken and burdened by truths no one should have to carry a
ALEXIAI never thought I'd be here.Standing in my father's arms.Letting myself feel small again.Letting myself… need him. The feeling is surreal and astounding but I had been strong for so long, too long even with Jackson's never-ending presence, I felt alone because I couldn't accept the bond with him, I was two years older than the triplets and had treated them as my siblings but everything changed the moment Jackson clocked Eighteen years. Granted, all through his growing stage, he never allowed males around me. He was super possessive, but it got worse the moment he turned Eighteen as his jealousy couldn't be managed even by me, but here in my father's arms, I feel so much peace and quiet.I had built fortresses of steel and stone around my heart to protect it from the pain of abandonment for years. I spent so long telling myself I was not worth it; that no one would ever truly fight for me.And yet… here he was.Logan. My father.Holding me like he was afraid I would disappear
HAILEY The air was thick with emotion, yet warm with the comfort of family. I sat with Alexia in the quiet sitting room, cherishing the rare moment of peace as I brushed a stray lock of hair from her face."You know you'll always have me, right?" I murmured, my fingers lingering against her cheek.She hesitated, her blue eyes searching mine as if trying to find the certainty she had once known. "I know," she whispered, though I could hear the uncertainty laced in her tone.It hurt, to see her so lost and burdened by a destiny she never chose. My whole life, I had fought for those I loved, yet here was my own goddaughter, embroiled in a fate I could not unravel. Thank the gods for Turtela; she has been the peace bridge existing in our midst and has been my steady emotional support, as she is always there to ease any tension we build up.As I was about to continue, the heavy doors creaked open, and I turned to see Jaden entering.But he wasn't alone.A woman was beside him, uncomfortab
JADENThe grand hall was tight with tension, the silence thick enough to cut with a blade. Dominance crackled in the air, oozing from my mother—Hailey, the Queen of all species.And yet before she stood the King of Bears, unbowing, arrogance rolling off him in waves. He was huge, certainly towering over most men, his muscles thick ropes beneath his fur-lined cloak. His dark, beady eyes gleamed with condescension as he crossed his arms over his chest."This is a farce," he rumbled, his voice carrying across the hall. "A Queen is to be decided by strength and not by some visionary rule. You may have the title, but I see nothing that earns my respect."The hall fell silent. Every Alpha, Lord, and Elder in that room sucked in a breath. I straightened, reaching instinctively for the dagger at my waist. How incredibly stupid one had to be to cross the Queen—our mother—and this fool was going to find that out. The stories around on the punishment my mother dealt are nothing short of terrifyi
ATHENAThe scent of wet earth and old wood overwhelmed me as I stepped into the heart of the King of Bears's realm. It was savage and raw, unlike the wolves' disciplined power. Bears didn't believe in strict rules or grand castles. They lived by strength, by dominance, by sheer will.And Connor?He was the embodiment of all three.He sat on a huge stone throne, carved roughly from the mountain itself, his fingers drumming against the armrest. The flickering torches cast sharp shadows over his face, highlighting the cruel smirk tugging at his lips. He was powerful, larger than life, and undeniably dangerous but just like every other known male species, he is weak and his ability to underestimate female rulers will ultimately be his downfall right now he's still using so I'd simply use his greed and oversight to my own advantage and get the results I want.Which made him the perfect ally. He has no guard against me; he is gullible, and he believes I pose no threat since I willingly chos
LOGANThe grounds groaned beneath me, the motor growled, but I hardly heard it. I was not unconscious of the cold, stinging night air whipping by. I was still unable to understand their words. "Flora was his mother." "His father was Azure." In my imagination, these phrases sounded like battle drums. Flora. My friend, my mate, the mother of my daughter and the angelic human I had loved with every fibre of my being is presently being linked to the one who almost destroyed us all? How is this even possible?. I tried to calm my beating heart, which had suddenly become unsteady, perspirations across my forehead as my knuckles repeatedly shook and the words I had heard settled and dawned on me. Years had passed since she died—gone from me, leaving only memories and an empty spot that I had never occupied. And now, suddenly, the truth was revealed. She had another living child. The son of Azure. I grind my teeth. It was an unpleasant betrayal. This information had dealt me a sudden blow, and
JACKSONI felt like the wind had been punched out of my lungs.David was Alexia's half-brother?That wasn't some irrelevant piece of information we had overlooked—that changed everything.I turned to Jermaine, my fists tightening. "Are you sure?"Jermaine's expression was serious. He tapped the parchment again. "This record is old, Jackson. There's no mistake. Azure and Alexia's mother had a child before ever meeting Alexia's father. That child was David."I ran a hand through my hair, trying to get my head around it. "So that means." My jaw clenched. "That means he's been lying to Jaden the entire time."Jermaine nodded. "Not just Jaden. All of us."I sucked in a sharp breath. "We have to tell Hailey."Jermaine hesitated. "We have to be careful how we do that. Jaden is already wound up. If we push him too hard, he'll think we're trying to manipulate him."I growled. "I don't care if he gets mad at me. This doesn't involve Jaden anymore. Alexia's involved. And if David is anything lik
DAVIDI could feel the change in the air.Jaden was stepping back.Not sudden—not a drastic move. But I knew him too well. He lingered a little longer. His eyes lingered a little longer, searching for something he wasn't sure that he wanted to see.I had seen it before. Doubt. It was a powerful thing. A weapon.And I was a master at wielding it.I had to act quickly.I came across him near the training grounds, looking up into the branches of the trees as if in deep thought. Perfect."Deep in thought about something serious?" I joked, my tone light and cheerful.Jaden shifted restlessly, then shook his head once more. "A lot on my mind."I rested against the stone wall beside him. "Jackson and Jermaine, then?"His head whirled around. "How did you—I smiled. "Come on, Jaden. We've been friends for years. You think I don't know when something's wrong with you?"His shoulders relaxed a bit. He wanted to believe me.Good."Let me guess," I continued, looking at him. "They think I'm a thr
JADENI ran through the castle halls, my brothers' words ringing in my ears."David is not safe. You have to wake up, Jaden.""There's something not right with him. I don't trust him.""And you shouldn't either."It wasn't what they told me that unsettled me—it was the certainty in their voices. Jermaine was usually reserved, the sort who would weigh everything before he spoke, and Jackson, despite his arrogance at times, possessed a keen eye for spotting lies. But they were both wrong this time.David was okay.He had always been okay.Hadn't he?I suppressed the idea.Blending around the cutting corner, I bumped my shoulder into the chilly stone wall but barely registered.I needed air.Sliding the doors of the courtyard wide open, I entered the biting night. The sky stretched out endlessly overhead, and stars shone like lanterns in the distance. The stillness was a welcome change.Until I saw him.Waiting beside the far archway, David stood in the shadows. He wasn't pacing. He wasn
JACKSONThe minute I stepped into the castle, I knew something was off. The atmosphere here wasn't just charged—it was polluted. You could smell the hidden odour around here of great trouble brewing. It was silent, a tick below normal, but I'd been a part of the human world long enough not to miss the scent of deceptions when they hung thick in the air.Jermaine was already in the grand hall, arms folded, his face as sharp as ever."Do you feel it too?" he asked as I walked in.I nodded. "David?"Something was not right with him.It's not a suspicion, just intuition. A powerful, nagging feeling that twisted in my gut whenever I looked at him. He was too smooth, too controlled. Men like him couldn't be trusted.I'd run across my fair share of lying people in the human world—corporate vipers who grinned as they orchestrated your downfall, politicians who had spun deception into poetry. And David? The same vibe. The kind of person who took the long way around, who got you to believe him
MARISSAThe castle was more subdued than normal tonight. There was an unnatural quiet that clung to the air, like the quiet before a storm. Everywhere felt tense and electrifying; pack members were scared out of their minds, and the stench of fear radiated.And I didn't appreciate it.The torches' flickering made long shadows on the floor as I approached Hailey's room, my boots softly echoing on the stone floor.Turtela walked alongside me, her strides light and smooth. She wasn't as taut as I was, but I knew she sensed it, too—the change in atmosphere, the insidious feeling of discomfort. David. The new bone of contention in the house. We can all feel how dangerous he is, but not Jaden; he trusts him explicitly even despite all warnings given.Ryan had spoken to me about him, his suspicions dark and ominous. Hailey had agreed, which wasn't typical. She was protective, but she wasn't one to judge.That alone rang alarms. Hailey would never condemn anyone without all facts in place; i
DAVID There was a perceptible weight to the air in the castle. Unease. Mistrust. It thickened with each glance that was directed at me, becoming almost tangible. Ryan kept an eye on me. He was constantly observing. As Jaden guided me around the castle, his voice full of excitement, I caught a glimpse of his golden eyes across the courtyard. The escalating conflict between his parents went unnoticed by him. Between us. "Come on," Jaden urged me to move on. "The war rooms are still hidden from you. Following the previous vampire incursion, my mother had them reinforced. His mom. I stifled a grin, maintaining a deliberately neutral expression. What was about to happen was unknown to Hailey. Neither did Jaden. As we went beneath imposing arches, the smell of steel and old parchment filled the air. Jaden babbled on about history and war tactics, but I was still focused on other things. Ryan was still suspicious and in my space. He continued to observe. A predator identifies a fellow preda
ATHENAMy body was still hurting from my run-in with that mongrel, Marissa. I had underestimated the speed of that nasty mongrel. But I am smarter than I let on. However, I had fared worse. And the only thing that mattered was survival. With the castle lights flickering behind me, I fled into the shadows of the thick woodland. They had dismissed me as if I were unimportant. Me. Athena. This is my generation's strongest witch. I suppressed the anger and allowed it to boil beneath my skin, even though the insult was more painful than the injuries on my body. Since I had a strategy. They believed they had triumphed. They believed I had lost. However, they were unaware of my abilities. Now, I had a new ally. The trees grew thicker as I moved deeper into the forest, the scent of damp earth and night-blooming flowers filling the air. I mumbled an incantation beneath my breath and felt the energy race through my veins. A tiny glimmer flared in the darkness ahead. He waited. David. Azure's s
ISAIAHAt Dusk My chambers were illuminated by a low flame that threw the stone walls into writhing shadow. Purifying sacrifices, smoke curled in languid tendrils, bearing the faintest whisper of rosemary and sage. Tonight, however, clarity eluded me. I looked down at the relics strewn across the entire floor as I stood before the huge oak table with my hands spread against its surfaces. A basin of fetid water polluted by the ink of prophecy, bones carved with ancient symbols, and loose runes—each inscribed with a message that I strained to interpret. Something was amiss. It had been days since I first felt the unease that coiled like a snake in my stomach. Some invisible force caused the air to vibrate, a turbulence that whispered betrayal and hidden threats. Hailey had sensed it. Ryan had felt it. Logan had even said it. But the complete vision remained obscured, like a cloudy mirror that refused to clear. I closed my eyes and blew out a breath through my nose. "Show me." The room v