Hera’s POV A strange warmth spread all over me at hearing his confession. I felt nothing close when I read those words. Now having heard it, I wanted to hear it again and again. Tears pooled in my eyes at hearing my mate’s voice. For the last two days, I could barely keep myself sane. Ever since he had disappeared, I had been sick with worry. Stavros had returned from Fort Simpson and informed us about Lyra’s disappearance. When he told me he met Felixe there, I didn’t believe him at first. Later, when I realized Felixe declined to take help from the shifter council, I knew Stavros wasn’t bluffing. He told me Felixe planned to face the enemy all on his own. Was he crazy? What if he lost his life fighting them? “Hera? Won’t you say anything?” The tears fell from my eyes despite my futile efforts to hold them back. “Don’t risk your life, Felixe. Don’t go alone.” He was silent at the other end. I knew he wouldn’t pay any heed to my plea. It seemed he didn’t care about his life, as i
Felixe’s POV Dan and I were at our wit’s end by now. We had scanned the entire Port Radium and Echo Bay area on the shores of the Great Bear Lake. There were quite a few defunct mines on the LaBine Point and McTavish arm of the lake. We had already inspected them, but our results yielded nothing. There were no signs of the Flame Hounds and their hideout. In fact, we couldn’t even get their scent. Dan and I had sneaked in here to gauge their location. We hadn’t brought our army of warriors yet. “It doesn’t look like they’re here. The entire site emits low-level uranium radiation. The copper and silver mining has affected the soil and surface water around here. As such, I doubt if they would ever inhabit such a harmful place.” I nodded, knowing how harmful those metals were for shifters. We could die if we stayed here for long. Was that why Alpha Ambrose sent us to this place?“I was thinking along those lines. I’m sure Alpha Ambrose is playing a game with us. It’s the other Echo Bay
Felixe’s POV “They’ve found us!” I gasped breathlessly, watching the wolf escape. He would surely warn them of our presence if he reached his pack. Carl picked up his weapon to shoot it, but before he could do so, a bullet pierced the wolf’s body and it fell to the ground. It was so sudden, we were left dumbfounded. I glanced at Carl since he hadn’t shot the enemy. Then who did? “The snipers!” said Leandros, gesturing towards the forest. “They’re all over the place. I’ve engaged them to cover me. They’re using special silver and anthrax-infused pycrete bullets. It’s a sure shot way to kill the Flame Hounds instantly.” “That’s a brilliant move, young wolf!” appreciated Carl. I, too, nodded at him, appreciating his foresight. No wonder Hera wanted me to coordinate with him. I felt bad for fighting with her unnecessarily when she was just looking out for me.“Let’s make a move now. We will use the trapdoor to go inside rather than the main entrance. The trap door is hidden, so it’s m
Felixe’s POV “I might be your son, Alpha, but I can’t be one of you. I think I have received my mom’s traits. So, I’m a misfit in your pack.” He gave me an impatient look and strode towards his stone bench to sit down. “That’s for me to decide, Felixe. If you defer your decision, be prepared to lose the chances of finding your mate. We still don’t know who captured her.” His face was solemn and honest. I knew he hadn’t captured Hera. Then who did? Wasn’t Zephyrus bothered at all? “If you release Lyra, Ebony, and Derrick, I will think about it.” I couldn’t sell my soul to him, despite knowing my mate’s life was at risk. Surely Zephyrus would go looking for her! “It’s all in your hands, son. Join us and I will surely release them all.” He looked determined, and I knew no amount of coaxing would make him change his mind. “I have my business in Yellowknife. For a long time, I’ve been living a rogue’s life. I’m not of any use to you.” He smirked as if taunting me. “We can move to Yel
Felixe's POV The entire night, we chipped at the stone layers desperately. The iron door was soundproof and we could work without getting caught. “I think Lyra can slip through this now.” The gap was big enough for someone as slim as Lyra to slip through! I had to admit, the cave was the most difficult in the world to chip! “Yes. Go out and try to establish a mind-link with Leandros,” said Derrick, peering through the gap. The gap ended up in a dense forest, thankfully. It would camouflage her easily. We hoisted Lyra, and she slipped through with a little difficulty. Although she scraped her skin, she was relieved to have escaped. “Come on, hurry! The sun will rise in two hours and they’ll be back.” Lyra nodded at me and closed her eyes to establish a mind-link with her mate. Derrick and I chipped some more so that Ebony could slip through, too. “Ebony, push through and escape with Lyra to somewhere safe.” She shook her head, stepping away from us. “I can’t leave you two here t
Felixe’s POV I opened my groggy eyes and looked around the place I was in. It was a tiny room in a house with windows opening to vast stretches of verdant farms. I knew the place instantly. It was a little hamlet in Sylvan Valley where our team had taken shelter for the night. I might have been unconscious for almost two hours! “Good to see you are awake. How are you, Felixe?” Ebony came in with a tray of food and smiled at me with relief. I sat up and smiled at her. “I’m good. Are we in Sylvan Valley?” She nodded and placed the tray before me. “We’re staying the night here. Have your dinner.” The sight of food made my mouth water. I didn’t really remember the time when I last ate. “Where are the others? Are they staying here too? Have they found Hera?” Although I wanted to go looking for her, my body didn’t cooperate this time. Fighting the Flame Hounds had sapped up all my energy. I just couldn’t stop my eyes from drooping shut. “The others are staying the night here in the vi
Felixe’s POV As the vehicle entered the kingdom of Aromania, I took in the surroundings with interest. At an elevation of 6000 feet above sea level, dense forests of European black pine and common beech, rocky ridges, mountain streams, and lakes dotted the entire area. Shrouded in a blanket of thick fog, visibility was poor around the area, creating a magical ambiance all around.We came across the little hamlets dotting the slopes until we saw the gigantic palace looming ahead of us! The moment we reached the highest elevation, my mouth hung open at the grandeur of the place. Nestled amidst the verdant Alpine meadows, the castle was the most picturesque thing I had ever seen This was my mate’s true identity. She was a true Greek princess, but now she was my queen! “I’m returning here after three months!” said Zephyrus. I knew he and Hera had fled to this place years ago when my father attacked Lucania. This was their ancestral home! I wondered if they knew I was the enemy! “Fit f
Felixe’s POV Disappointed by our unsuccessful venture, we returned to Aromania for the night. Zephyrus considered returning home the next morning, but I wasn’t accompanying him. I would search for my mate until my last breath. There wasn’t anyone to return to when my life, my mate, was missing! Zephyrus narrated the day’s events to his family at the dinner table. I was too dejected to take part in the conversation. Alpha Oreias’s words echoed in my mind every minute. I felt a strange curiosity about Ionia! The place beckoned me like a magnet and I didn’t know why. Who was Alpha Titanus’s daughter? Did he capture my mate? “Oh! Did he tell you about Alpha Titanus? The poor old wolf hasn’t given up looking for his daughter and grandson!” said Luna Helena. I blinked the thoughts away and concentrated on their discussion. “Oh! How old was his daughter? When did this happen?” asked Derrick and I sat up to listen intently. “She was twenty when some intruders attacked Ionia and took her
Hera’s POV I closed my eyes and lay down in my bedroom, listening to everyone enjoying the outside. My birthday celebrations have been the most enjoyable ones so far. Felixe had made arrangements to celebrate Zephyrus’s birthday too, in the same grand style as mine. His cake differed from mine and so were his treats. In fact, he received more gifts than I did! After the cake cutting, I could hardly stand straight. The pain in my pelvic region spread all over my lower abdomen and they carried me to my bedroom. I tried hard to sleep, but the pain started getting worse. Felixe had gone out to get a doctor since mine wasn’t taking his call. “Try deep breathing, Hera! Felixe will bring the doctor over soon. I think you’ll deliver tonight,” said Ebony, stroking my hair off my face. Even Hazel sat with me, trying to relieve the pain with the compress. This time nothing was working! I felt like I was dying! “I’m scared, Ebony. Please, I don’t want to die!” Tears pricked at my eyes and st
Hera’s POV The next two days we all spent together, bonding and enjoying ourselves. Being with everyone made me forget my fear of delivery. Despite the chaos all around, it was Felixe who was always there to support me, to help me. He took a couple of days off from work to bond with all of us. I was indeed indebted to him. Finally, it was my birthday, and the wishes and gifts kept pouring in right from the morning. Lyra might have spoken to Felixe about her predicament since she accompanied him to the office last morning. I could feel Leandros going into a shell day by day. It was obvious he needed help, but it was his own battle. He had to seek help from Zeph or Felixe. I couldn’t interfere in his matters. “Hera, come on, let’s go for a stroll!” said Hazel, walking into my room. With the celebration scheduled in the evening, I was trying to save some energy for the event. “No, Hazel. I’m feeling a little pain in my pelvic area every time I walk. Maybe I should rest a little now
Hera’s POV Tears of happiness pooled in my eyes, and I looked around for my family. I had no idea Felixe had done so much for me while I was unnecessarily doubting him. The guests whom I heard upstairs were none other than my family. While I was sleeping, oblivious to their presence, my mate had arranged for my happiness. “Keep all negative thoughts out of your mind now, Hera. You shouldn’t stress so much about your delivery. It will have a harmful effect on your babies. You don’t want them to feel your stress, right? They’ll be stressed too.” I looked at Ebony and nodded. Yes, she was right. I had been worrying too much lately. I didn’t want it to have an adverse effect on my pups. “We’ve booked the most advanced multispecialty hospital for you, Hera. I’m sure if there’s any complication, the doctor can sort it out. There’s no need to worry so much. Felixe will be with you in the birthing room while we all will be there outside for you,” said Derrick. I wiped my tears and smiled
Hera’s POV As the days went by, my mobility became more and more hindered. If it weren’t for the therapy classes, I would have been bedridden. This wasn’t fun at all. Felixe, Ebony, and Stella took care of me every step of the way. My birthday was two days later, but I had no enthusiasm left in my body to look forward to it. I would just call my twin and wish him. It was strange that he hadn’t called me once in the last one month. What was he so busy with? After my delivery, I would definitely fight with him if I were alive. “Hera, what’s wrong? Felixe wanted you ready in the evening.” I gaped at Stella, having completely forgotten about it. He had asked me on a date before leaving for work. I had been so preoccupied with my condition, I completely forgot about it. “I can’t go out, Stella.” She smiled, sorting through my closet for the perfect dress. None of them were perfect. I hated my body now. The wish to dress up for my mate had gone forever. What was the use? I could never l
Hera’s POV The main door opened, and Stella rushed out to help unload the luggage. “It feels so good to see you, Hera! Oh my! When are you due?” she exclaimed at the sight of me. “Next month! Give me a hug now!” We hugged one another when Ebony came out. I hadn’t been introduced to her formally yet we knew one another. The few brief encounters we had before were enough. She smiled at me warmly. “Welcome home, Hera, Felixe! Finally, we’ll live together like a family.” “Thank you for joining us here on such short notice, Ebony!” I said, a little awkwardly. It was the first time I was interacting with her positively. “Don’t thank me at all. I’m happy to be here with you. There’s so much to do, I’m excited. Did you book your delivery at the hospital here?” I glanced at my clueless mate. “Oh! I’ll do it right away,” he said, and Ebony ushered me inside. “We can go tomorrow to the hospital nearby, Felixe.” He smiled at his stepmother, looking relieved. “We’ve got the nursery
Hera’s POV We spent our days and nights basking in our love for the next two days. Yet I couldn’t get enough of my mate. Each day, I discovered a new side to his nature. I longed to go home, but the doctor wanted to perform a few tests before he permitted me. So we waited patiently for the reports before announcing it to the family. “The house is now ready for us to move in. Do you want to see the pictures?” asked Felixe as he joined me on the terrace outside. The sun was about to set and we gazed at the spectacular view all around us. “Yes, please.” He showed me our home, making me gasp with longing. All I wanted was to go to our new home with him. I wanted my pups born there. “I can imagine us living there already! When will the reports arrive?” I was impatient to leave while Felixe seemed to be in no hurry. Although he had a business to look after, he showed no impatience for me. He managed everything expertly online. “Tomorrow morning, I’ll collect them and consult the doc
Felixe’s POV Hera’s kiss was the elixir I needed to get through the day. She kissed me so passionately that I could feel her selfless love reflected in her warm kiss. It made my heart swell with happiness. For the first time, I felt happy to be alive on my birthday. It was surprising indeed. For thirty-two years of my life, I had been considering myself the most unwanted and worthless wolf alive. I hated my birthday. I hid from the world every year on this day. It wasn’t a hard task since no one cared about me or wished me. However, this time, I battled with my inner self. Although I was used to disappearing, this time I couldn’t. The entire day I spent with her family, watching her closely. She looked so happy and I knew it was because of me. The way her eyes searched for me in everything she did made me stay around her. I didn’t feel unwanted anymore. I didn’t feel worthless at all. At least, someone in the world considered me her world. She would perish without me. It made me g
Hera’s POV We walked into our suite, hand-in-hand, looking forward to igniting the magic we shared. The last time we connected was in Lucania. It seemed a long time ago. I really missed him too much.The moment he closed the door, my heartbeats sped up in anticipation. He slowly turned around to face me and my breath hitched at seeing the fire in his eyes. I knew he was burning for me just as I was. Slowly, he approached me while I stood rooted to the spot, ready to surrender to him. He stopped inches from me, his gaze roaming over my features tenderly. “Let’s make memories, Hera! I want to resume where we left off. Will it hurt too much if we make love?” His fingers caressed my cheek, trailing down to my bottom lip. I nodded, closing my eyes at his touch. “I want you to make love to me, Felixe.” When I looked up to meet his eyes, I noticed the satisfaction reflected there. He looked blissfully happy! “I’ll be gentle!” Of course, I knew that. I trusted him even with my eyes close
Hera’s POV We strolled hand-in-hand on the terrace, enjoying each other’s company. I waited for him to answer my question. “You know it all, Hera! I’m not very articulate about my feelings, but I try to show you through my actions. When we met, I was a totally different wolf. I wanted to kill you that night, but your beauty, your innocence, and your sass drive me crazy. That night, I instantly knew you were my mate, and I was head over heels in love with you. I didn’t know it then because I never experienced love before. I lost my mother when I was quite young and my stepmother, Ebony, thought me too feral to live with them. She drove me away from home to a rehabilitation center for treatment. For years, I spent my life there, unwanted, unloved, and bitter. I met Derrick there, and he was all I had. As I grew, I became cold, and vengeful, until I lost my family in a fire. It was much later that I knew the truth. Ebony sent me away to protect me from the Flame Hounds.” I listened i