AQUAAfter what happened in the locker room, I went straight home instead of returning to the ring to train with Bodhi. I was too shaken up by the unexpected attack to focus on anything else, and I didn’t want anyone to find out about it.As I finally stepped through my front door, the clock on the wall read seven o'clock, and a heavy stillness enveloped the house. All the lights were extinguished, casting the space in shadows and allowing the silvery moonlight to spill through the glass roof like a soft, ethereal blanket. The faint glow illuminated the room just enough for me to see a tall figure hunched on the couch, and my heart dropped into my stomach as the familiar bond between us surged back to life.Gunnar.Instinctively, I tightened my grip on my phone. I silently prayed to the moon goddess that he wasn’t here for me, but something deep down told me my prayer wouldn’t be answered. My phone had stopped working since the locker room attack, and my body ached all over from the r
GUNNARI swear, this little wolf was sent by the moon goddess to test the very limits of my patience.After our last argument, I did my best to avoid Aqua, hoping to regain control over my emotions before speaking to her again. However, when I finally arrived home, I was stunned to see she had returned so late in the evening. My wolf and I were going crazy from her absence, and I wasn’t entirely sure if it was just because of the mate bond.As time passed by, I started pacing back and forth like a caged animal, wondering if she would even come home at all. Was she fed up with staying here? Had Fawn finally worn out her patience? What if she had already found her true mate and ran off with him?Aqua had no idea how relieved I was when I sensed her presence before she walked through that front door. Yet, all she could say was that I should mind my own business.Just seconds later, tears of regret pooled in her eyes as she stood in front of me, her entire body trembling. But the truth wa
GUNNARAqua's eyes immediately dilated at my words, her lips parting a little. Our breathing became heavier as she placed her hands on my chest, lifting herself up. As soon as Honey's lips brushed against mine, my arms wrapped tightly around her petite frame to pull her closer against my chest. My tongue delved into her mouth, exploring every inch.“Gunnar,” Aqua moaned into my mouth, her hands softly gripping my shirt. I couldn't get enough of how sweet she tasted. Her scent was so intoxicating that I couldn't help but trail my lips down her neck, nipping and sucking the sensitive skin. Aqua immediately arched her back, pressing her soft breasts against my chest. My hands slipped under her shirt, unclasping her bra with ease. “Damn, Aqua,” I panted, my hot breath fanning her skin as I freed her breasts from their confines. After I pulled her shirt over her head, my gaze darkened as I stared at her hard nipples. “You have no idea how long I have been dreaming of this. I don't know
GUNNARI stirred lightly when I felt a warm body press against mine. My eyes flew open the next second, alarm heavy in them until I spotted a familiar hair color in front of me. Memories of last night came crashing down in my head in an instant, causing me to shift my position immediately. Damn it, I felt my cock swell with blood again, and the worst part was that my sleeping partner's hand was dangerously close to it once again. “Shit,” I murmured, running a hand through my hair. Since Tia died, I had slept with anyone except my daughter. All the women I had fucked either left immediately after we were done or stayed in the guest room for the night. But there was something about Aqua that made my wolf crazy protective over her. When my Tia was alive, he had been proud and happy to have a strong mate as his equal. I was in love with her from the first moment I laid eyes on her. She was beautiful, smart, and mischievous. And she had the most intriguing laugh I had ever heard. Tia h
AQUARiver? Why the hell was he talking about him after spending our night together?My heart raced as I studied Gunnar closely. He was every bit as alluring as always, with his tousled hair, perfectly sculpted chest glistening softly in the morning light, and the raw, untamed energy he always carried.This should have been a morning filled with warmth and intimacy, yet the air between us felt as frigid and distant as the Arctic, leaving a knot of unease in my stomach.What happened? Where did we go wrong?I observed him a little longer, watching his face turn grim. Slowly, my fear only heightened as he moved away from me as if to create some distance between us. He didn't even want to look at me. “Gunnar,” I called out, my fingers reaching out to caress his face. Once he felt his touch, he immediately stiffened upon contact, but at least he was now staring at me. “I haven't spoken to River since that forest. He's not the one I want.”A shift flickered in Gunnar’s eyes, igniting some
AQUAWhen the elders finally arrived, Gunnar and I had freshened up and were fully dressed. My Alpha King kept pacing back and forth in the living room, each round accentuated by a low rumble from his chest. I fumbled with my dress as I watched him, nervousness gripping my chest. Although he refused to say anything, I knew there was a reason why he was this tense, and it scared me. Had something happened in the pack? Or was this matter about Tristan?My thoughts were interrupted by the sound of his voice. “When I give you the signal, I want you to take Fawn and go to your room. Don't come out unless I say otherwise, and make sure my daughter doesn't. Do you understand me?”I nodded twice, letting him know that I heard him loud and clear. When a thought occurred in my mind, I parted my lips to speak, but a dull ache crept into my head. I closed my eyes, trying to ignore the pain, but the discomfort only increased as time passed by. “What's wrong?” Gunnar asked, his voice tinged with
AQUAWhen Fawn uttered those words, I twisted my head sharply, shooting her a piercing glare. My anger lessened by the fact that she couldn't see me, but that didn't mean that I had forgiven her either. Fawn might be a blind eight-year-old child who didn't know much, but it was quite obvious that she had been greatly influenced by Hannah."Did you hear that?" one of the elders suddenly spoke, his voice cutting through my thoughts. The room suddenly fell to a hush once he said those words, a silence that would have betrayed my racing heart if he had been any closer.Panic gripped my heart as I tried to prepare myself for the worst. My grip tightened around the doorknob when I heard their approaching steps towards us. But Gunnar's growl halted them from taking another step, and then, I had no idea what happened next.Just like that, the seconds turned to hours as I waited for the elders to leave. I was dying to find out the details of their discussion, especially since I heard my name
AQUAAfter we left the house, Gunnar took me to a familiar building. Once I stepped inside, my eyes immediately widened when I saw Bodhi in the building. He was training beside the boxing ring, punching the sandbag. I was fascinated by his swiftness and strength as he executed punches and kicks on the sandbag in front of him. Suddenly, he froze and whipped his head to the side when Gunnar entered. Sweat dripped down his entire form as he approached us. My eyes widened when he dropped on one knee and greeted his alpha. “Greetings, Your Majesty,” Bodhi placed his hand across his chest. Gunnar walked towards him and lifted him from his feet. “There's no need to act this way, Bodhi.”Bodhi let him lift from the ground, but there was a trace of visible panic on his face as he looked at me. “I swear, I didn't say anything,” he said, his eyes darting between us. “There's no way she would have known that you sent me to train her.”My mouth slackened from shock when I heard his words, caus
AQUAWhen I opened my eyes again, I found myself in my room. The curtains were already closed, and the lights above my head were dim. I leaned against the headboard, trying to gather the scattered fragments of my memory. My lessons...the orange juice...me falling unconscious. My heart hammered in my chest when I remembered that I was poisoned. Now it all made sense why my throat felt dry and itchy; also, it must be the reason why my body ached all over. Just when I was about to reach for my phone to call someone in, the door suddenly swung open with a loud thud. Ella stood at the door, holding a tray in her hand. “Your Highness!” She gasped, clearly surprised to see me awake. “I'm so glad that you have finally regained consciousness. You have no idea how worried we all were about you.”I watched her place the tray on the bedside drawer, revealing a bowl of soup. “Have the guards caught Hannah like I instructed?” I asked. Ella nodded. “Yes, they did. They managed to apprehend her
AQUAWhen I vowed to myself that Hannah was going to pay for what she did, I truly meant it. That was why she was currently repeating a section of the rules, explaining it for the fourth time. I could tell she was about to lose her temper, but that was exactly what I wanted.I needed an excuse to make her pay for her actions. "That's enough," I interrupted her before she could repeat it for the seventh time. My ears were already aching, and the person I was waiting for had yet to arrive. "Why don't you go and fetch me some juice?"Hannah’s eyes blazed with indignation. "But you have maids waiting on you! Why the hell are you sending me?" She protested, her voice sharp and rising."Because serving the Luna Queen is an honor," I replied coolly. On a normal day, I took pleasure in reminding her that soon, I would become the most prestigious woman in the Wysteria continent. Today felt especially fitting for this reminder, as she appeared ready to explode.When she stubbornly refused to m
AQUAWhat the hell was going on?My eyes shifted from my daughter to Odin, who was perched in one corner, looking unfazed by the chaos surrounding him. His presence made me cautious in reacting since I knew he would never have appeared if the situation hadn't been dire. However, there was also a problem with Fawn's naughty behavior that I had to deal with.So, I decided to ask the third person in the room. "What did you do to my daughter, Mrs. Lambert?" I bent down to pick up a torn book near me before stepping inside the room. The maids behind me immediately spread out and started arranging the place while I approached the tutor lying on the floor. “I-I didn't do anything wrong, Your Highness,” she replied. Before she could utter another word, Odin released a warning growl that reverberated throughout the room, making both of us flinch. Many possibilities raced through my mind when I heard her words. My first instinct was to believe her because Fawn had already been displeased by
AQUAThey say to keep your friends close and keep your enemies even closer.At least, that was my belief until the moment Hannah arrived at my doorstep, her warm smile illuminating the dim hallway. As soon as Fawn learned that her beloved Aunt Hannah was back, she bolted down the stairs with excitement , rushing to greet her with open arms. A sharp pang of jealousy pierced my chest as I watched their affectionate reunion, the way Fawn’s face lit up with delight in Hannah’s presence. I felt a protective instinct surge within me, compelling me to step in."Fawn, it’s time for your lessons," I asserted, striving to maintain a steady and calm demeanor. My voice echoed through the foyer, firm yet measured. "You shouldn't keep your tutor waiting as you did last time."Fawn, her wide eyes filled with longing, turned to me, a protest bubbling on her lips. "But I want to speak to Aunt Hannah—""Fawn, don’t be stubborn now," I said, my tone sharpening as I placed my hands on my hips, unwavering
AQUAShit. I stared at the glowing tattoo on my wrist, my breath hitching as Bodhi’s revelation sank in. The energy seared into my skin like molten fire. A sharp hiss slipped past my clenched teeth, my entire body taut with the overwhelming sensation flooding my veins.“B-But this...” I struggled for the right words for some time before settling for one disbelieving question. “How?”Bodhi shrugged cluelessly as he got up from his seat. At first, my body grew tense as he closed the distance between us, but then he simply unlocked the door and raised the curtains. “Maybe your wolf got upgraded because of its sincere desire to protect its mate,” Bodhi cocked his head to the side as he spoke. “Isn't that what dominant wolves do?”Yeah, he was right. Most of my frustration had stemmed from my wolf's restlessness and fear. It was she who was sure that something bad would happen, so she needed to see her mate before she went crazy. I was so caught up in the storm raging within me that I b
AQUAI had only heard the news when I awoke from my sleep in the early hours of the morning. Gunnar was gone. I stared at my maids blankly, trying to digest the information I had just received on the bed. I was at the point where I didn't know if I should cry or just tear the entire place down in anger. So that was it? He just left without saying anything to me or his daughter? Not even a goodbye or a kiss?What the hell?Instead, I suppressed all my tumultuous feelings and asked. “Did he say when he was going to return?”The first maid shook her head before staring at the rest of her colleagues, silently asking if they knew anything other than the details she had just provided. When no one said anything, she shifted her weight from one foot to the other when she turned to me. “Well, he did say that you should meet Bodhi if you had any more questions,” she disclosed. “But he's not around right now. I heard he is in a meeting with the elders, and things are not looking good right n
GUNNARWhen I finally returned to the party, some people were already saying their goodbyes and leaving. My pack members were doing a good job directing them to the pack guesthouse, where they could stay for the night. I stopped by one or two people to say a few parting words before I headed straight towards the stairs to search for my mate.As soon as I got to the top floor, I discovered that her scent was all over the place. My heart thrummed loudly against my ribcage as I scoured through each room down the hallway. I found her on the third attempt, next to my daughter on the king-sized bed, her delicate features softened by sleep. She held Fawn so close to her bosom like she was trying to protect her from something or someone.The sight tugged at my heart, squeezing it in a mixture of overwhelming love and longing. This was the family I had yearned for over the years, a family I thought I might never have after the loss of Tia eight years ago. As I stood there, watching them, I fel
GUNNARI hurled Diane over my shoulder and bolted from the party, my boots pounding against the damp earth as I made my way toward the cemetery. At first, she kept struggling for her dear life, trying to escape, but my patience snapped when she drove her knees against my knees, so I knocked her out the next second.When we reached our destination, I dropped her on the cold earth with a dull thud. The rough impact jolted her awake. I folded my arms as I watched her struggle to regain clarity of the situation. "Rise and shine, Diane," I said.Diane looked left and right around her surroundings before she turned to me. "Where the hell am I?" she asked, trembling. "Why did you bring me to this place?"I folded my arms and replied. "Well, I thought since it's been a long time since you have been to the pack, you would want to meet your dear friend," I paused, letting my words sink in. "You guys must have a lot to talk about, right?"Diane screamed when she turned around and saw my wife's g
AQUAAs I continued to face the crowd, I could feel Fawn trying to yank her hand back, but I didn't let her go. Letting her go wasn’t an option after everything that had just happened. Truthfully, she had caused enough trouble right now, and the last thing I wanted was for someone to find out her true identity. Fortunately, the kid was smart and didn't even try to refute my claim over her. “So you had a child out of wedlock?” The Luna questioned. The curiosity in her voice was quite obvious, but there was something about her tone that rubbed me the same way.I lifted my chin defiantly. “Yes, I did. Is there something wrong with it?”The crowd started murmuring amongst themselves when they heard my words. I was a bit confused about why they were giving me strange looks, but I pretended not to care. “You must not have been informed properly, Aqua, but the requirements for a female wolf to ascend the throne as the Luna Queen are quite clear,” she said. “A female wolf must be a virgin