AURELIA~~Perhaps it was anger or hate, I couldn’t tell. Or maybe it was both. I was angry that Tristan was back to his feet even though I permitted Lori to send some Mender to Black Fur Pack to help him after Beta Louis took the oath, signed the peace treaty, and pleaded for help. I was so angry that my mate had to fall and Tristan got to rise again even though he didn’t deserve it.And for the hate, it was simple– I hated Tristan.Although my hate for Larisa was greater, Tristan wasn’t far from being another Larisa to me–“Talking about that bitch. She has had enough peace, don’t you think? It’s time we pay her another visit.” Inara snarled into my mind, fueling the hatred in my heart. My wolf had taken a hobby in tearing Larisa apart since she had become our prisoner– one that I wasn’t ready to kill just yet. Each time we pay her a visit in her cell, we torture her until death flashes before her eyes, leave her to healers to heal her, and return to start the process all over
ALPHA TRISTAN~~“You should take your leave.” The he-wolf who smelled like a strong gamma seethed at me. “She doesn’t want to see you.”Although I had been standing by the border of Dark Moon Pack for hours, I intended to remain there until I got to see Aurelia. “C’mon, Gamma Seth. You know we mean no harm.” Louis, who had officially resumed his duties as my Beta after I was reinstalled as Alpha, said to the strong Gamma. “This is a peaceful visit.”I simply listened as my Beta negotiated with the Gamma, feeling more like Louis was the Alpha. I would be lying if I said I haven’t felt useless these past few days. After regaining consciousness, I found out that Louis had become more influential, not only in my pack. Obviously. “Your ego is bruised?” Dolf mocked me. But his assumptions weren’t exactly the case. I just couldn’t wait to get back my strength and become myself again. “This isn’t about your intention, Beta Louis. It’s about my Alpha and Luna's wishes.” The Gamma answere
AURELIA~~“I thought we would take it all out on him?” Inara etched into my mind as I slowly made my way home after seeing Tristan. She was referring to the anger still very much alive within me. “You have so much left. I suggest we visit the witch tonight–” I stunned myself and Inara when I said, “I think I’d rather stay at home with my family tonight.” Usually, or more accurately, most nights, I visit Larisa’s cell and our at my anger on her. But I didn’t have the will to hear her cry tonight, not that she has suddenly become less deserving of torture but my kids deserve to see me before going to bed tonight. They deserve their mama.“They do, don’t they?” Inara affirmed sadly. I knew my wolf was worried I would break down when I saw Raiden just lying in bed again but I was determined to be with Katie and Kyle even if that meant I had to stare at Raiden– evidence of my failure. A part of my consciousness pumped these words into my mind, “Doesn’t Raiden deserve to feel your p
AURELIA~~Today makes it eighty days since the war and eighty days since I failed to wake Raiden up. Today also made it five days since I found a way to stop blaming myself for Raiden’s condition. I had gotten to the stage where I accepted and affirmed that I did all I could to save him and his beating heart was evidence. Heck, I gave him more than half of my own soul and didn’t recover for weeks after the war. Heck, he was the one choosing not to wake up and I was so over blaming myself. “Say something, Lori,” Iris stated, urging Lori who had come into the house to examine Raiden after I cleaned his body and dressed him up.I had given the responsibility of examining Raiden to Lori. After all, at some point, I thought he wasn’t waking up because I was doing something wrong. Lori sighed, her gaze shifting from me to Iris and then to the other people in the room– Andrew, Susanna, Tamia, Seth, Otis, Benji, Jeremy, and Pheobe. She looked at every one of us before she chimed, “This
AURELIA~~“Why can’t we spend the night here at home, Mama?” Kyle asked with an attitude that he definitely got from his sister.“Yes, mom. Why do we have to spend the night at grandma’s? I want to stay here with you and Dad.” Katie backed up her brother. Iris who was standing behind the twins placed one hand on her heart, “Ouch. Grandma has feelings, you know?”Together, they muttered an apology to Iris who stared at them with the same love she had in her eyes the first time she saw them. Despite Raiden’s state, Iris had maintained her confident aura. Although we all knew she was struggling, she didn’t let it consume her like I once did. I gazed at my kids, thinking of a better and less 18+-rated explanation– something that doesn’t say “I’ll be having sex with your daddy tonight in hopes of waking him up so we can all live happily ever after.”I eventually settled for telling a white lie to protect my kids' innocence. I told them, “Grandma miss having you guys over for the night
AURELIA~~A loud cry escaped my lips as my body and mind woke up. Or so I thought. I recalled crying to bed and I understood why that happened but nothing prepared me for the kind of cry that slipped past my lips as my eyes fluttered open, taking in the darkness in the room. It wasn’t morning yet. My body stiffened as I considered the possibility of this being a dream.But as soon as that thought crossed my mind, I felt the sensation that made me cry in the first place. I felt it again. In the same spot and just as prominent as the previous one. Rather than cry this time, my breath hitched and raw pleasure traveled up my spine, leaving me panting like I had been swimming laps in the longest pool in the realm. Was there even a pool–My thoughts, mind, body, soul, and spirit froze at that moment as realization hit my core, dragging me into reality as my eyes adjusted to the dark room. Inara resurfaced in my mind and uttered one word I thought I would never hear her say again… I m
AURELIA ~~ Due to the fear in my heart, I couldn’t sleep deeply but when I did it didn’t last up to an hour. I jolted into a sitting position and as soon as I realized that it was morning, I turned around to wake Raiden up. I thought to myself, “He has had enough sleep.” However, Raiden wasn’t in bed when I turned to wake him up. I can boldly say that today was the first time I smiled despite waking up to an empty bed. This is the first time I was happy that Raiden left me in bed after what I would define as an intimate night. Because his absence told me that truly, he was awake. Unless I was still dreaming– “It’s not a dream, Baby. I’m awake.” Raiden’s voice sent sparks through my body as it bounced off my mind, assuring me that this moment and every feeling that came with it, was very real. I got off the bed and threw on the first flimsy gown that I saw as I asked him, “Where are you?” Gosh, I couldn’t wait to see our babies' reaction when they see their daddy, and n
ALPHA RAIDEN~~The number of times I had blinked since I woke up beside Aurelia was countless and even as I exited the bathroom in a robe, I still kept blinking just so I could be sure that this wasn’t another sick game. That this scene where Aurelia was guiding my weak steps and my kids were jumping in our bedroom wasn’t some sick game that my mind was playing again just to torture me like it has been doing since the very day I felt Aurelia’s energy zapping through my dead veins and mending my crushed heart… bring me back to life. I was conscious of that moment and everyone that came after. I was conscious but I couldn’t open my eyes. I did lose track of time but it felt like I had been trapped for eternity and not eighty days. Also, I couldn’t feel much or hear much. Not even Aurelia even though she must have been spending time with me. That scared me so much that I stopped fighting my own mind and my consciousness was shoved into the darkest pit that existed there. I could
Princess Katie Anne~~“Today will be easy because you are just recovering. If you didn't have to begin spiritual training immediately, I wouldn't have asked you to join us.”My mom had said it was time, confirming that today would simply be a preview, but that didn’t make it easier. At some point, I found myself asking, “Why do I have to train spiritually, Mom? What if I don’t have the skills?”“You have abilities, Katie. How else would you have predicted the sex of your brothers? How else would you have been able to create such a strong bond with Dolf? How else would you have a pure white wolf who radiates pure energy?”My mom retorted, pointing out some of the exceptional things I had done when I was younger. She even added, “The only reason you aren’t skilled when it comes to your abilities is because you didn’t start training early. You were obsessed with training physically. Plus, I didn’t know how to be a mother to a young girl who could be just like me or completely differen
Princess Katie Anne~~If there was any place I felt confident and powerful, it would be in the training arena or any training field where I could demonstrate myself freely. Although the last war recorded in the history of the realm was the one my mom fought with Larisa, the dark witch, and also Alpha Tristan, someone I once loved, I have been decorated as the best female warrior after my mom.Also, I participated in the Quinquennial Pack Games, where I won many awards and, with the help of other warriors in the pack, brought the trophy home for my pack. I have participated twice: when I was ten and when I was fifteen. The goddess knew I had been looking forward to the next one.“I don’t understand why anyone would choose violence over fighting with spiritual strength," Zuri clamored within me as soon as I stepped into the arena.Of course, she could feel the excitement flowing through me, and as her words resonated in my head, I rolled my eyes. I was about to respond, but Zoe beat
DAVIEN~~The day had just begun, and I was already unsure of how the rest of the day would turn out. Waking up to find Alpha Prince Kyle in my mate’s bed was only one of the unexpected surprises, and I must confess that feeling Katie’s lips on mine was my favorite unexpected incident.Her lips molded against mine like they were my long-lost piece. Instantly, my lungs gave way to a deep groan, and my hands itched to touch this bold woman. I had never felt like this with any woman.If I were being honest, I would say I had never kissed a woman before.Yes, this was my first kiss, and as Katie pressed her lips against mine, I feared she would discover that I was inexperienced. Would I be seen as man enough if I didn’t live up to her sexual expectations?What are her expectations, and on what experiences are they based?Could she have—Focus, Davien!I scolded myself. A first kiss should be memorable, so I should burn this moment into my memory.Slowly, I let my hands sneak all the way
Princess Katie Anne~~“What happened between you both?” I asked Davien after Kyle slammed my bedroom door like a child.“Nothing much.” Davien shrugged and bent down to pick up the duvet and pillow on the floor. My brows furrowed, another question swelling in my mind even though he still hadn’t answered the first one I asked him. But he did eventually, saying, “He just made me realize that I have a lot to get used to around here.”Although I didn’t understand what he said, I blurted, “You slept on the floor?”Davien nodded, and I exclaimed, “Why? Did I ask you to?”I couldn’t stop myself from wondering if I did that before I fell asleep last night.“You didn’t ask me to sleep on the floor, Princess Katie. I chose to sleep there because I assumed I was still a stranger to you even though we share a bond. You didn’t know me until yesterday. I had to respect your privacy.” Davien answered rigidly, addressing me with my title even though I had already told him not to.I didn’t know how
ALPHA PRINCE KYLE’S POV~~“What the hell do you think you are doing?”I yelled as soon as my back hit what I knew was the hard floor and my eyes fluttered open to see Davien standing over me, his hands tight around my ankles.“Why would you even do that?” I seethed.But in spite of my anger, he didn’t seem remorseful, not even when he turned on the light bulb in the room. My eyes were heavy with sleep, but I blinked rapidly to keep them open, staring at my sister’s mate, who stood above me with a glare etched on his face.“Why are you in bed with her?” Davien, or whatever his name is, spat that question in my face. I was too exhausted for this.I didn’t get a wink of sleep until I got in Katie’s bed, and no, it wasn’t hunger that kept me up. It was the thought of having to wait six years to claim my mate or have any intimate relationship with her.I couldn’t sleep because of my thoughts, but Katie’s scent had always comforted me, and since I couldn’t crawl between my Ma and Pa, it
DAVIEN~~To my surprise, Katie led me up the stairs to the third floor of the palace after openly rejecting Cole for the second time and hopefully for the last time because I couldn't stand the sight of that guy.We all knew Cole.He had been a boy since he was little, which explains why he and Damien immediately got along. Those two have been friends for as long as I can remember. My brother would travel all the way to Cole’s pack to spend time with him but never walk down the hallway to say hi to me unless he needed my help.“You don’t have to worry about Cole, Davien. My uncles will make sure he never shows up in front of me, and as soon as Kyle hears about this, he will track him down and bury him alive just to keep him away.”Katie muttered, chuckling sweetly as she spoke about her brother, whereas I was just thinking about my own brother, but not so sweetly.I pushed my family discourse aside and focused on Katie, with whom I will build a new family. A better one, in fact.“I
Princess Katie Anne~~Gosh! Can this day end already?Like I was fucking exhausted. What I needed right now was some peace and quiet, and I thought I would be getting that after dinner with my family, but he just had to show up.“That asshole,” Zuri seethed within me, emanating a kind of rage that I didn’t know a white wolf like her could access. She heard my thoughts and scoffed in my mind, “I’m a white wolf, not a stupid one.”“I beg to differ,” Zoe chided, initiating another session of bickering.However, I stopped them both before it could escalate: “I do not need this right now. You either help me get rid of this idiot, or I ask my mom to put a solid and unbreakable wall between our minds.”I might not know how to do that on my own, but with a little help from my mom, my wolves would be shut out. Somehow, my wolves inherited the fear I had for my mom. Although I don’t show it often, that woman terrifies me sometimes because I know just how powerful she is.“But why get rid of
DAVIEN ~~ Dinner back home was usually quiet, and even if anyone had anything to say, it would be about Damien’s latest stunt and my dad's stressful day. Most times, I skip eating with my family, and they never force me to make an appearance unless we had guests joining us. However, dinner with the royal family was different. The long table in the dining hall was the longest I had ever seen in my entire twenty years of living. I tried to count the number of people in the hall, but I kept losing track and had to start over as the kids moved around.“They are all family?” I whispered to Princess Katie... I mean just Katie as I pull out a chair she led me to and help her get comfortable. “Yes, Davien,” She laughed, saying my name like it was part of her favorite melody. “Everyone in the pack is family, but these are my closest.” “Closest? Seriously?” I asked deadpan. There were almost thirty people in the hall, and they all had a seat at the long table. The royal family got the se
Princess Katie Anne~~ If anyone was looking at me, he or she wouldn’t hesitate to claim that I had been sitting in silence for many hours. I was beside a man who turned his family away just so he could stay with me.However, I was sitting in everything but silence. Inside, I was anything but silent.The thoughts and voices of two distinct yet similar wolves raced through my mind like whirlwinds. The discussion might not be happening between Davien and me, but it was definitely going on between Zuri and Zoe.It all started when Zuri said to Zoe, sarcasm dripping into my mind as her cool voice bounced off the walls of my thoughts, “You still think he is a wimp? Did you see how he stood up to defend us? I’m beginning to question your decision-making ability.”“Um, you mean I’m dumb?” Zoe asked with disbelief. “And you, who didn’t question a bond, are the smart one?”“Not to brag, but I do believe I should be the decision-maker between us both. You are hotheaded and—”“Don’t even fin