Anthony Gotham“Hawk. Status report.” I ground through clenched teeth as we slammed the horses to a stop inside the huge lattice gates of the palace.My boots hit the cobblestone path with a thud and I jogged toward the circle of guards around the grey husk of the servant’s apartment with the guard following closely behind my brother and me.“Happened only minutes ago Your Highness, one of the royal maids was found in a bloody pile in the common kitchens,” I felt my patience thin even more as I stared at him in disbelief. We had come all the way here for a bloody maid? The guard seemed to understand the expression on my face before hurrying farther down the path, forcing us to follow.“Normally one of the elders would handle such delicate matters, Your Highness but I'm afraid this was impossible seeing as it was one of the Luna’s own handmaidens,” The one-eyed wolf grunted, and a bolt of current whipped through my body.“Who?” Michael snarled before I could, slamming to a stop the s
ELENA WOLFEIt had been days since our escape from Gotham and yet, I hadn't been able to scrub the scent of the twin Alphas from my memory.Cinnamon, Pinewood, wet earth and firewood spices.It was all I could think about as I watched the rogue pace back and forth across our small kitchen. I pretended not to notice the woodogs that were diminishing or the small fridge that had emptied out days ago thanks to my baby cravings.My fingers drummed on the wood dining table where I was seated restlessly, my heart jumping each time the rogue let out a slew of curse words.“D-Do you think there’s a chance we could go back to…to Gotham?” I whispered, and then I instantly slapped my palm against my mouth, wishing I could take the words back when the man’s face darkened with a sharp inhale.The beat of silence that had followed my hoarse croak stretched until it filled the small room with more awkwardness.“You step one foot inside Gotham, Elena, and those bloodthirsty elders would have you strap
Michael’s POV“Can you tell us what happened again? From the top?” I growled, narrowing my eyes at the trembling woman who stood below the dias, swooning on the red carpet that stretched across the throne room as if she would fall.I caught the way Anthony’s hands circled around the throne’s armrest, his knuckles whitened to the bone. I could tell he was trying to keep from lunging at my throat and felt a smile tear at my lips.Had to be tough. I was doing the best I could to pick apart Carla’s story. Something about the shit she spewed didn't sit right with me. And that was from someone who spewed shit for a fucking living.“Is this REALLY necessary Michael? The woman is tired and she's with CHILD, for fucks sake-” My brother’s raspy baritone swept through the sea of elders who murmured, their whispered dissent settling an air of unease over the swooping chandeliers that hung down around the throne room.I could feel his hot hazel eyes boring into the side of my face as if trying to
ELENA GOTHAMThe eerie silence as we marched through the thick trees only seemed to grow the unease bouncing around my spine.“How many more baskets until we’re ready to go back? I don't want to be here until nightfall-” I grumbled, turning to see Klein Markov slashing down more trees with the thick silver machete he held in one hand.The dark clothes he wore matched the bulky two-piece he gave me. Leather and linen. I snatched up a couple more handfuls of the blackberries and wild fruits that filled the knit basket, marching toward the horse and dumping the heavy basket in with the rest of the cargo.“I can't do this anymore Markov! How on earth are we going to survive like this? Like animals?!” I screamed, allowing the frustration to finally bleed through my voice as tears rolled down my cheeks.I swiped at it furiously, not wanting the damned rogue to see me cry before he caught one of my wrists easily.I felt myself inhale. He was so close I could see the deep blue flecks around
ELENA GOTHAMIt was the muted din of laughter in the distance that made me gasp awake with goosebumps covering my entire body.I whipped my head around the clearing in the trees so fast that my vision of the tall spindly trees blurred and spun.We were still in the dark woods, I could tell by the suffocating despair that hung in the air like the thick rain clouds in the vast sea of black above us. It was night already. “Good. Keep that vomit in your throat Goldilocks,” Bella snarled drily and I turned to see her large form glaring down at me.I opened and closed my mouth wordlessly, barely trusting myself to speak as pain zinged up and down my body, brooding around my ankles that had been strapped with sticks and bandages.My throat felt like someone had shoved a grater through it, and I let out another groan when I felt my belly cramping.Had I hurt my baby in the fall? I shook myself, refusing to let panic tear through my heart. I needed to get out of here. I needed to think!The
ELENA WOLFEI could feel the moisture dry from my mouth as the rogue’s words sunk in. Alpha Alaric wanted my baby. My child! “And…and you would have handed me over to him tonight… wouldn't you? You knew I would go out there looking for you so you just sat back and let me walk into their trap like a coward!” I spat, and he stiffened as if I had bitch-slapped him across the face.I didn't care. I was sick and tired of men like him, like Anthony and Michael betraying me!“I wasn't… alright? I’d called it off but Alaric wouldn't back off-” Klein Markov whispered heatedly and I snorted.Yeah right, no shit!“I hated Anthony. The big bad wolf of Gotham was what other rogues called him out here in the wild you know?” He continued, saying more now than he ever had in the time that I had known him.I watched him drain a sweaty bottle of wine into a glass, stifling the yearning that rose inside me and snatching up the water he handed me instead.Fucking prick!“He saved you from the wild and y
ALPHA ALARIC WOLFEThe valley between my eyebrows felt like it was weighed down by my brick blocks as I tumbled into the clearing, feeling the wraith of my tunic sailing behind me.“Where is she?” I roared, scanning the mess of campfires and tents scattered between the tall pine trees.My gaze caught on the bloodied wolf woman kneeling face-down in the dirt, surrounded by a litter of the red moon beasts.My lap dogs.The woolen rope binds that once held the Gotham Luna were now slack and empty. I blinked slowly, trying to take in the sight as red-hot fury burned through me.“Bella. What is this?” I growled after marching toward the prisoner, staring down my nose at her as the guards forced her head up, sending a wave of satisfaction through me when I saw the large purple and red bruises marking the leathery skin.“Your Majesty, we have good reason to believe the general let the prisoner go. We also have reason to believe she was working with Markov. The rogue, to double-cross you,” Al
Michael GothamThe red haze of rage and desperation was all I had seen the second I'd heard Elena’s wild scream through the forest of trees.I thought my heart would explode in my chest from how shocked I was as I stumbled to a stop. I’d left the palace to clear my head but I'd never imagined I'd find Elena in my anger.“ELENA?!” I roared, hesitating only for a second just as her throaty screams tore through the space again and I broke out into a run, slamming trees out of the way and not caring for a second if I was walking right into a bloody trap.My eyes caught on the flash of movement in the trees.Markov! I had seen him carrying the dark-haired Luna over his shoulder and rage spasmed inside me even more.Did he pay no mind that she was pregnant?! Just what kind of monster was he?!“A dead one, that's for sure,” I growled thickly and half-shifted into my wolf without missing a beat, bounding after the pair and closing in around the sidesJust as the rogue dropped from what looke
Queen Elena Gotham“Bloody hell, are they fucking trying to wake the dead?” The man’s voice in my ear growled and I tried to bite down on the laugh that bubbled up inside me.The noisy grind of saws and breaking concrete made me screw my eyes open with a satisfied yawn and my lips formed a smile at Michael’s husky voice.“Good morning my love-” Anthony growled before pressing his lips to my head, the amusement twinkling in his eyes as I blushed furiously, untangling my body from their twinned limbs.It had been almost three weeks since the war and the birth of our son, Aiden Gotham, and Carla’s daughter Yulga.Anthony and Michael had moved me fully into their grand chambers and Gotham’s rebuilding was slowly coming together, with double the size of the men and cannons we had before.“Your Highnesses! The royal mistress’ carriage is ready,” A guard’s voice boomed in the hallway and my shoulders tensed immediately as I sucked in a breath.Shit, I had almost forgotten we were supposed t
Michael GothamAdrenaline shot through my body like liquid dynamite and I knew deep inside me part of it had to be the curse working.It felt like a rift was opening in my head as my wolf shifted into place, my muscles bulging until there were plate-sized grooves in my shoulders and biceps before I charged at the flood of beasts, taking out a decent chunk of them by swinging my long sharp claws in a messy arc.“Who dares to invade Gotham?” I roared at the beast’s approaching and the frail line of guards between us with their shields up. Fuck, with most of our firepower soldiers injured I knew the string of guards would be no match for the colossal beasts that were pounding their way towards us with thick white drool dragging at the corners of their mouths.“Markov! Eyes on the gates! We need to stop that thing from getting any closer!” I thundered at the gaunt wolf who flashed his fangs in understanding, knocking down more the the beasts when they got too close.I flew at the beast a
ANTHONY GOTHAM“What the fuck was that?” Michael’s harsh voice rasped and I snapped my head up in time for a woman’s haunting scream echo through the dark woods again.The thick line of blood smeared around Michael’s jaw from the carcass he bit into looked garish with the silvery moonlight beating down on us between the thick pine trees.What the hell was any woman doing out here by this time?And why the hell did it sound so familiar? A bolt of unease rips through my gut when the woman’s screams comes again, closer...more desperate.My feet are moving before I can stop myself just as I hear Michael curse behind me before his heavy footfalls tear through the space.The sight of a large beast on top of the red-haired woman made a bellow break from my throat as I watched the Cove beast’s eyes snap up before he flashed his fangs at me and disappeared.Those eyes…shit! Alfred? “Are you okay Carla? Bloody hell, what the fuck were you thinking coming up here by this time?” I roared, cuppin
Carla WinehouseMy belly felt like a volcano pit about to erupt as I glared down at the dark-haired woman who watched me back with a stony expression on her face.“You are not allowed in my chambers, Carla Winehouse, how many times do I have to say it for it to get through to your thick skull-” Elena spat acidly, her bright grey eyes narrowing dangerously as I fought to keep the shock from showing on my face.My heart started its harsh mechanical grinding in my chest and it was all I could do to keep from leaping at her.Who the hell did she think she was?I stalked toward her slowly, waiting until I was only inches from her stupid perfect face to snap my claws around her neck, surprised when her hands shot up to squeeze my arms.“Just because you’ve been away for however long you have Elena, doesn't mean that anything’s changed in this palace,” I growled, tightening my claws around her neck before flicking her wrist away when she beat at my chest and shoved her into the wall.The rag
Michael GothamMy mouth tasted like a rat had curled up and died in it when I came to.“Michael? Can you hear me?” The rogue’s scratchy voice made me drop my fangs instinctively.Just how close was the motherfucker to me? Bloody hell if I didn't know any better I'd have sworn he had a crush on me or something!My eyes rolled around in my head before I dared to open them, the black pinhole of my vision slightly easing as I glanced around the dark room and realized I was hissing.What the hell was up with that?My veins felt like they were filled with molten lava and it was all I could do not to claw at the beautiful woman that strutted into the room only minutes after.“Could you get me more of this Markov? Please?” I whispered when he hesitated, still cradling Elena in my arms and watching his gaze flickered between the two of us before he snatched the blood bag from my hands, muttering curse words under his breath.“I'm not your fucking butler Gotham, get your own fucking blood next
ELENA GOTHAM“M-Michael?” I gasped breathlessly, inching hesitantly toward his cold face before I saw his lips twitch and I shot across the room like a freight train from hell.“Careful Elena! Heck! The baby!” Markov’s scathing hiss was quick behind me but I didn't care as I wrapped my hands around Michael’s hard body, marveling at how much bigger he had gotten.It was like he had changed overnight! “Oh my goodness! Freaking hell, you’re alive! You don't know how happy I am!” I managed to choke through the tears that were now streaming down my face.“I can see it,” Michael grunted and I pulled back to see the ghost of a smile on his face, noting how the dark circles around his eyes were gone.It felt too good to be true.“W-what herb is this? Did the nursemaids put you on some miracle moonshine or something? Heck, this feels just like one of Alaric’s experiments-” I chuckled unsurely now, my hands shaking on his chest before Michael’s hands circled mine, the sight of his black veins
ELENA GOTHAMThe soft chirping of the birds outside made a smile spread across my lips before I screwed my eyes open with a lazy yawn.The sun fell in yellow slants through the thick grey floor-length curtains and I allowed myself a contented squeal.My entire body felt pleasantly sore and I pressed my fingers to my lips as memories of Anthony and me last night flashed through my mind.I had never imagined my little seduction would work so well with a baby between us and my body throbbed as the memory of his need and longing washed over me again.I wasn't going to lose Anthony now or let that Carla wench play her silly little games in Gotham anymore.“Emily!” I screamed, yawning as I shuffled out of bed to splash cold water on my face, eyeing my straight black hair that parted around a slender oval face in the mirror.My breath caught in my throat when I saw how swollen my lips were from my husband’s kisses and heat fanned up my neck to my cheeks.The muted sounds of soldiers parading
ANTHONY GOTHAM“God I've missed you so fucking much-” I growled, groaning as pleasure shot through my body and goosebumps skittered over the bulk of my arms where I had pinned her hands against the wide wood bed frame.Elena’s porcelain face contorted in pleasure and pain as I nibbled at her lips, plunging deeper into her pussy and forcing back a shiver when she flexed around my cock.“I've missed you too Anthony…I thought…FUCK! I thought I'd never see you again-” My Queen panted, and I relished the way her breath caught in her throat when I rolled one pink rubbery nipple between my fingers, watching the way she arched her back into me.My entire body felt like it had gone up in flames and blood pounded in my ears as I plunged faster and faster between her splayed legs, allowing my eyes to squeeze shut as her moans grew louder and louder.I was almost sure the creak of the bed hitting the wall could be heard from a mile away as the sound of my balls hitting the soft round moons of her
ANTHONY GOTHAMI charged into the room faster than a freight train going off the rails when Elena’s scream tore through the palace.“What the hell?” Markov hissed, wide grey eyes swinging to face me before we both shot off.“Shit,” I hissed, my heart thumping with every step.Was Elena hurt? Was the palace under attack?! I felt my breath hitch in my throat so violently that nausea rolled through my body.Hurt and terror thrummed in my chest as I broke through the double doors, catching Elena just as she flew away from my brother’s pale body, her grey eyes wide with fear.“What the fuck is going on?” I roared, my voice harsher than I would have intended when the woman’s teary eyes met mine.“It's Michael…he…he-” Elena hiccuped, whipping her head from side to side before I caught her in my arms.I couldn't help the way my heartbeat spiked in my chest and held her in my arms reflexively. What the hell was she doing? I didn't like admitting that seeing her so heartbroken scared me, and c