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
MICHAEL GOTHAMI brushed my hands over the woman’s oval face which was streaked with the rogue’s blood before snarling at the wolf.“What the fuck is so funny Markov? I'll make sure I tear your miserable heart out next time. See how funny you find that,” I deadpanned in a voice that brimmed with heat, wiping the smirk clean off the rat’s face as his expression contorted into a furious mask.Hate pulsed in my heart like a living breathing thing, eating its way through everything until nothing remained.“So what? I wasn't fulfilling my path fast enough so you decided to take my wife out behind my back and cut a deal with Alaric? Is that it?” I spat, and the harsh lines of his face seemed to contort with pain before he shook his head, like I had offended him.“That's just the thing, Michael Gotham. I didn't KIDNAP your bride,” He spat, sucking in a wavering breath as his eyes squeezed shut with pain before his pale grey orbs flew back to my face.My heart was beating like gladiator drums
ELENA WOLFEI cradled my hands over the small bump of my belly, unable to bite back the frightened shriek that escaped from my lips.“Elena, please listen to me alright?” Michael whispered gently, his voice gentler than I had ever heard it, but the raspy lilt of his baritone seemed to be coming from somewhere far away.“All I need is to take a closer look, alright? I promise I won't hurt you-” The blonde Alpha whispered again, more frantic when he realized I wasn't going to let him.I couldn't, not when him finding more blood between my legs could make this whole nightmare all the more real.I couldn't live through that! Maybe if I hadn't gone out tonight if I had stayed in the cabin like I was supposed to then I wouldn't have fallen in the woods!But then Michael would have never found us! I didn't realize until I saw his strikingly handsome face as he stood in the doorway how much I'd missed him.Being away from my mates had caused a wound in my soul I wasn't sure I could heal anyt