Anthony’s POVThe pounding in my chest almost seemed like it was coming from all around me as I followed the blonde werewolf into the night, pausing when he whirled around to face me.“You alright buddy? You seem like you're wound up too tight these days,” I observed, puffing out a thick ring of smoke and watching my brother’s smoldering blue eyes through the nicotine mist.I had noticed his shifty gaze when he had stumbled in on me making out with Elena. Fucking hell! she was our mate…MY MATE, and yet I couldn’t help the guilt that bored its way into my heart.What the heck was I thinking kissing her? I had enjoyed it much too well I had to admit…I didn't know what would have happened if my brother hadn't walked in when he did.The thought that I would have taken her on her sick bed filled my head…it was like I was a bloody animal!“Am I alright? DID YOU JUST FUCKING ASK ME THAT ANTHONY? Christ on a fucking cross it's like you've lost your bloody mind!” Michael roared and I struggle
Anthony’s POVI knew the moment the door closed with a soft clap behind me that I wasn't alone.The sharp tang of Carla’s jasmine scent hung in the air like poison and I tried not to hack out the phlegm building in the back of my throat.“You shouldn't be here,” I growled in a low brooding voice, ignoring the woman who sat stiffly in the shadowed space of my study to snag a wine bottle instead.It was looking more and more like one of those nights where I would lose myself in bloody alcohol.I could tell that the woman was surprised at my indifference, a mask I kept tightly woven around my body, fighting the irritation that built steadily inside me.“That's the first thing you're going to say to me? What did I ever do to you to deserve this Anthony?” Carla cried, her voice hoarse from disuse, and I watched her grip the leather edges of my table until her knuckles turned white.“Get out. Now. Before I do something you would dislike very much.” I barked back, taking a swig of the sweet
Michael’s POVUseless. The whole goddamned Palace was useless!How hard was it to find one goddamned mole when I had over five thousand wolves in my command?I felt like I was going to go mad just thinking about it!“Fuck’s sake,” I hissed, digging my hands into the wool linen of my pockets as I barreled toward the Royal morgue.The night’s air had grown thick and the noise of the soldiers and groundsmen milling about did nothing to soothe the anxious thoughts in my mind.“Mother? What are you doing here?” I rasped when I entered the cold room.The faint buzz of the overhead fluorescent hummed slightly as if in answer to my question as I regarded the woman’s bent back.Something heavy lodged in the back of my throat. Nancy Gotham looked different. I could tell from her disheveled mass of black hair and the crow's feet at the edge of her sunken blue eyes that my sister’s death had taken something from her.Something I feared could never be replaced.“Michael! Y-Youre here! Oh, it's dr
ElenaThe sky had rescinded its bright azure color for a bleak iron grey when I stirred groggily, wiping the sleep from my eyes.“Miss lady! You're awake,” Emily’s soft voice made me glance up to see her pale face looking down at me worriedly.Every muscle in my body hurt. It felt like I had been asleep for ages! Just how long had I been out? “You’re up just in time for dinner Miss, the Alphas would like for you to join them.” Emily tittered with a smile spread across her face that made unease fill my belly.How could she sit there and smile after what the Alphas had done to me? And how could I have let myself fall for Anthony back then? Images of our passionate kiss filled my head and I felt my cheeks redden with embarrassment.How could I have offered myself up to him like some cheap whore?!“Well you can tell them I won't be joining,” I replied sharply, watching the smile fall from the girl’s face before I crossed my hands over my chest stubbornly.“Miss, I'd beg you to reconsider
Elena’s POVMy hands and face were as cold as a witch’s britches as I stepped through the doors of the banquet hall. I was almost immediately assaulted by the wash of colors and sounds that seemed to jump out at me from every side.I was aware of the eyes that turned towards me as I floated through the isle, keeping my head straight as the hard back of the metallic silver mask itched against my skin.I felt empty without Sophie’s overwhelming charm beside me and a rush of deja vu filled my body when I caught a glimpse of the firmly shit double doors where Sophie had met her untimely death.“You came.” It was Michael’s deep grumble that made me stop in my tracks, aware of the wolves that watched us with the corners of their eyes as I turned to meet his impossibly handsome frame.How had he recognized me with the mask on? My heart skipped a beat and I tried to control the rush of butterflies in my belly at the thought that the powerful Alpha had been staring at me.“Michael,” I gasped,
Anthony’s POVThere were wolves everywhere! So goddamned many that I was almost certain one of the rosy-cheeked assholes had crammed their way up my bloody arse.“Your Highness! Looking dashing as always!” One of the squinty-eyed elites drawled as she strutted up to my side, brushing her claws over the silk suede of my suit jacket before I caught her wrist and flung it away.“Don't fucking touch me,” I growled testily, hissing at her through clenched teeth as the soulful music and flashing lights pumped away around us.I could see my reflection from the stained glass mirror of the walls, the way my thick black hair curled temptingly around the sides of my chiseled face before my neck broadened into thick strong shoulders, flexing in the fitted suit jacket I wore.The gold band of the mask glittered between and around my sea-green eyes but I knew there was no way she could have mistaken me for my Playboy brother. The wine must have loosened a few screws in her head because she pouted p
ElenaMy hands felt cold, colder than the Arctic in the middle of the freaking winter.The swirl of panic around me in the yellow candescence of the ballroom was almost suffocating and I felt my hands slide up to tear the thick silver mask away from my face.“You're bleeding Miss Elena, we need to…the infirmary -” The maid’s panicked voice bled in and out of focus as I stared after the twin Alphas, willing every nerve in my body to resist what I was about to do next.Alfred had stared at me during his wild rant. Someone had to have seen it, hadn't they? I was almost certain from the way his small beady brown eyes twisted with hate and disgust that his betrayal of Gotham pack was linked to me.“Goddess-” I gasped as a wave of dizziness threatened to overwhelm me, gripping Emily’s cold hands which she shot out almost instantly to steady me.“Miss! That's it! I'm taking you to the bay right this instant!” Emily shrieked, and I turned to see the white pallor of her face and the way thin b
Anthony“What the hell do you think you're doing?” I growled heatedly, narrowing my eyes at the woman who was clutching onto my arm as if her life depended on it.It took every ounce of strength I had inside me not to sweep Elena off her feet and carry her off into the woods for a rough fucking when the fiery redhead stormed towards us.The overwhelming musk of her sex wafted around me and pressed up my nose like a goddamned chisel.“Please, let me help you,” She whispered harshly, her big grey eyes flashing with need, hers as well as mine as we stared into each other’s eyes.“I'll have Fedora arrange countesses for our pleasure. It's nothing a wolf like you should be worried about Elena. You can't… you can't handle it.” I snarled, inhaling a sharp breath when her soft breasts pushed against my chest and I let out a low, warning grunt.Goddamn the bloody moon, it was like the woman had doused herself in buckets full of aphrodisiac.I curled my hands into fists beside me as Nancy’s ste
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