Hi Lovelies, forgive me if this chapter wasn't the best. My family and I are currently experiencing a time of grief. I lost a family member last month and today we discovered that another loved one has left us. Therefore, I will return with the next chapter sometime next week. Thanks for your understanding. #Much love!
-NIA’S POV-My heavy eyelids blinked open to meet a plain white ceiling. My dry throat hurt so bad that whenever I swallowed, it was like a shrimp was stuck in my windpipe. I couldn’t even muster a groan.Dazed and weak, with leaden limbs, I couldn't feel anything from my waist down. I felt like death.“Technically, we died, Nia.” Starr huffed.Go figure.I took a long, shaky breath, hyperaware of the pain ricocheting against my ribcage as my lungs expanded, and finally hauled myself onto my elbows. My body groaned in protest.Seashell white blankets surrounded me like a blessed cocoon and a sheen of the moonlight passed through the open window, pooling on my skin.Managing to swivel my head, I vetted the surroundings. The room was dark and quiet with only the sound of slow, even breathing and light snoring cutting through the silence.Why was Gawain sound asleep beside me? He was lying shirtless in black sweatpants on his back with one arm folded behind his head and the other resting
-NIA’S POV-"You’re finally here," I rasped with a small smile, clearing my throat after hearing how foreign I sounded.Lykoan stepped forward, entering the room a little more and shutting the door. My eyes watched him carefully. His dull lilac hues stared skeptically.Using my abdominal muscles, I tried to sit up but was met with searing pain that radiated up my side. The sensation forced a heavy breath and a whimper as I fought against my own body, trying desperately to move.My side stung and sent a deep pain up my side near my ribs every time I inhaled. Yet I was determined to. I winced as I sat up in the bed, anxiously pulling my silk strands over my shoulders, awaiting him.The tension built minute by minute as this scenario corners us. My stomach grumbled, moaning in hunger. Then a heart-pounding silence descended.His lilacs were fixated on my orange orbs. Hurt flashed through his eyes. The outer ends of his eyebrows drooped, and his hands were shaking. He was nervous. Why?"I
-NIA’S POV-The doorknob rattled before it swung open to reveal Lucidora with a wooden tray in her hands. Her timing was totally shit, leaving me shaky and anxious.Our well-needed conversation was disrupted, but I perked up because my stomach rumbled for the food that she brought. Whatever was in that white bowl sure smelled damn good, making me drool.“There she is. My goodness, look at you!” She exclaimed, with a wide grin as she laid eyes on me. “It’s delightful to see you, Nia. I brought my special remedy.”"Sounds yummy. I miss your cooking and I can’t wait to get out of this bed. Feels like I’ve been in this room forever." I smiled back as I looked up at Lykoan who hadn't allowed me to leave this medic room. It was worse than being stuck in a safe house."Don’t worry. You’ll be good as new by the time I’m done taking care of you,” Lucidroa piped. “Just let me know what else I can get you.”"Bring any wine?" I laughed as she took a slow step forward, thinking I would need it aft
-NIA’S POV-The doctor saw this as an opportunity to lay the cards out. “We could contact the Quintessa Witches to help us find the gateway to the elf’s realm. You can enter their territory because you have their blood, and no werewolf would be able to cross the vale.”“Kenzie—” Lykoan pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes while his other hand fondled my right hand.However, Kenzie did not stop her smug rambling. “It might take some time, but guess what? We could make it happen.”I tilted my head, listening keenly with brows raised and my face void of emotions. I did not want her to know she was getting to me.With a hand on her waist, the other gesticulated as she spoke. “Rabastan’s RiftDregs Pack is a refuge for hybrids that Lykoan himself created. You could make life there.”“Kenzie—” Lykoan snarled her name, trying to get her to keep her forked tongue behind her teeth!“The point is if you stay here, the overlords will continue to attack this pack, which will make you
-NIA’S POV-Damn him.I studied the dangerously handsome man in front of me and knew I had grounds to reject him.No one could blame me if I ended things right then and there, not even Lykoan. In fact, I thought he was expecting it— bracing himself for the final blow.His brows were high and drawn together with pure despair in his eyes, looking at me like I was sentencing him into a pit of loneliness. Curse those blasted lilacs that tend to suck my soul right in.Damn the mate bond. Damn this life. Damn the moon goddess too.Yet, I wanted him. It made that stubborn part of me that repudiated this bond agonize like hammering nails on my heart. I turned my head away to think.Kenzie had the bandage in one hand and rummaged through her medical bag, taking out a syringe that she dropped into her pocket. My eyes widened, and a bile rose in my throat as panic gripped me. After being injected with poison, another needle was the last thing I wanted to see. My stomach clenched and my deep-root
-NIA’S POV-Lykoan hummed and it vibrated against my chest. My hands strayed up to his hair and I marveled at how soft it was. His tongue intertwined with mine and I tugged on his hair gently.Liquid heat scorched through my veins. We got lost in the pleasure as something ignited in the silence before painfully separating. My cheeks bloomed like roses. I bit my lower lip and glimpsed at the tented bulge under the throw blanket.“Um,” I began, smiling shyly, "You're not like anyone I've ever known, Lykoan.”His face lit up with a beautiful smile. Not a broken smile, a real, lewd one. "And you, Nia, are the most beautiful person I've met. Your light has brought me to the surface of an ocean that I was drowning in."Blushing profusely, I struggled to hold his gaze. "Are you saying that I saved you?"His lilacs twinkled, and his smile grew, and he cupped the side of my face. "I'm saying that you brought me back to life." He cleared his throat. “Now repeat after me.”I nodded.“I, Nia Rava
-LYKOAN’S POV-Jacques has the shittiest timing. It’s fucking ridiculous.It took everything to leave Nia and crawl out of that bed. Her flushed, sexy, sprawled out image lingered in my mind, tugging at my heart to blow the Alpha off and resume our hot session.Knowing I had to take care of business, her plump lips pouted. Red, succulent, and full. Her sad eyes pleaded, clutching to an area of my soul that felt like a broken ceramic. All I wanted to do was stay in the medical room.But a very annoying and determined someone had to show up. After desperately longing to be alone with Nia and making plans to make up for her pain, this asshole had to come and darken my day.“Lykoan!” Jacques roared three times, outraged. “Old Pops, come out! Come out!”Jam-packed with fury, my wolf paced back and forth, huffing out hot puffs of breath. He wanted to permanently disable the uninvited visitor who was causing us to desert our mate. He did not like him raising his voice at us either. He saw it
-LYKOAN’S POV-“Shouldn’t we stop her, Lykoan? The brute might try to hurt her.” Sultan cautioned.“Absolutely not. I want to see where this is going and if she shows him that she’s not a pushover, he’ll have to let her be.” I reasoned, eyeing the man keenly.“I might not be an Alpha-female, but I’m somebody’s daughter and blood runs through my veins too.” Nia’s lush breasts were rising and falling, and she lifted her chin. I sensed some anger bubbling in her. “Without us bottom-feeders, you don’t have a pack to rule. So showing a little more courtesy might do you some good.”A warning echoed in my mind. Jacques’ nostrils flared and he began breathing heavily.To exert my dominance, I squared my shoulders and assumed a power pose in a wide stance, letting Jacques know that if he attacked my curvaceous woman, I would retaliate. He noticed and clenched his jaws as vertical lines formed between his brows.Determined to gain some respect, Nia held her ground and continued with a daring goi
NIA’S POV-Before anyone else could react, I quickly maneuvered myself with a left roll, which positioned me on my back. With a hard tug on Vydon’s black tie, I dragged his upper body forward to loom over me just as the bullet pierced into his back.Thump.A murderous growl erupted from Lykoan. I glimpsed dark clouds in his eyes covering the burning lilacs. Clouds with thunder, dilating rapidly for that sonic boom and lightning strike.At the same time, Julius hooked his arm around the henchman and wrenched him away from the Overlord, while Beauchamp’s hands gripped down Vydon’s shoulders, veering him to sit back in his chair, and hindering him from moving.The henchman was quick to swing back, catching Julius with a cheap shot to his jaw before he drop-kicked the guy in the gut, sending him flying back. The henchman jumped on his feet, going hard at Julius.“How dare you!” Lykoan roared. It was a deep feral bellow from his partially ascended wolf.With fast movements, Julius went low
NIA’S POV-"I apologize, Lykoan. Perhaps I was out of line for assuming that you might share her with your new associate.” Vydon cockily referred to himself. “That’s what we do."Lykoan’s wolf bristled. I quickly adjusted myself on his lap and clutched him, stationing my hands on his lower back to calm Sultan down."I don't exist for your enjoyment, Vydon," I seethed through my teeth to set the record straight. “None of us do.”He waved his hand dismissively and smugly declared, "Hybrids that cross our borders are not free property. They know what it means to come to Idaho, and my pack members take full advantage of that."Horrified at the thought, my throat went dry. Why would hybrids intentionally subject themselves to the Trenchlands knowing what the Overlords would do to them?"That is a sick practice," I reproached, shaking my head as nausea crept up my throat and I squeezed Lykoan tighter."I’m blown away at how you have been hiding from us. It's so sad that I couldn't have foun
NIA’S POV-Lykoan's lilacs glowed lightly. The wolf within him sneered and snarled. He certainly did not appreciate Vydon’s eyes looming over me as his lips curled into a sinful smirk.Overlords like this one tend to flaunt their power to defend the worthiness of their positions, especially since the dominant realms frowned on their existence."Vydon, you and your man will come this way." Lykoan gestured toward the vineyard estate.Apparently, Lykoan had sniffed out that Vydon brought his henchman on the flight. A younger and bigger, blonde-haired man with silver teeth cracking through his mean scowl, jumped out of the Black Hawk chopper in black leather chaps and a gray vest.Beauchamp landed an aggressive slap on Vydon’s back so that he stumbled two steps forward, but did not fall. The Overlord ground his teeth and whipped his head to the side to glare at him.“Try it.” Beauchamp dared him, cocking a brow up with his broad form intimidating.Vydon exhaled slowly before averting his
Hello Lovelies,I though I would have been able to upload a chapter by now, but as it is, I can hardly find the time to do so.As mentioned some time ago, two relatives passed away in previous months. The first funeral will be this weekend and the second will be held the Saturday before Christmas. As such, there is a lot of preparations to do as well as to accomodate and entertain guest and visiting relatives.Therefore, I am here to apologize about the delay in chapters and kindly ask for your understanding because this month is not so merry for us.The story will resume soon.Thanks for your patience.#Much love!Virtually yours,O'Chantal.
NIA’S POV-Despite the horrific council meeting, it was a really nice day. The sun shone brightly, and the temperature was well above the average.Making our way down the stairs outside to the car, Lykoan put on his sunglasses to protect his eyes from the blinding sun. My eyebrows shot up in admiration. He appeared even cooler. I used my hand as shade as we walked under nature’s intense ball of fire."Please tell me you’re not going to become Mad Max today," I teased, and we stopped in front of the Skoda Sedan. His tall frame was large enough to block the sun currently blinding me, so I allowed my hand to come down from my eyes."I’d rather be a James Bond kind of guy, today," Lykoan replied sarcastically. He winked at me and his lips tugged upwards in a delightfully sinful smile.“Cool, because he’s my kind of guy,” I smiled, dragging my fingers along the shiny zenith gold paint job as I walked towards the passenger door."If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were more excited ab
LYKOAN’S POV-Nia chuckled nervously and asked through unsteady breaths, “What are you—are you trying to say I did magic? Because I can swear on my life that I’ve never so much as thought about it. I’m not even a witch.”“But you are elven,” Caliste strongly debated and exchanged a disturbing glance with me. “And you let her seal your powers. You owe her something. What did you trade to buy her spells?”“I-I don’t know that witch!” Nia practically screamed at her and there was a thick, death-like hush.Caliste peered at her curiously and restarted the feud.“Yet you have dealings with her. Don't you know who that nefarious witch is?”“No,” Nia averred firmly. She pursed her lips, her eyes sharpening.Jacques folded his arms, showing signs of irritation. “Neither do I, so for the love of all things holy, just be straight with us, Caliste.”The pack witch connected me with the line of her gaze. “Are you going to tell them or should I?”Too engulfed in my own analysis, I did not answer he
LYKOAN’S POV-“Well—I’ll be damned,” Tank muttered to Hogan, still in shock. “She's so scary,”“Let's not kill her momentum,” Hogan added in a low voice with his hand in the way to hamper Tank and Josh from advancing.Both of them did not move, but they were definitely pleased at the minor destruction that she had caused. In this case, Nia did not need our protection. Instead, she held the witch hostage with glowing palms burning her temples. My lips twitched, itching to smile.“Nia, let me take it from here,” I prompted for her eyes to meet mine.Still apprehensive, Nia’s messy mid-pony-haired head finally whipped up at me. Anger contorted her beautiful face into a Tasmanian devil. Her orange eyes seethed like embers, and she gritted, “The witch tried to kill me.”“Nonsense!” Jacques roared grotesquely, pointing his finger in accusation. “You attacked her.”Narrowing my eyes, I swung my head in his direction, unleashing a guttural growl in warning.“Even when she’s wrong you choose t
NIA’S POV-“We're not done yet, Alpha,” Caliste politely interjected, stopping the advancing footsteps that had made my golden ears perk up.Using my left hand, I gripped my right wrist, thrashing on my chair as I tugged and pulled, harder and harder. Yet nothing happened, only more coughing and more smoke that puffed out of my ears.My throat felt chafed, dry, and aching. Hissing from the shortness of breath, I clasped my neck, blinking my wet eyelids excessively, and I nearly passed out.My heart instantly ached for my mate. Wanting Lykoan to be at my side and make it stop. My first instinct was to scream for his assistance. However, my voice was lodged in my throat, as if some sort of imaginary block had been placed where my vocal cords were.I gripped the side of my head as a splitting headache ripped through it. The pressure built. Sweat stung my eyes like vipers. I yelped in agony. When will this terrible spell end?Then it happened.I was somewhere else, alone and petrified. I
NIA’S POV-“Nia, we invited Caliste, our pack witch.” Olsen addressed me in a cautious tone with his hazel eyes settling on mine. “To gain our trust, we require that you pass a minor test.”“Are you for real?” Lykoan scoffed. I groaned internally, reeling from the unexpected sting of that one word.“Okay.” I acquiesced with fake composure. Inside, I was freaking out. Test? What bloody test?"Excellent!" Olsen exclaimed with a nod. "I'm glad for your consent. It’s an amicable solution." He smiled, but it never touched his hazel eyes. He was hiding something.Alpha Jacques and his Beta exchanged snarky glances. He gave him a flick of the chin and T.K. moved from his spot, strolling down the table, and going towards the door. It was too late to back out without arousing more suspicion. For a piercing minute, I regretted my decision. Now, I had no choice but to see it through. To steady my heart, I forced myself to remember my initial motivation for doing this…to be acquitted of all the