-NIA’S POV-Lykoan’s dark eyebrows furrowed and a small frown adorned his lips.Torment filled his lilacs when he uttered, “The Quintessa witches tried and most of the illusions stopped except that I see her at nights. I know she’s not real but, it’s kept me sane. Our nightly talks gave me something to look forward to. It was as though she was still around. So I haven’t slept in years because I couldn’t miss one night without her.”My chest tightened, and I squeezed my eyes shut. The pain in his voice lanced through my very own soul. But, I did not want him to stop talking to me. I opened my eyes and tilted my head up to find him solemnly gazing down at me.To console him, my fingers massaged the back of his neck, making him groan and roll his shoulders.Lykoan’s throat bobbed. Then he explained with a heartbreaking tenderness. “Although, all I feel is guilt when she visits. The guilt that I couldn’t save her. The guilt that I lived, and she died with my son.”Listening keenly, I inte
-LYKOAN’S POV-Dawn's honey-peach glow awakened me from my quiet slumber. A new freshness stoked within me as if the world had been enhanced to a higher plane. That’s because Nia has lit up my life in many ways.She was sleeping soundly and wrapped around me with her head on my chest, an arm thrown over my waist, and our legs entwined. I lay there, memorizing every detail of this moment.We were both naked, too tired last night to get any clothes on. Besides, the tingling feel of our skin-to-skin sated the physical need to be near her and to touch her, not necessarily in a sexual way, but in a way that just made me feel content.Feeling Nia starting to move and stretch against me, I caressed her side, making sure she knew I was still there as she became fully awake and aware.Her eyelids fluttered, making one of her dark lashes feathered against my skin, and my chest jolted at how much it tickled.Without lifting her head, she looked up at me. Her stunning orange eyes peeked through th
-NIA’S POV-Lykoan began to grit his teeth, and I squeezed his hand gently. Starr was antsy, more agitated as these lycans spoke in opposition to our mate. It was absurd to deny Lykoan the natural right to open his heart to whomever he pleased and to wreck his life just because of his curse.Irritation wrapped itself around my throat. “Lykoan and I met under unforeseen circumstances that bound me here. The moon goddess herself bid that I become his Sigma Spade. To go against us is to go against our deity. So, all this hostility is extremely unnecessary and aggravating."“Impossible,” ejaculated from Agnes in a high-pitched raspy voice, disbelief cloaking her timeworn features.Korbeck snorted. Thebian raked a hand through his canescent brown hair.At the same time, Jacques threw his head back and laughed out loud. “You expect us to believe you spoke with the moon goddess.” He spat bitterly. “The gods don’t bother with your kind.”Low growls reverberated around the room, to which Lykoa
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
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
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
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
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
NIA’S POVDalton was raising an Alpha Cabal for Subjugation. No doubt, it was the advice of his council to use the alphas to show Lykoan that he had no authority, similarly to what the ten alphas who died had done.What a night!This battle of power could escalate all the way to the fearsome Lycan Diabolyn.Did I predict any of this? Certainly not, but with Lykoan, he always went overboard. I could see the sheer rage bubbling inside him, just waiting to burst out like a volcano.“Isn’t this more trouble than we wanted?” I leaned towards Lykoan and asked, “I thought we were going to do things the right way. Will fighting him clear my name?”“No, but it’s more fun,” he answered surprisingly soft, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear coyly. “Don’t you think I know he’ll attempt to seduce you the moment you are alone with him?”“You overestimate his charms.” I released a tense breath, sitting back.“He doesn’t even look like the lovemaking type,” Lykoan groused, deeply analyzing the Alpha
NIA’S POV“Your lack of manners is a flaw,” Lykoan said coolly, yet a subtle, lethal undertone bled into every word. “Do not recklessly disturb us. As you can see, this is a Volkes table, and yet you want to drag away my date without my consent.”“Consent is not required when an APB is active for her, so thank you for bringing Nia home. Now that you have delivered her, I will take her out of your hands.” Dalton shot back, hands tightening into fists at his side.Lykoan’s arm went around my shoulder. He shrugged and muttered, “That won’t be necessary.”“Listen,” Dalton’s expression grew murderous. “I don’t care which Volkes you are. You’re not the Alpha of Volkecrest Krowns. That makes your inferior stance quite irrelevant, so take your reward and leave.”He grabbed the black briefcase from Chase’s hand and flung it onto our table. The glasses tipped over, liquid spilled on the tablecloth. Silverware and plates sailed through the air, smashing to the floor. A deep chasm of worry opened
NIA’S POVShellshocked, Ramona froze, blinking once, then twice.“Let’s not air out family business here,” Haynes replied with a sheepish smile, trying to de-escalate the situation he aggravated. “All this nonsense is ruining the evening.”“She’s the one disrupting the harmonious environment,” Ramonda grumbled, dipping her chin. “Offer her the money and she’ll take it. A low class like her is nothing but a woman digging for gold from a sugar daddy. A mutt trying to cash out.” Then her expression dulled, offering a regretful look when she lifted her head, her voice softened sympathetically. “You’ve endured so much already. Maybe you need more time in seclusion. I’m just helping you to keep bad she-wolves away from you.”Gritting my teeth, I laughed bitterly. “It's odd how you know to penalize other people for things you don't have concrete proof of, but disregard it when it comes to your father's obvious theft, your mate's flagrant attempted murder, and the most famous one,” I paused a
NIA’S POVOn impulse, I placed my hand on Lykoan’s thigh, gently patting him. In response, he put an arm around my chair to draw me close until the chairs bumped. Immediately palming my face, he rested his forehead on mine, taking large whiffs of my scent. Lilac eyes locked mine in a fierce, consuming gaze.“I’m not his anymore. He can never have me again,” I whispered some assurance. My words were nothing but the truth, and I gave him a coy wink as my hands coasted up his chest to rest on his broad shoulders. “You have me.”That eased the growing tension in Lykoan, whose features relaxed. It was as though the rest of the universe had faded away, leaving just the two of us gently in the quiet.“Mine.” The deep raspy rumble from his chest lured out ripples of shudders from my core as his nose brushed against the rim of mine.My fingers comb through the ends of his hair, curling the soft strands around my fingertips.“That’s right. Breathe slow and steady,” I cooed, stroking his cheeks,
NIA’S POVLycans.“Alpha General, have you been well? I'm glad that you're done convalescing and could make it to Evangeline’s big day. If I had known you were coming, Ramonda and I would have paid our respects sooner.” The man in his forties with the dark balbo beard greeted with a crooked smile. “I’m Haynes Volkes, by the way.”Lykoan’s smile dropped, and a displeasing shadow passed over his face. He leaned back in his seat and straightened his back as he pinned the man with an icy stare.Haynes extended his arm across the table for a handshake.A stony indifference set in Lykoan's features. He maintained hostile eye contact with Haynes, showing no appreciation for the salutation.“Am I the only one at this table, Haynes?” Lykoan reprimanded in an offended tone, sipping his drink.“Um. No.” Haynes’ aubergine eyes reluctantly swept to me and quickly back on Lykoan as he retracted his hand. He opened his mouth, but the pregnant woman sitting beside him rushed to interject.“Words are f
NIA’S POV“Is there something fascinating at that table, Nia?” Lykoan’s jealous voice drew my attention to him. His eyes were demanding and possessive as his hand reached across the table for mine. “Is there space in your mind for me?”“It is a bit funny,” I admitted, chuckling lowly, “It's like they are having their own isekai plot, and we are the side characters in this drama.”“Side characters?” Lykoan scoffed, and I did not miss the brief flicker of amusement that passed across his face when he lifted my hand and softly kissed my knuckles.He did not want my eyes wandering to my ex, even though he knew this wasn't some incredible, romantic reunion. But I’ve mentally checked out of that old fling. Dalton was not on my bingo card anymore.Then he removed his hand to pick up my wine glass, handing it to me. “In their small world, it’s quite clear that the fuss is over you.” Holding my gaze, he flashed that million-dollar smile. “Sultan’s Starr will always be my shining star. No one ca
NIA'S POV“If we must.” I nodded hesitantly.Lykoan helped me down from the vanity and I linked my arm through his.My nerves wound tighter as we left the room, going into the elevator to head down to the ballroom. It dinged, opening up to the elaborate lobby. We take the left and walk down the hallway on a lavish gray carpet.My wolf knew we would see Dalton again tonight, that we would see the male who rejected us. The one who didn't care to save our baby. The same man who made us rogue. The instigator of my downhill life.A part of Starr loathed him. Once again, he has declared to the world that he never intended for me to be his Luna. Only to be used until I was no longer useful. My disdain for him churned.On the other hand, tonight was mine and Lykoan's first debut as a couple. It was also my first time attending such a grand function. My first time going in public with my arm looped around a man's own. A man who proudly owned me. A man who walked along my side, with his head hi
NIA’S POVIn awestruck wonder, I gasped. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes overlooked the two pairs of gold earrings to gawk at— “My jade triskelion.”Blinking my shock away, I reached inside the box and snatched my triskelion, running my fingers over the shiny surface. After noticing the slender gold chain necklace attached to it, I realized that the jade was too big for a pendant. It was practically the size of my hand.Looking up at Lykoan, I gaped at him accusingly. I wondered when he removed it from my room. Going into my personal belongings and taking out my stuff was an invasion of privacy. Was he searching for the Weloganite stones? Either way, he should have asked.“You had no right to take my triskelion. This is dear to me.” Bemused, I narrowed my eyes, searching his. “How could you?”Part of me feared what he had to say. Upsetting thoughts rolled around in my head, sowing seeds of doubt where there had once been burgeoning hope and intrigue. It was self-preservation—a defe
NIA’S POV-Not even flinching, I sucked in a calming breath. Thinking quickly with the slyest smile, I beamed, “One of your favorites.”He halted his strides to swerve a dangerous look to the girls. “Which one of you told her that?”Panic flashed in Tameka’s and Kourtney’s eyes. Their bodies went into seizure mode, shaking their heads vigorously because they had nothing to do with it.“Lucidora,” Lykoan muttered in realization, cursing silently. He returned his stormy eyes to me, resuming his steps. “Then wear it only for me. You are not leaving here looking like you’re up for grabs. Please change into something more conservative.”I tried not to roll my eyes.“We are going to, um…” Kourtney trailed off, moving sideways towards the door with a firm grip on Tameka, dragging her along.The girls scurried out of the room to avoid his wrath, leaving me alone with this puffing beast. Kourtney made sure to close the door behind them.When I did not move, Lykoan’s patience wore thin. Stoppin