ASENA I felt a gentle stroke on my cheek, and my lips curled up in an instant. The citrusy scent caressed my nostrils with every inhale. For the first time in my life, I felt whole. The remains of anxiety were still there as I slowly recovered, but Kaan's words and every slightest gesture brought more and more peace. I still clasped my cheeks or pinched my skin just to remind myself I wasn't dreaming. My dreadful moments were over. He had come for me. He had saved me. He had done everything to ensure my safety. My mate. Caspian had been forced to stay in Collisville while Kaan had gone to find me, but Kaan wasn't alone. He had a rather unexpected companion—Dritan. I learned that it was Dritan who had contacted the resistance in Alanto. They—mainly Ellaria, Vidarr, Aeron, and Garren—were more than willing to give Dritan every piece of information after I had been kidnapped. They had given Kaan the place to start looking for a trail, and he found me. Emotions formed another knot in my
I stared at Kaan, stunned and unable to utter a word for a handful of heartbeats. “A… blood spell?” I finally choked out.He chuckled and nodded. “Jalissa told me about it, seeking an ally in me. She still fears Nathair could take the armies away from her. Clearly, she cannot be certain whether she and Nathair share the same blood or not. She didn't want to risk it, so I doubt that Nathair even knows about the spell. Perhaps he is convinced that the warriors simply chose to serve her instead of pledging loyalty to him.”My brows knitted. “So their loyalty is... forced?”Kaan gave me a crooked smile. “I guess it wasn't at first. From what I heard, when Jalissa's mother—and yours, I guess—decided to cast a spell, warriors swore a blood oath willingly. The only problem was that they swore it to your mother and Alpha Vardan, not Jalissa. She merely inherited the army since she was the only one who could claim the leadership... until now.”An uneven breath filled my lungs. “You truly think
My lips remained stretched and curved into a bright grin as I sat on Than's back, wrapped in Kaan's warm embrace. I ignored Dritan, who rode beside us and either rolled his eyes or pretended to vomit as he glanced at me and my mate. I was just… happy. For the first time in my life, I felt no weight crushing my chest. I filled my lungs with air and enjoyed the moments of bliss.“We should start working on uniting the resistance,” Dritan mused, motioning his chin at me. “From your former leader, Garren, I heard that they recently gathered quite an army of shifters. Some of them have connections to other groups working in the far eastern corners of the continent. We could finally build a solid net.”I snorted. “You sound more optimistic than ever. What happened to Dritan, General Kaan's fiercest enemy?”Kaan gave Dritan a pointed look, causing him to flinch before he gave me and my mate a sheepish smile. Then he corrected the collar of his gray shirt and cleared his throat. “I admit... I
I could barely breathe as I sat on the bed, my eyes flickering between Kaan and Caspian. I watched my mate hurriedly put on his leather pants and shirt while my hands fisted on the sheets. I didn't want to let him go. Everything within me screamed that I should beg Kaan to stay. “It had to be either Jalissa or Nathair,” Caspian said, nervously pacing around the room. “Nathair could have done it to please Alpha Khaos, but—” “It was Jalissa,” I insisted. “Nathair told me that he would gladly join Kaan in the fight against Alpha Khaos. It had to be Jalissa.” “It doesn't matter who it was,” Kaan gritted out. “The problem is how much they told Alpha Khaos. If someone sold the location behind the mountain, then it's all over. If it's just about something I allowed to happen, then I'll deal with it.” “No!” I jerked to my feet, my voice cracking. “You can't just go there and get yourself killed!” Kaan's features softened. He stepped toward me and gently stroked my cheek. “I'm not going th
My heart might have broken in half. I stared at Delmira's face. She stepped back but didn't run away, as if she were waiting for something. My eyes searched for hers, but she avoided my gaze as if it burned her. I wished it could because she deserved to suffer for what she had done. The one I believed was my friend turned out to be a traitor.My claws came out, even though I knew it was no weapon against the ten men who surrounded me. None of them shifted, but a few of them had already withdrawn their swords made of black, poisonous steel. The points of their sharp blades turned toward me, but I didn't fear them. I wouldn't go down without a fight.“Come on, love.” One of them sneered at me. “We don't want to cut you, but we won't hesitate if you keep resisting.”A low growl rumbled through my chest, and then I moved. I stretched my hand, swiftly grabbing the man's wrist and twisting it until he released the sword. I took it from him and spun around, just in time to block another warr
KAANI had a sense of déjà vu as I walked the corridors of Aurumville castle, surrounded by Alpha Khaos's guards, and this feeling had a rather bitter taste. Back then, I had just been defeated by Alpha Khaos. He had wounded me and put me in shackles. This time should have felt different, but it didn't. I had merely created a better mask to cover my true disdain and hatred toward the so-called Alpha King. Every inch of this place was rightfully mine, and the sole fact I could smell my father's killer as I walked through those corridors filled my blood with raw fury.The Aurumville castle used to be my home. A magnificent and powerful edifice had been raised on the Shadow Cliffs. One side of the castle overlooked the Shadow Mountain Pack's capital, while the other was a stone wall that went three dozen feet down, falling into the wild currents of the Tenebris River. This place had been thought to be an unpenetrable fortress. A place worthy of an Alpha King—just not the usurper who curr
ASENAI could barely breathe as I staggered inside the throne room. With nothing but a thin nightgown on, my body was frozen to the bone, but it was the stare of the so-called king that caused me to rattle. His fiery eyes, the wickedness darkening his features, and the venomous aura around him—it all made me struggle to resist a flinch.I wanted to stay strong. I wanted to show them how fierce I was. I was going to face whatever this dreadful man had planned for me with my chin held high, but as a powerful surge of emotions traveled through the bond, my head snapped toward my mate.I looked into his beautiful, dark eyes and saw fear. My insides twisted. Goddess… They were going to torture me and force him to watch. They would use me against him. Panic exploded faster than I could draw another breath.Kaan lurched toward me. “Let her go!” he thundered, his voice soaked in rage. He pushed through the guards surrounding him, slitting the throats of the two nearest before storming forward
KAANThe venom corrupting my blood nearly took away my senses, but I would have conquered it. I had to. I would have done it for her. Yet she decided differently. She decided to sacrifice herself… for me.The golden thread glimmered in front of my eyes. It traveled from my heart to hers. It was beautiful and strong, just like my mate… until it snapped and disappeared.I stared into Asena's blue eyes in agonizing disbelief. I had never heard words more painful than her rejection. Panic erupted, violently traveling through every piece of me. I shook my head, or at least I thought I did. I refused to accept her decision. My mouth opened, releasing a nearly soundless gnarl, “Why?!”Her bottom lip trembled as she whispered, “You are stronger, and I… was bound to die—” Her voice cut off with a painful croak. A powerful shudder coursed through her body, causing her to fall to the floor again. Dread locked me in its clutches as the pain I had taken was now returning to Asena.“No! You can't!
ASENA Three Weeks Later A soft gasp escaped me as the wicked tension began to coil between my thighs. I bit my lip and drew a deep inhale. Citruses. Another gasp escaped me, one followed by a shudder that coursed through my body. I opened my eyes, chasing away the remains of sleep. I was lying on my back with my legs spread and my King between them. He lifted his head, and a sly grin spread across his face. “Now that you are awake, my little one, shall I stop or continue?” I tilted my head back and groaned. My skin was already feverish, and all my sensitive parts demanded immediate attention. My humidity grew. My chest rose and fell erratically as his fingers splayed on the inner side of my thighs, inches away from where I needed them. “Your choice, my Queen,” he purred. “Don't stop,” I murmured, pushing my hips toward him. He laughed before dipping his head and drawing his wicked tongue along my sensitive center. I cried as he teased every nerve within me, pulling me closer to t
KAAN‘Fucking Fates!’ Caspian shouted through the mind link, his voice laced with laughter. ‘Are you seeing what I'm seeing?’I surely did. I stepped back, lining up with my little one—my Luna and a future Queen. Undoubtedly, she already was the Queen in the eyes of those who bowed down before her.Asena smiled nervously, gesturing at them to rise. They looked as if they had woken up from a long, dreamless sleep, slowly acknowledging where they were and who they were. It was sort of tragic that the oath that was supposed to be the highest privilege had become their nightmare.Nathair chuffed, making a sound resembling a chuckle, as he looked around at the battlefield. What had just happened could only be described as a miracle. Asena managed to stop the bloodshed mere minutes after she entered the grounds. With all the enemy warriors either killed or switching sides, there was only one thing left to do…I motioned my chin, pointing at the hill. ‘Get her,’ I commanded, and several wolv
Aeron and I made it back to Inberville alive. Of course, we both needed a healer to patch us up, but we were going to recover in a matter of hours. Aeron barely talked to me from the moment I opened the hatch and entered the passage. I saw his relief when he made sure I wasn't severely wounded. Still, he was sulking because I didn't let him fight and protect me.When we returned to the city, it already resembled a huge war camp, with armed warriors running back and forth, securing every inch. Nathair was the first person who spotted us as we exited the passage. He ran toward us, and we briefly told him about everything that happened. He instantly passed the news of General Acyn's death to a few of his men so it could spread through the battlefield. Undoubtedly, Acyn's commanders and warriors had yet to be informed about the death of their leader, and the sooner they heard it, the faster their morale and will to fight would break.“I still cannot feel whether the blood spell worked or
I could barely keep my eyes open as Aeron all but dragged me deep into the forest. Arrows kept flying. A few missed us by an inch; two scratched Aeron's arm as he shielded me. I begged him to leave me and save himself, but he only growled in response.The good news was that the arrow hadn't pierced my heart. I knew that because I was still alive. The bad news was that it pierced through me and that it was coated with wolfsbane. The bleeding in my chest increased, and I knew I was about to reach my limit. I clenched my teeth, pushing through the pain, but I couldn't force my feet to move faster.“There's a rocky hill with a few caves ahead of us,” Aeron said as he tightened his grip on my waist. “We'll hide there.”I didn't argue. I had no strength to do so. Instead, I concentrated on running. The arrows stopped flying above our heads, but we didn't dare assume we were no longer being chased. I tried to hear the pounding footsteps somewhere behind us, but the wolfsbane weakened my sens
I convinced Nathair to include Zeno and Aeron in the emergency meeting in the war room. The three of us sat among the commanders of General Nathair's army. Surprisingly, none of them dared question our presence. There were no signs of disrespect or hostility, even though some of them must have already known that we were from the resistance or that I was Alpha Kaan's mate. Instead, their heads bowed before me, acknowledging my Luna status.Nathair shocked me even more when he decided to announce that I was Alpha Vardan's daughter. Again, no one asked me to prove my lineage; they believed their General as if his every word was sacred. I highly doubted that Jalissa could have counted on such loyalty from her warriors had the blood spell been broken.“We straightened every post from each side of our territory, General,” reported Zander, one of Nathair's commanders. “Still, I'm afraid that without a solid backup, the enemy will destroy our defenses in less than three days.”I glanced at Ze
I became more restless the closer we were to the Dark Lakes Pack's territory. I could no longer feel Kaan's emotions or mind link my mate, and this strange emptiness inside me filled me with an urge to turn back Atius and return to Alento. Only now did I fully understand why the mated couples could barely stand staying away from each other for more than a day. I felt as if I couldn't breathe a mere hour after we parted.Surely, I didn't mention anything about my emotional state to Aeron or Zeno. Aeron would have probably laughed his ass off, and Zeno would have most likely ignored everything I said. Letting out a quiet sigh, I shifted my focus to the road ahead, where Inberville's ramparts came into view.Aeron sucked in a sharp breath as we neared the massive gates with at least six guards protecting the city's entrance. “Are you sure that Nathair will let us into the Dark Lakes Pack's capital?”A nervous chuckle escaped me. “I guess we're about to find out.”A few heartbeats passed,
Fear turned out to be a better motivator than any logical argument we could have come up with. The icy terror satiated the air in the meeting hall. It took a few minutes for everyone gathered to realize that only we could give them what they truly wanted, and that was survival.Of course, some would rather hold on to their hatred even though they would risk the lives of their families that way. The insults and curses were still audible in the hall. I could sense that Kaan was at his limit. His urge to end those who spoke ill of us grew. His patience was about to run out, and I had to admit that so was mine. Surprisingly, it was Vidarr who spoke up first.“If you think that you can insult Luna Asena or Alpha Kaan just because they came here in peace, then I suggest you think again!” he growled. “You will show them respect, or we won't blame them for the bloodshed your stupid tongues caused!”Standing by my side, Kaan breathed out a chuckle. “I think I like him,” he whispered in my ear.
ASENAOne side of my lips curled up as I listened to Dritan's speech. I lined up with Kaan and smiled at my mate. He instantly grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers. My chest swelled, and I felt hot tears gathering in the back of my eyes. Kaan had blood on his hands. He had killed for Alpha Khaos, but he had also saved many lives. He had chosen to become a villain because it had seemed like the only way to gain leverage in this war. He had allowed others to hate him for years. It was time for those who hated him to know his reasons…Garren scratched his beard, processing Dritan's words. I knew that he was a reasonable man who would never be blinded by general beliefs. Unfortunately, the warriors around him still oozed hostility, and none of Dritan's words softened the anger written on their faces.“For now, I believe that you didn't come here for bloodshed,” Garren said, his eyes shifting from me to Kaan and back to me. “You need more than a few words to gain my trust, and you c
KAANI watched my amazing Luna pack her clothes into a leather bag. Mine was already packed, so I just sat on the bed, enjoying the view, while I talked through the link with Caspian.‘He regained consciousness mere hours ago, and now that idiot insists on coming with us,’ Caspian groaned.I blew out a breath. ‘I didn't tell Asena that you found him a few days ago. No one could tell whether or not he was going to wake up, so…’‘She'll understand, Kaan,’ Caspian assured. ‘She needed to cope with Delmira's betrayal and Lelah's death. It's understandable you didn't want to tell her about Dritan.’I breathed out a curse and dragged my fingers through my hair. ‘So where is that idiot now?’‘Most likely on the way to your chambers. Angus and Damien tried to stop him, but he threatened to punch them when they blocked his way.’I pinched the bridge of my nose. ‘Fuck… I guess I will need to let Asena know before this fucker parades inside our bedroom.’A rough chuckle came through the link. ‘G