Ella - POV "Of course, let's go, Babe. We're done here." Wrapping my arm around him, James graced me with a radiant smile that fluttered my heart. Why was he so irresistible? Darcus remained impassive, devoid of any visible emotion. As James's hand settled on mine, it returned my attention to him. We left Darcus behind, his watchful gaze prickling at my back. "Ella, you're mine." A voice echoing Darcus's tones resonated in my head, causing me to halt abruptly. James shot me a confused and concerned look, trying to figure out why I'd stopped. Turning around, I saw Darcus was already out of sight. "I just had a strange feeling, James; I just..." His expression deepened with worry. A wave of weakness swept over me, causing my knees to buckle. Quickly reacting, James caught me around the waist, stopping my fall. "Don't worry, Babe. I'm here. We're going home so you can rest." Confusion whirled inside me as he lifted me in a bridal carry to the car, securing me gently in the passenger s
Darcus - POV Seated in a dimly lit room, I nursed a whiskey, the liquor doing little to ease the pain. Seeing Ella so close to the warlock stung. I could feel Drago, my dragon, flinching at the sight of our mate with someone else. I missed Ella deeply, yet I couldn't let others, particularly my mother, meddle with my destiny. Regrettably, I'd made the mistake of heeding her advice, naively believing I was protecting Ella. I should've sought counsel from the shrine's priest and followed his guidance to solve the issue. I still had an opportunity to discuss my concerns with Tiamat's priest, but I had to keep them under wraps. If other royals discovered my problems, it would alarm those internal enemies who knew my weaknesses and sought to exploit them. The Duke Garcia family, Zac, and my mother were the only ones who knew about Ella, my mate. Apart from them, no one was aware of my human partner. My father and I had a strained relationship. He needed to be informed about my mate, an
Darcus - POV "Your Majesty, the search team has found no trace of our former king yet. However, as soon as I receive an update from the team, I will immediately notify you, Your Majesty," she said calmly, her voice belying the rage in her eyes. My glare caused her to straighten her posture. How dare she express anger toward me when she is at fault? "I need more knights to get to work so I can find my father and bring him home safely," I ordered. As a sign of acceptance, she bowed her head, and some royal aristocrats noticed the tension between my mother and me, while others were baffled by what was happening. "I believe we can adjourn the meeting, and we will inform you all as soon as we have further information," I added. The royals left the court, and I sighed, rubbing the bridge of my nose. "I think you should take a nap, Your Majesty, since you haven't slept the entire day," Mr. Henry said from my left side. "I can't sleep at all. I'm going to find my father and bring him home
Ella - POV James didn't tell me what he and Darcus discussed, but he assured me it wasn't a big deal. I tried to elicit information from James regarding his conversation, but he refused to provide any details. Meanwhile, James was getting ready to leave for California, and I was preparing breakfast for everyone. "Are you still upset I didn't tell you what Darcus and I discussed? It was just business talk, Ella, so let it go," James finally spoke up as he attempted to assist me with breakfast preparation. "Do you think I'm upset? I'm not; I didn't even say anything," I replied. James held my hand while I whipped the egg yolks to a froth. When I looked into his eyes, he pulled me closer to him. He knew me so well that I couldn't keep a straight face before him. James kissed my cheeks, forehead, and lips until I couldn't help but respond with a smile. "God, stop being so..." James captured my lips, and we kissed deeply. We eventually parted, both panting for breath. "If you keep goin
Darcus - POV After spending an hour talking with Henry and taking a brief moment to relax, I embarked on a search for my father, accompanied by a group of knights. Henry joined me on this journey. As we passed through villages, I couldn't help but notice the apprehension in the eyes of the villagers, who had likely realized the significance of the imperial Knights being near their homes. "We have scoured every secluded area, including the desert building, but there is no sign of King Ladon, your Majesty," Henry informed me, sharing the reports received from the knights dispatched by my mother to search for my father. I pondered for a while, growing increasingly concerned about my father's whereabouts. If he had been kidnapped, I would have expected to receive a ransom letter by now. The thought of an enemy attacking my father sent a wave of anxiety through me. "Is it true that my father went to the meeting with the wolf realm alone?" I asked suddenly, prompting Henry to turn his a
Darcus - POV Henry had announced to the dragon court that the former King had returned home safely but had passed out from exhaustion while traveling through the forest. The reports from Henry indicated that some aristocrats accepted this explanation while others remained skeptical. I found myself sitting in my father's room after the doctors had administered medication to him. They explained that my father's health was deteriorating due to losing his mate bond, and his dragon essence was slowly fading. Many nobles visited my father, and knights heavily guarded the room. My mother paid a visit, putting on a sobbing and acting display. Meanwhile, my father remained unconscious. I left and headed to my office to attend to the pile of unfinished work. "Darcus," my father called out as I turned away from the papers. "Why are you awake when you should be resting? Our knights are here to watch over you," I replied, concerned for his well-being. My father appeared weak and on the verge of
Ella - POV I enjoyed three days of working in peace, without seeing Darcus's face. I made Sofia work extra hours to compensate for my indulgence, and I noticed the dark circles under her eyes from the excessive workload. But I knew Sofia wouldn't stop bullying me, so I had to remain on guard. Today is the day I have to face Darcus. I consider asking him about what he said to James, hoping for a genuine response, but I can't trust his words. So, I decided to abandon the idea of questioning Darcus. As I reach the office and head to the rooftop venue where Avery's farewell function will take place this evening, I realize much work is needed. I need to oversee the preparations, ensure the decorations are up to par, and arrange for all the employees from different branches to attend. Furthermore, I have received word from Darcus that his father will also be at the function today. I have never met Darcus's parents since our relationship never progressed to that point. "Sofia, we need an
James - POV When Dave and I walked together, I held a glass of alcoholic beverage. It filled his eyes with concern as he heard my entire conversation about what had happened in New York. "You have a bigger issue, James. You must tell Ella the truth about yourself soon, or else Darcus will try his best to reveal it to her. Ella should hear it from you than from her ex-boyfriend about you being a warlock," Dave advised. "It's not as simple as you make it out to be. Ella didn't believe Darcus when he revealed Ella my real identity to her. What will happen if I tell her the truth and she doesn't believe me?" I whispered, feeling unsure. "The more you hide it, the more Ella will suffer. It's best if you just say it. Show her a demonstration of your power, James, and make her believe in it," Dave suggested. I looked at the sky, contemplating whether I should follow Dave's advice. Would Ella run away or stay? I reasoned that it would be better to tell her now rather than later, as she wou
Lavina –POVSix Month LaterDressed in a pink gown and wearing my best jewelry, I checked my makeup and hair one last time. Archer's mom entered, looking stunning in a beautiful light green gown, while Gunther, in his little tux, cooed and clapped his hands with a smile upon seeing me. "Gunther, you look so handsome," I said, lifting him into my arms and kissing his cheeks."Ready for Leo's wedding?" Archer asked, pausing to take in my appearance from head to toe. "Wow, Lavina, you look radiant," he whispered. At that moment, Archer's mom coughed, reminding us of her presence."Mom, you look beautiful too," Archer quickly added. She offered a smile in return."There's no need for fake compliments, Archer. I'm just happy to see you two lovebirds so happy," Archer's mom said, her voice filled with warmth. "I'll take Gunther to the party. Lavina, could you check on Leena? She was calling for you." I nodded in agreement.As Archer's mom left with Gunther, Archer moved closer to me, his ga
Lavina – POVLeo was anxious. "Ms. Leena isn't getting better with our treatments. If she doesn't recover, it's going to be bad for her health," the doctor explained."Why isn't she improving?" Leo asked, clearly upset. "You're supposed to be good at healing." In his frustration, Leo grabbed the doctor by the collar."Leo, give me a chance to heal her," I said, stepping forward. Leo looked at me with a mixture of anger and hope, then released the doctor.I approached Leena, noticing her injuries and the paleness of her skin. "Ryu, I need your strength," I whispered, connecting with my dragon. As Ryu shared his energy with me, my hands began to glow with a powerful light.Leena's wolf form was weak, but because of my unique bond with an archer, I was able to share my strength with her. This bond is special because it allows me to heal and understand wolves, something I could usually only do with dragons. With my hands glowing and filled with Ryu's power, I focused on transferring energ
Lavina – POVArcher and I couldn't go on a honeymoon because we had to deal with Natalie, who was causing trouble. We hurried back to the Wolf realm and pretended that we were still preparing for the wedding. We even hid our mate marks to make it seem like we weren't married yet, and I didn't tell anyone that I was already the queen of wolves."I never imagined Natalie would come up with such plans," Archer's mom said, joining me after she had looked over the wedding venue. "To everyone, she seemed like a sweet girl, always acting as if she wouldn't hurt a fly. But she was good at pretending."Feeling a bit awkward, I asked, "I'm sorry to bring this up, but why did Brandon become so evil?" The question made Archer's mom look sad."Brandon always wanted to be the best; he couldn't stand coming in second. He was very competitive. Archer, on the other hand, wanted freedom. He never had any interest in being the Alpha. He dreamed of traveling the world, exploring new places, and had no de
Lavina–POVA week laterJust finished putting Gunther to sleep and tucked him in with a blanket. Archer came up beside me, and we both admired our son sleeping peacefully. Sharing a content smile, we left the room together. I felt a wave of relief—it's quite a task to get a little one to bed.Back in our room, Archer suggested, "Lavi, put your feet on my lap.""Why?" I asked, laying down while Archer took my feet into his lap, starting to massage my sore legs gently. I couldn't help but moan, feeling the tension release."I love hearing you moan," Archer teased with a chuckle, adding a flirtatious hint. "Especially when I'm close to you."Something seemed off, so I asked, "Archer, what's on your mind?" I withdrew my feet from his lap, meeting his eyes directly."Leo and I have beefed up security," he shared, concern evident in his voice."Are you worried about an attack?" I probed. He nodded. Sitting up, I pondered how to alleviate his fears."Let's use our new abilities to scout for
Leo- POVIt's been three months since Leena and I started our smooth-sailing relationship. During this time, I successfully dismantled a gang that was deceiving she-wolves under the guise of a dating site. These criminals would lure the she-wolves, drug their food, and then use them as blood banks for vampires or as playthings. Together with Archer, we tracked down this nefarious group and eliminated everyone involved, ensuring they could no longer harm anyone.I was eagerly awaiting Leena's arrival at my house; she had expressed her desire to move in with me, following the traditional practice of she-wolves living with their mates once they found each other. I had taken great care to prepare her room according to her preferences, as I wanted her to feel comfortable and at home, not just a guest sharing my space. Before her arrival, movers and packers had already delivered and arranged Leena's belongings in her new room.When there was a knock at the door, I quickly opened it, greeted
Lavina–POVThree months laterArcher presented me with my favourite lasagna, catering to my late-night cravings. He had just come from the kitchen, ready to serve me this delicious meal."You can cook?" I asked, surprised."I've been taking cooking classes with my mom. I wanted to make delicious food for you and take care of you," Archer replied, smiling. I gazed at him with affection, feeling fortunate. Archer had always been there for me, addressing my whims, insecurities, and pain from my past relationship with Keenan, which still troubled me.After we finished eating, Archer placed his hand on my belly, and the baby kicked in response to his voice. "Daddy can't wait to meet you," he said.Archer's mom, waking up early at dawn, inquired, "How are the wedding preparations coming along?""I'm working on it with Alice and Ella's help," I replied. "Juggling work too, it's quite hectic."Archer chimed in, "I suggested letting the new secretary handle your work.""She's still learning ho
Leo–POVI saw photos of Archer proposing to Lavina and felt happy seeing them together because they both deserve joy and are perfect for each other. I waited for Leena to get ready, making sure the team had set up the date in Leena's spacious backyard. I found out Leena's parents weren't home from their servant, who informed me. They wanted to give Leena and me some privacy. I was glad that Leena's parents liked me and didn't object to me dating Leena before we considered taking our relationship to the next level.A voice interrupted my thoughts. "Nervous?" I looked up to see Leena wearing a beautiful, elegant dress, looking stunning."Are you nervous?" I echoed her question."Yes," she whispered."Me too," I admitted honestly, and she smiled beautifully at my confession. I pulled out a chair for her, and she sat down at the beautifully set table, illuminated and adorned with white shimmering cloth, creating an elegant atmosphere arranged by the team."It's a beautiful setup you've do
Lavina–POVThe baby is healthy, and we have a new doctor who is taking care of both my health and Alice's. Ella, who was watching over us, felt worried. It was after we learned that Dr. Yasmin, our previous doctor, was involved with the KCA. However, I reassured her by saying, "Ella, don't worry. The KCA isn't a concern anymore."Ella insisted, "It's better to be safe and take precautions."The doctor confirmed, "Both of you and the baby are healthy." He then advised us to continue taking our medicine and monitoring our vitals to maintain our health. After receiving a positive update from the doctor, we left the clinic.Once we were outside, Alice remarked, "It's been so long since the three of us had a girls' night out.""You know how protective our partners can be. They hardly let us go anywhere without them." Alice said. I recalled a recent incident where my Archer wanted to accompany me everywhere, even after I insisted he didn't have to. "He kept pestering me all night," I shared
Leo – POVStanding at the given address, my heart raced as the familiar scent of lilies surrounded me. The door opened to reveal a middle-aged woman. "I'm Leo Taylor," I introduced myself. "I'm here for Leena.""What business do you have with my daughter?" she asked cautiously."She's my mate," I explained. She looked surprised but stepped aside to let me into my relief."Leena is resting in her room," her mother informed me. "I can't wake her; she needs her rest."While talking, a man approached and asked, "Who was at the door, Mina?" He fell silent as Leena's mother explained who I was and introduced me to her husband."Why didn't you let Leena stay in the infirmary?" I couldn't help but ask, curious about their decision. Her parents exchanged a look, suggesting there was more to the story."After we found out Leena had been found, we requested the doctors to allow us to bring her home for treatment. We wanted our daughter to be with us, at home, not far away. We've been without her