Ella - POV One year later The threat of war has passed. Ladon, Blair, and Arya have all passed away, and the contract made with the dark world has been broken. So, after our mate connection, Darcus and I resumed our relationship. Darcus wanted to date me because he believed I had rushed into mating with him. He wanted to break the mating bond to ensure my happiness, even if I changed my mind within a year. I tried to convey the sincerity of my emotions, but he insisted on dating me, so I gave in. When Hana gave birth to her twins, I provided a helping hand, and even Darcus was there to lend a hand. I informed Hana about Darcus and me dating, assuring her that Darcus had not cheated and was a misunderstanding. When Hana saw me happy with Darcus, she stopped arguing about it. Darcus wanted Hana to take care of her children and be around, so he encouraged his HR team to let Hana work from home. This choice genuinely pleased me, and Hana was happy with Darcus's idea. James traveled
My name is Alice Brooks, and I am a dragon shifter. Today, I stand inside a cave known as the Mating Rejection Chamber. The trial results will be announced; the accused is my abusive mate, Jeffrey Claire. The monarch of the dragon kingdom, Darcus, and his mate, Queen Ella, sit on the judgment seat together. I anxiously await the hearing on the proceedings to reject the fated mate who abused and betrayed me. I pray to the gods for a harsh punishment for the wicked mate. "I, King Darcus of the Dragon Kingdom, have gone over every piece of evidence and statement made by Alice Brooks and Jeffrey Claire. The trial verdicts will be revealed by the queen," King Darcus stated, gazing at his queen, who had risen from her throne. My pulse pounds anxiously in anticipation of her words. "Alice Brooks, the court rules in your favor, and you will reject your mate with the help of the witches' ritual. I will condemn Jeffrey Claire to three years in a dungeon for the crimes he committed." The words
Alice - POV I had to get home as soon as possible because it was getting late, and I needed to prepare a meal for Jeffrey before he got home. "Hey, easy there; why are you rushing?" Isha, my caring neighbor friend, asked as she walked beside me. "I have to hustle to cook dinner on time. If I saw Jeffery late, you know how upset I would be..." I paused, not adding any further. Isha's expression conveyed her feeling of pity as she gazed at me. "Why don't you leave such an abusive mate, Alice? I can assist..." "No, Isha. You know he is simply quick-tempered, but he is faithful to me," I said. Isha grumbled at me, tired of justifying Jeffery's wrongdoing. However, I care deeply about my husband, and ending our relationship would be a struggle for both of us. I pushed my thoughts aside. I am putting up with Jeffery's anger issues because I love him. "Thank you for offering to help, Isha. I'll see you around," I said. In contrast to my other neighbors, who couldn't care less abou
Alice - POV As Jeffery's eyes scanned the paper on the desk, Isha's voice cut through the air with a venomous hiss. "Get out of my house, Jeffery." My heart raced as I felt a hand on my shoulder, and I turned to see Isha standing beside me, her persistent presence giving me the strength to face my monstrous mate. Jeffery's eyes flicked at her, and anger rippled through his features. "Let us go home now," he commanded, his voice cold and controlled. I shivered, feeling the weight of his dominance pressing down on me. "She won't go anywhere," Isha shot back sternly. I gripped her hand, silently urging her to stay calm. "Stay out of this, Isha," Jeffery growled, his gaze fixed on me. "She is my mate and wife. She will stay with me." I knew better than to argue with him. If Isha continued to challenge him, it wouldn't be long before Jeffery's violence erupted again. I couldn't risk putting her in danger. "Isha, please let me go," I whispered, hoping she would understand. "No, he wi
Alice - POV "Capture this man, guards," Isha ordered, rushing to my side with a concerned expression. "Let go of me. You don't know who I am," Jefferey growled. "I know you're an abusive and toxic man who mistreats his mate," Isha hissed. "Shut up, you bitch," Jeffery spat through clenched teeth. "I told you not to interfere in my family matters. You know I'm a noble dragon. I'll sue you, Isha. you fucking bitch." "Mind your tongue, Mr. Claire," a sweet feminine voice with a sharp edge interrupted. My eyes widened in surprise. "Queen Ella," I whispered as Isha helped me stand. "You claim to be a noble dragon, but the way you speak to women makes me doubt your noble bloodline," Queen Ella said coldly, making Jeffery shiver. I could see the hatred reflected in his eyes as he looked at Queen Ella. The guards took me away to be put in the dungeons. "Isha, you did well in calling me," Queen Ella said. I stood marveling at her beauty; she looked like a goddess. "You must be Alice,"
James - POV It has been three years since Ella and I broke up, but the pain of her choosing her dragon mate, Darcus, over me still lingers. As an orphan and the last prince of my clan, who was killed by the witches and Warlocks, I find it difficult to fill the void in my life. No clan accepted me to stay in the realm because of my powers, which could disrupt their realm. So, I created my community, Hope, where rogue witches and warlocks find shelter homes and pledge loyalty to me as their clan head. Though I have everything I need, I still miss a lover or mate. I have tried to move on from Ella by meeting other women, but it always ends in disappointment. They either want me for my powers or just for a one-night stand. On the other hand, Ella loved and cared for me, and it is hard to forget that. Despite all this, I am happy for Ella and that Darcus is taking good care of her. However, I try to avoid her as much as possible because seeing her reminds me of when we were happy togethe
Alice - POV "Please have a seat; we'll begin the interview," Mr. James Davis said firmly. I nodded as he maintained his composed demeanor and inquired about my interest in the associate lawyer position rather than the paralegal role. "I'm sorry to interrupt, but I applied for the Paralegal position, correct?" I asked, seeking clarification from Mr. Davis. "Are you not aware of the job you have applied for?" Mr. Davis responded briskly, making me uneasy as confusion overtook me. "Ms. Brooks, the Paralegal position, has been filled. We currently have an opening for an Associate Lawyer. Are you interested in this role?" Mr. Davis asked, this time in a softer tone. I could sense his empathy as I struggled to keep my composure, eager to secure any job. "Yes, Mr. Davis, I would be interested in applying for the Associate Lawyer position," I whispered, trying to hide my disappointment at not getting the job I originally applied for. "Very well, the interview rounds are complete. You w
James - POV It has been a frustrating week. Despite several rounds of interviews, none of the candidates met the qualifications for the associate position. My mind wandered to when I first met Alice, with her soft skin, sharp features, and curly golden locks. I scowled at my own thoughts, feeling frustrated. A snort escaped my lips involuntarily, catching the attention of my colleague, Dave. "What's the matter?" he asked skeptically. "Nothing," I replied dismissively. "Why are you here? Didn't you hate being in the human realm?" Dave chuckled awkwardly, holding out a shiny envelope. "I thought you'd want to see this." As soon as I saw the letter from Ella, my heart began racing. It was an invitation to a dragon festival, and she asked for my forgiveness and about my health. I skimmed through the letter and folded it back into the envelope, tucking it away with the rest of the letters from Ella and Darcus. "Are you going?" Dave asked. I glared at him, not wanting to discuss my p
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