James - POV "What's going on with you, James?" Dave approached me, noticing the exhaustion on my face. "Nothing..." I growled, taking a sip from my fourth glass of liquor. "Come on, you look like crap, and you're telling me nothing happened?" Dave sighed, ordering a drink for himself at the bar. "Why are you here? I told you to take care of the realm." My voice carried a snarl of frustration. "I received some information from Jake," Dave said. "He mentioned something about Blair, the previous queen's son or Darcus' stepbrother. Apparently, he possesses unusual strength, like that of a hybrid." Dave paused, observing my reaction. "What a shady situation," I muttered, sensing the gravity of the situation. "Did Jake sense Blair's aura?" I asked, trying to piece together the puzzle. This was a crucial matter. Is Darcus aware of his stepbrother's powers, or is he keeping this information hidden to protect him from me? "Jake felt his strength during a fight on the training grounds. T
James - POV "So you're from my clan, Mr. Hart. Why did you keep this from me?" I asked, my voice filled with a mix of curiosity and disappointment. Mr. Hart's face fell with guilt as I looked at him, feeling the pain of betrayal again. Why did Mr. Hart do that? He must have known that I am the prince of the Black Magic Clan. "I apologize, your Majesty, for concealing my actual identity from you for so long," Mr. Hart spoke, his voice filled with remorse. I glanced at him, unsure of how to respond. Mr. Hart had always felt like a member of my family, but now that I knew he had been hiding his true identity, I was at a loss for words. "I can see the astonishment in your eyes, but I realize I can no longer hide the truth. Why don't we find a safer place to discuss matters further? I've noticed that we are being watched," Mr. Hart suggested, not waiting for our response. He opened a portal and transported us to another dimension, the realm of my clan. However, upon arrival, I could only
Darcus - POV "Furthermore, Alpha's son was also protecting and aiding my daughter," Mr. Hart added, attempting to maintain his emotional composure as he continued narrating his past. "I had no idea who was behind the attack on our tribe. But now, after hearing your words, I can't help but wonder if Ladon was involved or if there is something else I need to know, Mr. Hart," I said, my voice filled with curiosity and concern. If my father is found to be responsible for the murders in his own clan, it would undoubtedly lead to bloodshed. I knew James would seek vengeance for his clan's loss, potentially sparking a conflict between us. "Ladon merely instigated the witches who held a grudge against us for a long time. Witches from the Fire, Water, Earth, and Air clans were our adversaries. We were attacked from within by a traitor in our own clan," Mr. Hart revealed, shedding light on the internal conflicts that plagued our clan. "So why do I remember you caring for me after Jasmine's d
Ella - POV When I woke up, it had been a while since I last went to work. I saw my dad sitting at the table, reading a newspaper and sipping his black coffee. He had a big smile on his face as he looked at me. "Ready to go back to work?" he asked cheerfully. I grabbed a sandwich from his plate and poured myself a coffee. "Yeah, I'm tired of sleeping in my bed all day. It's time to get back to work," I replied with a laugh, taking a sip of coffee and enjoying my sandwich. "Dad, I thought we should organize a baby shower celebration for Hana this weekend. What do you think?" "That's a wonderful idea, and I'm sure Hana will love it. We'll have to work together to plan the party. You should come early on Friday evening so we can set everything up and have everything ready by Saturday evening," my dad suggested. I nodded and smiled, feeling happy about the upcoming celebration. "Take care, Dad, and remember to take your medicine. I'll be back soon," I said, checking my watch and prepar
Ella - POV The entire week had been a whirlwind of exhaustion. Yet the day we had been waiting for had finally arrived - we would host a party for Hana. We had decided on a theme, and I had already sent out invitations to coworkers. Darcus was also included in Hana's request, and his pleased response to the invitation took me by surprise. James, my next invitee, confirmed his attendance promptly. With the venue, a charming garden, already rented, I rushed back to start the decorations. Given the enormity of the task, I called James for help. I was keen on sparing Dad from unnecessary stress, especially given how demanding party planning could be. Despite Hana's willingness to lend a hand with the decorations, her job constraints didn't allow her the liberty of taking a half-day off as I had. "Dad, let me handle the lights on the trees. They'll add a beautiful touch at night," I suggested, but Dad was adamant, worrying about me climbing the ladder. I assured him, "Dad, I am no lon
Ella - POV Caught up in a whirlwind of tasks, I sprinted from one meeting room to another. Between entertaining clients and keeping track of notes, my day was packed. To add to the stress, Sofia was absent; she had mentioned she would be late. Also missing was Darcus, who should've been in his cabin by now. Our next meeting was approaching, and his presence was crucial. "Damn it, why isn't Darcus answering his phone?" I grumbled, shooting him an urgent text. No response. "Could it be... are Darcus and Sofia dating and leaving me to shoulder all the work?" I pondered aloud, pacing anxiously in my cabin. I fretted over handling the meeting independently with a critical client on the line. "Ella, you've got this," I muttered, using self-talk to quell my anxiety. With a deep breath, I stepped into the conference room, meeting the curious gazes of the clients expecting Darcus. Despite my initial discomfort, I launched into the project briefing that Darcus was supposed to present. To my
Ella - POV "Darcus, can you please try to be less tense? It's making me more anxious than I already am," I urged. He nodded and drew a few deep breaths, settling back on the couch beside me. His proximity was distracting but offered an odd sense of comfort. "Allow me to explain the dragon concept of mating. We are given a mate by the goddess Delphyne and can accept them as partners if we wish. However, if one partner does not wish to continue the bond, we can sever it with the help of witches. However, breaking the bond causes both partners to gradually lose their dragon abilities, and ultimately, the dragon dies. In some cases, both the dragon and the master may die prematurely," Darcus explained, reaching for a nearby blanket as he noticed me shivering, despite the warmth of the nearby fireplace. "Fascinating, but I'm a human, aren't I? So how can I be your mate?" I asked. Darcus looked at me, then at the crackling fire in the hearth. "Ella, your mother Mia was a dragon shifter w
Darcus - POV "Your Majesty," Henry's words pulled me from my thoughts, and I let Ella's hand rest in mine. "Henry, I called you here to discuss the story you spun about my father's mate link with Mia. So, you decided to lie to me and play games, is that it?" Henry's back stiffened, and his gaze lowered. "Henry, I want you to be truthful with me. I have always considered you a father figure... I don't want to learn about these behind-the-scenes machinations from anyone else. Knowing that my parents are conspiring against me is almost too painful." Ella's hand tightened around mine as I snarled. Looking down at Henry, I did my best to suppress my rising anger, but the tension in the room was palpable. "I didn't mean to deceive you, but I was forced to acquiesce to the previous king's threat to abduct my family," Henry began. "In fear, I went along with King Ladon's plans. However, the task of telling you the story was meant to make you trust Ladon and let him manipulate events from t
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