Kamrynn's POV
I took a step forward, my legs trembling under the weight of what I was about to propose. The room seemed to grow heavier, the air thick with anticipation. Every eye was on me, and I could feel the burden of their expectations pressing against my chest. But I had no other choice. If I didn’t try, I would never forgive myself.
“I can break the curse,” I repeated firmly, though the words felt strange coming out of my mouth.
The silence that followed was deafening. Alpha Orion’s brows furrowed deeply, his skepticism apparent in the way his arms crossed over his chest. His eyes narrowed, and his voice was sharp.
“How exactly do you plan to do that, Kamrynn?” he demanded. “You can’t just say something like that without proof. This is no ordinary curse.”
I swallowed hard, feeling the intensity of his doubt like a
Kamrynn's POV“Sherelle?” My voice trembled, hope and disbelief warring within me.“Kamrynn, it’s me! Please, come this way!”I turned toward the sound, my breath catching. I had longed to hear her voice again for so long. Our memories came flooding back to me all at once. Without thinking, I took a step forward, my eyes scanning the thick fog that hung like a veil in the distance.“Sherelle, where are you?” I called back, desperation lacing my words.Her voice came again, stronger now. “I’m here! Hurry!”I broke into a run, the fog growing thicker with every step. The world around me became obscured, the faint outline of the ground beneath my feet the only thing I could see. My heart raced, torn between elation and unease. Something wasn’t right, but hearing her voice—my sister&rsq
Kamrynn's POVI took a hesitant step forward, my voice trembling but firm. “Why can’t you just lift the curse?” I asked, my tone pleading but edged with frustration. “Cursing an entire bloodline… it’s not fair. Innocent people have suffered for centuries because of one man’s mistake. Two people who genuinely love each other are being torn apart because of this. How can you justify that?”The sorceress’s glowing eyes snapped to mine, her chained figure emanating a cold fury that made my blood run cold. She tilted her head, her gaze cutting through me like a blade. “Fair?” she hissed, her voice low and sharp, filled with centuries of bitterness. “Do not speak to me of fairness, child. You know nothing of what you speak. Nothing of the pain I endured. You have no right to lecture me.”Her words struck me like a slap, but I couldn’t back down. I swallowed hard and straightened my spine, even as her intense glare made my knees feel weak. “I know enough,” I replied, my voice trembling but re
Kamrynn's POV Her misery was pungent as she wept for her fallen loved ones, the weight of Xoria’s suffering pressing down on me like an unbearable burden. My hands clenched, my nails digging into my palms as the mirror continued to replay her torment.The mirror shifted again, and the dim glow of a chamber appeared. My stomach tightened as I saw Xoria being dragged into the room by one of Corvis’s guards. She struggled against the man’s grip, her defiance palpable despite the fear etched on her face.“Let me go!” she screamed, her voice echoing off the cold stone walls.The guard hesitated, glancing back at the large bed in the center of the room. Corvis sat there, his eyes dark with intention.“Leave her,” Corvis commanded, his tone sharp and final.The guard released her, giving her a brief, apologetic look before retreating from the room and shutting the heavy door behind him.Xoria’s chest heaved with anger as she turned to face Corvis. “What do you want from me now?” she demande
Kamrynn's POV The cavern seemed to grow colder as Xoria’s words echoed in my mind. I stood frozen for a moment, torn between despair and determination. The sorceress had every reason to be bitter, but as I recalled the pain in Kyven’s and Thalia’s eyes—their love trembling under the weight of a curse they didn’t deserve—I knew I couldn’t leave without trying harder.I squared my shoulders and met Xoria’s glowing green eyes. “You’re right,” I said, my voice firm. “The things Corvis did to you were despicable, and nothing can ever make up for it. But Kyven and Thalia are innocent. They’re just two people in love, caught in the crossfire of a crime they didn’t commit.”Xoria’s expression remained cold, unmoving. “Innocent or not, Thalia bears his filthy blood. She carries his sins. Why should I let her or anyone else from that family find peace when I never can?”Her bitterness was palpable, but I forced myself to stand firm. “Because this needs to end,” I countered. “Corvis’s generatio
Kamrynn’s POVAryna’s voice filled my mind as my eyes slowly scanned the concerned faces around me. “You did it, Kamrynn,” she said, her tone warm and full of pride. “I always knew you could. You’ve proven once again that there’s nothing you can’t achieve when you set your mind to it.”I smiled faintly, still shaken from my journey to the underworld but comforted by her encouragement. Rmonica, who was still embracing me tightly, finally stepped back, her eyes glistening with tears of relief.“You’re back,” she said, her voice trembling with emotion. “You’re really back.”Kyven moved forward, gently taking my arm to steady me. “Kamrynn, how do you feel?” he asked, his eyes searching mine. “Did… did you convince the sorceress to lift the curse?”I nodded, though my body still felt like it was made of lead. “It’s done. The curse is broken.”Kyven’s brow furrowed in concern. “Are you sure? What if… what if she tricked you somehow? We have no way of knowing for certain.”Before I could ans
Calvin’s POVIt had been over six torturous months since Kamrynn vanished, leaving nothing behind but the gaping void of her absence. Every lead, every effort to track her down had led to dead ends, and the frustration of failure gnawed at me like a relentless parasite.Not a single day passed without her invading my thoughts. She was a phantom that haunted me, her image etched into my mind with cruel precision. I could almost feel her skin beneath my fingers—soft, warm, yielding. My hands itched with the memory of her trembling against me, her quivering voice pleading for mercy. That sound, that desperate, broken sound, echoed in my head like a forbidden melody.I groaned, my head falling back against the chair as the fantasy overtook me. My body tightened with need, an insistent ache that refused to be ignored. The thought of being inside her again, of reclaiming what was mine, sent a rush of heat spiraling through me.She was carrying my child. That was the excuse I clung to, the j
Calvin's POV I took Franklin's advice and called a Pack meeting to address the situation.The hall was packed to capacity, the air thick with tension and desperation. Every face that turned toward me carried a mixture of anger, exhaustion, and hollowed-out hope. I stood on the raised dais, my gaze sweeping over the crowd. The weight of their expectations pressed down on my shoulders like a suffocating shroud. It felt less like a gathering and more like a battlefield.I raised my hand to quiet the murmurs that had rippled through the gathering. "Thank you all for coming," I began, my voice steady, though my chest felt tight. "I know these past months have been unimaginably difficult. But I want you all to know that I’m doing everything I can to fix this. As long as I’m Alpha, I will never let this Pack fall."The words had barely left my mouth when a sharp voice rang out from the crowd."And what have you actually done, Alpha?"The room fell silent as a tall, wiry man stepped forward,
Kamrynn's POV The month following the breaking of the Amethyst curse had been a whirlwind. Kyven and Thalia’s mating ceremony two weeks ago was a grand affair, their love shining brighter than ever. Now they were off on their honeymoon, leaving the Pack in high spirits.As for me, I had embraced my role as the Pack’s Guardian with pride. The respect I received from the Pack members was overwhelming, their gratitude fueling my determination to serve. Yet, my heavy pregnancy had prevented me from fully stepping into the position. I promised myself that after the birth of my babies, I would devote myself entirely to the Pack’s prosperity.I sat on my bed, a book in my hands. My swollen belly rested heavily on my thighs, and the occasional kick from my little ones brought a smile to my face. It was a quiet moment, one I cherished. But as always, peace was fleeting.The serenity that came with being lost in a good book was suddenly shattered by a pain so sharp and consuming that it felt l
Lorien’s POVBut it was easier said than done. I was on fire.Even after days of suppressing my rut, it still clawed at my insides, refusing to be ignored. The concoction I had been taking was strong—potent enough to keep me from losing control completely—but it was a temporary solution. The longer I held back, the worse the backlash would be. And now, as I sat here, drenched in sweat, my body trembling from the strain, I could feel the inevitable collapse of my self-control creeping closer.Dragons weren’t meant to endure ruts alone. It was pure, unrelenting torture.I laid back down, trying to take deep breaths, helplessly hoping it could do something to wither this unbearable heat clawing at my insides.My cocks ached, swollen and twitching against the fabric of my pants, painfully hard with no release. My body had been preparing for this for years, storing my clutch, ensuring that when the time came, I would be at my peak—stronger, more virile, primed to breed. The only thing missi
Lorien’s POVSleep was impossible.My body burned like a raging wildfire, molten heat coursing through my veins, setting every nerve alight with unrelenting need. Every inch of me was tense, restless, on edge. Desperate.It had been days since my rut started, and every second was an agonizing battle against instinct. My body demanded release—demanded her. It screamed at me to claim, to knot, to breed, to mark, to fill. The primal urges were overwhelming, consuming, suffocating.And Kamrynn was just in the next room.I turned onto my side, gripping the couch cushion in frustration. My cocks ached, hard and heavy, throbbing painfully against my abdomen. My fangs pulsed with need, aching to sink into her soft skin. My claws twitched restlessly, curling into the fabric beneath me. It took every ounce of control I had not to storm into that room, throw her down, and take her the way nature intended.She was mine.I had chosen her for a reason. A dragon’s rut came once every five years, a p
Calvin’s POVThe night stretched on, quiet and still, as I finally concluded my duties for the day. The weight of leading a struggling Pack never seemed to ease, but at least for now, I could leave it behind. Franklin stayed behind to organize the last of the documents, locking the office as I stepped out into the cool night air.There was only one thing on my mind.My children.I made my way to their room, my steps slow but purposeful. The moment I opened the door, a soft melody greeted my ears.Lysaa.She was sitting on the rocking chair, gently swaying back and forth as she sang a lullaby to the twins. Her voice was quiet, soothing, almost like a whisper against the night. Astor and Arabella were lying in their crib, gazing up at her, their tiny hands curling and uncurling as if reaching for her voice.My heart palpitated in my chest.How could something so small, so fragile, hold such power over me?Lysaa must have sensed my presence because she stopped singing and turned toward me
Calvin's POVI never imagined that two tiny beings could change my life so much.Even with the weight of the Pack still pressing down on me, demanding my time and attention, I found myself drawn back to them—Astor and Arabella. My children. My twins. No matter how chaotic things were, no matter how much my responsibilities as Alpha demanded of me, I refused to be absent from their lives. I had lost too much already.And if there was one thing I was certain of, it was that I couldn’t afford to lose them, too.That first week with them had been a trial by fire. The first few days had been the hardest—two-month-old infants didn’t just accept new faces, even if that face belonged to their father. They didn’t understand who I was, and so they wailed. Loudly. Relentlessly.At first, it made me panic. I could hold my own in a duel, could lead warriors without flinching, but two tiny babies crying at the same time? It left me utterly lost. Marlana—my mother—would step in then, taking them fro
Kamrynn’s POVSleep refused to come.I lay in bed, staring at the ceiling, my mind an endless swirl of questions. The key sat hidden beneath my pillow, yet it might as well have been burning a hole through the mattress.I couldn't stop thinking about it.For once, I was grateful that Lorien had chosen to sleep in the living room tonight. The distance between us gave me a rare moment of solitude, a chance to breathe without his watchful gaze lingering over me.I sat up slowly, careful not to make any noise. The room was dim, moonlight casting silvery streaks across the floor. My fingers hesitated for only a moment before I reached beneath my pillow and retrieved the key.Holding it up to the light, I turned it over between my fingers, studying the intricate grooves along the metal.What if this was a mistake?What if Lorien had placed the collar around my neck to protect me from something?I clenched my jaw, gripping the key tighter. No. That didn’t make sense. If it was for my safety,
Kamrynn’s POVI stared at the key in my hand, turning it over between my fingers, the weight of it sinking into my skin.What did it open?My mind ran through possibilities, but nothing seemed to make sense. Lorien had hidden it carefully, tucked away where I’d never think to look.My hand drifted up, almost absentmindedly, brushing against the shackle jewelry thing around my neck.I froze.A keyhole. That's right, the other day I realized it had a keyhole. Which is very much strange for something that's supposed to be jewelry.I turned the key over in my palm, my fingers tracing its cool, metallic surface. It was small, unassuming—yet its existence unsettled me in a way I couldn’t quite put into words.I inhaled sharply, my grip tightening on the key as realization slithered through my mind like a shadowy whisper.Could this key… unlock it?If it did, that would mean this wasn’t a necklace.It wasn’t a piece of jewelry meant to symbolize love, devotion, or commitment.It was a shackl
Kamrynn’s POVIt had been days since I heard that name."Kamrynn."A voice in my head had whispered it so clearly, so intimately, that it sent shivers down my spine.And I hadn’t been able to get it out of my mind since.I didn’t understand why it unsettled me so much. I knew my memory wasn’t whole—I had long accepted that pieces of my past were missing. But was Kamrynn someone I used to know? Someone important?Someone I had forgotten?I should ask Lorien.It was the logical thing to do. He would have answers.And yet, every time I thought about it, something held me back.I couldn’t explain it. It was just an instinct, a whisper in the back of my mind warning me to stay quiet.But why?Why couldn’t I bring myself to tell him?I had no reason to hesitate. Lorien had always been there for me. He was my husband, the only person I had ever known. The only one who had ever cared for me. He had been nothing but patient with me, always so gentle, always—I trusted him.Didn’t I?I sighed,
Calvin's POVI gritted my teeth, weighing my options.I had no idea how long it would take for Rmonica to fall asleep—or if she was even a heavy sleeper to begin with. Every second I wasted was a risk, a gamble I couldn't afford to take.I had to act. Now.Overpowering her would be easy, especially in her current state, but that didn’t mean I could just pin her down and walk out of here. She was the Alpha’s mate, the Luna of this Pack. One mind link, one call for help, and I’d be dead before I even reached the front gates.I was already screwed. No matter what I did, the odds weren’t in my favor.Just as I clenched my fists, readying myself to take the risk, Rmonica suddenly sat up in bed.I froze, holding my breath.She pressed a hand to her mouth, her expression twisting in discomfort. Then, with a sharp inhale, she shot up from the bed and rushed out of the room.Gone.She left.A wave of relief crashed over me.She was probably going to throw up.That meant I had minutes—maybe seco
Calvin’s POVI remembered it as clear as day; their scent. Though they were too young to have developed their own unique scent, especially with no wolf, I could tell their presence from a mile away.Soft, warm, pure. A delicate blend of milk, the gentle sweetness of talcum powder, and that inexplicable, almost heavenly aroma that only babies carried—the scent of innocence itself.It tugged at something deep inside me, something primal. They were close by.I closed my eyes for a brief moment, allowing my senses to fully absorb it, to let it guide me. I had memorized this scent from the very moment I had discovered their existence. No matter where they were, I would always find them.Astor. Arabella.Selene, please let them be safe. Please don’t let them be in the same room as Rmonica or Orion.I took another deep breath, following the softest traces of their scent, weaving through the corridors with careful, calculated steps. The palace was eerily quiet, the only sounds being the dista