Roman’s POVI hadn’t slept an ounce when my alarm went off. It wasn’t that it was my mother’s funeral today but the memory of me ripping out Lucille’s throat that had been playing on an endless loop in my mind. There was no possible way she could have survived that. I watched the light leave her eyes. I heard her heart stop beating and I felt her body go limp and cold. Had she miraculously survived her father wouldn’t have spent the last months chasing me. When Cleo asked me if I thought her father had something to do with it, I wanted to say no but I couldn’t. Truth is it was very likely he had played a massive part in Lucille’s return. Witches were powerful I’d give them that, but not even they had the power needed to resurrect corpse that had spent the better part of a year decomposing.As hard for me and my family the death of my mother is, I couldn’t ignore how hard this also was for Cleo. Her and her sister had both been welcomed into not only my home but my family. Everything s
Cleo’s POVI couldn’t be mad with Roman or his family for their accusations. Had it been my own mum I’d want answers too. I hadn’t however expected Layla to stock the wardrobe for me though as I vaguely remembered Roman saying she was a hard person to get along with and that she hated everyone. Once I got dressed Roman came up beside me lacing his fingers through mine as he bought my hand to his lips placing a gentle kiss. My heart fluttered at the small romantic gesture.“So, what will Henrik do?” Keeping my voice calm I needed to know in order to mentally prepare myself.“I honestly couldn’t tell you, but my father would know. He wouldn’t allow it to go ahead if her didn’t. If you want, we can both go and ask?” I thought he would say that. I wanted to stay here in the safety of these four walls but at the same time I wanted to support my mate in his darkest day and to prove to everyone else it would take more than this to force me away. What I didn’t want though was for other pack m
Cleo’s POVAs the candles disappeared, I couldn’t help but feel agitated. It felt as though everyone including my mate was against me as they all stood idly by watching as I entered a candlelit circle that could have ended me quicker than the blink of an eye. Warm tingles spread throughout my fingers the tickle feeling growing stronger the more wound up I got.“Is that how you protect your sons’ pup? Your sick in the fucking head all of you!” As I screamed at my mate and his father’s my hand went from warm to burning hot. Roman’s eyes flickering to that of his wolf he stepped towards me. “DO NOT COME NEAR ME” raising my arm in his direction a bright red glow appeared. Before I could even blink a flow of fire headed straight for him. I wanted to close my eyes knowing I could have likely harmed my mate yet somehow, I couldn’t look away. It was as if time had slowed down everyone around me standing still all except for Roman. He moved quicker than anything I had ever seen creating a shie
Roman’s POVBy the end of the night, I knew my mother would have been proud of the way her service had gone and I knew that she was now resting in peace which was what she really did deserve. Don’t get me wrong I would much prefer her to be here with me but when Henrik mentioned my mother’s depression that’s when I remembered how much she had truly endured in her life. Thinking back to all the times I found her crying and popping pills because everything had become too much. Back then I didn’t understand it, but now I do. She went through such trauma with her sister only to then suffer the consequences years later. As much as I wished she would be able to meet my pup I was just glad she was no longer suffering. As the she-wolves disappeared to take their pups to bed after a long and tiring day, the men continued to hang around the fire. Beer and whiskey in their hands as they listened to stories my grandfather drunkenly told about my mother as a child. A few times he would stop himse
Cleo’s POV As we made our way to the hospital Roman tried to give me the run down on what happened last night however each word he spoke was drowned out by me puking. Before now I had only been sick once or twice but since waking up this morning I haven’t stopped. Everything from smells to bright lights had my stomach churning. I had wanted to walk to the appointment he made but Roman refused. He said that driving would be the quickest option. He wouldn’t be wrong however every bump and turn in the road had me feeling worse. I felt as though I was standing on a boat in the middle of the sea as it was rocked and thrown about by relentless waves. As I stuck my head out the window trying to intake as much air as I could Roman began to rub my back in small gentle circles. I could feel Freya beginning to stir after having been out for a couple of days, her uneasiness bleeding into me. “We’ll be there in two minutes, and I’ll get the doctor to see you immediately.” I could hear the worry
Cleo’s POV“She what? H… how is that even possible?” I’m sure my eyes practically ejected from their sockets. Never in my life had I heard of a pup being able to shift before having been born.“I know it’s possible to be an early shifter as both my grandmother and I shifted earlier than the normal wolf, but this is a first for even me to hear.” Shifting my gaze to my mate I was glad to see I wasn’t the only one stunned by this revelation.“Is that why I’ve been having sharp pains?” The moment those words left my mouth I instantly regretted saying them out loud. Roman had asked me every day if I had been feeling ok, he even made me promise to tell him if ever I was in any kind of pain. I didn’t need to look at him to know his eyes were burning into the side of my head for I could feel his anger sizzling down the bond we shared. The feeling so hot I had to fight the urge to cower.“You’ve been having pains and kept it from me? Cleo, you promised you would say something.”“They haven’t b
Roman’s POV“How is this the first time I’m hearing of this? Your mother wasn’t the kind of person to help someone out of the kindness of her heart. Fucking witch didn’t have a heart.” Hector took a step away from Axel as he revealed vital information.“It wasn’t my place to become involved.”“Like hell it wasn’t! How do you know it was your mother that helped?” I wanted to speak but instead sat there watching as my father’s went at it.“Because I saw them. I saw this red headed woman in my mother’s office. She begged her for help. Told my mother that her sister was to be mated to the king of the underworld. That she had a vision of what would happen should they bond and have a child.”“Daphne’s mum. They were twins.” Axel just nodded his head as he looked over Hector’s shoulder at me.Standing from the ground I walked over to him and punched him. He knew something about my mate yet when we asked, he kept quiet. Angry didn’t even come close to describing how I felt.“Roman I’m sorry!”
Cleo’s POVThe smell of burning flesh was quick to overpower the scent of blood and feces. This was a side I knew Roman had but a side I never wished to see. Todd’s screams had me paralysed my eyes glued to his mangled yet breathing body. How anyone could withstand what they were doing was beyond me. To even dish out that kind of torture had my stomach twisting.As Todd fell unconscious from the pain of his flesh being melted away, Roman was quick to use his air element to rapidly cool the burning causing it to blister. With the cool air it also bought Todd back around. It was then the viscous gut-wrenching screams would continue. My hand covering my mouth as I witnessed first hand just how ruthless my mate and his father could be.My mate so stuck and focused he hadn’t even registered me standing there. His father however had, a look of horror on his face. After he walked away unscathed when I set him ablaze, I had my suspicions. This here only confirming he still had his gift. Axel