â Thank you.
Bella's POV My heart raced when I heard my name. I squared my shoulders and stepped outside with determination. My mind echoed my father's words of encouragement: "Never let your enemy think you're afraid. Fight with everything you've got; even when you believe you're doomed, there's always something you can use to your advantage." I wonât let you down, Father. The loud music and rowdy crowd were deafening, yet I could still hear Chad growling. My heart ached; it was hard for him to accept my decision, but he respected it. I couldnât mess this up. I took a deep breath and stood in front of Arona, who smirked triumphantly at me. "Well, Princess and Luna. May the best win. You may begin!" Ferragano gave the signal, and Arona threw her head back, laughing. "You played right into my hands, sweet little Bella." Arona cooed in a way that only I could hear her. "'l'll try not to ruin your pweety face, or my brother won't like it." She taunted, not liking that she had to spare my fac
Arona's POV I was seething. My blood was boiling. I entered my room and put on my clothes quickly. With the back of my hand, I cleaned some angry tears falling down my eyes. I need Braxten to help me dissipate some of this anger before I explode. The door opened, but it was Hudson. He was enraged. "What the hell was that, Arona?!" He snarled. "I went with your plan because I thought you could defeat her. You also wounded her when I specifically told you not to!!" I winced when he threw a chair across the room. "What the fuck did you want me to do?!" I yelled. "The bitch is well trained; we underestimated her. Sadie told me she was well-trained but believed Bella couldn't compare to me. I also thought Mom would help me, but she did nothing!" Hudson pinched the bridge of his nose. "Do you still trust that witch?! Don't forget that she left Father to raise us alone." Hudson seethed. He had never forgiven our mother. Mother was important in her realm. It was not like she was an
Chad's POV I can practically feel Hudson seething underneath his diplomatic façade when I see him. I pull Bella closer to me, staking my claim. I'm sure Hudson was already singing Victory. With Arona as queen consort, trying to get rid of me would have been easier. "Try" was the key word. My warriors got specific orders depending on the match's outcome, but my Luna is a badass that did not need saving. I leaned down to whisper in her ear. "You look especially ravishing tonight, Ma Belle. I can't wait to devour you tonight like I'm starved. I will take my time enjoying you the whole night." The cutest blush tinged her face. I love to get her all hot and bothered. I see Hudson and his sister approaching us. He looks calm on the surface, but I know he is planning something. My men are on high alert, and I'm not planning to let Bella out of my sight, not even for a second. Arona was arm in arm with the masked guard. Bella had been pretty shaken about what Arona told her during the
Bella's POV When all hell broke loose, I got distracted, trying to figure out what was happening. I realized too late Hudson's intentions. He twisted my arm behind my back, pressing me against his chest while covering my mouth with his other hand roughly. He moved us swiftly towards his quarters. "We gotta leave. Arona is putting his toy boy to safety, but she will come back for us." His breath was raggedy against my ear. My cries for help were muffled against his huge hand, which clasped against my mouth like his own life depended on it. "Hush! You are going back home with me. You will be my queen." He spoke soothingly, though there was a hint of derangement in his tone. I shook my head desperately, my eyes wide. He rubs his cheek against my head, sending a chill down my spine. His breath shudders, and I feel him getting hard against my back. "Fuck, Arona, better hurry!" He snarls as we wait in a solitary corner of the dark garden. "Are you in the habit of taking what does no
Chad's POV I entered Bella's room and found her sleeping peacefully. Even when every time she ends up being hurt one way or another, she keeps going on with her head held up high. Her resilience floors me. I look at my clothes, covered in blood. I spent all night interrogating the Natbian prisoners. I had lost it with a few and might have gone too far. My head hurts as flashes of the shit show from earlier replay in my mind. I go to my room using the door that connects our rooms, trying not to make noise. Thanks to my abilities, I can often pass inconspicuously. I shower meticulously, washing all the blood and filth left on my body. I was not about to touch Bella with filthy hands, and tonight, I will touch her. Oh yeah. My cock throbs just thinking about her full curves and tiny waist. I go back to her room, completely naked and still drying my hair with a towel. The blankets were hanging low on her body, barely covering her. I bite my bottom lip as my eyes cloud with desire, n
Bella's POV As the days passed, I immersed myself in preparing for the full moon's ritual to break the curse. Hendrick and I haven't told Chad. He would never agree to it if he knew what the ritual would involve. Even Hendrick does not know the whole truth. Hendrick paces back and forth inside his cage-like room. As the full moon gets closer, his mind gets clearer, and he stops hearing voices that urge him to kill. Seeing his usual self, so confident and exuding power, is impressive. "Are you sure this is the only way, Bella?" he asks again as if allowing me to rethink and retract. It's impossible; I need to free them once and for all. My heart raced just thinking about the years of suffering their parents must have endured watching their sons succumb to the curse. "There is no other way, Hendrick. It took me weeks to figure it out. I couldn't even risk asking Camilla for help. She is too close to my grandmother. I am afraid she'd sabotage my intentions." Hendrick raked his fin
Bella's POV Chad woke up in the middle of the night. His low growls startled me, waking me up as well. He was sitting at the edge of the bed. His breathing was labored. A flicker of fear ran through my body for the first time since I met him. "Chad, are you alright?" I put my hand on his back, and he stiffened, but his breathing regulated again. I felt the sparks emanating from his body and sipping through my veins. "I need to go to my chamber now!" His voice was guttural, almost macabre. More animalistic than human. I shuddered. He looked at me, and his eyes flashed. "It has begun." He got up and went through the secret door toward his chamber. He had mind-linked Hendrick and Dr. Strauss because they were waiting for him at the end of the hallway with various guards. "Bella, go back to your room!" Hendrick ordered. I obeyed, even though I only wanted to follow Chad and stay by his side. He couldn't see me like this, though. I leaned against the wall, feeling my knees give wa
Chad's POV The murderous rage I feel is driving me crazy. The desperate need to get free and rip apart everything in my vicinity is overwhelming and torturous. Cobalt senses Bella's presence somewhere nearby, and the need to go to her clouds every other thought. I can't control Cobalt during a full moon. I feel a woman painting some symbols on my arms and chest. Cobalt trashes even more, growling, dying to sink his claws into her. "Chad, try to control Cobalt!!" Who's that? His voice sounds distorted, and even their faces are disfigured. I can not make who's who. "I must kill them all!!" I snarl. The painful sting of the wolfsbane around my arms and legs makes me howl in pain. Just then, the most wonderful smell reaches my nostrils. It is mouth-watering, peaches and cream... and something else I can't describe. Cobalt starts trashing uncontrollably. When the door is thrown open, the delicious smell invades my senses. My eyes can see clearly now, and I see her. A creature descen
Bella's POV Balzaree Everything is dark. I donât know how long Iâve been unconscious. My body isnât responding, but I can hear everything around me. What did Camilla do to me? And what did I do to Chad? My stomach plummeted as I remembered what I had done. Oh Goddess, Chad! Gut-wrenching pain co
An uneasiness creeps into my gut as I tug at my shirt's collar for the umpteenth time. Dane looks at me, and knowing me too well, he senses something is wrong with me. "Don't tell me you're nervous. This is just the legal union. She's been yours since the moment you saw her at that cavern." He pad
"I'm just glad you liked them," I said with a smile. We continued getting ready, and the room filled with laughter and warmth. They were ready before me when Elise suddenly said she was getting contractions. "Oh no, no, no! Baby, not today. Today is your aunty Bella's big day!" Elise whimpered.
Bella's POV I wake up from a long sleep, sitting up abruptly. âChad!â I exclaim. He stirs beside me and wraps his arms around my waist. âToday is the wedding! I have so many things to do!â He simply tightens his hold. âCome back to bed, ma chĂ©rie,â he says in that husky voice that always makes m
Hudson's POV Arona flinches as I throw another crystal vase against the wall. Since my return, she has not been any help. I can see her struggling to hold back the urge to say, "I told you so," but she knows better than to provoke me when I'm in this fucking mood. Camilla glances at me and sighs.
Hendrick's POV I entered the room as soon as Chad left. The air still reeked of sex, and I felt a sharp sting of jealousy. Lycans have a much stronger sense of smell than wolves. I felt Bella's scent as I approached the bedâshe smells exquisite. That natural aroma of hers calms both me and Chaos.
**Bella's POV** After Dane shared the great news, I got up from Chad's lap and placed the plate of food on the table. I had been so hungry earlier. Although I usually donât eat much meat, I felt like I could eat everything on the table. Chad had been feeding me tiny bites when Dane walked in, and
Chad's POV I witnessed everything in those fleeting seconds from a distance. The chaos that unfolded was overwhelming. Her power was immeasurable; she tore through the magic barriers fiercely. My warriors stood helplessly. There was nothing else to do. She eliminated the threat singlehandedly. N
Bella's POV As we approach the crumbling, abandoned building, my heart races like a wild drum in my chest. The eerie silhouette of the structure looms before us, its broken windows resembling dark, unblinking eyes. Despite the unsettling ambiance, my real fear lies not in what might be lurking wit