Gaia POV.What have I done? I ask myself as I sit on the shower floor; the water beating down on me, my hands shaking as I watch blood drip from my nose to my hands. I don’t have six months; I know it will happen soon. My power is fading and the answer to my problems is currently asleep in my bed.“Gaia, you need to give in completely. This is happening more and more. I think you are right, we don’t have six months. The blood moon is happening in three month’s time. I think it would be best if we just…”“Just what? Roll over? I won’t. There has to be another way, Kodiak. There has to be.” I pull my knees to my chest. Wrapping my arms around myself as I sob. The water washing away the blood and my tears.“Gaia.” I look up and see Jake. He moves towards me before he sits beside me on the shower floor. Wrapping his arms around me, pulling me onto his lap as I sob onto his shoulder.“Hey, what’s wrong?” He asks as he tries to soothe me, but I tighten my grip on him. The bond calling to hi
Calista POV.Time seemed to slow as Gaia fell. None of us were quick enough to catch her as her head bounced off the floor.“GAIA!” I scream as move when I’m stopped by the blinding light, shielding my eyes, Selene materialises into the bathroom. She shoves us all aside with a growl as she lifts a naked, wet, and bloody Gaia in her arms.“MOVE!” she snarls out as her eyes flash and I gulp, moving aside as she walks her out of the bathroom and into the bedroom.“Put some clothes on.” She says over her shoulder as she lays Gaia down on the bed. Pulling a pair of sweatpants on, I approach the bed and help her get Gaia cleaned up and into some pyjamas.“Selene, what’s happening to her?” I ask when she turns her gaze to me. She looks back at Gaia before she moves a strand of golden hair from her face.“It’s happening too quickly. She is pushing against the bond. She doesn’t have six months Calista, more like three. I can’t stop it. Every day, she fights the bond the weaker she is becoming.
Jake POV.Gaia is starting to trust me and has opened up to me. I guess I see heartbreak easily. The Goddess of Hell is terrified of dying but also of being loved. I know of her childhood, what she did to when she destroyed a school and nearly killed a pup because he hit her brother.Being that age and having everyone afraid of you must have been hard. Not having friends because everyone was scared in case she blew up again. I know her family loves her but what about other’s? I think she has only been shown fear, and that is why she is the way she is.This business with her cousin and her mate, I think, just sent her over the edge. And I understand it all. Probably more than Calista does, and definitely more than Leo and Gabe will.I know she craves it. Each morning when I wake up, she is snuggled against my chest with Calista behind her. I know it’s pissing Leo and Gabe off, but they need to try harder with her. They need to be vulnerable with her, show her respect. That is the only w
Gaia POV.Since we came home from the disastrous shopping trip, a few days ago. I have locked myself away in my room. Calista and Jake have both tried to get me to open the door, but I’ve refused.“This isn’t helping, Gaia. We need to end this and find Leo. He didn’t mean it.” Kodiak whimpers in my head and I’ve had enough of her defending him. She is my fucking wolf, not his.“Fuck off, Kodiak. He knew what he was doing. You heard what he said. I’m done. I don’t want to talk about him anymore. So please just stop.” I snap at her when she jumps before she whimpers before I block her out. I don’t need this shit from her.I haven’t eaten or slept. Hell, I haven’t even showered. Gross, I know, but I don’t care. He thinks I’m a whore. But has he felt the pains of betrayal from me? No, he hasn’t. I haven’t done a damn thing. Yes, I’m hotheaded, but that is just who I am. I always have been.Pulling the quilt up higher and over my head, I sigh as I bring my knees to my chest and cuddle my pi
Leo POV.Sitting in the booth of the club watching wolves and humans dancing to the beat of the music, I sit nursing my drink.“Hey, sexy. Fancy some company?” I growl at the woman who has approached the table.“Not tonight darlin, why don’t you move along, yeah?” Gabe tells her and she pouts, folding her arms under her chest, pushing her breasts even higher. I roll my eyes and knock my drink back. Sluts everywhere.“Oh, come on, you look like you need to relax. Here, let me help you.” She purrs, biting her bottom lip as she sits in my lap.“Get off of me, don’t fucking touch me,” I snarl as I shove her off of me. She lands on the floor as she screams. I grab the bottle, pouring myself another drink as she gets up and slaps me. I chuckle at her, licking my lip as Aries comes forward.“Unless you want to be ripped to shreds, I suggest you fuck off.” He says with a growl. Her eyes widen as she staggers backwards before turning and walking away.“Tell me why we are here again? It’s been
Calista POV.Gaia wasn’t panicked. She was enraged. Enraged that she didn’t realise Morgana was standing right next to her and she couldn’t do anything about it.“We are going on lockdown until we find her.” She says as we follow her to the office. Every person she sees she is watching them, she is starting to become paranoid and who can blame her?“Gaia, wait. Hold on a second.” I catch up to her and stop in front of her. She looked scared, but she quickly masked it. What is she scared of? Realisation hit me. She is scared to die.“Calista, it’s the only way to keep you all safe from her. I need to find her and end this.” I blink at her words.“No, we need to do this together. I won’t allow you to go out on your own to look for her. She is powerful Gaia. She could be anywhere, hell, she could be anyone. If your theory is correct, then she could very well look like you. What we need to do is find out exactly what she is capable of. You need to call the council. She is dangerous, Gaia.
Gaia POV.Walking through the halls of the council headquarters. I stop at the double doors to the conference room with my mates behind me. Taking a breath, I push the doors open.The council is all sitting on the raised platform, like a court setting in the human world. I walk into the room and stop at the table, looking at each council member, and nod my head in respect.Queen Asteria, the Siren Queen, smiles as she nods her head towards me. She stands and the rest of the heads do as well. She is the reason the council was formed. She is the head of the council and I know she will help me. Her word is final in this setting, well, in any setting. She is the oldest and most powerful shifter on the planet.My darkness is the same as hers, born of pain.“Gaia, please take a seat and we will begin.” She speaks and I take my seat and my mates do, too.“We have been called by you. Please tell us what you need.” She says and I take a breath as I stand walking towards the front.“I need the
Calista POV.Running towards Gaia, who lay on the floor broken and bruised. She screams as she moves. Her leg was at an odd angle. Blood gushing from her head. Sliding to her, I take her face in my hands as she looks at me, a sob leaves my lips. She is covered in broken wood and concrete. Her face is dirty with the dust and debris.“I’ve got you. Stay awake.” I tell her, my hands shaking when I feel a hand on my shoulder.“Calista, let me look at her.” I nod as her aunt Destinee steps forward. Her eyes change colour and I know Aura is on the surface. She steps back and shifts. I would usually bow to the wolf of the Goddess, but not right now.Aura lifts her huge white paw and holds it over Gaia’s leg with one swift move in the air. Gaia screams as the bone is snapped back in place. Sobs leave her lips when Aura moves closer, and she blows on Gaia’s face. The wounds close before she steps back. As Gaia’s eyes turn red, she shakes as a snarl leaves her lips when she stands.Aura healed h
Epilogue 1.Rosa POV.Today I leave for the settlement at Moonlight Cove. I don’t want to go. The reason being that Charlie has been awful to me the last few times I have been there; I don’t understand why he is being a total twat.“Rosa, baby. Come on.” My mom Gaia shouts at me from the living room and I groan as I walk like a lost puppy down the stairs. My parents know I don’t want to go, but this is what I have been trained for since I was five years old. It sucks ass being the next Oracle, especially a wolf one. I haven’t told them why I don’t want to go.“Stop grumbling. It will be fun.” My wolf Cece says in my head and I scoff at her. We shifted a few days ago, and she hasn’t shut up since.The shift was painful and I won’t be doing it again anytime soon, that’s for damn sure. We managed to hold off me going to settlement when I was 16, but now I’m 18 and I have to go. Maybe I can run away and they won’t find me?“Don’t even think about it, young lady.” I turn and see my dad Cal
Gaia POV.It has been a few weeks since the not funeral. Everything has settled down and there has been nothing bad happening so far. For that, I can only hold my breath because there will always be trouble waiting around the corner to cause damage and chaos.Rosa has been doing her lesson every Saturday and has been spending time with Charlie. They are so funny together, her with her mischievous ways and him with his nonchalance. He isn’t easily riled, which is a good thing, because we all know how Rosa can get under your skin and it takes a lot of patience with her.The first time she came back from her training. Dragus scooped her up and sniffed her and was asking who had been around her and I told him it was the people from the settlement it is safe to say the following week he tagged along and yes you guessed it, he found his second chance mate. it was no other than Odessa.He is happy and so is she, but at first she ran away because she was worried that he would reject her, espe
Gaia POV.The day has come that we lay Britany to rest. It has been a few days and things are calm for a change. But I know it’s because the pack is mourning the loss of their Luna and after today they will lose their Alpha.I am walking through the packhouse in a black dress and my hair is down, minimal makeup is on my face and I have my black sunglasses. I haven’t been sleeping much as I know things are going to change rapidly when Nic leaves us to go in search of himself. It’s the same thing dad done, but he was searching for his mates.I hope Nic returns to us better than before. All we can do is keep a close eye on him. He had locked himself away from everyone and refused to eat or see anyone, so all we can do is watch from afar.The pack is sombre and some look at Nic with disdain as we walk towards the family crypt. I hold his hand and give it a squeeze. But he keeps his head down and I want to take his pain away, but I can’t. He needs to do this.We stop in front of Selene, wh
Gaia POV.Walking on pack grounds. The place is in turmoil as the warriors are in battle formation and I sigh, rubbing my forehead.“What is going on?” I say to my dad and he shrugs his shoulders as we walk closer to them.“Ok, can someone explain what the fuck is going on?” I shout and they all turn to look at me as my mates and family come running towards us.“Oh, thank the Gods you are safe, what happened?” My mom throws her arms around me and I explain everything and she looks at me in shock before she looks at my dad and he has a pout on his lips. Yeah, I get that from him.“Please tell me you didn’t do that?” she asks him and he just shrugs his shoulders when mom groans and rubs her temples.“God dammit, Fen, you can tell where she gets it from.” I move away slowly, not wanting to be scolded by her. If you didn’t know this, but my mom is fucking scary when she is mad. So yeah, dad is on his own.“Traitor.” I hear him mumble through the link. My eyes widen. Wait, I can link.“Kod
Gaia POV.“No, that’s not possible. No power can unlock that gate without the Guardian.” I say to him when he shakes his head with a chuckle.“That’s where you are wrong. You are or sorry, were the Goddess of Hell your authority overrules that of the Guardian. You willingly gave your power to the monsters. They are growing stronger and it will only be a matter of time before they break the Gate of Purgatory. Releasing the damned back into the world. Do you see what you have done? Gaia, you have caused destruction. All because you couldn’t contain your power.” I look at him in shock. I shake my head. Gods, he is stupid.“No, it was Xena’s power and the damn curse she put on me that has caused this. I tried to fight it and I failed. I wanted to get rid of it. Xena’s soul is feeding the Gate, so is her power, it also feeds it. My darkness, as you know, had been taken over by her power. If I didn’t do what I did, I would have destroyed everything. You know this, with my power, Zeus, I am
Gaia POV.The feeling of something silky against my back and the sun beaming on my face wakes me from a dreamless sleep. Squinting as I open my eyes. I cover my eyes with my forearm as everything is bright. Too damn bright.The sound of birds, running water and soft music fills me. I remove my forearm and see I am laying on a shimmering silk cushion. I look down and see I’m wearing a long, flowing white gown. My wrists, ankles, and neck have gold cuffs and I take in the room.The room is spotless, all white with gold touches to it. The floor is marble white tiles with the same gold swirling through it. I look towards the window and it’s not a window. It’s completely open, with long sheer white voile curtains blowing delicately in the breeze.I pull myself up and walk towards them, and I gasp in surprise.I’m in a paradise. The grass is green and lush, palm trees, animals big and small roam around living peacefully. Predator and prey living side by side. The sky is a mix of blues and l
Jake POV.We all watch on in horror as these shadows fed on Gaia. The room is icy cold and we can see our breaths. With each bite or suck from these shadows, you can see the power being pulled from her. It’s dark misty stuff, then it starts changing colour and becomes red.No-one moves or speaks as we all stand there watching as she opens her mouth, her back arches up and a silent scream tears out of her, tears stream down her face.When her back hits the ground and the shadows slither away with a purr like hiss. Fen runs to her and we follow behind.Nothing is making sense with what has just happened. Then she revokes her power and title. That is when it hits us. It was her power, her darkness, that those things were feeding on. They were taking it away from her.“Will she be ok?” I whisper as I touch her cold, clammy skin with a shaking hand.“I don’t know. You saw what she did. She is no longer the Goddess and her power is gone.” Fen slumps on the floor, cradling Gaia to his chest.
Gaia POV.I watch on in horror as I try to fight back. This isn’t my magic, this is … the curse. Fuck!I try to fight back as I advance forward and grab my father and fling him away as I move to Nic.“STOP, STOP, STOP!” I scream, but I keep moving forward as I try to pull myself back.My hand moves and grabs Nic by his throat, and his eyes fly open as my claws extend. No, no, no, no!“You’re … not … my sister! Are … you?” I try to pull my claws back, but I can’t.“No. I’m not.” As I fight the power, my hand tightens when I’m knocked away from Nic, and I keep fighting. When I turn and see my dad in his beast form as he growls at me.Oh fuck! This is going to hurt. I try again to open the mind link, but I can’t. I can’t stop myself. All I can do is watch on in absolute horror.“Whatever you are, stop!” I scream again when a cold laugh sounds in my head.“No, you know you want this, Gaia. Give in, all your life you have been shunned by them when you should have been loved. They hate you,
TRIGGER WARNING, PLEASE READ AT YOUR OWN DISCRETION!Leo POV.We all watch in horror at what Gaia has just said. What the fuck is going on?“The first time she felt your betrayal, she caught you in your bed with three whores, yes?” I watch as she balls her fists to her sides and I can feel the anger, sadness, and need for revenge build in her.“ANSWER ME!” she screams and I see a few jump at her tone. She is filled with hate and will hurt him.“Yes,” she growls at him, and so does Sofia. I look between them both and move closer to her when Calista stops me and shakes his head and I can’t read his expression. He is cold.“Do you remember when she collapsed? When she fucking passed out clutching her belly.” I take a breath at her words when the temperature in the room plummets and I know she is pissed.“She was pregnant with your pup. Your pain of betrayal caused her to miscarry in the fucking shower of your room. Then because of that, when you continued and then started beating her, th