Ruby POVI found a small lake surround by very little foliage and stripped bare to wash my body from everything we did earlier. It wouldn't matter how many times I bathed though, our DNA was molded together, scents mingled, and aura radiating the other as mates. There was no magic to hide a completed mate bond."What are you doing out here?" I heard Sebastian voice and almost sank under. I was happily floating in nothingness, pushing down all the battling emotions inside me."Late night swim. Don't come in! I have no clothes on." I hollered back at him as he peeled off his shirt."Here, get dressed, weirdo." He said, lying his shirt on a rock close to the water's edge.I smiled appreciatively at him, even more so when he turned around instead of sneaking a peak. I doubt Sebastian had any desire to see me naked, but even if he did, he wouldn't disrespect me by stealing a glance I wasn't willing to give."Thank you." I said softly, slipping his shirt on. I involuntarily moaned as the sc
Gabe POVRuby ran as fast and as far as she could, each step widening the divide between us and cracking my heart deeper. We'd completed the bond, yet she still rejected me. The unfairness of it ate away at me. How could I feel so strongly, need her so badly, when she despised the connection we shared?I knew I couldn't chase after her, so I let her go and tried to sleep. But rest wouldn't come. My soul felt shredded, every second apart a new tear in the fabric of who I was. Her emotions were a storm, battling to suppress her own and push mine away. I didn't want to torment her with the bond, so I tried to calm myself, clinging to the hope that one day, we'd be together without these barriers. Slowly, I felt her settle, and found comfort in the image of her drifting to sleep.My eyes grew heavy, matching my breaths to hers, letting her steady heartbeat become my lullaby. She had no idea how much I needed this connection, how desperately I longed to love her with everything I had. My w
Ruby POVI slept restlessly beside my best friend while my mate held me close to his chest. My life was a mess, full of complications and turmoil. We traveled all this way only to find nothing to help Sebastian. I already knew I could control Dietus power, but it was only if I killed Sebastian. That was never happening. Now we had to go back through this hell of a wasteland to return home with no where to turn next."Shhh, you're ok, baby." I heard Gabe whispering in my ear. He was completely wrapped around me, like my body was an anchor. I turned my head to smile at him. He was still half asleep, face soft and younger than when awake. He was incredibly handsome, sexy body, and wild temper in bed. "I want this to work." I whispered to him, moving my body closer into his. "I need something that's right in my life." I turned back to Sebastian, laying my head on the pillow and hands folded under it. He was also handsome, and of course sexy, but it was the familiarity that I admired the
Sebastian POVThe way Ruby kissed me sent my body into a frenzy. I had never wanted anything more than to feel her in my arms, and here she was, cuddled on my lap, pouring her entire soul into me. The power of her light, pulling out the darkness and burning it away, felt like a sweet ache spreading through me, pure bliss coursing through my veins, rich and electrifying.I completely succumbed to her, begging her to take it all, as long as this feeling never ended. Then everything went black, no sound, no thoughts, just emptiness. I found peace in the solitude of existence, wanting to let go, to float away in the seemingly endless abyss. But every so often, I felt little shocks of her body against mine. A hand on my chest, her breath on my face, the panicked beat of her heart pressed to my side. I couldn't let go. Not yet.My body began to warm, like it was thawing from thick ice. The sensation was pleasant, spreading through every cell, piecing me back together. The world came into fo
Ruby POV"Ruby, time to wake up," an enchantingly sweet voice drifted around me. The warmth of it tugged at my senses, wrapping me in a comforting embrace."Mom?" I mumbled, struggling to open my eyes, but they felt like heavy weights."No, silly. It's me, you. Now, wake up." The voice insisted, the words making no sense."Me, you?" I repeated, frustration tightening my chest as I tried, and failed, to lift my eyelids. They felt glued shut."We are stubborn," the voice sighed. Suddenly, a field came into view, and she was right; it was me, another me."What the hell?" I scrunched my face at a woman who looked exactly like me, but too wholesome, too pure."Don't be afraid. You know I am you, so relax. You need to wake up before it's too late.""Don't be afraid? Are you fucking kidding me? How am I here? How are you here? Who are you?" I fired off questions, panic rising as I looked around frantically at the unfamiliar landscape."We're in between time. You've been here before but won't
Sebastian POV"Wow! You can actually cook!" I said, shoving forkful after forkful of French toast, eggs, bacon, and sausage down my throat. I was starving for real food. "Where did you get this stuff? I thought plants and animals didn't roam the wastelands.""They don't," Gabe replied, sipping his coffee like a gentleman, a stark contrast to my rabid hunger. "But inside here, it's not like out there. We have unlimited fields.""How?" I asked, my mouth full of food."The gold," he said with a knowing smirk. "It enhances everything around it.""I knew it was odd to have so much gold everywhere.""It's just a light coating on the outside of everything—from the gates surrounding our lands to the wooden posts in our crop fields. Every crystal has a unique quality." He held up his blue coffee mug that reflected the light."Is that the same blue crystal used in your food supply that deformed most of your pack?""Yeah, it's a lot less dangerous when held to your skin than ingested though. Som
Ruby POVThe clamor of a battle rang out around me, claws slashing through the air, bodies crashing against the walls, and the guttural growls of beasts. I couldn't see anything, but the sounds painted a vivid picture of chaos. Katherine was fast, too fast for any normal opponent. The sharp crack of her silver blade slicing through the air reached my ears, followed by Sebastian's deep, enraged snarls.A loud crash echoed from my left, the sound of something heavy slamming into a wall, and I instinctively flinched. Katherine must have struck him hard, but there was no hesitation in Sebastian's response. I heard his feet skid across the floor, followed by the sickening sound of flesh meeting bone, a punch, so forceful it sent a tremor through the ground beneath me. Katherine grunted, but the sound wasn't one of defeat. No, she was fighting back, her movements swift and deliberate as she slashed at him, trying to end him in one clean strike.I strained to listen, my heart pounding in my
Sebastian POVThe moment I saw Katherine, a rage unlike any I'd ever felt took over. Ruby's screams of pain ripped through me, fueling the darkness inside. There was no turning back. I needed blood, needed to destroy. In that moment, I wanted to kill everyone, even Ruby, maybe.After I ripped Katherine's heart from her chest, I stood over Ruby, watching her squirm in agony. For a brief, twisted moment, it felt euphoric. The amulet around my neck had burned out, no longer able to keep the darkness at bay. I'd hoped Ruby weakening it last night would had lessen its hold on me, but it only seemed to make the darkness stronger.It took everything I had to wrestle back control, forcing Kane to heel and not take what we both desired. I yanked the blade from Ruby's eye and broke the chains that bound her with ease.Holding her in my lap, I made a decision. I wouldn't be a coward, I wouldn't kneel down and die. I wouldn't leave her alone.As we stepped out of the small shack Katherine had use
Ruby POVThe moment their canines left my neck, everything inside me snapped into place. The bond, the one I had waited for my whole life, finally completed itself, like a string pulled taut and then gently released, humming with energy. It was more than just a connection; it was a merging of souls. I felt Gabe and Sebastian inside me, their love, their power, and their wolves. It was so wild and untamed, settling deep into my spirit like missing pieces.Then I felt Scarlet. She surged through me, fierce and powerful, filling every inch of my body. I hadn't felt her like this in so long. I gasped, feeling her strength, her desire to protect, her joy at being whole again."Scarlet?" I called out, feeling her presence entwined with mine."I'm here, Ruby. We're one again, truly one." Her strong and comforting voice echoed inside my mind. There was no more fear or separation, only us, two halves of the same soul reunited. But there's something more, something pushing against us. Do you fe
Sebastian POV"We will always be together, Ruby." I kissed her slowly, Gabe's hands running up and down my back and then I felt his tongue between ours and smiled. "Always." Gabe whispered, kissing her along side me, our tongues all mingling as we shared her together, taking turns with her lips."You two are so overwhelming, and I love it. I love you." Ruby barely got the words out as we sat all tangled together. "It's time." She whined, turning her body on top of me. Her back rested to my chest, and her hands separate her cheeks so my tip teased the brim of her ass. I needed to feel her, every day, I needed to be inside her. "Goddess, you know how to handle two mates perfectly, little girl." I kissed her neck, my hand holding my cock as she slowly sank down, jolting and moaning as I stretched her walls more and more."Beautiful, little wolf." Gabe pinched her chin, kissing her as my lips peppered her neck. "Take me at the same time, please, Alpha." She begged Gabe. We both let out
Gabe POVI ran through the woods, chasing my wife's scent, the moon high in the sky guiding me toward her. I knew exactly where she was heading. It was almost time, but first, a little fun.I shifted into Ragnar, letting my wolf take over, his paws pounding the earth as we hunted. It had been three days since I last touched her, and apart from the quickie Sebastian and I just had, I haven't felt a release in too long. I was saving everything for tonight, and the anticipation was driving me wild.Ragnar halted as we reached the hill overlooking the lake. Ruby stood there, barefoot in a small white dress, her head slightly turned, already sensing me. She giggled, sliding one strap off her shoulder, teasing me as she undressed.I heard footsteps and growls approaching, Sebastian was closing in. Ragnar lifted his head to the moon, praying and cursing Lupa to make this night something other than the nightmare we feared. As I howled into the sky, I made a silent vow: if they took my mate fr
Sebastian POVAfter our wedding, everyone gathered in the center of town for a grand celebration, honoring not only our union but also Ruby's birthday. Each street was decorated with a different theme: one for the wedding, another for a baby shower, one for Ruby's birthday, and finally, a street celebrating the world's next Alphas and Luna.I wasn't sure if my mom had planned it all to get the celebrations out of the way, fearing Ruby might not survive the night. Or if maybe she was worried about herself. Over the past week, my mom had aged drastically, her hair had turned grey, and her skin had become fragile. Losing Athena had taken a heavy toll on her body, and I could see the fear in my fathers' eyes that they might lose her sooner than expected."She'll be here for a long time. Have faith," Ruby's soft voice came from behind me as she wrapped her arms around my waist."Yeah, I'm trying." I turned and pulled her into my arms, leaning down to steal a kiss. She had lost her heels an
Ruby POVI did it! Somehow, I had everything I ever wanted. I looked over at my family; my mom, held by my dad as she cried, my two sisters, with whom I was just beginning to form a real relationship, and Sheila, who somehow felt more like a twin to me. Her mate had finally returned, after walking through war and hell to find her, and now, he held her tightly in his arms. We shared a brief glance, a silent understanding that the one thing we all needed was love. Whether it came from a lover, a friend, or family, it didn't matter. We just needed to feel connected, to belong. And now, we had that."We will always do right by you, Ruby," Sebastian vowed, drawing my focus back to where I stood with my two mates. We had an entire world ahead of us, but right here, in this moment, they were all I needed."We will always protect and defend our Luna," Gabe added, his voice strong and certain."We will love and cherish every moment you're by our side," Sebastian continued."And we will fulfill
Gabe POVI stood before the Southern Pack, with members of my own pack mixed in among the crowd below. My nerves were on edge as the weight of my new reality crashed down on me. I was about to become Alpha of them all. For so long, I thought my purpose was to break the world and rebuild it alongside my father, Dietus. But I had been wrong.I was meant to rebuild, yes, but not through destruction. My mother was gone. Lupa and Dietus were gone. The past no longer held me down. Now, it was just me, a man in love with two incredible people, ready to embrace the new life we would make together.To my surprise, every pack member seemed to rejoice for us. They were welcoming of our union, and accepting of the shared Alpha role Sebastian and I planned to take. It had never been done before, two Alphas, mates, leading together, but we were one soul divided at birth, and now we would spend eternity as a whole."We hope you all join us for the celebrations," I concluded my speech, taking Sebasti
Ruby POVI couldn't believe I was awake and alive. My hands roamed over my Alphas that squished my small body between them. I really thought I was dying last night, but then it hit me. I was in a crazy, painful heat because they had marked each other. I never wanted to feel that pain again, but I had to admit it was worth it. I felt them so much more connected now, and we had amazing sex. 'Take them again.' Scarlet begged.'We have to get home. No more sex until after our wedding Scarlet.' I said, gently lifting from the bed. Sebastian moved over and pulled Gabe into his arms. Scarlet and I both whined looking over them.'Why deny ourselves all that?' She purred, watching our Alpha's hands roam all over the other's body. 'They will wake up super horny, and once they see the marks they left on me, it will drive them crazy. Last night was too close of a call. If they mark me before the full moon it all falls apart.''You don't know that.' Scarlet whined as I dressed quickly, sneaking
Sebastian POV"That was the best sex I ever had. I think that was better than knotting." I wiped the sweat from my forehead as Ruby completely passed out in Gabe's arms."She wears out quickly." He chuckled, picking her up to bring to the bathroom. I heard the bath running and chuckled as I looked down at my dick. "How are you hard again?" I asked. There was no pleasing him. I stomped my way to the bathroom, watching Gabe gently wash Ruby's body in a warm bath. His fingers played with her breast, right over my mark. I loved claiming that body and I think even after I mark her on her neck, I'll still bite the shit out of her."Stand up!" I ordered him."What?" He laughed looking behind me. "Oh! I see." He stood slowly, hands running over his body to tease me. "Bend over right there and take my dick like a good Alpha." I demanded, jerking off as I watched both my mates."I knew we would have a long night." Gabe chuckled, hands grabbing the side of the tub as he wiggled that ass to me
Ruby POV"Ruby? What's wrong!" Gabe shouted at me, barreling through the door and scooping me right in his arms. I crawled into a tight ball in his lap, the pain inside me ten folds, but slowly embedding away with his touch."Don't let me go." I pleaded. "Please, don't let me go.""What's wrong with her?" Sebastian was at my side, brushing my hair from my face when something burst inside me. "We shouldn't had left her alone!" Gabe growled at Sebastian. "We are so sorry, Ruby. We won't ever leave you again." Sebastian had so much worry in his eyes. "We should mark her! We fucked up by marking each other and now she is in some weird heat that is killing her." Gabe looked to Sebastian and I glanced at his neck. A purr rumbled through me as I glanced at Sebastian, a mark clearly printed there. They did it! They were one. "Just shut up and fuck me! Both of you!" I yelled at them, grabbing Sebastian chest and pushing him on his back. "Gabe! Get behind me. Fuck me, fill me, and do it fa