Sebastian POV The pain hit me like a punch to the gut, sharp and unforgiving. It wasn't just physical, this was deeper, like something tearing at the core of who I was. I gripped my stomach, leaning forward in the passenger seat as Sylvia's eyes flicked toward me, her knuckles white around the steering wheel."Sebastian, what's going on? Are you okay?" she asked, her voice barely cutting through the haze of pain that gripped me.I shook my head, struggling to speak through the sensation. It wasn't the kind of pain that went away with time or pressure. It was a void opening up, a gaping wound where my connection to my parents used to be. "They've rejected me," I managed to choke out, my voice raw. "My parents... they've cut me off."Sylvia's eyes widened, shock flashing across her face. "What? That doesn't make sense. Why would they...""They did." I straightened, though the pain didn't lessen. "I banned them from coming to the South. The only way they could break my compulsion was t
Gabe POVThe clang of steel and the tearing of flesh echoed around me. More were fighting only a few miles out. The chaos wasn't over and we charged deeper into the once protected lands the Kings and Queens fought so hard to protect. An even larger battle warred down the path. The second we arrived to help, something else caught my eye, something more terrifying than the undead abominations we've been fighting.Kiera. She stood in the midst of the battle, her long white hair wild, her body battered but refusing to falter. But she wasn't fighting the same mindless corpses as the rest of us. No, the creature before her was different, part human, part shifted werewolf, and somehow more gruesome than anything I'd seen so far. Its body twisted unnaturally, half decayed but horribly strong."Not again!" Kiera screamed, her voice thick with both rage and desperation. She swung her blade, but the creature barely flinched, its twisted mouth curling into something resembling a grin."You're de
Kiera POV My thoughts spiraled like a storm, each one more chaotic than the last. The vision of my dead husband, charging at me with murderous intent, was enough to unravel me. He'd been inches from marking me, his claws close to my throat. But that wasn't the worst of it. No, the real nightmare had come after, learning that Katherine had a son, one who survived, who had already entangled himself in my son's life. Gabe, fated to Ruby, and the one who had just saved my life.The southern packs had whispered tales of him, an Alpha from the wastelands, a figure born of destruction, came to rescue them. The stories painted him as a legend, a hero, not the villain I had feared. I watched him now, standing tall amidst the chaos, his voice commanding, rallying his warriors. He was methodical, calm under pressure. His pack scattered, some fighting the relentless undead while others ensured the fallen wouldn't rise again by burning them. In that moment, I saw him for who he truly was; not Ka
Ruby POVThe past few days had been a blur of exhaustion, magic, and an endless battle against the creeping darkness. Each time I closed my eyes, I could feel it, tendrils of shadow trying to take root in my soul. But every time I summoned my strength I pushed it away, burnt it down. Still, it was relentless. My body ached, my magic drained, and the constant pressure left me teetering on the edge of collapse.Tonight, the darkness had retreated just enough for us to breathe. The survivors we'd rescued sat huddled around the fire in one of the southern territories we stopped at to rest for the night. Like most nights, after a long grueling day of fighting and surviving, they shared stories of the horrors we all barely escaped. I picked at the food on my plate, barely able to stomach it despite how hungry I was. It felt wrong to rest when there was still so much left undone, but I was too weak to fight anymore tonight.Sebastian sat beside me, his presence always a comfort, though a wei
Sebastian POVBeing Alpha had taught me to carry a weight I never expected. Responsibility. Duty. Strength. But the heaviest burden, one I wasn't prepared for, was heartache.I wasn't just tired in the way fighting darkness could drain a person, I was worn out in a way that gnawed at your soul, leaving you hollow inside. The kind of exhaustion that comes from loving someone who could never love you the way you wanted them to.Ruby. She had been the pulse of my life for as long as I could remember. Even now, after everything, she still was. I thought fate had brought us together, that maybe she was meant to be mine. But fate had other plans. No matter how much I tried to fight for her, no matter how many times I'd put myself on the line for her, it wasn't enough. There was always him. Gabe. Always lurking in the background, always in her heart.Last night, I asked her to choose. I begged her to reject him. To be with me. But the moment she looked at me with guilt and sorrow in her eyes
Gabe POVThe sky stretched endlessly gray, the sun barely cutting through the heavy clouds as I stood at the edge of the camp, staring at the southern border where the land met the sea. The wall that once separated the salt waters from the sand was in ruins, shattered by the curse my mother had unleashed on this world.The waves crashed in a rhythmic hum, their sound both comforting and disheartening. As the cold water lapped over my bare feet, I felt a flicker of hope. The sea had always given me a sense of peace, a reminder of the island I'd grown up on, where the vastness of the ocean seemed both beautiful and dangerous. Yet now, as I stood on the shore, the future felt as uncertain as the waters before me. I couldn't afford to dwell on that uncertainty, not when there was so much at stake. But no matter how hard I tried to focus, my mind always drifted to the one thing that never left me, Ruby.It had always been Ruby. It always would be Ruby. I wished she were here beside me, to
Ruby POVThe night felt heavy, the tension between us unmistakable as we moved through the dense woods. Each footstep seemed to echo louder than it should, but the real noise came from the storm of emotions swirling inside me. Sebastian and Sylvia walked ahead, laughing softly. Their closeness sent sharp pangs of jealousy through me, digging deeper with every glance they exchanged. It was like watching a scene I was no longer part of, a world where I didn't belong."Are you coming, Ruby?" Sebastian's voice was soft, but there was something underneath it, something I couldn't quite place. I forced a smile, my lips trembling as I quickened my steps to keep up with them."Just enjoying the quiet," I lied, trying to swallow the bitterness creeping up my throat. Watching them together, seeing Sebastian so at ease, sent a wave of anguish through me. Was he really moving on? Was I just imagining the connection we once shared? My mind, however, kept circling back to Gabe, the man I had trie
Sebastian POVI watched from a distance as Ruby and Gabe reunited, her laughter cutting through the air like a melody I once held close. Every echo of her joy was a dagger to my chest. The way she melted into his embrace, the way he held her, it was like I was watching my own heart being ripped out and handed over to him. My wolf, Kane, snarled in fury, clawing at my insides, begging to be set free, demanding blood, his blood."Kill him! Mark her!" My wolf snarled inside me. But I couldn't. Not here. Not now. The cheers of the crowd rose around them, celebrating their reunion, while I stood paralyzed, drowning in a pain I couldn't show. I should have been happy for her, for them, but all I felt was a hollow ache and the rising burn of anger, dark and consuming."Sebastian?" Sylvia's voice broke through, but it felt distant, like a whisper in a storm. I turned to her, forcing a smile, but the strain behind it was painfully obvious. I could feel it cracking at the edges."I'm fine," I
Sebastian POVSomething ignited inside me, a fire, a volcano, a damn storm of lust and desire. The first whiff of Ruby's arousal sent me into overdrive, then the next had my head spinning and dick painfully hard. I had to claim her! Nothing else matter. I turned to Gabe, his body rock hard including that dick of his, and I had to claim him too. "Mine!" I howled in need, grabbing his shoulder and spinning him to me."What are you doing?" Gabe growled at me.A dark banging pounded in my head, a voice, a need demanding to be free. My eyes drifted to his chest. His bare, delicious chest, right where that strong heart beat."You're giving me that look again." Gabe tried to take a step back, but I pulled him to my body. I felt every hard ridge of his muscles to mine. His thick cock pressed against my thigh and all I wanted was to taste him."I want you." I darkly chuckled, an ominous tone laced in my words."You want to fuck me, or eat my heart? I'm honestly a little unsure right now." His
Ruby POVJust when it seemed like our deaths were seconds away, something small, tiny even, waddled out of the light, a little bird-like creature, no taller than a foot or two, with beady eyes and a curious tilt to its head.For a moment, none of us said anything. Then I let out a small laugh. "It's... cute?" The little bird with large webbed feet and soft fur was adorable. I wanted to hug it.Sebastian stared at it, blinking. "That can't be what made the shadow. It's... it's a baby duck... or something."Gabe squinted at the little thing. "It's not cute. It's... annoying." He nudged Sebastian with his elbow. "Should I kick it? Like a football? I think I could get some good distance."I rolled my eyes, but before I could respond, the tiny creature wink at us, like actually winked. The he opened it's little beak and a massive fireball erupted from its mouth, filling the cave with a blinding, fiery light."How is something so cute so evil." I shouted, leaping behind a rock as another fi
Gabe POVThe smile on my face wouldn't quit, no matter how much I tried to suppress it. Spending hours tangled up with my mates last night had been... well, pretty damn satisfying. I felt invincible, like I could walk on water, maybe even fly if I tried. Whatever was next? I was ready.Sebastian and Ruby, though? Not so much. They were quiet as we wandered through the massive cave, both of them avoiding eye contact. I could feel the weight of what was gnawing at them, the "kids" conversation still fresh in their minds. It didn't matter much to me. Sure, as an Alpha, there was that whole primal drive to spread your seed, build a pack, but if I'm being honest, I didn't really care either way. Having a kid? No clue what to do with one. Maybe we could knock Ruby up a few times and let Sebastian handle the child-rearing. I'd be fine with that as long as I got my mates in bed at least once a day. Everything else, I'm game for whatever."There's something there," Ruby said, pointing to a sm
Ruby POVI laid on the floor for a while, Gabe arms completely wrapped around me and I watched Sebastian make a small fire. He seemed determined in his task, a mask of confidence to hide the emotions stirring within him."I know you're awake, little girl." He teased me, setting a stick with three fish over the small fire."So what if I am? Can I not admire my mate?" I smiled at him, his eyes twinkling at that one word that meant a thousand things."You can." He lightly chuckled, the sadness and confusion that riddle his body lifting.I stood, grabbing the thin blanket to wrap around me. "Are you happy, Sebastian?" I said, walking to him. I needed to be closer. I needed to feel him. Instinctively, he sat back on the rock and opened his large legs. I sat on his thigh, curling into his lap."Of course I'm happy, midget." His arms engulfed me and I felt like I was in the safest place in the world. "I have you." He whispered with a kiss over my hair."I worry this might fall apart. You, us
Gabe POVI had no idea who I was anymore, and honestly, I didn't care. I had her, my fated, here beside me and I had him, my Alpha. I spent my whole life devoted to Dietus, his little servant willing to do anything he asked and it turned out he only wanted me dead. Ruby was the first person I ever felt anything real for, and then Sebastian came out of nowhere. One minute I was plotting to be his best friend only to destroy his family, and the next, I was finding myself unable to leave his side. The first night we were all together something changed inside me. Watching him with her didn't just satisfy me, it made me jealous in a way too. I wanted him to want me the way he wanted her, to love me how he loved her. I spent my whole life alone and used. That was over now and I wasn't losing either of them. I wasn't holding back or questioning why, I was just going to live. Being with them, both of them, made me feel complete."Sleep Gabe." Sebastian hard voice hit my ears and I buried m
Sebastian POVRuby sat backwards on my hard cock while Gabe positioned himself between my legs and forced himself inside her pussy. I could see them, both of them above me. Ruby's black pixie hair and Gabe's shaggy brown with those dark sexy eyes directly on me. He started moving, slow and deliberate. Ruby's little ass swayed over my dick, making my eyes roll back within seconds. This was amazing, so fucking fantastic to finally have her in my arms, even if it was with him."She's perfect for us." I heard Gabe whisper. "She's our perfect little omega." His voice was full of bliss as he rocked her faster and faster over me. Ruby was a mess, screaming and clawing at Gabe."She's our perfect Luna." I snarled, my eyes locked onto him. He looked incredibly handsome, his hard body fucking our little mate on top of me."Outside the bedroom, she's our Luna." Gabe moved her head to the side, kissing and sucking on her neck. My eyes heated, Kane coming forward as we watched him devour her. "He
Ruby POVI closed my eyes, my heart torn in a thousand directions, unsure of how to move forward."I think you miss understand my intentions, little wolf." Gabe was behind me, my heart pounding in my chest. "I only want us to admit what we are all feeling." His hands slid under my shirt, lifting it from my body. The cold cave air mixed with hints of warmth from the fire licked my skin."Gabe, leave it." Sebastian growled at him. Their eyes were locked into each other, a silent war between them. "Leave what? I'm missing something." I looked between them, confused and exhausted."You'll figure it out." Gabe had removed his shirt and began sliding off his pants. "Are you serious? Right here?" My eyes were glued to his hard, toned body. That delicious six pack and defined Adonis belt of his. "Dead serious. Undress Alpha." Gabe winked at Sebastian. I shot another looked between them, the explosive tension had completely disappeared, something so much more potent rising between us."She
Gabe POVSebastian was ridiculous.We'd been stuck on that boat together for almost two weeks, and he was acting like it meant nothing. He barely acknowledged what happened, sweeping it under the rug as if those hot, tangled nights didn't shift something deep between us. I was pissed at him, but Ruby was back, and I couldn't stop smiling.Except it didn't feel like the three of us anymore. There was a cloud of doubt and anger Sebastian was driving between us, and it was unnerving. He was so arrogant, so righteous.The tension was thick as we traveled overland, pressing in on us until it felt like it would snap. We bickered about everything: whether my shortcut through the trees was actually a shortcut, or why Sebastian couldn't just follow my lead without a snide comment."You don't even know where you're going," Sebastian snapped, shouldering past me to take the front. His voice was sharp, but I caught the exhaustion under it."I don't have to know where I'm going. I'm trusting my gu
Ruby POV The mermaids returned, their soft hands cold as they lifted me from the ocean floor, their pale faces emotionless as they carried me upward. The deeper waters had been silent, oppressive, like the weight of the ocean pressed on my chest, but as we ascended, I could feel the air lightening, the sun filtering through the surface. With a sharp gasp, I broke through the water, the light blinding for a moment as it hit my face, burning after so much darkness. For a few moments, I felt weightless, suspended between the sea and the sky. And then I was being pulled again, carried on a wave toward the shore, the mermaids guiding me. The crash of the surf echoed in my ears as they set me down gently, the wet sand shifting beneath my feet. I blinked, my legs weak from the journey, and I tried to focus. My whole body felt fragile, like I'd been broken and pieced back together by the sea. And then I saw them, my mates, Sebastian and Gabe. Locked in a fight. What the hell were they doing