Kiera POV"I didn't know her well. We met in passing only once. I didn't even get her name. She was like a goddess though, lavender eyes and a single strip of purple in her hair. I remember she had a small child clutching her leg.""Where did you met her?" Hope was blossoming inside me. I tried researching about my family, but there was literally nothing to be found. "It was near the border, at a market. The night before we encountered each other, there was an auction house raided by a lone wolf. Witnesses described a woman with purple eyes and a fierce wolf, calling her a witch possessed by demons. She killed nearly a hundred men and rescued numerous women. My husband and I assisted survivors, helping them hide or begin anew. We met at the market to exchange locations of our safe houses, and that was the extent of it."I smiled brightly, imagining this woman as my mother. The idea that someone so fierce could have been my own brought a sense of joy. However, my mood quickly shifted a
Chase POV"Where is our little Beta traitor?" I asked, twirling a thorny white rose in my hand. It reminded me of Kiera and I liked its beauty even as it stabbed my fingers."Alpha Jackson requested his services and is unable to get away." Katherine stood before me, prim and proper with the right kind of sex appeal."Where is our little Alpha?" My tone playfully tinged with annoyance."He and the other Alphas are taking protection in our old pack house.""Old pack house?" I was curious now. I never heard of a territory having two pack houses."It's said to be haunted," she explained, a hint of fear in her voice. "The Alpha and Luna of the old South were brutally murdered there. Some claim the Luna walks the grounds, avenging her death, while others believe she emerges at night in search of her lost daughter.""A haunted pack house? Now I’ve heard of everything!" I laughed at the stupid superstition."I've been there, Chase. There's something not right with the place." Katherine now lo
Kiera POVI couldn't believe what I had just witnessed. It felt unreal, as if this couldn't be my life. Collapsing to my knees, tears of disbelief streamed down my face. My best friend lay lifeless before me, leaving me lost and unsure of what to do or how to feel. If Athena's strength resided within me, I might have surrendered, letting her take over as I crumbled deep within my soul. Yet, she wasn't here, and the harsh reality of being truly alone set in.Madness seethed within me, originally fueled by anger toward Devon, yet I would have never wished for this grim reality. The fury consumed me, a blazing inferno that surged within, scorching every fiber of my being. Without hesitation, I lunged at the man before me. Athena's claws tore through my fingertips, a visceral pain coursing through me in relentless waves. Despite the agony, I pushed it aside, determined to avenge my friend's tragic end, even if it meant facing my own death. My claws tore through his throat, and he gaspe
I swallowed hard, sinking further into my seat. The little girl in my arms clung tighter in fear of the man, and I wanted to show her I could protect her. Deep down, I knew it wasn't true. I was the weakest werewolf in this truck, a harsh reality that weighed heavily on my shoulders. I couldn't let anyone be harmed though. I needed to let my anger simmer out for now and I really needed to rest. The best I could hope for at this point was to strike some kind of deal with the triplets.Closing my eyes, I welcomed the exhaustion to take over. My body was broken, and my soul felt like it was on fire. I knew Athena was hurting too. She pushed too far, and the silver weakened her even more.As blackness took over, my thoughts turned to nightmares. Devon stood before me, tears streaming down his face, pleading for me to understand. Martha and Albert stood by my side, desperately trying to save me. Tracy, Devon's fated mate, appeared in my dreams, crying in pain over her mate's death. Her be
Chase POVMy brothers and I arrived home early in the morning, just before our second troops. The three of us were exhausted from wielding the power Zeus lent us, and still a little spooked by the ghost we encountered. Though unspoken, the absence of Kiera hung heavily among us. I needed to know she was at least safe, but the harsh reality was she was likely with her degrading husband, perhaps plotting our demise.We played rock-paper-scissors to determine who would handle the sorting of our prisoners, and, unsurprisingly, I lost. I was not in the mood for the mayhem that came with ungrateful prisoners. River grinned at me as he took Elizabeth in his arms, leading her towards a long bath, while Drake sought peace in his private cottage out back. As for me, I embarked on the daunting task of managing thousands of women and children, likely scared out of their minds.As I approached the throne room, a divine scent enveloped me, nearly knocking me off balance. I knew instantly who it w
Kiera POVThe guard guided me with a gentle pull to follow her. I wanted to rip out Chase's eyes, but I barely had enough strength to walk. The woman, her brown hair tightly secured in a bun, peered at me with warm yet slightly annoyed chestnut eyes. "We'll freshen you up before heading to the medic. He's got some tricks up his sleeve to speed up healing," she said with a reassuring smile. Despite her kindness, a nagging instinct warned me against trusting her, keeping me silent to respond."Shower quickly and put this on." The guard shoved a blue cotton dress into my hands, then directed me towards a row of showers. The space resembled a vast bathhouse, each stall separated by curtains, creating an atmosphere of shared vulnerability.The water's warmth gave me a brief moment of relief. When the soap touched my open wounds, a sharp burn made me hiss involuntarily. I persevered, scrubbing my body to rid it of the dirt and sins accumulated in the past 24 hours.The haunting image of De
Kiera POVI was escorted to my new home, or at least that is how Evie worded it. I saw it as my final resting place.I entered a vast circular chamber, its walls adorned in soft blush hues and crisp whites, creating an atmosphere of delicate elegance. Numerous doors encircled the space, each one a potential pathway to an unknown destination. The room's charm was further accentuated by a plethora of plants gracefully suspended from the ceiling, their tendrils cascading down, adding a touch of natural beauty to the peaceful but gloomy setting."That door is your new room. Most of the others are asleep. Try to be quiet." Evie informed me, her index finger pointing towards a pristine white portal."Others?" I questioned. "Those in service to Alpha Chase.""Right!" I chuckled. Disgust clung to the edges of my consciousness. I lacked the energy to delve into the sickening machinations Chase inflicted on these unfortunate women. Shuffling towards my newfound refuge, I swung the door shut w
Chase POVI visited those in service to me almost hourly, but Kiera still hadn't woken. Our doctor assured me she just needed rest, but I needed to see her face.After two days, I heard movement in her room, and my eyes were fixed on her door. I held my breath, eagerly anticipating her to open it. Finally, my goddess emerged, and I knew I'd never tire of witnessing her face or hearing her voice.Despite her lingering fatigue, she appeared stronger than when she first arrived. The desire to retaliate against those who harmed her overwhelmed me. Loki was keen on seeking vengeance, but my resilient fire pixie had already defended herself.As she began speaking, her anger was evident. My insides churned, witnessing the intensity of her emotions. I found myself drawn to the dark scowl she cast my way, captivated by the attitude emanating from her sharp tongue.I couldn't be an idiot and completely ignore the glaring facts. It was no coincidence that Jackson was nowhere to be found, and the