Adriana's Point of View When I arrived at the packhouse last night, I had only ever seen it once from the outside. It looked relatively grandiose but also a little forbidding, all three storeys of it. Now I was going to be able to see the inside of it, and I still found it forbidding. I didn't want to be here. We walked through the main front entrance, with a massive open area. Tyler explained that this was where they would entertain or have large gatherings. There were doors to other rooms on either side of the open space, but Daemon led the way upstairs. "On the second floor, you will find the Alpha's office, as well as the Beta and Gamma's bedrooms," Tyler continued. "She doesn't need to know where your bedroom is," Alpha Daemon snapped. Tyler smirked at his comment. Shit! Does he know? I wondered if he'd been told, though it would make sense that if anyone else knew, it would be the Beta. Tyler stayed on the second while both the Alpha and I continued up to the third floor.
Tyler's Point of View Last night I was pretty sure that Adriana was Daemon's fated mate. The way Daemon was acting made it seem very obvious. This morning at breakfast, he told me that he wanted me to go and get Adriana's gear from her flatmates' place. Adriana looked like she was a deer caught in headlights. I guessed that her having to move her stuff in here was the nail in her coffin, like she realised she wasn't leaving here. "Adriana, you'll need to tell me your address and give me your keys so I can get your gear," I said to her. "I will need to call them first and let them know that you are coming," she answered sadly. She went out of the room to call them. While she was out of the room, I asked Daemon, "Are you sure this is what you really want?" "Are you questioning what I am wanting you to do?" he snarled. "You have to admit you are not acting the way you normally would," I countered. "I don't want to get into it right now," he answered. "Just do as I ask without ques
Daemon's Point of View "Why are you keeping me here when you don't want me as a mate?" Why was I keeping her here? It was obviously against her will, but I just couldn't let her go. I thought I didn't want a mate and surely didn't need one. A part of me suspected I was wrong. The mating bond was more potent than I realised. "I never said I didn't want you as a mate," I told her. "Effectively you did, by not acknowledging me as your mate or allowing me to acknowledge you," she responded. When I first laid eyes on her, I thought Adriana was the most captivating woman I had ever seen. Bewitchingly beautiful. With her light brown hair up off her shoulders, I could see her flawless back. I wanted to run my tongue and taste her. Would she be as tasty as an orange? Then there was her heart-shaped face and those kissable pink lips. Or maybe I could fist her hair while tasting her lips. Rogue or not, I wanted to take her there and then, but then it hit me. I had thought she was a rogue. I
Adriana's Point of View "No buts! I am the Alpha, and you will obey me. Now, if you are ready, I will take you through some of the jobs I wish you to do." Those were the last words he would say about why I had to be here. I'd spent much of the morning talking to Daemon. His office was as sparse as the bedroom I was sleeping in. Daemon seemed to be into minimalism, or maybe this was a male thing. I didn't own much either in the way of gear. In the centre of his office was a large, well-looked-after desk with a pile of papers in front of him. Behind him was a floor-to-ceiling bookcase partially filled with books. Bringing my attention back to Daemon, I was still in the same horrible situation I was in last night. I wondered whether this growing sense of dread and sadness would ever go away. It was like a waking nightmare. The only thing he would talk to me about was all the paperwork he wanted me to do for him as his personal assistant. First, I went through all his emails, sorting
Daemon's Point of View I had been sitting in my office trying to focus on my work, but my wolf, Theo, was grumbling at me about how I spoke to Adriana. "You need to speak nicely to our mate," he whined. "She will think you don't like her, and that is all on you." I tried to ignore him, but her scent was driving me wild. I could still smell her scent even though she had left the room about an hour ago. As for thinking I didn't like her... To be honest, I didn't know what I thought about her. On the one hand, I didn't want a mate, but she was my fated mate, and we were only ever given one of those. She was mine. On the other hand, she was indeed the most beautiful woman I had ever seen. Beautiful on the inside as well as the outside from what I could see. "Go to her," Theo begged me. "Go to her and tell her we want her." "Bloody hell Theo," I growled, "I am trying to work here." "Go to her before you damage the relationship entirely," he growled back at me. I tried to ignore him
Adriana's Point of View Although it had only been a night, I missed my piano. I guess it was because it represented something concrete and normal in my life. Everything else was all in the air and far from the ordinary. After practising the piano for a couple of hours, I decided that I needed to get a pre-dinner snack. When I got to the door, I could smell that Daemon had been standing by it recently. That was strange. I wonder why he didn't come in? He smelt of chocolates with a hint of a forest, which set Calliope off. She wanted me to go to him. I didn't know how to make her understand that Daemon didn't want us as his mate. "His wolf does, so he will," she kept telling me. "It's not that simple," I replied exasperatedly. I was learning that a wolf's base nature was such that they didn't understand the nuances of human relationships. Regardless of whether our wolves wanted each other or not, if Daemon didn't want me as his mate, he would reject me. I just didn't know why he h
Tyler's Point of View "What are you doing?" I growled. None of the women had heard me come into the kitchen. I could see that both Lucia and Diana looked uncomfortable. Good. I had listened to some of the exchange between them before I had made my presence known. According to my sister, both Omegas were nasty little bitches, but catching them in the act had been hard. Adriana explained that she was cleaning up the dishes, so she could get something to eat. That is something she shouldn't have needed to do. It wasn't her job. I also noticed that she hadn't mentioned why she had sworn at them. "Anything else?" I said. I watched Lucia and Diana squirm. They looked scared that Adriana would tell me, and I allowed myself a little smile. Adriana looked at them before saying, "No." Damn it! I knew something had happened and would be happy to see their backs. "Are you sure?" I pointedly asked. "We don't tolerate certain behaviour here, especially from the Omegas. If they have not been
Adriana's Point of View Tyler and I were sitting in the small dining room eating afternoon tea. I was always hungry now that my wolf had come through, even though I hadn't actually shifted yet. "I spoke with Daemon, and he confirmed you were his fated mate," Tyler said. "That makes you our Luna." I couldn't believe what he was telling me. Daemon confirmed it? He had been so adamant that I wasn't to tell anyone. Maybe Tyler was fishing for Daemon to see whether I would actually say anything. Or perhaps he was telling the truth, and Daemon had told him. Should I agree with him or not? Tyler continued when I didn't confirm or deny it, "He ordered you not to say anything, didn't he?" I decided to nod yes to this question, but I was still wary of him. I wanted a friend who would understand what I was going through, but Tyler was the Beta Daemon's Beta. I knew enough about packs to know that Tyler would always be loyal to Daemon. It all came down to whether I could trust Tyler or not.
Daemon's Point of ViewWatching Lucienne ascend the stairs with Marc and Cole, I felt a pang of bittersweet pride settle in my chest. My little girl—my eldest daughter—was nineteen and all grown up. She moved with the grace of a warrior and the quiet confidence of someone who knew her worth. It struck me how much she resembled her mother—the same striking features, the same fire in her eyes.Adriana, standing beside me, seemed to sense my thoughts. She slipped her hand into mine, her touch warm and grounding. "She's everything we hoped she would be," she said softly, her voice laced with emotion."She is," I replied, my eyes still on the staircase where Lucienne had disappeared moments before. "It feels like just yesterday she was running around the house, training with Cedric, declaring she'd never wear a dress."Adriana chuckled, her laugh like music to my ears. "And now she's wearing heels and dresses but still commanding armies and winning trials."I couldn't help but smile. "She'
Lucienne's Point of ViewMarc's expression softened. "Why did you decide to become a warrior?"I smiled, the memory warming me. "It started when I was about six. I used to watch the warriors train and try to mimic their movements. At the time, it looked like an exotic dance to me. By the age of ten, I was training daily."Cole grinned. "And now you're the best of the best?""I wouldn't say that," I said modestly, brushing a strand of hair from my face. "But I work hard."Marc and Cole were seated on either side of me on the sprawling leather couch, their focus unwavering. Their attention made me feel both seen and scrutinised, but I pressed on, knowing they genuinely wanted to know more about me."Two weeks before I came here, I competed in the warrior trials," I continued, my tone steady, though a flicker of pride crept into my voice. "It's an intense competition. This time, it was designed to find the next Royal Gamma."Marc's brows lifted, and Cole leaned forward, resting his elbow
Lucienne's Point of ViewWe were back in the twins' suite of rooms, and I took a moment to soak in the space. It was undeniably warm and inviting, with a balance of rustic masculinity and understated charm that spoke volumes about Marc and Cole's personalities. The fact that it fitted with mine just made it all the better.The walls were painted in a deep slate grey, accented with dark wood panelling that added a touch of elegance. Soft lighting from strategically placed lamps gave the space a cosy glow, and thick curtains in a rich, earthy tone framed the windows, offering both privacy and a sense of comfort.The sprawling couch in the centre of the living area immediately caught my attention. Its dark leather looked well-worn but not shabby as if it had seen its share of long conversations and quiet moments. A plush, woven throw was draped over one arm, and a few mismatched pillows gave it a more relaxed feel. The scent of cedarwood filled the air, mingling with something distinctly
Lucienne's Point of ViewStaying at the packhouse had been the right call. Alpha Duncan's suggestion, though somewhat unexpected, made sense now that I was here. Getting to know Marc and Cole better felt necessary, especially with how things had changed lately. After all, not had I found my mates—two of them; Danielle had confided in me earlier that Eric insisted on spending time with her after he had claimed her as his mate in public—in front of Beatrice even. It had been heartwarming to see her so happy.When I'd assessed the warriors earlier in the day, she had been there with Eric, quietly glowing in his presence. Later, she told me everything—that Eric had denied ever being involved with Beatrice. He said he couldn't stand her but tolerated her because she was Marc and Cole's step-sister. She'd always hung around and had come on to him. He thought she'd stop once she found her destined mate, but he didn't expect she would actually come between him and his mate.Danielle told me t
Duncan's Point of ViewI had never seen anything like her.As Lucienne stood tall, her wolf towering over the other warriors, I couldn't shake the feeling. It wasn't just her size or the raw power she exuded—though both were unlike anything I'd seen before in our pack. Her aura, a dominance that saturated the room and left every shifter in the space, including my sons, captivated and slightly awed.There was no denying it now. The white fur, the piercing amethyst eyes, and the sheer size of her wolf… she was a Lycan and the daughter of King Daemon and Queen Adriana. How could anyone think otherwise or not even make the connection?Given her bearing and strength, I'd already suspected as much, but witnessing her wolf was another thing entirely. This wasn't the kind of power that could be taught or inherited lightly. It felt like it was ancient, almost primal, a presence that made everyone else's wolves seem small.I chose to keep that startling revelation to myself, knowing that sharin
Lucienne's Point of ViewI took down the three warriors effortlessly, including their Gamma, who put up a decent fight but was ultimately no match for me. He would have been their top fighter, except maybe the Alphas, but he didn't have my training. It might have been a tad unfair since I wasn't a Wolf-Shifter like them, but they needed a reality check.As they rose to their feet, dusting themselves off, the humiliation was unmistakable in their expressions. Their eyes avoided mine, and their jaws clenched with the sting of defeat. The fact that a female had beaten them only deepened the shame and disgust written on their faces. Clearly, this wasn't something they'd soon forget—or forgive."Let me handle this," my father's calm yet commanding voice echoed through our mind-link. He had noticed the intense, uneasy look the warriors were casting in my direction—a mixture of shock, resentment, and bruised pride. His tone carried the subtle authority that had always made him such a respect
Cole's Point of ViewLucienne was here in our suite, changing her clothes. My wolf stirred restlessly, eager to claim her, to make her ours in every possible way. Marc and I had waited so long, dreaming of the day we'd finally have our mate at our side, leading our pack. But now that Lucienne was here, the reality was even more consuming than we'd ever imagined. Her strength, her loyalty, her fire… she was a perfect match for us in every sense.As if sensing my thoughts, Marc turned to me with a smirk. "You're as restless as I am," he murmured, his voice filled with anticipation."Can you blame me?" I replied, my gaze drifting to where Lucienne had stood only moments ago. "She's perfect. I don't know how we ever lived without her."Marc nodded, his expression softening. "Soon, brother," he promised. "When the time is right. We'll mark her together."The thought was both thrilling and humbling. We would be bound to her, our souls intertwined. And with Lucienne as our Luna, nothing could
Elizabeth's Point of ViewI found Beatrice sitting stiffly on the edge of the packhouse couch, her friends scattered around her, gossiping to distract her from Lucienne's latest insult. But the fury that simmered in Beatrice's eyes told me their words weren't making a dent. The humiliation Lucienne had dealt her still festered, a wound no soothing words could heal. And if I had my way, it would fuel the fire I intended to stoke."Leave us," I ordered her friends with a pointed glare. They glanced uneasily at each other before retreating, understanding enough to avoid my temper.I liked that everyone obeyed me. Everyone, that is, except Duncan and his sons. I could feel my face scowling, and I couldn't have that. Scowling made faces wrinkle and look old.Once we were alone, I assessed her carefully. Her chin was down, her posture defensive—pathetic. This wouldn't do. I needed her sharp, cold, and controlled."Don't let that stupid bitch win," I snapped, refusing to let any hint of symp
Elizabeth's Point of ViewI watched the pack's eyes trail after Lucienne as she entered, their gazes fixed on her like moths to a flame. It grated on my nerves—the fawning admiration, the way they seemed captivated by her every movement. This outsider had barely set foot into our world, yet she now commanded the attention of everyone, especially my stepsons, Marc and Cole. She had them under her spell, bewitched by her so-called strength and honour, all wrapped up in that carefully composed grace that seemed to draw people in without her lifting a finger.It was disgraceful, really. The way she carried herself, the way she flaunted her so-called strength as if it were some prize for them to chase. I'd seen how some of her own warriors looked at her, their eyes lingering just a second too long, betraying the kind of desire she seemed to stoke so effortlessly. And Lucienne, with that loose, careless smile, surely didn't mind. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if she finds her way into mor