Adriana's Point of View Excuse me, Perry St. Claire," I said as I walked towards the door, "Where are we going?" "Please call me Perry," he answered, "and may I call you Adriana?" I nodded but stopped walking while I waited for him to fully answer my question. After a brief, but uncomfortable pause, he did. "We are going to meet the witches currently sealing your borders. They will most likely have some questions about Kree that they wish to ask you," he replied. We all went down the packhouse stairs to meet the witches outside. As we exited the main doors, I saw three women walk towards us, one of whom seemed to look familiar. "Perry! Introduce us, please," said one of the women. Her name was Delilah, and, as I found out, she was not only the vice Gatekeeper of the Witches’ Council but also Kree's older sister. No wonder she looked familiar. "Breathe," linked Daemon, "You are okay." Through our link, Daemon could clearly feel my nerves getting the better of me. I initially th
Adriana's Point of View I took a deep breath and walked through the door into a past life. It was like coming home after a long absence, but also not the same. "Welcome," I said to Delilah. "I'm sorry if it is dusty, but I haven't been here for such a long time. Not since I moved out after my mother's death and into the city." "It is all good, child," Delilah said as she followed me. Going into the lounge, I saw a photo of my mother and me together. There weren't many of them, and this was one that our neighbour had taken of us. You could clearly see our blue eyes, as we wore coloured contacts then. It was then that I realised I hadn't worn contacts in so long and had been wandering around showing my amethyst-coloured eyes to everyone. No one had commented or said a thing. To think that I might have been able to live an everyday life and go to school like everyone else did just blew me away. Life might have been very different. I told myself to stop thinking like this, as it wasn'
Adriana's Point of View I locked up my mother's house, saying goodbye to my past life. Daemon, Perry, Delilah, the other two witches, and I returned to the packhouse. Before Perry and the witches departed, Delilah gave me an amulet. It was a gemstone attached to a thin braided cord. The gem was made of blue tanzanite and sparkled like a blue crystal. I wish it had been amethyst to match my eyes, but it was beautiful nonetheless. "This rock came from a bolt of lightning that turned the earth blue," said Delilah. "Not only does this particular gem contain healing properties, but it has a protection spell cast on it. Should Kree get past our defences, she will find it extremely difficult to be around you. In fact, it will cause her extreme pain, as it is attuned to repel blood witch magic and the blood witch herself. Never take it off!" With that warning, I put it on and waved them goodbye. They would check in with us every few days, and a witch would continuously monitor the border fo
Adriana's Point of View Daemon and I walked out into the forest to do my first shift. The idea was that we would strip our clothes and shift into our wolf forms. Having never shifted, I needed to figure out how to do it. When I mentioned that to Daemon, he said, "Don't worry, your wolf will know what to do." "Yes, I do," responded Calliope. "Will anyone be able to see us naked?" I asked Daemon. "No. No one will come near," he answered. "I told my guards to keep everyone out of this area." That was something. I knew that most shifters weren't worried about nudity because everyone had to strip before changing. Still, I had been brought up to believe I was an Omega and therefore didn't have a wolf. I would have to get used to not only being a shifter but also being something more. Two somethings more, to be specific. At least I wasn't a part vampire. That would be too much. Life was different for Omegas that didn't shift. They still had the shifter gene, but only in human form.
Adriana's Point of View I spent the following day in the office with Daemon, still learning all I could about the pack's finances. It was an exhaustive process going through everything. Still, I think I was getting better at it and understanding exactly where all the money came from and what it was spent on. The skills I was learning would be invaluable in working out all of my own finances with the money that my mother left me. The next day, it was time to head over to Lexi's store to be fitted for my gown. It wouldn't be finished for another week, but she wanted to fit me a few times to ensure it was perfect. Alana and two of my guards would be going with me. Today it was Carlisle and Wilson again. They were most likely to be rostered during the day. "Morning, Luna," Wilson said, opening the car door for me. "Morning, Wilson, and you too, Carlisle. Let's get Alana and head to the shop," I answered. Carlisle was driving us today while Wilson sat in the passenger seat. We picked u
Adriana's Point of View When Kree exited the vehicle, I quickly mind-linked Daemon, "We are under attack!" Looking out of the back window, I gave as many details as I could to Daemon on our whereabouts and who we were going up against, including that a younger version of Alpha Brandon was with her. There were also three other men I had never seen before. However, one of them had some similarities to Kree and might possibly be her father. I decided to call him Daddy Witch and Brandon's son, Junior. The other two were most likely shifters, as they had that certain look. They were possibly his Beta and Gamma. "Stay in the car if you can," he replied. "I am contacting Perry and Delilah as we speak. Tyler and James are on their way with extra men." With Daemon's order to stay in the car, my only viable option was to sit back, watch and hope. Alana grabbed my hand, telling me, "They'll get here in time. I am sure they will. Just stay inside the car. It has a reinforced body and bulletpr
Adriana's Point of View With Daemon being five to ten minutes away from us, I took stock of the situation. One shifter and a witch were dead, thanks to both Carlisle and Wilson. Kree and Junior were still alive and unhurt, along with one other shifter who was currently in wolf form and fighting Wilson. There were three of them remaining, and one of them was a formidable enemy. I wasn't sure about the other two and was not entirely confident we would get out of this unscathed. Looking at both wolves fighting, whatever rank the shifter had, he was no match for Wilson. I felt a lot better about that fight. Although, he wasn't totally outclassed because Wilson was bleeding from a few bites. There was a lot of growling going on, and then suddenly, a whiny yelping sound as Wilson bit down on his opponent's neck. That was the end of shifter number two as he lay unmoving. Shifter number one was still on the ground writhing in pain from the stun gun, so not going anywhere fast. This left Kre
Daemon's Point of View When Adriana mind-linked me and told me that she was under attack, and it was from Kree and possibly the son of ex-Alpha Brandon, I was more than worried. The fear I had felt when Adriana was abducted last time came crashing back down, threatening to overwhelm me. Not only was Adriana in danger, but so was my mother. If anything happened to them, my father and I would be devastated. The first thing I did was mind-link Tyler and Adam to get one of the pack vehicles. It had toughened glass windows and a strengthened chassis. I wasn't the type of Alpha who wanted to conquer other packs just to make mine bigger. The pack was big enough, and I wasn't greedy. Besides, it was one of the largest packs anyway, if not the biggest. I also wasn't the type of Alpha who would shy away from fighting to defend my pack if need be. No greedy Alpha was going to attack my pack and get away with it. "Stay in the car if you can," I told her. "I am contacting Perry and Delilah as we
Cole’s Point of ViewDawn broke over the city as the last of the Supernatural Council guards departed with the prisoners. Thank the Goddess that the docks were a rundown abandoned area with few to no humans. The warriors we brought with us cleared the area before the Council arrived.The rogues and traitors, shackled and subdued, were loaded onto the council’s enchanted wagons, their fates sealed. I stood beside Marc, our shared relief palpable as the weight of the past days began to ease. Lucienne stood a few steps ahead, her posture straight and proud, but I could feel the tension radiating from her.Marc and I exchanged a glance. She hadn’t spoken much since we found her. It wasn’t like Lucienne to hold back—she was bold and fearless, her emotions always worn like a badge of honour. But now, her silence was deafening, the weight of everything she had endured pressing down on her.She stayed close to us, her touch grounding. Whether holding our hands, leaning into us, or simply brus
Lucienne's Point of ViewTaking our prisoners upstairs, Elizabeth’s face twisted into a mask of desperation. “Reject her!” she demanded, her voice shrill. “Choose Beatrice instead. She’s been trained for this position her entire life. You grew up with her—you know her! She’s everything a Luna should be. Not some—some Gamma!”Her words grew more frantic as she continued. “Beatrice loves you! She’s ladylike and graceful; everything Lucienne isn’t!”Elizabeth was giving me whiplash. First, she mistook Marc and Cole’s Lycans for my parents, recognising that I am a princess. Then she called me a mere Gamma as if what she said previously was non-existent.Marc and Cole both laughed the sound deep and mocking.“You’re delusional,” Cole said bluntly.“As is Beatrice,” Marc added, his tone filled with disdain. “To think we’d ever give up our fated mate for something far less.”“As if we’d give up our fated mate for anyone else,” continued Cole. “Unbelievable!”Elizabeth’s mouth opened and clos
Lucienne's Point of ViewShaking my head, I couldn’t believe she couldn’t put two and two together to make four. My father had already told them I was his daughter the first time Elizabeth threatened me. It wasn’t hard to make the connection that if my mother and father were Lycans, I must be one too.Beatrice shook her head, her trembling intensifying. I guess she was that stupid. Her head sank into her hands, her muttering turning into unintelligible whimpers. Her disbelief and humiliation were all too much for her fragile ego to handle. Despite wanting Eric rather than my mates, she had built her entire life’s plan on lies and half-truths fed to her by Elizabeth. And now it was crumbling before her eyes.Behind me, I heard a sharp intake of breath. I turned my attention to Dwayne, who had managed to pull himself into a sitting position against the wall. His face was ghostly pale, his eyes darting between me and Beatrice. There was no fight left in him, no bravado. Just a growing, s
Lucienne's Point of ViewThe sheer arrogance of my captors. They thought they had me trapped, powerless. Fools.Now, Elizabeth and Rodney sat in the corner of the cell I had once inhabited, their faces pale as they realised they were trapped. Their façade of control had crumbled, and seeing the fear in their eyes was almost pitiful. They wouldn't escape justice. Not this time.For now, though, my focus was on someone else-Beatrice.Her betrayal wasn't personal. It didn't sting, nor did it matter enough to hurt.Beatrice was simply another obstacle to remove, a loose end to tie up. However, like Elizabeth, she was an instigator in my abduction. Beatrice was about to learn that actions had consequences, and I intended to ensure she faced them.Elizabeth's voice, shrill and panicked, broke through my thoughts. "You won't get out of here alive, Lucienne. Upstairs is full of rogues. By the time Marc and Cole get here, you'll die!"I smiled coldly. Well, as much of a smile as I could in Lyc
Rodney's Point of ViewHer gaze didn’t waver. If anything, it sharpened, her defiance burning brighter. I could feel the tension in the air as Elizabeth stood next to me, the whip in her hand.“Give me the whip,” I demanded, telling Lucienne that I was going to show her mates exactly why they needed to reject her.Elizabeth refused despite me making it clear that I didn’t want her to do it—not that it mattered. She wasn’t going to listen. Elizabeth was determined to be the one to strike Lucienne, refusing to let me handle it.“Just don’t go so hard that you kill her,” I said.I wouldn't let Lucienne die—not like this. Elizabeth saw no issue with it.To her, Lucienne was just another obstacle to crush. She didn't understand that there was no way I was going to allow her to kill Lucienne. I would kill Elizabeth sooner than I had planned. I couldn't risk losing her, not when I was this close to getting what I wanted.I watched Lucienne’s face when Elizabeth told her that Marc and Cole we
Rodney's Point of ViewShe was perfect—every part of her. From the way her dark mahogany brown hair clung to her damp face to the fierce glint in her amethyst eyes, Lucienne was unlike anyone I had ever encountered. Even in this wretched, decrepit cell, she exuded an ethereal quality that only made me crave her more.I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. Those eyes—by the Goddess, they haunted me. That purple—the most striking, vivid shade I’d ever seen—was like a curse, binding me to her in ways I hadn’t anticipated. They seemed to pierce through me every time she dared to lift her gaze. They weren’t like the dull brown or washed-out blues I was used to seeing in Wolf-Shifters. No, they shimmered with an otherworldly depth, glowing faintly even in the dim light of the basement. I’d never seen anything like it, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how those eyes would look, gazing up at me… filled with submission.My obsession with her had grown from fascination to a consuming need. S
Lucienne's Point of ViewI had no idea what time it was. The thick, suffocating darkness of the warehouse seemed endless. When Beatrice had ordered Michaela upstairs, she’d deliberately switched off the only powered light, leaving me to eat in the dark. The cold seeped into my bones, the stale air heavy with the scent of mildew and iron.My body trembled from exhaustion and hunger; the pitiful scraps they fed me were barely enough to keep me conscious. Thankfully, I was just like a human still, which meant I didn’t need as much fuel to sustain me—but even so, I still longed for her strength, her presence, to return to me.Yet, amidst the weakness, I could feel a faint shift—a flicker of hope. The activated charcoal was working, slowly but surely purging the wolfsbane from my system. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to stoke a fragile fire within me.Curled into the corner of my cell, I clung to that flicker, willing myself to stay alert. My body was still weak and far from ready, but
Marc's Point of ViewThe moment we reached the edge of Charleston’s industrial district, our mood changed to serious mode. The dilapidated warehouses loomed ahead, their skeletal frames standing against the faint glow of distant city lights. The air was thick with the acrid scent of saltwater and rust, a sharp contrast to the quiet rage simmering within me.Every fibre of my being was screaming to charge in, to find Lucienne and end this nightmare, but I couldn’t afford to lose control. Not now. Not when we were this close. I glanced at Cole, who sat rigid in the seat next to me, his fists clenched so tightly his knuckles were bone white. His wolf, Blaine, was barely restrained, a growl rumbling deep in his chest.“Breathe,” I murmured through the mind-link, my voice steady despite the turmoil churning inside me. It was a simple command, but it carried more weight than either of us could have anticipated. I wasn’t sure if I was reminding him or myself.The tension from us was plain to
Cole's Point of ViewThe growl of the SUV’s engine echoed my mood—low and simmering with restrained fury. A day’s drive to Charleston felt like an eternity. Every kilometre of road we travelled was one less between us and Lucienne, but it didn’t feel fast enough. Every second on the road felt like a century.My Lycan, Blaine, prowled at the edges of my mind, eager to tear into anyone who had dared harm her. The fact that we had to wait to reach her made my blood boil. Marc sat in the back seat next to me, his posture rigid and his eyes locked on the road ahead, his knuckles white as he gripped the armrest. The fire burning in his amber eyes mirrored my own.Queen Adriana sat in the front with King Daemon driving, their presence commanding yet oddly comforting. Daemon had been our anchor through this ordeal, his steady voice reminding us that charging in mindlessly would only hurt Lucienne. Gamma Ellis was quiet beside us, his jaw tight as he stared out the window.Tension crackled in