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
Adriana's Point of View I knew why Daemon was determined to take me to see Doctor Samuel. In fact, he was adamant that I would be going for a check-up, whether I liked it or not. Even though I insisted that both the pups and I were fine, I could understand why he wanted to make sure. He loved me. It was as simple as that. He loved our unborn children and me so much that he had to ensure we were alright. I was okay with that. On the trip back to the pack lands, Daemon held me the entire way. I could sense the stress and tension he felt as it flowed through our mating bond. It was how he had managed to feel how frightened I had been before. As the stress and tension dissipated, I sensed a new feeling from Daemon... anger. I put my hand up to stroke Daemon's cheek, and the feeling of anger subsided a little, but it didn't go away entirely. While Daemon was not the type of Alpha to go off and attack another pack willy-nilly, I thought I could sense his need to destroy Brandon Junior's p
Adriana's Point of View Once Tyler, Adam, Daemon and I had finished our lunch, Adam went off to arrange a more intensive Luna guard. I could no longer wander anywhere alone, which wasn't too much of an imposition as I didn't anyway. It was just the implications of the danger I would always be in. Despite worrying about what my future might look like with having to have a constant guard, I just wanted to get up to our bedroom. I needed a little time to process everything that had gone on, and I wanted to be away from everyone except Daemon. After lunch, I excused myself to Daemon and Tyler and headed towards the stairs. I told them I needed to freshen up. "There's something I want to show you," said Daemon as he jogged over and grabbed my hand. "It is a surprise, but I think you'll like it." "What surprise?" I asked. "If I told you, then it wouldn't be a surprise," he explained. Even though I had plans to hide away for a little while, I went with him. I wasn't a person who liked
Daemon's Point of View I got the feeling that pregnancy was making Adriana hornier than usual, and I had no problem with that at all. Add the redecorated music room and new piano; it was an afternoon of making love with multiple orgasms. After our shower together, we lay on the bed, cuddling. I liked this side of Adriana too. There was something settling about lying here with her in my arms. I didn't want to go back to work at all. "What do you want to do this afternoon?" I asked. "What about work?" she replied. “After today, we deserve some time to spend together. A rest," I answered. "I could have lost you to that damned blood witch and Brandon's pack," I continued. "Later today, I will contact Perry and find out what will happen. I have the basics, but I need more details, so we can go forward without worrying about safety." Adriana nodded thoughtfully before answering, "Will they find out if anyone else was behind this? What about the rest of his pack? Who else was involved?
Adriana's Point of View Looking at Daemon, I couldn't imagine being any more in love with him than I already was. When he spoke about his concerns and worries regarding Junior and Kree, added to fitting out the music room and just his all-around caring for me, I fell more in love with him each and every moment. "It looks like you are thinking serious thoughts again," I said, lifting my eyebrow. "Hopefully, they are not too serious. Anything you want to discuss?" Daemon didn't want to discuss it anymore, so we left our bedroom to meet Tyler, Adam and Stephanie. They were waiting outside, ready to walk to Daemon's parent's house. "Hi, everyone," I called as I walked out the door. "I hope you haven't been waiting too long." Stephanie came over, grabbed my arm and told Daemon, "It's my turn now. You've had her to yourself, and she needs to have female company." I can't say that I was unhappy. I missed Callie and needed to be around friends. Hopefully, Stephanie and Christina would be
Adriana's Point of View Yesterday was the final fitting for my gown. It was stunning, and the lace matched the amulet I was still wearing. Delilah told me to continue wearing it, as they weren't entirely sure I was safe from blood witches. Although Kree was incarcerated and her father dead, no one knew if any other blood witches had been a part of it. Kree wasn't talking. Neither was Brandon Junior or his wolves. I chided myself because I wanted to forget about the incident, especially for today. There would be time after the ceremony to worry about it. For now, I wanted to enjoy my life and celebrate. As for the fitting, it was perfect. I didn't need to mention to Lexi that I was pregnant, as I was still not showing. The dress style wouldn't have made it obvious anyway, as it wasn't figure-hugging. James and his crew arrived early this morning to set up the tables and serving area. James was busy bossing Diana and Lucia around, and I couldn't find it in me to feel sorry for them. P
Adriana's Point of View "Argh!" I cried in pain, squeezing Daemon's hand as hard as possible. "Not long now, Luna," the midwife replied. "Soon, you'll be fully dilated and able to push. At the moment, keep breathing like I showed you." The pain was too much for me to fully understand everything she said, and it seemed like Daemon understood this. "Breathe," he murmured in my ear before huffing with short breaths. It was just what I needed, and I huffed along with him. Each contraction seemed to last a lifetime, but in truth, it wasn't very long at all. I had all but blocked out the midwife, but Daemon kept talking to me, repeating the midwife's instructions. It wasn't long before Daemon relayed that it was time to push the babies out. Our second pup greeted the world less than one minute after the first. "Alpha, Luna, here is your son and daughter," announced the midwife. A nurse handed me one of the babies, and I held my son for the first time. He was so tiny but very noisy.
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
Marc's Point of ViewThe day and a half since Lucienne’s abduction had been the longest of my life. Every moment stretched like an eternity, the bond Cole and I shared with her still present but muted. Every attempt to reach her through the mind-link was met with silence. It was maddening. Cassius, my Lycan, prowled restlessly within me, his frustration mirroring my own. We were helpless, and it was tearing us apart.King Daemon and Queen Adriana had been our anchors through the chaos. King Daemon, in particular, had taken us aside, his voice heavy with a mixture of pain and understanding. “I know what you’re going through,” he said. “When Adriana was taken years ago, I thought I’d lose my mind. But rushing in blind only makes it worse. You have to trust the process. You have to trust her.”Trust. The word felt hollow when my mate was out there, suffering. But his experience was hard to ignore. Adriana had been sitting beside him, her gaze fierce yet compassionate as she nodded in agr
Cole's Point of ViewI could feel the tension in the air as we got out of the cars. It was a mess. The only positive point was that everyone was here and alive. Everyone except Lucienne. Given that our Lycans were not completely losing control, there was still hope. Hope that she was still out there, still alive.Marc mind-linked our father, urgency lacing his voice as he delivered the grim news—Lucienne had been taken. But what came next was a devastating revelation. Elizabeth and Michaela had escaped, aided by none other than Dwayne. The timing was far too coincidental, a connection that couldn’t be ignored. Whoever was behind this knew exactly what they were doing.Father also sent through half a dozen of our best trackers via a portal that Queen Adriana had created. The trackers spread out, scanning the area with the precision of trained hunters. But they had about as much luck as we had in human form. We knew the general direction they had gone, but that was it. Marc decided that
Cole's Point of ViewI could feel the tension in the air as we got out of the cars. It was a mess. The only positive point was that everyone was here and alive. Everyone except Lucienne. Given that our Lycans were not completely losing control, there was still hope. Hope that she was still out there, still alive.Marc mind-linked our father, urgency lacing his voice as he delivered the grim news—Lucienne had been taken. But what came next was a devastating revelation. Elizabeth and Michaela had escaped, aided by none other than Dwayne. The timing was far too coincidental, a connection that couldn’t be ignored. Whoever was behind this knew exactly what they were doing.Father also sent through half a dozen of our best trackers via a portal that Queen Adriana had created. The trackers spread out, scanning the area with the precision of trained hunters. But they had about as much luck as we had in human form. We knew the general direction they had gone, but that was it. Marc decided that
Lucienne's Point of ViewThe faint echo of footsteps from above stiffened me, and my senses strained for any sign of danger. Every sound in this cell was magnified—every whisper of air, every creak of the floorboards. It had been hours, maybe longer since I had last seen anyone. My body ached, and my wrists were raw from the restraints, but I forced myself to stay alert.When the door creaked open, I expected Beatrice’s manic figure or Rodney’s menacing leer. Instead, Michaela’s familiar form came downstairs, her face carefully blank but her eyes darting nervously. She carried a tray of food, the smell wafting toward me, making my stomach growl despite myself.She hesitated before crouching down to push the tray through the bottom of the bars. She moved to the box on the wall that adjusted the chains. The weight eased slightly, and I could finally lift my arms enough to rub the soreness from them.“You need to eat,” Michaela said softly, pushing the tray toward me. Her tone was quiet,
Lucienne's Point of ViewI sagged against the chains, reeling from the sting of the whip. My wrists were still tightly bound, but the slight loosening of the chains gave me a moment to catch my breath as I gasped, my chest heaving. Beatrice stood in the dimly lit cell, her body tense and poised, the whip in her hand slicing through the air with a sharp crack.Suddenly, the heavy door slammed open, and Rodney stormed in, radiating a palpable fury that seemed to charge the air around him. Without a moment's hesitation, he reached out and seized her wrist, the force of his grip causing her wrist to break, and she staggered slightly. With a swift motion, he wrenched the whip from her hand, sending it flying across the cell to land with a dull thud on the cold stone floor.Beatrice's heart raced as she met his intense gaze, realisation dawning on her that the confrontation was far from over."She's already been whipped today," he snarled. "The plan is not to kill her.""I don't care!" Beat
Lucienne's Point of ViewClio stirred. At first, it was faint—a mere flicker of warmth beneath my skin, like the distant glow of a candle struggling against the darkness. It wasn't the full return of her vibrantly strong presence, but it was enough to send a wave of relief coursing through me. For the first time since I'd been dragged into this grim, lightless cell, I felt a sliver of hope.Her energy was weak and groggy, like waking from a deep, drugged sleep, and I could sense her struggling against the lingering effects of the wolfsbane. She couldn't speak, couldn't send me her thoughts, but I felt her there—a fragile yet unmistakable connection humming faintly within me. It was proof that the activated charcoal Michaela had smuggled to me was starting to work, pushing back against the poison that had muted her.I closed my eyes and concentrated, drawing strength from that tenuous bond. Clio's presence reminded me of who I was, of the power locked away inside me. Even if she couldn
Lucienne's Point of ViewAs the sound of their retreating footsteps faded into silence, the tension holding my body upright gave way. My legs buckled, and I sank to my knees, the chains rattling softly as my arms hung limply above me. Pain radiated across my back, sharp and relentless, each breath pulling at the torn skin where the silver whip had bitten deep.For a moment, I allowed myself to feel it all—the anger, the fear, the helplessness. The weight of the situation bore down on me, pressing the air from my lungs. I clenched my fists, forcing my mind to remain clear. I couldn’t let this break me.“They’ll come for me,” I whispered, my voice cracking against the stillness of the cell. “Marc and Cole will find me.”I repeated the words like a mantra, willing myself to believe them. Marc and Cole were my mates. They wouldn’t rest until they tracked me down. The wolfsbane might dampen the bonds between us, but they were still there, faint and fragile threads that connected us. Once C