Adriana’s Point of View "I am so sorry," Daemon said, almost in tears. "I tried so hard to fight against that bitch's demands, but I was weak, and I couldn't. I never wanted to reject you. That wasn't me. Please..." I raised my hand to stop Daemon from talking. This was what I had waited almost four weeks to hear. This was everything I wished for. I was still his mate and Luna, although I noticed he was a pale shade of his former self. Observing Daemon's physique, I noticed that his once muscular frame seemed to have diminished, his shoulders slumping, and his eyes lacking their usual spark. It was evident that the length of his comatose state and the burden of his actions had taken a toll on him. As soon as I entered the Daemon's room, Calliope informed me that she couldn't hear Theo. My heart had raced as I had listened to Calliope's words. I didn't know if Daemon could handle losing Theo. A strong Alpha required a strong wolf. Theo was one of the strongest. I had worried that t
Adriana’s Point of View I could feel my anger rising, so I continued, "Yes. It did physically hurt, and if you look in the mirror, you will see that the marks we gave each other have faded. Our bond was almost completely gone. I am lucky that the elders of the pack didn't kick me and the twins out. Thanks to Tyler and Mitchell, we were allowed to stay, although it is probably due to the fact that I am now Royalty that they wouldn't dare." I had just shouted at Daemon for something that really wasn't his fault. He looked taken aback by my outburst, his usually composed expression showing traces of hurt and confusion. "I am truly sorry," he said, his words carrying the weight of his remorse. "I failed to consider your perspective, and I deeply regret that." My anger began to subside, replaced by a pang of guilt. I knew Daemon well enough to understand that he genuinely cared about me. His actions were controlled by blood magic, which now had consequences. One of those was the hurt I
Adriana’s Point of View Daemon and I walked from the Medical Centre to the pack house, chatting about everything and nothing. "I think we should upgrade the Medical Centre to a pack hospital," I said. "We could talk to Tyler and Perry about what is needed to upgrade it," Daemon replied. The thought of upgrading reminded me of something I hadn't mentioned to Daemon. "Daemon, when the Royal Guards took a blood oath to protect me, the entire pack felt it. They became the Royal Pack, which means that every single member of this pack is stronger than all the rest." Daemon nodded, his eyes filled with understanding. "That's a significant boost in our defences. That may also mean our bond isn't as broken as we thought." I couldn't help but feel a surge of happiness at his words. Of the many worries I had over the past month, wondering how Daemon would cope if it did turn out I was the next Queen was one of them. "We have an advantage that no other pack has," I said. "With this newfou
Adriana’s Point of View Daemon's voice quivered as he spoke, his gaze filled with a renewed determination, "We cannot waste any more time. Let's remark each other, ensuring that our connection remains intact. Our strength relies on it." I blushed at the suggestion. The last time we had made love was mere days before he rejected me. I wondered if I was ready for this level of intimacy yet, given that I was still hurting. "Daemon," I murmured, feeling my face heat up in embarrassment. "Let's talk about this privately. Later." "Perry, before we go," I said. "What are the legal requirements for executing the prisoners?" "The Council of Alphas are sending a new representative to liaise with you. They will undoubtedly want to hear the evidence for themselves since it involves an Alpha and his daughter." I remembered that Perry was here originally to investigate Daemon for killing Alpha Brandon. Delilah had been able to supply the Council, via magic, with the proof they needed, so Daemo
Daemon’s Point of View I felt invigorated now that the bond between Adriana and me was fully connected again. Theo was finally communicating with me again, letting me know in no uncertain terms how he felt about rejecting our mate. While Theo understood on one level why it had happened, he couldn't fully understand why I couldn't stop myself from rejecting her, so he was angry. It would take time for him to get over it. Over the next few days, I made a concerted effort to bridge the gap between Theo and myself. I approached him with empathy, acknowledging the pain I had caused him by rejecting our mate, Adriana. I explained how blood magic controlled my actions rather than being a true reflection of my emotions. Theo listened, his anger slowly giving way to a glimmer of understanding. He eventually realised that this was a complex situation. We spent time talking, sharing our thoughts and emotions, gradually rebuilding the trust that had been shaken. I thought spending more time wit
Daemon’s Point of View "I believe it would be entirely possible for that to work, but our priority is the Queen and her heirs and to you as Royal Consort, to a lesser degree. No pack law could override that directive." Adriana had asked her Captain if she and the other Royal Guards would join our pack. Charlotte had an excellent point; Adriana and our pups would be the focus of the Guards. As the Alpha of my pack, they wouldn't necessarily submit to me. Was that necessarily a bad idea? As I contemplated the situation, I realised that having the Royal Guards in our pack could be advantageous. They were highly skilled and experienced warriors, and their presence would strengthen our already formidable pack. While they might not submit to me as their Alpha, they would respect and follow my leadership, knowing our ultimate goal was to protect the Queen and her heirs. But there was another side to this decision. If the Guards joined our pack, they could also bring their own traditions a
Perry’s Point of View A Week Later Since Adriana had made me her Royal Beta, I had never been busier. The first thing I did was contact Sebastian, who was my colleague on the Council of Alphas. I hoped to persuade him to take over from me as Liaison to the Crown. Sebastian and I had been good friends for years, ever since we first met while training to become Alphas. He was a strong, determined alpha with a keen sense of justice, making him the perfect candidate to fill the role of Liaison. With permission from Alpha Daemon, I set up a lunch meeting with Sebastian at a small café in the heart of the Black Wolf Pack village. It wasn't really that small a village when I thought about it. There were paved streets with a couple of cafés, some dress and shoe stores, a grocery store, and various others, including a library. In the centre, there was even a well-kept park. As I walked into the café, I spotted Sebastian sitting at a table near the window, engrossed in a book. He looked up
Sebastian’s Point of View Adriana's smile widened, and she extended her hand towards me. "Welcome to the Royal Pack, Sebastian. Undoubtedly, you will be an invaluable intermediary between the Council and us." I took her hand, feeling a jolt of electricity surge through me. At that moment, I truly understood why Perry had chosen to follow her. Adriana possessed a charisma and aura that was impossible to resist. She was destined to lead, and I was honoured to be a part of her journey. As we released our handshake, a sense of purpose settled over me. I was ready to embrace my new role, support Adriana, and protect her pack. Was this what Perry had felt when he met her? Or was it since she had shifted to Lycan? Adriana continued, "I think the next step is to meet Daemon. He is on his way and will be here shortly. He was just discussing training logistics, combining the Royal Guard and our warriors. Considering the Royal Guards had only been formed six weeks ago and had never trained or
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 coul
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
Marc's Point of ViewShe came! Our mate came with the Royals, and we claimed her in public in front of the pack members present. I took it as a good sign that she didn't reject our advances. The King announced Lucienne as the future Gamma to the King. That was surprising. She was the one who would be evaluating our warriors.Gamma Ellis wasn't going to like that one bit, and there was nothing he could do about it. Lucienne was the Gamma of Gammas, undeniably the best warrior in our generation. To get that position, she would have needed to battle multiple opponents in the arena, some of them Alphas from other packs. Rumour had it that she was better than the King and Crown Prince.The King introduced the other members of their entourage and holy shit! Most of them were royalty of different species. Neither Cole nor I knew that Danielle was friends with such people. I reckoned that Beatrice wouldn't have been such a bitch to Danielle if she had realised.When we sat down for lunch, the
Duncan's Point of ViewThe moment the King and Queen stepped onto our pack lands, I sensed their raw and undeniable power. I had anticipated strength, of course. They were royalty, chosen by the Moon Goddess herself, then transformed into Lycans, much like the human movies portrayed—half beast, half human.Their reputation as a formidable pair was well known. But this? This was beyond anything I had imagined. Their presence wasn't just commanding; it was like an energy that pulsed through the air, seeping into the earth beneath our feet. Every wolf on our territory felt it, an instinctual recognition of the true power standing among us.The King's aura radiated a steady, unyielding strength, his gaze sharp and all-knowing. Beside him, the Queen was equally powerful, if not more, yet hers was a strength layered with grace—a silent but dangerous force, much like the calm before the storm. Together, they were a sight to behold, embodying everything a pack could desire in its leaders. As
Marc's' Point of ViewAfter training, I followed up on my mind link to Cole and gathered the younger members, including those who had looked hopeful during Cole's speech. Since none were warriors, I had to mind-link them to return to meet me in the training hall.When they arrived, the hall buzzed with nervous energy as they exchanged glances. It took patience and a lot of careful words, but eventually, they opened up. Beatrice and her posse left a lasting mark on this group, which was mainly composed of young teenage females. I could see the instilled fear and self-doubt. Many shifted uncomfortably, casting wary glances around as they finally shared their stories, revealing the extent of Beatrice's manipulation and cruelty."It's true," one of the younger females, Mallory, said, her voice barely above a whisper. Her eyes darted around the group before landing on me with a mix of fear and relief. "Beatrice and Michaela… they make life difficult for anyone they disapprove of, especially
Cole's Point of ViewFirst thing in the morning, we sought out Danielle's mother, Stephanie. "We found our mate last night, and she is friends with Danielle," said Marc."Congratulations," she answered. "Danielle stayed with her friends last night. Which one of her friends is your mate?""Her name is Lucienne," I gushed.Raising her left eyebrow, she warned, "You will have a strong Luna indeed. Be prepared for changes. She is not one to mince words, and there are some things that happen around here she will not like. She has a high moral compass."Good. I wasn't worried because things needed to change around here.After breakfast, as the warriors and many other pack members who were training with them gathered for a routine training session, I took the opportunity to address them. The non-warrior pack members would also include many females, although it wasn't compulsory for them to train, as it was for the men.The decision to integrate females into training had been our idea and had
Marc's Point of ViewAs I watched Lucienne stride out of the club, her every step brimming with authority, I felt like a force of nature had passed through. She was fierce, with a powerful presence that was impossible to ignore. The way she stood up to us, unyielding—that kind of strength was rare. And beneath it all, she was breathtaking, her beauty undeniable even as her words cut sharp.Cole stood beside me, his gaze fixed on the empty doorway Lucienne had just walked through. His jaw was tense as if he were trying to hold back the swell of emotion that had overtaken him. He swallowed, a flicker of something like awe passing over his features, and then he finally spoke, his voice low and almost reverent. "Our mate… she's incredible." He ran a hand over his face as if trying to piece together what he'd just witnessed. "I mean, I always imagined my mate would be strong, but Lucienne… she's beyond anything I could've pictured."He turned to me, his eyes searching mine as if hoping I'd