Aeon's Point of View Warning! This chapter describes torture. After leaving my Queen, I went through the maze to visit one of the prison guards. Ellion was the name of the specific guard I was looking for. He was not one of the Queen's personal guards, but I sometimes needed to engage him for particular work, that is, interrogation and torture. You'd think a torture expert would be a sick and twisted person who would abuse the prisoners without cause, but Ellion wasn't like that. He was a caring man and never crossed any lines unless he was interrogating. Then, he was a different person altogether. "Ellion," I said, "I require your services." "What do you wish me to do, Captain?" "In the antimagic cells are the three ex-Elders from whom we need information. If they give it up willingly, there is no need to go any further. Otherwise..." I left it hanging. "What information do you want from them?" "I need to know where to find the Dark Fae spies." And there... gone was the cari
Tyler's Point of View As I stalked through the forest, my senses heightened as my wolf instincts guided me. There was a significant amount of vegetation, trees, and foliage, yet there was still some space between individual trees and plants, creating rays of light from the sun above the canopy. I was pleased to be outside. Although Daemon and Adam usually went out on adventures, leaving me to run the pack, now it was my turn. Leading the party were Captains Aeon and Lysandros, with a squad of six Fae warriors. Our destination was based on information given by one of the ex-Elders. I wasn't sure if torture had been used, but if it saved innocent Fae's lives, then I had no problem with it. They were traitors. Beside me, my incredibly sexy mate, Avril, moved gracefully, her chainmail blending with the shadows. The metal was shimmering with ethereal hues of blue and silver when light filtering through the canopy hit it. She said it was made from Phaikón Árgyron, which translated to Fae
Tyler's Point of ViewAs we escorted the Dark Fae through the forest and into the city, I couldn't shake off the weight of unease that settled in my gut. Capturing them felt like a victory, but it was only the beginning of what promised to be a long and arduous battle against the oncoming darkness."When these Fae are interrogated, I want to listen in," Daemon mind-linked me. "I feel that if a major battle is necessary, I want to get any information they give us first-hand. Do you want to do the same?""Yes," I answered. "I wish Adam was with us. "His battle tactics are next level.""I mention it to Aeon and Lysandros when we return to the palace. No doubt Thorn will want to be there as well. Possibly even the witches," he said.Once we arrived at the palace, Aeon, Lysandros and the Fae warriors ensured the prisoners were secured in antimagic cells. The rest of us retired to our rooms to clean up before seeking an audience with Queen Aurora. After our showers, we all met back in Daem
Tylers's Point of ViewWhile Daemon, Thorn, Alastair, Lysandros, Aeon and I were observing the interrogation, if you could call it that, of the two Dark Fae, I was missing Avril. She had come with us to capture them but wanted to have no part in any interrogation or torture. I was pleased, as I would have argued with her if she had wanted to be here.Now, we were heading back to inform Queen Aurora of our findings. I doubt she was going to be very happy with it. I know that we weren't. Echo was still pissed and wanted us to hunt down Lord Umbra right now to make sure our mate and her family were safe. I didn't blame him.A heavy silence draped the room as we gathered in Queen Aurora's chambers to share our grim findings. The revelation that the Dark Fae remained resilient under torture, conditioned by the sadistic Lord Umbra, sent a chill through everyone."How accurate is the information, Aeon," she asked."We have no way of genuinely telling since interrogation techniques weren't ef
Avril's Point of View We were finally going to leave on this mission. I had a feeling that Tyler didn't want me to go with them, but he wasn't saying anything so far. That was a good thing since there was no way I would be left out. I was a capable fighter. When the stable hands brought out our mounts, I tried to translate their names from Fae to English. Most were already part of human mythology, so it was pretty easy. The only ones he hadn't heard of were the stoikheṓdes alogo, which were elemental horses. They usually only had one element, but it could be lethal. We bred and trained these as warhorses. It was strange since we didn't really go to war, but some of the patrols along the border were mounted, effectively giving the patrol an extra 'warrior'. All of the Shifters transformed into their animal forms. I loved feeling Echo's fur. His soft brown and white fur was velvety smooth to the touch. I couldn't resist putting my arms around his neck and giving him a hug and ear sc
Avril's Point of View So far, throughout the early evening, it had been quiet. There were the usual sounds of night creatures. I could hear the occasional hoot of a glaukē as it hunted a sika or a mus, its silent wings aiding it. "What was that?" Tyler whispered. "It is called a glaukē. You would call it an owl," I answered. From the books I had read while in the Mundane Realm, there were equivalent nocturnal animals. The
Avril's Point Of View "Tyler!" I screamed, feeling his pain through the mate bond. As I watched in horror, time seemed to slow to a crawl, the sounds of battle fading into a deafening silence. With every fibre of my being, I reached out to him, my heart pounding with dread as I witnessed the severity of his wound. "Tyler!" I cried as I held him. "Someone help him!" He looked at me but seemed unable to answer. Through the mate bond, I could feel that he was still alive. He was in pain. So, so much pain, and I could feel it all. They must have stabbed him with a dark blade made from enchanted obsidian. A blade forged from lava, containing its heat. Any wounds from it burned. But amidst the chaos and despair, a glimmer of hope emerged. With a de
Avril's Point Of View "Prince Tyler will make it." Those magical words of hope kept me from the insanity of losing my fated soul mate. A small number of words, yet with so much importance and consequence behind them. The weight of the past few hours lifted off my shoulders. Tyler was going to be okay. I couldn't wait to see him and hold him, but I knew he needed rest. I thanked the healers, and they left to attend to other patients. I sat by Tyler's side, holding his hand and watching him sleep. He looked peaceful, his breathing steady. I couldn't help but think about what could have happened if we hadn't been able to save him. I shuddered at the thought. There was still a chance I had managed to conceive during my heat. What if I were carryi
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, especiall
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
Lucienne's Point of ViewOur parents had finally arrived. They were staying on the same floor but in a different suite further down the hallway. No doubt, members of their entourage would be either in the same suite or next door.Cedric and I left Aaron with Danielle in case she woke up and wanted to know where we were. I could hear the soft rustle of her breathing, gentle and rhythmic, with an occasional deeper inhalation. Her heart resonated faintly, a steady thrum. Listening to someone sleeping was like tuning in to a delicate symphony of subtle noises. As we stepped into the suite, I could see it was set out and decorated like ours. The living area was spacious, featuring an oversized sectional couch adorned with plush pillows, perfectly arranged around a glass coffee table gleaming under a stylish chandelier's light. I could see my parents, Queen Adriana and King Daemon, seated together on one of the sofas, their regal presence commanding the room. My mother radiated grace, her
Lucienne's Point of View"Enough!" I bellowed. The room went silent as I let my Alpha aura ripple out, filling the space. The banshee's sneer disappeared, replaced by shock and fear as she and Eric fell to their knees under the weight of my command.My Alpha aura was so intense that it made my mother and father bow down under its weight. This was one of the reasons my brother offered me the crown. At a young age, I accepted that Cedric, as the firstborn, would be the Lycan King. I was happy with that. I might have been stronger and faster, but I loved him so much that I would protect him."I don't know who the fuck you think you are, but I don't. Tolerate. Bullies," I said coldly, my voice sharp and steady. "Don't you ever touch anyone I care about again!""Her name is Beatrice," Danielle said quietly. "She is the daughter of Luna Elizabeth."I don't give a fuck who she is," I answered. "As I said… I don't tolerate bullies, especially when they hurt someone who is like family to me and
Lucienne's Point of View"Everyone else knew," Eric said, admitting there was a problem in the pack that the twins knew nothing about.Evidently, their future roles as Alphas required more than physical strength or inherited titles—they demanded awareness, responsibility, and a willingness to confront uncomfortable truths. These future Alphas looked totally clueless, and if they were to lead properly, they needed to step up and quickly."Before we go any further, which one of you is Marc and which of you is Cole?" I asked, my eyes narrowing as I studied them closely. They were almost identical, but there were differences. I also realised they didn't know my name, so I introduced myself. I didn't mention any titles, just my first name.They shared the same towering height at over 200 centimetres, broad shoulders, and olive-toned skin that hinted at Mediterranean heritage. Their dark brown hair was styled similarly, yet subtle variations set them apart. Marc stood just a touch taller, t
Lucienne's Point of ViewArriving at the Howling Moon Pack should have been an uncomplicated affair. The plan was straightforward: we would gather at a shifter nightclub just on the edge of the pack's territory. It was our friend Danielle's eighteenth birthday—a momentous occasion to be celebrated with the companionship of cherished friends. Hopefully, she would find her mate, making it even better.After the celebrations, we were to cross into the pack lands alongside my parents. Once inside, I would be assessing the pack's warriors and their skills. I envisioned a couple of carefree days filled with camaraderie and laughter, reconnecting with friends amidst the rugged, blue-tinged mountains that cradled the pack.However, experience had taught me that simplicity was often an illusion in our world, and as I would soon discover, the weekend held surprises that could shift everything in ways I hadn't anticipated.There was also Mason, son of Beta-Prince Tyler and Princess Avril, and Ka
Lucienne's Point of ViewI stood at the edge of the training grounds, my gaze riveted to the towering figures locked in intense sparring at the heart of the clearing. The air was thick with the sounds of grunting and the sharp thud of bodies colliding, each strike resonating with a raw energy that sent a thrill through me.As the sun dipped lower on the horizon, the long shadows of the combatants stretched dramatically across the parched earth, their silhouettes stretching and twisting like dark, animated shapes in the fading light. The fiery hues of dusk bathed the scene in a warm, golden glow, casting a magical atmosphere that ignited a fierce determination within me.I felt a surge of emotions rising to the surface—an unexpected mix of admiration, longing, and an aching desire to join their ranks and push beyond my limits. Each movement they made displayed skill and a testament to the relentless quest for strength and mastery that stirred something deep within my soul.I'd spent ye
Happy New Year everyone!I am starting to post Book 4. I am partway through the book and hoping to finish it before I go back to work at the end of January.I hope you enjoy the story of Princess Lucienne, a strong female character who finds love with two men who are confident within themselves and want to raise her up, not pull her down.