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
Elizabeth’s Point of ViewThe chill in the air seeped into my bones as the guards marched me from the packhouse room to the cells. The walk wasn’t long, but it felt like an eternity—a gauntlet of humiliation hammering home how far I had fallen.Entering the pack prison, the guards’ heavy boots thudded against the cold stone floors, a steady, merciless rhythm that echoed in my ears. The frigid air wrapped around me, biting at my skin and worming its way into my core.Though I walked with my chin high and shoulders back, I couldn’t shake the heat of their gazes—guards, warriors, even pack members who had dared peek from doorways. Silent witnesses to my disgrace. Once their Luna, now reduced to this. Each step felt like dragging iron weights, yet I refused to falter. My pride was the only armor I had left.The sharp clang of the iron door jolted me from my thoughts. I didn’t resist as the guards shoved me inside, though every movement I made was deliberate and controlled. My posture rema
Adriana’s Point of ViewThe room where Elizabeth awaited her fate was dim and unwelcoming, its sparse furnishings and plain white walls starkly contrasting with the lavish surroundings she had once commanded as Luna. Two pack warriors stood guard at the door, their expressions unreadable but their stances alert. Inside, Elizabeth sat stiffly on a plain wooden chair, her back straight and her chin raised in defiance. Her once-impeccable appearance was fraying; her outfit was wrinkled, her hair slightly out of place, but her pride remained intact.When the door opened, Duncan entered first, followed closely by Daemon and me. Duncan’s face was set in a grim mask, though a flicker of pain crossed his features as his gaze met Elizabeth’s. She didn’t flinch, but her icy blue eyes narrowed, her lips curling into the faintest sneer.While I could just as easily adjudicate the proceedings, I was happy to let Daemon take control. “Elizabeth,” Daemon began, his voice cold and authoritative, “you
Adriana’s Point of ViewThe early morning light filtered through the grand windows of the packhouse, casting long golden streaks across the polished floors. I stood at the centre of the great hall, surveying the final preparations for Lucienne’s Luna ceremony. Stephanie had stepped up to help me organise it, along with the head Omega.I could hardly believe it. My darling daughter was having her Luna ceremony this evening. Every detail had been meticulously planned, and every flower arrangement and piece of decor was placed with precision. The Omegas bustled quietly, their movements efficient, their expressions glowing with pride.“Mum,” called Lucienne as she came down the stairs.“I’m glad you’re awake. Have you had breakfast yet?” I asked.“Just about to,” she answered.After breakfast, I had planned for her to have a day of pampering. I was well aware of her aversion to most things feminine, but she had agreed to the spa treatment I had organised for her, Danielle, Annabelle and A
Adriana’s Point of ViewThe early morning light filtered through the grand windows of the packhouse, casting long golden streaks across the polished floors. I stood at the centre of the great hall, surveying the final preparations for Lucienne’s Luna ceremony. Stephanie had stepped up to help me organise it, along with the head Omega.I could hardly believe it. My darling daughter was having her Luna ceremony this evening. Every detail had been meticulously planned, and every flower arrangement and piece of decor was placed with precision. The Omegas bustled quietly, their movements efficient, their expressions glowing with pride.“Mum,” called Lucienne as she came down the stairs.“I’m glad you’re awake. Have you had breakfast yet?” I asked.“Just about to,” she answered.After breakfast, I had planned for her to have a day of pampering. I was well aware of her aversion to most things feminine, but she had agreed to the spa treatment I had organised for her, Danielle, Annabelle and A
Lucienne’s Point of ViewThe office was finally quiet, but the silence felt heavy, almost suffocating. The weight of everything that had just unfolded lingered in the air, pressing down on me as I sat between Marc and Cole. Their presence was steadying, but my thoughts churned with the complexities of what lay ahead.Marc’s voice broke through the stillness, soft yet insistent. “Lucienne.” His hand reached out, his touch grounding me. “We need to talk about what’s next.”I shifted my gaze to his, his piercing blue eyes steady and filled with concern. “I know,” I said, my voice firm despite the turmoil inside me. “There’s no running from it now.”Cole leaned forward, his elbows resting on his knees, his body coiled with protective tension. “We’ll protect you, Lucienne. No matter what happens, no one will touch you. Not Beatrice, not Elizabeth, not anyone.”I believed him. Truly, I did. His words resonated with the conviction I had come to trust. Offering them a faint smile, I let the s
Lucienne’s Point of ViewThe tension in the room was almost unbearable as Jeremy leaned back in his chair, the altered photo now replaced with its original. He had a big smile on his face as he cast his monitor to the office TV screen. The air crackled with barely restrained anger, the collective rage of the Alphas, my parents, and Marc and Cole’s father filling the space.Marc’s jaw clenched as he glared at the unaltered image displayed on the screen. “Beatrice,” he growled, his voice low and dangerous.Cole was less composed, slamming his fist against the table. “She dared to drag Lucienne into this—to humiliate her like this?”My father, King Daemon, was simmering, his powerful presence looming as he folded his arms. “The sheer audacity. This was not only an attack on our family but also on the future Luna.”Queen Adriana, calm but no less furious, turned to Jeremy. “Post the original photo on all pack social channels. Make it clear that Lucienne was the victim of this manipulation
Beatrice’s Point of ViewMy heart sank. I couldn’t believe my mother’s words. “Leave? But—”“There’s no other choice,” she snapped. “If you stay here, you’ll be locked up in the cells before sunrise. And don’t think for a second that I’ll sacrifice myself to save you.”Her words stung. Some mother she was, but I knew she was right. “Where am I supposed to go?”Elizabeth sighed, pinching the bridge of her nose as if speaking to me was an unbearable chore. “There’s a rogue named Rodney. He was an associate of your father before he… met his unfortunate end. Rodney owes me a favour. He’ll help you—for a price.”I stared at her, stunned. “You expect me to run to some rogue and beg for help?”“You don’t have a choice,” she said coldly. “Rodney can get you out of the pack’s territory and keep you hidden. I’ve stashed money in several places—enough for you to buy his silence if necessary.”Elizabeth scribbled down an address and handed it to me. “Go there. Take the money, find Rodney, and sta
Beatrice’s Point of ViewThe walls of my room felt like they were closing in. Michaela’s pacing grated on my nerves, but I couldn’t show it. Not now. I needed to stay calm, composed, and in control. Even though my heart was pounding and my palms were clammy, I refused to let her see how badly things were falling apart.“Stop pacing,” I snapped, my voice sharper this time. Michaela froze mid-step, her wild eyes locking onto mine.“Do you even realise how screwed we are?” she hissed, her hands gesturing wildly. “That tech guy—James… Jeremy or whatever his name is—he’s exposed everything, Beatrice. Everything! They know it was fake. And now they’re talking about us all over the pack! We’re finished!”I rolled my eyes, masking the unease twisting in my gut. My hands itched to wring something—anything—to release the tension coiling in my body. “They don’t know anything for certain,” I said, forcing my voice into the cool, detached tone that always worked to keep Michaela in check. “Rumours
Lucienne’s Point of ViewI felt their stares long before I saw them. The weight of jealousy and resentment hung heavy in the air, a palpable tension that seemed to press against my skin. It wasn’t hard to guess where it came from.Beatrice and Michaela.Their presence alone was enough to make the atmosphere shift, the air thick with their unspoken animosity. I could almost feel their eyes on me, sharp and judgmental, like knives slicing through the crowd. Every time I moved, I could sense their gaze following me, each glance laced with disdain.Beatrice’s was the worst. Her hatred was like a quiet storm brewing just beneath the surface, held back by the thinnest veil of civility. Her eyes, dark and calculating, constantly scanned me, looking for any weakness she could exploit. Michaela’s, on the other hand, was more evident in their venom. She didn’t try to hide her disgust, the sneer on her face ever-present, her body language tense with barely contained aggression.Michaela was pred