Avril's Point Of View This chapter covers some of the previous chapter, but from Avril's point of view. Tyler had been acting weirdly all day since returning from the infirmary. There was a block in our mate bond, and he was quick to anger. He wasn't very talkative over lunch, but he seemed cordial enough. After lunch and back in our apartment, Tyler and I sat on the couch. I hugged him and could feel the mini electric shocks we always got whenever we touched. It was what made the mate bond so incredible, having this electricity between us. I wasn't expecting Tyler to flinch and pull away. Nor was I expecting to feel rejected like this. "What's wrong, Tyler? Are you in pain?" "I'm fine," he snapped at me. "I just need some time alone to think." I thought Tyler and I had an unbreakable connection through the mate bond, but maybe I was wrong. I didn't want to make things awkward between us, so I tried to brush it off and act like nothing happened. But deep down, I couldn't help
Avril's Point Of ViewWhile sitting in the prison cell talking to Ruby, I couldn't help but notice that it was relatively clean and functional. Certainly, the bathroom was more than just a bucket in a corner. It was very different from the ones where the traitorous Elders were kept.Ruby told us how and why she was trying to escape Lord Umbra. It was an eye-opener to learn that not all Fae were evil. We were taught that all Dark Fae were followers of Lord Umbra, cast out from our society because they were evil. It never occurred to me to think about those on the other side of the border before the shield went up.She paused for a moment, then continued. "As for your problem, I don't know how to counteract the enchantment, but I suggest you talk to those witches who were with you. After all, Tyler should have died from being stabbed, and he didn't. That's not normal."We all looked at each other, realising that she might be right. If Tyler was still alive, there must be some kind of ma
Tyler's Point Of ViewI stood by the door of the spare room, unsure if I would find anything there. So far, all these noises or voices seemed to be in my head. I must be going crazy.Crazy or not, I wouldn't allow my fear to get the better of me. I just wished I could talk to Echo. He was there since I could feel his presence, but he wasn't answering me when I spoke to him. Something was preventing this from happening. I felt lost without him.Opening the door, I was surprised. Avril was sitting on the bed with tears streaming down her face. When she saw me, she jumped up and away from me. She looked scared and uncertain."How long have you been here?" I asked."I came back late last night and slept for a while," she replied."Why didn't you sleep in our bed?""I didn't want to sleep there without you."The last words Echo said to me were that I hurt my mate. Was that why he wasn't speaking to me? If me hurting her was the reason why Echo was ignoring me, I had to fix it if I wanted h
Tyler's Point Of View "I know, Tyler, and I forgive you. We'll get through this together," Avril said softly. I needed to hear those words. She had forgiven me, and I was elated. "So glad we caught this enchantment in time," said Daemon. The others in the group nodded their agreement. Even I agreed with that. To think my soul was corrupting because of the Dark Fae blade. The mere thought of it was enough to make me shiver involuntarily. "What do we do now?" I asked. I didn't want to sit around doing nothing. I wanted... No, I needed to get out there and bring the fight to the person responsible for this. Lord Umbra. "Well, we still need to help Aurora strengthen the borders to ensure that no more of those demonic creatures get through," said Adriana. Adriana's eyes glazed over as she mind-linked someone. I wasn't sure who, but I assumed it was Queen Aurora. Adriana confirmed I was right when she said, "Aurora has agreed to meet us for breakfast. We should leave now and make o
Tyler's Point Of ViewWe spent the rest of the morning with Adam and Charlotte. I would have much rather spent it with Avril, making up for my words and actions. My beautiful mate. I couldn't imagine life without her. Even though I know everything I said and did was because of the enchantment corrupting my soul, I feel that I could have fought it. The mating bond was supposed to be so strong that it could not be broken once we accepted it.Echo wasn't helping much. He was angry because of the things I said. I "hurt mate", as he kept telling me. I would have to give him time to come to terms with what happened. The enchantment had effectively cut me off from him. I was sure he would eventually understand that everything was out of my control.There was a knock at the door. Daemon opened it to find Captain Aeon, Alise, Alastair and another non-Fae male with him. The male was tall and less bulky than us Wolf-Shifters. He was also quite pale, like Alastair. I surmised that this must be th
Tyler's Point Of ViewWith that decided, Avril and I headed back to our rooms. I would finally get time to spend with her before we left. I wanted to reaffirm our bond. It worried me that during the time I was enchanted, the bond was muted, and I could feel it weakening.This was the reason Echo was so upset. The bond meant everything to him, and he blamed me for it weakening. No matter that I told him I was under enchantment due to being stabbed. That didn't matter to him.Maybe I was to blame. I surely felt guilty even though I knew I couldn't have stopped it.As I settled into our room, Avril's presence beside me brought a wave of comfort. I reached for her hand, needing the reassurance of her touch."Avril. I'm so sorry for all that happened," I whispered, my voice heavy with the weight of guilt. "I wish I could have protected our bond better."Avril's eyes softened with understanding, her fingers intertwined with mine, "It wasn't your fault, Tyler. We'll rebuild our bond stronger
Avril's Point Of ViewAfter our love-making session, we basked in the relaxed afterglow. Although it had only been days since our last love-making session, it felt more like weeks. It was good to know we were getting back on track with our relationship.We spent the rest of the afternoon resting and talking like normal before meeting everyone for dinner. Mother wanted to go over the plans to ensure the mission would go more smoothly this time. I think almost losing Tyler made her realise that this would be harder than she thought. It did, as far as I was concerned, and I didn't want to go through that again.During dinner, Mother explained that she wanted us all to travel by portal. With the twenty-five Fae warriors coming with us, enough trusted warriors were proficient at creating portals. I hadn't realised this, and Mother had kept it silent for a reason. Creating portals was a highly sought-after skill and, in the wrong hands, could cause chaos.The next day, after breakfast, we g
Avril's Point Of View While trying to figure out what I was worried about, the Dark Fae handler let his two Skíatokoi attack before stepping back into the shadows. On the one hand, I didn't expect the handler to stay and attack a small army of a hundred warriors but to leave his creatures to die? I thought at least the handler would take Skíatokoi with him. The Skíatokoi immediately detected their enemy and advanced on the first group of fifteen warriors. The five experienced Fae warriors attacked from the front, leaving the Vampires and Shifters in their group to flank them from behind. This had been decided as the best course of action to take down any of the mutated Dark Fae. creatures we would possibly come up against. The first Skíatokos went down quickly since all warriors were armed with selēnítēs líthos. I worried about the Vampire and Shifter warriors since none had ever been up against creatures like these. There had been enough minor breaches in the past that most Fae wa
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