OOPS! Silly me. I have put the chapters around the wrong way.
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
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
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 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
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 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
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
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
Lucienne's Point of ViewTaking our prisoners upstairs, Elizabeth’s face twisted into a mask of desperation. “Reject her!” she demanded, her voice shrill. “Choose Beatrice instead. She’s been trained for this position her entire life. You grew up with her—you know her! She’s everything a Luna should be. Not some—some Gamma!”Her words grew more frantic as she continued. “Beatrice loves you! She’s ladylike and graceful; everything Lucienne isn’t!”Elizabeth was giving me whiplash. First, she mistook Marc and Cole’s Lycans for my parents, recognising that I am a princess. Then she called me a mere Gamma as if what she said previously was non-existent.Marc and Cole both laughed the sound deep and mocking.“You’re delusional,” Cole said bluntly.“As is Beatrice,” Marc added, his tone filled with disdain. “To think we’d ever give up our fated mate for something far less.”“As if we’d give up our fated mate for anyone else,” continued Cole. “Unbelievable!”Elizabeth’s mouth opened and clos
Lucienne's Point of ViewShaking my head, I couldn’t believe she couldn’t put two and two together to make four. My father had already told them I was his daughter the first time Elizabeth threatened me. It wasn’t hard to make the connection that if my mother and father were Lycans, I must be one too.Beatrice shook her head, her trembling intensifying. I guess she was that stupid. Her head sank into her hands, her muttering turning into unintelligible whimpers. Her disbelief and humiliation were all too much for her fragile ego to handle. Despite wanting Eric rather than my mates, she had built her entire life’s plan on lies and half-truths fed to her by Elizabeth. And now it was crumbling before her eyes.Behind me, I heard a sharp intake of breath. I turned my attention to Dwayne, who had managed to pull himself into a sitting position against the wall. His face was ghostly pale, his eyes darting between me and Beatrice. There was no fight left in him, no bravado. Just a growing, s
Lucienne's Point of ViewThe sheer arrogance of my captors. They thought they had me trapped, powerless. Fools.Now, Elizabeth and Rodney sat in the corner of the cell I had once inhabited, their faces pale as they realised they were trapped. Their façade of control had crumbled, and seeing the fear in their eyes was almost pitiful. They wouldn't escape justice. Not this time.For now, though, my focus was on someone else-Beatrice.Her betrayal wasn't personal. It didn't sting, nor did it matter enough to hurt.Beatrice was simply another obstacle to remove, a loose end to tie up. However, like Elizabeth, she was an instigator in my abduction. Beatrice was about to learn that actions had consequences, and I intended to ensure she faced them.Elizabeth's voice, shrill and panicked, broke through my thoughts. "You won't get out of here alive, Lucienne. Upstairs is full of rogues. By the time Marc and Cole get here, you'll die!"I smiled coldly. Well, as much of a smile as I could in Lyc
Rodney's Point of ViewHer gaze didn’t waver. If anything, it sharpened, her defiance burning brighter. I could feel the tension in the air as Elizabeth stood next to me, the whip in her hand.“Give me the whip,” I demanded, telling Lucienne that I was going to show her mates exactly why they needed to reject her.Elizabeth refused despite me making it clear that I didn’t want her to do it—not that it mattered. She wasn’t going to listen. Elizabeth was determined to be the one to strike Lucienne, refusing to let me handle it.“Just don’t go so hard that you kill her,” I said.I wouldn't let Lucienne die—not like this. Elizabeth saw no issue with it.To her, Lucienne was just another obstacle to crush. She didn't understand that there was no way I was going to allow her to kill Lucienne. I would kill Elizabeth sooner than I had planned. I couldn't risk losing her, not when I was this close to getting what I wanted.I watched Lucienne’s face when Elizabeth told her that Marc and Cole we
Rodney's Point of ViewShe was perfect—every part of her. From the way her dark mahogany brown hair clung to her damp face to the fierce glint in her amethyst eyes, Lucienne was unlike anyone I had ever encountered. Even in this wretched, decrepit cell, she exuded an ethereal quality that only made me crave her more.I couldn’t tear my eyes away from her. Those eyes—by the Goddess, they haunted me. That purple—the most striking, vivid shade I’d ever seen—was like a curse, binding me to her in ways I hadn’t anticipated. They seemed to pierce through me every time she dared to lift her gaze. They weren’t like the dull brown or washed-out blues I was used to seeing in Wolf-Shifters. No, they shimmered with an otherworldly depth, glowing faintly even in the dim light of the basement. I’d never seen anything like it, and I couldn’t stop thinking about how those eyes would look, gazing up at me… filled with submission.My obsession with her had grown from fascination to a consuming need. S
Lucienne's Point of ViewI had no idea what time it was. The thick, suffocating darkness of the warehouse seemed endless. When Beatrice had ordered Michaela upstairs, she’d deliberately switched off the only powered light, leaving me to eat in the dark. The cold seeped into my bones, the stale air heavy with the scent of mildew and iron.My body trembled from exhaustion and hunger; the pitiful scraps they fed me were barely enough to keep me conscious. Thankfully, I was just like a human still, which meant I didn’t need as much fuel to sustain me—but even so, I still longed for her strength, her presence, to return to me.Yet, amidst the weakness, I could feel a faint shift—a flicker of hope. The activated charcoal was working, slowly but surely purging the wolfsbane from my system. It wasn’t much, but it was enough to stoke a fragile fire within me.Curled into the corner of my cell, I clung to that flicker, willing myself to stay alert. My body was still weak and far from ready, but
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