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 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
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
Cole's Point of ViewI could feel the tension in the air as we got out of the cars. It was a mess. The only positive point was that everyone was here and alive. Everyone except Lucienne. Given that our Lycans were not completely losing control, there was still hope. Hope that she was still out there, still alive.Marc mind-linked our father, urgency lacing his voice as he delivered the grim news—Lucienne had been taken. But what came next was a devastating revelation. Elizabeth and Michaela had escaped, aided by none other than Dwayne. The timing was far too coincidental, a connection that couldn’t be ignored. Whoever was behind this knew exactly what they were doing.Father also sent through half a dozen of our best trackers via a portal that Queen Adriana had created. The trackers spread out, scanning the area with the precision of trained hunters. But they had about as much luck as we had in human form. We knew the general direction they had gone, but that was it. Marc decided that
Cole's Point of ViewI could feel the tension in the air as we got out of the cars. It was a mess. The only positive point was that everyone was here and alive. Everyone except Lucienne. Given that our Lycans were not completely losing control, there was still hope. Hope that she was still out there, still alive.Marc mind-linked our father, urgency lacing his voice as he delivered the grim news—Lucienne had been taken. But what came next was a devastating revelation. Elizabeth and Michaela had escaped, aided by none other than Dwayne. The timing was far too coincidental, a connection that couldn’t be ignored. Whoever was behind this knew exactly what they were doing.Father also sent through half a dozen of our best trackers via a portal that Queen Adriana had created. The trackers spread out, scanning the area with the precision of trained hunters. But they had about as much luck as we had in human form. We knew the general direction they had gone, but that was it. Marc decided that
Lucienne's Point of ViewThe faint echo of footsteps from above stiffened me, and my senses strained for any sign of danger. Every sound in this cell was magnified—every whisper of air, every creak of the floorboards. It had been hours, maybe longer since I had last seen anyone. My body ached, and my wrists were raw from the restraints, but I forced myself to stay alert.When the door creaked open, I expected Beatrice’s manic figure or Rodney’s menacing leer. Instead, Michaela’s familiar form came downstairs, her face carefully blank but her eyes darting nervously. She carried a tray of food, the smell wafting toward me, making my stomach growl despite myself.She hesitated before crouching down to push the tray through the bottom of the bars. She moved to the box on the wall that adjusted the chains. The weight eased slightly, and I could finally lift my arms enough to rub the soreness from them.“You need to eat,” Michaela said softly, pushing the tray toward me. Her tone was quiet,
Lucienne's Point of ViewI sagged against the chains, reeling from the sting of the whip. My wrists were still tightly bound, but the slight loosening of the chains gave me a moment to catch my breath as I gasped, my chest heaving. Beatrice stood in the dimly lit cell, her body tense and poised, the whip in her hand slicing through the air with a sharp crack.Suddenly, the heavy door slammed open, and Rodney stormed in, radiating a palpable fury that seemed to charge the air around him. Without a moment's hesitation, he reached out and seized her wrist, the force of his grip causing her wrist to break, and she staggered slightly. With a swift motion, he wrenched the whip from her hand, sending it flying across the cell to land with a dull thud on the cold stone floor.Beatrice's heart raced as she met his intense gaze, realisation dawning on her that the confrontation was far from over."She's already been whipped today," he snarled. "The plan is not to kill her.""I don't care!" Beat
Lucienne's Point of ViewClio stirred. At first, it was faint—a mere flicker of warmth beneath my skin, like the distant glow of a candle struggling against the darkness. It wasn't the full return of her vibrantly strong presence, but it was enough to send a wave of relief coursing through me. For the first time since I'd been dragged into this grim, lightless cell, I felt a sliver of hope.Her energy was weak and groggy, like waking from a deep, drugged sleep, and I could sense her struggling against the lingering effects of the wolfsbane. She couldn't speak, couldn't send me her thoughts, but I felt her there—a fragile yet unmistakable connection humming faintly within me. It was proof that the activated charcoal Michaela had smuggled to me was starting to work, pushing back against the poison that had muted her.I closed my eyes and concentrated, drawing strength from that tenuous bond. Clio's presence reminded me of who I was, of the power locked away inside me. Even if she couldn
Lucienne's Point of ViewAs the sound of their retreating footsteps faded into silence, the tension holding my body upright gave way. My legs buckled, and I sank to my knees, the chains rattling softly as my arms hung limply above me. Pain radiated across my back, sharp and relentless, each breath pulling at the torn skin where the silver whip had bitten deep.For a moment, I allowed myself to feel it all—the anger, the fear, the helplessness. The weight of the situation bore down on me, pressing the air from my lungs. I clenched my fists, forcing my mind to remain clear. I couldn’t let this break me.“They’ll come for me,” I whispered, my voice cracking against the stillness of the cell. “Marc and Cole will find me.”I repeated the words like a mantra, willing myself to believe them. Marc and Cole were my mates. They wouldn’t rest until they tracked me down. The wolfsbane might dampen the bonds between us, but they were still there, faint and fragile threads that connected us. Once C