ARIASix hours earlierHad I ever mentioned how much I hated bureaucracy? The second Tyrion left his mark on me and I marked him, the two of our packs merged by a blood oath. It would have been perfect if that sealed the deal, but unfortunately, it also required a lot of changes. The Moon Blade Pack was much bigger and more advanced than my one-town territory, the Bright Haven Pack. Tyrion and I had already talked about resetting the hierarchy in our merged pack, but we still needed to figure out what to do with the doubled positions of the ranked wolves. For now, Tyrion decided to leave it as it was, which meant that Aziz had officially become his second Beta while our freshly appointed Gamma Logan would naturally share that position with Zane.It took me a while before I made several calls to inform everyone about Tyrion and my decisions. Then I had to sign tons of documents that suddenly appeared in the chamber as if I had just agreed to sell my soul. My hand hurt when I was done l
ARIA"Shit," Nova said exactly what I was thinking.I pushed her behind me, fully extending my claws as I scanned my opponents. The one thing that struck me was that they weren't wolves. Their eyes were bloody red, and they had sharp, pointy teeth in their ready-to-bite jaws, but I couldn't sense any wolf spirits."What are you?" I hissed, staring at their mocking grins."Demons," Nova replied. "They were summoned here by a powerful spell to possess some poor rogues or humans and use them as their meat suits.""Demons?!" I shrieked, causing the three snarling creatures to release a peal of wicked laughter. I had never fought with anything other than wolves or humans before. I glanced at Nova over my shoulder. "How do we kill demons?"Before Nova could reply, the demons lunged at us. I pushed Nova back while dodging their blows and shoving them away. They could have been innocent people I was fighting with. But how in the hell was I supposed to fight those creatures without seriously h
ARIA"Get inside the house!" I yelled, turning around and running to the door.Nova followed me, and I slammed the door shut as soon as she passed the threshold. A second later, the demons started hitting the door, trying to ram it. I grabbed the chair that placed its back under the handle to block the door, but I knew that it wouldn't be long until those demons broke it and barged inside."Do you know any protective spells?!" I shouted at Nova."What do you think I am doing right now?!" she snapped.Then I briefly turned around and saw her stretching out her arms and chanting something as she stood by the window. Then she moved to another window and did exactly the same thing. Suddenly, we heard the sound of broken glass and then saw one of the demons trying to get through the window on the other side of the house."Fuck!" I shouted, leaving the blocked door and rushing toward the demon.I grabbed him by the neck and made him fly out through the same window. Nova ran toward me and qu
ARIAI woke up on the hospital bed. I would rather wake up in the arms of my mate, but the state of my awareness didn't give me much strength to complain. The sound of drops falling down the drip was as annoying as ever, and judging by the way my hand was swollen around the cannula, I guessed that it wasn't the first drip I had been given while lying here. My condition must have been worse than I assumed.As I turned my head to the side, I saw Tyrion sitting in a chair by my bed. He was sleeping with his head tilted to one side and his arms crossed over his chest. My eyes uncontrollably took in his bulging biceps, but then I noticed a band-aid in the crook of his bent elbow. Had something happened to him? Was he getting some treatment? I must have been worrying about him too intensely since he suddenly opened his eyes and looked at me."Good morning," he said hoarsely, an instant smile brightening his face."Good morning," I replied and slightly motioned my chin, pointing to his elbow
TYRIONI watched Aria turn pale while I was on the verge of exploding. "Do you know what awaits those who insult the royal family?" I squeezed through my teeth.Cybele's expression didn't change. She merely stopped pointing at my mate and turned her attention to me. "I acknowledge your laws, wolf king, yet you need to respect ours. Within our coven, the mixed-bloods are executed. I am only demanding your impure mate to leave and spare me her presence." Her eyes shifted back to Aria, who now rose from her throne."Explain! What right do you have to question my lineage?!" Her hands fisted, whitening her knuckles.A cold huff escaped Cybele's throat. "Your mother was half-blood, but it wasn't only that; she was the daughter of a warlock who was known to practice dark magic. I can still sense bits of his magic within you." She gave Aria another measuring gaze, which made my wolf dangerously scratch the surface. "You even resemble that cursed warlock.""How dare you, witch!" I snarled, slo
ARIAMy hands were shaking. My legs could barely move forward. I felt sick, as if my whole body protested against what I had just heard from the witch. I used to believe that all my strength had come from the Moon Goddess's blessing, but now the witch claimed that my power might have come from wicked magic that accumulated within me...I refused to believe her, but could I genuinely deny everything she said? The more I thought about it, the more I realized that my entire knowledge of the Seymour family's blessed features came from what I had heard from my father. It was said that the features were supposed to give strength and immunity to silver, but what if the truth was different? Thinking about it now, I had never regarded my father as someone with outstanding strength. I had no proof that he had been immune to silver, either. What if the so-called immunity to silver had come from the fact that my grandfather created a drug using silver? And what if the amazing strength that the Se
ARIAI sat on the bed and felt my wolf stir inside me. She was angry; she even snarled at me as if she was trying to prove that she wasn't weak.‘I don't think you are weak,’ I said to her. ‘You were always my strength, even if I didn't have my own. I would never say that you are weak.’I meant every word. That was one of many reasons I didn't want to believe Cybele, but what if she was right? What if I was going to die if I didn't get rid of this unknown part of me? The truth was that I knew nothing about magic, and it was better to ask someone who practiced magic on a daily basis. That was why I called Nova as soon as Cybele left, and we decided to meet at the familiar coffee shop near Grand Lunaville's hospital.As we sat down and took the first few sips of liquid caffeine, I told her everything that happened during the official meeting and about the conversation I had with Cybele afterward."Cybele really is a bitch!" Nova growled once I finished my story. "I used to be afraid of
TYRIONAria was sleeping soundly in my arms. Her breath and the touch of her delicate fingers on my burning skin constantly teased my nerves. I did not doubt that she was made for me, just like I didn't have any doubts that my feelings for her wouldn't change if she became weak and fragile. Yet, I could understand why she hated to lose the strength that helped her save herself and many innocents. Now I had to prove that if she lost the ability to protect her people, then I would protect them.I moved my mate's head onto the pillow and reluctantly lifted myself from the bed. I missed her touch already, and I could tell she felt the same since she frowned in her sleep. I chuckled and covered her with sheets, but then leaned down and kissed her sweet lips, just to steal another second of closeness."You're leaving," she murmured sleepily when I was getting dressed.I turned around to watch her stretching on the bed. The sole sight of her body arching and her head tilted back made me hard
TYRION Four months later I loved waking up while feeling the warmth of Aria's magnificent naked body. I could never restrain my fingers from tracing her curves while we were lying like this. I always looked forward to the soft gasps that broke through her plush lips each time my touch pleased her. This time was no different. A low growl left my throat as she shifted in her sleep, instinctively pushing her curvy butt toward my erection. I grabbed her hips and rubbed my hard cock against the sensitive skin between her thighs. She moaned. Her heart started to race, and the delicious scent of her arousal filled the air of our bedroom. My hands wandered to her breasts, feeling her nipples harden underneath the feather-like touch of my fingertips. Another moan left her lips when one of my hands slipped between her legs to tease her clit. "You're so bad for waking your Queen like this…" she breathed. "You love me when I'm bad," I purred before biting her neck. She turned around and pushe
ARIA Once the Moon Blade pierced my mate's chest, Gadreel looked at me in shock. Pain and fury twisted his expression. He curled his fingers on the silver blade and used the remains of his strength to pull it out. Too late. I might have been crying my eyes out, but my grip stayed as strong as it was at the moment I thrust the sword, ripping the flesh of my loved one. Suddenly, his body began convulsing as if he had been electrocuted. He roared viciously as his blazing eyes turned into black smoke. The overwhelming stink of sulfur hit my nostrils, making me lean back as more smoke evaporated through Tyrion's skin. I felt as if I was being led by the Moon Blade itself. It told me to withdraw the blade, and I obeyed. Once I did, Tyrion's body fell to the ground, and the sword began to shine brighter than before. Then the blade started sucking in the smoke. I could hear the shrieks of the dying demon as his essence sank in the glow of the Moon Blade until everything turned silent. I coll
ARIAMy eyes widened in terror as I saw the dark smoke surrounding Tyrion surge into his body. The demonic essence filled him in seconds, and I could only scream while watching it happen. Hespera was slowly regaining her strength. She got up to her knees, pulled out the remaining red crystal from the pocket of her robe, and squeezed it in her hand. Then her eyes shifted to Tyrion, and she welcomed the sight of him becoming possessed by the demon with a dark grin spreading her mouth.I yanked the silver rings, trying to loosen their anchorage in the rocks. My wrists were bleeding, but I couldn't care less about the physical pain. The only ache that became unbearable was my heart breaking at the sight of Felix's bloodied corpse and my mate, who was about to become someone else...Tyrion proudly straightened up his naked body, his blood-dirtied chest heaved and fell, emphasizing his defined muscles. When his eyes opened, I knew that he wasn't the one in control of this body. Tears floode
TYRIONEight hours earlierI almost lost it when I heard that Harriet was Hespera's sister and could have located her. We could have used that spell months ago and traced that bitch before she had begun her killing spree! Harriet tried to explain that she only found out recently, but that didn't lessen my fury."Alpha Tyrion, I beg you. Try to understand that for many years I was convinced that my sister died in a fire. Not until I saw her in the coven's castle did I know for certain—""Harriet, you suspected who the dark witch might be, but you haven't told anyone about it, not even Aria. Now Aria is in grave danger, and we could have avoided it if we had caught Hespera sooner. If anything happens to Aria, I will forever blame you for it." My tone was as sharp as the finest sword, but she should still be grateful that I used words instead of my claws.She stepped back cautiously and frowned. "You know that I would never do anything to hurt Aria."I slowly exhaled my anger. "Let's hop
ARIAI felt as if my body had been run over by a truck at least five times. At the same time, someone had installed hammer drills inside my head, and I could feel them piercing through my skull. I think I hated wolfsbane more than silver poisoning. And now the pain caused by the poison, mixed with the heartache caused by the betrayal of someone whom I trusted...A painful groan left my throat as I opened my eyes, and I was strangely grateful for not being blinded by light once I did. The place where I was looked like a cave filled with lit candles. I was lying on the hard, stone ground. I was cuffed in silver, and each of my hands was chained by a separate chain to a wall. The length of those chains allowed me to either lay on the ground or sit against the wall. I kept wondering why I was brought here. Should I be grateful for being still alive?"I can see that you're awake, she-wolf." Hespera's voice echoed in the cave's empty space.I turned my aching head toward the sound and saw h
TYRIONI was waiting in the side room attached to the auditorium, waiting for the ceremony to begin. It was supposed to start fifteen minutes ago. The audience had already filled their seats, and everyone was waiting for my mate to walk in and dazzle them with her beauty. Nova and Nessa stood next to me, and I could see they were more nervous by the second, just like I was.‘Alpha Tyrion, come to your office. This is deadly urgent!’ Aziz's sharp-edged voice sounded through the mind link.‘Aziz, you were supposed to be here. My wedding is about to start,’ I said, irritated.‘Where is Felix? Is he somewhere near you?’ Now I could sense panic in his voice.I leaned outside to check if he or Aria showed up, but there was no sign of either of them. ‘No. Felix is with Aria now,’ I replied.‘We need to find him and arrest him!’ he shouted frantically.‘What the fuck are you talking about?!’ I roared.‘Alpha, I've just received the remastered footage with a clear picture. The one who killed t
ARIA I had an odd and disturbing dream. It was nothing like my terrifying vision of Tyrion and me, but it still left my heart wildly pounding and my body tense. In my dream, I was merely an observer. I saw two little, smiling girls, and somehow I knew that it was Harriet and her sister. Harriet had her brown hair tied in a cute ponytail while her red-haired sister's hair was braided. They both wore similar dark-gray dresses with long sleeves, resembling the long robes the coven witches had. They were running through a flowery meadow. Then, they stopped to spin around among the flowers. At one moment, a butterfly sat on Harriet's finger. Harmony tried to touch it, but the butterfly flew away. Harriet picked up a red poppy flower and handed it to Harmony. "Harmony, look! Isn't it pretty?" she said. Harmony narrowed her deep-green eyes, and the flower dried in her hands. Then she gave Harriet a cold stare. "Don't call me Harmony. There is nothing harmonious about me," she hissed. Harr
ARIA My whole body hurt, but the dumb smile didn't leave my face. Was it what people call happiness? If so, then the hot embodiment of my happiness was lying next to me. His upper arm served as my pillow while his forearm uncontrollably caressed my back. Tyrion's other hand was lazily lying on my waist, giving him easy access to my naked buttocks. From the second I opened my eyes, I could enjoy his amazing features in a deep, peaceful sleep. I could never get enough of him. He had the amazing ability to disarm my fears, build my confidence and strength, fire up my senses, and overfill me with pleasure. Still, I knew that each day I would wake up in his arms, I would only ask for more. He was the cause of my insatiable thirst. "You're doing it again, angel." His deep purr sent a direct signal between my thighs. "I'm not doing anything… yet," I said hoarsely. He chuckled and pulled me close so I could feel every rigid inch of him. "You're aroused," he whispered as his hand stroked th
TYRIONI didn't want to leave Aria. Seeing her cowering, crying, and reluctant to accept my touch was unbearable. She said that she was going to be fine, but it sounded more like she didn't want to talk about it. I respected her choice, yet the image of my shivering mate stayed in my mind for the rest of the day, filling me with anxiety.It was hard to focus on my duties, but I had to. I called the royal council meeting. It was time they stopped demanding and started helping like they were supposed to. After I got rid of the pests, Aldo Lefebre was appointed a natural council's leader. I couldn't be more glad of that choice. The mood in the council seemed to change as well. I could sense no stink of hostility or fear as I entered the audience hall to sit with the council."I came to inform you of the current situation, and I demand your assistance and guidance," I started. "A few days ago, my Luna fought against the dark witch. We now know that her name is Hespera. Hespera attacked he