Laya POV
It’s dark, I can’t see a thing around me. I feel confused as I start spinning around looking for any glimmer of light, but there is none.
I shout his name but only darkness greets me there, the panic engulfing me and swallowing me whole. The wicked laughter of the beast, the monster who took him from me shrouded in evil delight and sultry demonic glamor.
I gasp as I try and find the direction of his callous laughter but I can’t find it, it’s coming from every direction and then from nowhere at all.
His darkness is the reason I’m alone, and he wills to consume me and kill my unborn child.
Again I shout his name, shout for him to return to me but there’s nothing. My sobs become louder as I finally collapse against my knees burying my face in my hands, the torment becoming too much to bear.
When suddenly I hear it, I gasp as my eyes widen
Laya POV My eyes are on Jake, he’s shivering and his entire body is a sweating mess. He’s running a temperature and as I hold the cold damp face cloth against his face I can’t help but feel concerned and worried, what if this doesn’t work, what if it ends up killing him? Suddenly I’m startled by a loud knock at the door, it’s funny that someone would be knocking considering that we’ve been locked in here, to begin with. I straighten up on the bed as my brows furrow, the door suddenly opens wide and I’m met with Dax staring straight at me. My jaw clenches as disgust begins to vibrate straight through me, glaring at him I feel my entire body tense in anticipation of an attack. I hate Dax, that feeling will never go away nor be replaced by anything other than that. Amusement spreads across his face as he stares at me for a while, “Ooh, he doesn’t look too good now does he,” it wasn’t a question, Jake looked like shit and it
Laya POV Suddenly I’m met with a burning torch against the wall, in front of it lies an impenetrable wooden door and I find myself gasping as a shiver runs down my spine. The moment I take a step toward the door I slowly lift my hands and place them against the rough edges, which have clearly been put in place to barricade anyone from entering. I feel my breath being taken away by something beyond this door, as my breath quickens I close my eyes and rest my forehead against the cold metal barricade. Before I can even process my next move I suddenly notice a presence from behind me, lurking in the shadows like the murky iniquity he represents. “Dax,” I mumble as my eyes finally open, the scent of his repulsive stench gnawing at my very insides like the sorry excuse of a human being he had always been. Smirking he suddenly comes into view as I turn to glare at him, and the look on his face is nothing short of amusement as
Laya POV Stumbling forward I couldn't believe what I was actually seeing right before me, my heart thudded and pounded so hard against my chest that I was sure that it would explode. I fell to my knees right in front of one of Groban's feet and began to whimper as tears blurred my vision, my throat felt so dry as my chest shook again and again. His foot was caked with dry blood and as my eyes traveled up his leg it was evident that he had been beaten, the bruises ran deep as my eyes glazed over the black and blue patches as far I could see. The further my eyes traveled the tighter my chest became, his torso revealed deep lashes, and the moment my eyes fell upon his face I began to heave as more tears started to stain my cheeks. His face was bloody, beaten, half of his face was badly swollen so much so that I couldn't even make out his one eyelid. My eyes traveled back down to his foot before me as I carefully and slowly
Ward POVI followed behind the luna and alpha of pack Arcane as they led me through the front doors of their packhouse, and down a passage before taking a right into what seemed like an office.It was all woodsy and leather with cold metals, giving it that urban industrial look. The alpha gestured for me to sit at one of the two comfy chairs before what was clearly his desk, he came to sit right behind the desk and his luna was about to seat herself on the edge of the desk when the alpha pulled her onto his lap and protectively wrapped his arms around her.I couldn't help but find this amusing as I was in no way a threat to him or his luna, I was merely here seeking their help with finding Groband and Laya, knowing full well that Demetrius had already gotten to them.There was a moment of awkward silence as they both stared at me for the longest time, not saying a word, merely observing.But then the luna suddenly spoke up breaking th
Laya POV I had been pacing up and down inside this room for the past few hours at least, my mind was running away with me and I couldn't quieten my wolf's need to reunite with our mate. It had been a week, six and half days exactly to be precise since Demetrius had me locked in this room without allowing me to even go downstairs for dinner. Our meals were brought up to us and fresh linen and clothing were sent up with the guards every day, I was going to lose my mind and had even had the insane idea of jumping the next guard that walked through that door. I needed out, I needed Groban and Demetrius needed to die. It sounded simple like steps one, two, and three on a to-do list, but it wasn't that easy. We were all alone here and no one was coming for us, it was us against one of the most powerful monsters in the world. And even if we could get out of here and miraculously were able to get to Groban, there is no gua
Laya POVTomorrow...It keeps running its race in my head over and over again, I feel like I can't even breathe at this moment anymore.If I was stronger I would be able to get out of here and save Groban, I would have broken down the door standing between us and freedom, and take on any guard standing in my way.But here I sit huddled up in a corner of the room holding onto my knees as they bunch up just under my chin like the scared and pathetic little hybrid girl I used to be, the same pathetic hybrid girl I still clearly am today.I'm so lost in the onset of what's to come tomorrow night, the blood moon, the moment in which Demetrius will kill Groban right in front of me. The moment he will claim me by force as he marks me as his, a Lycan monster so bloodthirsty for control and dominance over all shifters and humanity alike, how did this happen.I'm drowning in a situation beyond my capability of escape and I
Laya POVI'm unable to think straight anymore, instead, I feel like I'm being strangled to death by the sheer weight of what's to come.In less than a few hours Demetrius will kill Groban, the true heir to the Lycan throne, all so he can finally overthrow the true source of Lycan power and claim it all for himself.He wants to kill my mate and then claim me for himself, I feel like being sick as the onset of nausea swirls around my insides like a tornado of impending doom. Because I have this gnawing feeling scratching at the fear building deep within me, it's telling me that I don't have any real chance at saving Groban from Demetrius. I mean have you seen the beast, he's at least eight feet tall and built like a behemoth.All Jake can do is sit quietly and watch me, he hasn't said a word all day, instead he decided to let me be. Deep down inside I'm eternally grateful that he isn't lecturing me like he did last night, b
Laya POV "Stop it, just stop patronizing me like I'm some child and you're the adult alright. I know what all of this means, how could I not. Groban is my mate, I have the children of Gaia's symbol branded against my hand like some goddam reminder that all of this is happening because instead of us going to find them like we were meant to, I ran... I tried to take on Demetrius all by myself in a moment of stupidity, I was so blind by the rage I felt when I saw Groban lying on that floor in our cabin, that I didn't think. And now he's going to pay the ultimate price for that, it's all my fault that he's about to die!" I cry out as I sink to my knees, sobbing bitterly as my hands cup my face shielding my eyes from what's to come as if it would help at all. If I had just listened to my dream back then, the one I had had about the thirteen tribes, the one where clearly Demetrius was the monster and villain of this story. Then maybe we wouldn't be in
Groban POV "Son, she needs to shift in order to give birth. She's a white wolf and they can't give birth to their pups in their human form if she doesn't shift now she'll die." Crouched down over Laya's body I was wreathing with pain, her pain. It was like I could feel each contraction doubling up on itself as she screamed out in agony. Oh and yes, it seemed Ward was here too, he had gone looking for the Gaians soon after Laya and I had both disappeared. Expecting Demetrius to be behind our disappearance he had risked his life is going to see them because let's face it, they could have easily killed him. After seeing what Rainn was capable of with someone as powerful as Demetrius, a mere human wouldn't stand a chance. "Fuck, I can't take this pain it's embedding itself within my spine. How do we get her to shift if she's incoherent?" Because that's what she was, it was as if she was having an out-of-body experience. She wa
Groban POV The entire forest floor became silent the moment they entered the clearing, Lycans and Vampires alike stopped dead in their tracks as their eyes flew over in the direction of their alluring presence. Even Demetrius and Dagon broke away from one another as they stood staring at the ones dressed in dark cloaks, the moment they all came to a standstill they almost completely surrounded us as they all but completed a circle around us. I was still crouched down covering Laya with my body as I kept my eyes on them, they were big, really big. And they were armed with swords, bows, and arrows. I wondered who they were, what they were here for, the energy radiating off of them though held a kind of calm, peaceful aura that told me that they were definitely not part of Demetrius's wolves. And that's what they were, shifter wolves. Big ass shifter wolves whose eyes were fixed in one direction only- Demetrius.
Groban POV I had to pretend that I was unconscious the entire time because I didn't know exactly what I was being dragged into, I knew by what I was hearing from the guards who were dragging me that I was meant to be sacrificed under something called the blood moon, that he intended on taking Laya, my Laya, as his mate once I was dead. From what I've picked up from listening in on Livia's venting when she assumed me unconscious, was that Demetrius couldn't take over as king until I was completely out of the picture, not really anyway. Because I was the rightful heir to the throne, as long as my father's blood still ran through my veins, Demetrius wouldn't be able to assume the position as king. So that's what all this was for then, getting me out of the way so that he can finally take the title. What I couldn't understand was why he would want Laya as his mate, and then it hit me- she's a white wolf hybrid, that must be why he would wan
Laya POV My legs felt as heavy as lead as I lagged behind the two guards leading the way in front of us, Jake walked slowly behind me with his head down the entire way, he didn't make any attempt to say a word to me and I knew why. He was protecting us, because to the guards and everyone else Jake was nothing more than a meat puppet, a snack for me when the thirst for human blood became too much, little did they know that Jake wasn't all that human anymore. I wasn't sure what he was actually becoming, the fact that he hadn't shifted into a wolf yet or begun thirsting for blood himself made me question everything I thought I knew about being a hybrid. I wanted nothing more than to break free and lose control, aim all of my aggression at the guards in front of me- but what would that help, when in actual fact it's Demetrius and Livia that I'm after. So on we go, each step feeling heavier than the previous one, knowing of what's to come instantly
Groban POV I can't say for sure how long I've been kept down here in this place of torture, but I can say that time has completely meshed together for me as I drift in out of consciousness. What is the protocol with wolfsbane I wonder as I feel myself fade away again, I've become incredibly familiar with it in these times as I know exactly when I've been injected with it, besides the burning sensation that runs through my veins all the way to the core of my soul, the other thing that makes it stand out to me while I'm semi- unconscious is how it weakens me, how it weakens my wolf to such an extent that it's impossible for me to even open my eyes. The effects are like a serious drug to us shifters, one which would be completely harmless to humans but deadly to us if we happen to overdose on it. As I feel myself slowly lifting from the heavy effects of the wolfsbane I expect to be injected again because that's what's been h
Laya POV"I'm not wearing that thing, so you might as well leave."I spat the words at the timid-looking young girl standing before me a little too harshly, yet at that very moment, I didn't care less about hurting someone's feelings. This whole perplexed situation had spun right out of control, from the moment Demetrius captured us to right here and now.Did he actually think that I would marry him in that dress, that I would just go with whatever sadistic fuckery he has planned for tonight?I would rather die a thousand deaths than let him touch me in that way, ever."Please Miss Laya, she'll kill me if you don't allow me to clothe you in this dress..."My eyes narrowed at her words, the mere fact that that horrific woman would kill someone all because I refused to put on a dress, is all the proof I need that she is far too sick and twisted to be related to Groban, or Groban's mother for that matter.Smir
Laya POV "Stop it, just stop patronizing me like I'm some child and you're the adult alright. I know what all of this means, how could I not. Groban is my mate, I have the children of Gaia's symbol branded against my hand like some goddam reminder that all of this is happening because instead of us going to find them like we were meant to, I ran... I tried to take on Demetrius all by myself in a moment of stupidity, I was so blind by the rage I felt when I saw Groban lying on that floor in our cabin, that I didn't think. And now he's going to pay the ultimate price for that, it's all my fault that he's about to die!" I cry out as I sink to my knees, sobbing bitterly as my hands cup my face shielding my eyes from what's to come as if it would help at all. If I had just listened to my dream back then, the one I had had about the thirteen tribes, the one where clearly Demetrius was the monster and villain of this story. Then maybe we wouldn't be in
Laya POVI'm unable to think straight anymore, instead, I feel like I'm being strangled to death by the sheer weight of what's to come.In less than a few hours Demetrius will kill Groban, the true heir to the Lycan throne, all so he can finally overthrow the true source of Lycan power and claim it all for himself.He wants to kill my mate and then claim me for himself, I feel like being sick as the onset of nausea swirls around my insides like a tornado of impending doom. Because I have this gnawing feeling scratching at the fear building deep within me, it's telling me that I don't have any real chance at saving Groban from Demetrius. I mean have you seen the beast, he's at least eight feet tall and built like a behemoth.All Jake can do is sit quietly and watch me, he hasn't said a word all day, instead he decided to let me be. Deep down inside I'm eternally grateful that he isn't lecturing me like he did last night, b
Laya POVTomorrow...It keeps running its race in my head over and over again, I feel like I can't even breathe at this moment anymore.If I was stronger I would be able to get out of here and save Groban, I would have broken down the door standing between us and freedom, and take on any guard standing in my way.But here I sit huddled up in a corner of the room holding onto my knees as they bunch up just under my chin like the scared and pathetic little hybrid girl I used to be, the same pathetic hybrid girl I still clearly am today.I'm so lost in the onset of what's to come tomorrow night, the blood moon, the moment in which Demetrius will kill Groban right in front of me. The moment he will claim me by force as he marks me as his, a Lycan monster so bloodthirsty for control and dominance over all shifters and humanity alike, how did this happen.I'm drowning in a situation beyond my capability of escape and I