(Morrigan’s P.O.V)
It was a nice surprise to see Vladimir at the borders of Alynthi and Máni, and I was even more surprised to learn that he was King Cerberus’s nephew! Once we’ve pulled up to the castle and Rian had been a complete moron, Cerberus escorts me into the castle with Rian, Cormac, and Vladimir trailing behind.
“This castle has over 250 rooms that house vampires who are newborns, turned in the human realm and those who have not yet met their beloveds.”
“Are your beloved’s the same as mates?”
“Yes, Luna Morrigan, they are. They are the only ones that we can have children with. We cannot procreate with any other vampire, werewolf, elf, human et Cetra. Only our beloveds can produce our offspring.”
“Huh, well I suppose that makes sense. Have you found your beloved King Cerberus?”
“Please, just call me Cerberus my dear. Yes, I found her a long time ago, however;
(Morrigan’s P.O.V) After what felt like a million hours of searching, Vladimir shouts with excitement capturing my attention from the scroll I was looking at. “Mo! I found it! I think I finally found it!” He exclaims, sliding over to me. Putting the scroll in front of me I read the prophecy out loud: When the Winter Solstice Princess has completed 20 cycles around the sun, a great threat will bear down upon the realm. This Solstice Princess will have powers to stop the threat, being of three equal species: a wolf, an elf, and a spell caster. The Solstice Princess will come into her powers after meeting her beloved and marking them as her own. The tipping of the scales will be in favor of the Solstice Princess, with ice in her heart for those who would harm her loved ones, she will cover the corpses of her enemies in
(Rian’s P.O.V) I could tell this prophecy was weighing heavily on Morrigan’s mind and I knew she needed reassurance about all of this. As confident as she can be, I know there is a portion of her that doubts her abilities. I’m hopeful that Lysander and King Alstin will be able to help her with both her powers and her confidence in them. I don’t like seeing my mate doubting herself so badly. We get back to the house where Cormac says his goodbyes and goodnights to both Morrigan and me. We walk into the house and up to our bedroom, it had been a long day so all we wanted to do was collapse into bed and sleep. Killian, please make sure that we have one of the best female warriors prepared to train with Morrigan the day after tomorrow. I want to test her fighting in human form before we get started training her in wolf-form. Yes, Alpha. I will make sure that Kalie is prepared.
(Morrigan’s P.O.V) I honestly needed to get out of that office and be on my own, I needed time to think and process everything that’s happened over the last few days. “I’m going for a run; I need some air,” I tell the guys, before walking out the door, not bothering to wait for a response. I walk down the stairs and through the front door of the packhouse, straight to the edge of the forest. I strip behind a tree, tying my clothes to my ankle, and letting Winter take control. She darts out into the forest, nimbly jumping over fallen logs and avoiding low-hanging branches before she realizes we are being followed. Mo, someone is following us. We’re going to have to fight. But I don’t know how to fight in wolf form. It’s a natural instinct, just follow that and
(Rian’s P.O.V) After Morrigan mind linked me about an hour after she left for her run, I knew something was wrong and that she didn’t want to tell me. I didn’t think that it would be that she was attacked by a rogue, considering we typically don’t have a problem with them since we were the unofficial royal pack. I couldn’t help but be angry at her for not mind linking me right away but I couldn’t help but be impressed with her magic and the fact that she could mind link the rogue in human form as well as in wolf form. I was carrying her back to our house in silence, too pissed off to speak without saying something I would regret. Stark wasn’t helping my anger either, his anger and mine were swirling together and it was clouding my mind. I knew Morrigan could feel it because I felt her trying to shrink back even though she was in my arms. Try counting to 10, it’ll make you feel better.
(Morrigan’s P.O.V) After Rian’s sponge bath, he helped me get into pajamas and settled back into bed before he finished cleaning up the stuff from my sponge bath. I was exhausted, from the fight and from using so much magic, I just wanted to go to bed. Rian came back and crawled into bed with me after changing into gray sweats that hung dangerously low on his hips, and if I wasn’t injured, I would ride him like a rodeo queen. “I know what you are thinking mo grá, silence those thoughts before you get bent over the bed and spanked. Just because your shoulder is injured, doesn’t mean I can’t spank that ass red.” He growled; his nostrils flared as he smelled my arousal. “Sorry love can’t help it when you wear those gray sweatpants. They’re a fucking aphrodisiac to me.” I giggle. Rian pulls me to him, my ass against his pel
(King Alstin’s P.O.V) The moment I felt an outsider cross the border; I knew something was different yet familiar at the same time. I couldn’t place it and it made me anxious, and I don’t like to be anxious. I took over the Kingdom of Eglarest from my father about 75 years ago, when I was 50 years old. My father wanted to be able to spend time with his sister, Amelie, when she ended up mated to the shifter king, Conri, when I was in my 40s. Amelie and my father were actually half-siblings, their father having had an affair with a spellcaster years after my father was born. When the spellcaster found out she was pregnant, she had initially wanted to get rid of the fetus, however; my grandfather told her that if she went through with the pregnancy he would give her enough gold, jewels, and money to set her up for life. She gladly accepted his offer and once she gave birth, she washed her hands of Amelie. My gra
(Morrigan’s P.O.V) I was stunned into silence, I couldn’t think, breathe, or mentally compute what was going on right now. Well, we knew something was gonna happen today. Yeah, I know but this wasn’t what I was expecting. How can I be this lost daughter of some old dead couple? Winter growls at that statement. Those are our parents you are talking about and our Queen and King. Be respectful. Goddess Winter, I’m sorry. No need to get upset. Winter huffs, pissed that I stated it in such bold terms, but it’s not my fault that it’s true. I just want to know who dropped me off at the palace and why they didn’t keep me and raise me in the shifter kingdom. At least the
(Rian’s P.O.V) I couldn’t believe that Morrigan is the daughter of King Conri and Queen Amelie. I mean, I knew there was something about her aura that puzzled me. Her aura was stronger than mine, though she didn’t know that she could command me to do something with her Alpha tone and I would follow it. That’s something that no other Alpha can do to me as Supreme Alpha. I will have to talk with my parents about what this means for our kingdom, because this could be the start of bringing back the monarchy. Though first, we needed to put an end to the dark Fae and spellcaster problem that Eferhile is having. Alstin and Albrun walked us to the rooms we would be staying in while we wait for Prince Leland to get to the palace. I wasn’t expecting us to have to stay the night, so none of us had an overnight bag, though Alstin assured me that there were clothes for us in the rooms.
(Euan’s P.O.V) 18 years later (cont’d) I woke up this morning, happy to have my wolf even though we weren’t going to be able to shift until next week on the full moon. After having breakfast with my family, I wanted to go and visit my grandparents and as I was walking to their house, passing Beta Killian’s place I picked up the soft scent of roses and sweet orange. My wolf, Dakota, shakes out his fur and starts purring at the smell. Mmm, that’s our mate. That was our mate’s scent? Killian only has one daughter, my best friend Juniper, or Junie as she likes to be called. Fuck, we can’t tell her. She’s only 16 and it’s against our laws for wolves of age to tell their mate about the bond if they are underage. Doesn’t mean we can’t sneak in and sniff her a bit. Seriously? What is wrong with you? Absolutely nothing. I’m enjoying her smell. I shake my head at my wolf, and it takes all of my will power to continue on to my grandparents’ house. “Ha
(Morrigan’s P.O.V) 18 years later Euan was turning eighteen today and gaining his wolf, however, he won’t shift for another week since that’s when the next full moon is. These past 18 years have passed by in peace for our kingdoms as well as the other kingdoms of the Lunar Realm. Euan has long since become an older brother to 6 other siblings: the twins Flynn and Rory—both 16, Ronan who is 14, then the next set of twins (both girls) Rowan and Bridget both 12, and then our surprise baby girl Fallon who turned 10 a few months back. Rian wanted to have all boys first before we had girls, he understood that we couldn’t exactly make sure that happened but by the powers of the Goddess Danu, he got what he wanted. All our boys came out quiet, observant, and big—each boy weighed in at almost 10 pounds and each was 22 inches long. The girls were taking after me it seemed, petite, loud, and complete daddy’s girls. They had Rian wrapped around their little fingers even if he didn’t
(Rian’s P.O.V) 2 months later “Rian!!!!” Morrigan yells. I was in my office, having just gotten off the phone with Alpha Tiernan from Hallowed Manes Pack in the Human Realm when Morrigan comes tearing into my office. She braces her hand on the door frame to catch her breath, so I take this opportunity to scold her before she can speak. “You ran down here Morrigan? We’ve discussed this! You’re pregnant! You can’t be running or overexerting yourself like this! It’s not good for you or the baby.” I admonish while guiding her over to the sofa I had added to my office. “I know, I know. But I heard the conversation between you and that Alpha! I want to escort this FBI agent to Eferhile! I want to see mom, Bayard, and Constance! Please mo rí?” She asks, giving me her best “puppy dog” eyes. I groan, knowing I’m not going to be able to deny her because she’ll cry if I tell her no, and then I’ll feel like a dick. “Alright, but either Cormac or Killian goes with you
(Morrigan’s P.O.V) I had been feeling off-color for a while now, but with everything that had been going on over the last few months, I thought it was stress. Until the vomiting started, thank the Goddess Danu above that I was able to conveniently hide my toilet bowl worship from Rian. I decide that it’s time to go see Dr. Wyatt, one of our pack doctors so I enlist my mother and Roisin to come with me on the off chance something happens. The nurse welcomes me back with an awkward curtsey to which I visibly cringed. “That bad huh?” She giggles. “The worst, but please I’m not expecting everyone to bow and curtsey to me. Literally, nothing changes but the titles and the meaning behind them. So please, don’t EVER do that again.” I say laughing. She laughs, and hands me a cup to pee in before I meet with Dr. Wyatt, she walks off with my mother and Roisin to get them set up in the doctor’s office. After pissing all over my hand—then subsequently washing my hands
(Rian’s P.O.V) After returning to the grand ballroom for the reception, I realized I hadn’t removed Morrigan’s butt plug. I couldn’t help the mischievous giggle that bubbled over, making her look at me with eyebrows raised, making me shake my head in response. So here she was, walking around the reception with her jeweled butt plug still in her tight little ass. We’re so fucking her in the ass later. She’ll be nice and ready for us. Yup, now if only this party would hurry up and be over with. Morrigan and I were talking to the Alpha couple of a nearby bear sleuth, when Morrigan’s hand tightened on mine and I could feel her anger and embarrassment. Should have kept my mouth shut huh? Yes, you should have Stark. Now see if she gives us her ass now. I grumble, feeling disgruntled. You can have my ass any way you want it, baby, just gotta ask. Morrigan purrs in our mind link. Okay, then I want it now. Bend over that table like a good girl. I purr back at her
(Morrigan’s P.O.V) Standing there after basically going all Warrior Goddess on the crowd, we continued with the ceremony. Killian gave Rian my biological mother’s crown, which was a Baroque black diamond tiara, giving off Gothic vibes for sure. In the middle of the crown was the face of a wolf, with two rubies for eyes. It was truly a work of art, and I was so lucky that it was able to be saved. I bowed in front of Rian, so he could put the crown on my head, and once that was done, I stood up straight. Throwing my shoulders back and lifting my chin up, wanting to show the shifter kingdom that I was strong, fierce, and not to be fucked with. “I present to you all, Her Majesty, Luna Queen Morrigan Faith O’Connor!” Rian booms out. I turn my head sharply to him, confused as to why he used his last name to find him on one knee next to me, with a beautiful princess-cut diamond ring nestled in a ring box. “Over the last two and a half months, you have given my lif
(Rian’s P.O.V) It’s the day of Morrigan’s Luna Ceremony, and we are all a bundle of nerves right now because before the ceremony takes place, we will be announcing our plans. I had my speech prepared and I kept going over it, trying to commit it to memory, and I played the “what if” game and wrote down answers to questions or comments about our intention to reinstate the monarchy and crown Morrigan Luna Queen. Leland had been able to smuggle one of Queen Amelie’s crowns out of the palace before it burned down, so we would be able to crown her with that. Servants were bustling around the packhouse, getting things ready for the arrival of several of the royal families: King Alstin was coming in along with King Emeritus Albrun since Queen Aubriana and Celestia were already here, King Cerberus was joining us, Queen Lucia and King Osiris of Khisfire. They were going to be showing their support for the restoration of the shifter monarchy. It was being decorated in ou
(Morrigan’s P.O.V) It’s been a few days since the funeral, and we were back in Màni getting ready to go shopping for my Luna Ceremony. The kingdom didn’t know this, but we were going to announce who my biological parents were and that I was ascending to the throne. Rian and the entirety of my mother’s family were concerned with how the announcement will be received by the shifter kingdom. We knew most of them would be fine with the change, however, we knew that my father’s dead cousin still had his supporters out there. Uncle Leland and his mate, Tàri, were going to be in attendance as well as their grown pups and grandpups. I would be meeting all of them for the first time. He was excited to know that I was going to be taking up the mantle of Luna Queen and I offered him and Tàri a nice sized mansion in the pack so they could be close since the cat was going to be out of the bag, so to speak, that members of the royal family had survived. I was sitting in th
(Rian’s P.O.V) It was the day of the funerals for our warriors and for King Leonard, it was decided that Leonard’s body would be the last pyre lit. While a King’s pyre should always be lit first, as a symbol of him guiding his warriors to Annwn (or the Underworld), however, his family agreed that Leonard would want his warriors and those who fought alongside his warriors, to have the honored spot. “It’s time to go mo grà,” I whisper to Morrigan. She’s been quiet this morning, just going through the motions of the day. I know that her dream meeting with her biological parents and Leonard helped with how she had been feeling about the whole situation. She looks beautiful in her black, long, full-sleeved jumpsuit with a medium plunge, and a belt cinching her waist. Her beautiful fiery hair was pulled up into a sophisticated bun, leaving a few wisps of hair surrounding her face. Her make-up was done in neutral tones, and she kept it simple. Her black stilettos fi