Lachlan POV I fell to my knees on the dock. My anguish is suffocating. It’s choking me. My lungs can’t get enough oxygen. My body is trembling. Killian’s howls of pain echo in my head. What should I do? This is like my rejection all over again, only this time….This time it really feels hopeless. I was trying. I was trying to fix everything, every wrong I ever committed against my mate. One misunderstanding, one thing that wasn’t even my fault ruined it all. She left me. Again. “Alpha,” Cherum falls to his knees beside me, staring out at the ocean just like me, only in shock. “She was….she’s….a siren.” I didn’t reply to him. He saw as well as I did. He doesn’t need me to confirm it. I don’t know if I can speak without choking up anyway. “That’s what that flounder meant,” Cherum mumbles. “What?” I choked, then looked at him from the corner of my eye, then quickly turned them back to the ocean, not ready to give up hope of my wife coming back yet. She should know it wasn’t
Lachlan POVIt’s been months. Months, since Lira left. Cedric searched for days, as well as most of her father’s guard, and there was still no trace of her. They tracked her magic, and the faint traces of the magic that her father infused into her necklace to a small island in the middle of nowhere, but she was no longer there. Just her necklace left on the bedside table in one of the abandoned cabins on shore.Cedric brought the necklace back to me and I had my men stay on the island for weeks in hopes of her coming back for the necklace, the pendant from her father, but she never returned. Now, my men and I, as well as King Brennus and his top knights are sitting in the deckhouse of my ship, trying to figure out what more we can do. Her necklace that used to be her beacon for help, her hope for someone to save her, is now resting around my own neck. I reached up and touched it's intricate design, remembering all the times she touched it in a similar way.I’m not letting her go.
A heavy breath of exasperation leaves me. I knew Jack just letting me captain one of his ships on my own was too good to be true. I should have known he would be keeping tabs, lingering close by to just show up when he thought I was about to be in trouble. He said he thought I was ready and he trusted me. “Trust me my ass,” Val snapped, irritated too.I cross my arms, tapping my foot impatiently while I wait for him to board. He’s taking his sweet time, making sure the board that is connecting the ships is just right, testing it with his foot before crossing over. He’s stalling. He can probably see the anger on my face. He rarely, if ever, uses a board to cross. I learned how to swing over with a rope by watching him.“Job well done, lass,” he sauntered over to me, a sly smirk on his face.“If it’s a job well done, why are you here?” I continued to glare. His expression turns apologetic. “To praise you.”“Yeah right. Who is it? Who's the snitch?” My eyes circled the deck, narrowin
Jack POV She looks stunning standing at the wheel, barking orders and commanding the ship just ahead of mine. I stand mesmerized by the beauty and power surrounding her. “Slow her down, Lucky,” I told my first mate, talking about this ship. I don’t want to trigger my fierce Ela by having her wear a damned corset. She would be too proud to not live up to the bet, but I know she won’t like it. If seeing me in the rib-crushing torture device the ladies fancy that makes their tits touch their chin makes her happy, I’ll gladly wear the blasted thing. I would rather look ridiculous than make her uncomfortable. “She ain’t goin’ be too happy findin’ out your let ‘er win, Cap’n.” Lucky shakes his head at me with a knowing smirk. “You’d best keep your mouth shut then,” I told him. I would have gladly left her in the dust if she hadn’t added that last bit to the challenge. I would never intentionally cause her distress by making her do such a thing, even if it was her idea. Remembering her
Elelira POVThe noise from the bar is drifting out the swinging doors, the piano coming alive now that old man Harry has had a few too many. I enjoy the nights with the crew and the easy banter from being around everyone in high spirits from a successful raid, but the more I drank, the more nostalgic the scene became for me. It reminded me of Yasmin, Lady Vera, the madam who runs the brothel in Hidden Cove, and so many of my friends who I miss dearly. When Captain Jack in his borrowed corset, which was practically ripping at the seams, offered me coffee laced with rum, it reminded me so much of Cherum that I had to fight to not show my inner emotions. Even Val started to miss our red-bearded protector.As Beretta started in about her ex-mate and the shit he put her through with his continual cheating, I had to escape for a bit. It hit home for me, and Val had to retreat in my mind to not let her sorrow overtake her.Now, she's curled in a ball, trying to rest after the day's events
I didn’t give Jack many details about Lachlan or my time in Hidden Cove, just that I ran away when my uncle’s men showed up. I know Jack doesn’t entirely buy my story, but I’m not about to explain having lived twice. I don’t even fully understand it. For the first time, though, I feel like I have a purpose for living twice. It’s not to be happy. That is a hope I will likely not have again. How can I hope for happiness for myself when it has failed me both times?No, I have a new desire and purpose in life. It is to stop my uncle and his men from destroying more than they have. I know the future, or at least enough of it to help me figure out the events my uncle will be conspiring in. I know what he is planning with the Northern Clans, now, and why Hidden Cove was attacked the way it was. I just need to figure out what it is he ultimately planning on doing. To find that out, I need to go back,It is almost time for the Northern Clans to try and attack Hidden Cove again. I wanted to di
Cedric POV The waves crashing against the rocky shore and their steady rhythm usually help to ease my anxieties. There is something about the constancy of waves and their never ending dependability that brings me comfort. Tonight, that sound and the salty sea air wafting around me do little to help rid me of the guilt I have taken as a constant companion the last several months. Looking out towards the sea and the setting sun, all I can think about is Ela, my soft-hearted princess, who last I had seen, was so lost and weak from the constant turmoil of her life. I should have stayed with her and fully explained what her father had done. Maybe if I had, she would not have run away thinking the worst of us all. Her father… King Brennus blames himself and not at all me, which makes this hurt even more, and it makes the guilt weigh even heavier on me. He was on his way that evening, after preparing the other knights for a potential war with Alpha Wayne if my suspicions were correct,
“I’m serious, Cedric. It’s time for you to stop blaming yourself. No one else does. My alpha blames your king and the whore, and your king blames himself. No one is blaming you. She wouldn't want you to suffer like this.” I scoffed, doubting that. “I didn’t have to be the one to try and reveal everything to her. I should have….I should have trusted your alpha more. He should have been there with me. Everything would have been fine then.” “I doubt it would have been fine,” Meldec muttered. “Not fine, but she would have blamed me or her father more than him. He wouldn’t have been in his office either for that awful woman to try to ensnare him. Ela would be here with us now, not out there somewhere, heaven knows where, defenseless and all alone.” Meldec makes a face, furrowing his brows. “You know, I don’t think the Luna is as defenseless as you all assumed she was.” “What do you mean?” Of course she is. She is so small and kind. She had to have multiple guards with her at all time
~~~~~~I had closed my eyes in hell, giving the rest of myself, all that I was over to the man I knew would fulfill the task that I had set out to do. Lachlan would bring my daughter happiness. He was giving her a family. He had already given her everything she had missed out on in her former life.As I closed my eyes, I felt peace, knowing they were going to be fine. I felt peace, knowing that my greatest accomplishment was finally seen through to the end. I felt peace….because I knew I could finally be with her. I could finally join my love. I had closed my eyes in hell, and I opened them again in the light. The light around me was brilliant, so brilliant I instantly knew where I was. There was no sun. No moon. No definition of time. There was just the light, and all the good the light had to offer. None of the pain and heartache of the mortal world could be felt in this place. My feet pressed into the soft, vibrant grass, like a pillowy carpet and without the harshness of weeds
7 months later on Elelira’s 20th Birthday….Elelira POVTonight was the night. It was finally the night I would turn twenty. Just a few more minutes, and the full extent of my power will be released inside me once again. “You look lovely,” Gemma gushed, standing beside me in front of the mirror. “She looks like she’s getting ready for something other than taking a swim,” Beretta muttered to Yasmin, who was feeding her and Percy's daughter. “Maybe a private swim in the hidden pools near the stream.”Yasmin snickered. “They do that plenty. Percy overheard the Alpha ordering the sharp stones be smoothed down so as not to hurt his Luna’s back.”“Will you both stop it,” I snapped, scowling at them in the reflection. “It’s just a robe.”“And what are you wearing underneath?” Beretta wiggled her brows.“You’re annoying. Don’t you have a pack to run?” I huffed. “Eh, it’s running itself right now.” She appointed one of the women who escaped the North with her, who was also originally fro
Lachlan POV“Where is she?!” I demanded, running through the castle after being called back from town. “Where’s Lira?”“Alpha,” Meldec was waiting for me, and was rushing to keep up as I stormed through the halls. “Ced and Cherum took her to the ocean.”“THE OCEAN?!” I roared. Killian was growling in my head, “This is not the fucking time to take a bloody swim.”“She kept demanding to be taken to the ocean, Alpha. She commanded it.”“Of course she did, that infuriating woman.” She goes into fucking labor the day she insists I pick Westley up to surprise Mel and Cedric. She was too excited about sending me away with their adoption papers they applied for last week. Because Westley had living relatives from another pack, we had to ensure they wanted no claim on the boy before we granted my gamma and Lira’s knight’s request. They didn’t want to take him in years ago, and they didn’t want the boy now. When we got the message back this morning, Lira insisted I handle it right away, but I
Elelira POVLife after the brief but impactful war was much different than our lives before. So much had changed. When the rest of our warriors saw that Lachlan had survived and I was also alive and well after running into literal hell, the celebration lasted weeks. Percy chewed me out, as did the rest of my guard, but they soon turned to rejoicing at our return from certain death. Our pack was celebrating, but our hearts were not in it.My father’s body was taken back to the sea by Cedric and Lillian after I was finally able to let him go. It took me days to accept that he was gone. I had been hoping that some magic was left in his body and could save him from death, and everyone allowed me to live in the fantasy until I came to terms with him truly being gone. He was to be laid to rest deep in the ocean, at the place where all the siren kings and queens were buried. I wasn’t aware, and neither was Lachlan, but when my father and Lillian had stormed into my uncle’s pack the day bef
Elelira POVMy soul was torn. My heart felt like it hadn't beat since the moment we felt the pain of his death. Val was howling and roaring furiously as we tore through the rugged terrain to get to the place we sensed he was. Something was pulling forward, whether it be desperation or insanity, or maybe some lingering trace of our dying bond, our body just knew where he was. He can’t be dead. There was no way he would die just like that after all we had been through. After everything we overcame to finally be together, I can’t accept that it was all ending just like this. I could sense others behind me, but Val wouldn’t slow down for anyone. She was maddened with her desperate need to see our mate. To see with our own eyes that this was truly the end. As we raced forward, I suddenly felt another tear in my heart that had Val roaring loudly with the pain. I’m choking with the dread of finding out what it was from. My world was collapsing, and we could do nothing but run towards th
King Brennus POVEverything happened so fast. I was already feeling weak because of draining as much of my magic into the necklace as I could. It was not just my daughter I needed to save anymore. It was all of them. My daughter, son-in-law….and their child. I wouldn’t let all the sacrifices her mother and I made be in vain. With the bond connecting them, I prayed that the magic would flow through that and keep her safe, while also protecting the one that will protect her and my grandchild in my coming absence. When my mate told me before we reset the fabrics of time once again that his happiness was hers, I didn't understand what she meant. I thought that just Elelira being alive and safe was all that mattered. Then, she ran away, joining the pirates, and though she was fierce and found her inner strength, I could see that it only made her bitter. Not happy.Her happiness didn't come until she finally forgave and accepted her mate. Now, he was dead, and everything was coming full
Jack POVThe sky was growing dark. Night was coming. The anticipation for the battle to come was now painful. It was festering. The anxiety it left in my chest was like an infection that I couldn’t cure. Even if I had a lick of alcohol, it wouldn’t help this feeling to go away.That, coupled with the fact I still had no idea if Beretta was alive or dead, made this entirely unbearable. I wanted to attack first. I wanted to draw first blood, and tear through any and everyone blocking my path to save that maddening woman. I knew why I couldn't. I knew I would never make it through the demons alive. All I would be doing is risking every life here. It didn’t make it any easier to just sit around and wait. “Gamma!” A group of freshly shifted men came running towards where the Gamma and I were sitting, staring at the growing dark army while discussing our plan of attack for our men when the time came. “Gamma!”“Percy?” Gamma Meldec stood up, looking curiously at the men that were left beh
Nilo POV“We have to stop her!” Beretta was hissing at me. “Do you know what he will do to her? Do you have any fucking idea what these monsters do to women?”I knew. I knew that too damn well. I wish I could do something, anything to stop her, but I feel helpless right now.Irrita used her magic to hide our voices, but the strain on her was growing. I could tell the energy was draining from her face. She may be free from the restraints, but there is no telling how long she and these other women were oppressed. They won't have the reserves of energy like a fit warrior would.The other women were holding Beretta back from revealing our location. When the Luna said she was here to trade her life for ours, I reacted the same way. The command Ela gave and my fear for my mate's safety were the only things keeping me from acting right now. When I saw Ela move to cut the throat of her own uncle, my blood ran cold. She is my Luna. I should be out there protecting her from the vile stares of
Elelira POV“Oh, really? Then what, pray tell, have you come here for?” The dark fairy was gazing down at me with sinister superiority. He did have the upper hand, but I had a plan. Val and I were discussing how to get Nilo and Beretta out of here, speaking about how we could use the magic still inside us to win this, even though the situation was not in our favor. We came up with one way, and it was something we never could have considered in the past. Something so grotesque and shameless that even suggesting it would have sent me into a panic before. I just need him to take the bait. If I can get him alone after I guarantee my loved ones’ safe passage to the south, I could finish this, and there will be no need for endless bloodshed. “I have come to trade myself for the prisoners you took from my pack,” I stated boldly. “I wish to give you my life for theirs, as long as you allow them to return home unharmed.”A vicious snarl ripped through a mind link that I recognized coming