로그인RAINA’S POV“If it comes to it, Raina, yes, I’ll give it up.” Valen raised a hand to my cheek, brushing his thumb across my skin.“You can’t give up your birthright,” I disagreed strongly, shaking my head. “You’re the king that the realm needs. You have done a lot for this pack and the alphas. They’d be foolish to replace you. Coming at you would give Dymian every opening he would need to destroy us. Valen, please.”“Not if it’s asking me to abandon everything that matters to me,” he said, low and unwavering. “You are my world.”I was still shaking my head when his other hand came to my next cheek, tenderly caressing both sides of my face with tingles.Valen chuckled, his eyes twinkling in humor, amused at something. “Right about now, the Elders are going to be breathing down Dad’s neck, and my father’s too busy for council matters. Mom’s not here anyway. They’ll be miserable for a while. ”“What about Connery?” I asked, my chest tightening at the thought of the PAC that was forcing u
RAINA’S POVValen’s voice came like a crack of thunder. “The coyolxauhqui stone at the ritual temple responds to my fated mate. That alone should secure her position.”“You cannot blow off the Alphas now against your bond,” Elder Sybil contended, gesticulating with her hands. “Strength on the throne is what they crave, and so, the position of our future queen is of grave concern.”This was as insulting as it was infuriating. I have been patient. I have been understanding, but now, my blood is just boiling.“Why can’t you understand?” I asked, dropping my hand from Valen’s torso and turning to them. “It's not about the title. It's not about power. It's not about position. It's about love. Valen and I will fight for each other,” I asserted and vowed, “Because we’re carving out our own place in the world, on our own terms. That’s what our bond stands for. We chose each other, and we are standing together. Literally.”“Excuse me?” Elder George’s eyes sharpened in warning when we looked at
This chapter contains a discussion of the whole pregnancy matter. Discretionary reading is advised…..RAINA’S POV“Elders,” I greeted demurely.It was a wide room, the Elders looming above on a raised platform, their seats arranged so they could look down on you like judges. They rolled their eyes over me, looking already set on a verdict.On either side, ten cold chairs lined the space like a jury. All were empty except for Connery, who was seated to the right. The fact that the man was sitting there with a file folder was unsettling, as if the energy in here wasn’t already stifling.“I am aware of why you summoned me. I came to hear you out.” I stood alone in the center with a clear space carved out before me, while the audience chairs behind were split in two, leaving a walkway running straight down the middle.Alpha Connery coughed and gurgled something in his throat in an earnest attempt to announce himself.After yesterday’s event, I refused to acknowledge him.Why was he here,
RAINA’S POVThis time, no one could stop my mate.Valen’s murderous gaze locked on Connery. He moved lethally fast, and his claws slid free with a metallic shikt.“She's the red…” Connery never got to finish, as a stronger force bulldozed through us like a death god.Alpha King Vance was on Connery before anyone took their next breath. His powerful hand clasped around his throat, lifting him clean off his feet.“You disrespected my Luna Queen and me when you disregarded our command and barged in here,” Vance growled, low and final, and slammed the man’s back against the wall. It cracked, spidering out from the impact. “Such audacity!”Patients gasped and thrashed. Breaths turned sharp and ragged as fear rippled from bed to bed under the king's billowing aura.Connery choked, kicking, fingers clawing uselessly at the iron-blooded strength of the king.“There's a limit to your insolence,” Vance roared, his voice like flint striking steel as he dragged Alpha Dick out.I could picture his
VALEN'S POV“You announced our mate's pregnancy in the worst way possible!” Zeus cursed me, adding to my headache and guilt. “People will think we're ashamed of her or something!”‘Screw them!' I spat, not giving two shits about these gossip hounds.“You're not the one who suffers from their gossip!” My wolf growled, irked by my short-sightedness.I hated that they were right, but they were. Everyone was cautious about what they said to the king, but they always whispered open judgments and criticisms about his mate.Everyone had an opinion on everything, and these Elders would speak theirs regardless of whether you wanted to hear them or not.For once, I didn’t know how to begin.Almost as though the bond alerted me, my gaze wandered down the ward and caught Raina walking towards our small huddle. Her eyes drifted from left to right, taking in each patient as she passed, whispering heartwarming assurances.By the time she tried to go around our group, I extended my arm and carefully c
VALEN’S POV“Clear a bed!” I barked, bursting through the doors of the cramped quarantine ward.Heat, antiseptic, and a metallic mixture hit my nose all at once. The high scent of disinfectant barely masked the musty smell of sweat and sickness.Nurses in white biohazard suits rushed back and forth. Voices overlapped in a frantic chorus in the flurry of activities. Groans, hurried footsteps, and the clatter of metal trays pervaded the room.“Another one coming in!” announced the nurse, dashing past me with an armful of supplies.“It’s Alpha and the Beta!” another exclaimed, crouching by a patient on the floor, checking his pulse.“Move! Hurry!” sounded like Grandma, although I couldn’t see her.Beds lined the walls. Others were dragged into the center. Some of the warriors, rangers, patrol, and Elites were lying on the floor with IV bags hanging from makeshift poles.The Worgens arrived after me with Raina and Penn. Gustav had a convulsing Mercedes in his arms.Venus, standing near a r
VALEN’S POVUpon teleporting to the ritual temple, I snapped my fingers, and the building’s light came on. Raina rushed out of my arms, straight to the altar, and grabbed the Coyolxāuhqui stone with both hands.I yawned, scrubbing a hand down my face. I opened the mind-link to summon my Beta. “Dev,
RAINA’S POVPeeved, Alpha Vance glanced from me to Connery. His sharp slits seem to pierce our souls, like slicing us up would make his day.However, Elder Victor took matters out of his hands, stating, “The council cannot be at ease to leave such suspicion hanging. I, for one, would like to know.”
VALEN’S POVAll twelve of us sauntered into Isaac's house. Even on a bad day, this brightly lit dwelling beats Miriam's gloomy basement.Devin dragged me and Raina here. The gang wanted to see the new me. They couldn't wait, and since the voices and noises in Raina's head stopped, she thought it be
VALEN’S POVHeidi's tipsy squeal stole our attention. Raina and I couldn't help but laugh at her antics and poor timing."Oh, my Gosh! You two look so happy. It's so perfect. I can't even look at you!" Heidi squealed, meandering closer to us."Thanks?" Raina responded with a laugh."The girls and I







