-RAINA’S POV- Hera growled erotically, daring Valen to act on his promise. Muffled and soft moans spewed from me, accompanying the distinct sound of flesh slapping against each other that resonated throughout the cave. Sweat dripped down from Valen’s forehead. The sheen of his flesh, the pleasure-filled expression on his face, the low grunts from his lips, the desperate way his fingers intertwined with mine ― every little thing he did was driving me into a mind-boggling haze. “You feel... so fucking good, baby,” he groaned in my ear before thrusting even faster and harder. Lacking restraint, he sped up his penetrations, fucking me harder and deeper with no signs of slowing down. He filled me to the hilt, faster and faster. “Keep your eyes open. Don’t take them off me.” He breathed heavily with each thrust. "Umm ― yes!" Freeing my hand, I gripped his biceps, squeezing the muscles hard before roaming up his chest Valen's eyes were near feral as he reached a calloused hand down to
- - RAINA’S POV- We remained conjoined at the pelvis in the missionary style. Valen was now etched into the very threads of my spirit. “I belong to you ― now and forever.” A boyish smile curled on his lips. His eyes softened, although his voice was husky and thick. “You are so ravishing when you cum.” A bright blush imbued my cheeks. “Are you okay?” He positioned one arm on the rug to support his hulky body while the other stroked my cheek, lovingly. “Hmm.” I nodded, with my lip clamped between my teeth. “Baby, use your words.” “Yes,” I muttered, trying to catch my breath. “But I can’t feel my legs ― or something else.” He chuckled with his chest shaking and kissed the tip of my nose. “I have a better position in mind because I’m going to fuck you until we’re both burned out.” Leaning down, he tangled his lips with mine. He wrapped my legs around him as he flipped over to sit up with me on top of him. I straddled his hip as my ass rested on his thighs. My hands went around hi
-RAINA’S POV – “Oh, come on now! Fix those faces.” Artemis’ silver eyes dulled as she pouted her perfect plum-colored lips at our astonished expression. Bewilderment engrossed me and Valen as we stared at her with one question caroming in our heads ― Why not Selene? Then I thought in a very sarcastic way, which werewolf has ever gotten this grand opportunity to meet any god or goddess other than Selene? Isn’t this narrative messed up? “Artemis,” I repeated in disbelief, unintentionally saying it aloud. We were so shocked that the blaring drum roll was all forgotten until we caught up on ourselves. I clung to my mate tighter. Trying to steal the spotlight with a tough guy expression like he's the king of the mambo beat, the pudgy panda cub drummed on with a clapping glitch and rim clicks. Tapping his feet, never mind that he's destroying a classical moment and looking at us like he's begging for us to add the chic-chicka-boom chicka-boom chicka-boom dance combo. “I’m the one an
-RAINA’S POV- No. Zoning out for an inner dialect, I delved deeper into my own thoughts. I scratched my head, calculating. Snow was not a goddess. She was rotten luck, a jinx ― not a deity. Confusion fogged my brain. I furrowed my brows as I deliberated. “Well?” Artemis demanded an answer. “We don’t have a sword,” Valen responded before my own words could form. Obviously, he did not think it was the same sword either. Fear and anxiety came over me at once and my hands trembled. I curled my fingers in my lap. Artemis hummed to herself, paying a bit of attention to the hound on the table which purred at her touch, wagging its white and brown tail. This was perceived by the panda cub as an opportunity to perform another annoying drum roll. “Oh, goddess!” I groaned, burying my face into Valen’s pectoral and clogging my earhole with my fingers. Valen stroked my head and kissed my crown, soothing me. I sensed his irritation in a rumbling growl that vibrated from his chest. The tr
-RAINA'S POV- My fidgeting fingers froze. I blinked twice at the devil-may-care goddess. My stomach did a calcified dip as Artemis stood there in her glorious silver aura, tall and straight with pure sobriety in her silverware eyes. The panda cub was drumming up some enthusiasm with a single-stroke roll. Boom-boom-boom! Her expression was as hard as granite at the panda cub for his banging and then switched right on us. The ultimatum was not warranted. I would not agree with this. “What nonsense are you spewing?” Valen barked at her with bold emeralds that were sharp and intense. Plus, his tone sounded like someone provoked him for a battle. With me in his arms, he rose from the stone chair and placed me gently down on the solid table. Artemis scoffed. Crestfallen, I joined in with, “I’d rather wave a white flag.” “Where’s the fun in that?” Artemis declared, shaking her head. The goddess positioned her bow and string and shot a silver arrow through the crater of the cave, f
- -RAINA’S POV- One of my white glasses exploded into glittering fragments. I winced and grabbed the sides of the podium, bending my back forward. My furrowed brows spasmed, and my lips trembled as my nerves rattled to a higher level. One breath. Two breaths. The podium reversed a foot, jerking me backward with force. I had to clutch onto the podium tighter to avoid falling. At this doomy time, the persistent panda was practically bursting at the seams to play his drum again, surreptitiously taking out his drumstick and eyeing Artemis warily. Valen's eyes took on a horrified look, bulging from their sockets. Whatever he was shouting to me could not reach my poor hearing. I was too shell-shocked and trying hard to refocus on the game. The countdown continued on the timer. Another question passed. Erk! The podium buzzed red. Blam! More glass exploded and I cowered. Panic fell over me like a shroud. Shit! I just missed an easy one about Valen’s favorite sports team. “It’s ok
-VALEN'S POV- “Don't give up!” My pleading tenor rang out. “I’m going to kill you,” Raina growled, slicing a finger under her throat. “Play now and take my head later,” I replied, flustered and loathing the fact that the mind-link was blocked. Explanations could follow afterwards. Right now, we need our brains in this game. “Caladan, these two are going to make us cry.” Artemis wrinkled up her face, faking sobs and sniffles. The panda cub imitated her with low squeals as he decided to slide down the arc of the crescent moon. Any more discussion we could have had was abruptly interrupted by the hubbub of the vile audience going wild with anticipation. Their coinciding utterances resonated across the galaxy. Even though Raina’s seething features and lashing remarks persisted in the minority. Raina's scores were frightfully bad. These questions were designed to create a rift between us. The motherfuckers! They were enjoying this and their mumbling continued among the stars. As mu
-VALEN'S POV- Explosions of glittery shards sliced through the space, hurling Raina's fragile body swiftly backwards. In the mighty burst of glass, her hands flailed wildly, and several lacerations began appearing all over her flesh as she sailed further and further from me. Her spine-curdling screams ran through my head. The terror and urgency in her eyes cramped my heart with an outrageous fear. This was so wrong. The gods have crossed their limits. “You motherfucking monsters! Give me back my mate!” I gripped my hair, smoldering with resentment as rage nearly consumed my dark soul. Artemis pinched her face with a fixed gaze on me. She remained mute despite our unfolding anguish. Raina was my biggest concern as my eyes saw the horrendous scene unfold. Her high-pitched shrieks speared into my heart as the mate bond panged and burned like hell's fire. Panic, dread, and pain torched my veins. Tears itched my eyes as I fretted for her. Blood imprinted each part of her skin that t
VALEN’S POV-“You think you can threaten me.” I blasted, pumping a rigid fist at him as the vermillion red in my eyes marinated in resentment. “You think Selene can save you from me? Never see Raina, my mate, again in any lifetime, get it?”“I will, and I shall,” Gustav challenged."Shut the fuck up," I boomed with such immense power that the temple shivered, and foggy dust shot backwards.At my fastest speed, my feet thrust from the ground and I darted at him, too quick for him to dodge the clasp of my hand clutching his neck. I hoisted him off the ground by his throat, letting his feet dangle as they desperately searched for solid ground, while mine took root on the floor."You feeling tough now?" I growled with hatred in my voice.The Worgen extended his claws and sank them into my arm, piercing them deep until they hit the bone and my blood trickled out, splattering the floor. Because of that, I hurled him to the ground. He coughed and gasped for air, while struggling to stand up.
-VALEN’S POV-“Gustav!” I roared, nakedly stomping through the circular pillars with Zuzu perched on my right shoulder. “Get out here!”Chasing him brought me to Pindus in Greece at the Temple of Zannos. It was an albescent-white, Doric-styled, pentagon-shaped building that lacked care and was covered with limestone dust. On the walls were featured engravings of weapons and symbols that I also recognized were identical to the ones that were inscribed on the Worgens' foreheads.“No need to be so loud, Alpha Prince.” Gustav groused with his back to me. The hem of his cream trench coat carpeted the ground, right next to his enormous sword. “Even the gods can hear you shouting.”Up ahead in the dusty grand hall, he was down on one knee with his white head bowed to the light blue, marble, fifty-foot statue of Selene. She was gracefully sitting on a crescent moon with a beige wolf around her shoulders as she glanced down at the queen of the night flower she was holding up in her left hand. T
-VALEN’S POV-“Holy fuck.” I panted out as the sweet sensations rocked me.Her pouty candy-pink lips began moving up and down my length. She started bobbing her head back and forth. My hand coiled a large bunch of burgundy strands on the top of her head, helping her with the pace.“Deep breaths—yeah, take it.” My lips parted, and I blew out invisible puffs of air.The pleasure was overwhelming, almost making me forget what we were fighting about before. She picked up the pace, fisting the bottom of my shaft with one hand while she sucked the top and repeated.“So good, baby,” I remarked huskily. “Show me how badly you want it.”Already my balls were tensing up and stars exploded behind my eyelids as my orgasm drew near. She hummed around my dick, licking it good as I drew it out of her mouth.I grunted and thrust my hip forward with more force this time, hitting the back of my throat. Her pretty mouth was driving me nuts. The way her tongue moved against the ridges was giving me a whi
-RAINA’S POV-Yellow flags billowed in my head as the mood shifted sourly. Hot, angry puffs of air expelled from Valen’s nostrils. His blazing emeralds locked with my subtle blues.“Hold on a sec.” I scrambled to the edge of the bed and sat up with a frown. “That’s not what I’m saying.”“Really, Raina?” Valen asked me with hidden anger in his voice. “That crab-louse took Vaheed, and you aren’t in a hurry to get my brother back, especially since that’s the only way for us to find out what happened to Devin.”“I know that,” I muttered in a casual tone, licking my dry lips.“Vaheed isn’t with us because of him.” Valen’s voice rose, and he raked back his black hair with a frustrated hand. He turned and walked towards the glass doors to the balcony, aggressively parted the green drapes, and looked out into the gray sky.“I want to summon Gustav, but I don’t know how,” I expressed, feeling crappy that he had a valid point. “Plus you have that murderous gleam that you are going to kill him w
-RAINA’S POV-Brewing with optimism, I watched in awe as the lavender glow disbursed, engulfing Devin's body in a gentle aura of shimmering energy. Like an X-ray, it lit up his skeleton, making it visibly orange with red veins.It was as if the very essence of magic itself was sieving through him, whirling new life into his motionless form. His body was healing, closing the gruesome wound on his chest and reconnecting the superior vena cava."Hang in there, Duke. Your boy is strong. He can make it." Alpha Vance tried to provide some solace.Uncle Duke began pacing while ruffling a hand through his blonde hair. “Come on Smithson, the moon can’t have you today.”Valen's expression was one of intense concentration. His features were set in determination as he exerted more streams of his magic into Devin.For a moment, time seemed to stand still as we held our collective breath, waiting with bated anticipation for any sign of change.And then, it happened.A faint ripple sifted through De
-RAINA’S POV-Sorrowed stalked us back to the witch’s cottage like a grim, black shadow. Unlike the sunset that spread a rainbow flame upon the evening's sky.On a magically conjured table floating ahead of us, courtesy of Valen, Devin's massacred body laid supine.The journey from the yacht to Petroside Grove felt longer than ever before, and Zeus’ sprints echoed with emptiness, silently knowing that things would be different now.As we approached the witch’s cottage, the scene on the off-white porch was one of heartbreak and despair. Miriam, Marlena, Alpha Vance, Uncle Duke, Luna Sianna, and Keisha stood waiting. Their faces were etched with grief as they watched us draw near.Zeus lowered his large, black, furry body so that I jumped from his back, and then Valen shifted. Keisha immediately rushed towards Devin. My heart ached for Keisha as I watched her crumble. With haste, Uncle Duke wrapped his arms around her waist to keep her off the ground."I'm so sorry," I whispered to them
-RAINA’S POV-“The plans they have for us are diabolic.” Vaheed grabbed my arm, startling me as he pulled me to his side.His aura had a scary quality—one that was sickening and could make me puke. He was not my mate, so my body rebelled, seething at being manhandled.Vaheed’s desperate gaze locked on mine, begging me to side with him. “I’m going to kill him, Raina. Tell whitey to leave. We don't want his kind here.”“If you back off, Vaheed, so will he,” I rasped out, which made him livid. His harlequin greens flickered like black coals about to catch fire.Gustav lifted his chin in opposition. “I would not be here if she was not in danger.”Vaheed grinned deviously. “A Worgen….protecting a human? Don't make me laugh. I know all about you and your horde.”“Yes, you do.” I highlighted, “You have a lot of information that we need to make better preparations against them. I suggest we get you to your Mom's for a check-up, and then we'll have a meeting to discuss all that you can tell us
-RAINA’S POV-“Gustav,” I breathed out, still very skeptical of his presence.This pivotal moment would test the guardian bond. With bated breath, I stared at his hand, contemplating taking it. He noticed the alarm on my face and put both of his hands up in a surrender pose.“I mean you no harm, Kókkino,” he said, cocking his head, slightly concerned.Ruffling and a dull creak of dry hinges sounded across the room. My eyes found Vaheed pinned to the decorative, backlit stone wall feature.Grunting with lips pulled over his teeth, his hands gripped and wrested against the formidable, six-foot, double-bladed sword that threatened to slash him in halves. One tip of its broad jagged blade screeched against the floorboard.Panicking, I glanced back at Gustav, in a terrified voice, “Do not kill him.”“He's dangerous.” Gustav furrowed his brows, confused as to why I'd want to spare him, but he relented with an exhalation. He held out his hand and the intimidating weapon whirred back to its o
-RAINA’S POV-“You killed him, you sick psycho!” I screamed at Vaheed with tears raining down my cheeks.“I didn’t do it. Don’t be rash.” Vaheed frowned, and he placed a finger on his lips to shush me. Where was his empathy? “But you knew he was attacked!” I shouted amidst my sobbing, pointing at Devin’s bloody body.“He didn't stand a chance and with loverboy sleeping, neither do you.” His brows knitted as he seemed to be listening for something.I shook my head wildly, beginning to panic. I glanced around frantically, “You brought the Worgens here? Where are they?”Releasing a distressful sigh, Vaheed held up his forefinger and swirled it in the air. “It's the other way around.” He dropped his hand, coming towards me.Smothering my weeping, I watched him cautiously. My heart thumped hard in my chest and I recoiled. I did not want him near me.His eyes widened. “They're coming.” His feet quickened towards me, bending and reaching out his hand under my knees to lift me. “I've got a p