-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- Raina and I exchanged glum glances. Mystified and unable to decipher what was in the glowing glass ball. The clear fluid inside it sloshed around. “What is it?” I asked, icily. I felt annoyed because this was another way to procrastinate our departure. “Before you go, Cronus wanted to let you know that this was all planned.” Artemis shifted on the curving end of her crescent moon to focus mainly on Raina. “See in life, there are critical events that must happen, no matter what. This moment was one of them and also your impending war. We knew your decisions and actions before you did them.” “This game was rigged from the beginning.” I cursed inwardly at the revelation, wishing a comet would knock her ass off the moon. “You cheating ― ugh!” Raina accused, coiling both hands into fists. “You played us! You ripped us off!” “Ya, uh-huh.” Shamelessly, Artemis carried on with a blithe disregard for their dirty dealings. “The point is ― this is Cronus’ work. Time is a gift
DEVIN’S POV- “― Heartless, cold-hearted, and selfish!” It sounded like an angry Raina, but where the hell was she? I was at the pack house checking Valen's room on the fifth floor for the last time for any clues that would lead to their whereabouts. I peeked my head out of his bedroom into the hallway to my right. “It was out of my hands, Raina.” Valen’s voice floated in, and I wondered if I was imagining things. I could hear them, but I could not see them. I came out of the bedroom to listen more attentively and stood in the hallway. The space by the skylight window at the dormer loft lounge warped before me. My wary Prussian eyes latched onto the four-dimensional curvature distortion with my ear pricking up, listening sharply. Suddenly, Raina and Valen materialized from nowhere. They faced each other as they argued in the center of the loft. Valen was trying to hold her hands and she kept twisting them away from him. Great relief flooded my body because they’d been gone for a w
-DEVIN’S POV- “Well, before I give you my report.” I crossed my arms. “There are some things you ought to know.” Peeved, Valen cocked his eyebrows at me. He leaned with his bare back to the wall while he remained standing on the stairs. He had one foot on a higher step than the other. “First of all, you disappeared without telling me how to use this damn ring.” I pointed to the white gold teleportation ring on my right middle finger. “I have been morphing all over the world with every wrong blink I make like fucking Jeanie the Genie. Do you know where I’m coming from?” He tilted his head to cement his eyes on me, bouncing them from my head to my toes and then back to my face. “A good place.” “Egypt, Valen!” I barked with pinched fingers in the air. Then I counted on my hand. “I’ve been to Taiwan, Zimbabwe, Jamaica, Russia, Denmark, Japan, and Nunavut.” I rambled further because he had to understand the stress that I went through when he disappeared. “And the dragons in Iceland ar
-VALEN'S POV-Materializing in the darkness at the foot of their king-sized bed, I found my parents spooning in a cuddle, deeply sleeping.Dawn's light hadn't graced us yet, but this was important, so here I was. I tried not to startle them, although they had to have smelled my presence through our wolves’ kin bonds.“Mom. Dad.” I kept my voice soft enough.With a snap of my fingers, I flicked the ceiling light on without their permission. The illumination flooded the vast, opulent master bedroom. This should spring them up."Valen?" Mom complained groggily, squeezing her closed eyes. She scrunched her face, lifting her hand to shield her eyes from the slap of the brightness.“Grrr,” Dad growled his annoyance and muttered inaudibly. He kept his eyes closed as a sign that he was not going to entertain me. His strong muscular embrace tightened around Mom's waist as he buried his face in her neck.They made no move to see why I had disturbed them like this, but I wasn't going away.“Dad,
Hello Lovelies,I though I would have been able to upload a chapter by now, but as it is, I can hardly find the time to do so.As mentioned some time ago, two relatives passed away in previous months. The first funeral will be this weekend and the second will be held the Saturday before Christmas. As such, there is a lot of preparations to do as well as to accomodate and entertain guest and visiting relatives.Therefore, I am here to apologize about the delay in chapters and kindly ask for your understanding because this month is not so merry for us.The story will resume soon.Thanks for your patience.#Much love!Virtually yours,O'Chantal.
RAINA’S POV-Valen’s brows creased, looking baffled. Then he tutted dismissively, not taking me seriously.“It is taking a toll on your body, and you must do it before Gamma Blayne releases her from the cells,” I said, searching his face, but all I saw was confusion. I dropped my gaze, afraid of his hesitation.Slipping his fingers from mine, he lifted my chin to bring my eyes to his. “Tell you what, I’ll send Mercedes back to Canada.” My chest tightened. “It’s not the same.” I lowered my gaze to keep my composure. I focused on the steady beating of his heart to smother the ache piercing through mine."Baby, look at me.” He demanded my eyes and when I flicked them up at him, he added, “There will never be a third party to our mate bond." His conviction was strong, and I wanted nothing more than to believe him.“Stop denying it.” I retorted, nudging him in the side with my elbow. “Mercedes came on board sometime last night, and you didn't even stop her.”Valen became serious now, and
RAINA’S POV-Goddess, I truly hoped I was wrong, but where the hell were they? Plus, it would be better to be there with Valen when he found them, or all hell would break loose.The rest of the day went by quietly. Mom and Dad went off to their meeting with Alpha Vance which ended before dinner. It was a somber event at the pack house with none of the usual light-hearted conversations, just small strategic talk and planning, heightening security, and so forth.Gamma Blayne was sending the elites in deep to help pinpoint the enemy's location. The warrior’s role was more to defend and support where they could block any retreat and aid if they could.Worry scraped on my heart. This wasn't cops and robbers and the bad guy would get jail time; this was life and death.Dad was supposed to flank in from the west and attack with Valen, who would be coming in from the southeast. Their plan sounds solid, but that’s if Valen returned safely. Other than that, something was bothering me, but I hav
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