-THIRD PERSON’S POV-
Seff abruptly changed his position in the chair to sit forward with his white eyebrows drawn together.
“Money cannot be fake.” Dymian focused his gaze on Jarvaldo. A vein ticked in his jaws as his rigid stare admonished for elaboration.
“Actually, boss, it sure can,” Jarvaldo insisted.
Seff choked raucously on the communion bread. He shook his head, trying to get out. “No. Not true.”
“This is the generation of vipers. Anything is possible in this era.” Jarvaldo snapped bitingly. “And that note is the latest edition.”
Dymian’s gaze was speculative. “How so?”
Seff swallowed, massaging his throat with a scowl because someone had played a nasty trick on them. “I’m going to find that cretin and stuff that note down his throat, and then I’m going to rip it out again.”
“Oi, calm down.” Jarvaldo nudged his head at Seff.
“Why? Because the culprit is going to hell?” Seff scoffed. “At least let me send him there faster.”
Rovell waved the note at Jarvaldo, capturing his attention. “What do you know about these?”
“The gardener claims he knows a guy who knows the friend of a girl who knows a guy who can get us enough money to carry out our plans." Jarvaldo gave them an option he thought they should consider. He dipped his hand under the white robe and re-emerged with a cream, rectangular item. “He gave me this card.”
“So it was the gardener,” Seff muttered in an ominously deep voice, deducing that he was the culprit that gave that fake offering.
“He is not to be touched,” Jarvaldo growled at him. It was a warning. Their blazing red eyes clashed.
Rovell handed the note to Dymian for inspection. Quickly, Seff placed the empty communion wine bottle and tray of bread on the floor to take the card from Jarvaldo and retook his seat.
The gardener fox at the chapel had many links. He piqued Jarvaldo’s interest when he discovered the old man sneaking weed to Sister Bethany one day. Since then, he became Jarvaldo’s little buddy. Making their own money was fundamental to help with the expenses for warfare, plus buying the marakachos to bribe the special army they sought.
It was a great plan. It was a shortcut to riches.
“The guy and I talked on the phone, and then I paid him a visit. He’s a very cunning and strategic crime boss who’s been circulating his notes for years.” Jarvaldo wished that Dymian would agree. He was enthusiastic about waging the war. “He’s the underworld’s accountant. He moves, lends, and redistributes funds.”
“Smart profession.” A snarl curled Seff’s upper lip. “But is he any good?”
“He fooled you.” Jarvaldo swung his thumb at Rovell. “And him too.”
Rovell shrugged with a snort and grumbled, “Because we lack knowledge.”
“Touché.” Seff lowly agreed, embarrassingly.
Dymian fingers drummed along the top of the desk with the note held high in the other hand, and then he picked up one of the papers and lazily flicked his eyes over it.
“Well, I know the real from the fake.” Jarvaldo vouched. “After stuffing him with my cloud and turning it into ice-crystals, he was so nice to show me the full works.” He changed tact and stared directly at Dymian. “Boss, trust me, the banks can barely tell them apart and I’ve got his dude under my thumb. We could do wonders with a ton of those and leave this broke-ass chapel.”
Fixing his gaze at him, Dymian’s jaws gritted.
“How much offering did we get today?” Rovell inquired, steepling his chin.
“Huh?” Jarvaldo gulped. He hunched his shoulders and muttered monotonously, “I don’t know. I lost count at ninety-one dollars.”
“What’s been taking you so long?” Rovell got angry, dropping his hand, and the two began arguing.
Dymian emitted an audible exhalation and shuffled in his chair as he pondered over things. They were just getting acquainted with this new era. Technology was a problem. It was hard to take over businesses when the civilized age could easily manipulate and bamboozle them due to their ignorance.
The idiot Alpha Prince in their custody was of meager help. Even after torturing him, he barely showed them how to use phones and laptops. How could such small devices be capable of such vast functions? It baffled Dymian, yet he saw the usefulness of them.
However, to his dismay, Vaheed also kept his lips sealed regarding current affairs in the realms. Therefore, the clergy had to be coaxed for the job.
The head priest, Father Ramcrook, reluctantly hired technicians, and they were learning slowly while still posing to be a part of the clergy and wearing their ghastly attire.
It was Seff that they relied upon to understand the system quickly, seeing that he manipulated metal, but he had blown up or disfigured goddess knows how many devices. It irked Dymian to the brim because he expected rapid progress.
Surprisingly, Jarvaldo learned faster and was very good at decrypting, but he wasted a lot of time playing games and being on social media. Thank heavens for Farrah and Rovell, who managed to have the previous attack go smoothly.
Why did they expect the world to remain the same after being in a slumber for thousands of years? Watching the news had taught them some information, but not enough since they did not understand the definitions and functions of it all.
Despite their previous victory, the Worgen Guardians were deeply stressed. They were hampered by the fact that they had to study the new age’s arsenal and to find out the Wolversons’ weaknesses.
Jarvaldo and Seff enjoyed taking it out on Vaheed. They loved making him bleed. At those times Farrah would leave the chapel to track the movements of red wolf as a distraction.
Dymian felt an urgency to take over the realms quickly. Unfortunately, they still hadn't gotten the red wolf, and they had to tread moderately to ensure success would be theirs. Raina’s disappearance from Earth was a matter of concern. What were the Wolversons planning? He needed eyes and ears around them.
They hadn't counted on Vaheed being so damn hard to break. With the superior genes disintegrated into these crummy Lycans and werewolves, Dymian genuinely believed he would have gotten all the information that he needed from their prisoner. Even the mind attack didn't work. The pup knew precisely how to block his mental infiltration. So, he could not underestimate the Wolversons.
Farrah entered the room in her nun’s outfit and carrying a long, black garment in her hands. Without stopping, she went directly to Dymian’s side. She placed the attire on his desk and began buttoning his white dress shirt. His body relaxed under the operation of her soft fingers.
"Seff, bring the accountant guy in," Dymian finally decided to gravitate towards the outside source for urgent funds.
Jarvaldo smiled with satisfaction.
Dymian stood, gazing down at Farrah and allowed her to help him with his robe and white stole. "Jarvaldo, go with Seff, but he is in charge.”
Jarvaldo groaned.
“Bring more samples with him,” Rovell instructed the duo, referring to the hundred dollar note.
“When will the final stages of the portal be ready, Farrah?” Dymian concentrated on her as she adjusted his collar.
On a wise note, Farrah’s assurance was in a layered honey tone. “The portal is opening. The vortex is a small crack but it is growing wider and will get the job done.”
Contemptuously, Dymian snickered his mind as dark thoughts flooded him. With a devious chortle, he kissed the tip of Farrah’s nose. “Marvelous!”
Farrah crooked a small smile at the corner of her sheer nude glossy lips. “The Alpha King has left the pack and soon his son will follow.”
Dymian cupped her cheek before turning away from her. He beckoned Rovell to lend him his ear while they communicated privately at the desk.
-
-THIRD PERSON’S POV- “What is this hustler’s name?” Seff engaged Jarvaldo with the business card in his hand. He rose from the chair and his foot knocked over the empty communion wine bottle. It clinked and rolled on the floor. “He goes by the pseudonym of Shekel Moneta,” Jarvaldo divulged. “Give him a call. Tell him that you’re my guy.” Seff stopped the bottle with his foot and bent over to steady it on the floor. When he straightened, he took out his new Android phone to make the call. He wasn’t in the bullshit today with Jarvaldo. He assessed the business card and whispered the contact details: 1 000 EZE BUCKS Looking back at his phone, Seff procrastinated at the dialpad section. Doubtfully, he punched the digits. He knew he got the first part right but where was the rest of the numbers to complete the standardized ten-digit contact. Seff grimaced, pursing his lips. “E. Z. E. ―” His crimson eyes narrowed as he searched the number keypad for the words to press. “Where are you ‘
-VALEN'S POV- “Guys, why did you block the mind-link?” I slid open the rustic barn door to the twins’ rec room inside their cabin. An orchestra of boisterous chatter and laughter pervaded the air. I grimaced with disapproval when I saw the dickheads lounging in front of me in their black aircraft carrier chairs with big-ass, ridiculous-sized red headsets on. They were yelling and shit at the screen of the platinum televisions with game controls in their active hands. Crashing, explosions, and shooting gun noises reverberate over the surround sound system, rattling the single-hung windows. Wentz, who was at the edge of his seat, leaning forward and pressing hard buttons on his remote, suddenly jumped in the air with a triumphant “Ahoo!" With a wide grin, he stared at the screen, finger-slapping at his victory in blasting up the high tower while the others continued operating with deft fingers in their chairs. “Attention!” I boomed over the auditory chaos. Everyone quickly pressed
-VALEN'S POV- “Alpha, we’re lock and loaded.” Theo’s perky voice bore into my head. “Good. Standby. I'm waiting for Dev.” I related, pulling at the black lace on my leather tactical boot. My black combat pants and shirt were already on. I dressed in a flash because I was hoping to have maybe ten minutes with Raina before we left. It was to tell her that I loved her. To remind her that I’m sorry about our baby. To pledge that I would never leave her. To assure her that I’d be closer to her when I got back. To comfort and hold her in my arms a little. Through the mate bond, she was troubled, angry, and ridden with waves of grief. The way she cried out for our child would haunt my dreams for the rest of my life. It was a deep, heart-wrenching scream that sounded like her soul was being ripped apart. This mission had me irked because it was taking me away at the exact time when she needed me to be there for her. The motherfucking Worgens. I will kill them all. “Dev, why haven't you
-RAINA’S POV- Where on earth am I? As much as my head buzzed, I tried to concentrate and avoid the blinding sun. I held my temples. Quite frankly, I did not think using the teleportation ring would work. I was somewhere on Earth. The buzzing slowly receded and took with it the dizzy spell. At least I thought I was on Earth. Detached single-family houses with picket fences surrounded me while I stood on the sidewalk of an empty tarmac street. In front of me, my eyes ran up the peach and mustard yellow Victorian-style manor in God knows where. My heart palpitated with uneasiness. Did I truly want to do this? After talking with Mercedes, two things were inevitable ― my life had an expiration date and my bond had a betrayal date. And, of course, there was the war. Biting my bottom lip, I quickly mulled over the thoughts in my head for a second. My internal argument stoked up a writhing pit in my gut. Dropping my hands to my side, I blew out a long breath and curled my hand aroun
-RAINA'S POV- Her benevolent efforts to circumvent my will were non-effective. I decided to fill her in on crucial details, despite my desire to spare her the whole story. “A war is coming.” I kept it simple. “They want my wolf and I have been through too much because of who I am.” The priestess scratched her sweaty, brown forehead. Her fixated russet eyes pitied me. “Why not just hide her then? Your mate could do that.” “Valen won’t. He needs to bond with his mate, remember?” I mumbled and tucked the ring into my shorts pocket. “Well,” She thinned her lips and folded her arms, thoughtfully. “That’s a good point, but it seems that you are dragging me into your lover’s disagreement. He obviously doesn’t know what his little queen is up to.” A short silence fell over us. It wasn’t awkward or unsettling ― it was guilt-ridden. “I’m doing this for me.” I coaxed, squaring my shoulders and striving to remain deadpan. “Our bond is unfortunate, which means that Valen and I will eventuall
-RAINA'S POV- “Hurry and go back before he gets here.” The high priestess pleaded, her flitting eyes running all directions of the manor. Creaking noises quaked everywhere in the house. The cypress hardwood floor trembled, and French windows began shattering. His aura was spiraling out of control. “Go now!” She yelled at me, freaking out. I nodded. Slowly she backed away from me, staring at the ceiling as the boards cracked. Fido shifted into a white owl to land on her right shoulder. A protective white circle enclosed her. Hastily, I shoved the angelite eggball in my pocket and retrieved Devin’s ring. Holding the teleportation ring in my hand, I held it up. It was hard to think properly with all the awful commotion around me. Frantically, I rubbed the square-shaped onyx stone on the white gold ring. I closed my eyes, advocating, “Take me home.” Nothing happened, and the ring was snatched from my fingers. I froze as a frost-biting shiver traveled down my spine. “Grrrr!” It wa
-RAINA’S POV- “I'm done,” I admitted, eyes getting misty. “If there's no Hera. The Worgens won't have a reason to come after me. They will remain at a disadvantage that might save thousands of lives.” I lowered my heel. “I did what was best for everyone. If giving her up means that you and I are over, then so be it.” “Raina, we could have done it differently,” Devin interjected on a sad note. He leaned his left forearm on the wall to support his bracing posture. I ignored him. “So you stole Devin's ring to do this wicked act!” Valen blasted. “You are heartless.” “It's not like that. You betrayed me first.” Although I knew he wouldn’t understand, I tried to explain. “Besides, Snow told me that I died. That's how you ended up with her. Your family is with her.” “It’s always Snow this and Snow that. Snow is not the fucking problem, Raina. She never was.” He bellowed, adding a palm to his forehead for a second and dropping it to his side. My heart throbbed as we stared at each other
-RAINA’S POV- The noxious wind howled like a horror movie interlude at midday. Its gothic gale rushed in and out, eddying and swirling into the scallywag atmosphere. Despite that eeriness, we got in Venus’ white McLaren and headed to Noveast, downtown. “This is like old times!” Azara sing-song cheerfully from the back seat of the car. “Oh goddess, we haven't hung out in months.” I hummed, mindlessly gazing out the window from the passenger seat. Venus chuckled around the steering wheel as we cruised the highway. “Don't dwell on that stuff. We're going to the skateboard park to cheer Raina up.” “I'm fine.” I drawled. I've been telling everyone for the past few days, but they insisted on dragging me into activities that will make me feel better after losing my wolf. They were right. How could I be fine? Snow stole Hera. Artemis abducted my child. Valen was angry at me. It hurt in a whipping way when he retorted that Hera was his mate, not me. I haven't seen him since then. Merc
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