-RAINA'S POV- The malevolent presence stood still. My trembling, weak hands covered the wound. Blood geysered through the cracks of my overlapping fingers, intertwining with them as they pressed on the severe gash on my right leg. The thick, warm, sticky, dark crimson liquid coated them, crawling under my nails. It would not stop bleeding. Consciousness was dwindling. Reality blurred. The agony was extremely excruciating. The pain and sorrow of the pack amplified in my chest and I clenched my teeth grunting, drowning under a tidal slaughter that felt like it would burst out of me. “Are you going to watch me bleed to death?” I hyperventilated, focusing on the need to control the leaking flow. Yet, the hellish man made no move. Whenever I blinked, my heavy eyelids wanted to stay shut. My heartbeat decelerated to a thready pulse. My lifeforce will end in a matter of time. Terror and despair put a pit in my stomach. Several low voices projected into my head: “Raina, where are you?
-RAINA'S POV- The vile Worgen teleported me, again! As the wind whooshed by the mouth of a cave, I could hear the opera of susurration produced by the bonny waves below the precipice. He strode inside the dim den and I surveyed the surroundings. The mossy-gray walls were lighted with luminous lichen. The air was humid, moldy, and a bit cold. Ew! I cringed from the scent of bat droppings. My stomach convulsed as vomit threatened to burst out of my lips. I pursed them. Once he put me down from his bulging shoulders onto the rough, basalt ground, my fists punched him in several hard spots. Quickly, he snatched my hands, jerking me to stop. Panting laborious, I demanded. “Where am I?” I have had my share of caves. Ahead of me was darkness that went deeper into the hollows. Behind me was the white, bright light of escape. He stared at me silently. His red predator’s gaze was unwavering and the heat of them emitted radio waves of a murderous intent. I saw only blood and death in them
-RAINA’S POV- The Worgen sighed and put his hands into his white pockets. “It’s a long story.” “Well, isn't it obvious that I won't leave my mate for you?” I retorted, putting too much force behind it. I had to bend over and put my hands on my knees to reinforce my body. “Nonsense. Why would I be here with you and not him? Where was he to take care of your wound? He was not there when you kept having nightmares in your sleep and I took them away. Neither was he there when you were dying,” he replied sardonically with a flat gaze. “I deserve you more than he does. So, tell me I have permission to court you and I shall.” “People are dying and you want to flirt!” My blood boiled and I straightened my posture to send him the heat of my eyes. “I feel their pain in my heart.” I clutched my chest. “Everyone deserves to live.” I didn’t miss what he said about my nightmares, but I wasn’t going to get into that. Not now. “My obligation is to you. No one else,” he commented, hard and rigid.
-VALEN’S POV-“Val, hurry up down there.” Devin mind-linked me using his teleportation ring.“Well, it’s a great summer party down here. Want to come?” I was annoyed and couldn’t help the sarcasm.Inside the abhorrent funnel-shaped sinkhole was like a trip to hell. Diving through the fathomless, gloomy void and plunging into a deep sputtering fire pit, I struggled to get beyond the volcanic flames. It compressed against the invisible force field that Zuzu enshrouded me in, threatening to end my life.The magical energy shield kept me safe from the hostile crustal movements and any toxic scents that were fusing. Nyx ensured that my oxygen revolved in the protective barrier. Otherwise, I would have died.After an almost never-ending journey down the macabre inferno, I burst through a thick nebulous fog that thinned out into a craggy, turquoise-blue cavern. This was another dimension and the portal ahead of me resembled a swirling geode with crackling, red electrical streaks that whipped
-RAINA’S POV-“Why do you want a war? Can’t we negotiate?” I stalled. My mind scrabbled to think of a way to get out of this.“The war is revenge against Selene. It's about being the black sheep and wanting to kill her favorite children.” He explained with one arm folded and he tapped his nose. “Murdering all of you hurts your goddess. Maybe she’ll have to come herself to stop the war and save her wolves, Raina.”“So that’s your agenda ― to force Selene to show herself?“You are my agenda and I know all of your secrets. I also know things that might interest you.” Gustav gloated while flicking the mussed veil of white strands from his forehead.“What good is a bond with me when I lost my wolf?” I realized that his ultimate intention was to use me as leverage against Valen. I bit my lip, writhing in suppressed fury.His hand froze and then he stooped before me. “There are remnants of her within you. My brother will still come for you because you will have to tell them what happened, and
-VALEN’S POV-Back stroking through the air, Raina’s body fell like a flailing fledgling. The entire time on my flight upwards, my eyes shifted back and forth from her to the white-haired man above her. Panic threatened to seize control of my mind.“Get to her, Valen!” Zeus roared, even though he understood my steadfast resolve.I huffed with zipped-up determination and increased my thrust.Striving to deter my flight, the enemy threw black bomb balls at me. Once they sailed past Raina, I counteracted by flashing out an energy wave with my right hand. Boom! Boom! Boom! Each one of them exploded into amber flames and black smoke.This repeated three times before I reached Raina. Her back slammed into me and I grabbed her around the waist while I narrowed my eyes on the descending Worgen.Swiftly, I gripped the Worgen’s wrist. I tugged and twisted it, and rapidly slammed it into his chest with such a powerful force that sent him backflipping away from us.My flight ceased, and I hovered
-VALEN’S POV-Directly after I teleported Raina to Mom’s chief medical office, I mind-linked her that Raina was safe and with me. No matter how much I tried to put Raina on the bed to lie down for examination, her arms would not unwrap from my neck.“Don’t let go.” Her heart was racing at an incredible speed.So, I lifted her trembling legs and let them encircle my waist with one hand under her buttocks, holding her. I kissed her temple, leaving my cheek on hers.“I didn’t want to ― I didn’t mean to ― Valen,” Raina repeated with a low cracking voice, sniffling. Her moist button nose pressed into my neck.My free hand caressed the length of her back in an attempt to give her warmth and security. I whispered in her ear. “It’s okay. You’re my strong queen. You had no choice.”Her clothes were soiled with dried blood and grime. Plus I wanted to quickly check her body and in this state, I was hampered. It hurt to see her like this. I was feeling a lot of things and Zeus reminded me that he
-VALEN’S POV-“Um―” Raina faltered as she stared at the ceiling.The acknowledgment of her regret hit me. The sorrow she felt nearly knocked the wind out of me. My heart spasm in my chest thinking that the kiss actually happened.“He―” Her head turned towards me with a pained expression.Waiting for her answer, I squeezed my eyes shut and pinched the bridge of my nose. A throb of anger pounded on my temples.“No.” Raina’s blue eyes were very guilt-ridden, and my anger deflated just a notch.“The fealty requires that he swears his sword to you, and then you will have to kiss him on the lips to seal the bond.” Mom’s eyes hardened on me.“Like fucking hell!” I cracked cynically as my veins pulsed with unexplainable rage and my fist made another hole in the white wall.It wasn’t enough. My frothy wrath needed release, but it seemed that more and more anger bubbled inside as I lost control.Him kissing her ― touching her. My mate? Mine! Every thought of that kiss occurring jabbed me in the
RAINA'S POV-“When your Grandma said she would keep my snow globe safe, she really wasn't kidding,” I muttered with sarcasm as I walked down the dark passageway. Our feet thudded on baked black mud with its walls decorated with brown-black, twining, trunky vines.Leading with a torch in her hand, Pennelope chuckled and then uttered with dramatic emphasis, “Grams never—and I mean never joke around.”“Your home is creepy as hell,” I swear the big vines moved sometimes.Witches' houses were truly a haunted horror for intruders. You could get in, but only the goddess could help you to get out. A modicum of dread weaved through me, but with Penn here, I thought I would be alright.Get it together Raina.It's amazing how the home could transition from a lovely spacious cottage on the upper floors and then descend from the basement into a whole murky forest with thin, white smoky ghosts popping up here and there, whooing around. Ancestors, Pennelope called them.Marlena told me the snow glob
VALEN'S POV-Zeus' volcanic rage was swarming me. It was hard to control him like this. I never expected Devin's revelation to propel my wolf into a hissy fit. Vaheed's attack on my best friend left a bitter taste of betrayal.Not to mention, his actions with Raina were incomprehensible because he was marked by his own mate. Once again, my brother was after my mate. Why? I thought we passed this stage, but no. He’s a damn dickhead who has gone off the rails.“Alpha, did you get the new location?” Jason’s voice came through the communication earpiece.“Yeah,” I replied in a not-so-nice tone. “We’ll move in five.”Nuuk, Bahia Blanca, and Isiro were fruitless. This was the last sanctuary that was on our agenda to investigate. However, Heidi had found that this one in Waipu had a branch in the United States. Pennelope also confirmed high amounts of camouflaging magic that were widespread across the town. All of its energy waves pulsed from that synagogue.I stood to the side with my rifle
VALEN’S POV-I caught Jason standing from his chair with his head down. He was scratching his forehead with his palm blocking most of his eyes, but I saw them sneaking upwards to watch out for my reaction.Guilty as sin. He had to be the culprit who provided the girls with everything they needed, including war gear, despite that he knew how we felt about our women on the battlefield.I growled at him.“We're coming on the mission.” Venus was always the boldest to speak first.With hands on my waist, I rebuffed, “No, that's a negative. You've been up all night, and it’s two a.m., plus the Howl De Lune cannot be planned by itself. The team and I will be gone for days.”“Cleo and Mom are here,” Raina argued, failing to see my point. She shrugged and emphasized, “I’m safest when I am with you.”“Mom left you in charge.” As I spoke, my feet crossed the space to draw closer to her. “Everyone else has to be here to assist you. Besides, the Bolivian and Ugandan wolves rely on your presence. Y
VALEN POV-“This coffee is shit,” Theo’s deep grumpy voice complained, almost spitting the liquid from his mouth after taking his first sip from the cup.“Too bad, I thought it was the perfect flavor for you,” Jason sassed with a cocky grin from around his grand U-shaped desk with the multiscreen computer system up and running.“You are the greatest hacker I know, and you can build the most advanced techno shit. That you can do, but you can’t make a damn good coffee?” Theo exaggerated, gesturing to the hot cup in his hand.Jason huffed and turned his head back to the computer screens, typing away on the keyboard. “Screw you.”“I would, but not today. You’ve got to buy me a beer first,” The Gamma twin jested back and stepped over to Azara with the coffee in his hand, giving it to her.We were at the IT Hub, which was Jason's domain. It was a fawn-colored, single-story federal house located across from the Training Center. He worked hand in hand with the Gammas, being our eyes from the
VALEN’S POV-I side-eyed Gamma Blayne furiously. He immediately bowed his head and averted his gaze.The stench of blood got stronger, permeating my senses, causing my legs to speed up. I can't stand the thought of any more of our members getting hurt or killed."What the hell..." I trailed off as I inched closer, crouching down and examining the line of dead bodies. It was just downright sick and twisted to use them for a ransom note effect.A chill entered the air that made everyone shiver. Raina’s eyes widened at the gruesome sight.Venus gasped, going pale with a hand flying over her mouth. “This is barbaric.”All their necks were slashed by claws and two of the deceased were used for the punctuation marks. Reading from left to right, it stated: ‘We have not forgotten, and we are coming for her.’Gamma Blayne crouched at the lifeless body next to me. He touched the wound on the man’s chest, inspecting it. “The gashes aren’t as deep as you’d expect, but this one got a double tap en
VALEN’S POV-Together, Theo, Thaines, Jason, and I pushed forward in our wolf form. Leaves and twigs crunched under our pounding paws. The sight of the full moon took its turn in the sky and the faint wind skimmed my fur.The grim sound of battle reached my ears long before we reached the outskirts of the station. We arrived united, skidding to a halt as we met the bloody scene with hard eyes and fangs bared. The air was thickened with the stench of sweat, blood, and death. Gruel residues of combat.Looking around the field for a target, the sounds of gnashing teeth, angry snarls, and painful shouts that had previously filled the air vanished with the rogues that swiftly fled through the tree line, leaving an eerie silence.“Cowards!” I roared internally, anger filling my veins.“Go now! Don’t let them get away!” Gamma Blayne shouted orders to a specialized team of elite wolves to pursue the escapees. He stood naked, heaving and curling his hands into fists, and his head whipped to spo
VALEN’S POV-“What’s my Alpha doing in a place like this?” Albert the old bartender had the nerve to joke as he wiped down the triple-fronted bar counter with a chuckle.“It’s a bar. What crime have I committed?” Although he was jesting, I was in a foul mood.Arbitration Day with those bumptious Alphas has finally ended. Things at Alpha Camp were going well with Valiant. Devin’s still in his coma and Raina seems to be in a bad mood. She was madder than a fucking hornet and shanghaiing my mental space.Yesterday, everything went downhill. Devin’s condition showed no change and I did not find the damn Worgen. I came here to clear my mind from the weight of failure that settled over me.All I wanted to do was head to Raina’s room and hug her. But knowing that she’d probably bring up Mercedes again, I detoured here. The thought of her name made the beer in my hand so damn distasteful. Out of panicked desperation, I’ve been spinning my wheels all day to come up with a way to get through to
RAINA’S POV-Theo bent and picked up the folder. He placed it on the desk and fell back into position.The file contained four candidates. Me being one of them. It depicted the Alpha cabal, who represented seventy percent of the werewolf kingdom, voting on whom they advocated to be Queen. Mercedes gained the highest votes, while I had a meager one percent. I saw Tallulah Rumer’s photo, an Alpha-Female from the Rym Greyback Pack in New Zealand. Next was Kristen, the Alpha-Female Valen pitted me against in the sparring competition for the world to see.Then there were pages of signatures and pack seals to officiate the petition in demonstrating which candidate held their favor. This was the beginning of an uprising. It could plunge the kingdom into chaos if Valen’s choice upset them.My heart chipped away at the daunting situation. Mercedes bowed her head to hide the gloating smile that curled on her lips.Okay, I see you Mercedes.“Your Royal Elders marshaled me for the task. Their old
RAINA’S POV-"Oh, goddess!" Venus squealed at us, after entering the loft with Mercedes, dragging her by the ear. She dramatically threw one hand over her harlequin eyes while maintaining her hold on the girl."Damnit Venus! Can't you knock?" Valen snapped, clearly still riled up from the hormones stirring between us. He quickly yanked up his sweatpants, though the bulge was quite prominent."How was I to know that this would be going on in here!" Venus yelled back, keeping her hand over her eyes. “Who would ever bang in their kitchen?”“People with mates, little sis,” Valen replied low and gruff, and I sensed the shift in him.My face blushed bright red in embarrassment. I reached over and grabbed my shorts, clumsily slipping them on while sitting on the counter. Once I was mostly covered, I was ready to jump down. Valen's large hands gently grasped my waist and quickly helped me down to my feet."Of all the people in the world, why would you bring Mercedes here, Vee?" Valen asked, t