-VALEN'S POV–Raina stirred beneath my arms. Zeus purred, as I nuzzled my nose on her mate mark, lightly nipping on it.I was a bastard for wanting to wake her up because I wanted her attention. It was that simple. Venus mentioned that she had been sleeping for the past three days and I couldn’t bare another minute without her.Determined, I rubbed my thumb up and down the side of her cheek, trying to gently coax her out of dreamland.“Mmm.” She moaned and shifted. I enjoyed the soft sounds of contentment that she made in her sleep as her muscles loosened and relaxed."Raina ―" I whispered, watching her facial expression change and twitch as I slowly pulled her from sleep. "Time to wake up, baby.”Arousing from slumber, I watched her eyes flutter open. She lifted her head and stretched out her arms and legs.“Good morning, Bluebella,” I whispered, kissing below her ear.She shivered, twisting her body to lay flat on her back. A few straying strands of her burgundy hair lay on her face.
-RAINA'S POV-Hyperaware of my arousal, I gazed upwards into Valen’s dilated pupils and parted my lips. He pressed his lips on mine. I welcomed him into my mouth, hoping it would lead to passionate lovemaking. His tongue stroked my insides, slowly and lazily as he took his time devouring me.The furor of sparks awakened in Valen’s kisses, melting any form of estrangement. His long, disheveled black hair tickled my cheeks. He groaned with his lustful emeralds on my lips. He wanted more.Pulling away slowly, he kissed each of my cheeks, followed by the tip of my nose. Teasing him, I walked two fingers up his biceps, across his broad shoulders, down the hard planes of his pectorals, and finally, around his nipples.Valen drew a long hissing breath.I giggled. It was exactly the reaction I desired.The scent of his lust incited the ache in between my thighs. My desire for him escalated. It was the on-again, off-again bond that worried me. Yet, I chose to relish the sensation of his mouth
-RAINA’S POV-The first white card was from Alpha Rowling. He expressed many thanks for being able to make it home in time to attend to his Luna and their new baby girl, Evonnie. He'd like to host a celebration event for me with his Elder Council to attend. He also appealed for a royal blessing from his Luna Queen to his daughter.The second peach card was from Alpha Femoris, Mercedes' father's pack. I side-eyed Valen before reading the content. I was wary of him when it involved Mercedes.The Alpha congratulated us on our mating and would like to invite me to Canada for an honorary luncheon with him and his Elder Council.Lastly, I hesitated to open this one from Alpha Kain. Valen's skeptical eyes were practically burning holes in me.“I'm not leaving till I see what he wants.” Green with jealousy, he fussed. “Wasn't it enough that you were there for a whole week with him? An entire fucking week.”Side-glancing at him, I countered, “I was there with my parents.”"Kain's always wanted
-RAINA’S POV-Claws emerged. I gasped when Valen flashed them down my camisole, ripping the flimsy garment from my body. They hooked into the waistband of my thong and it became history.“I love it when you are this needy for me, Raina?" He rasped, licking his lips. The racy look on his face entranced me."I've never wanted anything as badly as I want you," I whispered, gandering into those gorgeous green eyes. My fingertips caressed the peaks and valleys of his well-defined abs. My heart pulsed in a frenzy as I watched him. “I miss you inside of me.”Something feral flashed in the eyes of the Alpha in front of me. It’s euphoric how much my body responded to it.Valen pressed his thumb on my right nipple, letting it circle in a clockwise motion. My breath quickened. My nipples tightened. He repeated the same to my left one with his other thumb. My senses went wild.“Angh!” I curved my index finger and bit down on it as my body zinged with sensations. My heart pounded like a battering
-VALEN’S POV-"Valen." She purred out my name in a softened way like a horny cat.Just like she had called out to me over and over again whenever my tongue had taken comfort between her thighs. I liked how my name sounded so tender between her plump, salacious lips, but I was a fraying thread and moments away from snapping.Thighs quivering like a damn leaf from the intensity of her previous orgasm. Her pink little pussy is slippery with her juices as I stare down at her. She was such a fucking tease, and now she was going to get what was coming to her. I licked her cum from my fingers.She was radiant and beautiful. So fucking delicious and tight. My throbbing cock was rock hard as fuck, and I wanted her cumming on it.To calm the raging urge to plunge hard into her and fuck her mercilessly, I drew in a deep breath of her intoxicating arousal on instinct. Taking in a lungful of her needy scent, I raised up on my knees and removed my boxers to free my erected cock.I almost lost my lo
-VALEN'S POV-Teleporting into my parents' house could always be risky. Manifesting in the living room lessened the possibility that I might not barge in on them doing the nasty. Something churned in my gut at the awful memory of how many times I have caught them. Blah! I shuddered and shoved the images out of my head.Today, thankfully, the coast was clear. The scent of roses filled the house. It was homely. Zeus stirred within me. We missed Mama Wolf.Hearing a fridge door open and close, I headed to the kitchen with a smile. Mom placed a bowl of baked turkey legs on the counter.Nyx suddenly pranced from midair to Mom’s side. His big white head nuzzled into her side as he looked up at her. His curling tail switched from side to side, excitedly.“I felt you come in.” Mom lifted her head, smiling with the warmest love in the world. Her hand automatically patted Nyx’s white head. “We're alone, but your Dad should be here any minute.”She left the counter and I watched her take out a pl
-VALEN’S POV-“The Elder Council has requested an emergency meeting for tomorrow morning.” Mom said, pulling out a black upholstered chair from the black square-shaped breakfast nook by the bay window. She sank into it solemnly.“Whoop-de-fucking-doo.” Dad joined her with a grim sigh and uttered sarcastically. “With all the free time that we have in the world, of course, we can just clear our hectic schedules for them. It’s not like we have over a hundred thousand stray wolves to attend to.”Sharing Dad’s sentiments, I scoffed. I leaned against the island knowing this was coming. An emergency meeting denoted that they weren’t happy.Together with the Alpha King, the Elder council established the law in the days of old. It was always wise for a king to have a body of advisors to ensure the objectivity of viewpoints and recommendations were highlighted to assist the king's decision-making.The hard-nosed elders wanted answers for everything that had happened, rumors and all. Simply put,
-RAINA’S POV-“My prayer is that our moon goddess will help us to grieve in waves. In this mournful period, it feels like the grief is crashing on us like an avalanche, but once we support each other and can be there for each other, the rapid flow of cold despair can melt into gentle healing waves that touch our souls. Soothing, warm waves that will heal us as we face each day together and get through it.” I managed to get through without weeping with as much as I could muster, despite the tightness in my stomach.These broken-spirited wolves made up twenty-seven packs in total. They were a roaring ocean of dread and sorrow. Its heaviness submerged me with overwhelming sadness as my eyes swept across the sea of dejected faces.I was a bundle of nerves as I mulled over things to say to them. At the same time, my heart ached for their suffering.“I stand by you because I understand your pain.” My daughter came to mind. “I know that your loss has been great, and you can’t work it away or
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
-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