LOGINRAINA’S POVThis time, no one could stop my mate.Valen’s murderous gaze locked on Connery. He moved lethally fast, and his claws slid free with a metallic shikt.“She's the red…” Connery never got to finish, as a stronger force bulldozed through us like a death god.Alpha King Vance was on Connery before anyone took their next breath. His powerful hand clasped around his throat, lifting him clean off his feet.“You disrespected my Luna Queen and me when you disregarded our command and barged in here,” Vance growled, low and final, and slammed the man’s back against the wall. It cracked, spidering out from the impact. “Such audacity!”Patients gasped and thrashed. Breaths turned sharp and ragged as fear rippled from bed to bed under the king's billowing aura.Connery choked, kicking, fingers clawing uselessly at the iron-blooded strength of the king.“There's a limit to your insolence,” Vance roared, his voice like flint striking steel as he dragged Alpha Dick out.I could picture his
VALEN'S POV“You announced our mate's pregnancy in the worst way possible!” Zeus cursed me, adding to my headache and guilt. “People will think we're ashamed of her or something!”‘Screw them!' I spat, not giving two shits about these gossip hounds.“You're not the one who suffers from their gossip!” My wolf growled, irked by my short-sightedness.I hated that they were right, but they were. Everyone was cautious about what they said to the king, but they always whispered open judgments and criticisms about his mate.Everyone had an opinion on everything, and these Elders would speak theirs regardless of whether you wanted to hear them or not.For once, I didn’t know how to begin.Almost as though the bond alerted me, my gaze wandered down the ward and caught Raina walking towards our small huddle. Her eyes drifted from left to right, taking in each patient as she passed, whispering heartwarming assurances.By the time she tried to go around our group, I extended my arm and carefully c
VALEN’S POV“Clear a bed!” I barked, bursting through the doors of the cramped quarantine ward.Heat, antiseptic, and a metallic mixture hit my nose all at once. The high scent of disinfectant barely masked the musty smell of sweat and sickness.Nurses in white biohazard suits rushed back and forth. Voices overlapped in a frantic chorus in the flurry of activities. Groans, hurried footsteps, and the clatter of metal trays pervaded the room.“Another one coming in!” announced the nurse, dashing past me with an armful of supplies.“It’s Alpha and the Beta!” another exclaimed, crouching by a patient on the floor, checking his pulse.“Move! Hurry!” sounded like Grandma, although I couldn’t see her.Beds lined the walls. Others were dragged into the center. Some of the warriors, rangers, patrol, and Elites were lying on the floor with IV bags hanging from makeshift poles.The Worgens arrived after me with Raina and Penn. Gustav had a convulsing Mercedes in his arms.Venus, standing near a r
RAINA’S POVSomething, no, someone came out of nowhere as my butt hit the ground.A powerful high kick struck the rogue’s rib. The rogue’s body sailed sideways with a sharp yelp. It crashed hard into the dirt, skidding in a spray of gravel and leaves.Gustav landed before me in one smooth motion, and I nearly let out a sob of relief. He squared his shoulders and watched the unmoving rogue for a moment before turning to me. He didn’t even look winded.That’s when he rushed over to me. He bent to stretch his hand out to me.“Time to go, Kokkino.” His words jolted me out of my catatonic state.In that moment, I channeled all of my fear and panic into something else called courage.“I want to save the rogues, like we did with the Bolivian wolves,” I said, raising my hand and grasping his.Gustav shook his head slowly as he tugged me up. “That was mental interference. This is corrupted blood. Vast difference.”I stood on my feet and raked my hair back, staring him in the eye. “Take me to t
RAINA’S POVAs luck would have it, my senses gave me plenty of time to break Devin’s grip and let a dagger fly, dropping the demon spawn at a safe distance. A second one appeared, and a moment later, it dropped beside the first with my other dagger.“Are you infected?” I asked as fear and panic squeezed my heart. I moved quickly to get in front of Devin and stooped. “Show me where.”Devin lifted his head, contorting his face, and his wild eyes swished around, gasping for air. He was scanning the trees, the slope, the arch. Everywhere. He was searching for something. A way out of danger, perhaps.If I had my Glock, it wouldn't be so bad, but I was defenseless.I placed my hand on his shoulder while my eyes roamed all over his sinewy body, checking for abnormalities. “I don’t see a bite.”That was a good sign, right?“What about blood and slime? Did anything get on you?” I stared at him in horror, waiting for an answer—for something.His eyes weren’t on me when he shook his head, breath
VALEN’S POV“We 're-we're fucked because of her?” Mercedes shouted angrily over the mind-link.I pressed my lips together as fierce protectiveness swelled within me, when suddenly a group of Elites rushed into the opening, rifles in hand, aiming and firing at the rogues.As soon as they saw me, they crowded my space, with their backs to me, keeping guard with their guns.“Your Luna,” I enunciated coldly, “is not the one attacking. She has fought in every battle to protect our people. If darkness comes for us, she will be the one standing in front of it, not the one bringing it.” I closed the link after that, blocking Mercedes out. Enough of her.Metal clicked and loaded around me as gunshots echoed. The Elites weren't letting any rogue get near us.Gunshots died, and my men remained watchful and vigilant.Rogues lurked behind trees, keeping their distance for a while, and I knew they were simply waiting for the perfect timing.“Stop firing!” I forced myself to breathe through the met
-RAINA’S POV-“Mercedes, I am going to drag your ass off this ship.” I launched over the white U-shaped couch, landing on the cushions and charging after her.Her eyes widened in fear and a shocked squeak escaped her lips, but she could not get out of Valen’s grip.A Wonder Woman force rose in me as I
-RAINA’S POV-Cursing, Valen paced the passage and spun toward the wall. Suspecting he was going to punch a hole into it, I palmed his chest and rubbed his biceps.“Did the Elders tell you to court Mercedes?” I had to ask.He sighed and lowly admitted, “They put it on the table and I declined. The Elde
-RAINA’S POV-I blushed at his hungry expression and slowly licked my lips before moving up to straddle Valen’s lap. He reached up and raked his hands through my hair, sending the cool tresses cascading across my back.His rough hands slid down my back from my shoulders to settle on my hips as he pull
-RAINA’S POV-“What is she doing here?” I demanded, swinging my probing eyes from Valen to her. “We have a full staff, and we’re not hiring.”Mercedes feigned a chuckle and muttered sarcastically. “Funny.” She smirked with iciness in her brown eyes. “You were so loud last night that I barely slept, Ra







