-RAINA’S POV-The tingles from Valen's hands on my face were pleasing, and I knew he was taking comfort from the bond.Warmth fluttered in my chest as Valen gazed at me. His eyes were hooded with so much love and awe, trying to distract me from how much he was truly hurting. He was still weak, feverish and pale, unable to move from the couch.My brows furrowed, and my head tilted in confusion. “Devin is at Alpha Camp. I can't mind-link him at that distance.”Valen barely shook his head. Heavy perspiration trickled. He exhaled, very slowly, putting his faith in me. “You can. Just try.”At the same time, Mercedes came with a white, cold towel. She bent forward and lowered her hand to cup his cheek. I swat her hand away. She growled at me. I glared at her, fearlessly.In annoyance, I snatched the towel from her to place it on Valen’s forehead, patting lightly. Mercedes snorted and walked away to plop down on the other couch.“Visualize his teleportation ring—and mind-link him.” Valen soun
-RAINA’S POV-The powder keg was ready to explode, but surprisingly, Mercedes didn't have a saucy comeback. Instead, her shoulders slumped in defeat and she chewed on her lips, getting flustered. Her regular unbridled spirit diminished, appearing wounded even.“My head—be quieter,” Valen groaned.Although Valen had his eyes closed, his aura hit me stronger than it ever had before. The commanding pressure pushed to be obeyed as he rubbed his temples. Those two were getting on his nerves.I stood angrily with my hands clenched at my side. “You two, knock it off.” Irritation crept into my voice and both of them whipped their heads in my direction. “Go somewhere else with your arguing. Right now, you are disturbing your Alpha and I won’t have it.”Devin gripped her arm and gave her a hard yank. She stumbled into his hard body, scowling. You know, as I observed them, they could have made a great couple.“Luna, I won’t be long.” Mischief twinkled in Devin’s eyes. “Keep touching Valen. The b
-RAINA'S POV-“Rai.” Vaheed rasped out like his throat was clogged.With ragged breaths, Vaheed’s bare feet staggered heavily from the aft deck towards us with one hand over his chest and the other stretched out for help.My mouth opened dry and I became teary-eyed, watching him. The relief of finally seeing him after months of his disappearance was almost too much to bear.Blood coated his forehead as it seeped down his full-bearded face from an angry gash that littered around his arm and neck. He was still his regular height, extremely tall and towering, but he appeared gaunt and brown from dirt. He had lost a significant amount of weight, so much so that it was heartbreaking. All of his muscles were shredded down to a slim build.It drowned me in an ocean of dismay the more I saw his body. His dark hair had lost some of its sheen, and it was now a bit longer, brushing his collarbone, matted and in disarray. His upper torso was bare and filled with hideous scars, fresh cuts, and bru
-RAINA’S POV-“Devin, I thought you were going to keep me company.” I launched my voice through the mind-link, hoping for a response. “Dev?”Three seconds passed as I waited for a reply.Nothing.“You found it.” Vaheed’s voice snapped me out of the connection. His eyes softened and landed on the first aid kit in my hands.“Yes,” I answered with a smile, giving the kit a little shake. “Shouldn’t you be lying down?”He shrugged. “I’m feeling better.”How? I wondered. My eyes checked him over. With silver in his body, he would have fainted by now.“Well, you look like shit and smell like Swamp Thing.” I let out a tiny chuckle.Vaheed humphed, unamused. Bad joke, I guess.I stretched one hand out to him and bobbed my head to the side. “Come, let me clean you up in the dining room.”He stayed rooted and asked indifferently, “What's up with my brother? I thought he wasn't around.” He lifted his chin to look down his nose at me. “He’s unconscious. What happened to him?”“He, uh, er.” What sh
-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
-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-“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-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-I scoffed. "Save me your speeches. I'm tired, and I'm going to bed."Crawling into my side of the bed, I laid down and was about to pull the cream blanket when Valen yanked them away from me. I glared at him."Give me the blanket," I bit out, sitting up with my eyes narrowing at him."Stop being jealous," he insisted in a sharp tone, with the blanket in his hand.I scoffed again, "Who said I was?” I shrugged, swallowing the thick lump of emotion in my throat. “I don't care.""I know you are because, if I were in your shoes, I would be too.” He confessed in an ominous undertone, “To be honest, the guy wouldn't live.”My gaze drifted down his impressive form. Mountainous muscles covered his chest, dipping into cut ridges on his abdomen. Despite the anger, heartache, and humiliation churning inside of me, I wanted to rip those pants off him and throw him on the bed while I had my way with him.Redirecting my thoughts, I simply muttered, "Whatever. Keep the damn blanket."I f
RAINA’S POV-"She attacked me." Mercedes lied, curling into a fetal position with her hand on her stomach, pretending to be in serious pain.“That’s not true.” Again, the rage pulsed through me and I struggled against Valen, wanting to get back to hitting her. "Let me go, Valen. Let me go, and I’ll give her another good black eye.""Raina!" Valen shouted in my ear.I huffed and stopped when I felt him tighten his arms around me. When I relaxed, he let me go and turned me around to face him. His eyes scanned my face and when it landed on my bruised arms, his emeralds darkened.His jaw ticked when he turned to look at the she-wolf on the ground. "Mercedes, mind telling me how your Luna got bruised?""I don't know." Mercedes wheezed, sitting up and clutching her abdomen. "She almost choked me to death.” She gasped, dramatically. “I can’t breathe.""You'll live," Valen responded indifferently. He turned back to me. "Go back upstairs, Raina. I'll deal with you later.""But it wasn't even my
RAINA’S POV-“You must be bored out of your mind.” For a brief moment, Mercedes' brows furrowed deeply as she tried to analyze me. Then she sighed loudly and shooed me with her hand. “You are excused, Raina. I seem to have misplaced my interest in anything that you have to say.”"My words are for her, not you." It sounded pathetic to me as well, but it was the truth.She eyed me skeptically and rejected with disdain in her voice, “No. Your chatter is not on my to-do list.”Thankfully, I spotted a ring of keys on the wall and grabbed it. I fought with the faulty lock until I found the right one and swung the door open.Her expression quickly changed to down-right mistrust. "What do you want with my wolf?" she snapped."She’s mine." I stepped inside the cell, pulling closed the metal grill door behind me.Unafraid, she stayed seated, and her eyes lit up in anger. "Not yours,” she protested bitterly. "I pity you. Fucking pathetic.""Your habit of wanting everything that's mine is infuria
RAINA’S POV-“Thanks, Rai,” Venus sat up in her bed in her green, stain nightgown and gently massaged her left wrist in an up-and-down grip.Holding up the black bunny cuffs on my finger, I asked curiously, “Why were you tied to the bed? Don’t tell me that you were into some bondage sex, and he left you like that?”“You know very well that it would be the other way around.” Venus giggled, deflecting with a tilt of her head to the side.My interest was aroused by the untidy waves and ringlets of black hair that shrouded the sides of her flushed face and her eyes were puffy like she had a rough night.I jangled the cuffs to demand an explanation.“Which man would be brave enough to sneak into the Alpha King’s mansion to impale me with his ding dong.” She tapped her cheek and mischievously smirked. “But you know, that’s not a bad idea. I’d like to know what sex feels like before I’m one hundred years old.”“Okay, princess. But explain the cuffs.” I narrowed my eyes at her. I simply had t
-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.