-RAINA’S POV- Alerting sounds came from downstairs, reaching the sensitive parts of my heightened hearing. The rattling of dishes, the clanging of pans, and the clinking of utensils could substitute for an alarm. Someone was in the kitchen. I blinked sleep from my eyes and envisioned Valen making breakfast for me. Tall, hard-bodied, and devastatingly handsome as he worked that gorgeous body of his to feed me. An affectionate smile decorated my face from the flattery. Maybe I should relax in bed and wait until he brought it up on a tray with a rose. He could rejoin me in bed to cuddle like last night. A happy bubble grew in my chest. "Go find our mate," my impatient wolf, Hera, whined from missing him too. Because she could be so damn persistent, I threw the covers off and sauntered to the bathroom to freshen up. My nipples felt tender and delicate. Valen groped my boobs all night, twisting around my areolas, and slept with his nose in my hair, enjoying my scent. It’s visible that
-RAINA’S POV- Dad sipped his coffee and instantly averted his gaze at the kitchen window over the sink with an inscrutable expression. “Stuff.” “Really, Dad. That’s all you are going to say.” I should not be surprised. I supposed they would not tell me anything. Do I have to start training for Luna Queen before they begin to include me in everything? I was sure that I had been brought up somewhere in their conversation yesterday. Dad whipped his gaze back at me. “Well, your behavior was a very serious topic.” He came to sit beside me on the tall bar stool. His tone was with authority and firmness. “Sweetheart, we need to have a conversation about the fact that you could be in danger. It’s time for your reckless behavior to stop.” “How am I reckless?” My brows knitted at the accusation. The explanation needed to be forthcoming from my father since I could not demand one from Alpha Vance. My head turned to the right to look at him as I munched on a strip of bacon. “The adventures
-RAINA'S POV- Speaking in a place where everything echoes back to you was a true interpretation of real loneliness. Hera’s agitation prevented me from relaxing in the living room. Constantly on edge, her whimpers were like a microphone feedback that was maddening me. Dad left me alone in the cabin after being summoned by Alpha Vance. I knew that they’d be talking about the white-haired woman and the precautions that would be taken at Dark Wolverson. Thoughts mulled over in my head. Villainess Snow wasn't terrifying. She seemed rather inclined to let Vaheed die, but why? What did she have against my best friend? She could have easily killed me when I chased after her on Monday. Yet, she didn't. Instead, she warned me. Friend or foe. I did not know what to classify her as. Come to think more of it, was she the moon goddess? If she was, I must say that I was not impressed. What is she up to? I was pacing the green carpet of the room, back and forth, wondering if Valen would be alright
-VALEN'S POV- "This is impossible," I thought aloud, wracking my brain as we investigated my brother’s missing profile. "Nope." Devin disagreed, standing at the end of the second white, rectangular, folding plastic table that contained the helicopter scraps. "It's happening." Devin had spent the night with Cheryl in the adjoining cabin so that Raj could have his room at mine. We left the abode before sunrise to assess items in the evidence room, regarding the chopper that crashed. We missed breakfast but this was how it was whenever critical situations arose. It was just one of the bungalow-looking storage houses where Mercedes converted one of the rooms into an examination space. Two good attributes about her were that she was very efficient and proactive. Getting through the wreckage materials before Raina woke up was my way to avoid having her here. As well as to not have her getting upset over my officially declared missing brother. "I’m still having a hard time believing tha
-VALEN'S POV- "Hey man," I could see that he needed rest. "Are you alright?" Devin gazed at me oddly, "Of course not. I need to get laid." "I thought that was no longer an issue." I understood his sexual frustration. "Cheryl complains that I am too rough and she’s being weird." His face saddened. “I know that we have a casual affair but I’d rather she be honest about what’s going on with her than to have me confused.” Hurt inlaid his face. “One minute we are good and fucking like animals and the next, she’s withdrawn.” “So, what happened last night?” I continued to query him. His responses were clipped. “We argued. I left and went for a run. I came back. She was crying and refused to tell me why. We argued again. So I went hunting.” “Is it possible that she’s in love with you?” I noticed the way her swooning smoky eyes wandered to Devin when he wasn’t paying attention. A reprehensible expression morphed on his face. He repelled the idea. “I vowed never to love any woman. Cheryl
-VALEN’S POV- "Valen….." "It's Alpha Valen to you," I snarled and straightened my posture. Mercedes stopped at the first table where the exploded tail of the chopper laid. In her right hand was a cardboard drink carrier tray with two white customizable takeaway cups in it. Her black V-neck blouse with open buttons revealed plunge cleavage. The black and white plaid mini skirt was at thigh level to display her defined legs. A failed attempt to rouse my lust. She let out a hard breath and adjusted her tone, shifting the weight on one leg. "Devin…." "It's Royal Beta Devin….." I snapped, cutting her off. Her presence irked my bones. Zeus truly disliked her. It was time she learned a lesson. "Now start over." Ruefully, she glanced down at her hands. Then, she squinted her eyes with disapproval but submitted as she should. "I understand that you are selecting individuals to be on the rescue mission. I was informed that my name did not make the list." "And?" I exhaled a lung-full of i
-RAINA'S POV- “Don’t go near her,” Hera warned me. Unmasked, the long, pearl-white, wavy-haired woman sat on a light brown boulder in the middle of the open cave. No. It was not the person that I expected. It wasn’t Villainess Snow. Nonetheless, with my back turned to the roaring sea, I squared my shoulders and stared at the smirking woman. A coil of dread rolled inside of me because she was a threat and I was alone at goddess knows where. The sea-brine air brought with it a vicious rainbow swirl that caused my hair to hitch over my face and flow to the right. I raised my hands to immediately clear my face to keep my eyes fixated on the stranger. I hurriedly brushed the straying stands backwards. It's another woman who bore a similar resemblance to my nemesis. Maybe two inches taller, but thinner. Her face was powder white, and a small glittering rose gold feather at the third eye. Dark shell pink painted her cupid bow lips that faked a smile. It was so friendly and warm that it
-RAINA’S POV- Fortifying myself for their next move, I released my painfully bleeding, red-coated, dislocated shoulder and tried to get up. Hissing and grunting, the task was most challenging. A shivering fear enveloped me because my inability was pretty obvious. “I see you have come to join the party,” I satirized in an uneven tone. “I warned you.” Villainess Snow stood inches from my feet with condescending blue eyes like I was the sorriest thing alive. The line of our blue gazes met coldly. Snow growled in anger and turned to the other woman, squaring off with her as though she hated her guts. The cave walls vibrated with dust and stone particles falling onto my shoulders and hair. I lowered my head to avoid anything else getting into my eyes. It befuddled me since I thought that they were friends and she had come to get her share of whooping my ass. I peered intently at both women. As a sign of the day's direction and breadth, animosity rolled out like the red carpet. Wistful
-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
-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