-VALEN’S POV- Raj, Dad, and Devin, in wolf form, approached us. Devin’s mustard yellow with grey ear tips was the first to come near us, while Raj’s fully oxblood wolf and Dad’s larger alpha-black wolf observed us. Hera spared them no any attention. Her intention was to get enough of me, as much as she could, before Raina snatched her time away. She began to swagger awkwardly, stumbled twice, and then steadied herself so she could pirouette around me. I happily indulged the thunderstorm of furry playfulness as she pranced joyfully and jumped up to lick different areas of my body. “Sweetheart, you look amazing,” Raj rejoiced with a laugh through the mind-link. His wolf strutted over to us and sat on his rear, commemorating his pup. “Congratulations, Raina,” Dad appraised, staying in the same spot with Devin at his side. "Mine," Hera purred. “I’ve got you, Hera.” I marveled at her flawless beauty and smiled at her while rubbing her mane and replied with love glinting in my eyes, "
-THIRD PERSON'S POV- "Bless me, Father, for I have sinned." "Indeed, child." Dymian retorted in the confessional as he swiped the viewing slot to glare at her with his garnet-red eyes blazing. "You went against my wishes." Angrily, he glared at her on the other side of the booth. Farrah gulped nervously and pried her gaze from him. He wasn’t wearing the ceremonial mitre hat today. Instead, he managed to let his short curly pearl-white hair fall over his forehead to cover his guardian mark of three small purple squares that formed triangular vertices. "I had good reason. She was in my hands until another showed up." Farrah lowered her head in shame as she related the earlier events as a sacrament of penance. The sun was still up when she entered the Renaissance chapel. Briskly she rushed through the nave and bypassed the waiting line of five people. With urgency, she entered the reconciliation room to report to Dymian. Cruelly, she opened the door of the confessional and invaded t
-THIRD PERSON'S POV- Dymian fixed his eyes on Farrah, knowing her points were valid. The guardian cubes on his forehead glowed. He pursed his thin peach lips and uttered, "Then we'll have to get rid of her. No one will stand in the way of our plans." If that bitch was Selene, it made sense that she'd keep the red wolf away from us. She was a source of power for them to harness. Therefore, it made them remain weak, because that was the state that she left them, comatose and power-drained. On the other hand, there was the option to meet and have her reinstate their status. Dymian would not take the peaceful road. He was hellbent on revenge. A taste of the red wolf's blood surged so much power through Farrah's system. She had regained a power increase for a minute until the other white-haired bitch sucked it out of her. "Must we kill the moon goddess?" Farrah inaudibly inquired, testing him. She believed they ought to be merciful towards their creator, despite the grudge they had towa
-VALEN’S POV- Zeus didn't know how to handle Hera’s disobedience. We were still by the stream because Hera refused to shift back. He wasn't used to anyone telling us no. Not even our mate. He found himself getting angry. He didn't want to be dominated or challenged by his moon-blessed. He'd have to rein her in if she was adamant about remaining in her wolf form. Baring canines, her lengthened incisors punctured her bottom lip as a feral rumbling escaped her. Glowing fuchsia eyes looked up at Zeus. "Hera, shift!" His alpha tone radiated power. At heart, Zeus preferred to care for her instead of dispensing his aggressive side to his mate. She whimpered from the impact and covered her face with her paws. I let Zeus employ his dominant methods because he was right. I needed Raina back. She must have gone unconscious during the shift, which caused Hera to assume full control. Zeus felt the need to put her in her place and have her submit. Hera snarled, whipping her head to the side as
-VALEN’S POV- My jaws dropped in shock and perplexity. "No!" Disheartened, I shouted and began pounding on the dark walls of my windowless wolf's mind. This had to be some kind of a nightmare. All the motors in my mind were stuck in disbelief. The news was a bitter pill to swallow. "I know that it's the last thing that you want to do, but your mate bond has to be severed for the wolves’ endless heat to end." Dad pleaded earnestly. "If you can hear us, please understand that it's the right thing to do." "I won't!" I yelled with disapproval, gritting my teeth. I can't give up Raina. I loved her very much. It was unreasonable to request that of me. Anger streamed through my veins. This was the part where I would shift into my wolf and go running to blow the steam off. Or at least, rip something to pieces. In the darkness, I had no outlet. No way to vent. As a result, the fury mounted as the duress overburdened my mind. "Valen, please listen to me." Mom took a turn to speak to me, v
-RAINA’S POV- Funny how, in fairy tales, things may go horribly wrong. Nothing is ever accurately depicted since everything got twisted upside down and inside out. The thin line between love and hate was crossed. It was so much easier to hold on to the bitterness when the pain of rejection was a constant reminder. Humiliated. Shattered. Humbled. The rejected Luna Queen. All of these represented me and I made the headlines on social media as well as in the newspapers. It was three days later and the wound in my heart was fresh. She-wolves joyously commented on Valen’s bachelorhood. Many expected the elders to convene for a claiming ceremony to be held or at least issue letters of candidacy to Alphas, whose daughters they thought would be outstanding Luna Queen prospects. In a rapt buzz of togetherness, the werewolf realm sang their way through the summer haze. Their droning and raves saturated the air with a tincture of annoyance that understated a terrible bitterness. On the f
-RAINA’S POV- Not everything that contains sugar is sweet. Not everything that comes from above is a blessing. “It would put you in a better position if your mating was done immediately,” Alpha Vance stated in a calm tone. He was deflecting things to make it look like it was in my best interest. “I agree,” Mom consented, looking down at Dad, who nodded. I can’t believe that my parents were in on it too. I listened, thinking that it was unfair that they all kept deciding what was good for me. After our wolves had sex for four months, I should have been impregnated. I wasn’t sure if I was. The thought of carrying Valen’s pup would complicate the situation between us. What was the rush anyway? Valen knew that I needed space, but obviously, they didn’t take my breakup with him seriously. Valen was the deceptive wrapping of an artificially sweet bond. Devoured and bleeding. The barriers crumbled whenever I was around him as the walls kept caving in. My feelings were a smoky illusion
-VALEN’S POV-It’s over?Yesterday, Raina said it was over.What the fuck?Why should I accept that?My heaving chest was loaded with the uncontrollable rage my wolf discharged in me. It accompanied a persistent desire to take Raina, hold her close, and carry her far away from everyone. She'd be available just for me."Get your ass up, Theo!" I roared. My eyes swept the training ground at all the shirtless alphas at Wolkrane, I needed more of them to challenge me. "Carson, Delroy, Wentz, Lawrence, Santiago, Chen, and Pierre, join the ring."Red was the color of the day.Five naked and bloodied Alphas laid unconscious on the dirty ground and were being pulled away. I stood in the center of the sparring field to unleash every ounce of fury inside of me. I woke these suckers at three this morning since I couldn't sleep.Heaven’s fireball was high in the sky. Hafts of its rays drowned the island in heat. Everyone wore only shorts. Well, they've been training and now it was time to test th
RAINA’S POVSlinking inside the Alpha suite with night vision goggles, I crept up to the king-size bed to see Valen tossing and turning in his sleep.Why wasn’t he dead yet?Moving surreptitiously to the side of the bed, I was thankful that my black leather catsuit blended well with the darkness. As quiet as ever, I held my sword tighter, angling it in a left-plow position with the long edge up.Committed to the assassination task, my blow had to be quick and precise, piercing the heart. I cannot miss this golden opportunity.Standing exactly beside the nightstand, I glanced down at the ripped muscles of his heaving chest. Grunting, his sweaty head shifted from side to side. His face twitched, and his closed eyelids flexed as he breathed jaggedly in his sleep.Cardamom and amber surrounded me, the potent scent wafted straight from the source into my nostrils. A mouthwatering scent, so maddening. Perilously beguiling. The bond beat against my chest like a bone-crushing drum. The physica
VALEN’S POV“Raina is hurting.” Penn interjected, finishing up and discarding the cotton in a bin.“I saw the pain in her eyes when she saw Snow with your baby.” She gazed sadly at Devin and added under her breath. “I can imagine what that feels like.”My Beta averted his eyes to the side of the room, avoiding hers, suddenly unsettled as he scratched behind his ear.I blew out a hard breath. I did not care about what was up with these two. Raina was priority. The mate bond wrenched at me in a silent cry from her that only I could hear. Missing the softness of holding her hands and basking in her endearing presence, hugging, touching, gazing—I just can't go on without it.“I'm pissed too because the future hasn't changed and at some point, you'll give the dick away.” Devin aired bluntly. “How could you? After all those times you swore to me…”“I'll never cheat on Raina.” I cut in sharply, darting daggers at him.Unconvinced, he huffed. Then he spoke again, his voice quieter. "She loves
VALEN’S POVMy eyes snapped open, looking up at the wooden beams in the ceiling in confusion.This was Wolkrane.I can’t be here. Not when I promised Raina to be home by 9 P.M. daily. My head pounded with hazy memories, and I missed her pleasantly cool scent so badly. With her beautiful burgundy...Oh, fuck!I bolted up from the bed, and pain exploded on my side, spasming up and down my torso. Immediately, I glanced down at the three stitches that I just accidentally ripped, blood trickling down my side and into my gray sweatpants.Angry at myself for not knowing how long I’d been asleep, I yanked the IV line from my arm.Cursing silently while gritting my teeth against the agony, I barged out of the bedroom, ignoring the trail of blood I left on the umber-weave pattern of the vinyl plank flooring.Dizzy waves swept over me as I descended the stairs, determined for someone to tell me that it was a damn nightmare. That I imagined it all.“Where is she!” I roared, bulldozing into the sm
RAINA’S POV“Kókkino, I don't know,” Gustav replied with understanding in a low voice. His words lingered, heavy with an edge of doubt. “The sword should have taken his life.”I swallowed hard and confessed dejectedly, “I wanted to believe him, but he can’t be the real Valen.”Gustav hummed thoughtfully and moved to the foot of the bed to remove my shoes.Flashes of the harrowing hurt in the last Valen’s eyes made my forlorn heart sink deeper and deeper. It seemed nearly genuine, yet it was not. It was a mask to get me to lower my guard. I was glad that I didn’t let the bond derail the mission this time.My eyes trailed to my guardian, and I expressed, “The timekeepers were so cruel. This is my ninth trial, and if he's not my Valen, he'll kill me again. As an anomaly, they've cursed me to die over and over.”“Then I will protect you,” Gustav swore, putting down my shoes at the bedside while his gaze met mine. The sincerity and promise were clear in his voice.“How long do you think I
RAINA’S POV I lingered behind Gustav as we arrived by teleportation at a sprawling lakeside manor. With urgency, he stalked off down a corridor that cut straight through the house. I broke off into a little jog to keep up with his large strides. Walking by his side, I felt curious and apprehensive about where he had taken me. Warm tones guided me through the great hall. Feeling antsy, my head pirouetted in the unfamiliar environment. Gaping archways revealed sitting rooms, recreational rooms, a grand dining room, and others. Each was filled with soothing terra cotta tones from walls painted in red earth color. “Nice safe house,” I remarked as he led me up the winding stairs, overwhelmed by the sheer size of it.Layers of vintage finds, painted artwork, and houseplants created a classical, inviting effect across the spaces. Together with white and green accents, the wall's reddish tone produced a muted color scheme that brought a diverse range of furniture pieces in a harmoniously b
VALEN’S POV“Grrr! You are not needed here,” I growled, feeling my skin ripple, pinning the man in place with a murderous glare.“The nerve of that Worgen,” Zeus snarled in my head.Nyx and Zuzu swayed their attention to the obnoxious intruder, waiting for my command to attack him.“Stand down, Nyx. Do not attack him, Zuzu. Hibernate,” Raina commanded them, her back constantly bumped into my chest from her struggle against the grasp I maintained on her arms.It was a shock to see my guardians revert to a leisure position, debunking their fight mode.Raina averted her eyes to the man in full white. “Get me out of here, Gustav.”“Careful, Bluebella. Do not deliberately make me jealous. My wolf is unsettled as it is. You are mine,” I muttered into her ear, and she flinched with resistance.Swinging her sabre-rattling eyes sideways, she expostulated, “I’ll chose him a million times over you, you fake bastard!”What the hell was this?She was protecting him—choosing him?Wanting to go with
VALEN’S POVThe portal spat her out with a thud on the floor of my sanctum in a disheveled mess.“Mate! Mate! Mate!” Zeus purred, going into overdrive to touch what was ours.Thank fuck.“Ugh!” She groaned, landing face-down, and something clattered on the floor.My body jumped to life as her rich scent wrapped around the entirety of my being like thick vines.“She came back to us!” Zeus’ rear end started to twitch and wiggle in excitement to see our beautiful mate.Gladness pumped my heart wildly, and my feet moved briskly before my wolf shouted at me to go to her. Zuzu flapped her giant wings in flight towards her regular spot on a custom-designed tree branch in the corner.I rushed towards Raina, dropping to my knees and gently grabbing her shoulders to help her to stand. My heart danced with delight when the sparks erupted across my palms from the skin-to-skin contact.“She’s back,” Zeus howled in my chest with joy and enthusiasm, jumping up on his two hind legs.Raina's legs gave
VALEN’S POVEighty-four hours.Three and a half days.It’s been that long since I’ve been home and without my precious Luna. Precious time was being wasted when I should have been able to go after her. That knowledge and helplessness weighed heavy on my chest, obstructing every labored inhale.Detached from everything, I wallowed in heart-shattering misery.With a deep scowl, I ran my thumb over the inscriptions of the golden bracelet as my mind worked overtime. My brain felt like it was on a treadmill, unable to stop.At this point, my eyes were hooded and void and my brain wasn't far from becoming the same. Frazzled and throbbing.“You’re the reason she disappeared.” Zeus snarled in my head, castigating me for putting Vaheed over our mate. He rambled, “If we weren’t away, we would have been here to stop her. I told you to leave him alone, but no, you had to go and bring him back. Are you trying to make us mateless?”My throat was too parched to argue with him.The worst had happened
VALEN’S POVAll their heartbeats rose, thundering against their chests. Devin quickly scurried over to the witch’s side.My eyebrows met. My face scrunched up and I pointed at Penn. My voice was incensed, and my teeth clashed together. “You let her go?”They visibly sagged under the weight of my temper. Anger pulsed through my chest, the upcoming headache didn't help his bitch fit either.“Well, I—um, I, er,” Pennelope stuttered and Devin frowned, spinning around to cup her face before facing me again.Letting out a breath of disbelief, I felt like my whole world was caving in. My vision went spotty as I pictured Raina lost and on her own in an unfamiliar world, and this witch did nothing to help her when she had the means.“It’s not that simple. I tried to stop her…” Penn explained, shaking her head, and went into more detail, stumbling over her words. “...once she saw Snow, she decided to go AWOL.”"Slow down, Penn." Devin guided me because at this point she was mumbling, and I didn'