LOGINRAINA’S POVI couldn’t ignore the pain of watching the man, who normally put me above everyone else, become enthralled by another woman…leaving me to be nothing but background noise.“Is that all you’re going to say?” My voice came out low and broken.He did not look back or bother to give me a response.My heart clenched from the bitter humiliation, and the pain in my chest intensified.Has it really come to this?Still, part of me wanted to go after him, not to give up, although his determination was clear. My stomach churned and began to cramp as I watched him slowly climb the first step.This wasn’t going to end well for us, not if he successfully mated her.Theo wasn’t letting him off so easily, though. “You’re not setting another foot toward her.”Valen reached the last steps, only to be pushed back by the determined Gamma.My Alpha mate roared deafeningly, and it shook the ground.That didn’t deter Theo. He pummeled punches into Valen’s face, driving him backwards. With every h
RAINA’S POVThe blood rushed from Jiya's face, leaving her ghastly white. Her eyes flitted over the council. She swallowed, getting as flustered as a bee caught in a jar. Her confidence was completely gone.“I-I…I…” she stuttered, breaking out in cold sweat like a guilty sinner at communion. Then she broke into an arrogant rant. “So what if she has the moonstone? Her bond will never be blessed. One day you’ll live to see her bleed.”“Show us you possess the queen's authority,” Elder Victor pressed with calm scrutiny. “I want to see if you also have a connection to the moonstone.”“It is quite simple. Lift your hands and center your thoughts on the moonstone,” Elder Sybil tried to help.We waited and waited in the anxious silence.When Jiya hung her head, the audience grew restless, buzzing with murmurs.“Did we just corner her?” I asked, shifting my gaze to Valen. I was still holding out the moonstone, and my hand was growing tired.“Well, she hasn't tried,” he said softly, dipping hi
RAINA’S POV“If all things should be fair, I don't really have to dig into a clay pot, do I? I just need to get the osmanthus moonstone, right?” I queried, my heart beating at galloping speed.Elder Mitchell's mustache twitched as he opened his mouth, but it was Elder Victor who agreed, “That is correct.”Just like I wanted.I sucked in my bottom lip between my teeth as I swung my gaze to the galdron and then to Jiya. Elder Sybil stood next to her to support her stance, hugging her sideways.She was already healing, and she held up the osmanthus moonstone with a smug expression. “You don't have to do this, but then again, that will make me queen.”She laughed and coughed, choking on her insufferableness.I clenched my hands at my sides until my nails bit into my palms to ground myself.When Jiya was doing her test, I was thinking about the sacred Coyolxāuhqui stone. I remembered when Valen and I swore on it to never kill each other. At the time, we stood in the divine ritual circle an
VALEN’S POV “Wait!” Raina stepped out of my grasp, and they froze.Boos echoed from the crowd, and a low rumble escaped my throat.“What now?” Elder Mitchell gritted in agitation, throwing his hands up as he swirled around to her.“Watch yourself, Mitchell, before I make you bend your gnotted knees to her,” I growled thunderously, stepping past Raina with fist clenched.My eyes dilated, darkening on the old man when Raina's delicate touch stopped me solid. Her small hand on my bicep tugged me back.I huffed, tempering my rage and granting her my gaze. My pupils contracted, flickering back to their green tenderness.She wasn't looking at me, though. She had her gaze on the Elder, which vexed Zeus.“Please shuffle the pots. Valen and I were not here when the setup was done. Therefore, I would like for Elder Marlena to use her powers to rearrange the pots before each of us enters the glass galdron.” Raina requested firmly, before anyone else could rebut, she addressed my grandpa, “Elder
-VALEN’S POVAcrid fear bled from the crowd. I could smell the thick apprehension stuck on them like a leech. I knew they sensed the shift in my aura and were intimidated.“Weaklings and cowards,” Zeus thought, picking up every stuttering heartbeat and shallow breath echoing through the stadium.Wentz flinched but quickly disguised his fear, though his blue eyes were on the ground when he spoke with the right amount of respect. "As Alphas, we will carry out our duty by the Order of the Moon Goddess’ Will to ensure the one who shone can fulfill her role.”“All of your duties fall under the Alpha King and his heir. It might work out badly for you to stand up there and be part of this fiasco,” I gritted viciously, eyeing him with scorching intensity. “You’ve got guts standing there like I can’t throw you all in the damn galdron.”Carson gulped but stood defiantly, hardening his black eyes and keeping his voice leveled. "We are not defying you, Alpha Valen. But we should be allowed to vo
RAINA’S POVValen and I stiffened. My heart thundered to a halt, and my gaze jumped from Theo to him.My mate’s face hardened. He asked aggressively, “For what? I’ve heard nothing of the sort.”“That’s all I know.” Theo’s unsettling gaze shifted towards me.“I guess we will have to find out when we get there,” Devin said with concern, glancing at Valen.“It better not be another audition for the senior citizens’ soccer league. All they ever did was miss kick after kick, and I'm talking about hours into the game,” Theo commented judgmentally. “The ball stayed in one spot, literally.”“I doubt it's recreational.” I shook my head, knowing very well that they had to be up to something.“They're playing their hand,” Valen deciphered, low and caustic.“Already?” Penn asked in disbelief.Trouble squeezed at my gut, and I began fretting. My grip tightened on Valen’s hand, and I swallowed hard, feeling my heart thumping in dreaded anticipation.When it’s not one thing, it’s the other.I glanced
VALEN’S POVGustav snickered. His tone was clipped and choppy when he said, “It’s not about a timeline. It’s about survival, and maybe once you’re gone, the bond will shift to me. I’ll become her new mate and treat her bet—.”A broiling anger surged within me, demanding release. My movement was quic
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 thought
VALEN’S POV“Slap me.”Thwack!“Again,” Theo ordered his twin, turning his other pink cheek.Thwack! Thaines smacked him, but Theo’s disbelief refused to be whacked out of him.Repetitive growls sputtered from my chest as I paced the full length of Jason’s office, raking my hands through my hair.T
VALEN’S POVThaines brushed the rubble off Theo’s body as the cloud of dust around them slowly cleared. Footsteps of the emancipated clergy pattered behind us. I held up a hand to stop them from drawing closer. Alarmed, they muttered some prayer and made the holy sign across their bodies, watching







