-RAINA’S POV- The stinking villainess placed her palm at the side of her mouth and leaned forward in the mirror to whisper, “I heard a rumor.” Snow spoke clearly despite that black mask that she always wore. There was a hint of a smile underneath, judging by the way the corners of her blue eyes crinkled. “What?” I blinked several times, thinking I had gone absolutely mad. Was there really a woman in my mirror? For a wolf, how can she do these things? Was my mind playing tricks on me? “You and Valen called it quits.” She taunted with emphasis. “Girl, what were you thinking? That man is fine as hell! Wrrrao!" She purred like a Catwoman, clawing coquettishly in the air. "He's stacked like a deli sandwich. Yummy!" A possessive growl escaped me and I clutched the two ends of the mirror on my dresser. Hera and I wished to rip her tongue out and feed it to a pride of lions. The yellow polyester sheet around my waist fell to my feet in a bundle. "Cover yourself." Snow pointed a rotatin
-RAINA’S POV- The black bottom of combat boots drew nearer and nearer to the back of my head. Crap! Rolling over, I caught the shoes, using full strength to keep it from smashing into my face. "Didn't you notice how easy it is for me to touch you?" Snow jeered, pulling her foot out of my grasp and swiftly coming at me again. Stomping down her foot like a hydraulic press, I rolled to the right, barrelling across the room to miss the stampede. Then she teleported back to the dresser. Hurriedly, I got to my feet and spun on my heels to face her. Both of my hands quickly combed through the disheveled strands of my burgundy hair to clear my vision. Snow’s hands were behind her back. She stood on tippy toes with an arrogant squint. Without masking my disdain, I assumed a semi-crouched stance with my fists raised in front of my face, ready to throw my haymakers. Snow stared at me with damning scorn. “Come at me.” All of my warrior training cropped up in my brain. Strategizing my next
-RAINA'S POV- Hera? Silence. She was truly gone. There was nothing left. I was an empty shell. A soulless vessel. I was tired and about to jump off a limb into a lost world. Humanity. Without my Hera, that’s what I would become. Human. Sitting on the shower floor, hugging my knees, I was at my wit's end feeling powerless. The well of my tears had dried up to leave me with a hollowed heart, black and oooing like a ghost town. Whimpers escaped me. I felt so weak and numb. I could not feel the artificial rain that doused me in the shower. How much more will you take from me? Moon goddess, won't you give me my wolf back? Won't you help me overcome Snow? Every interaction with her brought me some form of misfortune. How much more will you make me bleed? Suddenly, my shower door slid open. My heart hitched. My breath caught in my throat. My eyes grew impossibly wide as I beheld the large malign figure. My puffy eyes traveled up his long legs that were packed tight with muscles
-VALEN’S POV- Someone left a peculiar gift on my office desk at Alpha Camp. After teleporting from Dark Wolverson, I took a shower and was militantly dressed to lead the team. Then I headed over here after mind-linking the guys for a short meeting. They were currently loading up the Black Hawk chopper. Desperately, I wanted to channel my wrath into some action before I did another stupid thing. I scratched my forehead as I looked down at the item. Undoubtedly, the guys thought that this was funny. It was not amusing. Someone had a death wish and I was in a foul mood. But I’ll soon find out which one of the guys did this. No worries. They would be here soon to discuss the search for Vaheed. We were going to infiltrate a few zones today. We’ve been busy with preparations. Now it was time to discuss strategies and location. In anger, I took up the pocket pussy. I examined the object, not with interest, but with the utmost revulsion. So, was I to use this fake toy in the interim unt
-VALEN’S POV- Heartbeats picked up. Fear germinated and flight set in their disingenuous features. All eyes averted from mine. Carson's eyeballs rolled up to the ceiling, flitting left to right. Wentz blocked his whistling mouth, aimlessly staring through the window. Theo cleared his throat shifting uncomfortably in his seat and scratched his forehead. Thaines with his permanent scowl, observed the three uneasy men to his right and folded his arms. “Don’t make me ask again.” I narrowed my gaze with intent. Three shaky fingers threw cowardly Theo under the bus. Beads of sweat formed on his forehead as he slowly raised his bowed head to meet the fire in my emeralds. “Go in the fucking corner and use it. Thaines, take a picture and send it to Azara. Now!” I commanded in my alpha voice as I turned the joke on them. Theo and Thaines' cognac eyes gorged from their sockets. They exchanged horrified glances. Ridiculous. They gave me the ‘are-you-serious’ look. “What are you waiting fo
-VALEN’S POV- “But I ―” Mercedes pressed. This was ruining my day. When will she get the picture that I was sickened of her and cease her dastardly deeds? “May I speak with you in private?” Her once-wide smile disappeared behind pinched lips and desperation filled her gaze, almost looking constipated. Devin scoffed with disgust, rubbing the scruff of his jaw and his austere blue eyes landed on me. She was still trying to get on the team. Her attire was battle-ready to match ours. Dense as lead, she stood behind the tub chairs, waiting for me to hear her jillion of petition. Nothing worked with Mercedes. Her shame tree was chopped down long ago. I might need an advanced degree in female decryption with a minor in how to get my rejection across effectively. She did not know that I found out that she was the one who set up Alpha Chapman to harass Raina when she was last here. She would avoid me if she knew what I had in store for her. Fuming with aggravation, I glanced at the time
-RAINA'S POV- Our eyes locked. His ominous red shot like a pointed edge blade at my flitting blue. Goosebumps peppered my pale skin with my heart racing and anxiety high. The hairs on the back of my neck stood on end. Hands trembling with the mobile phone at my ear, I opened my mouth to speak. "V……" Calloused hands went over my mouth as he teleported behind me. Cardamom and amber swirled high, enveloping me. A pulsing rage of electrifying energy surged through my body. From top to bottom, the feel of his muscular frame scorched my skin like blue fire. He grabbed the phone, disconnected the call, and tossed it in the middle of the untidy bed. Then he released me. Despite the riveting waves that thrilled me, I whipped around to face him. The bulk of my burgundy hair mussed in a swing to rest on my left shoulder. Before I could land a hit, he swiped a palm in front of me and my fist froze in the air. I gave him the cruelest look as I realized that my body had frozen for a second ti
RAINA’S POV- The starkly Valen-look-alike male hesitated with the dagger in a throwing position. The silver blade glinted in his hand and the wretched silence became ferociously sullen. He froze with blazing eyes burning at me in a chilling hush. In slow motion, his head slightly tilted as one of his brows raised. If Dad tried to enter the room, he was going to kill him and I could not do anything about it. A thick icy bubble of dread sat in my throat as my heart rate accelerated. I swallowed my nerves and my mouth released a soundless ‘please.’ Dad perused my bed and was about to enter the bedroom to check on me. One foot stepped forward. I whimpered from the invisible lock on my body, fearful that the bad guy was going to hurt him wickedly. Dad wouldn’t have seen the harm coming at him. “No.” I croaked, feeling ashamed and useless as the worst daughter in the world who was subjecting her Dad to death. My eyes swung from him to them. Like invisible fingers running down my spine
VALEN’S POV-I side-eyed Gamma Blayne furiously. He immediately bowed his head and averted his gaze.The stench of blood got stronger, permeating my senses, causing my legs to speed up. I can't stand the thought of any more of our members getting hurt or killed."What the hell..." I trailed off as I inched closer, crouching down and examining the line of dead bodies. It was just downright sick and twisted to use them for a ransom note effect.A chill entered the air that made everyone shiver. Raina’s eyes widened at the gruesome sight.Venus gasped, going pale with a hand flying over her mouth. “This is barbaric.”All their necks were slashed by claws and two of the deceased were used for the punctuation marks. Reading from left to right, it stated: ‘We have not forgotten, and we are coming for her.’Gamma Blayne crouched at the lifeless body next to me. He touched the wound on the man’s chest, inspecting it. “The gashes aren’t as deep as you’d expect, but this one got a double tap en
VALEN’S POV-Together, Theo, Thaines, Jason, and I pushed forward in our wolf form. Leaves and twigs crunched under our pounding paws. The sight of the full moon took its turn in the sky and the faint wind skimmed my fur.The grim sound of battle reached my ears long before we reached the outskirts of the station. We arrived united, skidding to a halt as we met the bloody scene with hard eyes and fangs bared. The air was thickened with the stench of sweat, blood, and death. Gruel residues of combat.Looking around the field for a target, the sounds of gnashing teeth, angry snarls, and painful shouts that had previously filled the air vanished with the rogues that swiftly fled through the tree line, leaving an eerie silence.“Cowards!” I roared internally, anger filling my veins.“Go now! Don’t let them get away!” Gamma Blayne shouted orders to a specialized team of elite wolves to pursue the escapees. He stood naked, heaving and curling his hands into fists, and his head whipped to spo
VALEN’S POV-“What’s my Alpha doing in a place like this?” Albert the old bartender had the nerve to joke as he wiped down the triple-fronted bar counter with a chuckle.“It’s a bar. What crime have I committed?” Although he was jesting, I was in a foul mood.Arbitration Day with those bumptious Alphas has finally ended. Things at Alpha Camp were going well with Valiant. Devin’s still in his coma and Raina seems to be in a bad mood. She was madder than a fucking hornet and shanghaiing my mental space.Yesterday, everything went downhill. Devin’s condition showed no change and I did not find the damn Worgen. I came here to clear my mind from the weight of failure that settled over me.All I wanted to do was head to Raina’s room and hug her. But knowing that she’d probably bring up Mercedes again, I detoured here. The thought of her name made the beer in my hand so damn distasteful. Out of panicked desperation, I’ve been spinning my wheels all day to come up with a way to get through to
RAINA’S POV-Theo bent and picked up the folder. He placed it on the desk and fell back into position.The file contained four candidates. Me being one of them. It depicted the Alpha cabal, who represented seventy percent of the werewolf kingdom, voting on whom they advocated to be Queen. Mercedes gained the highest votes, while I had a meager one percent. I saw Tallulah Rumer’s photo, an Alpha-Female from the Rym Greyback Pack in New Zealand. Next was Kristen, the Alpha-Female Valen pitted me against in the sparring competition for the world to see.Then there were pages of signatures and pack seals to officiate the petition in demonstrating which candidate held their favor. This was the beginning of an uprising. It could plunge the kingdom into chaos if Valen’s choice upset them.My heart chipped away at the daunting situation. Mercedes bowed her head to hide the gloating smile that curled on her lips.Okay, I see you Mercedes.“Your Royal Elders marshaled me for the task. Their old
RAINA’S POV-"Oh, goddess!" Venus squealed at us, after entering the loft with Mercedes, dragging her by the ear. She dramatically threw one hand over her harlequin eyes while maintaining her hold on the girl."Damnit Venus! Can't you knock?" Valen snapped, clearly still riled up from the hormones stirring between us. He quickly yanked up his sweatpants, though the bulge was quite prominent."How was I to know that this would be going on in here!" Venus yelled back, keeping her hand over her eyes. “Who would ever bang in their kitchen?”“People with mates, little sis,” Valen replied low and gruff, and I sensed the shift in him.My face blushed bright red in embarrassment. I reached over and grabbed my shorts, clumsily slipping them on while sitting on the counter. Once I was mostly covered, I was ready to jump down. Valen's large hands gently grasped my waist and quickly helped me down to my feet."Of all the people in the world, why would you bring Mercedes here, Vee?" Valen asked, t
RAINA’S POV-"Morning, my beautiful Bluebella," he whispered, wrapping his arms around me while I cooked at the stove. "Smells delicious.""Good. I hope you’re hungry," I trailed off as he nuzzled my neck.My breath hitched in my throat as I stared back into his eyes. My stomach flip-flopped."Valen," I moaned. "Don’t make me burn our breakfast. Get the plates."He grumbled, and without moving his body away, the front of his body bumped against the back of mine as he reached his hands up to the black metal shelf to take down two square plates and put them on the left counter.Then he hugged me around the waist, resting his jaw on my shoulder, and angled his head sideways to look at me. My heart fluttered wildly."Baby, you didn't have to do all of this," he said softly. “That’s what the kitchen staff is for.”"Nonsense, I will feed you when I feel like it," I replied with a smile.He just beamed at me. “You’re amazing. I know it’ll be as good as it looks,” he remarked while his hands
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 infuriat