-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
-RAINA’S POV- "I am only interested in the white-haired woman. I must find her.” Valen-look-alike slowly prowled down the side of the bed to come around to me. Shit! He was really in my head. My throat tightened with my eyes never leaving him. "Yet you came here to harass me." My hands dropped to my side and I panicked breathlessly. Sweat spread between my breasts. "Because she was last here." He grated from the foot of the bed in a flat, emotionless voice, but his piercing eyes were the opposite. "Well, she's not here anymore. Leave!" Rattling, I recoiled as he got menacingly closer. “I am of no help to you and you won’t share what you know about that hussy.” He snarled. “Don’t you fucking call her that!” His deep baritone rattled my entire being. “Grrr!” Defensive much! Angry vermillion eyes sized me up. The ill-laden air stilled for three seconds. I hoped, wished, and begged for this face-stealing troll to disappear. Growling, he took up a pillow and ripped it in two. Fluffy
-RAINA'S POV- Great puffs of air blasted from his nostrils as his vision tunneled with black rage. Fangs peeked through his sinful lips like a hellhound. Stalled in all movements, my chest felt like it was splitting in two as his palm pressed hard into me. Clinching my teeth, I grunted in agony. The weight of his hand served as a reminder to me of his indomitable masculinity and my impotence to stop him from physically abusing me. "Since everything is out of hand, I need to do something with you.” He raised his thick eyebrows and spoke so sinisterly slow that I quivered with dreaded anticipation. "W-what?" I sputtered while trying to bore my body through the wall. Damn this careless tongue. I digested the pain, bearing it silently. With his face lowered so close to my breathless one that I thought I might faint, I turned my head sideways to avoid my mouth being in his direction. With the hand that rested on the wall, he dragged his sharp claws in a descent, digging into the conc
-RAINA’S POV- "You have history books to learn about the Worgens." Hellhound Valen palmed his forehead. "I have already said too much. I shouldn't be here, Raina." "No," I argued. "You have all the knowledge inside of you. The least you can do to really help is to tell me what you know and how to defeat them." “You have the snow globe.” He removed his hand from his face, staring intently at me like a fire-breathing dragon. "Do you know about time manipulators?" "Like Snow. I know she has the ability." "Snow?" "Your mate, the white-haired woman." I deliberately asserted to see his reaction. It was an inkling that I wanted to confirm. He scoffed and was gruesomely silent for a few seconds. What? Did he dislike my nickname for her? He did not deny her being his mate. So that's who she was to him. I hated it. My stomach twisted. A cruel anguish burned my heart. "Is that all you can tell from interacting with her?" He sounded like a teacher in the classroom who was grilling me for
-RAINA’S POV- Cardamom and amber. The sweet scent wafted around me. At first, I couldn’t open my eyes when they felt so heavy like they’d been closed for months. Sparks and tingles cushioned me with warmth as I laid in bed on my right side. Feeling too comfortable, I was unable to move. My body was extremely exhausted. Yesterday. Memories crashed into my head. I shoved them away. I did not want to think about it. It was so surreal. Impractical thoughts reeled in my head that kept me twisting and turning all night long. I did not remember at what point I fell asleep after crying my eyes out about learning my dismal destiny. Thankfully, I drifted off into a slumber. Now, I squinted my eyes at the blinding morning rays that blasted with intense illumination through my bedroom windows. My headache worsened. How could I not have drawn the curtains last night? The beams picked on my eyelids, making it difficult to sink into another nap. Damn, I’ll have to get up. I groaned and jostle
-RAINA’S POV- With his dominant grip around my neck, Valen roughly pulled me into him and smashed his lips on mine. Silencing me with a rough feverish kiss, one that forced my lips open and stole my breath. Undaunted, he lifted me up and sat my rump on top of the dresser. His lips did not cease sucking mine as the kiss deepened, taking over my coherence. Crotch against loins. He eased up on the kiss, being more sensual and passionate. Then his hands coasted down my neck to settle on my lower back. The mate bond flared up with each intimate contact, stretching its leathery binds to further entangle us. Like a lightning bolt charging my skin, every fiber of my being became a conductor for him. My arms wrapped around his thick neck. He stroked his tongue inside my mouth with sensual licks, tasting and savoring. Our tongues twined in a chase game. His raw masculine scent of cardamom and amber settled over me. Slipping, sinking and drowning. It was one hundred degrees Fahrenheit in her
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.
-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