SELENE POVThe aftermath of the battle was devastating. Bodies of humans and wolves alike scattered the town square. Ava and I walked arm in arm through the trails of bodies. The wolves who had not fallen shifted back into their human forms and together we scoured the battlefield for survivors. There were tears rolling down Ava's cheeks. I held her tightly to my side while holding back my tears, trying to be strong for my friend. At the same time, both of us noticed a wolf not far away trying to stand. We rushed to his side and as I got closer, I realized that it was Arlo. I gasped and dropped to my knees next to him. "Arlo!" I breathed. "Don't move, you're going to be ok." Arlo settled back to the ground and I watched as he slowly transformed into his human form. "Where are you hurt?" I asked inspecting his body. "It's just a scratch," Arlo said through gritted teeth looking down at a large gash on his arm. "There is another on your leg," Ava said wiping her tears away.
TOR POVThe sun had barely begun to illuminate the skyline when the Alphas and Betas from pack Talia and Zaire started to file into my council chambers. Cassius stood by my side, completely healed of his injuries thanks to Selene. I looked at him and gave him a nod. In return, he slapped me gently on the shoulder. It had been a while since I had seen my trusted friend and was glad to have him at my side. Magnus, the Alpha of Pack Zaire stood by the fire with his Beta Ira. Both were stoic-faced and silent. Pack Talia's Alpha, Ares, approached me and gripped my arm in a warrior's greeting before standing beside his Beta Kole. "I can't thank you enough for your assistance yesterday," I said gruffly, looking at Ares and then at Magnus. Magnus nodded his head but said nothing, he was never a wolf of many words. His pack was from across the plains and surrounded by large valleys. They mostly dwelled in caves and cliffsides of canyons. Many of the Zaire pack shared his features; his
SELENE POV "You're not going." I stared at Tor in surprise. But he just watched me calmly, as if he was already prepared for my reaction. "That's not fair, Tor," I said quietly. I leaned against the desk and ran my hand down my face, trying to calm my frustration. "I'm sorry that you feel that way," was Tor's simple and maddening response. "Don't talk to me as if you are so composed," I snapped. "Admit it, you are angry with me for disobeying your orders yesterday. And this is my punishment.""Of course, I am angry with you, Selene," Tor said in a tone on the brink of anger. "I told you to hide so that you would be safe. Yet, you continuously put yourself in needless danger."He took a step closer to me, his eyes like iron. "And no, this is not a punishment," he finished. I scoffed and shook my head. "I see now," I muttered, lifting myself off of the desk and approaching him. "Now that I'm your mate, I have also become some subservient slave expected to obey your ever
SELENE POVNight fell over Alder and I just finished eating dinner with Ava, Margo, Brielle, and Ellwood. We had been discussing the happenings of the past couple of days. But I was barely present as my thoughts were on nothing but Tor and my next move. After a lull in the conversation, I stood. "I think I'm going to turn in for the night," I said nonchalantly.The women bid me goodnight and before I left the dining hall Ellwood caught my eye and gave me a knowing glance. I gave her the barest of nods and slipped out of the room. At least Ellwood would know my plans and could tell the others at some point so that they would not worry for me too much. I made my way up to Tor's… our … bedroom and stepped inside. I slipped out of my simple dress that was covered in dirt and ash from today's work. Then I dressed in form-fitting leather breaches and a white cotton button-up shirt and paired them with dark leather traveling boots. I walked toward the large balcony doors and opened th
TOR POVI had stopped dead in my tracks the second that I felt Selene's presence through our bond. I stood there in my wolf form feeling for the direction that she was coming from, but it had disappeared. I thought my mind was playing tricks on me because this was the first time I had been away from her for so long since our mating bond had been consummated. But as we continued our journey, I continued to feel the same nagging sensation in my gut. Like she was so close, but just out of my reach so that I could barely feel her. On the third night, I stopped the pack for a night of rest. While we could have gone another night of travel without stopping, I needed to find out if I was going insane or if I was truly picking up on my mate's bond. After we found a secure place to hunker down for the night, Cassius approached me with a curious look on his face. "Kind of an odd place to stop for the night," he commented with his eyebrow raised. "What's on your mind, Tor?" I shrugged. "
SELENE POV Tor and I had retired to sleep without another word to one another, but he held me tightly in his arms as we slept by the dying embers of the small fire. It was dawn when I opened my eyes again and Tor was still sleeping with his arms wrapped around me. I watched him sleep for a moment. The regret I felt for my betrayal was potent, but I couldn't deny the calming peace of being in his presence. Softly, I ran my fingers down his chest and when I looked into his eyes again, he was awake and watching me quietly. "Hi," I said quietly. With an indescribable look in his eyes, he ran a gentle knuckle down my cheek. Without a word, he slowly unwrapped himself from my limbs and stood. I watched as he dressed and when it was apparent that he wouldn't be speaking to me anytime soon, I went about gathering my clothes. I took a moment to mend the shirt Tor had ripped off me last night with my magic before getting dressed. I had just finished tying off my boots when Tor finally sp
TOR POVI approached the group and heard Selene's words. "Thanks to Tor, I was able to find my true self." That is when she saw me standing there and swallowed in surprise. It had been ripping me up inside being so cold to her throughout the day, but I was still so angry with her for endangering herself once again. I wanted to tell her that the only thing I wanted was her safety and that it wasn't all about disobeying my commands. But my inner wolf had not let go of the fact that she was being a stubborn insubordinate creature. She watched me with weary eyes. "Selene, I need to talk to you," I said shortly. Slowly she stood and followed me far enough away so that we wouldn't be overheard. When I turned to face her again, all I could do was stare at her as my mind ran through all of the things that I wanted to say to her. Selene waited patiently, keeping whatever was going through that head of hers to herself. But instead of speaking the words I'd rerun through my head o
SELENE POV "You can stop this now if you would just give yourself up to Damion," the Sorcerer said angrily. "Yet, you would selfishly save yourself when you could save the lives of thousands. You disgust me." The sorcerer's words haunted me as I mended the wounds of those who were injured during the conflict only hours ago. How was it that Damion had twisted the sorcerer's perspective to the point where he would join Damion's side? I understood the desperate need to stop the witch trials and burnings, but how could he trust Damion to that degree? After the sorcerers had disappeared, we made a quick change in trajectory and had run through the night to find somewhere to regroup. Thankfully, no one had been killed during the conflict, only a few sustained minor injuries. Then, after we found somewhere secluded to make camp for the night, I insisted on healing those who were injured. And so I did, with Arlo and Sage at my side. Aiding those within the party was also helping me fee
SELENE POVOne week later…I stood in front of the mirror admiring my dress which I had just finished crafting. It had taken most of the afternoon to finish, but finally, it was done. The soft creamy silk glowed in the firelight with pearls dotting the elaborate lace trim. Walking over to the bedside table, I opened the jewelry box and found the bracelet that Tor had given to me on the night of the Fete many weeks ago. Slipping it onto my wrist, I admired the moonstone as it sparkled gently. It brought a smile to my lips when I thought about my and Tor's first dance together. It seemed like it was an eternity ago. My mind played through the events of the last few weeks. I couldn't believe that it was all finally over. Now on this beautiful warm night, I was about to celebrate my mating ceremony with Tor. My eyes landed on the scars on my wrists caused by the silver shackles that had yet to fade and thought of Damion. The man had been so lost in his grief that it had driven him ma
TOR POVI willingly dropped to my knees as I looked into Selene's glowing white eyes. "My Luna, please come back to me." Then everything around us went completely still.Selene's eyes flashed a viridescent green before she threw her arms aside like she was breaking free from stone. "NO!" Selene screamed, her body releasing a shockwave of energy that freed us from her spell of subjugation. Her hair flowed about her face as power permeated from her. She was glorious as she stood there, her breath heavy and shallow and her eyes glowing that brilliant green that I had grown to adore so much. Standing, I couldn't help but smile as her teary eyes landed on mine. Warm relief filled her face. But the moment wasn't long-lived when I saw Damion had unsheathed a dagger and was lifting it to plunge it into Selene's heart. All Selene could do was lift her arms to defend herself. But I was already there thrusting my body into Damion's to throw him off his feet. We rolled on the ground
SELENE"My Mate. My Luna." The words echoed all around me and I tried to follow them through the white blinding void. But the more I searched, the farther away the voice seemed to be. I spun in a circle, looking for something other than the glowing white atmosphere. But there was nothing else. I was alone. The loneliness permeated all parts of me as I turned in desperate circles, my breathing coming faster and faster. I didn't even know who I was. All I knew for certain was that I was lost. I dropped to my knees and wrapped my arms around myself and began to cry. Tears of despair rolled down my cheeks as I squeezed myself tightly. Who was I? Why did I feel such dread in my heart? Would I ever escape this purgatory? A soft tinkling of metal caught my attention, I lifted my tear-stained eyes and looked around. "You are not lost, Selene," a soft melodic voice echoed across the nothingness. I jumped at the sound and quickly stood on my feet. Looking around, my eyes
TOR POVAdrenaline coursed through my body as I stalked toward the gates of the compound. The sun's glow was orange and red as it began its final descent through the sky, making the atmosphere heavy and poignant. It was as if it were already reflecting what blood would be shed come nightfall. I watched the guards above on the battlement start to scramble when they saw me approach. Arrows were knocked into place and aimed at me as I stepped toward the doors. Anticipation rolled through me as I felt the arrows threatening gaze on my skin. Stopping before the giant wood doors, I waited. I listened as the guards yelled at one another from behind the stone walls. Being as I wasn't dead yet, everything was still going to plan. It wasn't long before Damion leaned over the edge of the stone wall, with that infuriating smirk that was ever present on his face. "You never fail to surprise me, mutt," he said shaking his head. "How do you intend on getting yourself out of this one?" "I n
SELENE POVIt had to have been days since I was imprisoned. My magical powers were all but drained by the silver shackles so I was running on little energy. All I could do was sleep and daydream about Tor rescuing me. Damion would visit from time to time to feed me. And day by day, he would slowly try to break down the fragile walls of my psyche. I did all I could to not let Damion's taunting words affect what little hopes I had left, but it was getting harder as the minutes ticked by. A couple of days ago, I swore I felt Tor's energy somewhere through our bond. My heart had leaped at the sensation, but just as fast it dissipated. The sorrow I felt had been unshakeable since that day. My heart ached with loneliness that was only burdened more by the aching of my body. The silver had slowly seeped away all my strength and my muscles burned as I sat against the cold stone of the dungeon. Just as I was slipping in and out of a dreamless sleep, the door opened letting blinding lig
TOR POV Cassius and I raced back to the gorge and the entire way there, my mind reeled with a plan to break Selene from Damion's grasp. Dawn was breaking when we returned to our base as we slipped down the sides of the canyon walls. We shifted to humans and I walked determinedly through the warriors who had spent their time resting and sparring over the last couple of days. They were biding their time well before the battle begins.As I made my way through the pack, I spotted Kian and Nasir talking with Grayson, Sage, and Arlo. "They're back," I said with elation. Cassius and I hurried over to the group and were soon joined by Ares and Magnus. "What did you find out?" I asked the twins, trying to manage my composure. I had been on a razor's edge for the last couple of days, waiting for the twins to return with word from the witch settlement. I had to believe that they would come to our aid, but I couldn't help but have my reservations. While helping us would rid the threat
TOR POV The second the doors had closed between Selene and me, I ripped myself out of Grayson and Cassius' arms. I was about to charge the door when Cassius grabbed my shoulder again. "Alpha!" he said, I turned on him with murder in my eyes. He took a step back but still gave me an imploring expression. "That weapon, it can destroy us all." I glared at him for a moment before my eyes scanned the packs behind him and somewhere in the haze of my murderous fury, I knew he was right. With a snarl of anger, I clenched my fists. "Move out!" I shouted, before shifting into my wolf form and galloping away from the door. Every step that took me farther from Selene sent bolts of devastation through my body. We were mere hours from sunrise when the packs had made their retreat back to our temporary base. It was a small gorge about an hour's run away from Damion's compound. I'd spent that long hour re-running what had just happened over in my head. By the time we had reached the sa
SELENE POV "Spare him and I am yours," I said unwaveringly, as I looked up at Damion who was a hairsbreadth away from murdering Tor. Tor's face had crumpled into despair when he saw me. "Selene," he said with pure heartbreaking misery. "Don't you f*cking dare." The battle around us had died off as everyone had stopped fighting to watch with bated breath what would happen next. I saw Cassius from the corner of my eye, watching and waiting to make a move. Damion's cruel laugh echoed off of the walls of the compound. "Isn't this just a treat?" Damion's voice filled with mock delight. "And why shouldn't I just kill them all right now?" he asked with a sneer, his hand flexing on the lever of the crossbow. I narrowed my eyes at him. "Because like he said," I started, gesturing to Tor, "there are hundreds more wolves outside ready to rip your guts out. So either we all die, or you get to live and you get me." Damion's jaw flexed as he stared between Tor and me before finally
TOR POVThe next morning, I was still raging inside over Ira's disrespect to my mate. Magnus had assured me he had punished Ira, but there was no suitable punishment except me beating the living h*ll out of him. But I had to put those emotions aside for now as we were growing closer to Damion's location. If all went as planned, we would be arriving at his compound by nightfall. The tension grew amongst our packs as we neared our destination. The wolves were restless as everyone mentally prepared for the battle to come. I was still trying to figure out what to do with my stubborn mate before we arrived at our destination. Since dawn had broken, we were moving in our wolf forms through the marshy wetlands. By the time the noon sun was shining its golden rays down on top of us, the terrain had blissfully dried out. We were now galloping hard and fast through grassy plains. There was little to no cover around us, with hardly any trees and little foliage. Only wildflowers and sageb