Rayne's POVSomething about the priestess’ face reminded me of a clear white pebble. The kind that you found beside a rushing river; smooth and shiny, but reeking with the scent of hardened water and years of immobility. Placid, but not so much that nothing about it interested you anymore, in fact, that was the very thing that made you wonder how long it had taken for it to become so perfect. How it had lost its edges and sharp points to become this new thing of wonder.Her hands were folded atop each other over her belly as she stood at the entrance to the pack house, in the solemn pose that one expected from such an individual. Her eyes, clear as a new day, watched us expectantly as we approached, neither too excited nor too empty. She held her neck and shoulders straight like a sculpture, saying without words that she was not one to cower to anyone.When Kaiden and I finally stood before her, Bradford moved to her side, looking like he hadn't slept in days. A pool of black sat unde
Rayne's POV“You can’t be serious. How on earth is there nothing we can do?” The rise in the volume of my voice surprised me a little, but it was needed to express my blatant displeasure. There was no way that Sal could be gone just like that. I wouldn’t accept that there was truly nothing that could be done about her situation.The priestess watched me with a silent gaze that spoke volumes. Even from the emptiness in her eyes, I could tell that truly, there was nothing that she thought possible. It was easy to see such a thing simply by looking at a person; this woman had no reason to lie to us about this. The fact that she had come all the way here simply to deliver bad news just made me feel worse about this.Bradford’s face went from sad to downright depressed. The look broke my heart so much that I had to look away from him for fear that I would also surrender to negative thoughts.“No,” I said. “We’ll find a way. To get her back,” I shook my head vehemently, as though the action
Kaiden's POV“We have suffered too much as a pack to have people plotting our downfall from within.” My voice shook with emotion as I spoke. The worst thing in the world that I could never forgive was betrayal and dishonesty. Hearing those words come right out of Sal's mouth was like taking a bullet to the chest, and maybe even more painful.Savannah moved close to me, and placed her hands on my shoulders. Her warm breath brushed the back of my neck.“Kaiden . . . What will we do now?” she asked.I subdued my raging wolf within, resisting the urge to throw something or ram my fist into a nearby wall. I didn't know where to even start. I didn't know what to say, or even what to do. All I could feel was rage and anger.Who could have had such audacity to lead an attack right from within the pack? Why would anyone even allow rogues to come into Mysticrock and hurt people after what we had been through year in year out?How could we ever hope to defeat the Rogues where there were people
Sal’s POVFor the most part, people usually believed that I as a person didn't really care about other people. They thought that just because I happened to work in a clinic and didn't seem to be affected by things like loss or death, I was a hardened person.My personal ideology about life was very simple: live life to the fullest because you never knew when things could change and it would be snatched up and away from you when you least expect it to be. Tomorrow wasn't promised, and each and every day was an opportunity to make a lasting mark on the world.As absurd as it sounded, my aversion towards having a mate stemmed from that belief as well.Since I was a teenager, I had known who my fated mate was, and for a little while after that, I had been overcome by a youthful crush. He had filled my every waking thought, and it didn't help that he was also someone very well-known on the pack because of his deeds.Everything changed one day,
Rayne's POVBy the time I woke up, Kaiden's side of the bed was already empty and devoid of warmth.I would have preferred it if he had stayed by my side, covering me with his own perfectly carved body. I wanted him near. There was no use trying to convince myself otherwise.With the number of times we had found ourselves in such a situation, I could no longer even try to pretend that being with him couldn't work out, or that we weren't meant to be together. Everything that I had told myself from the time I had first met him now appeared like a distant, invalid dream.I sat up from the bed, ready to put on some clothes and leave the room as well, when the adjoining bathroom coughed up a sound.Moments later, Kaiden emerged, clad in nothing but a gray towel wrapped around his waist.“You're up,” he said when he saw me. His eyes were bright and full of expression this morning, and wanted to know why. “How'd you sleep?”I clutched the sheets tighter to myself, trying to cover what I was
Rayne's POVMy heart sat in an uncomfortable place between my stomach and throat throughout the ride to Oceanpearl. Since Reynolds had so thoughtfully accused me of infidelity, I wondered how my arrival at his wedding would make him feel. I looked forward to the look of surprise that would no doubt be on his face when he saw me.The fact that I had gone missing and the best he could have done was try to tarnish my image was also worthy of questioning. It aligned too well with some of the questions I had in mind. If I had been feared dead, why not tell the people that? Why did he have to lie that I had eloped?What was he trying to hide?I sighed and closed my eyes as the excessive pondering had sparked up a dull ache inside my head.Again, Kaiden hadn't passed up the opportunity to get me the most beautiful dress he could lay his hands on. The old me would have called the little black number scandalous, but the moment the silky fabric touched my skin, I knew it was meant for me.“Are
Rayne's POV“You conniving little devil!” she screeched so forcefully that flecks of saliva sprayed on my skin. “How dare you show your face here?”In the next moment, Kaiden was out of his seat, holding her wrist to prevent her from slapping me again. “Try that again, and I'll rip your head off,” he growled, before shoving her away. She would have toppled over if she hadn't held on to a nearby table for purchase. “Do you not know who I am?”The people around us went into a mix of stunned silence and nervous murmuring.My mother, the great Mrs. Lawson, for the first time ever, was actually scared of someone.Her lips started to tremble as recognition descended upon her faster than a dark cloud. She looked up and down his form multiple times like she was trying to make sense of the situation she had found herself in.Once she fully realized who actually stood before her, she closed her gaping mouth. “L-Lycan King Alvaro!” she spurted, clutching the table behind her with enough force to
Rayne's POVUsually, it was very difficult for plants to grow through cemented ground. Over there, there was no air, no water, and most importantly, no sunlight. So how could they grow?It was the same in real life. There were just some places that would hinder your growth to the point that even when that cement finally broke, you still wouldn't be able to know that you now had opportunities to grow and aim for the sky.I didn't want to be like that. No more. I had found the sky, and I wouldn't let anything or anyone deprive me of it.After Kaiden made the big reveal, people started to murmur all around us. Most of them were speculations about whether he was the man that I had eloped with. Others were just shocked that the Lycan King, one who had been deemed ruthless and unfeeling, was standing up for someone.I pressed myself into his side, gaining energy from his present warmth. They could run their mouths all they wanted, but they couldn't change what bloomed in my heart through th
Author’s POVYears had passed since the great war that signaled the end of an era for the Mysticrock pack and its allies. That singular moment that had seemed miniscule in the eyes of many ended up being a memorable turning point in the treaty between humans and werewolves all over the world. The scars of the terrible times had healed, though the memories of struggle and loss remained etched in the hearts of those who survived. Life, however, had a way of moving forward, and in the years since Dr. Cedric’s imprisonment, the werewolf community had continued to thrive. Mysticrock pack had expanded even further since Rayne’s rescue of the imprisoned werewolves. Many of them chose to remain in service to her, preferring to stay within reach of the Lycan Queen, than even in their own home packs. The pack now stretched across more miles of dense forest, now basking in the warmth of the afternoon sun. The land had increased in vibrancy, and anyone who saw it wouldn’t have been able to tell
Rayne's POVKaiden.I smiled at the thought of him, my heart swelling with warmth. He had been there all along, quietly watching, waiting, and never pushing. Even when I had been mated to an Alpha, our fates intertwined in ways I hadn’t understood. Kaiden had been my constant, my true north, even when I didn’t realize it. And now, here we were, fated to be together, just as it was always meant to be. Even the years apart did nothing to dampen the flames of our passion. Many times, thinking about him was what kept me moving during the most terrible of days—the hope that eventually, once I got free, I would be back by his side, where I was truly meant to be. The place where I truly belonged.A soft rustle of leaves pulled me from my thoughts, and I opened my eyes to see Sal approaching. Her twin daughters, Ivy and Isla, followed closely behind, their identical faces full of curiosity and energy. Seeing them filled me with a burst of joy, because I could still vividly remember when she a
RAYNE'S POVIt’s strange when I look back at everything now. All that chaos, the pain, the heartbreak—it all seems like a lifetime ago, though it’s only been months since my world changed for the better once again. I sat at the edge of the pack grounds, watching the late afternoon sun stretch its golden light across the treetops. A soft breeze played with the locks of my hair, pushing the strands against my face in a tickling manner. The wind carried the familiar scent of pine and earth, but it also brought memories, tugging at my mind until I could no longer push them aside.Eighteen years. That’s how long I had been trapped, held captive by Dr. Cedric, who cared for nothing else but his own twisted ideals—only what my blood could do for him. I used to wonder how I survived all those years, locked away, forgotten by the world I had once known, and separated from my family. The nights that I had screamed myself to sleep because I couldn’t stand the silence of those human-sized pods o
Kairen's POVI couldn’t help but let out a little surprised laugh as he took my hand and led me away from the crowd. Roman, who was talking to a group of his classmates, momentarily paised to give us a knowing look as we passed, but he didn’t say anything. He simply gave a small wave before turning back to the group of friends he was with. Todd didn’t say much as we walked, his hand warm and steady in mine as we made our way through the campus and out into the surrounding woods. It wasn’t until we reached the all too familiar clearing—the place where we had first crossed paths—that I realized where he was taking me.The memories flooded back the moment we stepped into the familiar space. The trees were just as tall, their branches swaying gently in the wind, and the soft sound of the nearby stream filled the air. It was peaceful here, just like it had been that day so long ago, when our lives had first intertwined. Who would have ever thought that I would have fallen in love with a g
Kairen's POVMonths had passed since the chaos surrounding Dr. Cedric had finally come to a fruitful demise. Life had slowly begun to find its beat once again, though the scars of what we’d been through still lingered in small, subtle ways. The pack had recovered from most of the damage done in those crucial 18 years, the tension, fear and anxiety giving way to a renewed sense of strength and hope. But more than anything, the peace allowed us to move forward—each of us in our own way.Today, we were gathered for something far different than the clashing of claws and roaring. The university campus buzzed with excitement and celebration as students in their robes moved through the courtyard, their faces lit up with the glow of glorious achievement. They were celebrating the years they had gone through the halls of this school, studying to become people of influence in the nearest future. Todd and Roman were among them, their final year completed, and now they were finally graduating. T
Kairen's POVI stood next to Todd, the silence between us heavy with everything left unsaid. His face was drawn, shadows clinging beneath his eyes, and I wondered how much longer he could keep this up—this weight he carried, the war within him.“Todd...” I began, unsure of what to say. What could I say? His father was a monster, and though I had known Dr. Cedric’s cruelty, I couldn’t pretend to understand what it meant to Todd. It wasn’t just about stopping a villain; it was personal, wrapped in all the twisted layers of family, duty, and a lot of shame.He probably didn't feel like he was supposed to be by my side.Todd shook his head, as if to stop me from saying whatever was on my mind. “Don’t, Kairen,” he said softly, his voice hoarse. “Don’t say anything. You don't have to try to make me feel better about this.”I hesitated, but I couldn’t let it go. “It’s not your fault,” I said, my words firmer than I felt. “It's not your fault at all.”His lips twitched, but it was far from a
Kairen's POVThe air I breathed in that evening remained thick with dampness, and the stench of blood and fear still lingered, though the fighting had long since ended. Even though the manor was now pristine and devoid of any evidence of the terrible fight that occurred, the memories still lingered in my brain, and I didn't think that anything would have been able to change that anytime soon. Todd had been quiet for most of the evening, focused on freeing the last of the prisoners trapped in the underground cells beneath the manor. Mom had said that even though she had managed to rescue some of them, she had the feeling that there were more of our kind still stuck in the manor—but she couldn't find out where for some reason.Todd had volunteered to go in search of the other prisoners and I had decided to go along with him for two reasons. One, I actually wanted to get some alone time with him and iron out some loose ends concerning his father's imprisonment. I could tell that he wasn
Kairen's POV“Your mother's healing capabilities is probably the major reason she was kept here,” said Dad. “I suspected that one of you might have inherited her abilities, but I didn't know who would.”By this time, Roman's wound had already healed halfway, and color had started to seep back into his face. He hadn't spoken yet, but the look on his face was one of pure relief.I didn't even know what to feel at that point. I had gone from shocked, to grieved, and back to shocked. All I could do was watch him, knowing fully well that I was completely dumbfounded to say or do anything else until I was sure of what was happening.“I guess Roman took my healing, and you,” Mom turned to me, smiling for the first time since she saw her son's supposedly dead body, “and you took my gift of sight.”“Sight?” I asked quietly, pressing a shaking hand to my chest. “What do you mean by sight?”“It's what we call being able to see beyond the physical. I discovered mine late, but my mom was supposedl
Kairen's POVTo my surprise, Dad only walked over to me and ran his hand through my hair. “My daughter has found a mate. Which I find to be a very wonderful thing. She is an excellent judge of character, so I have no doubt that she wouldn't have picked this young man if she didn't see him as worthy.”The man who had spoken up earlier frowned, his face showing disgust. “You would allow your child to be with the son of the one who had tormented your kind? The one who even kept your own mate away from you?” The man's eyes trembled as he stared at Dad. As long as Dad remained the Lycan King, no one actually had the guts to be disrespectful towards him.“I would allow my child the freedom to choose.”The man sneered. “And that is why we all decided that you weren't the best choice to lead us as a society any longer. The years must have changed you . . . Made you more of a spineless diplomat than the warrior you showed us years ago when you were going after this position.”Dad didn't respo