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
Rayne's POV“How did you manage to do it?” Sloane asked once we were out of earshot of most people. “I should have known you weren't so innocent after all. The Lycan King? How ambitious of you.”“Is that what you called me here to tell me? I'm afraid that's not enough substance for a worthwhile use of my time,” I said, already turning around to leave.“Why did you come here, Rayne? You should have just stayed back in whatever little hole you wound up,” she said. “At least that way we could have all allowed ourselves to bask in your absence.”“And how fulfilling would that have been? Living things have to show proof,” I retorted, watching my fingernails. I should have taken the chance to get them touched up for this event. Even though they were short and smooth, they lacked the intensity for the statement I was trying to make.“I didn't call you here to waste time. I'm here to give you just a little piece of friendly advice. Watch where yo
Sal’s POV“Please remind me why we are moving through these bushes like some kind of animals?” I asked a crouching Bradford, who moved through the shrubbery like he was some WW2 soldier hiding away from snipers.“We are animals,” he responded monotonously. “Higher animals, Brad.”“Even so.”I shook my head, not willing to get into an argument with such a debater as Bradford. I would only end up wasting time and getting frustrated.“Let's just focus on the task at hand,” I said. “Is this the closest route you could find to Grog’s place?”He just nodded. Back to business, I could see. Since he had probably pushed himself to his limits of self-expression by proclaiming his intentions towards our relationship as mates, he had reverted to the status quo. Nods and one-liners only.When people saw him and Kaiden together, it wasn't surprising why while they gushed and cooed over the Lycan King, they were usually stunned to silence when they focused on his Beta. And I couldn't blame them. Ka
Kaiden's POV The darkness wasn't very welcoming, but luckily for me, I could see pretty well in the dark. Rayne, on the other hand, was either partially blind or simply wanted to touch me any chance she got. Either way, she didn't seem very keen on leaving my personal space anytime soon. Not that I was complaining.“You didn't mention that we'd be walking blindly over here,” I said, running my hand against the wall for better balance. “It's been a while since I've been here. I didn't really think that part through, sorry.” She lifted her phone and put on the torch. Let there be light.“Hm.” I looked at the phone in her hand. “You got a new phone?”“Oh, you mean this? Yeah. Savannah gave it to me a little while back. It was really thoughtful of her.”“She did?” It eluded me how close Savannah had gotten to Rayne. But then again, I could understand that Rayne was someone that you just couldn't help but like. “Uh-huh,” she responded, flashing the light at an angle that illuminated
Rayne's POV“You bitch!” Reynolds' bellowed, already raising his arm to smack me across the face. But this time I was ready for him. I caught his hand and twisted it, using a strength I didn't even know I had. “Yes. I am a bitch. And I bite.” I shoved him away hard enough for him to lose his footing. He stared at me with shock in his eyes, probably not able to believe that I had the audacity to do such to him.“You didn't see me as attractive enough to sleep with before, what's changed? Because I came here with a man at my side? Because it finally occurred to you that I wasn't just some girl with a prophecy hanging over my head? Or because you're just a brute with no manners?” I continued.Reynolds' cradled his crown jewels, nearly whimpering like a girl.The only way I had known to draw him out of his room was by offering him something that he never had access to when we were together. My body. Somehow, he had deemed me too repulsive to
Rayne's POVThe next few days passed with us internally lamenting the fact that we had been flung practically back to square one. We had no leads except the initials of the person that had received the cargo from Oceanpearl.News of my appearance at the wedding had been a hot topic on the Paranormal Watch, and multiple times I had to keep myself from posting something I would regret later. Kaiden was very supportive throughout the whole ordeal, dealing with it using his influence as the Lycan King. It worried me a little, because I didn't want a case whereby he was affected as well because he was trying to defend me.“Right now, those in charge of the Paranormal Watch focus too much on controversy rather than things of social importance. They need to be checked,” he said, tracing a finger over the smooth skin of my belly under my shirt. The simple act made my insides shiver with desire. I wasn't even sure anymore if it was the mate bond resp
Rayne's POVI used to love storms as a child. Oftentimes, I would go outside just to bask in it, forgetting that it was just as dangerous as it was exhilarating. Once, I had been so carried away by the intensity of the storm that I didn't see it bend a tree over until it snapped with a great crack and almost squashed me.After that experience, although I loved them, I preferred to stay indoors in order to avoid a repeat of that event. Near-death experiences did that to you. They made you see things in an entirely different light, and understand that death lurked everywhere in as much density as life itself.Indeed, no light could exist without darkness.Although it was a rarity, rain could sometimes fall during summer. Like it did today.I watched it fall from inside my room. Water droplets raced down the window pane, like tears from the sky. The longer I watched the rain fall, the greater the old need to feel it on my skin grew
Rayne's POVJust like I had predicted, Kaiden didn't take kindly to the news that I had been in the rain. “What?” he exclaimed, and slapped a large hand over his face. “You were doing what?” Still in disbelief, he shook his head and sunk into his seat like his legs couldn't keep him upright anymore.“I mean . . . I just wanted to have a little fun, okay? I didn't actually plan on getting hurt or anything,” I weakly defended, unable to look him in the eyes. If after this, he no longer allowed me to even step foot outside the compound, I wouldn't have been surprised in the slightest bit. Most times, Kaiden acted like a man with rebellious children. This time was no different.Underneath the blanket I had been given, another tremor shook through my body, a testament to the length of time I spent outdoors. It didn't matter that werewolves were known to emit heat and have high body temperatures. For most of my life, the only thing