*Leroy POV*Forty-five minutes later, I, Marcus and Linda stand at Cali’s bedside. She is hardly breathing but my heart refuses to accept it. “Her injuries are too severe. They are not compatible with life,” Linda explains while I frantically shake my head. “I am so sorry, you have to bid her good…”“No. Fix her,” I interject and storm out. Sky has been continuously groaning and whining, I can’t concentrate. “Leroy,” Marcus calls and follows me. I sit on the stairs with my chest tight and my whole body trembling. Resting my heavy head on my palms, that horrific scene plays over in my head. She sacrificed herself for me. “Are you okay?” Marcus asks. I can hear the sadness in his voice. He treated Cali as his little sister. “It’s all my fault. I am sorry.” I respond without lifting my head.“Leroy,”he calls me again.“It was her birthday. I promised to join her at the lake and I completely forgot about her,” I qualify my statement. “You met your mate. You had no control over that,”
Cali POVI open my eyes to a dimmed room. My eyes scan the surrounding only to find Doctor Grey, Marcus and Leroy staring curiously at me. I momentarily close my eyes shut, trying to recall what happened that could bring them to my bedroom and stare at me like this. Leroy suddenly shift into Sky who runs to me and starts licking my face and neck. I run my hands through his fluffy fur before everything that happened comes crashing back to me. My heart aches terribly when images of Leroy and his mate play out in my head. I can feel my chest closing in and try to take measured quick breaths. That helps to calm me momentarily until I pay attention to what Sky is doing. The she-wolf bit me. She took off a chunk of my neck before I passed out. I instinctively touch my neck and frown. Could I have been dreaming? It felt so real. If I was dreaming then why is doctor Grey here?I look at the doctor hoping she will say something but she only shrugs her shoulders and smiles at me. “A rogue
*Leroy POV*It is almost midnight when I wake up with Cali sleeping peacefully in my arms. Everything is a rollercoaster. I am an emotional wreck. Cali wanting to leave has evoked something I can’t quite explain, something that should not be happening. I am insecure and struggling to control my wolf. It hurts that Cali no longer wants to be around me. That I have to command her to stay and to even share a bed with me. One thing I got from the prophet is that my eternity will be fucked up if I let her out of my sight. Then there was the ultimate sacrifice part I still can’t wrap my head around. I would like to believe that is why I refuse to her to go. Except for Sky’s reaction. I can’t explain it. He completely lost it when she wanted to leave. I am certain that Phoebe is our mate. I felt it in core, in my nerves and bones. I picked up her scent before that bus even stopped. Peaches and cream, a scent so sweet I wanted to bathe in it and make a thousand pups. “She obeyed the Alpha
*Cali POV*I wake from a nightmare to find Leroy’s alluring eyes on me. My heart immediately starts racing. I make a mental note to avoid looking at his eyes. I am still at that when his lips meet mine and I completely melt. My body is reacting to him as if we never had the altercation before going to sleep. It is quite clear to me that he has no plans of stopping when he tries to remove my top. That was what I longed for a day ago, not anymore. He is not mine and never will be. It takes everything in me to push him away and leave my bedroom. I quickly descend the stairs and head to the bedroom a floor below mine and knock. Nora opens the door and looks worriedly at me. “Miss Cali? Are you okay?”I shake my head. “Do you mind if I sleep on your couch?”She looks around and signals me to come in. “Not at all, Dear. Use the bed and I will..”“No. The couch please,” I insist. She reluctantly nods and prepares the couch for me. She and all the employees really do treat me as Marcus’ si
*Leroy POV*Linda and I are discussing some of our work when her phone rings. I am surprised to see who it is. She and Cali hardly ever speak from what I know. Linda moves a few feet away from me to take the call but I can hear her responses. It sounds like Cali is looking for a contraceptive. That gets Sky edgy. Is she really planning on losing her virginity? I have a mate, Why the fuck should I care?It really does not matter how many times I ask myself that question. I care, period. I care so damn much that I would tear any man who so much as touch her. I am pacing by the time Linda’s call end and she returns to my side. “What did she want?”She shoots me a disapproving stare. “It’s confidential.”“Are you keeping secrets from me now?”“Leroy,”she cries. She is a doctor with a lot of confidentiality responsibilities. I usually do push her once she throws in that word. I can’t let her be now or I will explode. “I love and respect you. Don’t force me to command you.”She sighs an
*Leroy POV*I curse inside as I watch Cali run upstairs. In just seconds, she is running back down and heading towards the door. “Cali, get back here!”“Stay away from me!”she snaps and continues running. “Get back here,”I drag the words, rage taking over. She has no idea what she is doing to me when she chooses to be disobedient. “You might as well kill me!”I completely freeze. That’s when it dawned on me that she did not even try to peel my hand off when I strangled her. I can’t seem to control my rage with her. Now I am terrified that I will end up killing her. Is this the sacrifice the prophet spoke of?I will never forgive myself if I did and I’m certain I will lose Marcus too. “She is upset. Are you just gonna let her leave like that?” Phoebe asks in disbelief. I frown at her. “You can’t be serious! You wanted her gone.”She is the last person to judge as far as I am concerned. “Yes I did, but not like this. You strangled her and a she is upset,” she explains while Marc
*Cali POV*I wake up the following day feeling like I’ve been hit by a train. After running out of Marcus’s mansion, I headed towards the secluded part of town. The aim was to get enough cash and get out of town. The exams were done, I did not need to stay around anymore. I could get my results electronically whenever I decided to settle. My unlimited card had more than enough but I would not use it again because it could be traced. I remember bright lights before that SUV ran into the ATM I was in. Everything after that is blurred. My accident is all over the news. Looking at the images now, I am convinced that I should have died but here I am. I guess I should be grateful for another chance at this. I’m starting to feel like a cat with many lives. Marcus is sitting next to my bed looking worriedly at me. “The last time I was hurt, I was convinced that a wolf bit me and you told me that I must have been dreaming.”“Err…” he hesitates. I sit up to look at him. He is definitely h
*Cali POV*Leroy offers me his hand and I don’t have it in me to turn him down. He is the Alpha, doing that would be undermining his authority. I don’t want to do that. Not with our already strained relationship. His left hand behind his back, he twirls me around with his right. I spin around with my gown opening up like a dazzling umbrella, forming rainbow shades all over the hall. Now I know how Cinderella felt that faithful night as Leroy circles around me, his eyes glued on me as if I am the only person who matters in the whole world. He suddenly pulls me into his arms and rests his hand on the small of my back. I hold my breath, blocking his infatuating cologne and the many images of us in each other’s arms. This dance was a mistake. It’s taking everything in me to follow his movements. Why can’t this song end now?He leans closer to my ear. So close, his lips brush against my ear, making my chaotic mind fire aimlessly. “You are stunning tonight. How are you?”“Fine, thank you
*Cali POV*“She is lying and trying to get between us!” Rose snaps, her eyes blazing at me. I don’t know when Leroy snatched Rose from Alloy, but in a split moment she is on the floor lifeless.“No one talks to my mate like that!” it’s Sky who roars. My hero. I strangely don’t feel any pain for Rose. I hope Leroy doesn’t regret this afterwards. “We are outnumbered,” Marcus reports as if Leroy did not just kill Rose. “Cali and the pups are priority,” Leroy says before running his hand over by tummy. Marcus and Alloy nod while I shake my head. Can’t they see that I am not the one in danger?“No. They are here for you,” I tell Leroy who shrugs. “It does not matter. You and our pups take priority,” he insists. “It matters to me, Leroy. Let me go speak to them. They will not touch me,” I present an alternative as the hauling gets closer. That means the gate guards and the ones outside are already outnumbered. “No!” they all respond in unison. “Stop being cavemen. They won’t touch me
*Cali POV*I insisted that we come to see the Ruber pack because I know my brother. He is trying to water everything down, but he would not be insisting that I convince Leroy to come if there truly was nothing to worry about. The elders are thrilled to see us, but I can sense something they are not saying. “Rogues are becoming a problem, Sire,” one elder says but Leroy is more focused on me than what is not being said. “We have always had rogues, we have competent warriors to deal with them,” he tells them dismissively. They bow their heads respectfully. I guess they can sense his irritation that we had to come. Many are also very scared of the do-called Sable king. I can’t contradict him here, but I need to have a word with Marcus and get to the bottom of what is really happening here. “Okay, speak,” I command him the moment the elders are gone. He lets out a sigh and avoids Leroy, who is giving him unimpressed looks. “We know how to handle rogues who trespass into our territory
*Leroy POV*I can safely say that I am the happiest man alive. My queen is now six months pregnant. The past few months have been complete bliss. I watch her sleep with my heart full. “Our mate is gorgeous,” Sky links and I chuckle right when she opens her alluring golden eyes and gaze at me. Lord, this woman is my life.“Morning, Beautiful,” I greet her and plant a kiss on her lips. “I look like a balloon ready to pop,” she refutes my words and sits up. “You are the most beautiful pregnant woman I have ever seen,” I declare and she rolls her eyes at me and pokes my chest. She really is gorgeous, but she does not believe me. “You are biased.”“Alloy thinks so too,” I tell her and she rolls her eyes again. “That smitten puppy does not count.”I can’t help but laugh. Alloy is amongst the most powerful hybrids around, but he becomes worse than a smitten puppy around my wife. I suspect that it’s the connection with the girls but my wife refuses to hear it. “Are you sure you are good
*Leroy POV*“Leroy!” “Come on mate. Leroy!” I can hear Marcus and Alloy’s distressed voices before Betty and others join them. I am not quite in a coma because I can hear everyone, but I feel so weak and limp. My eyes feel so heavy, I eventually keep them closed. “His Majesty!” Betty cries out with a shaky voice. I can even hear her galloping heart. She is truly fond of me. “Your Highness!”“What happened?”My Epsilon, then Rufus. They both sound anxious. “I don’t know. We were talking and he just collapsed,” Marcus explains while Alloy volunteers to go and find Cali. I turn to the wolf I have not spoken to since he became the Sable king.“Sky.”Silence. “Sable king?” I call and my idiotic wolf actually laughs.“I am still Sky. Bigger, stronger and better, but it’s still me,” he brags. He is still Sky alright. The cockiness, sound of his voice and our connection is the same. “What’s going on?” I get to the point. “Oh, that.”“What!” I snap. His nonchalant response immediately
Leroy POVEveryone is congratulating me on becoming the ultimate king, but I my mind is miles away. I can’t concentrate. I have to act now before another mate shows up. I just can’t lose Cali. Alloy raises his eyebrows when I pull him to the outside, away from eavesdroppers. “You should be ecstatic, but you are not. What’s up?” he asks.“I need you to kill me.”His eyes almost pop out of his skull. “Excuse me?”“I can’t have this wolf, Alloy. I need you to destroy my wolf,” I clarify my statement and he frantically shakes his head. “My king, I…”“I cannot lose Cali. I would rather die than betray her,” I interject before he tries to convince me otherwise. “I don’t get it. Did you two fight?”“I still have other mates,” I let him in on my curse disguised as a blessing and curses nonstop. “Shit! Damn it! Oh, man. This is bad. Bloody hell!“Now, what?” he asks after a good ten minutes of him cursing. “Gold could separate me from Sky. Maybe she can still do it with the Sable king,”
*Leroy POV*“Are you mad at me?” Gold asks with a squeaky voice the moment Cali drifts off to sleep. “Can I ever be mad at you?” I respond with a question. She is crazy and all, but I absolutely adore her, and I don’t think even Sky can be mad at her.“Good, because we have princesses on the way.”“We do, huh?” I ask, amused. Sky already told me about this when we were in coma. “Yes, we need to deal with that Alloy,” she says, and I can’t help but laugh. “I don’t think we have anything to worry about. Alloy is the most ethical man I know. We do need him to keep everyone in check and the pups safe,” I tell her, but she is not convinced. “Remember how crazy the Lycans got around you and Cali? Someone more powerful than me has got to be around here,” I add. I don’t know how I feel about Alloy being my daughter’s mate one day, but I need him here because he is capable, and I trust him. “What if he tries stupid stuff with our pups?” Gold asks, raising Sky’s protective side. “I will k
*Cali POV* I am relieved when the Palmville pack leaves with Zenith. That girl is crazy. It turns out that she is carrying Duncan’s pup. That did not stop her from trying to pass the pup on to Leroy. Now that the plan did not work, she has declared herself Duncan’s Luna, even though she is not his mate. It’s only now that Luna Sarah informs me that Leroy is lucky to have managed to reject her. Apparently, she goes for the Beta’s when she and Duncan fight. That has placed a strain between the Betas and their future Alpha. I can’t believe that they lied and sang her praises when they arrived here because they wanted to get her away from their son. I remember her even saying Leroy was all Zenith spoke about since they rescued her. It’s an hour later when Alloy and Neptune’s parents arrive with Rufus, their famous Epsilon. “Rufus wanted to tag along. I hope Her Highness does not mind,” Terrence says and bows his head. I make eye contact with our Epsilon. I know that Rufus
*Cali POV*Zenith has just stormed out when I feel a piercing pain followed by a burning sensation on my neck. “Your marks have resurfaced!” Betty exclaims. “Love always prevails,” she declares excitedly. My hand instinctively move to touch the two overlapping marks on my neck. My heart hammers against my chest. I don’t know what this means, but I think it’s a victory of some sort. “Two marks, this is incredible!” Alloy beams, quickly takes out his phone and takes my photograph. This man is really weird. I give him the look and he gives me a sheepish grin. “You are the only She-lycan. This is vital information for our species, My Queen,” he explains his weirdness. I only shake my head. I don’t have to the energy to deal with him right now. “Let’s give our queen privacy,” Betty instructs, takes a fast asleep Cale from me and ushers everyone out of my chambers, leaving me with the unconscious Leroy and the Epsilon. I am really grateful for her quick reaction and thoughtfulness.
*Cali POV*I am starting to think that being a nameless slave was preparing me for this. I am the most powerful queen with no dignity when it comes to my mate. I watch Leroy run out to his mate with a ripping pain inside. I feel like my heart is being torn apart. I guess he has made his choice. I can feel Gold breaking before shutting down. Unlike me, all she knows is being royalty. This hurts her more than it does me. I head to the shower and wash Leroy off before putting on a flowery summer dress. Maybe it will light up my gloomy mood. There is a lot of commotion around the second floor. Betty puts me up to speed about Zenith sleeping with Duncan. I am not surprised when someone calls for help to stop Leroy from killing Duncan. I know how possessive Sky can get. This is something that would drive him crazy. I don’t bother going to investigate, but head to my favorite spot in the garden instead. I hum a tune in my head and focus on planning my future without a mate. “It is not hi