Dolton POV “Have you considered that she’s no longer in the Werewolf Kingdom?” Beta Oliver’s voice cuts through the hum of the car engine. His tone is cautious, as though bracing for the storm he knows his words might provoke.I stiffen, my gaze fixed on the passing blur of buildings through the window. The thought pierces through the edges of my mind, uninvited and unwelcome. I don’t want to consider it. I can’t.“If that were the case,” I mutter, my voice low and edged with barely restrained anger, “she’d be dead by now.”Oliver doesn’t back down, though his shrug is almost nonchalant. “You’re assuming she’d be sold to vampires, and even then, it’s unlikely. Someone like her—someone with what she is—would be worth far more alive than dead.”His words ring with a bitter truth. He’s not wrong. Keeping her alive would serve them better, whoever they are. My jaw clenches as I turn back to the window, watching the crumbling infrastructure of the outskirts of the city melt into the more i
*Please note* If you began reading the book before this chapter was released, it has been edited and changed. I advise you re-read all the chapters. Going forward this book will be updated 3-5 chapters a day.Celine POVOne moment, I'm inside, wrapped in Dolton's arms, then I'm not; I’m pulled outside into the dimly lit alley, and the cold air feels like a slap against my skin. Dolton’s grip on my arm is firm, his urgency clear. “We need to leave now, before they realize you’re gone and lock you up again,” he insists, tugging me further into the shadows.Before I can respond, a thunderous roar shakes the narrow space, echoing off the crumbling brick walls. I’m thrown backward by the sudden commotion, my breath catching as I see Sebastian shift, his massive form materializing in an instant, radiating raw, dangerous power.Dolton doesn’t hesitate—he shifts too, his wolf form towering, feral, and ready for a fight, why wouldn't he shift further, into his Lycan? Their growls and roars rev
Celine POV“We need to go,” Joseph says, urgency lacing his tone. “People heard the commotion. Some recognized her and started asking about her owner.”Sebastian’s arm wraps protectively around my waist, his hand firm and steady. “Let’s go,” he says, guiding me forward.But before I can take a step, Dolton pulls me away with a growl. “Don’t touch her!” His eyes blaze as he glares at Sebastian. “It’s her choice.”“I’ll touch her because she’s mine,” Sebastian snarls, stepping closer, his presence overpowering.Dolton’s lip curls, his voice low and dangerous. “I’m her first mate. You’re second. That bond means nothing.”The alley grows colder, the tension between them crackling like wildfire. I stand between them, torn, trying to figure out how to stop this before it spirals into something none of us can take back.This is spiraling out of control. I take a deep breath, trying to think of something—anything—that will stop them before they tear each other apart.“Some mate you are,” Seba
Sebastian POVWe return to the hotel, and the moment we step inside, Dolton follows us, uninvited, into the room. My hand lingers on the door as I resist the urge to slam it in his face. Instead, I close it quietly, though the tension in my chest burns hotter with each second he stands here. My gaze locks onto him, a glare sharp enough to cut. He shouldn’t be here. He shouldn’t even think he has a right to see her, not after everything.It doesn’t matter to me that he’s been searching for her, not when he’s the reason she needed saving in the first place. He stood by while his family hurt her, while they broke her. The fact he’s trying to act like a hero now just fuels my disgust.Dolton’s eyes shift to Celine, and his voice trembles as he asks, “Where were you?”Her gaze drops to the floor, her voice quiet but steady. “With someone called Dale. He bought me to use my magic—to help him win wars.”Dolton stiffens at her words, his brows furrowing. “Which pack, Celine? I’ve searched thr
Sebastian POVI can’t take it anymore. Turning on my heel, I walk into the small living area, needing to put some distance between us. I can’t watch them anymore. I can’t stand the way she looks at him, the way his words seem to pull at her heart. It’s like watching sand slip through my fingers, knowing I may lose her to someone who doesn’t deserve her, no matter how hard he’s tried to redeem himself.The thought claws at my chest, but I force myself to stay silent. For now.“The stories always said that children of the Moon Goddess, the Sea Goddess, and others like them could have multiple mates. Why would the Queen Goddess be any different?” Joseph’s voice breaks through my thoughts, his tone calm yet weighted with an inevitability I don’t want to accept.I clench my fists, wishing his words weren’t true. If Dolton had just moved on, if he had found another mate to fill the void, none of this would be happening. It would be simpler—cleaner.“Three mates, three kingdoms. It’s always
Dolton POVSebastian joins me in the room, his presence heavy with tension. He sits across from me, his expression unreadable, and for a moment, the silence between us feels like the calm before a storm. I brace myself, certain he’ll tell me to leave and never come back. But he doesn’t.I can’t leave, even if he demanded it. The pain I’ve carried for years, the aching void of being separated from my mate, evaporated the moment I saw her again. It was as if her presence healed me instantly, proof that she’s meant to be mine—that she’s always been mine.The quiet stretches, unspoken words hanging between us like a wall neither of us knows how to scale. The situation is a mess, and we both know it. In an ideal world, I’d be her sole mate. Or even better, my brothers wouldn’t have been cowards and rejected her, and the bond would have united all of us. That would have been easier—cleaner. Now, everything feels impossibly complicated.Finally, Sebastian breaks the silence. His tone is meas
Dolton POVCould she have created a version of events in her mind to cope? Maybe she thought of me because I made her feel safe, even when I wasn’t there. Maybe my absence left a void so unbearable that she had to fill it with something—anything.“She loved you,” Sebastian says quietly, his voice laced with reluctant understanding. “It was obvious when she talked about you. It’s what makes this whole thing not add up. One of your brothers masked themselves to look like you at the auction so she wouldn't fight.”I take a deep breath, trying to steady myself. If there’s even a chance to make things right, I have to take it. I have to know why she believes this. And I have to find a way to fix it.“You’re saying one of my brothers masked themselves to look like me when she was sold so she wouldn’t fight as they removed her from the cage, right up until they put weakening cuffs on her?” I ask, my voice thick with disbelief. My head shakes, unwilling to process the twisted implication.Seb
Celine POVWhen I wake, I find myself tucked into the warmth of Sebastian’s arms, his steady heartbeat grounding me. I nuzzle closer, savoring the comfort of his presence. His fingers brush against my hair as he murmurs, his voice low and steady.“We need to talk today.”The seriousness in his tone makes my chest tighten. I know what he wants to discuss, and I brace myself. I nod, unable to meet his gaze as the weight of the situation presses down on me.“I don’t know if I can do it,” I whisper, my voice barely audible. “Rejecting Dolton feels... wrong. He never gave up on me.” My words carry the truth that has been haunting me since I saw Dolton again. Despite everything, he searched, he fought, and he endured for me.Sebastian tilts my chin up, his piercing gaze meeting mine. “I won’t even suggest that,” he says firmly, his sincerity cutting through my doubt.His response catches me off guard, and I feel confusion settle in. “But you were jealous,” I stammer. “You were arguing over
Helios’s POVI carefully take Clara from Dolton, cradling her against my chest as if she’s the most precious treasure I’ve ever held, and she is. Her delicate warmth radiates into me, a fragile yet unwavering presence in my arms, melting through the lingering hardness that once defined who I was. Her steady, peaceful breathing calms something deep inside me, quieting the restless beast I had always been.As I study her tiny face, with soft cheeks and a delicate nose, the innocence reflected there stirs something unfamiliar in my chest, a fierce protectiveness unlike anything I have ever known. The heart that once burned with obsession, possessiveness, and dominance now fills with a different kind of fire, pure and gentle. It’s startling yet comforting, reshaping who I am from the core outward.Instinctively, almost without thinking, I begin to hum softly, a melody from a lifetime ago, one I barely remember, yet somehow feels right to shar
6 Years LaterJonathan POV“Caleb, hold still,” I murmur, tightening my grip gently around my three-year-old son, who wriggles impatiently in my arms. His soft golden hair tickles my chin as he peers eagerly around the room, blue eyes wide with excitement. Aurora streaks past, her small dragon form shimmering in hues of violet and silver, scales glinting under the soft lights as she darts playfully around us.Celine laughs softly as she watches Aurora, her eyes filled with warmth. Sebastian stands near her, arms crossed over his chest, a proud smile on his face. Beside them, Dolton cradles his newborn daughter, Clara, just a week old, her tiny features serene as she sleeps peacefully against his chest.The room is alive with happiness, joy bouncing off the walls as we prepare for the celebration. I find myself smiling, my heart swelling. It wasn’t so long ago that I thought I’d lost everything. But here, surrounded by these people,
Sebastian’s POVThree months laterI’m flying as fast as I can, the wind cutting sharp against my scales.I left the kingdom earlier to meet Aarmon and collect two feeders for Celine. Her pregnancy has made her need blood more frequently, and I have no idea how she will be after the baby is born. I planned to return days ago, but Aarmon ran into issues with the vampires, delaying everything. Now I’m rushing back, and the only thing I know is that Celine has gone into labor.I abandoned the cars hours ago, there wasn’t time to waste. The soldiers will ensure the feeders arrive safely. Right now, the only thing that matters is getting to her.Helios pushes forward, impatient, and I don’t stop him. He’s always faster than me in the air, and this time, I need that speed. He focuses, his instincts sharper, his wings slicing through the sky with powerful strokes. At least this way, if we’re late,
Celine’s POVThe grand hall of the Dragon Kingdom is alive with celebration, the golden glow of torches casting flickering light over the towering stone walls. It’s strange how quickly everything has settled, how the chaos of battle has faded into something almost distant, like a dream that we all woke up from. The weight of it still lingers, of course, but tonight is not about that. Tonight is about the fact that we are here. Alive. Stronger than before.The past week has been a blur, filled with moments of reflection and change. Somehow when Helios takes control, I can hear Sebastian in my mind. It's strange but nice. Jonathan has embraced both sides of himself more than ever, his fae and merfolk magic flowing together like they were always meant to be one. Dolton has grown quieter, more thoughtful, as if the shadows that once burst from him still whisper at the edge of his mind, not in a bad way though. Leif is adjusting, still finding his place among us
Sebastian POVThe cars come to a stop, and I glance out the window, relief flooding through me at the sight of home.Dolton nudges my arm with a playful grin. “You should fly up with Celine. It’ll be quicker than waiting in the cars.”I shake my head firmly. “No, we should all arrive together.”Dolton’s smirk widens, mischief clear in his eyes. “Alright, then how about Helios takes her up instead? I’m sure he’d love to stretch his wings.”I roll my eyes. “How is that any different?”Dolton shrugs, chuckling softly. “You said you missed home. I’d bet Helios does too—this is his kingdom after all. Maybe he deserves to arrive first.”Before I can respond, Helios takes Dolton’s suggestion as permission, surging forward eagerly and pushing my consciousness to the back. My body shifts abruptly in the car, a wave of laughter erupting from bo
Dolton POVWe’re sitting in a clearing, resting before continuing our journey back to the Dragon Kingdom. The weight I’ve carried since the battle finally feels lighter as laughter fills the air. Around me, faces are relaxed for the first time in what feels like forever. Sebastian sits close to Celine, his arm protectively around her as people continue to celebrate her pregnancy, teasing him about becoming a father. Their smiles are contagious, and I find myself genuinely laughing alongside them.Yet even as I laugh, Julius remains uneasy, pacing restlessly inside my mind. I try to push the unease away, but it’s difficult when Julius is this restless. I glance over to Leif, sitting quietly, staring off into the trees. There’s still so much I don’t know about him, so much he probably doesn’t even know about himself.Leaning closer, I nudge his shoulder gently. “You okay?”Leif blinks, pulled from his thoughts
Jonathan POVI sit alone in the quiet car, the journals spread across my lap. My fingers flip through the pages slowly, frustration building with every page turn. I’d told the others I needed silence to focus, but the truth is, I just didn’t want them to see how much this is getting to me.I’m trying to find answers for Dolton, something that can explain what’s happening to him, but each page I read feels emptier than the last. My heart thuds with a heavy anxiety as I rub my temples.There’s almost nothing here about Lycans. The few mentions I’ve found are vague or useless, and there’s not a single line about the Shadow of the Moon or why there can suddenly be two Lycans. It’s as if the writers deliberately avoided the topic, which only makes me feel more unsettled.I lean my head back against the seat, taking a slow breath, and close my eyes. Dolton deserves answers, he’s struggling with something non
Sebastian POVWe left the Werewolf Kingdom first thing in the morning. I want to get home. I’ve spent far too long away from my kingdom; Helios is restless, and so am I.It’ll take about three days to get back, but since it’s only our group traveling, all my men can drive, which means we won’t be slowed down by walking. Dolton chose to ride in another car with Leif, wanting to spend some time speaking with him alone. Jonathan opted to ride separately, claiming he needed quiet to focus on reading through the journals.I understand why Jonathan turns to the journals for answers, but even I doubt they can solve everything. I know he’s hoping to find something—anything—to help Dolton. Finding out Leif is directly connected to him, even in death, must be overwhelming, especially when severing their bond might risk both their lives.Still, despite the circumstances, I welcome the chance to spend time alone with Celine.
Celine POVI watch Dolton carefully. He wouldn’t have turned bad, I know it. He wasn’t alone, he had me, Sebastian, and Jonathan. We wouldn’t have let him become something evil.Stepping closer, I gently slip my hand into Dolton’s, trying to calm him. He turns slightly, offering me a faint smile, but the worry in his eyes is unmistakable. He shouldn’t be worried; he has us.“You once mentioned feeling like part of you was missing, like something wasn’t fully there,” his father says from behind the bars, his gaze unwavering. “Do you remember when that began, Dolton?”“No, I don’t,” Dolton snaps sharply.From the other cell, Wes chuckles darkly. “It started when Leif was born. Come on, Dolton, catch up.”Turning sharply, I glare at Wes, and the twisted, evil man mockingly blows me a kiss. My stomach churns with disgust.“Leif is part of you,&