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
Sebastian POVI push forward, wrestling back control, and my hand immediately covers her eyes. My heart pounds—I felt it, I saw it—but Helios had been locked in some sort of trance, completely unaware of what had just happened.“Helios, stop,” she laughs, twisting in my grip, trying to uncover her eyes, oblivious to what she just did.“It’s me,” I whisper, and she stills.Her fingers brush against my wrist, hesitant now, but still confused. “Okay… why are you covering my eyes, Sebastian?”I exhale sharply, my grip tight but careful, my own breath still unsteady. “Because I felt it. Helios was submitting to you, Celine.”She hums lightly, as if it’s nothing, as if that word doesn’t hold a dangerous weight.I grit my teeth. “Not just submitting. He had no choice, Celine. No power but to obey you completely. Your eyes have changed. You need to focus, see if you can push that power away.”She laughs, like I’m crazy, but I know what I felt.“Celine,” I say, my voice firm, unrelenting. “I m
Celine POVI feel every inch of his strength, every ounce of his control fraying at the edges. His eyes flicker to mine again, his beathing heavier.“More,” I whisper, my voice softer now but still commanding, still certain.Helios’ breath hitches, his grip flexing, his entire frame going rigid for the briefest second before he obeys without question.His tail tightens further, spreading my legs around his waist, holding me completely captive. His massive form presses even closer, his scales dragging against my skin in a way that sends fire racing through me. He moves, and his claws dig into my thighs, just enough to mark, to claim, to possess, and then—A deep snarl tears from his throat as his hips press forward, fully, completely, irreversibly claiming me in a way that sends shockwaves of sensation ripping through every nerve in my body.A gasp escapes me, sharp, breathless, my body arching into him, the overwhelming heat of him, the sheer size, the pressure, the absolute force of
Celine POVThe heat between us is unbearable, a force so thick and consuming it leaves no room for anything else. My body is on fire, and Helios is the only thing grounding me.His lips move against my throat, slow and deliberate, his teeth grazing my skin, his tongue teasing, tasting, testing my reaction. I shudder, my fingers digging into his arms, feeling the ripple of pure power beneath my touch.I tilt my head slightly, my eyes locking onto his. “Kiss me again,” I whisper.A growl rumbles from deep in his chest, and his mouth crashes back onto mine with reckless hunger, his body pressing harder against me as if the space between us is too much, as if nothing short of consuming me will satisfy him. His claws tangle into my hair, tilting my head back, deepening the kiss until there’s no part of me that isn’t claimed by him.He moves gripping my waist tighter as he lifts me effortlessly, pressing me harder against the stone wall, his wings flexing behind him, enclosing us in a cocoo
Celine POVThe first thing I feel is warmth. Strong arms wrapped around me, the steady rise and fall of a chest pressed firmly against mine, wings cutting through the air with effortless power. The wind rushes past, sharp and crisp, heightening every sense, making the world around me feel too much—too sharp, too vivid, too real.I know instantly that I’m flying.But this isn’t Sebastian.Sebastian flies with control, his movements precise, every shift of his wings deliberate. This? This is something else entirely. This is wild, reckless, instinctual in a way that feels less like calculated flight and more like a beast carrying its most treasured possession away from danger.It’s Helios.I blink against the wind, my body responding before my mind catches up, my fingers twitching against his chest. The moment I open my eyes, the world floods in with too much clarity, every detail burning itself into my vision like I’m seeing everything for the first time. The air feels heavier, the cold
Sebastian POVElira hums thoughtfully, pacing slightly as she processes what she’s discovered. “She doesn’t just have it,” she corrects. “She was meant to have it. It’s as if her body was waiting for this moment, waiting for the blood to activate something ancient in her.”The thought sends a chill down my spine. Celine wasn’t just thrown into this life—she was made for it, built with something none of us fully understand.And if her shifters have changed, if the blood has altered more than just her vampire nature… then what will she be capable of when she wakes?I glance down at her again, brushing a strand of hair from her face, studying the way her expression remains peaceful, almost deceptively so.“She’s going to be different when she wakes up,” I murmur, more to myself than anyone else.Elira nods. “Yes. But how different… that, we will have to wait to see.”Aarmon chuckles darkly, shaking his head. “Something tells me none of us are prepared for what she’s becoming.”I don’t re
Sebastian POVI don’t know why this happened. Drinking blood was supposed to help, it was supposed to restore her, yet here she is—completely unconscious again. My arms tighten around her, feeling the steady rise and fall of her chest, but it does nothing to ease the frustration pressing against my ribs.I hate not knowing what’s happening. I hate not understanding how to fix this. Right now, I wish Jonathan were here. He would have the journals, the knowledge, the answers—but all I have is speculation, and that’s not enough.Aarmon watches me carefully, his gaze sharp, and assessing. “What is your plan?”I wish I had a plan.I glance down at Celine’s unmoving form, feeling her warmth against me, and shrug—a gesture so completely un-king-like it would make my father roll in his grave. But I don’t care. I don’t have the luxury of pretending to have control when I don’t even know what she’s becoming.“If I may,” Elira steps forward, waiting for my permission, and I nod sharply. Whatever
Celine POVI try to look at him, try to show him that I hear him, that I understand what he’s saying, but the exhaustion pressing down on me is suffocating. My vision blurs at the edges, the room tilting slightly, and I know he’s right—I’m losing this battle. My body is screaming for something I refuse to give it, and I don’t know how much longer I can hold out.Sebastian swears under his breath, his grip tightening before he finally snaps his head toward Aarmon. “Do it,” he orders, his voice cold and resolute. “Now.”Aarmon’s lips quirk upward slightly, almost like he was expecting this outcome, but there’s no smugness in his expression, just a quiet understanding of inevitability. He turns toward the woman standing beside him, who doesn’t flinch or resist, merely tilts her head slightly, exposing the delicate line of her throat.I barely have time to process what’s happening before Aarmon moves.Faster than my mind can register, he closes the distance between them, his body fluid, p
Celine POVI swallow hard, trying to force down the unease twisting in my stomach.“She needs blood.” Sebastian’s voice is unwavering, carrying a finality that leaves no room for argument. “We’ve uncovered enough to know that she needs blood—without it, she weakens every time she uses her shifters or her magic. It’s not a choice anymore. If she keeps resisting, she’s going to collapse.”His gaze flickers from Elira to someone else, and when I follow his line of sight, my breath catches.The man standing near the doorway is unmistakable. Even without fangs bared or red eyes flashing, I know what he is. A vampire. The air around him hums with something ancient, something predatory, and my instincts scream at me to keep my distance.“I’ll bring someone for her to drink from,” he says casually, turning as if the decision has already been made, as if I have no say in this.My pulse spikes, panic seizing my chest. “No—” My head shakes, my voice cracking. “I’ll drink it, but not like that. N
Celine POVI don’t know what happened. One moment, I was soaring through the skies, the wind rushing against my scales, the freedom of the moment consuming me entirely. Then, in an instant, everything shifted. The air disappeared, the sky vanished, and suddenly, I was standing—not flying, not falling—just there, locked in place in front of him.The Werewolf King.His presence was suffocating, thick like smoke curling around me, twisting into my skin, into my mind, making everything feel wrong. The weight of it pressed down on me, coiling around my ribs, making each breath shallower than the last. It wasn’t real—it couldn’t be real—but the longer I stood there, the more that certainty slipped away. My thoughts grew hazy, my senses dulled, and I could no longer tell if this was a vision or my new reality.The world around me didn’t shift or waver like my past visions did. There was no flickering, no moments where I could see that it wasn’t real. This was different. This felt permanent.