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
Celine POVPushing the thoughts aside, I rise from the bed. As I head to the shower, Sebastian steps out, water dripping down his sculpted body, and my breath catches for a moment. His eyes meet mine, and I can feel the tension in the air—an unspoken understanding that the answers I seek won’t come easily.As soon as Sebastian leaves the room, I step into the bathroom, letting the warm water cascade over me as I try to wash away the weight of the revelations and decisions ahead. When I emerge, I find Sebastian seated at the table, papers spread before him, his brow furrowed in concentration. The light catches on his profile, highlighting the intensity in his expression.Dolton sits on the far side of the room, his body stiff, his gaze locked on the floor. The hurt radiates off him in waves, pressing into me like a physical force. My chest tightens as I walk toward him, compelled to ease the tension between us. I take a seat beside him, the silence between us heavy with unspoken words.
Celine POV“I’m sorry,” Dolton says, his voice breaking. “If I hadn’t left... maybe it wouldn’t have happened.”I climb into his lap, wrapping my arms tightly around him, seeking comfort even as the pain gnaws at me. “I’m sorry, too,” I whisper against his chest. “I thought it was you. I didn’t know. I didn’t remember.”“You had every right to hate me,” he murmurs, his arms tightening around me. “I left you. I didn’t protect you. Which is why I should leave now.”The door creaks open, and Sebastian steps into the room, his presence commanding even in silence. “You’re not leaving her,” he says firmly, his voice cutting through the tension like a blade. “That’s not your decision to make.”Dolton’s head snaps up, his eyes narrowing. “It’s her choice,” he retorts, his tone defensive.Sebastian takes a step closer, his gaze unwavering. “You’re using your own guilt to manipulate her into pushing you away. That’s not fair to her, and you know it.”Their tension crackles in the air, but I pla
Dolton POVRegret weighs heavily on me for even considering leaving her. I felt it was the right decision at the time, to spare her the complications I would bring, but now, sitting here, looking at her, I feel the sting of cowardice. Her presence is like a balm to my soul, a connection I can’t sever. Smiling softly, I pull her closer, my hands resting gently on her waist. “I apologize,” I say, my voice barely above a whisper.She tilts her head, her gaze locking onto mine with a quiet intensity. “Don’t apologize, Dolton,” she says firmly. “Just decide and stick to it.” Her words, simple but resolute, cut through my lingering self-doubt.I nod, exhaling as though releasing the weight I’ve carried. “I’ve decided. I’ll stay. I’ll figure out how to make this work,” I vow, though the path ahead feels uncertain. Leaning forward, my lips brush against hers, soft and searching. Her warmth fills me, pulling me deeper into her. Our lips move together in a rhythm so familiar it feels like comin
Dolton POVHow could that work, especially at the Dragon Kingdom? She’s set to be Queen, and I? I’ll be nothing compared to her or to him. “I’ll never be equal,” I mutter, bitterness creeping into my tone. “She’s becoming the Queen, and I’ll just... be there.”Sebastian shakes his head, his expression unchanging. “She’ll be my Queen, yes. But as soon as Joseph’s mate is healed, he’s taking over. I’m stepping back. I won’t be King anymore. He will be.”The words should reassure me, but they don’t. They leave an ache in my chest, a nagging doubt that I can’t shake. What will I be to her? To them? These thoughts churn in my mind throughout the journey. At some point, Celine wakes, her warm smile pulling me momentarily out of my spiraling thoughts. She leans into me, her body radiating a comfort I’ve longed for. Meanwhile, Sebastian remains focused on the papers in his lap, his composure as unshakable as ever.Eventually, the cars come to a stop. I step out, greeted by the familiar sights
Celine POV The moment I stepped out of the car, a wave of icy stares greeted me, each pair of eyes piercing through me like daggers. Their whispers were like a current, growing stronger and louder as the small crowd began to gather behind us. The weight of their judgment pressed heavily against my chest, leaving me feeling like an outsider in a place that should hold safety.Dolton walked ahead, his shoulders tense but purposeful, as he led us into the packhouse. The interior was dim, the worn wooden floors creaking beneath our steps. He quickly showed us to a room, his words clipped and distant. Without waiting for a reply, he left, shutting the door behind him with a finality that felt deliberate.Sebastian sets down the bags and surveys the room. The space is modest, with a small table by the window and a simple bed in the corner. The air inside feels heavy, a reflection of the tension outside.“He’s separated us,” Sebastian mutters, his jaw tightening as he takes a seat at the ta
Celine POVSebastian leans down, his breath warm against my ear as his lips trail along my neck. “I’m giving you two time,” he murmurs, his hands tightening on my waist. “You’ve been apart for years. Your wolf may have been hidden, but his felt every moment of that separation. He was in pain every single day. Time with you is healing his wolf.”His words catch me off guard. I hadn’t considered that aspect before. My heart aches for Dolton’s wolf and the pain he endured while I was unaware of the bond we shared. My fingers trail lightly over Sebastian’s arm, grounding myself as I process the storm of emotions swirling within me.I linger against Sebastian, feeling the heat of his fingers tracing languid patterns along my spine. Each stroke sends a shiver through me, grounding me in the moment. I press myself closer to him, my lips brushing against his neck as I let my fingers work on the buttons of his shirt, sliding it off with purpose.“My love,” his voice rumbles low and steady, “yo
Celine POVI wander through the packhouse, my frustration growing with each empty hallway and room. Dolton is nowhere to be found, and I can feel the weight of his absence pressing down on me. Spotting a maid carrying a tray, I step closer to her, my voice soft but urgent.“Can you tell me where Dolton is, please?” I ask.She offers a polite smile. “I believe he was in the cells the last time I saw him.” With that, she walks away, her footsteps echoing down the corridor.The cells. Of course. With a sigh, I make my way to the lower levels, the air growing colder and damper as I descend the stone stairs. The dim lighting casts long shadows, and the scent of iron lingers in the air.“Dolton?” I call out, my voice hesitant as I step further into the room.A voice answers, but it’s not his. “Celine?” Turning quickly, I see Alex rise from a worn cot and approach the bars of his cell. His face is gaunt, but his eyes light up when they meet mine. “You look... amazing,” he says, offering a we
Dolton POVI stare at the moon, trying to understand what Leif is talking about. To me, it’s always been just a moon, something distant, powerful in its way, but never something I thought would speak to me. Yet Leif’s words linger in my mind, urging me to look deeper, to truly see.At first, I don’t notice anything unusual, just the pale glow of the moon standing oddly bright against the daytime sky. But the longer I stare, the more the edges of my vision blur, pulling my focus sharply toward the moon’s surface. Something shifts there, a subtle movement, a ripple of darkness.I blink, thinking it’s my imagination or fatigue from the battle. Yet the shadows don’t vanish; instead, they sharpen, becoming clearer, more defined. My breathing slows, and my heart quickens as I focus, straining to understand exactly what I’m witnessing.Then I see it, the shadows aren’t just vague, dark shapes. They’re detaile
Celine’s POVThe moment Dolton speaks, everything inside me stills. A heartbeat?My hand instinctively moves to my stomach before I can even process the thought. I don’t know why I do it, as if touching the skin there will somehow confirm what I already feel creeping into my mind.For the past few hours, I’ve felt different, not just exhausted from the battle, but off in a way I couldn’t explain. I thought it was the weight of everything we had endured. The stress, the adrenaline, the overwhelming chaos of the fight and its aftermath. But now, as I focus, as I truly listen to my own body, I feel it.My heartbeat pounds in my ears, but beneath it, softer yet just as strong, is another. Smaller, lighter, but carrying a strength all its own. The realization hits me slowly, sinking into my bones, spreading warmth through my chest.I press my fingers to my stomach, the weight of Sebastian’s hand still cover
Dolton POVWe leave the palace and travel to the pack in silence, not the kind where no one is speaking, but the kind where something lingers in the air, heavy and unspoken. Conversations happen around me, but the weight of everything we’ve been through presses down on all of us.Sebastian looks lost in thought, still trying to piece together what happened with Helios. I feel the same way, my mind circling back to the shadow thing. It wasn’t something I had done before. I don’t even know how I did it.“Did you know last night was a blood moon?” Leif suddenly speaks up, breaking through the murmur of conversation.Everyone turns to him, including me. “How did you know that?” I ask, confused.“I could feel the difference,” he says with certainty. “It might have been hidden, but it was a blood moon.”I nod slowly, unsure of what to say to that. “Okay.”“Y
Jonathan POVEveryone is different now, and I know it’s because of the battle. We all tapped into something we didn’t fully understand, unlocking pieces of ourselves we hadn’t even known existed. Then there was Celine, so close to dying, and Sebastian nearly died as well. Standing on the edge of death leaves a mark, one that doesn’t fade easily.But it’s Dolton who concerns me the most. Something about him feels… off. He looks lost, distant, like he’s trying to make sense of something bigger than just the battle. I can sense his unease even from the other side of the palace, something stirring within him that he hasn’t spoken about yet.The other royals have left, tending to their own, but I decide to stay and find Dolton. I walk through the halls until I spot him sitting alone, a glass in his hand. Leif isn’t here, which is unusual. The kid has been at his side constantly since they met, bu
Sebastian POVThe air in the palace feels heavy, like the walls are pressing in, suffocating me. I shift on my feet, glancing around the grand hall that once belonged to the Werewolf King. There’s too much history here, too much bloodshed. Staying in this place doesn’t sit right with me.I turn to Dolton. “Would your pack be able to take us in?”Dolton tilts his head, studying me. “You don’t want to stay here?”“No,” I admit, running a hand through my hair. “I don’t like this place. It belonged to him. It’s… tainted.” I exhale sharply. “I need to be somewhere that feels like neutral ground.”Dolton doesn’t hesitate. “It won’t be an issue. My pack will accept us.”That’s a relief. The last thing I want is to stay in this palace any longer than necessary. I can’t explain it, but the idea of sleep
Celine POVI don’t know what I expect when we get back inside, but it certainly isn’t this.Standing in front of Sebastian, looking furious, is Alpha Ian.“You lied to me!” he shouts, his voice echoing through the palace halls. “You disappeared without a word, you didn’t update us, you didn’t tell us the plan! We still don’t have our daughter!”I step forward, but before I can speak, Dolton moves around me, standing between us.“A lot needed to be sorted to save Gregory,” Dolton says firmly. “He’s not dead, which means your daughter is safe.”“Safe?” Alpha Ian’s voice rises, his frustration boiling over. “How is she possibly safe when you no longer have him to tell you where she is?”“All the children had records,” I explain. “We can track her.”Alpha Ian’s glare snaps
Dolton POVI don't feel like me; I'm not sure if it's actually me or because one minute Celine was on the floor unmoving, and the next Helios took her, and I had no idea if she was alive.We move further into the palace and sit down. The royals talk about how they will collect their children who are still here and take them back. Then, any children found in their kingdom who were stolen will be sent to their kingdoms.The conversation is important, but right now, I can't focus. Standing, I walk to Celine and pull her out of the room. We say nothing, and I don't want to be there with her in front of everyone.As we get into a quieter room, I wrap my arms around her body. I hold onto Celine, gripping her tighter than I probably should, but I can’t seem to loosen my grip. She doesn’t pull away, though. She just stays there, warm and steady, letting me hold on.“What’s wrong?” she asks softly.I don’t know how
Jonathan POVI watch as Sebastian stands there, his wings still spread behind him, his chest rising and falling with each heavy breath. He looks lost. There’s something in his eyes, a flicker of confusion, of frustration, like he’s searching for answers he can’t find.He finally looks at me, his expression tight. “I don’t know,” he mutters, shaking his head. “I can’t remember anything after Arktos until waking up in the cave.”I exhale slowly, my body still humming with residual magic from the fight. “Helios killed the Werewolf King,” I tell him, keeping my voice even. “It was brutal, Sebastian. He lost it completely.”Sebastian doesn’t react, but I can see the way his jaw clenches, the way his fingers twitch slightly like he’s remembering something distant, something just out of his reach.I continue, knowing he needs to hear it. “Arkto
Sebastian POVThe void stretches endlessly around me, thick and suffocating. No sound, no sensation, no indication of time passing. It’s as if I’ve been ripped from existence, trapped in a place that doesn’t belong to me. My body feels weightless, unanchored, yet there’s a heaviness pressing down on my mind, chaining me here.I reach out, desperate for something, anything to pull me back. But there’s nothing. No Helios. No Celine. No flicker of warmth from the bond that always ties me to her. It’s wrong. It’s all wrong.A memory flickers, Helios roaring in rage, a searing pain lancing through my chest, the weight of something crushing down on me, suffocating and unrelenting. Then darkness swallowed me whole.How long has it been? Hours? Days? I grit my teeth, fighting against the nothingness, clawing for a way back. I won’t stay here. I can’t.Something shifts. A distant warmth brushes against m