Sebastian POVI rub my temples, the pieces of this twisted puzzle only becoming more convoluted. If this is true, if the King truly bought and used her, then our path forward just became infinitely more dangerous.“What do we do now?” Ian asks, his voice barely above a whisper.I glance at Celine, her expression a mix of shock and quiet resolve. “Now,” I say, “we uncover the truth—whatever it takes.”Ian’s sudden outburst breaks the tense silence like a thunderclap. “We have the evidence!” he exclaims, standing abruptly, his voice filled with desperate energy. “This is it! We can use this to get my daughter back!”Before I can respond, Celine steps forward, her expression fierce and unyielding. “No!” she declares, her voice cutting through Ian’s urgency. She turns to face him fully, her eyes blazing with determination. “We use this evidence to save everyone who was ever sold in that place—not just your daughter. Her blood is the thing to keep her alive, others aren’t that lucky.”Ian
Sebastian POVDolton walks back into the room with a determined expression and drops a large, heavy box onto the table. The thud echoes through the space, and the weight of the moment settles over all of us.“What is this?” I ask, my gaze shifting between him and the box.“This,” Dolton says, gesturing to the box, “is everything Celine’s mother brought with her, plus everything I’ve collected over the years from attending every single auction I could find. Pictures, videos—anything that might help.”I step forward, pulling the box closer to me. The sheer amount of material inside is overwhelming—papers, photographs, and other documents spill over the edges.“I went to find her,” Dolton continues, his voice steady but laced with frustration. “At every auction, I searched for Celine or anyone who might lead me to her. But while I was searching, I saw more than I ever wanted to. I saw every species you can imagine—dragons, fae, vampires, bears, merfolk—all being sold. If they had unique
Celine POVI’ve noticed how worry has etched itself into every line of Sebastian’s face, the weight of everything pressing down on him. He carries too much—responsibilities that aren’t even his to bear, yet everyone looks to him as if he alone can fix what’s broken.“Sebastian needs to focus on what’s in front of him first,” I say, standing. My voice carries a firmness I don’t often use, but I need them to listen. “I understand you all want answers. I understand the need for justice—believe me, I do. But what’s the point of rushing if Sebastian isn’t in the right headspace? He’s stretched too thin. Mistakes will be made. He’ll act out of desperation, and you won’t get the outcome you’re hoping for.”I let my words settle before looking directly at Alpha Ian. “You want your daughter back, and I understand that better than anyone. But if you had only a few weeks to save someone else in your family, someone just as important, would you sacrifice that chance? Would you let them die just t
DoltonThe weight of the decision presses on me like an immovable boulder. I can’t put this off any longer—choosing a new Alpha is a necessity, not an option. We’re leaving soon, and the pack needs stability in my absence. But every option I consider seems wrong, flawed.“I’m lost,” I admit, running my hand through my hair as I glance at Celine. “I can’t figure out who can take over as Alpha when we leave.”Her expression softens, and she steps closer, her presence calming even when my thoughts are in turmoil. “I know who,” she says, her voice steady and certain.I blink at her. “You do? Who?”Her answer comes without hesitation. “Alex.”The name lands like a thunderclap, and I stare at her in disbelief. “Is that some kind of joke?” It has to be. Alex stood by my father’s side for too long, complicit in the atrocities committed against her—and me.“Believe me, Dolton,” she replies firmly. “Trust me. Alex isn’t bad. He was as much a victim of your father’s manipulation and abuse as you
Sebastian POVI take a deep breath, the weight of the situation pressing heavily on my chest as I sit down across from Dolton. My gaze meets his, steady and determined. “We need to leave early—long before anyone even realises we’re gone,” I say, my voice low and firm, each word deliberate. The last thing I need is Alpha Ian complicating things further, turning desperation into a trap to tether us here.Dolton leans forward slightly, his brows furrowed in concern. “How early are we talking?” he asks, his tone laced with unease that mirrors my own.“Before sunrise,” I reply without hesitation, my voice hard and resolute. “Ian is growing desperate, and desperate men do reckless things. If he catches even a whisper of our departure, I don’t doubt he’ll do whatever it takes to delay us—or worse, force our hand to stay.”Dolton’s jaw tightens as he mulls over my words. “How long would it really take to present the evidence to the King and exchange it for his daughter? Couldn’t we handle it
Celine POVI stay silent for a moment, watching Dolton wrestle with his thoughts. The weight of the conversation sits heavy between us. I haven’t allowed myself to fully consider the logistics of how our relationship might work—how the dynamics between Sebastian, Dolton, and me will play out—but I know in my heart that it’s possible. My past has already shown me that.Long before Sebastian came into my life, before he saved me, I had been shaped by complexities—relationships that defied norms. I had shared myself with Dolton and his brothers, often all at once. It was a part of my history, something that had once been forced upon me but eventually became something I learned to navigate. Yet, this feels different.Sebastian breaks the silence first, his voice steady, his confidence unwavering. “You wanted to discuss how this would work,” he says, his gaze fixed on Dolton. “Here we are.”Dolton rubs his face, as if trying to erase the confusion clouding his mind. “I’m just... I’m in sho
Celine POVI’m not sure what time it is when I stir awake, but something deep in my body has pulled me from sleep. The room is cloaked in the soft shadows of early morning, the faint glow of moonlight filtering through the curtains. Blinking slowly, I take in my surroundings. I’m nestled between Sebastian and Dolton, their warmth enveloping me like a protective cocoon.Sebastian’s chest rises and falls in a steady rhythm beside me, his arm loosely draped over my hip, while Dolton’s presence is solid and grounding, his arm wrapped securely around my waist. Their combined heat, though comforting, is beginning to overwhelm me.A restless energy churns inside me, starting as a subtle warmth in my stomach before spreading through my body in waves. It’s an unfamiliar sensation, almost like a fever, but not entirely unpleasant. The intensity builds, pooling low in my abdomen, until it becomes unbearable.Carefully, I try to shift out from under the covers, desperate for relief. The blankets
Celine’s POVThe hum of the tires on the road has become a constant backdrop, a rhythm that matches the monotony of the endless stretch of terrain we’ve covered over the past two days. No stops, save for brief bathroom breaks, but this isn’t a typical journey. Sebastian’s cars are marvels of engineering, designed for both comfort and practicality. At the push of a button, the backseat transforms into a bed, a small luxury in an otherwise relentless trip. It’s where I find myself now, nestled between Dolton and Sebastian, wrapped in the strange comfort of their presence.The dynamic between us is shifting—almost as fluid as the car itself. Dolton, who once held his touch like a fragile promise, now seems to have shed that hesitation. His arms wrap around me with a quiet certainty, as though anchoring himself as much as me. Sebastian, ever the observer, alternates between joining us and immersing himself in his work. His documents scatter across the seat next to him, and his sharp focus
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,&
Dolton POVAs I go to leave the cells, Celine walks in. It's pointless, I know she wants to know how things are happening but my father isn't about to speak.“He won’t speak,” I mutter before glancing back to my father. “At least not truthfully.”Celine smiles softly at me and nods. She looks back to my father and steps around me going toward the cells. “Then let’s make sure he can’t lie.”What? I stare at her and realise what she means. She reaches my father and his gaze turns cold. She doesn't hesitate she reaches through the bars and grips his hand, her grip tightens even more. I watch as his eyes widen, and a sharp breath escapes him as her magic pulses through him, I know what she's doing. She's going a truth spell and ensuring it's weaving into his mind, binding him to honesty. The moment the spell settles, I watch as she releases him and steps back, nodding toward me.“He can’
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