Celine POV
The logistics of it alone make my head spin, but I nod absently, trying to piece it all together. When I glance up, I notice Jonathan watching me, his expression curious.
“You were talking to your wolf,” he says softly, a faint smile tugging at his lips.
I nod, brushing my hair back from my face. “Don’t you ever talk to your Fae?”
Jonathan’s smile fades slightly, his gaze thoughtful. “Fae aren’t like wolves or dragons. Our shifts are part of us, but there’s no separate consciousness, no voice to guide us. When Sebastian shifts, Helios can take control, and he can step back. When you shift, Luperca is there for you to lean on, to speak to. For Fae… we’re always in control. There’s no separate entity to connect with.”
I tilt my head, processing his words. I’ve always assumed that every shifter had a connection like mine, a voice in their head that offered
Celine POVHis head tilts in curiosity, his expression shifting to one of interest. “Can she do that while you’re in your Fae form?”“She says she’s connected to every part of me,” I explain. “Apparently, it doesn’t matter what form I’m in.”A faint smile spreads across his face. “Then I’d be happy to meet her. She’s a part of you, after all.”I nod, focusing inward again. How do I do this, Luperca?Relax and let go, she instructs. Focus on me and allow me to step forward. You’ll still be there, but as an observer.I exhale deeply, trying to relax. The sensation is strange—like being pulled backward and watching from behind a pane of glass. My body moves, but it’s not me in control anymore.“Hello, Jonathan,” Luperca says, her voice richer and more commanding than mine. Hearing her speak out loud through me is disorienting.
Celine POVI feel the connection stir, pulling me forward. I push gently, taking control back from Luperca. Jonathan immediately notices, his smile softening as his eyes meet mine.“Celine,” he says warmly.I blink at him, surprised. “How did you know?”“Your eyes,” he says simply. “They shifted slightly. And your posture—it’s different. It’s easy to tell when you and Luperca change places.”His attentiveness makes me smile. “You notice everything, don’t you?” Without waiting for an answer, I tug him toward the bed. “Let’s just watch a movie. I want to relax.”He chuckles softly and nods, settling beside me as we put something on. His arm wraps around me, pulling me closer, and the warmth of his presence lulls me into a comfortable haze. As the movie plays, I find myself drifting, the weight of exhaustion pulling me under. I don’t figh
Celine POVThe connection is unlike anything I’ve ever felt. My breath catches as his emotions amplify my own, heightening the pleasure coursing through me. Before I can fully process it, he shifts, pinning my wrists above my head with one hand while his other grips my hip, holding me firmly in place. His hips press against mine, creating a friction so exquisite it makes me gasp.“Is this what you want?” he growls, his voice a low, dangerous rasp. His teeth graze my bottom lip before he bites down lightly, pulling a moan from deep within me.“Yes,” I breathe, arching into him, desperate for more. “More, Jonathan. Please.”He smirks, his control slipping further. He pulls back just enough to make me ache for him, then slams back against me, stealing my breath. A strangled cry escapes my lips as the world narrows down to this moment, this connection. He moves harder, faster, his body claiming mine with every thrust.
Celine POVNischola looks at me, her expression earnest, as I prepare the flower for the next spell. “Celine,” she says softly, her voice steady but filled with maternal worry, “please... the baby first. He’s more important than I am. If something happens to me, Joseph can raise him, but he needs to be free from this curse. I beg you, start with him.”I glance at Joseph, who looks torn, his protective instincts warring with Nischola’s plea. His grip tightens on the baby as he nods, silently agreeing with her. My stomach twists, the weight of responsibility pressing down on me.“Are you sure?” I ask Nischola, my voice barely above a whisper.“Yes,” she replies firmly. “Do it for him.”Taking a deep breath, I focus on the flower. The delicate blossoms tremble slightly in my hand as I remove one, its vibrant color seeming to pulse with life. Carefully, I crumble the petals between
Sebastian’s POVThe entire day has been consumed by preparation, every moment spent ensuring tonight’s celebration is flawless. After the kingdom’s months of uncertainty—questions of survival, whispers of despair over the possibility of Nischola’s death—it feels imperative to give the people a reason to rejoice, to breathe freely again, even if just for a night. Tonight isn’t just about celebration; it’s about hope.The weight of my press release earlier still lingers in my mind. I revealed just enough to the kingdom: the truth about the children being sold, the machinations of a powerful force from another kingdom. But I withheld specifics—names, locations—enough to keep the fire contained, at least for now. My focus is on reassurance, not panic. I made it clear that after a few days of respite, I will personally confront this growing threat. The people needed to know I was not turning a blin
Celine POVThe grand hall is a cacophony of low murmurs, flickering torchlight, and the faint metallic shimmer of dragons in their full forms. I stand with Dolton and Jonathan near the edge of the crowd, and I can’t shake the feeling of being out of place. Most of the attendees are in their dragon forms, their scales catching the light in dazzling displays. Their presence fills the space with an intimidating majesty, making our small, human-like forms stand out starkly. I feel their curious eyes on us, even as they whisper among themselves.Dolton’s arm wraps securely around my waist, his steady presence keeping me grounded. Beside me, Jonathan’s posture is rigid, his eyes scanning the room with the precision of a soldier. He is here to relax—but he’s assessing everyone, watching for potential threats.“It’s safe, Jonathan,” I whisper softly, hoping to ease the tension I see in his shoulders. &ldqu
Celine POVI slip past the crowd around them, my focus fixed on Sebastian. But as I draw closer, I stop abruptly. Standing before him is a tall dragon, his gold-plated neckpiece catching the light and marking him as someone of great importance. His posture is commanding, exuding the authority of someone who has held power for decades.The interaction between them pulls me to a halt. The older dragon smiles warmly at Tatsuya, pulling her into a hug. “You were as graceful as ever, darling,” he says, his voice deep and resonant. His affection for her is evident, and the kiss he places on her cheek is gentle, fatherly."Lord Arman," Sebastian nods to him.“Thank you, Dad,” she replies, her tone soft but filled with pride. Her gaze flicks between him and Sebastian before Lord Arman—the name echoes in my mind—turns to face Sebastian.“Can you give me a moment, please?” Lord Arman asks her, his voice kind bu
Jonathan POVThe room hums with the low murmur of conversations and the occasional laughter that ripples through the crowd, but I keep my focus sharp. My ears are trained for specific words, any hint of Celine, the Queen Goddess, or the Werewolf King. These gatherings are ripe with whispered secrets and subtle machinations—something I learned well during my years of service to the Fae Queen.I weave through the crowd, my Fae senses attuned to every tone and inflection. Snippets of conversations float past me, some mundane, others laced with intrigue. Yet, there’s no mention of Celine or her role as the Queen Goddess. There’s no chatter about the Werewolf King, either. What I do hear, though, is unsettling in a different way.“King Sebastian and Lady Tatsuya—what a pair they make.”“They’ve always been so perfect together, haven’t they? A shame they aren’t mates.”“They compleme
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,&
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