*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
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 POVMy eyes widen as his words sink in, panic rising like a tide threatening to pull me under. “So there’s no way to the kingdom?” I ask, my voice tinged with desperation. My fingers clutch the edge of the seat as I try to process what this means.“There is,” Sebastian replies firmly, his tone a mixture of calm authority and urgency. His eyes flick to Dolton and Jonathan. “But it won’t be by car. The road is compromised, and the cars will have to be left behind. We’re going to fly the rest of the way.”Fly? My stomach twists at the thought. I’ve never flown, and the idea of being carried through the sky sends a shiver down my spine. My instincts scream against it, but I know there’s no other option.Sebastian continues, his gaze sharp and unyielding. “I’ll take Celine with me. You two will need to let my guards carry you. They’re trained for this, and it’s the safest way to get to the kingdom.”Dolton exhales a long, frustrated sigh, his hands clenching into fists at his sides.
Jonathan’s hand brushes mine, a small gesture of comfort. “He’s right,” he says softly. “Your safety is what matters most.”Dolton nods, his expression grim but resolute. “We’ll get her to the kingdom, Sebastian. You won’t have to do this alone.”Sebastian doesn’t respond immediately. His jaw clenches, and his grip tightens on the steering wheel as the car races forward. Finally, he exhales sharply. “Let’s hope it doesn’t come to that.”The tension in the car is suffocating. Outside the window, the forest blurs past, dark and unyielding. The cries and howls have faded, but the fear they’ve left behind lingers like a shadow, wrapping around us and refusing to let go.The car barrels through the dense forest, the sound of the engine reverberating in the heavy silence of the day. The cries we heard earlier have faded, but the memory of them clings to me, chilling my bones. My heart races with every twist and turn of the rugged path, the bumpy ride only adding to my growing unease.Sebast
Celine’s POVThe tension is so thick it feels like a living thing pressing down on us. Sebastian’s sharp, focused expression says it all—he’s ready to order us back to the cars after that eerie, childlike laugh echoed through the trees. The sound doesn’t sit right in my chest, and the rustling nearby sends a shiver racing up my spine.I step toward the sound, curiosity overriding my better judgment. Pushing through the trees, I move cautiously, trying to make out the source of the noise. Behind me, I sense Sebastian, Dolton, and Jonathan following, their presence both reassuring and heavy with unspoken concern.As we press forward, weaving between ancient trees whose gnarled branches twist like claws, something comes into view that makes my breath catch.A cage.It’s large, rusted, and covered in creeping moss, like it’s been here for ages yet still serves a dark purpose. Inside is a creature so grotesque and unnatural that my body freezes in place. It has the form of a human, but its
Sebastian POVAs these thoughts swirl in my mind, I glance at Dolton, who’s been unusually quiet beside me. The weight of everything we’re facing is palpable. Breaking the silence, I suggest, “We should stop for a break. It’ll be the last one before we reach my kingdom. Celine’s shifter needs space and air to recover.”Taking out my phone, I type out a quick message to the guards, instructing them to find a safe location to rest. It’s a delicate task. Outside the kingdoms, there are still scattered towns and cities, remnants of a world left behind. Most of them are teeming with the exiled—dangerous, desperate beings. Some places might be safe enough to stop at, but many are not. Trusting the guards to make the right call, I tuck the phone away and let out a slow breath.Dolton breaks the silence, glancing at me. “Any idea what this Pantheromorph is supposed to look like?”I shake my head. “It’s only ever been mentioned in stories. The assumption is that it’s a combination of all her f
Sebastian POV“We have a bigger problem,” I say, breaking the silence. Dolton looks at me, his brow furrowed, waiting for me to elaborate. “Calling all the royals from each kingdom into one location? It’s risky. More than risky—it’s a disaster waiting to happen. If the Werewolf King is working with the exiled, they won’t need to take down the kingdoms individually. They’ll take us out in one stroke.”Dolton exhales sharply, sitting back against the seat. “You’re right. It’s the perfect opportunity for an ambush. Gather all the royals, their key leaders, and their guards in one place, and we’re practically handing them the kingdoms on a silver platter.”I nod, the weight of the situation pressing down on me. “We’d be fools to assume the Werewolf King hasn’t already thought of that. He’s been planning this for years, using his greed and cunning to sow discord. He won’t hesitate to strike if he sees the chance.”Dolton taps his fingers on the armrest, his eyes narrowing in thought. “Then
Sebastian POVThe journey back feels excruciatingly longer than the trip to our destination. Perhaps it’s the numerous stops we’ve made along the way, or maybe it’s the tension hanging in the air, pressing down on us like a heavy, invisible weight. Normally, we’d take to the skies—flying is quicker and less draining—but given the uncertainty of Joseph’s situation, we couldn’t risk leaving behind vehicles and supplies. The ground travel is necessary, but it stretches time in a way that gnaws at my patience.It’s been nearly twelve hours since Celine’s encounter at the lake. I glance over at her, fast asleep and curled up against Jonathan as he sleeps. Her breathing is soft and steady, her body relaxed, but even in sleep, there’s a vulnerability about her that stirs a protective instinct deep within me. Jonathan holds her carefully, almost reverently, as though he’s afraid to disturb her. It’s a sight that, surprisingly, doesn’t spark jealousy—just a quiet sense of relief. She’s stopped
Dolton POVJonathan, who has been uncharacteristically quiet, finally speaks. His voice carries a weight of apology. “I should have told you. I didn’t think it was important to say I was also Merfolk. I haven’t shifted into that form since I was a child, back when I stayed with my mother in the Fae Kingdom. I never intended to shift into it again. I had accepted that I was Fae, and only Fae.”His words hang in the air, heavy with regret and vulnerability. His gaze flicks between us, searching for understanding, though I can tell he’s bracing himself for judgment.I let out a sigh, my voice gentle but firm as I reply. “But you’re not only Fae, Jonathan. You never were.”The truth of it seems to land with him, his shoulders sagging slightly as if he’s finally acknowledging a part of himself he’s long suppressed. The room feels charged, the unspoken complexities of identity, loyalty, and belonging weaving through the space. Yet, in this moment, I can see something shifting in all of us—a
Dolton POVCeline is still trembling, her body giving away just how deeply shaken she is. I can’t blame her—we should have warned her. We should have told her that outside the protection of the kingdoms, the world isn’t just untamed; it’s downright dangerous. But we didn’t expect her to wander off, to venture into a space where these horrors lurk. The guilt gnaws at me, knowing we could have prevented this.The only silver lining is that she shifted. Her merfolk form was nothing short of breathtaking—silver and gold shimmering together in her tail. Not even the royal Merfolk can boast such a rare combination of colors. Typically, the royal families have distinct, unique features that set them apart, but none of them have the brilliance that she does. It’s like her very being is touched by the divine, a beacon of her status as the Queen Goddess.But even that marvel is overshadowed by what just happened. We returned to the car and found them gone. The moment I saw the empty space where
Celine POV“Not many can shift into both forms,” Sebastian says, breaking the silence, his voice thoughtful. “Usually, one side is more dominant than the other. Take Nischola, for example. She’s both dragon and wolf, but her wolf side prevailed. She can’t shift into her dragon form at all.”His words only deepen my confusion. “You’re saying Jonathan is unique?” I murmur, still trying to wrap my head around the revelation.Sebastian’s gaze sharpens as he turns back to Jonathan. “You are powerful. You yourself are rare—unique, even. Hiding either side of you isn’t just denying who you are; it’s punishing your shifter Jonthan. Do you know why the kingdoms separated in the first place? Because they couldn’t accept that some of their own could embody more than one kind of magic, more than one kind of being. If people embraced both sides of themselves, maybe the kingdoms wouldn’t despise each other as much as they do now.”Jonathan doesn’t respond immediately, but the weight of Sebastian’s