Celine POVThe pack’s grounds fade behind us, replaced by the quiet of the forest. I am cradled in King Sebastian’s arms as we move swiftly toward a small encampment nestled among the trees. The tents are simple but orderly, their canvas sides flapping softly in the cool night breeze. Torches flicker around the perimeter, casting golden light across the scene. The area feels strange, almost peaceful, though I remain on edge.He carries me into the largest tent, where a sturdy wooden table sits in the center, surrounded by medical supplies and neatly arranged tools. The space smells of herbs and something metallic, a clean sterility that puts me on edge. He places me carefully on the table, and the sensation of being elevated makes my stomach churn with unease.Sebastian’s sharp eyes assess me before turning to a woman who steps forward. She is tall and poised, her auburn hair tied into a neat bun. Her kind eyes meet mine, and she smiles gently.“Her wounds are infected,” Sebastian says
Sebastian POVThe weight in my chest is suffocating, an anger I can barely contain roiling within me. Helios, my dragon, is restless, roaring his rage at what these monsters have done to her. Every time she flinches, every bruise and scar on her fragile body makes him thrash inside me, demanding justice. He senses her wolf struggling beneath layers of suppression, clawing to be free, yet unable to break through.And then there’s the magic. It clings to her like a second skin, yet she fears it. It’s hers—part of her essence—and somehow, she’s completely unaware of it. How could she not know she’s more than just a werewolf?I never thought I’d find my mate. I had resigned myself to the idea that she didn’t exist, that the fates had overlooked me. Then she appeared, in the darkest, most wretched place imaginable. She’s broken, scarred inside and out, her trust shattered by years of abuse. I ache to know her, to hear her story, but I know better than to push.She clings to me now, tremblin
SebastianI wait, my chest tightening with each second, as I wonder if she’ll find the courage to tell me. Her silence feels heavy, weighted by memories she can’t escape. We sit in the small tent nestled within the dense forest, the creak of the wooden beams almost echoing her hesitation. Finally, her voice breaks through the stillness, soft but strained.“I was sixteen when my mum moved us,” she begins, her words halting as if she’s testing the waters of her own resolve. “Her new partner had said we could stay with him.”Her gaze drops to the floor, avoiding mine. Her vulnerability feels raw, and I tread carefully. “Did you have your wolf then?” I ask, my voice quiet but curious. If she was still with her mother, maybe something had stifled the connection with her wolf.She shakes her head, her voice now barely a whisper. “No, I couldn’t feel my wolf. The day we arrived... the brothers spoke to me. They said I was their mate and kissed me.” Her body tenses, and the words come out quie
Sebastian POVI watch her, my heart pounding as I wait for a sign. Emotions flood her face—confusion, fear, pain. Then her eyes snap open, wide with realization, and tears fall freely.“I remember,” she whispers, her voice trembling. “He said he loved me. He told me to focus... to find my wolf.” She looks at me, her expression a mix of awe and sorrow. “He said... I’m the Queen Goddess?”The words hit me like a thunderclap. My mind reels, trying to comprehend. The Queen Goddess? That would make her... above all other deities. Above the Moon Goddess. How? She looks at me like she wants me to explain.“I’ll explain soon,” I promise, my voice steady despite the storm inside me. “What happened to him after he told you? Where did he go?”“His dad came in,” she says, her voice breaking again. “He was shouting at Dolton for telling me. Dolton begged him not to make me forget. He was screaming for me to remember as they dragged him away.”Her tears flow harder, and I pull her close, my mind spi
Celine POVWhen I fell asleep, I was with Sebastian. His presence wrapped around me like a protective shield, and for the first time in what felt like forever, I felt safe. But sleep did not bring peace. My dreams were a relentless replay of my final moments with Dolton—his face, his voice, his agony. Over and over, I saw him locked away because of me, his screams echoing in my mind.I hated it. I hated that he suffered because of me. It wasn’t right. But even as guilt consumed me, a small part of me clung to the hope that his father and brothers wouldn’t harm him. They might be cruel, but not to him… right?When I wake, the emptiness beside me is like a sudden chill. I am alone. The silence feels heavy, oppressive, as a sense of unease creeps through me like a shadow that refuses to fade.Then, the noise hits me. Loud shouts pierce the quiet, and the sound of hurried footsteps fills the air. I sit up, my heart pounding. Something is wrong. Very wrong.“Now! They need all the soldiers
Celine POV I set to work, using my claws to dig the bullets out. My breath comes in shallow gasps, and sweat beads on my forehead. The bullets aren’t deep, but the act of removing them feels like pulling poison from his very soul. Each one hits the ground with a metallic clink, and I feel a flicker of hope.“Mutt!”The voice freezes me. It’s cold, mocking, and all too familiar. My body goes rigid as I turn toward the source. Beta Noah. His sneer cuts through the dim light as he steps into the room, his presence suffocating.“I can smell you,” he says, his voice dripping with cruel amusement. “I knew you’d come back.”Joseph’s shout snaps me out of my paralysis. “Get out of the cell before he locks it!”I bolt for the cell door, fumbling with the keys in my haste as I race to Joseph's cell. But before I can reach Joseph’s cell, Noah’s hand catches me, slamming me against the stone wall. Pain radiates through my back, and I cry out. His grip tightens around my neck, cutting off my air.
Sebastian POVThe weight of my failure presses heavily on my chest as I replay the events in my mind. This is my fault. Part of me doesn’t want to admit it, but I can’t deny the truth. Joseph had warned me, but I refused to believe him. I didn’t want to face the idea that someone could challenge us, that they could take down our dragons. That arrogance, my unwillingness to prepare, is what led us here—almost defeated, wounded, and vulnerable.The memory of pain lances through my back, sharp and vivid. I remember the searing burn as I fell, and then... nothing. My world had gone dark. Now, as I look around, the stone walls of the cell where I woke feel colder, the air thicker with the metallic scent of blood and sweat. The dim torchlight flickers against the rough-hewn stone, casting long, shifting shadows that make the narrow corridor seem alive.Celine’s scream had jolted me awake, the sound cutting through my haze like a blade. My instincts had taken over. I could have acted in my hu
Sebastian POV “What have you found out so far?” I ask, needing to understand the inner workings of this pack.Joseph straightens, his expression grim. “It was a sanctuary for rogues for many years,” he begins. “A place where anyone could come and stay. Everyone had equal rights—no alpha, no hierarchy.”I nod slowly, processing his words. “And then Dale arrived?”Joseph’s face darkens. “Yes. He came with his mate and declared himself the Alpha. Those who opposed him... didn’t survive. After enough challenges ended in death, the rest accepted his rule. But he’s not a true alpha. He uses magic to dominate, to enforce his control.”“When did he take over?” I ask, leaning forward. Every detail is crucial.“A few months before he brought Celine here,” Joseph replies. His voice lowers, the weight of his next words evident. “Many don’t even know who she truly is. The top soldiers used her own magic against her. They had her visit a so-called ‘doctor,’ who administered wolfsbane to weaken her
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.