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.
Celine POV16th BirthdayThe grip on my wrist tightens as my mother drags me forward, her pace relentless. I struggle to keep up, my legs stumbling over themselves as I try to match her determined strides.“Mum!” I cry out, tugging against her hold, desperation in my voice.“Keep moving, Celine!” she snaps, her voice low and feral. I catch a glimpse of her hand as it morphs, the fingers elongating into claws, fur sprouting along the knuckles. Her wolf is surfacing, her strength overpowering.“I don’t have a wolf!” I plead, my voice trembling. My chest burns as I push myself to keep up, but my body betrays me, and I collapse to the ground. She growls in frustration, her grip never faltering as she yanks me upright with ease. Her disdain cuts deeper than her claws ever could. She knows I can’t move as fast as her—knows I’m not like her. Yet here we are.We stop abruptly in front of a tall, foreboding building, its silhouette cutting sharply against the evening sky. The structure looms, i
Celine POVAlex’s words linger in the air like a haunting truth, heavy and undeniable. “Look back, baby. You didn’t go to school, you had no friends, you were kept inside,” he says, his voice laced with a mixture of smugness and sincerity. His gaze pierces through me, forcing me to confront a reality I’ve ignored for years.I freeze, my mind sifting through memories. He’s right. I’ve been hidden my entire life, a shadow behind closed doors. Why? My heart pounds, a dull ache forming in my chest as the unanswered question presses harder.“We’ll make sure you have fun, though,” Wes murmurs as he steps closer. His broad frame traps me against the cold wall. The scent of him—woodsy, dark, and intoxicating—clouds my thoughts. His nose grazes the curve of my neck, and a shiver runs down my spine.“Her smell... Could you imagine the power she’d have if she were unleashed from the ties that hold her down?” Wes’s voice is low, almost reverent, as though I’m some rare, coveted treasure. I gasp as
Celine POV21 YEARS oldThe past week has been a blur of exhaustion, a haze of moments where the brothers barely left me alone. My body aches, my spirit even more so. When I first arrived here, I had my mother. She was my anchor, my only sense of familiarity in this oppressive house. But then, she died.Richard kept me after her death, claiming me like an object to be passed down. I stayed, not because I wanted to, but because I had no choice. I became their slave in every way that mattered. The brothers—my so-called mates. That word feels hollow, a cruel irony. Mates are supposed to be equal partners. But here, it meant ownership and control.On my eighteenth birthday, everything changed. Each of them used my body that night, taking turns, marking me in ways I didn’t understand but couldn’t stop. It wasn’t a one-time event. It became a routine, their presence in my room as predictable as the sunrise. Some nights, only one would come. Other nights, all three would be there, their desir
Celine POVI feel a pang of sorrow as I look at them. I will miss them in a strange, twisted way. They kept me alive when their father wanted to break me. When he sought to punish me, they intervened. When he denied me food, they disobeyed him to keep me from starving. They were my tormentors, yes, but also my protectors in a world that gave me no safe harbor.And yet, even in their protection, they never gave me a choice. They took my body as if it belonged to them, as if my resistance didn’t matter. No matter how much I fought, how much I begged, they always took.Now, as they prepare to take again, I let the tears fall silently. Tomorrow, I might leave. But the scars they’ve left on my soul will stay with me forever.“Will I see you again?” My voice trembles as the words leave my lips, raw with desperation. Despite everything, a part of me clings to the idea that they protected me from their father and might still shield me if I leave. If someone else tries to hurt me, surely, I can
Celine POVDolton stays close, his presence overwhelming, his touch burning into my skin as if he’s trying to leave an imprint of himself on my soul. My arms remain wrapped around his neck, anchoring me to him, and I tilt my face up, searching his gaze. I want to tell him I’ll find a way to see him again, to keep him close even when I’m gone. But the words catch in my throat, silenced by the truth we both know. There’s no way to make this work. His brothers made it clear: there’s no future for us.His fingers slide through my hair, threading gently before tightening. The pull tilts my head back, exposing my neck to him. His lips graze the sensitive skin, soft at first, then firmer as he kisses his way downward. I feel tears prick my eyes, though I’m not sure why. I’ve fought them for so long, built my resistance into a routine, an armor of defiance that’s kept me from breaking entirely. But now, I wish I could go back—embrace every stolen moment, every touch. This is the end, and I kn
Celine POVThe weight of exhaustion settles deep in my bones as Dolton holds me against his chest. His arms are strong, protective, and his fingers trace a soothing pattern along my spine. I can’t find the energy to move or speak. I’m drained, my body aching from the hours they spent with me. The temptation to give in to sleep is strong, but their whispered voices keep me tethered to consciousness.“Father may agree,” Dolton says, his voice heavy with sorrow. There’s a rawness to it that tugs at something deep inside me. I want to tell him not to worry, to let him know I’ll be fine. I’ll get my life back, and even if he never sees me again, I’ll remember him. But I can’t bring myself to say it.“Father will not agree. Remember why she was sent here? Remember why she’s different? Do you really think he’ll agree?” Alex’s tone is sharp, cutting through Dolton’s hope. I silently agree with Alex—I don’t want to stay here. I want to be free, even if I don’t fully understand what freedom look
Celine POVThe chaos in the room makes my pulse pound, but I can’t move, pinned by Richard’s furious grip on Dolton. Wes and Alex hold him back as he thrashes, their strength barely enough to restrain him. Richard’s voice cuts through the tension like a whip.“You told her!” Richard snarls, his words dripping with fury. My heart stutters. It’s true. Everything Dolton said—about me, about the wolf I thought I didn’t have—was true.Richard’s eyes narrow on me, and before I can react, he storms forward and grabs my head in an iron grip. His hands feel like vices clamping down, and I scream as a searing pain blossoms in my skull, blinding and disorienting. My legs give out beneath me, and the only thing keeping me upright is the cruel strength of his hands.“No! Don’t make her forget!” Dolton’s voice breaks, raw and desperate as he struggles against his brothers. I hear him fighting, shouting, but my vision swims, and my mind feels heavy and hazy, as though submerged underwater.“Remember,
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