Selene
The dream began in a forest I don’t recognize.
The territory seemed familiar enough, tall snow-capped mountains and thick, lush evergreens. Snow covered the ground, and wolf tracks dotted the pristine white surface for as far as the eye could see. Are those my tracks? I wonder dimly, glancing down at my feet. However when I look, I find myself in human form. My pale, bare feet sink into the thick powder, and though my toes curl into the icey substance, I don’t feel any cold.
I’m wearing a long silvery gown, completely unsuitable for being out in these elements. My limbs are exposed to the frigid air, and as flurries of snowflakes fill the air around me, I realize they do not melt when they land on my skin. Something isn’t right. Why can’t I feel anything? Why can’t I tell if it’s night or day. Everything is so surreal and strange, I realize it must be a dream.
However, figuring out
Odette“Dr, will Selene be all right?” I ask worriedly, speaking in hushed tones so as not to be overheard.“She’s still unconscious.” Dr Kane replies, “She needs rest, and we’re still waiting on her lab work, but she’s young and healthy. As long as she takes care of herself she should be fine.”“Is there anything we can do to help her?” I press.“Keep an eye on her, I know she’s very ill, but you’ve got to get as much food and water into her as possible, even when she doesn’t want anything.” He instructs.“But won’t that make her sick more often?” I fret, wringing my hands.“I know it sounds terrible, but it’s about net gain. The more she takes in, the more nutrients she retains, even if she’s bringing the majority back up.” Dr Kane explains with an apologetic from. &nb
My lashes flutter open to reveal a stark white room, a bevy of sterile, chemical scents filling my nose. I feel weighed down and dizzy at once, like I’m floating yet unable to move. I recognize this feeling, and I’ve woken up in this situation often enough to guess what happened. I must have passed out from exhaustion, dehydration, stress, or all three. I’m back in the hospital, hooked up to half a dozen beeping machines and wearing a scratchy, unflattering paper gown. The world is dark beyond the windows, and I glance around for a clock. It was around ten o-clock this morning when I attempted to call Bastien, but it’s after 8pm now. I’ve been asleep all day. Slowly but surely, the events which passed before I lost consciousness filter back through my mind, and I immediately want to find Lila. She must have been so scared. As if reading my mind, Odette appears in my doorway a moment later, with Lila peeking arou
SeleneThe dreams haven’t stopped. It seems every time I close my eyes, some new memory or imagined depiction of the past resurfaces to haunt me. Most of the time they’re pleasant: the early months of my first marriage to Bastien, milestones in Lila’s young life, even a few more events from my childhood. Of course they aren’t all good. I’ve relived my mother’s death in this uncomfortable hospital bed, as well as Garrick’s abuse and Gabriel’s murder… and then there are the dreams about Bastien. Not sweet reminiscings of our recent reunion or sex fueled fantasies, but nightmares: horrible visions of all that might befall him on his journey, and imaginings of horrors already suffered. Just now I was wrenched from sleep by the bloody scenes of his attempted assassination, which my tormented brain created in the middle of an otherwise peaceful rest. I sit up in bed gasping for air, looki
Drake“Go fish!” Lila giggles, holding a fan of cards close to her body. “Hmm,” I grumble, narrowing my eyes at the mischievous pup, “Are you sure you don’t have any fives, Lila bean?”“I’m sure!” She exclaims, nodding vigorously. Halfway through my draw, her expression changes, “Mommy, I have to potty.”“I’ll take her.” Sophie offers, sliding off my lap and helping Lila to her feet. I’m momentarily distracted watching my stunning mate walk away, but once the bathroom door closes at her back I turn back to Selene. We’re seated around a small table in her VIP hospital suite, with Selene herself situated in an oversized armchair fitted with an IV hook and a call button. She’s wearing a thick robe and a worried expression, but her complexion is decidedly less green today than it was yesterday.“What’s w
FredericAs a general rule, I try not to judge people based on appearances, but I can’t recall ever seeing a bigger bunch of misfits than I’m staring at now. Gnarled, grizzled and tattooed, the rogues in front of me are so stereotypically rough looking it’s actually laughable. It’s as if a casting director put up an ad for outcasts and every muscle-bound ruffian in the city turned up to audition.Oh well, I might not care for their style, but there’s no question, they’re exactly what I need. With Bastien gone, the opportunity to cause disruptions in the pack are higher than ever, I’d be a fool not to take advantage.“You’re sure the Alpha isn’t here?” The lead shifter demands, sharpening a knife in an obvious bid to look intimidating.Ridiculous, I think. What kind of shifter resorts to weapons, you’ve got built-in knives in your paws! Of course, his act
Selene“How do I look?” Sophie grins at me, “like a queen.”“A very tired queen.” I joke.“That is why the Goddess invented makeup.” She replies, dabbing concealer on the dark circles beneath my eyes. When she’s finished, even I have to admit that I look pretty good. Make no mistake, I’ve looked much better, but at least this way I look the part of an Alpha’s mate. I’m wearing a simple wrap dress cut from pearlescent white fabric, with my dark hair flowing in waves around my shoulders and a thick layer of mascara framing my blue and violet eyes. Hopefully the camera lights will make my fair skin look porcelain, and not the pallid gray I’ve been sporting lately. “You look lovely Selene.” Dr Kane appears in the doorway as I slip on a pair of gold pumps matching my simple jewelry, “Are you sure you’re up for this?&rdquo
ArabellaDamn it! I internally shriek, staring in horror at the news broadcast filling the television screen. Selene and her brat are parading across a stage, charming the crowd and giving a flawlessly sympathetic performance. What the hell are they thinking? This is the last thing I need! Bastien has been watching the news like a hawk, pacing like a caged tiger in front of the TV and alternatively scouring the newspapers for any scrap of intel. I’ve been carefully screening both before he gets his hands on the remote or the morning post, but until now we haven’t come up against this kind of crisis - and that’s undoubtedly what this is. If Bastien sees the press conference footage I’m absolutely screwed. They are too convincing, too lovely, and that child is obviously his. For all she resembles her mother, when she speaks to the reporter it’s as if the words are coming from Bastien himself - albeit a very young Bastien.
Aiden“Odile was spotted again.” Donavon informs me urgently. “In Newtown.”“When?” I reply, alight with excitement. “Just now.” He shoots me a predatory grin, and I know we’re already on the same page. “We need to move now, before it’s too late.” I announce.“I’m already on it.” He assures me. “Every enforcer we have is currently deploying, we’ll have the entire neighborhood on lockdown within half an hour.”Donavon is as good as his word. In no time at all, Newtown is crawling with enforcers and sentries, all concentrating around a single focal point: Paws and Claws, Elysium’s most exclusive nail salon. As betas, we stand at the center of the law enforcement melee, frantically going over every last detail of the raid. We’ve yet to notify anyone but Drake, defaultin
Selene “Why do you have that look on your face?” I ask Bastien, suspiciously eyeing his tense expression as he guides our car through the winding mountain roads. My father is in the back seat napping, and another vehicle follows behind us, transporting Helene and Frederic’s coffins. It’s both grim and comforting to be returning home under such circumstances, and I know Bastien is feeling as conflicted as I am about feeling so happy when our journey cost us so much. Still, I don’t think that’s what’s bothering him – but something clearly is. “Are you worried about how the pack is going to receive you?” “No.” Bastien sighs, anxiously rubbing the back of his neck. “Then what?” I press, wanting to comfort him the same way he’s comforted me over the last few days. After the initial elation about surviving wore off, a thousand distraught feelings closed in around me, threatening to pull me under. Nightmares about Blaise, guilt about Helene and Frederic, sorrow about their los
Bastien When I set out on this journey, I never planned on being gone for so long. I thought I’d travel for a few weeks, deal with Blaise as best I could, and return home before Selene started showing. Maybe it was naivete on my part, but there’s no denying things did not go as expected. Now, as I lie in bed a full twelve hours after the entire world as we knew it imploded, I’m merely grateful that we survived. Selene is bundled safely in my arms, and our pups are growing safely in her womb. I still don’t know how we managed to make it through the last few days unscathed – physically at least. I know the losses of Helene and Frederic are already weighing on my mate, and she hasn’t even begun to process their sacrifices. But we have plenty of time for that in the days to come. In fact – we have all the time in the world. We’re both eager to get home to Lila as soon as possible, not to mention that I’m dreading the mess I’ll be returning to in Elysium, but for now there is
As long as I live, I’ll never forget the sight of Bastien killing Blaise, or the strange sense of relief to watch another being’s life snuff out so brutally. Under any other circumstances I might be horrified, but now there is only the eerie sensation of all my fear evaporating at once. It almost happens too fast, ricocheting me back and forth between such extremes of emotion that my brain needs to shut down in order to cope. I actually black out for a few moments, the world going as dark as my shadows as I try to process what has just happened. Luckily I’m not alone. My father is by my side anchoring me to reality, and before long my mate is there too. Of course I didn’t see it happen; one moment Bastien was shaking Blaise like a ragdoll, the next he’s in front of me. He’s back in human form, bloody, bruised and naked as the day he was born. I can barely comprehend that it’s over, that the danger has really passed. Still, my wolf is rejoicing as Bastien takes my face in hi
My father is bending over me, his large, warm hands on my shoulders. “She’s gone Selene.” He murmurs, “She’s gone, you can’t help her now.” “No!” I insist tearfully, “she’s lived forever, she’s got more power in her little finger than I do in my whole body, she has to be faking, this has to be some kind of spell.” “Sweetheart, you have to focus.” My father coaches, “Blaise still lives and your mate still fights. It’s over for Helene but it doesn’t have to be over for you.” Little by little his words seep into my brain, and I’m finally able to look up at the scene around me. Bastien, Grayson and Matthew are still fighting tooth and nail, but Blaise and his spellcaster are standing side by side, looking only too pleased with themselves. “This is what defiance gets you, my beauty.” Blaise informs me. “Now be a good girl and come to me before anyone else gets hurt.” I thought I knew what anger was, I’ve certainly felt pure rage on any number of occasions in the past, bu
I immediately take a step towards Selene, but Blaise lazily waves his hand and a line of sentries crosses the floor between us, forming a human barricade between myself and my mate. Now Selene, Helene and James are completely encircled by guards, but my beautiful little wolf looks as determined as ever. If I so chose, I could barrel through the shifters dividing us with little issue, but I’m sure that’s exactly what Blaise wants. He wants to distract me, he wants to use Selene against me. Unable to help myself, my eyes drop to my mate’s belly. She’s put on at least five pounds since I saw her last, and her dress is now ballooned outward by a healthy baby bump. Twins, I think again, in awe of how much my wife has been through these last few weeks, and amazed by the miracle she’s embodying. When our eyes meet, I can see her determination so clearly it’s staggering. Nothing I say now is going to convince her to leave, even if it means she’s in for the spanking of a lifetime wh
Looking around in a panic, I demand, “where? Where has he gone?” “His orders were for me to get you out, Selene.” Helene informs me, not sounding as if she’s particularly interested in actually following them. “Then again, you are a headstrong young woman, and I’m just an old woman. It would be only too easy for you to overpower me and go after them.” “Them?” I repeat, “he’s not alone?” “No.” A deep voice sounds behind me, the man who had been standing with Helene before going to dispatch the guards. “His with the rebel leaders, Matthew and Grayson.” Turning around, I study the strange man closely. I’m sure I’ve never seen him before, but he seems oddly familiar. He’s got to be close to sixty years old, with gray streaked hair and the gaunt form of a man who’s known true deprivation. My wolf is already wondering if he might be my father, but the look on his face confirms it. He’s looking at me as if he’s seeing a ghost, his eyes shining with unshed tears. “Hello Sel
Selene “Why are we still in lockdown?” I demand, glaring at Blaise. “I thought you said the danger had passed.” “It has passed, my beauty, I’m merely being cautious.” He insists, reaching up to drag his knuckles over my cheek. “It’s an annoyance to be sure, but one we’ll get through.” “This is what happens when you abuse your people.” I grumble, “if you don’t want to be annoyed maybe you should respect their rights.” “Rights.” He scoffs, “more like a city full of spoiled children clamoring for attention and making unreasonable demands.” “I want to go back to my rooms.” I announce, overflowing with disgust for the horrible man. “You can’t do that yet.” He informs me brusquely. “Why, what’s going to happen?” I ask. “You know I normally don’t mind your sass, but I don’t have the patience for it today.” He gripes, turning away from me. “Wait!” I exclaim, clasping onto his arm as a rush of inspiration strikes me. We’re in his safe room surrounded by guards, but a man as
BastienMaking myself wait to take action until hearing from Helene is one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. My relief over escaping the dungeons with Grayson and James wore off almost immediately after learning that Selene was still Blaise’s captive. I hadn’t really expected her to get away at the same time we did, but my disappointment and worry once Matthew filled us in was proof of the hope I hadn’t let myself acknowledge.The worst part is waiting for the witch to appear afterwards, but my new allies keep reminding me that I won’t be any help to Selene if I get captured again. Only this fact keeps me from stormi
SeleneI’m woken by the sounds of blaring alarms, the sound so shrill and horrible I slam a pillow over my face before I can stop to consider what the sound might mean. It’s not until my bedroom door swings open and a young servant girl pokes her head in, that I lower the plush implement. She pulls me out of bed and helps me into a robe while my head spins.An alarm. I think hopefully, that’s bad for Blaise. And what’s bad for Blaise can only be good for us. Luna answers slyly.