Frederic
Bloody typical.
I leave the house for a few measly hours and the dumb bitch goes and gets herself caught - and at a nail salon no less. Of all the stupid, thoughtless things to do! I swear, I could strangle the woman.
It doesn’t take me long to find her. I know they wouldn’t take her to the pack house, and while they might want to lock her up, the idiots are too noble to completely bypass the system. They’ll take her to the enforcement headquarters to interrogate. They won’t actually lock her into a jail cell until they have something with which to charge her.
I know my mother isn’t foolish enough to tell them anything intentionally, but I need to get to her before they trick her into revealing some detail of my plans. Clearly I’ve been overestimating her intelligence if she let herself get caught this easily.
I watch the headquarter’s entrance until I see the betas
SeleneWith every day that passes, the more worried I become that Bastien hasn’t called. I’m certain he’s alive. With our bond, I know I would feel it if he weren’t, no matter how far away he may be. Still, the continued radio silence is enough to make me fear any number of other tragedies. Is he hurt? Is he sick? Sitting in a dungeon somewhere?Don’t jump to conclusions. Luna advises in a soothing tone. As far as we know, no news is good news.I hate it when people say that. I reply silently, no news can be just as damning as bad news, especially when the person you’re worried about is literally facing death. The worst part of all of this is that I know the others are worried too, but they aren’t telling me because they’re worried I’ll fall to pieces. I’m sick of being babied this way just because I’m pregnant. I mean, I know there are some things I p
SeleneThe moment the car door closes and Lila is secured in her carseat, I demand, “alright, we’re in the car. Now tell me what’s going on.”“Selene.” Donovan sighs, “I’m sorry if we got your hoped up but we haven’t heard from Bastien.”“But-” I object, replaying our conversation in the hospital over in my head, “Aiden said the orders were coming directly from him.”“We didn’t know you’d gone back to Dr. Kane.” Donovan explains gravely, “Bastien told us before he left that he doesn’t want you anywhere near the man.”“Now tell her why.” Drake instructs grumpily. “Honestly, how do you expect her to know she’s supposed to stay away from people if you don’t tell her.”“Bastien told her when he was here.” Aiden argues. &ldquo
SeleneI’m amazed at the difference one little pill can make. I feel like a completely different person now that I’ve thrown out Dr. Kane’s (if that’s truly his name) placebos. Dr. Lee’s medicines have reduced my morning sickness so much that the condition actually lives up to its name and only strikes in the morning. I’ve even put on a pound!It’s only been three days since leaving the hospital, and I couldn’t be happier to be home, even though everything else in my life is a bloody disaster. I keep trying to call Bastien every morning, but he never picks up, the line never even rings. It goes straight to voicemail.In addition to my mate’s absence and my pup’s continuous questions about where her Daddy is, the pack is all in an uproar. Apparently while I was stuck in the hospital Aiden and Donovan captured Odile, then immediately lost her. The worst part is that I think
Selene“You can’t be serious.” I drawl, crossing my arms over my chest and glaring at Drake.“What?” He counters in exasperation, “She’s a powerful witch, why wouldn’t you seek her help?”“Because she’ll never work with me without knowing the source of my power.” I exclaim. After the almost kidnapping at the zoo, the Beta’s placed Lila and I on lockdown, while Drake holed Sophie up in his rooms and presumably showed her how grateful he is that she’s safe. Every time I’ve seen either of them since, they’ve been wearing dopey lovesick smiles and Sophie’s been wearing long sleeves and long pants that tell me she’s trying to hide more than a few hickeys and lovebites. On the other hand the betas were true to their promise and immediately began searching for a teacher to help me with my powers. After everything calm
When Drake and I return from meeting Helene, Lila seems like the only one who’s happy to see us. She runs over and leaps into my arms, kissing me on the cheek and immediately rattling off stories from her day. Unfortunately everyone else is gathered on the couch in front of the television, looking very somber indeed. “What’s wrong?” Drake asks, striding over to his mate and lifting her off the couch, before sitting in her spot and settling her in his lap. Sophie simply nods towards the television in answer.Oh no, I think, this must be about the kidnapping. The attempt on Lila, Sophie and I has been headline news ever since it happened, particularly because Bastien has still not reappeared. It turns out it didn’t really matter whether Frederic’s latest attempt - and we’re all certain he is the one who was behind the plot - succeeded or not. The almost disaster was plenty damning in the eyes of the pac
ArabellaAs much as I wanted to slap my supplier right in the face when he advised me to try being lovable, I can’t deny he had a point. I need Bastien to fall head over heels in love with me, and I haven’t been trying very hard thus far. After all, I have to convince him we’re meant to be together so completely that he won’t believe the truth even when his betas say it to his face. He has to be so blinded by affection that he won’t recognize his own mate if they meet again. I’ve got my work cut out for me. At least I have one advantage, which is that I know what he likes. I just have to act as pathetic and helpless as Selene, and the big idiot will fall at my feet. No one is easier to manipulate than an alpha with a hero complex, except maybe one who’s being drugged. That’s the other tool in my limited arsenal. I’ve decided to up the dosage of the memory potion a bit, so that he’s e
BastienAll I ever seem to do these days is pace. Pace, scour the news from Elysium and try to figure out what hell I’m going to do. I cannot stomach the idea of standing by and doing nothing, but Arabella gets so frantic every time I mention going back or taking action that I’ve learned to cool my temper around her. It’s strange, I’ve witnessed a thousand of Bella’s tantrums over the years, but she’s never been a cowardly wolf. No, her fits have almost always been about not getting her way, this is the first time I’ve ever seen her so beside herself out of fear. She must have been terribly traumatized to be this afraid, and things must be even worse in Elysium then I realized if she feels she has no allies there. I still find it hard to believe my mother, Aiden and Donovan would all be so easily fooled by Selene, but everything I read in the papers or see on TV backs up what Arabella says. &nbs
BastienIt’s not much of a proposal, and certainly not how I ever planned on asking a woman to marry me, but given our dire straits, it will have to do. “We’ll get married.” I say again, sharing my idea as it forms in my mind. “I’ll reject Selene, we can have the papers sent from here via courier.”“She’ll never sign.” Arabella argues, even though her doe eyes wide and hopeful.“She won’t have to.” I announce, “with all the crimes she’s guilty of, we can get the marriage annulled. It’s not a true union if one party is tricked into it, and regardless I’m the Alpha.” I remind Arabella. My elite status gives me privileges even my spouse doesn’t enjoy. “She doesn’t have to agree to being rejected, as long as I want it.”“You’d really do that?” Arabella asks in awe. “Tr
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.