Selene’s POV
I don’t know how much time has passed since we arrived here. Without windows I have no way of deciphering whether it is day or night, and while it feels like it’s been hours, misery always makes time move more slowly.
Sophie has finally stopped crying and is manically hugging her knees to her chest and rocking back and forth on the ground. I feel sorry for the poor woman, but I cannot forget that she is partially responsible for our situation. I might be more understanding if she’d only involved me, but endangering my pup was unforgivable.
Lila is sleeping comfortably in my lap, and I am trying my best to hold it together. My head is pounding with stress and dehydration, and if we were anywhere else I would be terribly embarrassed by how loudly my stomach is growling. It sounds like an angry bear out for blood, but I know I can handle it.
I’ve starv
Drake’s POVI could kill Martin where he stands.Behind me I can hear Bastien’s Betas’ frantic mutterings, reminding the other Alpha that the scum kneeling before me is trying to distract us, to turn us against each other. They beg him to stay calm, not to react, but I barely notice.I don’t care that Martin told Bastien I kissed his mate, though in fact I failed. I care that he took Selene and Lila, and I especially care that he’s been abusing his sister. If you’d asked me this morning who I cared about more, I would have unequivocally chosen Selene – but that was before: Before I heard what this monster did to the sweet wolf I grew up with, before I realized how oblivious I must have been to overlook his cruelty.No one deserves to be hurt by someone responsible for taking care of them, especially Sophie. She’s bright and warm, she loves and
Selena's PovShock, fury and betrayal war for dominance in Bastien’s imposing features. He’s looking at me the same way he did when he first discovered I was alive, as if he’s realizing he doesn’t recognize me at all. Tears have been rolling down my cheeks since I woke, but a fresh surge rushes forth as I wilt beneath his scrutiny.“Bastien, they need it now.” Drake interjects.As if in a trance, Bastien shoves out his arm toward the lab tech, “Take it.” He orders coldly.The poor tech is shaking as he tries to draw the enraged Alpha’s blood, and he’s not alone. Every lesser wolf in the room is positively quailing in the face of the apoplectic energy Bastien is putting off, myself included.When the young man completes his duties, he practically sprints out of the bay, heading off for the lab. No one says a word. We’re all waiting with bated breath to see how Bastien will respond, even the doctor.When Bastien finally finds his voice, he says just about the last thing I expected. “Put
Sophie's PovI shifted after Martin left with Selene and Lila. It’s so cold in this basement that my teeth were actually chattering – I’ve never been so grateful for my fur. I don’t know where he’s taken them or when he’s coming back, but I’m not sure it matters.By now Drake must know what I’ve done.If I ever get out of this place I’m going to be in a world of pain, either from Martin’s fists or Drake’s hatred. Hell it will probably be both. I’ve survived Martin’s temper my entire life, I’m not sure I can survive Drake hating me.My stomach is growling so fiercely and I can’t remember the last time I ate. I’ve been trying to distract myself from the wretched pangs and my parched throat, but my thoughts can only drift so far before finding their way back.I hope Selene and Lila are okay. I still don’t understand what Martin
Drake‘s PovThe last twenty-four hours have turned my life completely upside down. I’ve always been so self-assured, so confident in who I am. After all, I’m an Alpha – how could I not be? I may not be the strongest Alpha on the continent or even the best leader, but I’ve never needed to be those things.I’ve only ever needed to be a good leader for my pack, and I grew up knowing my place in the greater order. I may seem weak next to wolves like Bastien and Blaise Denizen, but they are not normal Alphas. Denizen’s reputation is nearly Godlike, and Bastien is well on his way to earning the same status.I will never be able to compete at their level, but the fact remains I’m stronger than every last member of my pack, which numbers in the thousands. I’d wager I’m even stronger than the shifters in the Nova pack. I’ve seen Bastien’s Betas in battle often enough to estimat
It’s over. Bastien marked Selene. He knows the pup is his.All my best plans, all the money and resources I wasted, all the trouble I’ve gone to in order to keep them apart: it has all been for nothing. Bastien is going to bring this mate and pup back to Elysium, and he’ll be stronger than ever. He’ll have no distractions, no depression or grief to weaken his spirit. If anything he’ll have more of a reason to fight. He has something to protect now. To top it all off Arabella has fled to the Calypso pack, leaving me completely high and dry. My only remaining ally is my mother, and she’s more of a figurehead than anything else. When Uncle Gabriel killed my father she instigated the plot, determined for our family to have revenge and to see me take my rightful position as Alpha. She sent me to the best schools, found shifters to train me in one on one combat and battle strategy; s
Bastien's PovSelene’s eyes are glowing with barely contained emotion when I finally sneak her out of bed, unraveling Lila’s plump limbs from our bodies and slipping out from beneath the covers. Tossing my mate over my shoulder, I cart her into the living room and pull the bedroom door shut.Depositing Selene onto the sprawling sectional, I pounce, covering her body with my own and reveling in the feel of her bare skin on mine. I know the Goddess created us for each other, but it never ceases to amaze me how perfectly our bodies fit together.My hips were made to rest in the cradle of her thighs, and even though her small size sometimes makes me feel like some sort of giant, her little form fits so snugly in my arms I could happily carry her forever. And that’s not to mention the glove-like embrace of the sleek channel I’m about to bury myself in.“W
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.