VIVIAN'S POV "You're not going to tell me something like that and leave it at that. I'm tired of it. You want me to be your Luna, and you're dangling knowledge over my head like I'm an idiot. You either start telling me something, or I'm gone," I snapped. I was done with his games. I kept the look on my face stern, hoping Killian could see how serious I was. My thoughts went straight to Chris, but I hoped he wouldn't call my bluff. If he did, I'd fold. I couldn't risk Chris. But I needed answers. I couldn't be in the dark anymore. "Fine. Sit down. And I'll give you something." I continued glaring at him as I sat, keeping my eyes on him. I couldn't break and let him know how nervous I really was. Keep in check, Vi. "Go on." Killian sat, leaning forward on his fist, staring me down. "Blackmoon is dying; I wasn't lying about that." "How? Why?" "I'm not going into the nitty gritty, but you've realized we'r
VIVIAN'S POV Killian refused to tell me anything more and silently walked me to my room. I thought he tried to force a kiss good night on me, but he turned on his heel and stormed off. He was probably angry he couldn't. He had to share so much information with me tonight. Let him be mad. I lay in bed, trying to sleep, but I couldn't. My mind kept going back to the fact that I was part witch. I kept trying to think if I had ever felt some sort of magic in me but couldn't come up with any memory where an inkling of magic had been felt. Then I remembered Killian mentioning he was supposed to marry another daughter of my father's. I had a sister. A half-sister but a sister nonetheless. Where was she? What happened to her? Had she really run away to avoid marrying Killian? What did she know that I didn't? I turned over, squeezing my eyes shut. I needed to get to sleep. He could have told me what to do if Chris had been here. Chris
KILLIAN'S POV "What are you going to do?" Marcus asked. "Send a healer to...him. There's obviously something wrong with him, and she requested it." Marcus scoffed. "I say let him suffer and let whatever is eating him take him out. Then we don't have to let whatever is between him and my future Luna worry us anymore." I grabbed his shirt. "Because that's the sort of footing I want to start with her. Killing someone she cares about." Marcus squirmed in my hold, looking away. "I'm sorry, Alpha. You're right. I'll get a healer to look at him immediately." I released my grip. "It doesn't seem like an ordinary sickness. It came on too quickly. Make sure it's the right kind of healer. Whatever he has could spread like wildfire, and we don't have the magic to contain it." He nodded. "You're right. It's not just about him. We need to protect the pack, too." I slapped him on the back. "Now you're see
VIVIAN'S POV Knock. I heard a knock on my door. At least, I'm pretty sure I did. I pulled the pillow over my head and shut my eyes again, telling myself it was in my head. But then the knock came again. Okay, there was definitely a knock. Knock, knock. Who was knocking at like three in the morning? I got up and walked over to the door, pausing. Should I open the door or ask who was on the other side? Whoever it was must have heard me because they knocked again, this time a little softer. "Vivian." It was Killian. Damn him. He couldn't just leave me alone. I opened the door to see him in gray sweatpants and a black tank top. His arms were entirely exposed; I couldn't say I wasn't a little taken aback by just how broad his shoulders were and how muscular he really was. "What do you want?" I snapped. His eyes scanned mine. "Can I come in?" I stepped back, shoeing him inside. "Whatever." He slipped inside,
CHRIS'S POV "Get away from me," I snarled. Killian had sent me one of his supposed healers as if I was some sick pup that needed attention. But I was okay. I just needed to be released and allowed to return to where I belonged. Instead, I was stuck in a cage, being coaxed by some middle-aged female shifter to come closer so they could look at me in the eyes and see something. They didn't need to look in my eyes. They didn't need to look at anything. They just needed to get the fuck away from me and let me out of this cage so I can see Sam. Smart, beautiful Sam. Her name felt like a vice grip on my heart. I ran to the bars, gripping them and screaming at the healer, "Let me out of here before I tear your fucking head off!" She backed off, her eyes wide. She turned towards the guard who had stood neutral beside her until now but kicked at the bars. "Get the fuck back. You act like that, and I'll send her away, and you can die i
VIVIAN'S POV Marcus stood there staring at me, waiting for me to respond. "I don't get what you're saying." Marcus rolled his eyes. "Killian wants you to go see your friend with him." "Did you have to say it so weird the first time?" "All I did was say that the Alpha wished you to join him in the cell house." I nodded. "Yeah, that. That's weird. Use normal people's words, Marcus." He spun around. "Just come on. I don't have time for your games." I stuck my tongue at him, hurrying to catch up. I'd tease him more later. I might not like him, but if this had to do with Chris, I should hurry and let teasing Marcus take a backseat. I started walking in stride with him. "Did he say what this was about?" "Are you done goofing off now?" "Are you done talking like a pompous jerk?" He ignored me. I started jogging, knowing the path to cells. I didn't need to be escorted. I ign
CHRIS'S POV Running. Running. I must get home. 'Go back,' Rock pleaded. 'No.' Rock whined and kept pushing forward. Running. Then I scented her. Sam. She was near. I stopped in my tracks. But we were far from home. I looked around, trying to figure out where the scent was coming from, sniffing the air. She was nearby, though. I could tell. I targeted the direction and started running again. Breaking into a clearing, a squeal and a growl greeted me as the sight of Sam and Zeke came into view. I shifted, falling onto the ground in a sweaty heap. "Sam, you're here." She rushed over to me, grabbing my shoulders. "Chris! What are you doing here? Where's Vivian?" I looked up into her beautiful green eyes. "She's with Blackmoon. I escaped. I had to get back to you. I tried to take her with me, but she refused to come with me." Zeke stepped forward. "You idiot. We were coming to save you both." Sam
KILLIAN'S POV"Welcome back, Sarah."Sarah turned from where she stood in the cell, her look of annoyance quickly morphing to innocence when she saw it was me. "Killian, I'm so glad to see you. You came to set me free." She reached through the bars as if to embrace me through them, but I stopped short. The last time I'd been near her, she'd whisper one of her spells in my ears, wiped my mind to put me in a daze for a week, and left the compound to run off and be a rogue or whatever she was doing. And now she was back. "Nice try. I'm not letting you touch me." She lowered her arms, looking me up and down. "I take it you're not here just to free me and let bygones be bygones." "I'm very interested in letting bygones be bygones, but first, I want to know where you've been," I said, crossing my arms. I couldn't give in to her too quickly. But I did need to seem interested in taking her back. "I was with the Greywood Pack. They to
VIVIAN'S POV "Hello, beautiful," Chris whispered in my ear. "Hello, handsome," I whispered, trying not to wake our twin boys in the bassinet before me. I turned around, wrapping my arms around his neck, pressing my lips to his, and continued in a hushed voice, "Are our guests here?" He nodded. "They just made it. I think she and Killian are fighting, though. But she's as big as a house." I grinned. "He probably said something as stupid as you just said." Chris opened his mouth to argue, but I held my finger up. "Don't. Just accept that you shouldn't say a pregnant woman is huge and go on about your day." He shrugged. "You're right." I glanced at our boys before slipping past Chris and heading towards the living room, where our guests were waiting. Divinity and Killian tried to visit at least once a month when time allowed. Despite the demands of being Alpha and Luna of our packs
KILLIAN'S POV "Zeke is dead," Vivian stated. Chris stood there, covered in blood, Vivian, too. I listened as they both explained what had happened. Marcus was already on the way to the cabin to verify their story, but I was sure what they had said was true. I could already tell by Chris's new aura that what had happened was undoubtedly true. Chris had killed an Alpha and was now an Alpha. I narrowed my eyes at him, suspicious. An Alpha should never trust an Alpha who murdered another Alpha. But he had done it to save Vivian. So, I should give him a little leeway. Turning back to Vivian now, I brushed her shoulder, ignoring the blood that covered her. "Are you okay?" She nodded. "I'm okay now. Chris saved me. I was initially upset, but...it had to be done." Damn. Chris is saving the day, of course. I should have been the one to kill Zeke. Now Chris looked like a damn hero. Vivian stepped closer to Chris. Oh, no. Th
CHRIS'S POV "Have you seen Vivian?" Killian asked, running up to me. I held up my hands. "I've been waiting for her just like you have. I thought we were supposed to meet her in that backroom before the ceremony so she could tell us her choice. So obviously, no, I have not seen her." Killian looked around. "Marcus went to her room to escort her without an answer. Her bed was stripped. There could have been laundry done. But no one can locate her. I'm worried." My ears perked up. "You don't think it's highly suspicious her bed is stripped? And she's missing? Where's Zeke?" He scanned the crowd. "He's not here either." Fucking hell. Zeke had taken Vivian; I had zero doubt in my mind. It is evident that the choice was down to me, and Killian and Zeke had no chance in hell, and he must have realized that. Killian was running to Marcus, commanding him to get their soldiers in line to start hunting for Vivian.
VIVIAN'S POV Today is the day. The final day that everyone will be holding their breath around me, walking on eggshells. Afraid that I'll break. Tonight was the Blood Moon and when I'd finally decide on my mate and our future. I stared at the ceiling, holding my stomach, the butterflies refusing to settle. I just wanted to skip to tomorrow, when this was over and done with, and my future could finally start. Tomorrow would be a better day than today. I threw back the covers, swinging my legs over the edge of the bed. First things first, I needed to eat. Make an appearance, act normal, be normal. The party wasn't until tonight, and I couldn't just hole myself in my room all day beforehand. I'd been doing that for days already while I healed. I wobbled over to my dresser, finding a pair of leggings and a tank top to slip into, then a pair of boots I could also slip on easily. I wasn't going for fancy right now. I'd dress fancy and nice ton
KILLIAN'S POV I stared at the bottle in my hand. I could do this. I could do it. One day, we would laugh at this. She wouldn't even be mad, right? Not after a few years of happiness and bliss together. I stared harder at the bottle, willing to answer my questions. To tell me what to do. A knock on the door interrupted my thoughts. I hid the bottle under my pillow quickly before striding to the door and flinging it open. Divinity stood there, looking nervously at the ground. "Hello, Alpha; I came to check on you." I looked around to see if anyone was in the hall to see her at my door. "Come in, D. You don't have to call me that, ya know." She smiled at me, slipping inside. "Thanks, Killian. So, how are things going for Vivian? You think she's going to choose you?" "I don't know," I groaned, heading over to the couch and flinging myself down. She settled down at the table, where I had left uneaten food, picking at m
KILLIAN'S POV "He's back." "Who's back?" I asked Marcus. Marcus looked around, making sure no one heard him as he leaned in and whispered, "Caleb." I set down my fork. "Let's go. You didn't bring him inside, did you?" "Of course not. He's outside the walls with my men." "Good." Standing, I let him lead me, not paying attention to those we passed. Caleb had a lot of nerve showing up here. Vivian had told me about what had happened with Caleb after they'd left, and I had assumed he had either died or maybe run off with his tail between his legs. But he was showing up here for some reason. To beg for mercy? To try some underhand scheme again? Arriving at the gate, we nodded to the guards as they opened up. Marcus led me to the side, where a group of men was waiting. Right in the center, they held Caleb down on his knees. He looked like he hadn't eaten in a while, and he was filthy. He probably
VIVIAN'S POV Outside with Zeke had left me exhausted. And now I was ready for a nap. Zeke asked if he could nap with me like in old times, but I was a woman now. It felt wrong. So I declined. His annoyed expression didn't escape me. Crawling into bed, I curled up with my pillow and immediately drifted into dreamland.***** Burning. It was so warm. I looked around, and I was back. I was back to the day of the fight with Sarah. I looked down at my arms, and they were charred. Had I killed her already? This didn't seem right. Why was I standing? I saw her laughing at me; her skin was burnt, hair frayed, and barely sticking to her scalp. "Little baby Vivian is scared," she mocked. I was on the ground. Vines wrapped around my legs now. I couldn't move. When did I sit down? "I'm not scared," I argued. Sarah walked towards me. "You're scared to choose him. You're scared of what Killian might do to him." I cri
KILLIAN'S POV "Can I talk to you?" Vivian looked around me before nodding. "Sure, come on in." I stepped inside, resisting the urge to wrap my arms arounds her, holding her against me and never letting her go. But instead, I waited for her to motion for me to sit down and do the same. "So what's up, Kill?" I reached over, grabbed her hands, then stared at her and caught her eyes. "The Blood Moon is coming up. Are you any closer to a decision?" She pulled her hands from mine. "That's what this was about?' "The war is over. It's time to get things in order, and it's time to choose a mate, Vivian." Her eyes narrowed. "And getting me in line and mating with me is just on the agenda?" I reached for her again, but she just moved her hands. "No, it's not like that. I was also reminding you that the reasons you delayed before are no longer relevant. And you can focus on this—on us." "Yo
CHRIS'S POV "I think you should spend less time with Vivian and more time on getting better, Zeke," I said, narrowing my eyes at the food tray in his hands. He was, once again, bringing her breakfast in bed. Like he'd done several days in a row now. They were attached at the hip again. Just like they'd been in high school. It was getting under my skin. Zeke looked down at the food he was carrying. "Well, V doesn't quite feel up to taking her food in the mess hall, and someone has to bring her something to eat. And since you're busy doing whatever you're doing, I thought I was the best candidate." "I'm helping Killian and his pack reorganize after yours attacked them. It's a lot of work after your pack decimated their gate and set fire to a lot of their homes." Zeke flinched. "Look, that's not my fault. That's Sarah's fault. I was under a spell." "Which is why you should focus on getting better and not flaunting how well you are. You should at le