VIVIAN'S POV Fire. There was fire. I could smell it. I jumped out of bed, rushing to my door and swinging it open. People were running in the halls, heading outside. There was panic everywhere. I took off in the direction everyone ran, knowing I needed to see what was happening. Once I reached outside, I saw it. A blazing inferno at the gates. Buckets of water were being thrown; hoses were spraying at the water. I saw a line of what I presumed were the witches lining up, holding hands. Were they strong enough? Could they beat this? I watched in awe as they began chanting, and the blaze started to die down slowly. It was very slow. The buckets of water continued to be thrown. I just stood there in shock. I watched as the fire continued to lessen, the witches continued to battle, and the water brigade continued their fight. Suddenly, a hand grabbed my arm, and I was jerked back. "What are you doing out here?" It was Marcus. "I..
CHRIS'S POV "What do you think is going on out there?" Caleb asked. I rolled my eyes and didn't answer. Ever since my memories started to cme back, the more and more I wanted to put my fist through his face. Especially knowing he was mated to my Vivid. Vivid, who I hadn't seen since we kissed. "Chris, man. Can you hear me?" "You're not used to being ignored, are you?" "Come on, dude. I didn't do anything to you." "Didn't you, though?" I heard him sitting up in his bed. "What have I done?" "Other trying to get between me and Vivian when we were together; now you're mated to her?" "Oh. You know? Did she tell you?" "I'm not deaf, you buffoon." He was silent for a moment. "I'm sorry, man. I know it's not how you wanted things to go down, but she's my mate. We're meant to be together. And once she accepts that, we'll make a great couple." I made a
KILLIAN'S POV "You're not letting some witch probe in my head, Vivian!" Caleb yelled. It took everything in me not to storm into his cell and rip his head off, but I knew Vivian wouldn't like that based on the desperate look she shot my way. "She's not probing around in your head, Caleb. She needs to hold your hand and mine, do some light searching and figure out if our mate bond is the real thing. Aren't you curious?" Caleb glared. "It is the real thing. I feel it. You feel it. You're just trying to make yourself feel better about rejecting me by coming up with some crazy conspiracy theory that it's not." "Caleb, please. What can I do to make you feel better about this?" Vivian pleaded. Caleb looked at her and then at me. "I'll make you a deal." "Anything." "If our mate bond is real, I want you to agree that you'll be my mate. You'll stop this talk of rejection. You'll agree to let me claim you."
VIVIAN'S POV "I'm so glad you're here with me." Caleb was practically skipping, making me sick to my stomach. I forced a smile. "I'm glad to be here." He stopped walking and looked at me seriously. "Do you mean that?" "Of course I do. I told you before. I was playing the part back there. We're mates, Caleb. I'd always choose you over them." He grinned at me. "I knew it." He fist pumped the air. I caught myself almost physically cringing. Had he always been this obnoxious? Knowing what I knew now had all but withered the mate bond, I learned to be a hoax. I felt nothing. “So, tell me more about what you and Sarah talked about." Caleb narrowed his eyes. "Her name is Sam now. She said Sarah is what she used to go by." "Sam. I'm sorry. What did you and Sam talk about?" He grabbed a stick and started flicking it around in the air. "She told me that if I brought your parents to you, y
KILLIAN'S POV "Still no change?" I took a bite of my roll, staring at Chris over my plate of food, and rolled my eyes. I swallowed and then answered. "Don't you think I would have come and got you if there had been?" He rolled his eyes back at me. "No. You'd want to keep her to yourself. It's been two days. And she's still unconscious. Has Divinity been in there to see if she can do anything?" "She's been in there every day. She said she needs to rest. She lost a lot of blood. She's healing. Caleb did a number on her." "Caleb is an asshole, but I never thought he was this cruel. I don't see him doing this to her." I shrugged. "Maybe you don't know him as well as you think." He shook his head. "Something isn't adding up. He was in love with her. Then to almost murder her? No. When she wakes up, she can tell us more." "Hopefully. If she remembers anything, she went through a pretty traumatic
VIVIAN'S POV "This is where we found you." I looked at the ground where Killian was pointing; spots of blood were still covering the ground—my blood. Looking at Killian's face, I could tell he noticed, too. Chris's jaw was tense. No one was happy to be here, but they wanted answers. I looked towards the tree line, feeling a pull. Chris and Killian watched me, waiting for me to react to my surroundings. I started walking, letting myself be guided. As we continued to walk, the tugging felt stronger. I'd been here. I'd come this way. "Vivian? Where are we going?" I held up my hand, silencing Chris. I needed to feel, not talk. I paused, closing my eyes, and turned, heading in another direction, further into the forest. Where were we headed? Ivy started whimpering. She wasn't happy that we were returning to where we came from. Something here had scared her. The closer we got, the more I questioned if we should turn bac
KILLIAN'S POV "You're not serious, are you, Vivian?" Chris stepped forward, bumping my shoulder in the process. "He's right, Vivid. Take it back. We don't need her." Vivian looked back at Sylvara and then at us. "The deal's been made." Mother Nature grinned at us over her shoulder and then held up her hands. Her lackeys formed a line around her, waiting for her command. "We go with the wolves." I looked at Vivian again. "We're taking them back to Blackmoon? Now?" "How else are we going to train with them?" I groaned. "Fine. Just don't say I didn't warn you." She shrugged. "If it makes you feel better. Let's get going."*****VIVIAN'S POV I rubbed my hands together nervously, staring at the trees Sylvara should be coming from. When we'd gotten back to Blackmoon, Killian had offered to make up rooms for them, begrudgingly, but they had insisted they'd feel more at home in the fore
CHRIS'S POV "Just leave me be." I knocked on Vivid's door harder. "It's been two days. You can't keep sulking. You either open up, or I'm breaking it down." Hearing scuffling, I waited until the door cracked open, her tear streaked face staring at me. "What do you want?" I held up a paper sack of food. "You know what I want. I want you to eat something and make sure you're okay." She held out her hand. "I'll take the food, but you can go." "Yeah, right. I'm coming in and going to watch you eat this." "Not happening. I don't want to see you or Killian." My jaw dropped. "What did I do?" "Exactly that. Nothing. You didn't do anything. You stood there and did nothing." "What was I supposed to do, Vivid? She's Mother freaking Nature. Did you want a vine through my chest, too?" She flinched. "No." "So let me inside, and we can talk." She
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