(Hilda)The argument reached a fever pitch and I felt like I was caught in a storm. Cerelia was mad at Soren for cheating, Soren was mad at Cerelia for hiding the talisman, Arlo was mad at me for cheating with Soren so he was mad at Soren too and I didn’t know what to think.The two packs watched as we all shouted at each other. Their anxiety mirrored my own as the yelling grew louder and more out of control. Anger shaded by guilt, with a heavy dose of emotional distress mixed in. None of us could think clearly while we were this upset.“Please, just stop,” I begged, tears threatening to spill over. “We’re all too upset to think straight right now. We need to calm down and then attempt to discuss things maturely.”Cerelia snorted and rolled her eyes. “It’s a bit late to try and be the voice of reason now Hilda. Did you think you could have both of them? That you’re special enough to keep 2 Alphas dangling from your fingers, panting after you?”I could understand her fury at me. Had ou
Cerelia The pain is intense and crippling. How could Soren do this to me? I’ve known in the back of my mind that he never completely got over Hilda, but I believed him when he told me he loves me. That I’m his rock and the one he chose to be his Luna.I remain hidden in the trees to listen to what else is said. Hilda’s remorse seems genuine, but it changes nothing. It happened, they slept together, there’s no going back and changing that. I have to find a way to move past the pain and figure out what my next move should be.Something strange happened while I was wielding the talisman that destroyed Lilith. I felt a seam of magical power lighting up inside of me. As if it’s been hiding there in plain sight all along, just waiting for the right time to come to life.After hearing Soren beg Hilda to stay with him, it was clear that there’s no reason for me to return to our pack house. A small part of me held out hope that somehow Lilith had cast a spell, forcing Hilda and Soren into eac
Hilda Whatever Arlo may have said in the woods in front of Soren about me belonging to him, he wasn’t showing much of it back at his cabin. He sleeps on a pallet next to the bed and every time I attempt to touch him he flinches away from me.I’m starting to think I may have made a mistake in choosing to come back here. I know my place isn’t with Soren either. I wonder whether he and Cerelia have managed to work things out. I hope so. The pain on her face when she walked in on us will forever be burned into my retinas. Shame is still my constant companion. Hopefully Soren came to his senses and apologized.The accusations he hurled at her in the forest, alleging that she was being manipulative and trying to be the hero, must have hurt her so badly. It rankled me and I’m not the one he implicated. We were in the wrong and he lashed out at her instead of taking responsibility. He was always the steady, level-headed one in our relationship. A bit controlling, but never aggressive. I don’
Hilda He owes me a lot of answers and we really should be talking, but the seductive magnetism of his proximity is overwhelming me. His palm cups my cheek, tilting my head back so he can kiss me. I’m expecting fire and searing passion, instead he offers me tenderness.His mouth claims mine gently, one arm wrapping around my waist, the other sliding into my hair. His tongue slips between my lips, lightly twirling around mine, sliding and moving in a sensuous dance, his teeth grazing my bottom lip. My body immediately tightens in response, nipples hardening, core contracting.“Arlo,” I whimper, wrapping my arms around his neck and hanging on for dear life. My knees are buckling, my head swimming in desire. He pulls my shirt over my head and shimmies my pants down my hips, before sweeping me into his arms and carrying me over to the bed.“You’re so beautiful,” he tells me gruffly, staring down at me. I watch wide-eyed as he shrugs off his own shirt, exposing his delectably wide shoulder
Arlo When she’s in my arms like this, her body coated in sweat, my scent comingled with hers, those gorgeous eyes growing heavy with contentment, the world seems like a perfect place. I want us to stay in this bubble forever.I can forgive what happened with Soren. Once. Maybe I’m grasping at straws, but I don’t blame Hilda for what happened in that cabin. Soren is the one who’s had a year, and a new mate whom he crowned his Luna, to move on from the bond he once shared with Hilda.She woke up a few short weeks ago and was immediately plunged into chaos. I intend to fix that. Our life together will be beautiful. Soren took advantage of her vulnerability. First by kidnapping her and then seducing her. Every ounce of blame for their infidelity will be laid at his doorstep. I don’t care whether that’s fair or not. I care about me and mine and Hilda is my everything.“Arlo, we have to talk,” she says, her voice whisper soft. I can hear the reluctance in her tone. She doesn’t want to shat
Hilda“That wasn’t your fault,” Arlo immediately counters. It seems making excuses for each other’s shortcomings may become a bit of a theme. “I’m so ashamed of my actions Arlo, but that doesn’t mean I get to pretend they weren’t mine.”“I won’t ever again, but this one time it means exactly that. If Soren hadn’t kidnapped you and planted doubts in your mind. If I’d been honest with you and not left cracks for him to widen. If, if, if. For all I know my mother cast a spell in order to drive a wedge between us. We’re starting with a clean slate. No secrets, no lies, no subterfuge.”I don’t deserve to be let off the hook this easily and maybe I’m weak for gratefully accepting his absolution without any further argument, but I want to forget that it ever happened.“Thank you. I’ll never betray you again, I swear. My loyalties aren’t divided anymore, Arlo.” His lips descend on mine for a fiery kiss. “How can I possibly want you so badly again already?” he groans. “I’m yours for the taking
SorenDamon is waiting when I arrive at the pack house, prowling up and down with barely controlled fury. “Where’s Cerelia?” he demands, eyes hardening when he sees the confusion on my face. “Isn’t she back?”“No Soren, she isn’t back. She’s your Luna, surely you know where to find her? Or don’t you care what happens to her anymore now that you have Hilda back in your bed? Don’t bother denying it, I can smell her all over you.”“If you want to issue a challenge, Damon, do it. I don’t have the energy for a pissing contest right now. I need to find Cerelia. You may do well to remember that I’m your Alpha and you don’t demand things from me.” I can see that he’s wavering on a knife’s edge, more than a little tempted to go for me right then and there.“I suggest you shower at least 3 times before tracking down Cerelia, unless your aim is to dissolve the mating bond and strip her of being Luna?” Damon drawls. I understand his anger, but that doesn’t mean I intend to tolerate it.“We still
HildaI feel like I’m strung out on joy, effervescing, bubbling over with it. After everything that’s happened, I’m happier than I’d known it’s possible to be. Arlo and I talk constantly. About Lilith, the girls, the way he’s run the pack, the tension amongst his warriors. He holds nothing back from me.My love for Soren was very real and the pain of losing him cut me to the core, but I can’t deny that it wasn’t comparable to the bliss I feel now. Body, mind, soul, heart, it’s all brimming over with completion. I feel whole in a way I’d never experienced before.Seeing the way Arlo is changing, opening up not only to me, but to his pack, is a revelation. I can see his warriors are still wary, not sure whether they can trust this more relaxed Alpha King, but I have no doubt that he’ll win them over in short order. He’s too incredible not to.There are moments of darkness and doubt, which will undoubtedly continue for a long time to come. Forgiving himself isn’t going to be as simple as
CereliaThe letter arrives in the late afternoon, the familiar scrawl on the envelope immediately making my heart ache. I open it carefully, running my fingers over the parchment before I begin to read.My dearest Cerelia,I miss you.It feels ridiculous to start with that when there’s so much to tell you, but it’s the truth. I miss you fiercely, and it’s been far too long since we last saw each other. Which is why you and Soren need to visit soon. I mean it. No excuses. Pack up your bags, drag that stubborn mate of yours along, and come stay for a while. Please.Now that my demand is out of the way, let me fill you in on everything happening here.First things first, I’m pregnant. I know, it’s a miracle, given how difficult it is for werewolves to conceive, but Arlo is very pleased with himself. I’m about 3 months along. We didn’t want to say anything until the end of the first trimester and Scarlett was the first one we told. She promptly informed us that it’s a boy.Speaking of our
NixieI take a deep breath before knocking on the heavy wooden door. My hand lingers in the air for a second longer than necessary. It’s not that I’m nervous, exactly. It’s just that this is big. Huge, actually. And saying it out loud makes it real in a way I haven’t quite wrapped my head around yet.The door swings open before I can knock again, revealing Hilda, looking as radiant as ever. Her hair is loose around her shoulders, catching the morning light, and she’s wearing a soft cream dress that drapes over her form in a way that should have been my first clue.“Nixie!” she says warmly, pulling me into a quick hug before stepping back and giving me a once-over. “You look happy, but you were lurking on my doorstep, what’s going on?”“I am,” I admit with a grin, stepping inside. “And you’re right, I do have news.”“Tell me everything,” she says, leading me into the sitting room. She settles onto the couch with a satisfied sigh, tucking her legs up beneath her.I sit beside her, run
HildaThe sun is warm against my skin, the scent of fresh grass and wildflowers thick in the air as we sit beneath the sprawling oak tree next to the creek. A checkered blanket is spread beneath us, weighed down with a picnic basket, filled with an assortment of sandwiches, and a sticky-fingered toddler who’s currently smearing honey across her chubby cheeks.Scarlett giggles as she waves her piece of bread in the air, utterly unconcerned with the mess she’s making. Of course, she’s not the one who’ll be cleaning it up, so why worry? “Mama, the bees are gonna love me,” she declares proudly, looking at her honey-covered hands.Arlo chuckles, reaching over to wipe her hands with a damp cloth before she can rub it all over her dress. “They already do my sweet princess, just like everybody else.” She beams up at him, “You too daddy?”Arlo picks her up and swings her in a wide circle, to her shrieking delight. “Especially me,” he assures her. The little minx already knows she has her daddy
AshThe morning light casts a warm golden glow over the tangle of limbs sprawled across my bed. The sheets are a mess, bodies lazily draped over each other, the scent of perfume and sex lingering in the air.The brunette to my right stirs, nuzzling into my shoulder with a satisfied sigh. The redhead to my left mutters something unintelligible in her sleep and shifts, her fingers skimming over my chest.Yes, life as a human has its compensations. It didn’t take me very long to find that out and indulge prodigiously in every single one of them.I eventually extract myself from the tangle, stepping over discarded clothing as I make my way to the bathroom. I glance at my reflection in the mirror, rubbing a hand over my jaw. Not a single flaw, I’m absolutely fucking gorgeous.I can’t detect any changes in my features. Still not aging it seems. Perhaps 2 years isn’t long enough to make such a determination, but I suspect I’m still immortal, even without my powers.I smirk, “Guess that makes
AshI tilt my head, inspecting my reflection in the mirror with a critical eye. Still devastatingly handsome. Still possessing a jawline sharp enough to cut glass. Still absolutely irresistible to anyone with functioning eyesight and a pulse.I smirk. Honestly, the world should thank its lucky stars it got me.I run a hand through my dark hair, the thick waves tousled just enough to look effortless but not unkempt.I may have lost my power, but the body I was blessed with nearly makes up for it. I occasionally miss others cowering in fear at my approach and my name being whispered in terror, but in truth, I far prefer being idolized and adored.Instead of making them shriek in fear, I have them screaming my name in passion. Instead of relying on demonic power to get what I want, I have to use charm. Fortunately, I have that in abundance.“Ash, you’re up in five.” I turn away from the mirror, flashing my most rakish grin at the harried stagehand peeking into my dressing room. “Darling,
HildaThe fire crackles low in the hearth, casting long shadows against the stone walls of our chamber. I press a hand to my belly. It’s still flat, but I know it will start rounding soon. I’m nearly at the 3 month mark. There’s life inside me again. Another piece of Arlo and me, growing.Scarlett sleeps soundly in the adjoining room, her soft breaths a gentle reassurance that all is well. She’s nearly 2 now and precocious beyond belief. She knows nothing about her bloodlines and being a nexus of power. For now her only job is to be a busy little girl, adored by everyone.Arlo watches me from where he stands near the fireplace, shirt unbuttoned, those deeply carved muscles making me long to touch him. His tawny eyes hold a hunger that hasn’t waned despite the years, despite the child we’ve made and the kingdom we rule. If anything, time has only made it more potent, more consuming.“I can hear your heart racing,” he murmurs, voice thick with that dark, commanding edge that unravels me
HildaI wake up feeling like a person again. A person who’s had sleep. A person who isn’t entirely on the verge of collapse. A person who now has to keep a promise to a demon.Dread coils in my stomach. The moment I remember what Astaroth said, it’s like I never rested at all. I glance at Arlo, who’s staring at the ceiling, jaw tight, eyes shadowed. He knows too. We have to go.Scarlett shifts in my arms, her tiny body warm against mine. I hold her closer, pressing my lips to the soft, dark curls on her head. She makes a small sound of contentment, utterly unaware of what we’re walking into.I murmur an apology to her as we walk. “I’m so sorry, my love.” She looks so content. So happy to be outside.My feet feel heavier with every step toward the temple ruins. Arlo’s hand rests protectively against my back. Whatever happens when the demon receives Scarlett’s blood, we’ll both fight to the death to protect her. Fear presses in on me, cold and suffocating, making it harder to breathe th
Hilda Two days. Two full days of no sleep, endless crying, and a tiny dictator ruling our lives with iron lungs and a complete disregard for reasonable sleep schedules.Scarlett wails again, a high-pitched, furious sound, and I groan into my pillow. “It’s your turn.” No response is forthcoming. Cracking open one eye, I glare at Arlo, who is pretending, astonishingly unconvincingly to be asleep.His chest rises and falls with exaggeratedly slow breaths, his face serene, but I know that trick. I’ve used that trick. I jab him in the ribs. “I said it’s your turn.” Arlo grunts, cracking his own bleary eyes open. “I just had her.”I prop myself up on one elbow, narrowing my eyes. “No, you handed her to me five minutes ago and said she was hungry.”He rubs his face, sighing heavily. “She probably still is.” He reaches for the bundle of fury in the bassinet and plops her into my arms before I can protest. “See? She’s making that face.” I scowl at him. “You think every face she makes means sh
ArloHilda’s screams could probably be heard in the next territory over. And if they can’t, she’s doing her best to make sure they will be soon. “Breathe, love,” I say, brushing her damp hair from her face.She turns the full force of her glare on me, “If you tell me to breathe one more time, I swear on the moon, I will rip your throat out.” Cerelia snorts softly but wisely keeps her attention on the business end of this operation.I swallow hard, nodding. “Right. No more breathing advice.”Hilda groans as another contraction seizes her, fingers digging into my forearm with strength that would make towering warriors cower.I would take every ounce of her pain if I could, bear it a thousand times over just to spare her this agony. But all I can do is kneel beside her, letting her crush my hand as she brings our daughter into the world.“You did this to me,” she growls, panting through the pain. “I know,” I say solemnly, as though she’s just sentenced me to exile. “I’m so sorry.” She na