[Amor’s POV] My rage soon turned into disgust. The things I feel when I hear Hazel’s name didn’t fit in the mould of a man created by the society, so I tried to throw them away because I had no place to put them, but… Those hands still clawed in the shadows of my mind. That unfathomable revulsion, helplessness and rage still hooked themselves to my body. I always thought they were something external I could get rid of, but I was wrong. It was a part of me — a part of me I hated. The part of me that made me hate women. It wasn’t the conscious state of knowledge that she could have raped that haunted me; it was the unconscious awareness that made me relive that vulgar day of my life more than I wished to. If it wasn’t for my shadows, I don’t know what would have happened that day. It happened after I became the alpha of the pack. Hazel mixed something into my drink and I lost my consciousness. I don’t explicitly remember what happened while I was unconscious, but I knew my shadows
[Amor’s POV] To punish Hazel, I had to wait for Zeve to regain her consciousness. I took Zeve back to our bedchamber and made her lie on the bed. I was about to leave her when she held my hand. I looked at her. “Amor…” she mumbled in her sleep. Her face was red. She winced, her chest heaving faster as if she was having a nightmare. I contemplated her expressions. “Please don’t go… I won’t ask you to love me… don’t look away… I love you, Amor…” Blinking the blurriness off my eyes, I licked my lips. Taking a deep breath, I slid off her fingers wrapped around my fingers. I sat on the bed beside her. I leaned in to kiss her. I stopped before our lips could touch. I kissed her forehead. I got down from the bed. “You are burning. Let’s take you to the bath, ok? You will feel better.” I stripped and draped myself in my black silk bathrobe. It was ok until then; I was ok until then. I was a little feverish, but not a lust dazed werewolf in rut. But everything went downhill the mo
[Amor’s POV] “With all my consciousness, very respectfully, I want those clothes off your body, amoris. You are wearing them, yet I feel the discomfort in my body…” I trailed my hand up her thighs. She bit her lower lip. Her gaze dropped between her legs and then at my hand, which was slowly making its way to exactly where she wanted them. Propping myself on my elbow next to her ear, I leaned over her face. “Anger and hatred, huh? I will show you what exactly I have for you—” Gliding my hand up the curves of her body, I grabbed her neck, lifting her chin. I kissed her. Intensely. Fervently. Deeply. Wildly. She knit her brows. Her one hand ran through my hair, gripping and loosening. I intertwined my fingers with her free hand and pinned it beside her ear. She gasped for air when I slid down her neck, her chest heaving faster and faster. Damn! No one deserved to be kissed in this world except her. No one kissed like her. It was a crime, a sin, a deal with the devil. It was th
[Amor’s POV] I reach to the drawer of the nightstand near my bed and pull out a jar of pills. I peeped from under the blindfold. I got the right jar. “Eat this,” I commanded her. “What’s this?” “Contraceptives.” She was silent. “Zeve?” No reply again. I took off my blindfold. She glared at the jar and then looked into my eyes. Don’t tell me she wants to get pregnant. That thought was racy and erogenous in its own way, but I was not ready to be a father. The time… the time was just not right. “You don’t want to eat it?” I asked. She looked at me, “do you want me to eat it?” “I do.” I nodded. “And these are completely organic, with no side effects. Lucella gave them to me as our marriage gift. Umm… they don’t harm your body in any way. Rather, they are good for your sexual health.” “You know that’s not what I mean…” She stared at me, and I sighed. “Fine, I… I… I don’t think I am ready to be a father yet.” She lowered her eyes thoughtfully. “And I want to give us… and o
[Zeve’s POV] (The banquet night after Amor left with Morfan.) “So luna, what kind of dresses do you like?” A duchess asked. Royally dressed in her furry gown. She was from the North, so her dress was winter inspired. “I like furry capes. They hold an aesthetic royalty like no other dresses. Just like your dress. It fits in all perfect places and the colour is settled, not too vibrant. I really like how elegantly you are dressed up,” I sugarcoated every word I said. Yeah, her gown was fine, but did we really need those furs in such hot weather? One should know how to adjust their dresses according to the climate of the place they were visiting. “Oh my, you flatter me. But honestly, no one at this party is shining as bright as you, luna. Our alpha has really found a rare jewel,” she said. I chuckled, “I am humbled to receive such kind words from you, duchess Nier.” “Greetings to her highness, the luna,” the duchess from the south, duchess Lenkov, said, kissing my fingers. “Gre
[Zeve’s POV] “Princess Hazel!” I walked to her and hugged her. Her sobbing stopped instantly. Everyone in the hall looked shocked. “Oh my, you don’t have to cry. I said it’s fine. Drinks get spilled on clothes in events like these…” I secretly held the base of the glass of wine she was holding her hand and jerked slightly to spill the wine on my gown near the waist. The drink was yellowish transparent, so it wasn’t visible from afar. I took out my handkerchief, and instead of wiping my dress, handed it to Hazel. “Please wipe your tears, princess. It’s ok.” I wiped my gown with my fingers. “What! Such a shameless woman.” “She stained our luna’s dress.” “How disrespectful! I am sure she did it deliberately.” “I am sure this is another of her cheap trickery.” “Huh! How insolent. Since she couldn’t become the luna, she is giving our luna a hard time.” “Really disgusting.” “I will go and get changed really quick, so you don’t need to feel guilty all night and spoil your mood
[Zeve’s POV] (The present time.) I woke up thinking I’d have to clean myself, but… I was clean. There was no stickiness in any part of my body. My hair was washed and had a faint jasmine aroma. For a second, I was confused whether last night was a dream or reality. But my weak legs and soreness in my body were proof that last night was as real as Amor, who was sleeping soundly beside me. I was in my white nightgown but wasn’t wearing anything under it. I got up and sat leaning against the headboard as I contemplated Amor. “Did you clean me?” I mumbled. I smiled, seeing him sleep so peacefully. His scent was still domineering and wild. Before I used to get restless around his scent, fidgeting and thinking all sorts of thoughts. But I had inhaled him so up close yesterday that my senses were still savouring his scent. I breathed him in, leaning closer to his neck. “My Amor.” I whispered. He groaned in his sleep. I flinched back, but the next moment, he grabbed my hand and
[Zeve’s POV] Getting down from the bed, he picked me up in his arms. I was too exhausted to blink, yet I couldn’t take my eyes off him. He smiled faintly, making my heart skitter in my chest. “Am I so handsome that you can’t stop looking at me?” “Am I that beautiful? You haven’t taken your eyes off me either,” I said, and he smiled warmly. “You are. The light of your eyes shines brighter than the moon and the glory of the stars is dust before you.” I widened my eyes slightly at his words. I never imagined of him as a romantic, but his words just made my heart flutter like a teenager. “All I can say is… nothing I say will ever justify the depth you hide behind your ocean blue eyes.” “Then don’t say a word. Because you are already making me fall in love with myself with the way you are looking at me.” “How am I looking at you?” “Like I am someone worth loving.” “You are.” I said, averting my eyes just to find myself gazing at him again. He dropped his gaze, something warmer th
(This is a free chapter. You won’t need to pay for it. So, please do it read it until the end.) Dear readers, So this journey had finally come to an end! First of all, THANK YOU so much for reading this book, investing your time, and giving it so much love and appreciation. Your every gem, your every comment, your every review has brightened my day and uplifted my spirit in my hard times. This is my first book on this platform and I couldn’t have ever imagined of getting so far. But you made this possible and I am super grateful for all your supports, lovelies. I know this book isn’t perfect and nor am I, but I always try my best to better my craft and create a world where all of us could unite. So, don’t forget to tell me who your favourite character/s was/were in this story? If you enjoyed the book, a review on the main page of the book is much appreciated. It really helps with the growth of the book. And so do your gems and comments. Thank you for coming on this adventure w
[Zeve’s POV] As I plunged into the magma, I had no thoughts in my head. My body was being consumed by the flames, while my heart almost stopped. It was cold inside the volcano. My clothes and armour melted away, but neither the flames nor the magma touched my skin. They flowed inches away from my skin. I held my breath. The bright red glowing magma flowed magnificently inside the volcano. It was scary how I could feel its heat yet not get burned. It was like one of those dreams came to reality, except this time the one to be burnt in flames was me and not Amor. The magma behind me started taking some kind of form. I felt Amor’s presence and my heart skipped a beat. I felt hands warped under my waist and knees. I shut my eyes with a shudder. The next thing I remember was I was sitting far away on the ground and watching the magma, ashes and rocks explode out of the volcano like fireworks. There was a dazzling figure hovering above the volcano, suppressing it back into the ground
[Zahir’s POV]Why don’t you smile?Why don’t you cry?Why don’t you fight?Why don’t you get angry?Why don’t you get scared?What the hell is wrong with you?You are my son, and you cannot be the monster they say you are.Feel!Feel something!Feel anything!Feel everything!‘If nothing, then feel the pain!’That face of a person I was supposed to call my mother.Those glowing eyes floating in sheer darkness.Those words were like pure acid, pouring in my ears.Those snarls of pure hatred and screams and cries, those slaps and whips.The dark bathroom flooded with water everywhere and blood dissolved in it through my veins.I remember.Maybe I felt nothing but cold. It was unbearably cold.That time, that’s all I felt. A cold that made my spine shiver.I wanted to feel, but how?Everything I locked up within me and in the magic and key core came back.It all came back, but I think it never left in the first place.Even after hundreds of years, I could still feel her presence by the s
[Zeve’s POV]“Mother, stop!” Killian yelled.“Venus, calm down… we can make things right, ok? Trust me. Put down the blade…” Zahir coaxed Venus into his manipulative tone.Venus distanced the blade from her throat as if Zahir’s words were controlling her on a mental level. Her hands were shaking as she held the blade to her throat.Her eyes were frozen, as if she was in Zahir’s control. She shook her head with a gasp, “no, not anymore. You can’t control me anymore…” her voice came out hoarse and shaky.And she put the blade against her neck again, this time cutting her skin and bleeding.“NO! NO! Stop!” Zahir panicked and stepped back from Venus, raising his hands.“What the hell is going on here? Venus!” I called out and was about to go to her when Hikari held my hand.I looked at him and frowned. Hikari shook his head.I looked at Venus again and the blade was Hikari’s katana.“Your katana?” I felt a strange fear take over me as I stared at Hikari for an answer.“I must have dropped
[Zeve’s POV]‘I see him burning and these nightmares just don’t stop. Day after day, it’s always the same thing. I try to save him, but the flames always find their way to him. His body… it’s like it’s melting. I couldn’t get these nightmares out of my head and it’s disturbing. A lot. So, I came to you for guidance. Do these nightmares mean something?’‘Dreams are often a window for the future. We just need to interpret them rightly,’ priestess Melantha said when I met her in my third year in Phantoria. ‘For a seed to turn into a sapling and then into a huge tree, the seed coat needs to break. He’ll burn for you and this world.’‘No, he won’t. I won’t let death touch him, not because of me — especially not because of this world.’ This was what I told her, and then she replied with a subtle smile.‘What is the definition of death for you, luna?’ She asked.‘I don’t know. Death for me is what it’s for everyone else. Bad, painful and gloomy and… end.’‘When the right time comes, you will
[Zeve’s POV]There were two souls active inside Killian. One was of Derek and another of Polaris. Killian decided based on the soul that dominated him at a time.That was the only sane explanation I could give to why he was using Celeste as a hostage when Killian saved her, risking his own life.“Fine,” I said, calmly. “Let them go. But I don’t know how to get the core out of my body. Extract it yourself.”Killian frowned. “No hidden tricks, Zeve. I don’t have time for that.”I raised my hand to my shoulders as if I was surrendering myself. “I am telling you the truth. I was born with this core and never took it out. I am not playing any tricks.”Killian thought for some time and then stretched his palm towards me. Four black magic circles appeared around me. One above my head, one below my feet, one in front of my chest, and one behind it.“I am already stuck here. I can’t escape. Please let them go now,” I said. The hellhounds backed off from Lucella and Celeste.The suction from
[Zeve’s POV]The sound of gunshots, along with screams of the knights getting attacked, mashed up with the howls of the hellhounds dominating the road. Killian coughed vigorously and threw out the broken pieces of rock with his teeth and blood from his mouth. “Oh, I know what devilishness it takes to create a utopia. But you really piss me off whenever I see you…” Killian snarled at Amor.Killian created a dark energy ball between himself and Amor, who was pressing him against the ground. The energy ball exploded, flinging Amor far away from Killian.Amor jumped back to his feet and drew out his sword. The armour worked. Amor wasn’t hurt badly. But I could just stand and wait for him to be hurt.I looked at the sky with my apprehension increasing with every second.On the training grounds, the screeches of shadow eaters were tackling the fire wall, keeping them locked within the magic circle. It was as if their screams were summoning the rain because heavy clouds had started looming
[Killian’s POV]Dark clouds stirred over the ruins of the Aura palace and its training grounds. The land had prepared to devour the souls and vomit a curse in the darkest shade of black to open the portal to the dark world from where the creatures of hell would flood the land, turning it into their grazing field. They would feed on souls and lock them in timeless gloom — in a world of nothingness and doom. Their minds were under my control and their souls on my command would set themselves ablaze on the magical ground.I was prepared and so was the enemy.Heavy military and army of hundreds guarded the boundaries around the precinct of the Aura palace and its land. The knights were armoured and ready with their swords, defending the boundaries of the palace from outside.Warriors were ironclad in their wolf forms. The wolves of darker colours were standing on the front lines and surrounded the training grounds.The soldiers created a wall of shields on either side of the criminals’ p
[Zeve’s POV]“Should I take off this gown now?” Celeste asked, walking to me and then standing beside me as we peered at the air where Killian stood seconds ago.I looked at Celeste and caressed her cheek. “I know it’s uncomfortable, sweetie, but wait a little, hmm?”Celeste looked into my eyes and nodded once.“You did a good job. I am proud of you,” I said.A week without the key core and Celeste already looked so fragile. I had to get back the key core from Killian after the plan played out the way I wanted it to.I looked at the sky. The chess board was laid out, the only thing left was the game to begin.“Zeve, I don’t like this at all. You are pregnant and even if everything goes according to your plan, it’s still dangerous because we don’t know what might happen when things actually start happening,” Amor said.I looked at Amor and smiled.“I have heard kids take after their parents. I want my child to be brave, and for that, I have to be braver today. I am going to be a mother