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LAMIA Still four days until the full moon The two were-bears led me to a large 3-story mansion, a giant cabin-looking place that reminded me of the homes we would stay in when we vacationed out by the lake, just on a much grander scale. The outside was all log built. Douglas fir would be my guess, seeing as that was the majority of hardwoods that grew out here. I noticed it when I first arrived in their territory. I followed them inside and stepped into the wonderland of a hunter's dream. The furniture was constructed of different woods, with deep red and green coverings. The hardwood floor gleamed beneath the large area rugs scattered throughout the main floor. I noticed a sitting room to my left, with many couches, and a couple of T.Vs. In the center of the room was a large fireplace, with a few pieces of wood crackling in it. It looked inviting and cozy. The walls were painted off-white, with a few pictures and portraits scattered around the walls. On the other side, was an op
MATHIAS 3 days until the full moon When Lamia came to the table for dinner last night, I was pissed to see her not wearing the clothes I had sent with Tobias. She smelled like our housemaid's daughter, Ramona. I rubbed my eyes and tried not to get bent out of shape over another fucking rejection from her. She sat with her father and Abner, in the furthest seat from me, and conversed freely with them. She even managed to hold a conversation with Tobias and Xander, telling them about MacTire and the slaughter of the small Clan they found. She was asking them about a small girl, the only survivor who had been the one to alert them of the attack. “Your highness?” I registered her voice and slowly turned my head, not quite believing she had addressed me. Seeing as she had ignored me through most of the fucking meal. “Mmm?” I grunted. “I was saying that I have grown quite fond of Petra, the little girl we found in our territory, and was asking if she could remain in my pack under my ca
LAMIA In his bear form, Mathias’ beast stood ten feet tall, dark silky fur, almost black, lay thickly over his extremities. He was a thing of beauty. In all my days, I hadn’t seen a bear shifter as humongous and beautiful as him. The large battle-ax in his paw gave him a dangerous and intimidating edge, as if he wasn’t already, this just enhanced his Alpha aura as he oozed superiority. His silver eyes shone like cosmic stars, unearthly. A god in both man and beast form. The bear shifters in my pack paled compared to him. Even Tobias’ bear form was lacking standing next to him and Tobias was also larger than life. They both towered above me, but I did not fear them and Inanna was whining to rub against Mathias’ beast. ‘Arcas’ she hummed his name to me. ‘Bad timing, Inanna, we must focus,' I chided her. And got a grunt in reply. It took us just over an hour of trudging through deep snow banks, and over icy hills, the blizzard making our sight blurred. Mathias and Tobias knew exactl
LAMIA “What happened to you at MacTire?” His question threw me off guard; I knew it was coming, sooner or later. I still stiffened and then sighed. What was the point? It was better to hear it from me than millions of gossip and rumors. Maybe he would be so disgusted that he would stop wanting me. But did I really want him to stop? I found myself being drawn to him with each passing day. “We are going to need more of that for this story“ I pointed to the bottle of rum. I wonder how much of it he drank to actually scent like it. They say your mate's scent is your favorite thing in the world, and I do like a good-tasting, aged dark rum. “Let’s make a deal,” he suddenly said. I cocked an eyebrow at him, willing to hear him out “you tell me your story and I’ll tell you mine. Rescind your challenge and you don’t reject me on the full moon." Now that he let my father out of the cells and was treating us properly, and not ranting and threatening me, I had no intentions of carrying out
MATHIAS 2 days before the full moon I wasn’t planning on it, it just happened. Bear shifters don’t just bite, mark and mate like a wolf. It is a lot more intimate. We imprint on our mates, usually during mating. Then, we would mark them, by exchanging our blood where we wanted our marks to appear and they would manifest in the same spot, no matter who marked who. It is usually the boar that will mark and imprint on the female. Because of how aggressive bear shifters can be during mating, it can be dangerous and we could easily kill our mate. So the moon goddess gave us a more harmonious and devoted way to claim them. Imprinting forms a deep connection with our souls and the souls of our counterparts, her wolf and my beast. When I looked into Lamia’s eyes as I seated myself deep inside her, Arcas came forward and the connection was immediate. Imprinting on her had to be the most sensual thing I have ever experienced. I have never been gentle with a female, but with Lamia, it was a
MATHIAS Fuck. I was embarrassed and ashamed that she could still smell the scent of mine and Tobias’ partying from almost a week ago. But then I keep forgetting she is no ordinary wolf. Her nose was as good as mine, maybe even better. Of course, she would be able to scent smells from days ago. I sent Lamia into my room to clean up while I used the other guest bathroom. Oh, how I wanted to be in that shower with her, but if I was, we would never make it to dinner and I had reserved my private table for all of us. Ginny had come back with clothes for her and while she was getting dressed, I stepped into my closet and put on a dark blue navy pinned striped suit. One of my favorites, and a crisp white shirt, forgoing a tie and leaving the top two buttons undone. Just as I was putting on my shoes, the bathroom door opened and it was a good job I was sitting down. The vision before me was wearing a sleeveless silver dress that hung down to her ankles, with a split up on one side. The V
LAMIA One day before the full moon I woke up with the worst headache ever. I groaned, holding my head while I used my other hand to prop me up. I was lying on a soft bed, surrounded by Mathias’ scent. It was comforting, but it was doing little for the drum beating in my temples and the brick weighing my forehead down. I reached over to feel for Mathias, but when I felt nothing, I turned my pounding head to see the bed empty. This was not his room. It was one of the guest rooms. I rubbed my eyes, pulling the cover back to see I was naked. Throwing my feet over the side and rising from the bed, I saw Mathias’ shirt from last night, draped across the chair by a closet. I grabbed it, putting it on. My movements were slower than usual and my legs were shaky. I felt like I had gone 4 rounds with myself and drank a shit ton of booze. The last thing I remember is running out of the elevator from Mathias, in hopes he would chase me and ravage me. Only to hit a brick wall and cough at the
LAMIA The voice was familiar, but I couldn’t place it. When the figure stood from the chair, my eyes widened in shock. Her white flowing hair and dark as-night skin were so familiar. It couldn’t be? She turned with a small but genuine smile on her face. Her eyes, an unnatural hue of violet, just like Finnegan’s. “You!” I cried out, gasping and pointing an accusing finger at her. “Ashe?” She was real, I mean like in the flesh real! Not in my dreams. It was too much, the overwhelming feeling, everything she had told me in my dream, the library, Zane… just everything. Everything came crashing down on me at once. I stifled the sob that wracked through my body and felt the tears brim and trickles down my cheeks. My legs gave way and I felt myself crashing to the floor, but I never hit it. The jolts of electricity through my body told me Mathias had caught me. My emotions were overloaded and all-consuming. Mathias took me to the couch and sat me down with him, placing me in his lap.
***Thank you, readers, for your continued support and for taking the roller coaster adventure with me through The Delta's Daughter and Rise of a Queen. *** Without YOU, the readers, this wouldn't have been possible. Please remember to leave me a review, I hope you enjoyed this book. For updates and chapter teasers, check my i*st*gr*m >>> authorjwgstout Or my F_B group for readers >>> Author Jwgstout I ask you to please leave me a review Join me for King Kellen's adventure in the third book: More plot twists, romance, and mythology links coming your way. I hope you enjoy this bonus chapter, a little taste of the upcoming book. ***The Gladiator Wolf King - Book 3 OUT NOW and completed*** ***** The Gladiator Wolf King Chapter 1 – Waking Up KING KELLEN I opened my eyes, a nauseating feeling rose from my stomach right up to my throat. My stomach was sloshing and my vision was blurry. I blinked twice, adjusting my eyes to the dark; the only light was from a low-hanging bul
MIKE One week later “Tobias!” I beamed, both Kellen and I stepping out of the car and handing the keys to the valet as we arrived outside of Kings Casino. I shook Tobias' out-stretched hand and took him in for a bro-hug, then he offered his hand to Kellen, who did the same as me. “Are you boys ready to party?” He asked with a huge smile. “Heck yes!” I replied, my smile equally big. Kellen chuckled and shook his head. “Goddess, what have I agreed to? I’m almost scared of hanging out with both of you.” It was my 21st birthday tomorrow and after hearing Lamia rave about Kings Casino and how she wanted to party here for her 21st, telling Tawny how grand the place was and how much fun it looked, I thought, why not? Mathias had told Tobias we could have his suite for the duration of our stay. We would only be here for two nights and then we would head back to the New Moon kingdom, so Kellen could officially take over as king and we had to organize a coronation. I had suggested to
LAMIA “King, and I have decided to make Riocht our permanent home. I want you to come with me and stay as my second in command.” I watched Hunji, looking for any reaction to what I had just said. His face remained a mask of indifference. “King will be asking Tobias the same thing and leaving Xander in charge of the Kodiak kingdom for now.” Still, there was no reaction. “Hunji, say something, please,” I said softly, still trying to coax a reaction from him. The first sign of any emotion was him pulling his lips into a thin line. “Of course, my Queen.” He nodded. “Really, that’s all you have to say, Hunji?” I huffed and rubbed my forehead with my fingers. “If that’s not what you want, then tell me! Forget the formalities for a moment, will you? Could we just have a conversation as friends?” I took a deep breath; his lack of engagement was irking me. It was just him and I in my office. Mathias was helping train the warriors today with Josiah, and Travis was with Rhett overseeing cha
KELLEN I walked back down to the village, cutting across the fields, ready to go home. My goodbye to Lamia playing on my mind, I know she isn’t mine, but it still doesn’t make me love her any less. I needed to say what I did, and my wolf was in agreement. I have tried to let her go, and I did, for a while. When Zane died, all I wanted to do was be there for her, but she left. She left me. Once upon a time, she told me she would never leave me. I saw the way she looked at King. I chuckled at the thought, even his name is king! The love she held in her eyes for him. I knew Lamia loved, loves, me, but she had never had that look in her eye, not for me and not for Zane. The look of true love. I couldn’t help but give her one last kiss when I went to say goodbye to her. It was amazing how there were still light tingles when I brushed my lips against hers. I reveled in them, for however brief that kiss was. I wasn’t saying good bye, I was letting her go. It was time to let go of my l
1 WEEK LATER LAMIA After the anti-climax of mine and Mathias' crowning, we were still at Riocht. There was so much to organize and we hadn’t even scratched the surface. My father and Uncle Michael had already left for New Moon, taking with them a majority of their army, leaving Kellen and Mike with us and a hand full of Elite warriors. Crimson took the were-cat army home, ready to rebuild their kingdom. The were-cats had suffered the most, more than any other kingdom. Tobias left with the Kodiak Kingdoms army and took a slowly healing Finnegan with them. I was sure he would be thrown in the cells and questioned once he was awake. I didn’t know much about Finnegan Artos, but Petra had taken a liking to him and was very concerned for the violet-eyed were-bear. Hunji stayed behind with me, but Travis and Rhett returned to MacTire with the majority of the army also. And even though Petra wanted to stay, Travis put his foot down, taking her and Xander with them, who was anxious to ge
LAMIA “Why didn’t you heal?” The concern in Mathias' voice was sweet, although he looked annoyed as his eyes raked my body inspecting the wounds on my arms and back, holding on to me for dear life, eliciting little sparks of joy to dance across my skin. I reached out to Inanna ‘Inanna, why didn’t you heal me?’ I was met with silence. I didn’t have an answer for Mathias. I shook my head at Mathias, telling him without words, that I didn’t know. “Where are you hurt?” I questioned him instead. “Nowhere baby, I healed.” He replied after biting his wrist and letting the blood drip onto and into my wounds, allowing them to begin healing immediately. I wasn’t the only one who had blood that could heal, it seems. I took a quick look around, and no one else seemed surprised, but Mike and Travis did give a couple of raised eyebrows. I wasn't sure what their looks were meant to convey, so I just gave them a tight-lipped smile. “Lamia!” My father came rushing to my side; he was wearing one
FINNEGAN 2 Hours before the battle I was tasked to provide the crawlers, who we were able to move up the narrow river in containers on smaller boats, with clothing that had been stolen from the various kingdoms. Orion had spies in every kingdom, sleeper cells, that he used when he needed information or objects. Hence, the clothing we had of Lamia’s and King Kellen’s. The crawlers would hone in on the smell like wild trackers and, once given the command by Orion, would seek out that scent, their only goal: To bring down the owner. Orion and the bitch Shayna had set up a command base inside Riocht’s palace. After throwing in the clothing, I made my way back to the white-washed open squared building. My father wanted to keep me close, in case things went sideways for him and he needed me. What he didn't know, was that no matter the cost, I would help kill him. I scratched the back of my neck, feeling the metal chip underneath my skin that attached to my cervical spine at the base
LAMIA Riocht was beautiful. The palace was built in white limestone. The central rise in the elevation of the building emphasized the main portico, which was framed by five symmetrical exterior arches. On the ledge are statues carved from either marble or the same limestone. Each statue, situated in the arches, was of a god or goddess standing with an animal. There was the Goddess Morrigans, with her wolf by her side, and one of Arcas, who I recognized right away because he was carved standing with a bear, the exact copy of Mathias’ beast. I saw the goddess Bastat, a large puma-looking feline woven around her legs. The one of Selene, the moon goddess, was unlike the one at The New Moon palace. There she was portrayed with a wolf, but here she was carved into a beautiful mother figure, with children by her feet, looking up at her in awe. Next to her was a large man, also with a wolf, regal looking and powerful. Then I saw her, the goddess Inanna. She stood front and center, a large
LAMIA It was now 4 days until Orion’s deadline, four days until the full moon, the day he told us to be at Riocht if we wanted to see Petra alive again. The little girl had been on my mind since the night Orion attacked MacTire. And every time I thought about her, my chest pulled tight. I felt guilty she had been put in this position. She was only ten years old and had already endured so much heartache, she didn’t deserve to be put through this. My eyes pooled with tears as I thought of how unfair and cruel life had been to her. I prayed to the Moon Goddess every night to keep her safe from harm until I had her in my arms. The dirt path we initially had followed was consistent and seemed to be taking us straight to the heart of the lost city. We definitely wouldn’t have been able to get any vehicles through here. Even though the worn road was still visible, it was overgrown with centuries of forestry and shrubs, so thick in some places that we had to cut them down using our swords