Cerelia’s POV In an instant, he flipped me over and pinned me to the bed, his head dipping until his lips touched mine. “I won’t wait, Cerelia. We’re mates. The Moon Goddess planned our union all along. This is fate and its stronger than any force ever. No force can ever negate that.”Breathless, I nodded slowly, agreeing with him. He claimed my lips in a lingering kiss that had so much intensity it had me clinging to his shoulders for support. Intoxicated, I kissed him back; the heat spiraling down to the pit of my stomach and between my legs. A gasp escaped my lips when his hand inched downwards, leaving a blazing trail of fire in its wake. He plunged his tongue deep into my mouth and devoured me hungrily. The kiss turned fierce, yet there was a tenderness that touched my heart. His fingers roamed over my body, inching downward to dip into my underwear. He broke the kiss, and I gasped for breath as an intense wave of pleasure hit me.“Oh, you’re soaking.” His fingers thrust deep
Alexandrios’s POV I watched Cerelia lying against my chest in a deep slumber. With her pale hair sprawled all around her like a halo sparkling under the dim bedroom lights, she took my breath away. I couldn’t believe this exquisite creature was mine. Only mine. A sense of satisfaction spread all over my body and mind. I was glad everything fell into place. The confusion I had been feeling had ebbed away on its own. Now all I had to do was convince her to return to Lucania with me. I had already started working on my mission. My first step was confessing my love to her. However, it hurt me when she didn’t respond as I expected her to. ‘Give her some time to get used to it, Alex. She’s just eighteen. There’s so much happening around her, she’s too confused right now,’ said Rio. ‘Yes, you’re right.’ Although I was disappointed, I knew I wouldn’t give up so easily. I would drill it into her head that I loved her the most in the world. No one else could love her as much as I did. The
Alexandrios’s POV I watched my mate sleeping peacefully with a faint smile playing on her luscious lips swollen from my kisses. It has been almost three days since we checked into this hotel. Three days of unlimited se*. It seemed we were under a love spell with no rush to go anywhere. Although Cerelia hadn’t confessed her feelings for me, I could feel her love in everything she did. In the last three days, there has been a drastic change in her attitude. She understood me so well, I hardly had to articulate my needs to her. She had matured as well, trying to be more giving than taking. Yet I didn’t dare to address the elephant in the room. I still had no idea what she was planning to do. I tried hard to postpone the talk. Therefore, I hadn’t booked our flight tickets to Athens yet. Strangely, Cerelia didn’t remind me at all. It gave me hope, which I clung to for the last three days. “Xandrios!” she murmured in her sleep. It brought me out of my dazed state. The sun was already u
Alexandrios’s POV We boarded the flight just in time, and Cerelia smiled with relief. “Phew! That was a close call. I thought we would miss the flight.” I smiled at her enthusiasm, unable to share any of it. Since her grandfather sent the flight tickets, it had been a mad rush for us. He hadn’t given us much time to pack or check out of the hotel. We had to rush with everything at the last minute. I secretly wished Cerelia would decline her grandfather’s proposal. Why did she need to live with her species when she had met her mate already? Now that nothing could stop us from staying with one another, she could have returned to Lucania with me. We were mated and had every right to start a life together. Her grandfather couldn’t separate us. We only needed to stand our ground. But Cerelia didn’t. She jumped at the opportunity to live with her family. She was ready to overlook our mate bond and let go of me. It proved she didn’t love me. Maybe I had wasted my time, my efforts, and my
Alexandrios’s POVRealization hit me hard, but I had no time to react. Why didn’t he warn me earlier when we could retrace our steps? Now, there was no avenue of escape. Cerelia paled, giving me an agitated look. Maybe she had heard it too.The guards nudged us ahead, but I gripped Cerelia’s hand all the way to the gaping maw of an arched stone entrance. They escorted us inside a cavernous entry room where the ceilings stretched far above our heads. The entire house, made of the same opulent marble, seemed more like a prison than a home. Strangely, the décor was modern, but with a regal touch.Before I knew it, the guards tugged on Cerelia’s arm, wrenching her away from me. “Alpha Belmont is waiting to meet you, miss.”She glared at the guard and recaptured my hand in a panicked state. “We’ll go together to meet my grandpa.”The guard looked clueless but escorted us towards a closed door beside a grand staircase. He knocked and waited patiently for a minute.“Come in!” a booming voice
Alexandrios’s POV A sudden jerk made me open my eyes and focus in front of me. My head felt so heavy, I felt dazed. Where was I? Then I remembered my last ordeal before I blacked out. Alpha Cassius had injected something into me to make me unconscious. He had ordered his guards to throw me into the Pieria Canyon to die. Fear gripped my heart, and I sat up with a start. Thankfully, I was still in a car that had halted. Were they about to throw me in the canyon? “Good, that you woke up. We’ve reached Thessaloniki Airport.” Pedro’s voice greeted me and I blinked to find myself in his car. How did I get here? Weren’t they about to kill me? “Airport? But they were about to throw me into the Pieria Canyon.”Pedro gave me a sad smile. “Yes, I defied Alpha Cassius’s order. I sabotaged the camera installed in my car and brought you here instead. Go home, doctor. Save your life.” He emerged from the car and unloaded my stuff. I got out in a dazed state, but I couldn’t leave without my mat
Cerelia’s POV “Why don’t you freshen up for lunch, Cerelia? Come, I’ll show you to your room. Your luggage is already there.” I smiled at my aunt Elena. She was a true silver wolf and my uncle Alarik’s mate. Alpha Alarik was my dad’s older brother and the ruling leader of the Silvermane Warriors. Even my grandpa didn’t interfere with his rules. His twin sons, Nikos and Alekos, were five years older but kind to me. I met everyone here, yet my eyes sought my mate. Where was he? What was the holdup? What was my grandpa discussing with him?“Umm, I’ll just check on Alexandrios, my mate. He’s the one who brought me here.” I walked out of the living room, but four guards blocked my path. “Alpha Cassius has gone out, miss. You cannot go to his study in his absence.” I gave them a bewildered look. Wasn’t this my father’s house? Who were they to stop me? It seemed I was a prisoner in my house. “I’m not interested in his study. I just want to know about my mate, Dr. Alexandrios Vasiliou. H
Alexandrios’s POV I drove Leandros’s pickup truck to the packhouse. The sun was already up, and Zephyrus would hold a quick meeting before heading to work. I would address my mate’s issue in everyone’s presence. It wasn’t time to wallow in self-pity. I needed to pick myself up and act. I had to seek Alpha Alexios’s help in first clearing Cerelia’s name and then rescuing her. I wouldn’t sit back here and just try to mend my broken heart.Parking the car, I alighted and strode towards the packhouse. Zephyrus hadn’t arrived yet, but Stavros’s car was parked a few feet away. Taking two steps at a time, I headed towards his room. Maybe Stavros would help me. I saw him in the lobby, talking to Michael, our Zeta. They turned to look at me, sensing my presence. “Hey, Alex! So nice to see you back!” said Michael, smacking my arm playfully. “When did you return? Is Cerelia fine?” asked Stavros. My shoulders drooped at the mention of her name. “I lost her, bro.” My voice trembled with grie
Cerelia’s POV I froze, my heart sinking with apprehension. I was suddenly unsure of Zephyrus’s reaction towards me. After all, there was a time when he hated me. “Welcome back to Lucania, Cerelia. How are you now?” he asked in a good-natured way, releasing my mate. I searched his eyes and saw no judgemental look hidden there. Xandrios had truly cleared every ounce of doubt from Zephyrus’s mind. “I’m fine, Alpha. How’s your Luna?” I had always liked Lena more than him. She was kind and forgiving, like a mother should be. “She’s doing fine. You can meet her tomorrow when you officially join our pack. There is a meeting in the morning at around 10. Why don’t you come down to the packhouse with Alex? You can meet the entire pack and join us.” I glanced at my mate, not knowing what plans he might have. I couldn’t go to the packhouse on my own in this condition.“We’ll be there, Zeph.” Zephyrus nodded at my mate and smiled at me before joining Stavros at the bar for a drink. “Are you
Cerelia’s POV The cab sped down the familiar roads and entered Lucania at last. All tiredness and exhaustion vanished, and I gazed out of the windows. The memories came rushing into my mind. They weren’t happy memories. A strange restlessness gripped my heart. What if the pack members didn’t accept me? What if Zephyrus didn’t want me in his pack? That angle hadn’t occurred to me until now. I turned to look at my clueless mate. “Xandrios, what if they don’t want me?” He smiled at me, pulling me to his side. “You have nothing to fear, baby. I’ve cleared your name when I returned to Lucania. Now the whole pack knows your true identity. Why won’t they accept you?” His words relieved me. He hadn’t forgotten while it had totally escaped my mind. “Oh, you remembered? Thank you, Xandrios. What about Zephyrus? Did he change his notion about me?” “Yes. He apologized, and he has agreed to welcome you to the pack. Are you happy now, Cerelia? I sought help from Alpha Alexios to prove your tru
Cerelia’s POV My knees buckled at his heartfelt admission. The intensity of his feelings for me took me by surprise. I had expected anything, but not this. His muscular arms went around me to keep me upright. “Are you alright, Cerelia?” His voice was warm against my ear and I sagged into his chest, maybe to stop him from leaving. “How can I be alright when you’re leaving me, Xandrios?” I looked up to see the fleeting emotions of pain and longing in his eyes. “You know I don’t want to leave you. That’s the reason I was dreading meeting you. I knew I couldn’t go after meeting you once.” He held my face between his hands and drowned in my eyes. “I couldn’t leave without meeting you even.” “Then don’t leave without me.” His arms fell to his sides in defeat. “I have to, Cerelia, but I’ll be back next month.” He flashed a tight smile at me while my heart wanted to howl and protest. How could he leave me for a month? “I won’t survive that long without you, Xandrios. Take me with you,
Cerelia’s POV I watched my mate in awe. How did his speech melt the bitter hearts of two hundred silver wolves? I had no idea, and neither did Alpha Alexios. He smiled at my mate, embracing him for easing his task. It wasn’t easy to convince bloodthirsty wolves who had been agitating for the last two months. Yet my mate made it look like a child’s game. I was glad he could connect to them with his honesty and simplicity, the way he connected to me. “Beta Theodore, do you agree to the rules of the council and the new rules of the pack?” asked Uncle Alarik. “Yes. If no one has a problem, I don’t either.” I released a sigh of relief that all matters were resolved, and there would be peace now. “The meeting is dismissed. Let’s join hands and make Pieria a heaven on Earth for all silver wolves. There’s another good news for the pack members. As a token of appreciation, Dr. Vasiliou has agreed to set up a hospital for all of us in Pieria. We wouldn’t need to go to Thessaloniki for medi
Cerelia’s POV“Xandrios, what the hell are you saying? How can you accuse Nikos?” I faced my mate fiercely, shoving him backward. Nikos tried to protect me, knowing my delicate condition.Xandrios looked even more furious. What was wrong with him? “Why can’t I? How could you move on from me, Cerelia? How could you forget me and accept him in your life?”I gaped at him as realization struck me. Did he think Nikos was my rebound? Did he think I was carrying my brother’s pups?“Are you out of your mind? Nikos is my brother. Why will I move on with him? If you don’t want to accept me and your pups, why are you here? I’m fine. I’m alive. Go away, Xandrios. I don’t need you.”I left him frozen on the spot as tears stung in my eyes. “Bro, please, can you help me to my room? I’m feeling dizzy.” I didn’t look at Xandrios, my heart breaking at his lack of trust in me. Didn’t he feel my love for him? I had endured so much, hoping to unite with him one day. For months, I waited for him to rescue
Cerelia’s POV “Cerelia, how are you today? Aunt Sophia wants you in her clinic for a checkup. She has lots of patients today. She can’t take out time and come over,” said Nikos, coming into my room. It had been over two and a half months since my grandpa died. My pregnancy was progressing well, and I looked pregnant, too. Aunt Sophia still thought my condition was critical, although I wasn’t bedridden anymore. Yet I couldn’t leave the mansion and go to Lucania.We were all imprisoned inside. There was mayhem outside with Grandpa’s supporters demanding justice. They wanted Uncle Alarik to step down and Grandpa’s friend and counselor, Beta Theodore, to take over as Alpha of the Silvermane Warriors. With an impeccable track record of always following the rules of the pack, he was a strong contender. But our family refused to bend to their demands. As Grandpa’s true successors, Uncle Alarik and Uncle Viktor were the rightful leaders of the pack. Every day, their demands grew violent an
Alexandrios’s POV Annabeth frowned as she switched on the lights. I waited anxiously for her to explain. Cerelia’s face kept on flashing across my mind. Was she in pain? Did her grandpa start the purification process? Had she forgotten me? Had she mated with a Silver Wolf? Whose hand was she holding? I was at my wit’s end, with so many questions flitting across my mind. I needed answers. “The black smoke you saw denotes danger. It seems your mate is shrouded in danger. The painful expression on her face denotes health issues. Maybe she too was unconscious, like you, for a long time. It points at a curse, but the white cloud looks hopeful. The evil force controlling your mate is no more. The curse has vanished. She’s free now.” I watched her with confusion, my mind swirling already. I couldn’t understand her. “If Cerelia’s free, can I go to Pieria and rescue her?” Annabeth gave me an agitated look. “No, not until the black smoke reduces. You could lose your life, son.” My heart an
Alexandrios’s POV I opened my eyes and looked around the hospital room I was in. It was torture to be admitted to my hospital under a colleague’s care. I had no idea what happened to me. I suddenly lost consciousness when on my rounds. The tests produced no problem at all. Yet I was in a semi-conscious state for fifteen days, receiving intravenous treatment. I could hear and feel everyone’s concern, but couldn’t move an inch. I was at my wit’s end and so were my close friends and colleagues, Dr. Daniels and Dr. Bradley. They couldn’t pinpoint the cause of my illness from my reports. I could hear Zephyrus and Stavros discuss the possibility of a curse. “I have a hunch that even Cerelia is suffering the same. It’s a mated wolf’s curse, prevalent among the Silver Wolves as a punishment for disobedience. I had heard about it when in Aromania,” said Zephyrus. My heart sank with dread, and I forced myself to open my eyes. I saw the look of surprise on Zephyrus and Stavros’ faces. “Alex
Cerelia’s POVI stirred, but my body ached tremendously. It seemed like the last drop of energy was wrenched out of me. Was I dead? Did Grandpa’s deathly grip or the touch of his sword to my skin kill me?I could hear faint voices near me. It seemed I was far away, unable to open my eyes or move my body. A cold metal touched my chest, and I gasped, filling my lungs with a lot of oxygen. What was it? I tried to shout for help, but no sound came out of my lips.“She’s responding!” someone cried out close to my ears. I recognized that voice instantly. It was Nikos’s. So I wasn’t dead. I was still at the mansion and my brother was with me.“Nikos,” I croaked into the deafening silence. “Water.”There was a shuffle, and someone held water to my lips. I drank a sip and then another. It energized me, and I slowly opened my eyes. Everything was blurred and I could hardly focus on anyone. The room was full of my family members. Was my grandpa here too? Fear gripped my heart as I blinked to ref