Raya“You should have her hanged Nikolai! She's a danger to your child! Your crowned heir!” Olivia Burns bellowed in a guttural voice that seemed to shake the gold chandelier hanging above us and I cringed, feeling my breaths come faster and faster.“I didn't, I didn't do anything! Please, Nikolai! You’ve got to believe me!” I gushed, feeling tears pool under my eyes as I stared up at the King’s handsome face. I could see the emotions behind his glassy gray eyes as he stared down at me, before Olivia’s stern voice rose again, like some shit-ugly prima donna.Nikolai was struggling to believe me, and I could tell it was because things had been weird between us, but was it enough that he would hang me at Olivia’s behest? I gulped reflexively, stumbling back a step as the man skulked towards me, his eyes blazing with an unreadable expression.“Then who did Raya? Who did this?” He rasped, and I felt a shiver run down my back as his cool breath brushed my cheeks before something snapped i
Olivia BurnsMy heart was beating faster than normal as I watched the olive-skinned woman being led away in cuffs.“I can't believe she'd even do this! This is what happens when you let scum from the Burning City into the Stone Castle!” One of the residents hummed glumly, a woman with cheeks that were much too rounded for her twig-thin neck.I had seen her parading the castle grounds before with her Tomboys and johns, thinking that no one would see her. She was a right slut too, the only difference was that Raya had been caught, or framed.I felt my lips tear into a grin when I met Anya’s widened eyes, before quickly arranging my face into a mask of pain, much to her disbelief. I could feel it now, that the woman was scared of me, of what I could do. Anya the Barbie girl from the slums was not going to be playing any more of her hide-and-seek games with me, no siree.I was Alpha Nikolai’s chosen woman, with the power to send her to Hades, or wherever the fuck Raya bitch was going.“C
Raya Banks“Saints,” I sighed, releasing my iron grip on the steel cell bars and shuffling back to the bunk bed to sit with my back against the cold wall.I wrapped my hands around myself, feeling a shiver creep up my spine as the heavy clod of footfalls echoed outside the dark cell, so I turned to look at the silvery hallway just as the towering hulk of the cell wolf guard darkened the gateway.“Food for the prisoner,” He growled gruffly, pushing the silver food tray under the grates so that it clattered to a stop at the foot of the bed and I swallowed the bile that rose in my throat.“How much longer do I have to stay here?” I called as the scary guard turned to leave and watched as the hunch in his shoulders jerked back before he strutted off without responding. Assholes! The lot of them!Ugh, I couldn't believe Olivia had me framed for her poisoning. That was the only thing that made sense the more I thought about it! I have to convince Nikolai of my innocence, I had seen the dar
NikolaiI couldn't believe she had let me touch her as I folded her lithe body on the small prisoner bed in the corner.“W-what if someone sees?” Raya whispered, her hazel eyes big in the low silvery light that fell in slants through the open window above us as I tore the gown free from her chest, swallowing when her full, tan breasts spilled into view.Fucking hell, she was gorgeous!“No one’s going to,” I whispered, pressing a kiss to the plump tits that jiggled in my face and feeling my cock jerk in my pants when she moaned loudly, arching her chest more to me.No one was going to bother us, I knew that because I had sent the cell guards away, and we had more than enough time to be together. I was aware of the harsh rise and fall of my chest as I snatched off my shirt, trapping the squirming woman between my arms and tracing kisses on her cheek and neck as she moaned more and more.“Nikolai,” Raya whispered and trailed off when I looked at her, slapping away her hands when she cro
ALPHA TOPHWhere were my traps? The traps I had set for the large animals that swarmed this sordid place every night?“Goddammit!” I cursed loudly, slamming the rickety door of the wooden house shut behind me and snapping my fur coat tighter around my shoulders before rooting around the grass with my stick.Two weeks! It had been two weeks since I lost my bloody castle to the scheming rogue Nikolai, and I had not caught anything yet! I was going to starve at this rate! I could already hear my wolf howling with pain in my ears every night, outside the sound of my own voice cursing me for my carelessness.I had gotten too careless, and greedy for the woman I wasn't allowed to have. “Raya fucking Banks.” I sneered, my lips curling bitterly as I glanced around the thick forest line, the one surrounding the clearing of the wood house I was crashing at.It had been home to an old wolf couple, the ones that I had killed and buried their bodies in the backyard, not that they had offered much
Raya Banks“I see,” I whispered even though I couldn't see shit past the tears that were brewing in my eyes.Had I heard the Alpha correctly? I couldn't believe I had been so stupid to fall for him!“Raya, please, you need to understand,” He started, pressing his hands over mine so that my breath caught in my throat for a moment at the severity of our bond, the tug of desire that welled inside me, before I snapped my hands away.“Get out Nikolai,” I wheezed, feeling the walls of my chest constricting as I scooted away from his hard body into the wall.I couldn't even bear to look at him, to be touched by those hands that drove me wild only minutes ago.“Please Raya, I...I can't let you go now, it's too dangerous,” The King whispered and I felt the butter surge of irritation spark in my belly as I whipped around to face him, rising to my feet and charging toward him, only hesitating when I realized he loomed over me, his eyes almost amused as he watched me.“Dangerous? You're freaking
Nikolai“Your Highness! Your Highness!” The scribe in a long white robe that made him look more of a mushroom than anything wheezed as he burst through the huge double doors of my throne room making me snap my head up from where I had rested it on my hands.“What is it?” I hissed, watching the furry heads of the wolves present whip around to face the doors as the sinewy wolf fell at my feet.“Wolves from the lowlands Your Highness, soldiers reported seeing your brother getting carted off by the rogues,” The man cried, and I felt my heart sputter to a stop in my chest before the crowd started to murmur.What the hell kind of trouble had Tophas gotten himself into now? I gritted my teeth as the scribe rushed through the other status reports my mind whirling with the possibilities of what could happen to my brother.I hated the blonde bastard’s guts, but it didn't mean I wanted him to be carted off and used for whatever abominations Gobar fancied these days.“Blasted heavens, this is bad
Raya banksI waited for the King again this night, rocking back and forth on the narrow bunk bed and wrapping the thick cotton duvet tighter around my body as Mary’s stern voice echoed in my ear.She apologized after threatening me earlier, but somehow, I was finding it hard to accept her apology or believe that she was “just kidding,” about telling Nikolai everything.I pressed my hands to my chest, scrunching my nose at the faint scent of mildew and feeling the thumping of my heart when I heard the cell door creak loudly as it swung open. “Saints,” I gasped, slamming to sit up like some deranged prop doll and fixing my face into a smile as a whirl of emotions passed through me.It felt like I was back at our old cottage house, with my father, the man with the angry eyebrows and burrowing eyes.Back to the days and nights I had to act exactly the way my father wanted, having his dinner ready on time with breakfast set to boil beside it, keeping his beer cold until it was mouth ready
Raya BanksI hadn't stopped glancing anxiously through the wide carriage windows after we left until my breath caught in my throat when I saw the looming buildings of the castle up ahead and leaned back in my seat, suddenly feeling my pulse jump.“It's okay Raya, I'm here...I won't let anyone hurt you.” Nikolai growled and I felt something warm unravel inside me at the possessive tone of his voice.I nodded, searching his stormy gray eyes once more before looking out the window again at the wet plains of the fields off to the sides.And Olivia? I wanted to ask, but something stopped me and I shook the thought out of my head, resting on his shoulder instead as the giant gate of the castle creaked open and I marveled at the cheers that boomed and erupted.“Holy shit,” I whispered and my cheeks warmed to hear Nikolai laugh beside me. Gosh, I never wanted him to stop laughing! There were rows and rows of ruddy-faced wolves holding large bouquets that they threw like confetti at the carri
NikolaiThe voices, by Jove! The rush of shadows and voices crowded into my head as I wove the moonstone around my neck must have made me mad!I roared, feeling my rage amplify and baring my teeth with bloodlust as I turned my body to see Alpha Toph charging toward me like a bat straight from hell.“You bloody prick! I'm going to annihilate you once and for all!” He bellowed, his lumpy muscled frame flying into the air before I surged forward to meet him halfway, almost stumbling when Raya’s soft whisper carried to my ears.I love you, I love you, I love you. I inhaled sharply, throwing everything I had into the fight as our bodies slammed meatily together before we landed heavily on the floor and I pushed against the bracket of his arms. His disfigured eyes stared at me from behind the barricade with such hate and venom that I threw away all the guilt I had swirling inside me.“Not if I kill you first.” I sneered, jamming my knee into his sides and watching him crumple in on himself
158Raya Banks“Nikolai! Watch out!” I shrieked loudly, feeling my gut wrench with fear as I saw the king get knocked down by Alpha Toph’s hulking frame.“You let a woman be your weakness again Nikolai, it's almost as if you never LEARN! Wasn't Olivia’s betrayal all those years ago enough for you?” Alpha Toph gurgled in a voice that sounded like rushing water and I felt chills wash over me as I tried to struggle to my feet before one of the shadowlings slammed their heavy foot flat on my back, knocking the breath out of me.“No!” I cried out, winded, and stretched a hand to the huge gray wolf that was being mauled ferociously by Alpha Toph’s half-human, half-beast frame. A trap! The beast had set a trap for the king and now he was cut in between. I knew almost immediately what he had planned to do but there was almost no way to warn Alpha Nikolai as he crossed the field to rescue me.Had I been his weakness? How did he find me? It couldn't have been that long since I was kidnapped an
Olivia BurnsIt was the silence that haunted me the most now. The empty hours from dawn to dusk and everything in between, just me and the shadows, and the shadows and me.“You rest up now Miss Burns, His Highness will be back to the Stone Castle in no time.” Meredith’s calming voice rang, making me snap my eyes to her pale oval face that had lifted into an encouraging smile.“Enough, I'm positive ill turn into one of the meadow fishes if you soak my stubs any longer.” I hissed impatiently, feeling my heart squeeze when the woman only smiled, snatching up a dry, white towel from the rack before wrapping my tender feet in it and toweling me off.I sneered at the unhealthy size of the swollen lumps as she massaged them into a reasonable size, and I stirred uneasily in the low plush stool that had been placed in the sunlit room.The King had ordered renovations for me, giant blue ceramic pots with fake gold flowers at the corners of the room that hid the shadowlings from my sight. The bi
NIKOLAIShe was RIGHT THERE, a few feet from me before he snatched her right out of the air. So close, and yet, so far away.“It doesn't have to be this way Tophas, my mate has no business in our rivalry, let her go.” I deadpanned, hearing the din of my voice as it caught in the wind whipping about us before my brother’s uneven face jerked into an excited smile.I could hear the thud of my heart beating and was aware how fast my breaths rushed out from my chest and yet, I could do nothing but stand and wait. No sudden movements.“But you lie, brother, Raya Banks is my mate too don't you reckon?” Tophas growled, slamming one thick paw that looked like the fingers had been snapped all the way back against Raya’s full cleavage.“Please!” Raya’s desperate wheezes twisted at my heart as I held out a hand, stopping Gallagher’s copper-colored wolf from morphing out and tearing forward. I could sense his agitation, because it was double in my gut, watching the woman I loved so much desperatel
Raya BanksI couldn't stop the shudders from running through my body before the sound of wolves laughing heartily in the distance reached my ears.“Oh God, oh God, help me,” I panted, squeezing my eyes shut and clamping my lips firmly to keep from whimpering when what felt like a tongue licked at the underside of my ass from the stone.The damned thing was alive! Like the stack of bodies in the corner of the room! Wolf zombies, immobile now, no doubt until the dark shadow king Gobar wanted to command them!“A feast! We shall have a feast!” Alpha Toph’s voice boomed in the distance and my body automatically stiffened, still as a rock.It had been some time since he left and the hearty yellow beam I could see beyond the cave opening flaps if I angled my head right had now turned a smokey gray. Dusk. I had to get out of here fast, I couldn't hope on the King any longer, he may as well have moved on with his betrothed and heir and here I was slaving away, holding out hope and waiting for
Alpha TophMy tongue pressed against the uneven ridges of my teeth as I fiddled with the lock of the shadow king’s secret compartment.I had caught a glimpse of the mammoth beast leaving the small shed, the spot on his neck where the blood moonstone hung bare. I knew then that Gobar had to have been hiding it here. He never wore it to hunt.“Come on!” I gritted through clenched teeth, feeling my eyeballs sting as the sweat rolled down from the cliff of my forehead.Everything had begun to feel weird, it was hard enough to feed without tasting the worms from the inside of my mouth in the blood.If I could just get my hands on the dark moonstone I could stop the transformation and have SOME chance of killing the shadow king.Yes! I had to kill him, there was no way in seven hells I would have gone through all the pains to settle for being his eternal stooge!The numbers I tried to spin on the lock didn't make any sense and it was beginning to get dark. I glanced around quickly, catchin
Meredith The Maid“MEREDITH!” My name, I answer it with pride when my mistress calls, but she does not call today. “MEREDIFFTH!” My name, whenever the mistress was in one of her moods and couldn't stand to get the words out nice and proper, her shrill tone seemed to shake me to my very core.She was in one of her moods again as I led her away from the King’s horses, holding the blubbering countess by the hand and helping her climb the stairs until we were behind the safe walls of the familiar quarters.“What time is it Meredith? I haven't had my afternoon tea and all that screaming has made me rather, famished!” Miss Olivia exclaimed and I caught my tongue between my teeth before I could tell her she had taken her lunch already. Thrice.“Of course, I'll send for it M’lady,” I cooed softly, lowering her onto the plush cushion of the high bed and propping her feet too before smothering her with the rich red duvets that had been layered on the foam.“My Merd, what would I do without y
NIKOLAITime seemed to stand still as I swung the silver sword in a neat arc, striking the stretched meat of my best friend’s neck and feeling the sword spasm in my death grip before cutting cleanly through the bone and clanging up to my shoulders against the hard rock of the dias.My heart pounded wildly in my chest as the brightly colored room blurred in my vision for a moment before I caught the lapse and blinked everything back into focus.The silence was so loud that my ears rang from the nothingness, not a breath, not a word, nothing but quiet. I watched Igor’s blood-spattered head roll quietly down each stone staircase until it toppled in a neat circle and stopped on the floor.I was breathing fast, and heavily, with my fingers shaking on the hilt of the executioner sword I still held tightly in my hand and yet I couldn't manage to shake it off.It was like a part of me had died the moment I held the blade. My fault! It was all my fault. I had let my best man turn into a trait