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Chapter Thirty

Author: Cheryl Fields
last update Last Updated: 2024-10-29 19:42:56

RAYA BANKS

I swallowed a reflexive gulp, feeling my heartbeat skyrocket in my chest as I rubbed the sleep from my eyes, trying to make out exactly what it was I had been looking at hunched over my bed.

I watched the man watch me back in the inky darkness of the room, my fingers numb as I dug my nails into the beds. I had thought previously, that I had somehow conjured my mother into existence, but I was almost certain now that I was watching a man. The lines of his hunched shoulders were too broad to be a woman’s, much less my frail old mother, and the length of his form. He was big, even bigger than Prince Nikolai, as he sat with the flat slipper of his feet bored into the foam so that the jagged curved claw of his toenails hung off the bed.

“W-who are you?” I whispered through the lump that had formed thick cobwebs in my throat, my eyes widening when the black hood the man had pulled low over his forehead slipped off to reveal a shock of blonde hair.

He had moved! I stumbled back a
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  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter Thirty One

    BRYAN BANKSI sat quietly on the horse carriage with my hands tied in front of me as Alpha Nikolai’s scouts ransacked the cottage core houses that sat in a quiet litter in the village.I turned to stare into the grey darkness, catching the way the dark-haired prince stared off into the distance where his castle loomed large ahead of us.“Empty, your highness, save for the women, He’s probably holding most of our men in the castle,” The blond haired bat who had given me a knuckle sandwich earlier screamed at the top of his voice, making the towering black beast nod the triangle of his large head ever so slowly.I could tell it took everything in the man not to pound toward the castle gates as we made our way across the high and low rise buildings of the Stone village, with one of the scouts shoving me roughly when I stared back at a white-faced family who had drawn the shutters closed as we passed, frightened.“Eyes on the road drunk!” He yelled, his paw smacking me painfully in the ba

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter Thirty Two

    ALPHA TOPHASI felt the rumble of my laugh cramp in my stomach before it passed through my curled lips and I dug my hind legs into the stony lot, fixing my gaze at the portly man who was standing between my brother and me, with MY woman, clutched in his arms.”Bring her to me Bryan. It’s your duty as one of the pack,” I ground through clenched teeth, forcing myself to stay put, to not move the muscles in my body that were screaming for me to attack.I had wanted to avoid meeting Nikolai as much as I could, I’d seen the way he carried himself back when we watched them through the treetops. The way my younger brother had strode through the darkness. There was something different about him, even the men who had followed me could tell. I could see it in the way they hesitated to attack, the sidelong glances they exchanged when they thought I wasn't looking.“Move one inch toward him Mr. Banks, and I would have you killed where you stand.” Nikolai’s baritone rumbled through the space so t

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter Thirty Three

    RAYA BANKSI had never felt a betrayal so strong as what I felt when Alpha Toph had told me Prince Nikolai was his brother, right before he gouged out my father’s heart.I tried not to look at the dead husk of the fat wolf that was lying motionless only a short distance from my legs, focusing instead on my dust-coated feet as tears blurred my vision. “Name yourself maiden,” The King growled and it took longer than I would have liked for me to realize he was talking to me.I felt a shiver run down my spine as all eyes in the lot turned to me, and I could feel Nikolai’s gray eyes burning holes in my back. I shimmied forward, away from the panting tower of Alpha Toph’s wolf and toward the deathly quiet king wolf.“Your Grace, my name is Raya Banks, daughter of the dead merchant,” I whispered, hanging on one knee as a murmur broke out in the crowd, and my chest burned with hate.“And what is your alliance with my son Tophas?” The King hummed before I heard Nikolai’s interjecting baritone

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter Thirty Four

    NIKOLAI“What the hell were you thinking letting Tophas get away with her? You know what he's going to do to that woman!” Igor raged behind me as I tucked my arms on the brick boulder of the hallway sundeck, gaping at the slender back of the retreating woman.I ignored the man pacing behind me, feeling the barb of Raya’s words still as it wormed and ate away at the hard armor of my chest.The way the olive-skinned woman had looked at me when I’d asked her to stay, it was like I was some sort of parasite she was hoping to cut off and burn.“Damn you, Nikolai,” I groaned inwardly, knowing I should have told her the truth in the first fucking place.“What are you gonna do about the gala Niko? We both know Tophas isn’t going to miss the opportunity to charm the council en massé,” Igor needled, and I resisted the urge to press my fingers into my eyeballs until they popped out.It was the effect the nagging son of a bitch always had on me, harrying me all day like a damned pecking bird.“Wh

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter Thirty Five

    RAYA BANKS“Saints, angels and cherubs above, protect me from the evil eye,” I whispered the chant my mother had taught me back when I used to accompany her to the exquisite lots of the upstate houses where she worked.Ma had never trusted them, the rich men with their luxury sports cars and polo shirts hugging their tight, muscular frames, or the snobbish women with their dye-streaked hairs piled high on their heads and their chests pushed so far out it was a wonder they could see an inch in front of them.She thought them skanks, selfish bastards who couldn't spare a speck of concern if a child was starving on the side of the road so long as it wasn’t theirs, or anyone they could gossip about in their pretentious little meetings.“Stay away from the neighborhood kids Raya, they're not your friends,” My mother had said one night when we got back, her eyes glittering with rage. It was usually like that for her, her anger was quiet, subdued, simmering under the surface like a volcano t

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter Thirty Six

    RAYA BANKSIn my dreams, I was standing on the pier, waving to the woman in red.It was the same every night, we walked hand in hand, me in my white taffeta dress, and my mother in her crimson cotton gown, until we reached the edge of the dark wood pier that was slick with something I did not want to suspect was blood.“Lady Artemis!” I gasped awake, wiping the thin sheen of sweat that had broken on my brow and wondering why my nightmares were different this night.My mother had not boarded the boat, instead, I had caught the glint of metal in her hand, the darkening in her eyes just before she slashed me cleanly across the throat with the knife.I palmed the soft creases of my neck, satisfied when it was still intact and carrying out of the warm white sheets.I was Alpha Toph’s lady-in-waiting now, and boy was I glad for it. “Damned thing,” I cursed, poking the ashen wood logs with the fire stick before the low crackle of dying flames fizzled out, making the shadows around the large

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter Thirty Seven

    NIKOLAII glanced at the glowing mantle of the clock piece above me, my heart sinking to the pit of my stomach when I realized how nervous I was about seeing the olive-skinned woman again, the image of her small face and piercing hazel eyes rising unbidden to my mind.Christ, I was a fucking mess, how the fuck was I going to hold up in front of my father if I couldn't get Raya freaking Banks out of my fucking head.I needed this break, being the last son came with its perks, being my father’s favorite, but I had to work twice as hard, break my fucking back and drive a chainsaw through the remains to satisfy the old bastard.“Fucking hell Nikolai! You know just how to make a woman wet!” Olivia’s honeyed drawl came from behind me and I damned near chucked the flower vase on the nightstand at her head, turning to catch her sexy frame panting in the doorway so that my mouth fell slack and I had to pick my jaw from the floor.The redhead took sex appeal to a whole new level, fitting her bu

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter Thirty Eight

    RAYA BANKSI immediately want to back out and scamper down the Burning City Castle foyer when I enter the high tower of the banquet hall to be assaulted with a wash of colors and scents.The high dome-shaped ceiling of the banquet hall had me squinting at the twirl of multi-colored ribbons and bows that sagged from the pinpoint center, catching the bright wash of fluorescent light so that it glowed oddly.“Aren't you coming in?” I squeaked louder than I had wanted to and ignored the nettle-armored guard at the doorway as his head snapped sideways to look at me, focusing instead on the sweaty-faced maiden who had escorted me only to stop hesitantly at the door.Anne looked at me like I had grown plastic horns on my head, before shaking her head disjointedly, giving me a cold look that I did not know how to describe.“Oh, no, His Highness says no servants allowed, I’ll only be minding the rooms,” She tittered, giving me a low bow before turning on her heel to walk away without another l

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  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter 160

    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

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter 159

    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

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter 158

    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

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter 157

    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

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter 156

    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

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter 155

    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

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter 154

    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

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter 153

    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

  • Stuck between the Royal Wolves   Chapter 152

    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

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