Jaselyn's POV
Her hands trembled slightly as she continued. “But I could never forget about you, the son I lost. The child that was stolen from me. As soon as I found out you were alive, the search for you never ceased. I often worried about how you would perceive me, if you would ever accept me. I constantly battled with the thought of failing you as a mother.
The struggles were relentless and unending. There were days when I wanted nothing more than to surrender to the weariness. There were moments when I questioned if I was capable of managing everything. The pressure to perform—to be both a leader and a caretaker—was overwhelming. Yet, I pressed on, drawing strength from the love I had for my family and the support of the Pack. But now, with Xyne gone, I find that I can no longer bear the burden.”
Luna Daryna’s voice wavered with the weight of her confession. “I want to honor Xyne’s memory, but I also need to f
Jaselyn's POVThe sun had risen on the grandest day of my life, casting a golden glow over the Pack's territory.I almost can't believe it. It's finally here, the day that will change my life forever.I sit in front of the mirror, my heart pounding with a mixture of excitement and nervous anticipation. Today is the day of our mating ceremony and coronation, a moment I had dreamt of yet scarcely believed would come to pass.The room buzzed with activity. Maids and professionals bustled around me, their movements precise and practiced. They had dressed me in a breathtaking gown of deep sapphire and crisp white, the colors of our Pack. The bodice was a delicate lattice of silver thread and intricate beadwork, glistening like stars scattered across a midnight sky. The gown flared out from my waist in a cascade of layers, each one a whisper of silk and satin, catching the light as I moved. The train was long and flowing, pooling around my fee
Jaselyn's POVWhen I managed to collect myself, I looked at him with curiosity. “Why did you choose to propose like this? This is the way humans do it, isn't it?”Rion chuckled, his gaze tender. “I’ve always admired how humans propose. It’s a beautiful gesture, a way of showing love and commitment. I wanted to give you that moment, to show you how much you mean to me in a way that’s special to me.”He paused, a teasing glint in his eyes. “Besides, I needed to make sure you really wanted to marry someone like me. I still find it hard to believe you’d want me.”I playfully swatted at him, laughing through my tears. “Speak of yourself with more respect! You’re the best thing that’s ever happened to me.”Rion grinned, pulling me into a warm embrace. “I’m sorry. I’ll always speak of myself with the utmost respect if it means making you happy
Jaselyn's POVThe Grand Hall was a spectacle of elegance and splendor, bathed in the golden light of the afternoon sun. The air was thick with anticipation, the hum of excited voices merging with the soft strains of ceremonial music that floated through the air. The Hall itself had been transformed into a veritable palace of dreams, adorned with delicate blue and white drapes that cascaded like a gentle waterfall from the high, vaulted ceilings. Crystal chandeliers hung above, their light refracting through the myriad of sparkling decorations and creating a mesmerizing dance of light across the room.At the heart of the Hall stood the bonfire, a blazing testament to the sacredness of this day. Its flames leaped and danced with a life of their own, casting a warm, flickering glow that symbolized Selene, the moon goddess. The fire was surrounded by a circle of intricately carved stones, each one etched with runes and symbols that spoke of ancient rites and timeless
Jaselyn's POVThe fire crackled softly as we completed our rounds around it, each step a reaffirmation of our promises. I took another breath, feeling the intensity of the moment, as it came to a climax.Rion’s final vow was both profound and moving. “I vow to always be by your side, to share in your joys and sorrows, and to lead with wisdom and courage as we face the future together.”With our vows complete, we turned to each other.Under normal circumstances, the couple would shift and mark each other before leaving together to begin their wedding night but as you already realize, our relationship is far from normal.We had already marked each other and we still needed to stay for the coronation so we opted for a kiss instead.As our lips met, sealing our union with a passionate kiss, the room erupted in applause. The sound was a powerful reminder of the community we were joining, their support and joy echoing
Jaselyn's POVAs Rion carried me into our bedroom, the romantic atmosphere embraced us with its soft, seductive allure. The room had been transformed into a haven of love, each detail meticulously arranged for our wedding night. Candles flickered on every available surface, their gentle light casting a warm, golden glow that made the room feel intimate and inviting. The air was filled with the delicate scent of roses and vanilla, a sweet aroma that mingled with the soft strains of a romantic melody playing in the background.Rose petals were scattered across the bed and the floor, adding a touch of elegance and sensuality. The bed itself was adorned with a lavish spread of silky sheets, the deep blue and white fabric glistening under the candlelight. The room was set up perfectly for an unforgettable evening.Rion gently placed me on the bed, his eyes locked onto mine with a mix of love and anticipation. He took a moment to admire the scene around us befor
Jaselyn's POVI wrapped my fingers around him, feeling the heat and hardness of him in my grasp. My strokes were slow and deliberate, each one designed to heighten his anticipation. His breathing grew ragged, his hips bucking slightly in response to my touch.I moved my mouth closer to his cock and traced a path with my tongue, savoring the warmth and hardness of him. I ran my hand up and down his cock once more, feeling the weight and pulse of his arousal. My gaze met his, and I saw the question in his eyes, his voice a mixture of desire and hesitation. “Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, his breath hitching slightly.I nodded, my resolve clear. “I am. You’ve always given me so much pleasure. I want to return the favor.”I moved closer, flicking my tongue over the tip of his cock, tasting the slight saltiness of his precum. The flavor was unfamiliar but intoxicating. I took a deep breath, then slowly took him
Jaselyn's POVI woke up alone in our bed, the cool sheets caressing my skin as I stretched my limbs. Blinking sleep from my eyes, I glanced around the room, only to find the space beside me empty. The soothing sound of running water from the bathroom was the only indication that Rion was up and preparing for the day. I glanced at the clock on the bedside table—5 AM. The early hour was a stark reminder of Rion’s new role as Alpha, and I knew he must have a mountain of responsibilities awaiting him.Determined to support him in any way I could, I resolved to get up and check if there was anything I could assist with at his office. As I began to slide out of bed, I felt a familiar presence stir within me.Nila broke the morning silence, her voice filled with a subtle hint of curiosity and anticipation. “Jas, do you feel any different today?”I paused, momentarily confused. “Different? You mean like, because I’m Luna
Jaselyn's POVAfter Rion and I announced the news of my pregnancy to the rest of the family, the atmosphere in the palace transformed into one of joyous anticipation.Luna Daryna was overjoyed. She stood up from her seat almost immediately despite her age, her face bright, as she clasped her hands over her heart. “Oh, Jaselyn! This is such wonderful news!” Her voice wavered with emotion, and she reached out to pull me into a warm embrace. She looked at Rion with tears in her eyes and said, “This baby is going to be such a blessing for our family. I never thought I'd live long enough to see another grandchild, especially one from my beloved son but it seems wishes do come true.”Determined to celebrate, she immediately began planning a grand family dinner. Her excitement was infectious as she started making phone calls and organizing everything down to the finest detail. She consulted with the cook to ensure I would have the healthie
Celio's POV The wooden floor creaked under my knees as I scrubbed away at the dirt, pushing the rag back and forth with all the strength my small, 8 year old body could muster. The chill of the mountain wind seeped through the cracks in the old walls, biting at my skin. My hands were raw and red, the rough texture of the rag scraping against my knuckles. I didn’t mind. I didn’t mind the pain, the hunger gnawing at my stomach, or the loneliness that pressed on me like an iron weight. I was used to it.I glanced out the cracked window at the gray sky that mirrored my feelings. The little shack we lived in sat at the base of the mountain, far away from any Pack. Isla had always told me that it was better this way—away from the people who would look at me and know that I wasn’t wanted, that I was abandoned by the very woman who should have loved me most.“Your mother didn’t want you, Celio,” Isla would say, her voice sharp and filled with disdain. “She threw you away like you were nothing
Luka's POV The day started out like any other. Mika, Sawyer, and I were playing in the woods behind the palace, chasing each other through the trees, our laughter echoing in the air. At seven years old, we were pretending to be fierce wolves on a hunt, leaping over fallen logs and dodging branches. It was perfect, like it always was when we were together.But then everything changed in an instant.I heard the thud first—a sound so sharp and heavy that it made my heart skip a beat. I stopped and turned around, the world seeming to move in slow motion as I saw Mika crumple to the ground, his face twisted in pain.“Mika!” I shouted, racing back to him. The sight that met me made my stomach lurch. His leg was twisted at an odd angle, and there was blood—so much blood—pouring out of a long, deep gash along his shin. It covered the grass, bright and red, and kept coming. I couldn’t breathe.Sawyer came running up, her eyes huge and frightened as she saw the blood. “Luka, what happened?” sh
Jaselyn's POV I took his hand, and he pulled me close, holding me from behind as we swayed gently to the music. His lips brushed my ear as he whispered, “You’re beautiful, you know that? Even after everything, you’re still the most beautiful woman I’ve ever seen. And I’m the luckiest man alive to have you.”Tears pricked my eyes, but they weren’t tears of sadness this time. They were tears of happiness, of gratitude. “Rion… you don’t know how much that means to me.”He kissed my neck softly. “You mean everything to me, Jas.”Suddenly, the music stopped, and a projector flickered on. I turned to see a slideshow of pictures—our memories together. Photos of us when we first arrived at the Pack, a few of the whole family, some from the day of our mating ceremony, which also doubled with the coronation, pictures of us as Alpha and Luna at a few events, including one of us at the Peace Ball. Pictures of me with the twins when they were born and finally, pictures of us with Luka and Mika. I
Jaselyn’s POVExhausted didn’t even begin to cover how I felt. I was beyond it. No, it was more like EXHAUSTED in capital letters, underlined and bold. It had been a few days since Luka and Mika were born, and though I’d prepared myself for the sleepless nights and constant feeding, nothing could have readied me for the complete overwhelm of being a new mother to two newborns at the same time. Rion helped as much as he could. He was always there, doing everything in his power to make things easier for me. But there was only so much even he could do. There were things I had to handle myself—breastfeeding, comforting them when they both decided to cry at the same time, managing the constant pain in my body that hadn’t fully recovered from the trauma of childbirth.Luka was a good feeder. He latched on almost immediately, eager to nurse, but Mika wasn’t doing as well. He struggled with breastfeeding, and that meant more time spent trying to get him to eat, more time stressing about whet
Jaselyn's POVFive years have passed since the birth of our twin boys.And in those years, Luka and Mika had grown into mischievous, spirited children who constantly kept me on my toes. They were inseparable, their bond unbreakable, and they moved through life with a shared sense of curiosity and adventure.Completely identical, they inherited the dominant Solstice genes with their ebony black hair, deep green eyes, and strikingly beautiful features. They were so similar in appearance that even their grandmother couldn’t tell them apart.Only Rion and I could tell which was Luka and which was Mika, and the boys often used this to their advantage, tricking everyone around them. But when they weren’t up to mischief, they were the sweetest children imaginable—kind, considerate, and always eager to bring a smile to my face.They were the best of friends, always looking out for each other. If one fell ill,
Rion's POV“That’s it, Luna,” the midwife encouraged. “The hardest part is over. Just one more push, and we’ll have him out.”Jaselyn nodded weakly, her face pale and slick with sweat. She gritted her teeth, her whole body trembling as she summoned the last of her strength. With a final, desperate scream, she pushed again, her body arching off the bed as she bore down with everything she had left.The baby slipped free with a gush of fluid and blood, his tiny body wriggling and slick in the midwife’s hands. “It’s a boy!” she announced, holding him up for us to see, his loud, piercing cries filling the room.My heart swelled with emotion as I gazed at our son, his tiny face scrunched up in a wail, his fists clenched and shaking. Tears blurred my vision as I looked at Jaselyn. “He’s beautiful,” I choked out, my voice thick with emotion. “Jas, you did it. You gave us a
Rion's POVI slammed my fist against the desk, sending papers flying. The frustration had been building for months, and now it was boiling over. "Dammit!" I cursed, pacing the room in a futile attempt to calm myself. We had conquered the Rain Forest Pack with ease, but it had been a hollow victory. Hadrian, that fool, had chosen to die rather than betray his cousin, Isla. He'd poisoned himself before we could get any information out of him. Another dead end.The Fishers were a twisted bunch. Part of me relished the thought of wiping them out for good, to rid the world of their poison. Isla had slipped through our fingers, and I was beginning to fear we’d never find her. If I could only get my hands on her, I would make her pay for taking Celio. She would wish she had never been born.Blade had been another disappointment, another dead end in our search for Celio. We had pushed him to his absolute limits, hoping that the pain and pressure would force
Jaselyn's POV“Maybe we could…shower together?” I suggested hesitantly. “It might help me relax.”Rion smiled softly, his eyes filled with understanding. “That sounds like a great idea. Come on, let’s get cleaned up.”We both undressed completely, and I followed him into the bathroom. He turned on the shower, adjusting the water temperature until it was just right, then we stepped under the warm spray together.The water cascaded over us, washing away the tension and the grime from the day. Rion wrapped his arms around me from behind, holding me close as the water streamed down our bodies. I leaned back against him, feeling the steady beat of his heart against my back. His touch was gentle, his hands moving over my skin with care, never lingering too long in one place.He washed my hair, his fingers massaging my scalp in slow, soothing circles. I closed my eyes, letting myself relax under
Jaselyn's POVI agreed to see Nae, but only because I needed to know if she could give me any information about where Isla might have taken Celio. It was my only lead, and I wasn’t about to let it slip through my fingers, no matter how much I despised Nae.Before heading to see her, I turned to Rion. His clothes were torn and stained with dirt and blood from the battle. He looked tired, and I could see the weariness in his eyes despite his usual confident stance. He needed rest, and he needed to be taken care of. After everything he had done for me, it was the least I could do for him.“Come with me,” I said softly, taking his hand. I led him back to our bedroom, feeling a mixture of nerves and determination. “Rion, I want our lives to go back to normal,” I began, my voice wavering slightly. “I want to feel close to you again.”He looked at me with a mix of surprise and concern. “Jas, you don’t h