Zane's POVCounting down the minutes till the doctor arrived was agonizing. I even yelled at her when I had no right to, given the weather condition. As usual, Rion managed to keep a levelhead and apologized to the doctor, explaining how we found Jaselyn while I paced about, consumed by fear and anxiety. I felt like a child once more, pitiful and helpless.We both waited outside while the doctor attended to Jaselyn in the room. I paced about while Rion remained seated still. "You know you can just admit you're worried about her." He suddenly said and I cocked my head at him, annoyed."And what would that solve, exactly?" I asked with a scowl."It wouldn't help her, yes, but it'll help you put a handle on your emotions. You're behaving so erratically now, like a scared child. Don't forget you're still the Alpha of this Pack, you have to be able to keep a clear head and make decisions at all times." He said and I stared at him menacingly, my hands bunching into fists but I knew I coul
Zane's POV "Zane?" Rion calls but I ignore him and march out of there, my anger rising with every passing breath.All the maids that I passed by could tell how angry I was and they all stepped aside and greeted me, practically shaking but I ignored them.There's only one person that's responsible for the condition Jaselyn is currently in, only one person has the guts to do this.I get to my bedroom and don't even bother knocking, kicking the door open and it gives in to my rage, nearly tearing off from its hinges.Isla turns to me and she has the sweetest smile, it's fake and it makes me feel sick to my stomach."Zane, what a wonderful surprise! I was informed you were back but I just couldn't believe it. I'm glad you're back so early, you must have missed me, right? Every moment without you has been pure agony." She went on and on, perhaps pretending she couldn't see the murderous expression on my face or the vengeful aura I was giving."Why'd you do it?" I asked simply, trying my a
Zane's POVI arrive back outside the room where Jaselyn is currently being treated to see Ziarre applying some ointment on Rion's hands.“I told you, beloved, you don't have to do this. It's just a small injury, I'll be fine.” He reassured while Ziarre pouted, not paying him any mind.“You always say that but you seem to have a knack for getting in trouble. You're a grown man, I shouldn't have to worry about you when you aren't with me.” She scolded as she bandaged his hands, which had been burned when he broke off the silver chains from Jaselyn.“You know the last thing I'd want to do is make you worry, beloved. It was a matter of urgency, I had to do something.” He explained with a sheepish smile.“I'm not angry at you. I'm actually proud to have you as my mate, not a lot of people are as selfless as you. I just can't help worrying about you.” Ziarre confessed as she clipped the bandage in place.“Well, it's because you love me.” He replied cheekily and she turned away, her cheeks f
Zane's POV I took a deep breath and banished any doubts to the back of my mind. I pushed open the door and walked in.Her head turned to my direction and her lips grew taut. There was no sign of a smile or a frown, just a blank expression. Almost like she couldn't care enough to acknowledge my presence. I decided not to dwell on that.Her head was bandaged and so were her wrists and ankles. She was dressed in a hospital gown and was no longer in that silly excuse for clothes I had found her in.Which begs the question, what led to her wearing such clothes? I hadn't been patient enough to get the full story from Isla or learn the events that led up to Jaselyn being treated like a common animal. Each time the scene flashes into my mind, it makes me growl and shake with anger. But right now I just want to focus on Jaselyn, nothing else.Attached to her arm was an IV line, slowly transfusing blood into her body. Rion's blood. The thought made my throat go dry.I took a seat on the chair
Jaselyn's POVI find myself more than a little grateful that I'd survived that horrible ordeal. The aftermath comes with its own pains but the painkillers really do help, I'll admit.I was truly surprised to open my eyes and realize that I'm still in the land of the living. I panicked a bit but the doctor was able to calm me down and explain everything to the best of her ability.I found out from the nurse that Rion had broken me out of the chains, hurting himself in the process and that he had also donated some of his blood to me.It brought a smile to my face and a warm feeling bloomed in my chest. At my dying moment, I thought I was truly alone in this world but he's reminded me that I'm not alone. There are still people who care for me and would be really sad if I died. That's enough for me to keep pushing on for now.And then that man— Zane had the audacity to show his face in front of me like he wasn't practically responsible for all this.He brought me here as a prisoner, he ga
Jaselyn's POVI was wheeled into a large, beautiful room. Everything seemed new and the air smelled of roses. The maid informed me this would be my new room and helped me get settled in. I was happy to finally be out of that cramped space but I didn't show it.Resting back on the huge queen sized bed that was the softest thing I'd ever laid on, I asked the maid about my belongings.“Could you please get my things? I think they're still in the attic.”“No, no. You won't be needing any of that.” She said with a smile and I frowned.“Why?”“The Alpha had this room stocked with everything you would need. The wardrobe is full of new clothes and the dresser has all the makeup and accessories you might need. You also have a closet full of footwear to match with whatever dress you'd like to wear.” She said and I had to pinch myself to ascertain if I'd heard properly.“Are you sure I'm in the right room? You know who I am, right?” I asked and she chuckled like I'd just said something silly.“D
Jaselyn's POVSo many questions flooded my mind at the thought that Zane is moving into this room with me. Why, though? The only reason I can think of is that he wants to torment me despite my injuries. At least I know what he meant when he said he was going to be seeing me soon.I could only watch helplessly as his things were moved into the room. The maids left and anxiety encompassed my being but the drugs kicked in and I fell into a sedated, dreamless sleep.Nae woke me up in the afternoon to eat and take another dose of the medicine. I fell asleep right after again, not being able to do much but sleep. I guess I should appreciate the fact that I can rest now because Isla is going to surely make me work overtime after I recover.When I woke up again, it was evening, just a little over sunset. The weight on my bladder told me that I needed to pee but Nae wasn't around and I didn't want to be a burden by calling out to her.If Nila was with me, she probably would vehemently kick aga
Jaselyn's POV“No! Are you out of your mind?! Do you really think I'll let you pull something like that?” I asked incredulously.“I already told you, I won't do anything I'm not supposed to.” He replied and I rolled my eyes.“Like that's reassuring.”“It's more efficient this way rather than my bathing first and then getting wet when I bathe you. The other way around still involves my clothes getting wet.” He reasoned.“So what? It's just clothes. It's not like you're a cat or something.” I retorted but he ignored me and stripped down to his underwear. Before I could blink, he took that off as well and I turned so quickly I feared I was going to snap my neck.“Seriously, what is wrong with you? Have you no sense of decency? Warn me before you go naked or at the very least put a towel on.”“What's the point? We're getting in the tub together. You're going to see it all and you might even get to feel it as well.” He said and though I wasn't looking, I could practically feel the smirk in
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 nothin
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