Zane's POVI woke up with tears in my eyes. It was unusual and there was a burning feeling in my chest. I sat up and rubbed my chest a bit, trying to figure out what could have caused this. Did I have a nightmare? It's been so long since I've had one of those. I don't even remember it.The sound of labored breathing and soft wincing startled me a bit. I turned to the direction of the sound and my eyes fell on Jaselyn beside me.She was covered in sweat and breathing heavily. She seemed to still be asleep as her eyes were closed but her hands were gripping the duvet so tightly that it must hurt. Her face was also a mask of pain. Could she be having a nightmare?No.People don't react to nightmares this way. From how much she's sweating, she seems to be feeling hot. Taking away the duvet would surely help her.I stripped away the duvet from her in one swift motion and my eyes widened at the sight before me. The sheets under her are soaked with blood and Jaselyn's face is contorted in p
Jaselyn's POVI turned to my side, still sleepy eyed and a sharp pain forced my eyes open. The first thing I saw was Zane, sleeping peacefully right beside me. His mouth was slightly open as he took soft breaths and a smile tugged at my lips from just watching him sleep.I sat up and the mild buzzing pain in my lower abdomen resumed. It made me recall everything that had happened this morning. I had been awoken by sharp pains and my lower body felt wet and sticky. I quickly realized I was having my period but I was too feverish to do anything.I couldn't get up, I couldn't even move a muscle. I tried to call out to someone but only winces and soft cries of pain escaped my mouth. I hated having to feel that way but it's always been like this.I'm one of those women cursed with painful periods. The first day is always the worst and I would be unable to do anything if I didn't take painkillers.My periods usually start in the daytime or at least give signs of starting so I'm able to take
Jaselyn's POVDespite it being stupid and contradictory to what I should be doing, I wait up for Zane tonight.He already said he would leave tomorrow so there's no point in him staying tonight anyways. So why then? Why am I up at this time, waiting for his return?“It's gotten quite late, Jas. I really think you should go to sleep.” Nae said as she prepared what I would wear tomorrow.“It's just a little after 10PM so it's not that late. Besides, I'm not feeling sleepy yet.” I justified myself but I heard Nae hum in what sounded like disbelief.“If you say so, Jas. Forgive my oversight, it seemed more like you were waiting for the Alpha since you've gotten quite used to falling asleep with him beside you.” She said the words so shamelessly that I felt the second hand embarrassment so hard. Have I been lenient with her? Is that why she's become so fearless and just talks about my relationship with Zane like it's something she should be concerned about?Then again, I have no real reas
Jaselyn's POV The words were so unexpected that they had my cheeks flushing.“What do you want to know?” I finally gave in.“You once said that you came to live with your uncle in this Pack after your parents died. What was your life like before then? What were your parents like?” He asks and I tense up.It's a sensitive topic, one I don't like discussing all that often because it makes me sad. It reminds me of my colossal loss and how drastically my life has changed.Sensing my hesitation, he speaks again. “It's OK if you don't want to talk about it. I understand there are things we'd rather not share —”“My parents were wonderful people, the best I've ever met. Dad was kind and supportive but he was also really funny too. He was the type who would encourage you to face your fears but would hold your hand through it all.Mum was the type to take the burdens of others on herself. She always had a big smile on her face and could brighten up a room the minute she walked in. She was ki
Jaselyn's POVBeing treated in such a manner by one's own parents is nothing short of cruel. Every child is special and should be treated as such. Moreover, it's impossible to compete with the perfection of the dead. I can't imagine trying to outdo someone I never even got to meet. How hard it must have been for him…..But then my pessimistic side rears its ugly head once more. ‘Why should I believe anything he says? For all I know, he could just have concocted this story as a way to gain my sympathy. He's lied to me many times before so it would be unwise to trust anything he says. And even if everything he said was true and he had horrible parents like that, everyone has gone through some kind of trauma at one point in their life, it's no reason to become a horrible person and certainly no excuse for bad behavior. This is all a load of crap.’These words swirled around my head continuously and it made her heart harden. I should never let myself be vulnerable around him.“Yes, you
Jaselyn's POVWhen I returned to my room the next morning, it was slightly rowdy as the maids were moving Zane's things. So he actually decided to leave, that's good.I was starting to get suffocated with all the emotions he aroused in me but I had to keep bottled up. Now that he's gone, everything will return to normal. We'll only meet each other for the process of procreation and after that, he'll leave.The knowledge of this floods my stomach with unease but I push it aside and let the girls finish moving his things out before proceeding to my morning routine.Today's Saturday so I'm sure Ziarre will have some free time. I should go visit her, I haven't had the chance to yet. I wonder what their house will look like.When Nae arrives, I'm already ready and she apologizes for coming late but I remind her that I'm fully healed now so there would be no need for her to assist me with my basic needs. She seemed a little disappointed so I assured her that I wouldn't hesitate to call her
Jaselyn's POVThe drive to Rion's house was quiet. I kept my eyes focused on the scenery while Zane kept some music playing to perhaps ease the tension.Zane drove the car into a nice neighborhood and eventually stopped the car by a big house.“We're here.” He announced like it wasn't already obvious.“Thank you for the ride.” I thanked him and placed my hand on the door handle, ready to alight from the car.“What’s the rush? I'd like to drop in and say hi to them, remember? It would be better if we went together.” He proposed.“Whatever.” I said and finally got out. Zane turned off the ignition before also leaving the car. He led the way to the front door while I just followed, taking in the surroundings.It was a beautiful place, very tidy and well kept.Zane rang the doorbell and a few minutes later, we heard footsteps approaching before the door finally opened to reveal Rion. He was rightfully surprised to see us.“Zane? Jas? What a surprise.” He breathed out with a smile spreadin
Jaselyn's POV We joined Rion in the waiting room of the hospital. He was a nervous wreck, walking around frantically. I couldn't bring myself to reassure him because I, myself, was absolutely scared of what the verdict would be. Zane stepped in and was able to calm Rion down, even managing to get him to sit.We were all so tense and I found myself counting down the minutes which seemed to span on forever.Finally, the doctor showed up and she did not look happy. It made my stomach drop.Rion accosted her to demand for answers. “Doctor, is she alright? Please tell me my mate is fine.” “She's alright now, I've managed to stabilize her. She's been placed on an IV so she can recover her strength.” The doctor revealed and it almost seemed as if a weight had been physically lifted from Rion's shoulders as they slumped in relief.I could feel the adrenaline start to evaporate from my blood as I sighed in relief.“And the baby?” Rion asked, and I remembered that the battle was only half w
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