ReynaThree pairs of blue eyes regard me warily, and I have to take a deep breath in order to control my emotions. But of course… it doesn’t work.“In what world did any of you think this would be a good idea?!” I exclaim, placing one hand on my hip. “Contacting one of the Elemental Alphas? The very people who destroyed my old kingdom!”From the looks on their faces, I can tell they expected this reprimand from me and honestly, it just pisses me off more.Malachi steps forward with an outstretched hand. “I know how it seems, Reyna, but you need to understand that this was the only way—”“How was it the only way?!” I exclaim as I slowly feel the anger rising. “To go to them after what they’ve done? To allow yourselves to willingly walk into a trap?!”“That’s just it!” Malachi says, slightly raising his voice and causing me to step back. “We have to go to them instead of waiting for them to come to us again. Last time we lost you, Reyna; last time you died!”My heart drops when Malachi
CassianThe island is as unsettling as the rumours foretell—icy winds sweep through, a stark contrast to the unusually calm waters that surround it. There’s a haunting quality to this place, an ethereal beauty that leaves one feeling both awed and unwelcome. As Malachi and I disembark from the jet, I can’t help but glance back toward the direction from which we came. My thoughts are on Reyna, our mate, whose eyes held a sea of concerns as we left.“Are you ready?” Malachi asks, his eyes surveying the island, bathed in a silver glow from the overcast sky.“Does it matter? We’ve come too far to turn back now,” I reply, but internally, I admit—I’m uneasy.As much as I wanted to assure Reyna that everything would be fine, all three of us hated having to do this. We do not fucking trust this man, and yet here we are.We begin to walk, and as if summoned, a path of ice forms ahead, leading us deeper into the island. We’re soon enveloped by frost-encrusted trees and a silence so profound it
ReynaThe atmosphere in the living room is a mixed bag of emotions. Rune sits beside me on the plush sofa, a supportive hand resting on my knee, while Leana occupies the armchair across from us. Her eyes are brimming with disbelief as Rune extends the offer.“You’re welcome to stay in my kingdom, Leana, until you're back on your feet,” Rune says, smiling at her and my heart warms.She shakes her head and scoffs incredulously. “Are you sure? But… you don’t even know me that well!”Rune chuckles. “You’re Reyna’s only family left, that means more to us,” he says. “And from what Reyna has told me, you’ve never spoken a bad word to her, nor did you participate in the abuse.”“But I was complacent…” she says and looks down at her hands folded in her lap, sighing. “I can’t thank you enough, Alpha Rune and you, Reyna.”The look in her eyes is one of pure relief, but something niggles at the back of my mind, an unsettled feeling I can’t shake off. Maybe it’s the weight of Cassian and Malachi’
RuneMy eyes flicker open to darkness, disoriented and heavy-lidded. There’s a stale taste in the air, and the back of my throat feels like I have gurgled wolfsbane.The first thought is that I’m in some unfamiliar chamber of our castle, the second is of Reyna, and a gut-wrenching wave of emptiness washes over me, a reminder that something is dreadfully wrong. My body feels like it’s been run over, my muscles aching as if I’ve been through a brutal reconditioning courtesy of my father, and a hand-to-hand combat spar with Cassian.I attempt to lift my arms, but a biting pain shoots up my wrists. “Fuck!” I call out, and my eyes widen when I look at my arms.They’re shackled. Silver shackles. No wolf can bear the touch of silver; it’s like fire against our skin, and it leaves us weakened. I pull against them, but the sound of clinking metal merely echoes in the stale air.How did I get here? Why can’t I remember anything?I shift my eyes to that of my beast and peer into the darkened ro
MalachiThe tension in the air is palpable the moment Cassian and I step inside the War Room, fresh from the jarring revelations offered by Boreas. I try to reach out to Reyna and Rune through the mind link again, meeting nothing but static.“Anything?” Cassian asks for the tenth fucking time, his eyes narrowed.“Nothing. Silence still,” I say, trying to keep my temper down, because right now I’m not sure what the hell I’m angry about. It’s not his fault … it’s none of our fault.Cassian’s brow furrows. “We need to find them, Kai. Something’s wrong, I can feel it and I’m pissed off that we didn’t look into Leana more.”“You and me both,” I say, then I sigh. “Let’s go outside, the trackers have arrived and we need to give them instructions.”Cassian nods and we leave the War Room, slipping into our roles as Alphas is as easy as putting on a glove. They cannot see how this absence has affected both of us; Alphas aren’t supposed to have weaknesses.And yet, as my hand goes to the marks o
Reyna I stretch, the familiar lumpy bed beneath me making me groan. With the dust motes fluttering in the air and the cold chill seeping from underneath the door, it is clear that today will be a brutal one. As I sit up in bed, my eyes slowly adjust to the dim lighting of my wine cellar, which serves as my makeshift bedroom. Every day is the goddamn same; when will my life get better than this? As I swing my legs out of bed, I can't help but notice the softness of the garment I'm wearing; immediately, a foreign sensation prickles my skin, making me feel both curious and uneasy at the same time. I look down, realising I’m wearing the sleek, black dress Malachi bought me, not my usual comfortable sleepwear. Wait. If I’m wearing this dress, then—my heart speeds up as I turn to really look at my room. My eyes squint, as if trying to bring the picture into focus. My hands fly up to my temples, massaging them as if that would iron out the wrinkles in my thoughts. “The Alphas,” I breath
Reyna I am having a hard time believing that my Alphas would do something like this to me. We bonded, we claimed each other, and I know their hearts by now. It may be a short time, but I know them… I feel them. “Think about it, Reyna,” Shae urges, her voice trembling with a strange mixture of desperation and triumph. “Haven’t you wondered why you’ve felt so... calm, so placid since you met them? They’ve been dimming your fire, quenching your spirit. I’ve come to free you from that.” I step back, suddenly wary. Her words, laden with urgency and supposed concern, make me pause. Could it be? Could the very sources of my love and comfort be the architects of my suppression? But then, another thought enters my mind: If my Alphas have been tasked to poison my mind, what is Shae’s role in this? Is she truly here to liberate me, or is she another layer in this intricate web of manipulation? My eyes narrow as I scrutinise her. “How convenient that you show up now, revealing all these supp
CassianI’m sitting on the terrace outside of my office and staring off into the distance trying to shut away my thoughts. So far it’s not working; so far all I can think is how much of a failure I am.When Reyna ‘died’, I was the only one who refused to feel my link to her. I was the only one who didn’t want to admit that I thought she was still alive… all because I didn’t want to get my heart broken again.It’s the second time I failed Reyna, it’s all I seem to do. Now she might be gone from us forever, before I can even apologise for my carelessness.But I suppose there’s no point in being morbid about these things. We still have a chance to get Reyna back from whatever depths she’s fallen to, and to make things right. It won’t be easy, I know this… but I fought and ended a war I never started, so nothing’s impossible. My cell phone starts buzzing on the glass tabletop in front of me, and when I see the Caller ID, I immediately get a chill up my spine.“Yes?”“Alpha, there’s a pro
As the vibrant festival rages around them, filled with music and laughter, Rhiannon stands slightly apart, her gaze fixed on the group that forms the cornerstone of her new life. There, amidst a crowd of revellers, her three mates and three fathers converse, a symbol of newfound peace and acceptance. The speeches have been made, and the collective acceptance of Rhiannon’s unique bond with her dragon mates has marked a significant milestone in their lives. While her brothers, Micah, Rhys, and Caelum, maintained a facade of politeness, their underlying discomfort was palpable. Rhiannon understood their protectiveness; they were her older brothers, after all. It was their instinct to shield her, yet here she was, needing no protection from the men they were wary of. From the corner of the gathering, she noticed Soren engaging Caelum in what appeared to be a serious yet respectful discussion. The way Caelum’s posture shifted, easing from stiff disapproval to reluctant acknowledgment, s
RhiannonStanding on the soft sands of our island, the sound of the waves gently crashing against the shore sets a calming backdrop. I watch the sky anxiously; waiting for the small aircraft that’s bringing my parents to our home. Soren had extended the invitation to our island as a gesture of goodwill and trust. Despite the turmoil of our last encounter, I feel a budding hope that today will mark a new beginning.Sensing my unease, Soren squeezes my hand reassuringly. “They’ll see. Everything’s going to be alright,” he murmurs, but I can tell he’s just as anxious.The plane touches down with a soft whirr, and my heart skips as I see my parents disembark. My mother spots me and immediately rushes over, her arms wide open. As she wraps me in a tight embrace, tears well up in my eyes, and soon we’re both crying, holding each other after the painful uncertainty of the past weeks.“Oh, Rhiannon,” she whispers, her voice thick with emotion. “I’ve been so worried, so scared!”My fathers s
IvarSpeaking to Rhiannon about reconciling with her parents did not go as planned, so we’re taking things into our own hands.As we fly toward the secluded meeting spot, the weight of the upcoming discussion presses heavily on my mind. Gavriel, Soren, and I shift back into our human forms just as we land, slipping into sweatpants for a semblance of normalcy as we prepare to face Rhiannon’s fathers: Rune, Malachi, and Cassian.The tension is palpable as we approach them. Rune, always the silent type, gives us a nod, while Malachi’s expression is guarded, his temperament more volatile. Cassian, known for his strategic mind, watches us with calculated interest.“We appreciate you meeting us here, without Rhiannon,” I start, my voice steady despite the churn of emotions inside me. “There’s something important we need to discuss.”Malachi crosses his arms, his brow furrowing. “And what’s so important that Rhiannon couldn’t be here?”“It’s about her,” Soren interjects, stepping slightly fo
RhiannonAs I feel the fabric of the blindfold tighten gently around my eyes, Ivar’s warm breath tickles my ear. “Trust me, Rhi. You’re going to love this,” he whispers, his voice a soothing blend of mystery and reassurance.“Where are you taking me?” I ask, half-excited, half-anxious as he guides me by the hand. Each step crunches softly underfoot, the unmistakable scent of the forest growing stronger with every breath. My heart races, not just from the blindfold and the unknown, but from the anticipation of whatever Ivar has planned.“Just a little further,” he teases, his usual light-hearted chuckle making it harder to fret about where we’re going. “You don’t always need to see the path to enjoy where it leads.”Despite my nervousness, I smile, squeezing his hand. “If this is another one of your cooking experiments, I swear…”He laughs, stopping us both. “No cooking this time. I promise.” He leans in, kissing the side of my head gently. “Okay, ready?”The anticipation is a knot in
SorenCircling the island, I stretch out my wings, feeling the wind rush through my scales as I survey the boundaries of our territory. It’s a routine patrol, but today, my mind is restless, preoccupied with thoughts of Rhiannon. Since the disastrous meeting with her parents, there’s a heaviness in her that I feel deep in my bones—a shared ache, thanks to the mate bond, that tells me her heart isn’t just bruised, it’s shattered. She puts on a brave face, dismisses it with a wave and a joke, but I know better.Shifting back to my human form with a practised ease, I pull on a pair of shorts just as I see her approaching. The sight of her—in a simple white cotton dress, barefoot, her hair catching the light of the setting sun—tightens something in my chest.Before she can say anything, I close the distance between us, pulling her into my arms, and kiss the side of her head—a gesture of comfort I hope she can still find solace in. “How are you doing?” I ask, though the answer is written
RhiannonThe cold shock of being torn from Soren’s embrace cuts through me, my screams shattering the stillness as I reach out for him, for any of them, only to find my hands grasping at empty air. The ground rushes up to meet me, and as I scramble to my feet, my eyes lock onto my parents, standing a few feet away, their expressions a mix of concern and something darker.“What have you done?!” I shout at my parents, staring into their faces, searching for some hint of remorse, of understanding. “Why would you do this?”My father, Cassian, stands firm, his expression a mask of regret and resolve. “We did what we had to, Rhiannon. They took you from us and we had no idea if this was a trap or not. We’re just taking you back.”“Taking me back?” I echo, incredulity sharpening my voice to a cutting edge. “You call this a rescue? I chose to be with them!”My mother reaches out, her touch meant to soothe, but it only fans the flames of my anger. “Darling, please, try to understand. We’re ju
GavrielIn our war room, the atmosphere is charged, a blend of anticipation and underlying tension. The response from Rhiannon’s parents has arrived, a beacon of hope amid the uncertainty that’s shrouded us for so long. They’re willing to meet, a first step on the treacherous path towards peace. Rhiannon is asleep, unaware of the developments, and here we are, planning every detail of our departure tomorrow, prepared for every eventuality, even an attack.“I can’t believe they actually agreed,” Ivar comments, leaning back in his chair, the nonchalance in his voice not quite reaching his eyes. He’s been off lately, the usual lightness of his wit shadowed by the weight of our situation. “This is good, right?”Soren, leaning heavily against the table, runs a hand through his hair, his frustration evident. “Yeah, willing to meet or set a damn trap. We can’t rule anything out.”He’s right. Our isolation, by choice and circumstance, has always been our strength and our vulnerability. Now,
Rhiannon Sitting across from Ivar, Gavriel, and Soren, I’m completely nervous and out of my depth. We’re about to discuss something that could change the course of our lives forever. “We need to talk to my parents,” I start, diving straight into the heart of the matter. “And I mean really talk. Not through messages or mediators, but face-to-face, on neutral ground.” Ivar leans forward, his usual carefree demeanour taking a backseat to the seriousness of our discussion. “And what’s to stop them from launching an attack when we meet? Neutral ground or not.” Gavriel, silent up to this point, adds, “They’re not known for playing fair. We can’t afford to underestimate them. Security is a concern. We don’t know if your parents will come alone or bring an entourage. We have to be prepared for anything.” Soren, who’s been quietly listening, finally speaks up. “And there’s the matter of trust. We’re asking them to meet under a flag of truce. After everything, that’s asking a lot.” I can’
IvarStanding by the window, the early morning light painting the horizon in shades of gold and crimson, I find myself lost in thought. Last night we discovered something that turned our world upside down—Rhiannon is mated to all three of us. It’s a revelation that seems to defy logic, yet here we are, bound by fate, or perhaps the gods themselves, to be the bridge to peace between our worlds.For the first time in what feels like forever, there’s another person in my life I find myself genuinely caring about, willing to lay down my life for. Glancing back at the bed, seeing her there, tangled in the sheets, nestled securely between Soren and Gavriel, a smile unwittingly finds its way onto my face. It’s a sight I never imagined I’d see, yet it feels right, as if all the pieces have finally fallen into place.Soren stirs, the shift in the room drawing him to wakefulness. He joins me by the window, his presence solid and reassuring. We both stand there for a moment, taking in the sere