Victor's POVI race to the spring and find the rogue brother and his brother sitting at the edge of the spring. Both of them have brown hair and dull green eyes. If it were not for their very different scents I would have difficulty telling them apart. They don't even notice me as I approach the spring. Both of them have their feet in the water and are gently kicking back and forth letting the water lap over their feet as they move. Pausing just inside the tree line I watch them for a moment. I watch as they talk to one another with huge smiles on their faces. Suddenly a memory flashes through my mind and my heart begins to ache. Flashback"Ready, set... GO!" Alexander shouts from beside me right before he takes off running. His blonde hair shimmers as it bounces in the sunlight while he runs. Looking over his shoulder he shoots me a wide grin with all of his teeth showing. After giving him a several second head start I begin to chase my brother through the forest. I am
Victor POVThe reflection of the moon shines beautifully down on the cool water of the spring. As I gaze into the sky I can see that the moon is almost at its peak in the sky. Only time will tell if Alexander is brave enough to meet me alone. Of course I was not stupid enough to come all on my own. Several of my loyal rogue men are waiting in silence just on the other side of the spring. Tonight the wind is working in our favor and blowing the scent of my men in the opposite direction from which Alexander and his men would be coming.The spring sits on the border of the Kingdom. Half of the spring lies within the Kingdom and the other half on the outside. Thick forest surrounds the spring on all sides. Leaning against a tree in the darkness of the forest on the outside of the Kingdom I wait in hiding to see if Alexander will show up. Using the silver knife I keep with me at all times I mindlessly shave the bark off a small twig as I wait. The rustling of trees from across the spr
Natalia POVSitting in my cell I try not to move. The cuffs around my wrists burn my skin the more that I move around. Ripping pieces off the hospital gown off I try to shove them under the cuffs to provide some sort of relief but I only end up burning the tips of my fingers against the silver. Letting out a heavy sigh, I close my eyes and try to pretend that I am anywhere but in this cold, damp cell.In my mind I picture myself in the spring. I think about the cool water splashing up against my skin as I push myself through the water. But soon my imagination is taken over by a nightmare. Alexander is standing on one side of the spring and Victor is standing on the other side of the spring. Both men are arguing over me. They are arguing over who I belong to. It is as if I am wading in the middle of the spring watching it all unfold before my eyes. My eyes flash back and forth between Alexander and Victor. Victor is partially shifted and ready to fight. Alexander snaps his fingers and
Natalia POVAt the end of the cave tunnel I can see a bright light shining, waving back and forth beckoning me forward. My breath is heavy from traveling through the caves but I refuse to give up now. My feet are muddy and bleeding from walking along the caves barefoot. A sharp rock sticking out of the cave floor cuts deeply into my foot as I run but it still does not stop me. I continue to run. Dragging my now sore foot behind me I run as fast as I can towards the swaying light. The closer I get to the light I can see someone holding it at the end of the tunnel. Running faster and faster, dragging my foot behind me, I fall into the arms of the person waiting for me at the end of the tunnel. Soft mossy arms wrap around me, supporting my weight as my breaths grow ragged. "Esau?" I whisper out as the man that was waiting for me continues to hold me. "It is I, Little Wolf," he says as he wraps a firm arm around my waist. "We need to get you my cottage. Can you walk?"My eye
Natalia POVI can feel Victor trembling with anger at the thought of his mate staying with another man. Slowly and carefully I place my hands on his shoulders to try and calm the rage that is building inside of him. Under my touch I feel his back relax slightly but he still does not move from his protective position in front of me. Esau does not seem to be phased by Victor's anger. A sly smirk is spread across his face almost as if he is enjoying this exchange. "You have to see reason," Esau tries to explain to Victor but I doubt he is even listening. A low growl is reverberating from Victor's chest as he stares down Esau. "The first place they will look for her is with you."Standing on my tiptoes I whisper next to Victor's ear. "You know he is right," I say gently. Running my arms up and down his arms the growling in his chest begins to subside. I let out the breath that I did not realize I was holding when Victor turns to me and gathers me in his arms. "I do not want y
Alexander POVTossing another log into the fireplace within my chambers the fire roars to life as embers fly up into the air. The nights have begun to get cooler and it is only a matter of time before the red moon is upon us. The first snow always comes with the red moon. It has been that way for as long as I can remember. The change of the season used to be a cause for celebration. A massive Royal Ball would have been held bringing in not only the werewolves from all over the Kingdom but creatures from outside of our borders and even creatures from outside our realm. But that is not something that we do anymore. Not since the death of my mate. Sitting on the edge of my bed it creaks loudly under my weight. Closing my eyes I try to remember what she used to look like. She has been dead for five years and with each passing year the memory of my mate fades within my mind. Squeezing my eyes shut tightly I picture her soft blonde hair and bright blue eyes. I picture her laugh
Natalia POVEsau reaches for my hand and smiles at me gently. "I will show you to the hot springs," his voice is sweet and caring. Extending my hand towards Esau's I try to grab his hand but it is snatched away in midair by Victor. "I will show her," he growls menacingly. Rolling his eyes at Victor, Esau drops his hand and gestures towards the back door. Not wasting another minute inside of Esau's cottage, Victor scoops me up and carries me bridal style out of the back door of the cottage. Carefully he edges his way around the faerie circles that cover the path to the hot springs. "Esau is serious about his privacy," I say jokingly but Victor doesn't laugh. "He has to be careful," Victor says shortly. "He can only return to the Fae Realm once he has retrieved the book of prophecies that Alexander stole from him." "What happens if he does not return with the book," I ponder out loud. "I don't know," Victor says with a serious undertone in his voice. "But I do know that
Natalia POV"You marked me," I whisper in shock. Victor pulls away from me and stares at me with his piercing blue eyes. "I thought..." he mutters quietly. "I thought that is what you wanted.""It was," I try to sound excited. "It is.""But..." Victor say with a hint of disappointment in his voice. "When Alexander sees this..." my voice waivers as I think about the punishment that I might receive. "He will punish me."Cupping my face in his hands, Victor forces me to stare deeply into his eyes. "You are never going back to him ever again," he says with a stern look on his face. I try to avert my eyes from his relentless gaze but he squeezes my cheeks tightly. "Look at me," he demands, "you are never going back to him ever again. You belong to me. Do you trust me?""I do trust you," I tell him but even I cannot hear the conviction in my own voice. Even though the water in the spring is hot my body begins to shiver as if I am cold. I pull my hands away from Victor and l
Victor POV Three years later I can hear giggles coming from the kitchen and I just know that the boys are up to no good. "Ezra and Titus," I yell as I make my way into the kitchen. I look around the room and I don't see any sign of the boys. But Crystal and Margaret are unsuccessfully trying to hide the smirks that are on their lips. Standing in the middle of the kitchen with my hands on my hips I glare at my mate's two friends knowing that they are hiding the boys from me. "Where are they?" I ask Crystal and Margaret. "Who are you looking for?" Margaret says with a glint of humor twinkling in her eyes. "You know who," I say as I try to pretend to be angry. "The boys are supposed to be tidying their room." Suddenly a little blonde head pops up from behind the kitchen island and his blue eyes sparkle brightly as he looks at me. "Why do we have to tidy our room," Ezra says with a pout on his lips. Then a little brown head pops up from beside him. Every time I see h
Natalia POVI slowly make my way back to our bedroom after the Blood Moon Ball. It was a glorious event and I was so happy to see how many members of our Kingdom found their mates. I spent most of the evening sitting on my throne with my feet propped up to minimize the swelling. Members of the Kingdom can up to me throughout the night to offer their congratulations and tell me how much happier everyone is in the Kingdom now that Alexander is gone. I have found that many of them are weary of Victor as well simply because he was Alexander's brother. But I assured them all that even though they may look the same they are definitely not the same. Just as Victor and I make it back to our bedroom room a pain shoots through my belly causing me to need to stop and take a breath. Victor is at my side in second. "What's wrong," he asks as he lays his hand on my stomach causing the twins to twist and turn crazily in my stomach.Just as suddenly as the pain came it went away. Standing i
Natalia POVTrying to be as graceful as possible, I waddle my way through the castle to the great throne room. Nicole stays by my side as I walk slowly offering me support whenever I get overly winded from hauling around this large belly. Once we get to the large double doors that lead to the throne room, Nicole gives me a swift kiss on the cheek before she runs off to take her place among the crowd. Even though I have dreamed of this moment ever since the day that I found out about the prophecy, nothing can compare to how I feel right now. The trumpets that surround the room blast loudly, announcing my arrival. Everyone in the crowd turns to look at me. A large lump forms in my throat as I look into all of their anxious eyes. Swallowing down the lump I force my feet to move one foot in front of the other down the aisle. Members of the crowd are reaching through the barriers that are holding them back for my safety. I cannot help but reach out and touch the tips of their fin
Natalia POVEverything hurts. My back. My feet. Everything. Laying on my back on Victor and I's bed I stare up at the ceiling trying to will myself to get out of the bed. I hear the door to our bedroom open but I do not have the energy to look over and see who is standing in the room, but the scent of citrus and pine fills the air and I know that it is my mate. "I cannot believe you are still in this bed," Victor says with a bit of humor in his voice. I try to look at him over my ever growing belly but instead I just flop my head back on my pillow. "You try carrying these pups," I mutter under my breath. I feel the edge of the bed dip down beside me. Victor places his huge hand on my belly causing the tingles from the mate bond to spread over my skin and the pups in my belly to go wild. One of the pups kicks my bladder and I suddenly have to pee. "Ugh," I groan as I try to right myself in the bed. "Now I have to use the bathroom." Victor chuckles to himself as I attem
Natalia POVI look at King Lignum’s outstretched hand and hesitate a moment. “I am not making a deal with you,” I make myself clear. “I will find a way to prove myself to the Werewolf Council without your aid.” “I have already told you,” he says sweetly. “This is not a deal. This is a favor with no strings attached.” “No strings attached,” I repeat after him and lay my hand in his. Without even realizing what is happening I am being pulled through what feels like a vacuum. Images are rushing past me at the speed of light. Closing my eyes tightly, I try not to vomit as we move quickly between the Realms. As suddenly as it started it stops and the sounds of growls fill the air around me.My eyes fly open and I can see that we have landed in the center of the Council’s chambers. Holding onto King Lignum’s hand for support I try to steady myself after the journey that I just had. My eyes dart around the large conference room and I can see that all of the elders are looking
Natalia POVI can hear the sound of someone banging on Esau's door as I step through the portal to the Fae Realm. I look back over my shoulder and see Victor barreling through Esau's front door as the portal closes quickly behind me. Esau is chuckling loudly beside me as he watches Victor try and get to the portal in time and fail. "He's going to be so pissed," Esau laughs hardily. My lips pucker in confusion as I look at Esau, "why would he be pissed?" "Because this is the second time that I have slipped you into the Fae Realm right under his nose," Esau says with a bright smile spread across his mossy face. Rolling my eyes at him and I smack him in the shoulder, but I cannot help but smirk. "He did look pretty angry." "He will find a way to pay me back," Esau sighs a little as he grabs my hand. I let him pull me along as we follow the trail back towards the Castle Flos. We walk together in a comfortable silence as we head towards the castle. I keep the book clutched
Natalia POVThe huge metal double doors that lead to the royal balcony open up with a creak. The sight of the balcony causes panic to rise in my chest. The last time I was out here I killed a man and started a war. My breathing becomes erratic as Victor tries to lead me out onto the balcony. Pulling on my arm Victor tries to guide me outside but my feet don't move. "I can't," I whisper to Victor with fear in my eyes. Pausing for a moment, Victor studies my eyes for a moment and then places a gentle kiss on my forehead. "You can do anything," he whispers to me sweetly. "You are the one true Queen." He looks at me with such confidence that I cannot help but take a deep breath and take a few steps forward. Victor tightens his arm around my waist and slowly guides me out onto the balcony. The night air is chilly as it nips at my bare arms causing me to shiver in Victor's arms. Victor guides me to the railing of the balcony and I hear thunderous cheers from the crowd down bel
Natalia POV"How long have you known?" Victor growls and looks at me with intensity in his eyes. Swinging my legs over the other side of the bed. I walk away from him. Refusing to meet his lingering gaze. Walking over to my wardrobe I finger through the dresses one by one, pretending like I am considering what to wear. Victor walks up behind me, placing his nose in the crook of my neck, he inhales deeply. Before I realize what is happening he has dropped to his knees and is sniffing my stomach, holding me in place by my hips. "Victor," I say as I try to fight him off. "Stop. This is embarrassing." "Is it mine?" He asks as he fearfully looks up into my eyes. Scoffing at his question, I rip his hands from my waist. "How dare you ask me that?" Adeline is pushing forward in anger and I know that my eyes are swirling from green to silver. Grabbing one of the dresses from the wardrobe I storm off into the bathroom that adjoins my room and slam the door. Once I am alone, I b
Natalia POVLocked in my room. LOCKED IN MY ROOM. Victor had me locked in my room for killing his brother. A plan that I thought he and I devised together, but I guess I was wrong. I killed a man that tormented me through not one lifetime but two and I am being punished. He stopped by my room earlier today to tell me it is only until the Council of Elders decides whether or not I am a risk to the Kingdom or not. I did not react so kindly and slapped him across his face. The only peace that I have is knowing that I carry the heir to the throne. Laying on my back in just my opened robe, I look at my stomach in wonder. My once flat stomach now has a tiny bulge just below my belly button. Placing my hand on my lower abdomen I can feel the little flutters of movement coming from within. Even though I am stuck in this room I am not alone, I think to myself. A knock on my door drags me from my thoughts. Closing the robe around my body I don't bother to get up from the position