Victor POVWatching from the sidelines while the former castle guards learn how to fight without the aid of their mind link. Since all of them have now become rogue they have lost the ability to communicate with each other via their mind link. So far we have only practiced in our human forms so they can yell out commands to one another. But in order to win this fight we are going to have to learn how to fight as a cohesive unit. I shake my head back and forth as those on offensive attack as individuals and those on defense defend themselves and not the whole group that are in. "Okay everyone," I shout over the sparring that is taking place. "Now switch," I command and all of the former castle guards obey my orders and switch from offense to defense and vice versa. I watch carefully as each group practices attacks. They are still a little sloppy but much better than what they were a few weeks ago.Sergio comes running to my side as he finishes up his round of patrols. "How a
Natalia POVAlexander laughs manically. "You are so weak right now that I could kill you where you stand," his blue eyes are swirling to gold as he speaks and I know that he is ready to shift into his wolf. Victor pushes me farther away from him and growls loudly. “Then do it,” he snarls. The two brothers begin to circle one another. Each one is sizing the other one up, looking for weaknesses. Stepping in between them I hold out my arms in defense. "Please don't do this," I plead with both of them. "You are brothers." "He is no brother of mine," Victor roars loudly.Alexander only laughs in return. "I never considered this bastard my brother. Just a mistake that my father happened to make." Looking in Victor's direction, I can tell that Alexander's words cut him deeply even though he tries not to show it. "I believe there was a promise of death," Victor chuckles. Alexander grabs me by the arm and flings me out from in between them and my back hits hard up against a t
Alexander POVI watch in silence as my castle guards drag Victor away. He is not even struggling against their hold. His bright blue eyes never leave Natalia's unconscious body until he is out of view. I cannot help but feel a little guilty as I look down at Natalia. Her lifeless body is my own fault. I should have known that injuring Victor would cause her pain as well. She is, afterall, a very special wolf. Her castle guard steps forward and tries to gather her limp body in his arms but I growl at him protectively. He steps away with his neck bared and I scoop Natalia into my arms and rush her back to the castle, sending a mind link to the pack healer along my way. The pack healer is waiting for me outside of Natalia's room as I come barreling through the castle corridors with her in my arms. The healer looks down at her wounds in shock. "Did you do this to her?" His eyes are opened wide as I lay Natalia's lifeless body onto her bed. "Not on purpose," I tell him. "I g
Victor POVI don't even struggle as the castle guards pull me away from my mate. I keep my eyes on her outstretched hand that continues to reach for me. Seeing Alexander comforting her makes my blood boil but I cannot risk starting another fight. Not when I know that our lives are intertwined together. Anymore harm that is caused to me will only hurt her. Maybe Alexander is right and I should reject her. Jax growls loudly in my head as he hears my thoughts about rejecting our mate. 'I won't allow it,' he snarls at me. Hoisted up by my arms, my legs drag behind me as I am carried to the dungeons. The castle guards are surprisingly gentle with me as they push me into one of the cells. It is cold and damp down here and there is a constant sound of dripping water off in the distance. I pick myself up off the ground and sit down on the cot in the corner. It creaks loudly under my weight. Leaning forward with my elbows on my knees and running my fingers through my hair in fru
Natalia POVA stinging pain shoots from my shoulder as my eyes flutter open. Looking around me I realize that I am back in my room at the castle. I do not remember how I got there. Another aching pain comes from my shoulder as I try to move my arm. "Don't move," a sweet voice says quietly and I look to my side and see Nicole changing bandages on my shoulder. "What happened?" I mumble with a hoarse voice. Running and grabbing me a glass of water, Nicole helps me to sit up and lifts the glass to my lips. I greedily gulp down the water and it soothes the hoarseness in my throat. Nicole holds her hand over my forehead and gives me a satisfied look. "Your temperature has gone down," she says with a smile on her face. "What happened?" I ask again. "How did I get here?"Nicole chews on her bottom lip as she considers whether to tell me the truth or not. "Alexander brought you back to the castle after the fight," her voice is timid as she speaks. "Fight?" I question. "I don'
Natalia POVI watch in silence as Victor runs away from the cells into the darkness of the caverns. Once he has disappeared into the dark and I can no longer hear the footsteps of his companions I turn and slowly walk up the main stairs of the dungeon. My body is sore and tired from running all of this way. I drag my body up the stairs and am about to push the doors to the dungeon open when I hear Alexander's loud roar. I have heard this roar many times before, both in this life and the last. My eyes dart around in the darkness while I look for a place to hide. The only place that I can see is the opened door to Victor's cell. 'Don't do it,' Adeline yells at me in my mind. 'He will never let you out.' Another loud roar erupts from outside and it shakes the cell walls. 'What do you suggest we do,' I ask Adeline since she seems to know so much. 'Go out and face him,' she says proudly. A fierce snarl is right outside of the dungeon doors and it has me shaking where I stand
Natalia POVThe doors to the dungeon open loudly, scraping against the floor. Alexander comes storming down the dungeon stares and stands outside of my cell. Standing with his hands on his hip he says nothing to me, just glares in my general direction. It has been the same routine for the past few days. I am not really sure how long I have been down here. My clothes are sticking to my skin and my hair hangs limply around my face. Today Alexander glares at me and taps his foot like he is thinking about something. He pulls a large, metal key out of his pocket and inserts it into the lock of my cell door. "You have two hours to make yourself presentable," he says as he leaves me alone in the open cell. Hesitantly I step out of the cell and I look down the long cavern system that would lead me to freedom. My heart aches to go in that direction, it aches for my mate. But I do not want to piss Alexander off. Sighing to myself I head towards the exit from the dungeons. As I pu
Natalia POV "Wait," I yell out and hushed whispers fall over the crowd. Alexander's crystal blue eyes snap to my own and he looks absolutely murderous. I swallow hard and take Victor by the hand. Leading him away from the edge of the balcony I can feel his hand shaking with anger. "What are you doing?" His teeth are gritted together in anger. "Don't have the Labyrinth," I whisper, trying not to let the crowd hear our discussion. "It is too late," Alexander says with a wave of his hand. "Everyone is already prepared for it." "No one is ever prepared for the labyrinth," I tell him honestly. "Just let them mingle and meet their mates the way the Moon Goddess intended." "Why?" Alexander asks. His voice is so cold that it sends a shiver up my spine. "Because it is what the people want," I plead with him. "Please, Alexander." Alexander stands and considers me for a few moments. "I don't think it is what the people want." I can feel the tears start to fill my
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