HelenaThe pain was far worse than I ever imagined it would be. It was no wonder so many wolves just accepted their mate bond and didn’t even think about rejecting their mate. Of course, I didn’t hear the end of it when I finally felt better.I was relieved to find out that Max had arranged for me to be brought home, but my mother was furious with me. All she could talk about each time she saw me in those first couple of days after I woke up was the fact that I was so ungrateful that the moon goddess would probably never give me another mate.My return also meant that my brother wasn’t going to take over as the new pack alpha. My decision therefore put our pack in a bit of danger. If I didn’t find a mate and I didn’t produce an heir, we would be seen as weak. There was just so damn much to think about that I felt a little overwhelmed and, in a fit of fury thanks to my mother’s constant nagging, gave my brother my title and stormed out of the house.When I refused to take back my title
HelenaI wasn’t looking forward to the visit. I didn’t think I would be of any help, but the council insisted that I go along as I was apparently the only person, besides my servants, who visited the pack territory the same time the war ended.The council was convinced I could clear up a few things that they apparently didn’t understand. Since we were no longer bound by a mate bond, they believed I would tell them everything they wanted to know about Max and his pack.It felt strange to see him again and not feel our bond pulling. Time had clearly not been kind to him. Although he was still very handsome, I could see that whatever had gone on over the past couple of years made him look a little older than he was.After the formal greetings were over, we were shown to the boardroom and I realized I never really saw much of his pack house when I was there. In fact, I had only been there for a couple of hours when I rejected him and I can’t remember much after the rejection.We all sat d
NagaaraI could feel the tension in the air grow over the past couple of weeks, but I wasn’t entirely sure what was happening. For the first time since I was taken prisoner, they gave me a proper bed and even a small cupboard with a basin and jug that was filled with fresh water every morning.Then, when they brought me a new dress, I knew something serious was happening. The old man spent every waking moment trying his best to get me to talk, but I never did. I figured out that the other man, the younger version of the old man, was his son, and he was in charge.I also figured out as time went by that the younger man wanted me dead but that the older man was the one who kept me alive. I couldn’t entirely understand their dynamic. The guards would always lower their heads whenever the younger man walked in, but he didn’t look as though he was royalty.The beasts were strange creatures and after a while I stopped trying to figure them out and spent my time trying to get out. They were
MaxHelena was already gone by the time the damn fog lifted, and I was faced with dealing with the council. For a second time, my fate was decided by circumstances out of my control and I couldn’t go after her. I tried to convince her brother to bring her back. I tried to convince the council that she could solve a lot of the problems we were having with the dragon, but after we had kept this secret from everyone for so long, nobody was listening.The council tried to speak to Nagaara, but she didn’t say a single word, and after three days, they also left. Just like that, it was all over and my pack and I were left with the uncertainty of what the council were going to do. The only instruction we received was to make sure that Nagaara didn’t mysteriously disappear.I could tell they were saying we shouldn’t kill her and think that it would solve everything. There wasn’t much that we could do about our circumstances anymore. What was done was done. We couldn’t run from our territory. W
HelenaWhen I was called by my brother to join him in the square, I wasn’t expecting to be faced by Max. I frowned as I made my way to my brother’s side. Something flashed in Max’s eyes before he shifted. His expression quickly became horrified and within seconds we found out why.“She has escaped! I left. I couldn’t do it. I just went for a run and ended up here. I don’t know what happened. She is gone. She is out!” The strong man that stood so tall in front of me all those years ago suddenly crumbled to the floor as his words sank in.NagaaraI knew he was there to kill me. I waited for him to do it. I waited to feel the release, but then I heard his footsteps moving away and when I looked up, the cage door was open. In the blink of an eye, I got up and ran. It was hard, but I forced my body to work. The guards were hot on my heels, but something was pushing me to survive, and somehow, I made it out.The light outside was blinding, but I couldn’t stop. I turned the corner of the bui
NagaaraI couldn’t go somewhere where people could help me. I had memories of my ancestors dealing with all sorts of other species, but I had never seen any of them myself. I only knew the beasts and I sure as hell wasn’t going anywhere near any of them until my bounds were completely gone.Unfortunately, the spell that kept my chains in place wasn’t going to open that easily, and I was forced to make my way to the first human town I could find. I knew from the memories my ancestors gave me that I would find the tools I needed there. The moment I removed the chains, I would be able to shift and heal and that was all I could think about.I found tools easily enough, but it took a while to figure out how they worked, and before I could free myself, I heard someone coming. I made a run for it and disappeared back into the forest as fast as I could with the tools in hand.I had no idea how long I had been running when I finally found a cave. It was dark outside, and it was difficult to tr
NagaaraIt didn’t take long for me to dig up my mother’s bones, and there in the middle of it all was what I was looking for. Her heart had long since gone. It had become a part of the surrounding dirt, but since half of my heart was still beating in my chest, my magic protected the other half that I left with my mother.I picked it up and lifted the right scale and as soon as I placed it in the gap, I felt the magic inside of me stir. A bright flash erupted from deep inside of me and when it was gone, I felt myself growing stronger by the second.The beasts made one huge mistake when they let me live. They believed that I was the last one and, since there was no male, I would never have any children. What they didn’t know was that dragons didn’t have to mate for a female to lay eggs.I wasn’t going to take my revenge on the beasts by chasing after them all on my own. I would wait. I would lay my eggs and wait and when there were more of us, and the beasts least expected it, I would s
MaxShe was astonishing! She was incredible and, even with our broken bond, I felt drawn to her like a moth to a flame the moment she silenced every alpha in the room, including me. I followed Helena the moment she stormed out. I was not the one who wanted to break our bond all those years ago and, even after that, I never forgot about her.I was just so busy fighting against my father and the pack to keep the dragon girl alive that I didn’t have time to do much else. I didn’t have the time to fight for the love of my life. The moment the realization hit, while I stood there staring at her, and she stood staring right back at me, it was overwhelming, and I felt something spark deep inside me.“Tell me what you learned about the dragons.” I walked over to the small tray in the corner and poured each of us some coffee. I was actually more in need of a drink, but our current circumstances clearly didn’t allow for that.“I’m sure you know more about them than I do. You fought them most of
HelenaAt first, I thought they were all insane. I couldn’t possibly be who they said. Yeah, okay, fine, so males listened when I spoke, but to call me the alpha of alphas was just weird. In time, however, it slowly started to show. I started to figure out how to use my power without harming anyone.The last thing I wanted to do was upset any of the males. I didn’t want to be the one ruling everyone. I just wanted to keep my promise to Nagaara. I wanted to make sure our people didn’t break my promise. I wanted to make sure everyone lived in peace.“You know, I think you might just be the reincarnation of your ancestor.” Max looked amused.“Not that again.” I frowned, but amusement was playing around in my eyes. We had discussed it a lot over the years. Even our children believed I was the reincarnation of Luna Ava. It could very well be possible, but I just couldn’t completely wrap my mind around it.The werewolves lived in peace with the dragons from the day I made the promise. Nagaa
HelenaWithin the first couple of days, the guests started to arrive. My family showed up within the first twenty-four hours and each time I had to explain what the promise I made meant. It was the general consensus. It seemed that I shouldn’t have done it. That I couldn’t speak for all the packs. They felt, they being the alpha males, that I didn’t have the right to make a promise on their behalf.“That is what none of you seem to understand!” After being spoken to as though I was a second-rate citizen for more than a week, I finally lost my patience. Max had been doing his best to defend me, but the hits just kept coming, and my sudden growl silenced every alpha in the room.“I didn’t make the promise on your behalf. I made it to save our pack. Where do you think she would have gone once she was done with us? You can’t tell me that all of you think she would have stopped with our pack! I believe she was on her way to doing exactly what she promised me she would do if we attacked aga
HelenaThe fact that there was the very real possibility that Nagaara could have killed me didn’t hit me until it was all over. While I was talking to her, I felt safe. It was only when I saw how worried Max was that I realized it. Nagaara just had to breathe too hard, and she would have melted my skin clear off.Tears started to run as Max took me into our home. Huge sobs ripped through my entire body as he clung to me, whispering sweet words to try and calm my racing heart. I had no idea how long I had been crying but my tears finally stopped.We got cleaned up and when we walked out, most of the damage had been cleaned up. It would take some time to rebuild the homes that were destroyed, but as long as we had peace, we could all live with what had happened. I could see relief and gratitude on all the faces.“You reminded me of something I heard about your family. It was a story my mother told me when I was a very young pup.” Max smiled as we found a seat and two omegas brought us s
NagaaraI wasn’t entirely sure why I was sitting in the dirt listening to a wolf, but Helena had been kind to me when we met. I also read about what her pack went through so many years ago. How they were also persecuted by the other wolves because they were different and how they found a way to peace thanks to one wolf called Ava.I knew that Helena was a direct descendant of Ava’s. That’s probably why I was willing to sit there in the middle of the open square in the dirt. I was curious as to why someone with her lineage would bind herself to the people who nearly wiped out my kind.I knew she would try to convince me not to attack, but I still wanted to hear her out.MaxI was going out of my mind as I paced back and forth just beyond the edge of the forest. I could see Helena and Nagaara in the square. Both were seated, and I could tell that they were talking, but we were too far off to hear what was being said.I was so scared! Why did Helena do that? Why the hell did I leave her
NagaaraI felt pride as I watched my babies take their first flight, and then anxiety set in, and I instantly called them back. They needed to learn how to fly and how to defend themselves, but they also needed to learn where it was safe. They might be fully grown and might have some of the knowledge of our ancestors, but they were still only babies.It was my duty as their mother to protect them. The same way that my mother tried to protect me. My babies had to learn a lot before we would be able to take on the beasts. I sighed as they gathered around me and I showed them where they could fly and where not.They learned quickly and within a day, I could tell that they were ready. It was shocking, since I thought we would need months, but my babies were breathing fire and the quicker we got rid of the threat, the sooner they could take to the skies at will.MaxI never knew I could feel the kind of happiness I felt whenever Helena walked into a room. Sadly, our happiness was still ove
NagaaraFor months, I waited patiently and tended to my eggs and on one clear and beautiful night with the moon shining bigger and brighter than I had ever seen it, I heard the first crack of a shell. Moments later, I was helping my firstborn out of his egg. He was so beautiful that I almost forgot about the others who promptly started to hatch.It was the most beautiful moment of my young life. They were all instantly hungry, of course, but I didn’t mind. I gave them the love I was never able to get from my mother and by morning they were grown. Thanks to a very ancient spell and to protect our kind, we grew to adulthood within hours after being born.I promised myself as I watched them during the night that I would make sure they never had to experience the loss that I had. I promised myself I would guide them and teach them in a way I never got to have. I promised myself again that I would get my revenge on the beasts so that my children could live in peace.HelenaMax and I agreed
MaxShe said yes! Okay fine, so she didn’t actually say yes, but she might as well have! My heart soared on the drive home. I had never felt like that. I felt like a young pup in love and it was simply wonderful. Ridiculous that a man at my age was acting like a young pup, but still. It was probably one of the best days of my life.The second we arrived home, I started to plan. She said that she didn’t think it would be a surprise, but I fully intended on surprising her. Whatever I did on the day we accepted each other had to be spectacular. I thought about the young dragon girl only for a moment before pushing all thoughts of her to the back of my mind.There had been no reports or sightings. We even went as far as checking their old home, and she hadn’t gone there. At least, I was told by my warriors they had been there, but I trusted them. They wouldn’t lie to me knowing how dangerous she was.I actually felt as though life could finally begin. We weren’t in the middle of a war, an
HelenaI had given Max a lot to think about. Hell, I had a lot to think about. So, it wasn’t a huge surprise when I didn’t hear from Max for a couple of days. I couldn’t help but giggle whenever I thought about him, and it was honestly becoming a royal pain.So, by the time my brother showed up at my doorstep to inform me that Max had requested another visit, I was ready to burst out of my skin with excitement. It was not how a woman of my age should act. I couldn’t damn well help myself.My second visit with Max went better than the first and I found myself actually laughing at his odd joke. Things unfortunately turned serious right before our time was up when Max asked if I could see myself sharing a future with him.“I could. I wouldn’t lie about that, but your future …” I thought about it as a frown formed on my face. “As a matter of fact, all of our futures still hang in the balance. We don’t know where the young dragon went or what her plans are. I couldn’t possibly have childre
HelenaI had been going back and forth about why I should reject Max for the second time and my mother was telling me why I shouldn’t. She had one point that I couldn’t deny. I didn’t really know him all that well. I had judged him in a very difficult time when he was probably not himself. I shook my head and frowned.“NO! I can’t be with that man! He is infuriating.” I pouted and crossed my arms over my chest like a young child who didn’t want to do something.“Well, I’m afraid you will have no other choice. He has requested an official meeting with you through your brother. You know the law. You have to give him a chance.” My mother huffed before storming out and I sighed deeply. I should have known that Max would do his research about that! That was if he didn’t already know the laws about mates.An hour later, my brother showed up at my front door and right behind him Max was grinning at me. I didn’t even greet him, as my brother explained the rules to the both of us. Max wasn’t a