Alora’s POV As the last shudder of my release left my body, I caught my breath, feeling Rune’s gaze burn into me from where he was chained. His eyes were wild, desperate, the raw hunger in them so intense that I almost stayed. Almost. But I wasn’t going to give him the satisfaction of seeing any more of me. I could feel the power I held over him, how he trembled with need, his erection straining painfully against his jeans, but that was his problem. Not mine. With a slow, deliberate motion, I bent down and picked up my nightdress from the cold floor. I slid it over my body, savoring the tension in the air, and refused to meet Rune’s eyes. As I turned and walked toward the exit, my bare feet padded softly against the dungeon’s stone floor. I didn’t look back. I didn’t need to. The sound of Rune’s heavy breathing followed me, filling the air with a tension that felt almost tangible, but I kept my head held high and my pace steady. With each step I took, my skin tingled with the rem
Alora’s POV The grand hall was buzzing with an energy I couldn't quite place. The air was thick with magic, and it almost made my skin tingle as I stepped inside with Nevaeh in my arms. Her tiny fingers gripped my dress as her wide eyes took in the scene, but I felt her calmness, my only anchor in this sea of uncertainty. She doesn’t know what is going on and I feel like I should have hide her. Morrigan and Eirlys flanked me on either side. Both of them exuded a power so natural, so effortless, that it made me feel even smaller. My mind was racing, but I did my best to keep my face composed. I was supposed to be their queen tonight. I was supposed to be in control. But deep down, all I felt was dread. The truth was, I didn’t know how to control the power they were all so curious about. I don’t even know what the hell is going on anymore. Are my hands shaking? Shit. I watched Morrigan and Eirlys move ahead, whispering something to each other before nodding in my direction. Th
Alora’s POVAs soon as I saw Rune, my body moved before my mind could catch up. Nevaeh clung tightly to me, her soft breath warm against my neck as I pushed through the chaotic crowd. Thank Goddess she wasn’t watching. The hall was a blur of violence, spells crackling in the air, wolves snarling, and witches hurling curses at one another. Every instinct I had screamed to run in the opposite direction, but I found myself drawn toward Rune, toward the only source of stability in this storm.But it wasn’t just instinct pulling me closer to him, it was something more. Something deeper. I didn’t dwell on it though. A sudden movement caught my eye, and I barely had time to react before two witches lunged toward me, their faces twisted in fury. My heart leapt in my throat. But before they could reach me, Rune was there, his claws slashing through the air with terrifying precision. The sound of flesh tearing open made me flinch, and I quickly turned Nevaeh's face into my shoulder, covering
Alora’s POV The journey back to the pack felt surreal, like walking through a dream that didn’t quite make sense. I could still feel the warmth of Rune’s hand on my waist, guiding me and Nevaeh through the dark night, but my thoughts were everywhere. As we passed by the houses, the familiar paths, and the pack members who stopped to stare at us, I couldn’t ignore the way they looked at Rune.Fear still lingered in their eyes, the same fear that had always been there when it came to Rune, but there was something else now. Curiosity? Awe? It was subtle but unmistakable. Whispers followed us as we walked, people moving out of our way, their eyes darting from him to me, as though we were a spectacle they couldn’t quite understand. I clenched my jaw, trying not to let it bother me, but the questions swirling in my head wouldn’t stop. What the hell happened after I left? Why did they all look at him like that? By the time we reached his room, my body felt like it was moving on autopilo
Alora’s POVRune didn’t wait for a word. The second Morrigan stepped through the door, his hand was around her throat, pressing her against the wall. Her face twisted in shock as his fingers dug in, choking off her air. Morrigan tried to push him back, her powers swirling around her in a desperate attempt to break free, but it was useless. Rune’s strength had always been something beyond ordinary, and right now, he was enraged beyond reason. His eyes gleamed a dangerous gold, his wolf barely contained beneath the surface."Rune!" I called out, but he didn’t even flinch. His focus was sharp, murderous, and Morrigan was the target.She clawed at his hands, gasping for breath, but her powers couldn’t reach him. Rune’s strength was overpowering her magic, the edges of his claws emerging as he tightened his grip. My heart pounded as I took a step forward, realizing that if I didn’t act, Morrigan might not survive the next few seconds. And something in her eyes, stricken, desperate, hinte
Alora’s POV Rune’s expression hardened as he barked an order to a few guards standing outside. They didn’t hesitate; they grabbed Morrigan by each arm, her face impassive as they led her away to be locked in a guest room under strict watch. Rune wanted confirmation of everything she’d said, and while part of me knew why he was being cautious, I couldn’t help but wonder, did we really need it? Every moment of my life, every haunting whisper, and every oddity that had surrounded me, had already been telling me the truth. I’d never fit in with the witches, not truly. If I wasn’t a witch, then what could I be? A vampire? Hardly. They were mere legends, their presence mostly faded from our world. No, it had to be something else, something powerful. And terrifying. Rune’s pacing filled the silence, his gaze stormy, as if wrestling with an internal battle. Then, without warning, he stopped and looked at me from across the room, a fire blazing in his eyes. Before I could process w
Alora's POV The eerie, resounding boom hung in the air, a sound both ancient and strange, echoing through every corner of the room and making my skin prickle. What the hell was that? I stared at Rune, eyes wide with the same confusion and tension I saw mirrored in his own. My eyes were wide while his were narrowed. Oh, he doesn’t fear shit. He is always ready to fight. All the time. His jaw was set, his gaze dark and guarded, but there was something there that made my pulse quicken, something almost… afraid. And not for himself. For me. Then, we both turned, drawn to a glow so brilliant it seemed to pierce the through us. Light radiated from the small figure lying still on the bed. It was blinding, wrapping around her tiny form like a halo, pure and ethereal. Fear I never knew ran up my spine making me cry out, the sound full of pain and terror. The light pulsed, each beat sending a shiver up my spine as if the room itself was alive, breathing in time with her. Something wa
Rune’s POVAs I looked at Nevaeh, realization crashed over me, leaving no room for doubt. She was mine. From the shape of her eyes to the faint curve of her jaw, everything mirrored my features so perfectly it felt surreal. She was like a reflection of my childhood, only softened, more delicate and gaddammit, more sweet. Not even Cielle, my own sister, had ever resembled me this closely. The depth of her resemblance was undeniable, as if the universe itself was making a declaration I could no longer ignore. My heart surged with an overwhelming sense of joy and… relief. Alora had never betrayed me. The baby I’d thought of as a stranger, a piece of her life I hadn’t been part of, was mine all along. She was MINE!My feelings were all over the place. I bet tears wanted to emerge too but nope, alphas don’t cry like babies. Nah! I was thought to never cry. I won’t. The relief was fleeting, quickly replaced by the boiling anger searing through me. Alora had kept this from me. She’d known