To Doyen, that simple touch had been enough to almost unravel him, making him almost forget that this mate of his did not shy away from touching other men and even flirting with them. But as he felt a hot tear against his back, it seemed to remind him that he did not like her. Stepping towards the bath, he bit out, "Are you going to keep touching me without my permission? Do not tell me that when you thought me dead, you had no other partners." Narrowing her eyes with anger at the cheap shot, she reminded herself that this was not her Ace. At least not totally. All his negative traits had been multiplied by thousands maybe. But really, this Doyen was going to learn to keep his mouth shut if he did not know how to speak nicely. She would teach him! Seeing that her wonderful mate had stepped into the bath and was not slowly sinking into it with difficulty, she let out a wicked smile. She turned back and waited for him to let down his guard. And he did exactly that. Well, poor him, he
Ace clenched his hands inside the water. He needed to push her away at any cost. Being close to her would mean disaster, he was sure of it. If she were not going to leave him alone with cruel words and tongue lashings then he would have to scare her away in some other way.With a sudden movement, he turned around, caught her hand that was massaging him, and pulled hard. She landed in the bath with a huge splash, causing the water to spill out on all sides as she flailed to get her balance.With his other arm around her slender waist, he pulled her close to him, as she huffed and tried to catch her breath. Bringing his mouth close to her ear, he whispered, "Do you want to seduce me? Are you unsatisfied with the other boys who have been hovering around you and that is why you are trying to do all this? I may be injured, but I can always satisfy you... so you don't have to work so hard. Just say it, Luna Crystal." His hand moved suggestively over her body, slipping under the edge of her
Ace closed his eyes to avoid another confrontation with his mate but he need not have worried. For as soon as he fell asleep, Crystal walked out of the room, with determined steps. She had already mind-linked with Nate and the news that she had received did not make her happy. Instead of coming over to her and asking for solace or guidance like intended, specially for rogues whom she could help, there were rumours being spread that she could not even take care of her own mate. While she knew that rumours were not strong enough to shake the position that she had created for herself in this short period of time, but she would not let any of her future children question the honesty of it. Most of the Alphas who had been present for the coronation had watched Ace almost come back from the dead. And they had been staying back to judge her.As if they had the right or judge. In the past month, despite what she had been going through, she had not stepped back from her duties. Yes she had don
Doyen growled in his head at that making Ace wince as he hobbled back to the bed. Muttering under his breath, he spoke," I thought I understood what Crystal went through when Erin was bratty, but now I know, I had no idea! It is a wonder that she did not have constant migraines with trying to create such a powerful beast like Erin and you!" "Is that a compliment or a complaint," Doyen growled in his head. Ace did not answer. The wolf thus continued," I am not ready to trust your mate, yet. Or even your judgement." When Ace would have spoken, the ancient wolf commanded," I heard you. Now you listen to me." "While I have seen and felt the vilest of things a human or an animal can do, there is one thing that has always shaken me. Most of the time, a person's fall is caused by someone they trust almost blindly. Even Crystal Snowheart's father trusted Leo immensely. He even ignored the signs of deception making it easier for Leo to invite rogues. And do you know when his pack, his young
Finally, after a week of fighting his own animal, Ace succeeded in coercing his animal into a test that would not hurt his wife. In that week, he had been forced to endure the torture of having his wife tease and try to seduce him on one hand and stop Doyen from saying hurtful things to Crystal on the other. This resulted in a case of a pained head and pained ba**s for him. Sigh! Ace thought he would have to become a juggler in the near future if this continued. He missed spending time with Crystal. Whether it was from before when they could just be playful or when she turned into an adult and he could spend himself inside her. Doyen growled inside his head asserting," I want to claim Erin." "Ha! With the way you have been behaving, Doyen, Erin might just swish her tail at you and walk away." Unexpectedly, despite his repeated antagonism against Erin, his wolf had still been drooling after Crystal's Erin like a little puppy. At times, he was tempted to hint Crystal that instead of t
"Bring the nurse, immediately!" Nate ordered the omega who was hovering while serving them tea. Once the omega was gone, he watched as Crystal almost retched her guts out. Shaking his head with distaste and holding his breath, he moved to pat her back and hold her hair behind her face. "I don't know why you have to send Juan to all those places for research. That man likes to learn history more than medicine! Somehow Ace was always sending him away and now it is you. Don't you think you need the healer more?" Crystal shook her head and spoke through the mind link," Shut your whiny a**. Or I am going to vomit on those nice shoes that I can see." Hurriedly moving back, Nate snapped his mouth shut. After a few minutes, when she had stopped wrenching, Nate wiped her brow and helped her stand. "Isn't morning sickness supposed to happen in the morning? Why is it happening at lunch hour?" "Well, I am sure the baby knows how to look at the time, Nate." "Of course it does! It is my bro
Doyen seemed to have turned into a Golden retriever instead of the fierce wolf he was, once he accepted the fact that he was going to be a father, except for the tail-wagging of course. Thankfully he did not do that! After realizing his mistake in judgement and acceptance that he was going to be a father, he prodded her into his room by almost pushing and pulling her. He sat with his head in her lap, occasionally rubbing his muzzle against her belly so excited it seemed that he could not change into his human form. Of course, Doyen had not apologized but his actions had spoken louder than words. It did not matter to her because, in the end, she knew that she finally had Doyen's trust. Ace and Kai were at the moment looking for the Omega who had tried to create the misunderstanding but she had been found dead in the office where they had left her. Rubbing her hand in an absent-minded fashion over the huge wolf's head, Crystal's mind linked with Nate and ordered him to contact Juan an
"Let me love you." Those words almost undid Ace as he pulled her down to kiss her again. He just could not get enough of her again. Their lips met in a duel, a fight to show each other their love. His hands sliding through her hair, Ace breathed in her scent, wanting to soak in her essence. "I need you, sugar." Ace groaned out as Crystal traced a finger down his torso, moving back slowly. She hovered over him for a moment, rubbing the head of his manhood against her entrance before moving away and kneeling between his thighs. Her eyes glowed at the fading mark there on the inside of his thigh and she quivered in delight, wanting to taste him again and mark him again. But this time, Ace was not content to lie down. As she would have taken him into her mouth, he reached down, letting his callused thumb rub her lips, stopping her with his hold, "I don't want to play, Crystal. Mark me."Crystal pouted. Of course, he did not want to play. But she wanted to... Crystal lightly bit over his
"My baby?" The first thought that came to Crystal when she woke up and felt her stomach that everything had been a dream and her baby had been stolen by Indiva. As tears of agony came to her eyes and she tried to move, her hand was held by Ace. Tears in her eyes, she tried to speak when he placed a small kiss on her forehead. "Our baby is safe. She was just too small so Juan has taken her to a makeshift care unit.""She? We have a baby girl?"With a loud exhale, Ace spoke," Yes sugar. We have a little baby girl..."Crystal frowned at the weary tone of voice and questioned tentatively,"You are not happy?"Once agian, he leaned forward before placing reassuring kisses all over her face. "I am very happy. Just worried about the future...""Why? Is there some other villain posing as a threat?" Crystal asked wth a trace of fear."No! Sigh! Crystal... our daughter..." As Ace left the words hanging, Crystal widened her eyes, all thoughts of negative thoughts running through her...She held h
The silence in the night continued as scene after scene continued to change showing the siren's plan to kill the Goddess by luring Luna Crystal. A strange murmur raced through the crowd as everything continued according to the plan of the siren and Luna Crystal was separated from the battle by Ace and the siren. They watched from his eyes as he gazed worriedly at his wife who was suffering discomfort and seemed to be rubbing her belly continuously. Because the siren had been made with Indiva's magic she was well aware of the magic and easily led them to Indiva. But instead of engaging in a war, they had not expected that Indiva would disappear into the woods followed by Aenora. As Crystal would have followed them, Ace summoned Doyen and spoke to Erin with their mind link.”No. Wait here. And fight with me. Our people have already spread through the forest, she won't be able to disappear easily." They watched as the Luna Queen immediately stilled and followed the black wolf’s bidding.
“I know what they said… They said I ran away and shook hands with the enemy. I know what they said…They said that I betrayed my mate. I know what they said… They said I fell under the spell of a siren. I know what they said…They said I was lured away by the thirst for magic and power… kidnapped by lust. I know what they said…They said that I would not return to my mate…be killed by the Goddess I was meant to kill. I know what they said…”The small wisp of smoke that had arisen from the witch’s hand slowly took the image of Alpha Ace in the middle of the dark sky. With every word the smoky Alpha spoke, the chillier everyone felt. These were indeed the rumours that had been spreading through the ranks over the last many hours but to hear them from this wisp of smoke in such a voice was way too scary even for the most hardened shifters. It made them think of ghosts.The witch herself trembled and gulped as she uttered a few words, tightening the smooth lock of hair in her palm and spoke,”
Dissent spread through the army as the werewolves questioned Alpha Ace's presence beside Goddess Indiva at the beginning of the war while the foxes fed the fire of rumours. Even as most of the shifters would not dare to question either Crystal or Ace, out of sheer fear, they did not seem to have any qualms about discussing the same and spreading rumours. But nobody knew the truth of the matter as the Goddess had been defeated without any witnesses. Using this momentum the fox shifters questioned Nate," Beta Hunter. The Queen is still in labour. And the others are still in recovery but what about the Queen's consort? What about Alpha Ace? We all saw him standing there right next to that Goddess and whoever that woman was. Did he fight on their side? Has he betrayed his mate? All of us agreed to an alliance not just with the queen but also on the trust of Ace Hunter's mate and the backing of the warriors of the Moonhunter Pack. But now it seems Alpha Ace was not a part of this war. So,
As Crystal struggled to breathe through the contractions, she hoped and prayed that her baby would survive. Tears of happiness escaped her eyes. Her baby had decided to come just after the threat had been eliminated. Now they would be able to live peacefully. She would not have to constantly look over her shoulder in fear. But unknown to her, a certain threat still thrived. The fox clan were known for their cunningness but also their selfishness. At this moment, two red foxes scoured the remains of the dead. Like scavengers, they also looked for something from the dead and did not 'waste' their time in mourning their comrades. "Dam* it! Where is that box? Are you sure it is not there where that Luna buried the heart?" Grumbled the female vixen as she tried to look for the small box which held Indiva's sealed powers. The other fox glared at her and spoke sharply," Keep your voice down! I know it is not there! Do you think the Luna will be so stupid to put it in a place where everyo
As the net was cast and Indiva prepared to disappear, Aenora was not going to be easily defeated. Summoning all her powers, Aenora filled the air with pheromones so strong that the air started to feel sickeningly cloying. While Erin in her wolf form was barely affected other than feeling a bit hazy, Goddess Indiva, with little and now almost exhausted power, was forced to her knees. But Indiva was not going to let go so easily and continued to chant the spells, tightening the hold of the net on Crystal lest the wolf tries to escape or attack her. But Crystal seemed uncaring and unaware of her surroundings. Probably the shock of losing her mate and having to live with his betrayal seemed to finish her will to live. But Aenora- the siren on the other end had gone crazy as she continued to attack Indiva until finally, Indiva was unable to escape and finally lay panting on the floor as their almost exhausted powerful auras glowed faintly around them,. Seeing that she had brought the vill
"Do not forget that I am still a Goddess, Aenora," Indiva thundered. "It still holds the binding power of the heavens!" The siren snorted and narrowed her eyes, "And I don't think that you will find a way to say the words in such a way that the promise would be circumvented? No mistress. You will give me the box." Placing one hand behind her back, Indiva curled her fingers and urged, "The box is of no use to you, Aenora. It is mine. Ask for anything and I will give you." Instead of replying, Aenora let out a shriek and jumped at Indiva who was about to cast a curse at her. Indiva fell to the floor while the box slipped out of her hand. Kicking her in the stomach, Aenora jumped towards the box only to be hit by magic and thrown against the walls. As the Goddess and siren continued to fight, throwing curses t each other, two pairs of eyes continued to stare. A while later as it looked no one would be lost, a loud howl broke through the woods. The wolf's howl was filled with agony an
Aenora hurried behind the tiny bird with narrowed eyes. She needed to see where Goddess Indiva was going. That Goddess wanted nothing more than all the shifters to be eradicated and Luna Crystal to lose her life. And yet, now when Crystal was about to engage in a fight with Ace, the goddess was fleeing instead of staying to help or watch. Aenora searched the sky as the sun's rays hurt her eyes, looking for the tiny bird which had disappeared into the sky. Was Ace correct? This Goddess Indiva had only planned to use them and then kill them. But she had promised that if they succeeded in defeating Luna Crystal, she would let Ace and her leave together so that they could live happily... The beautiful face turned into a scowl and she touched the late trunk of a tree as she ordered," Tell me where the goddess has disappeared."A small hollow appeared in the tree as it spoke," The Goddess has entered the secret cave at the end of these woods. Our Goddess Siren, the Goddess Indiva is in a t
No word was spoken as the rays of the sun fell across the sand. With a single raised hand, Crystal directed her troops to march forward. While the others almost seemed to have fallen into a trance at the sight of Ace Hunter, the calm determination in Crystal's eyes and gestures seemed to re inforce their energy. Yes... Luna Crystal hadn't just spoken words about fighting the loved ones. She was also prepared to fight those she loved.Soon, the silence was broken by growls, howls and the sounds of war. Bones popped as humans turned animals and attacked those who had hurt their loved ones. For the army they fought may carry the faces of their loved ones but in the end, they were not the same instead the undead were reminders of what they had lost.As the silence was absorbed by loud noises, Indiva turned away from the battle, uncaring whether her own army lived or died. Crystal was holding up really well for someone whose mate had just cheated on her. She stared intently at Ace and Aeno