“There is strength in numbers, yes, but even more so in collective goodwill. For those endeavors are supported by mighty forces unseen.” ― Richelle E. Goodrich
Lucy:'I'm sorry, Lucy,' Nia says.'No, you're not,' I say.She doesn't respond because it's the truth, but right now, it's not the time to have this conversation.Also, she knew exactly what she was doing, and thankfully, it worked."You need to run," I hear a familiar voice behind me. I turn to see the confused warrior from before. I look behind him at the door to the room I was once inside of.It's open. He moves back to the door, closes it, and locks the outside.He bows his head and smiles at me."Alpha, you need to hurry," he encourages. I tilt my head, surprised."We can go this way," my mate says, motioning towards the hallway he just came from."GET HER!" I hear my Dad yell.I look to my left and down the hallway, where he is standing at the end.The same hallway across from the dungeon.I smirked as I turned to him.'Let's just go, Lucy,' Nia encourages, but fire is burning through my entire soul now.'One last detour, Nia,' I say.It's calling to me now. This time, I won't
Lucy:"It's okay, Leon. I think he can help us. He is from my old pack," I whisper, peaking my head around his muscular frame when Leon puts his hand over my face to shield me from looking at the nude stranger.Nia giggles from this reaction."What's your name?" Leon asks him."Oliver," he responds softly."Okay, Oliver. Follow the rest. Stay with Liam until I find you," Leon says firmly.He trusted me so easily that it warmed my heart.As soon as Oliver ran off, Leon turned to me and pulled me up into his arms.This was not the way I thought I'd be naked together with him in this way, but I didn't care.I was so relieved to see him. I wrapped my legs and arms around him as his lips crashed onto mine.His lips were needy and hungry but not as much as his tongue that slid in my mouth, battling against mine.By the time we came up for air, I was somehow even more exhausted.One of his hands is gripping my hair on the back of my head. The other is squeezing my thigh while my butt rests on
Leon:I could sense something different about Lucy, but I wasn't able to put my finger on it.I got up after her and grabbed her wrist before she could run out the door."Don't touch me!" she screams before she turns around.I fly at least six feet back, landing on my butt next to my Dad's desk."Oh no! Leon, I'm sorry!" she comes rushing over to me, tears instantly welling in her eyes with regret.Her hair is wild. Her normal long black silky locks are crumpled and matted all over.Her icy blue eyes look lighter somehow.I grab her by the chin and lean forward, pressing my lips against hers."Well, that's new, huh?" I say, trying to lighten the mood.The atmosphere in the room is charged with tension as everyone's eyes are on Lucy.Are they afraid of her? I wondered to myself. No one spoke a single word.I glance at Tricia, who is chewing on her nails.Knowing what I do, I can't say Lucy is the reason for that nervous habit.I stand up and grab Lucy's hands, bringing her up from her
Leon:"No, I just need you," she says, so out of breath you'd think she had run a marathon.I'm frozen for a moment, shocked at her sexual shift."Leon, please..." she whimpers.Goddess, bless my soul. Say less.'She isn't ready for what you want, Leon,' B warns me.I know it's true, even as needy as she is right now.I sink to my knees, licking her juices from her thighs before diving into her dripping folds.She is rubbing herself against my mouth. She is wreaking sexual depravity with each movement against my tongue, and I'm more than enjoying the way she is responding to me.I work one finger in her."More," she demands instantly.Goddess.I don't wait. Slipping another finger inside of her, she sighed with contentment.'Are you sure she isn't in heat?' B asks panting now.One of her hands gripped my hair while the other clutched the small built-in shelf.She is working herself onto my fingers at the same pace that I'm giving it to her.Who is this woman?My tongue is diligently s
Lucy:I'd never had a heat before, so I wasn't sure if that was what this feeling was or if it was their scents mixed that was driving me into madness.I couldn't handle being between them that way.I used Leon's outburst as an excuse to escape the fact that they were starting to make my panties wet.I knew it was a matter of time before they both started to smell my arousal.'Shit, Nia,' I say, now rummaging through my side table.'Maybe we just go tell them right now?' Nia says, not very confidently.'I think we should tell Leander and Sybil first. They could help us talk with both of them together. I could feel Leon's rage surfacing just from Liam looking at me. Plus, I don't exactly want Leon being all over me when Liam finds out I'm his mate. What if they fight each other?' I whisper as if they could hear me.'That's a good idea. Liam smells delicious. I want to lick his face,' Nia purrs.'Shit. Are we going into heat?' I'm now panicking.Nia giggles and wiggles herself around, le
Liam:Maybe it's because I'm not used to Leon having a mate, but I welcomed myself into Lucy's room a bit too quickly considering she was on the ground naked.I noticed this after it was too late.She would need to go to the cabin for her heat, or she would drive all the unmated wolves up the wall.'Her arousal smells so good,' Bo purrs.We're both feeling lured in by it.I had to get up and leave the room once the steam from the bathroom drifted her arousal scent stronger into the room.My manhood was already painfully stiff in my pants, but I needed to talk to both of them about Theo asap.'You going to tell Leon you have a crush on his mate?' Bo snickers.'Shut up Bo, I didn't know she was his mate until recently,' I say defensively.'I bet we find our mate soon. Now that Leon has found his mate, it's only a matter of time,' he tries to reassure me as I open the sliding glass door and exit. Leon was technically born first; maybe there was something to that. I prayed that was the c
Lucy:Seth nods at the nurse, who quietly walks off, leaving us alone.Well, almost alone. I can see nosey Judy staring at us from my peripheral view.I realize I'm still holding his hands as he looks back at me and squeezes them gently.I clear my throat and stand up, brushing my thighs with my palms as they turn sweaty with nerves."If you go down that hallway," he says, pointing to his right. "There's a garden. I could use the fresh air," he smiles at me.'He's so pretty, even all beat up,' Nia comments, making my cheeks flush.Seth smirks; he knows Nia is a flirt.I quickly moved to the back of the wheelchair and turned us down the hallway.There are not many staff, but the few that are there are staring at me now, likely because Seth announced I was the future Luna.'Is there a Fae equivalent of a mate? Maybe that's what he is?' Nia questions as we stroll Seth down the hallway.'I don't think so. Tricia would have mentioned it. Plus, three mates, that's insanity. I'm already stres
Leon:His question was one that I had on my mind since Lucy got back.Could I really be okay with Lucy mating with both Seth and me? Would that be too strange?Could I handle it?I couldn't get rid of the feeling I had about her having some strong connection with Seth. "If that's what she really wants, I don't think I could tell her no," I shrug at Liam's question.Bandit hasn't spoken up much about it, but his calmness inside of me whenever Liam brought it up let me know he hadn't knocked down the idea. Yet, at least."Man, are you losing your mind, Leon? What would the pack think about their Alpha sharing his mate with his Beta? You'd look weak!" Liam says, shocking me."Just like Dad was considered weak because Mom was a rogue? He didn't let that stop him from proving everyone wrong. Do you think I care? If Lucy is happy, then I'm happy," I scoff.He shuts up for a moment, looking slightly ashamed from his outburst."Why would you want a mate that has feelings for someone else, L
Lucy:"The stronger the magic within a person, the harder it was to control myself," Zeak admits.I watch as he sits down on the cot in the corner of the cell now.I hadn't felt my magic back then but I guess he could.I wanted a better answer but I guess it could be that simple."Rosie would do something. I'm not sure what it was exactly, but for a moment, I would see clarity. I started having her be there all of the time, and I saw clearly the more she was around. Kragen said she was an abomination and needed to be killed. I sold her instead," he admits."You're going to go back to your pack. Tell them you escaped somehow. I don't care what lies you have to come up with; it needs to be believable," I state.I feel Leon's grip around me tighten, and a growl elicits from each of my mates.'We didn't talk about this, Lucy. You can't make that decision without Dad,' Liam links me.He's right. I need to talk with Leander, but my mates will soon be taking over the pack, and we also need to
LEON:'Don't mess this up,' B warns me.Lucy's trust meant everything to me. B and I have been getting restless because she runs off on her own all the time.It had to stop now.I put my arm out, stopping Seth and Liam from proceeding toward Zeak's cell.'Just give her a minute first,' I suggest through our link.It was interesting how being marked with Lucy now gave us the ability to link with Seth, too.Neither of them responds, but they don't try to move forward either.We watch as Lucy approaches the cell and stops to face Zeak's.She stands there for several moments, not saying a word, and Zeak doesn't say anything either. My heart thunders in my chest.Simply knowing that she is in his presence and that he gets to look at her makes me sick to my stomach, but I push my feelings aside for the sake of Lucy's trust in us."When did you notice the change?" These were Lucy's first words, or rather, a question for Zeak.I can now hear sobbing coming from Zeak's cell. It doesn't sound l
Lucy:Leon got the brunt end of the deal when it came to my affection.He had to see the way I flinched at any sudden touch or movement toward me.The way my mind wrapped up in anxiety the moment I started to let myself go, and the way my body revolted at any bit of love he tried to give me at first.While Seth had spent so much time showing me friendship and the slow burn of a connection only that type of relationship could provide, Leon had gone head-first into committing to me and showing me safety in love and intimacy.He never second-guessed me or our bond.He never judged or looked at me differently.He put work into helping me get comfortable enough to approach intimacy.Of course, he was upset.I didn't want it to be this way, either."Leon... please talk to me," I murmur, entering our bedroom alone.He looks over at me, clearly still angry, but looks at me anyway."It's hard for me to explain things when I'm not really sure of them myself," I start.I'm nervous about how he wi
Lucy:Leon snapped his bond shut, but I felt the anger seep through before he could."You don't understand. I had to," I rush out, trying to defend myself for some reason.Liam's grip on me tightens. "Why the hell would you do that?" Leon growls."Woah, Leon, chill. Let her explain," Seth remarks, looking from me to Leon.A knock comes at the front door, just in time. Saved by the bell, so to speak."We're not done having this conversation!" Leon hisses, pointing his finger at me.'He'll get over it,' Liam links me, likely to avoid pissing Leon off any further, but it doesn't make me feel any better."What crawled up your butt?" I hear Trish before she pushes past Leon and trots into the kitchen.She stops and looks around the room for a second."This doesn't look like the best time for bad news, but I've been waiting almost a week to tell you guys," she says, squinting one eye.Great.Leon's large presence comes from behind Trish. He's refusing to open his bond up with me."Well, spi
Lucy:Seth looks at me thoughtfully for a moment.The idea of how and why the pack is blessed seemed to have suddenly confused him as well."I never thought about that. I assumed it had to do with our strength and wealth. This pack has had minimal rogue attacks, has always done well financially, and hasn't suffered in many different ways that other packs have," Seth suggests.He's right, though. They have seemed to have good luck OR make the right choices."Hecate wiped the history for a good reason. She doesn't want anyone to know she's been looking over this pack. She gave the line of Alphas the ability to find their mates and their families' mates. You understand better than I do how much strength that gives a pack alone," I say, tapping my toes on the ground excitedly as we piece together the mystery that's been driving me mad."Wait. Hecate gave them that gift? The Moon Goddess grants the Alpha lineage their special strength," Seth argues, his voice slightly irritated at me for gi
Lucy:The next several days were spent doing nothing but eating, sleeping, and exploring our connection and dynamic.The more intimate I was with my mates, the more the magic settled and relieved the pain of what I had experienced.We knew that once this time came to an end, things wouldn't be the same. So many variables were hanging in the balance, weighing heavily on our shoulders.My mates were still sleeping, but the stress of it all made me restless.I zip into my Fae form and zoom into the study down the hall, ensuring that my mates stay resting in bed.This would likely be the last time for a while that they get to rest that peacefully.'You're getting good at that. It makes me dizzy when you do it, though,' Nia whines.'It makes me dizzy still, too,' I sigh.Sitting at the desk, Liam had picked out for me, I rummaged through the drawers, finding a paper and pen to jot down my list of things to do.1. Visit Savina and ZeakThere was nothing similar between their situations. I kn
Lucy:Liam and I didn't get nearly the rest that the other two had, but I don't think either of us minded.We lost track of time and count after I decided to put Seth and Leon to sleep for the night.There was no sense in all of us being awake and marking Liam had turned something on in me I couldn't deny and needed to explore.He didn't complain.I had to mark Liam twice to get the rest of my magic from him. Yet another thing neither of us was bothered by.That time was more than pleasant. Liam had awakened my soul in a way I didn't know was possible.It created a hunger for the remainder of my magic, and for the last mark, I needed to bear.Just like Nadia had said, it just took a little push from Liam to get me started.Liam and I had maybe a few hours of sleep before getting up, showering, and sharing another tub of ice cream while watching a movie and waiting for my other mates to wake up from their forced slumber.I was excited to be this way with Leon. He was my patient mate—the
Leon:The moment Lucy relaxed, I left the bathroom. I didn't feel uncomfortable being there; I just knew they needed to seal their bond.It was the one connection Lucy had that she hadn't gained confidence in.I found Seth eating some of the leftovers from Jason's buffet."She ate?" he asks, not looking back to even see who had entered the room.We have all become very intuned with each other over the last several days."We're on the up," I say, piling food onto my plate."What research were you doing in the library with Lucy?" Seth asks, not looking up from his plate.I hadn't realized he had noticed. He was always far more observant than anyone gave him credit for."Other supernatural beings. Lucy thinks Rosie is a siren." I knew Lucy wouldn't mind me sharing the information.She only wanted to do it privately with me because she knew I took those studies seriously, and it would go by faster and smoother without too many people asking questions.I hear Seth's fork clinking against th
Lucy:Leon helped me get into the bath.My body feels like it's been run over, put back together, and run over again. Every muscle aches with the burning of a thousand suns.For now, I'm okay. For now, the mental pain has stopped.I wanted to rest, but my mind and soul were racing on a track that felt endless.I need it to end."Lucy, how can we help you?" Leon asks.He grabs the edge of the bathtub, lowering himself down to sit by the side of the tub.I relived every death of every Silver Throne Fae Queen before me. My neck still felt the remnants of my throat being crushed.'It hurts. Especially after eating,' I mind link Leon.He perks up in his position. He's satisfied by the way that I'm finally speaking to him.Even if it's through a mind link.It's been difficult to find any words to say in the past few days. I don't want to answer questions. I don't want to explain what I know. Bits and pieces are still sorting themselves in my brain.I know half-truths. One side to each story