Mina POV - Every muscle in her body groaned as she rolled over, the solid wall of her mate catching her. She squirmed back into his heat, pressing cold feet to his legs. Despite being cuddled in their nest, the morning air held a chill that penetrated the cabin's wall. It tried to steal them from slumber however, between her mates, she’d never feel cold. Roman’s hand slipped over her hip, welcoming her into his embrace, cradling her tighter to his chest. She fit so perfectly against him, his body encasing hers like two half-moons that seamlessly joined at the bow. His hips aligned to hers, rolling against her arse as if her touch pulled him from sleep. His cock was already hard, pressing thick against her lower back. Her pussy pulsed, but she winced against its eager intentions. Once she had claimed Roman at the lake side, he had carried her back to their nest to celebrate their newly completed bond. It hadn’t taken long for Alastor to find them, his eyes darkening at their entwine
Mina POV - Mina was glad that she made her excuses to give her mates some alone time. They had kept her preoccupied all afternoon and she was beginning to think they were using her as an excuse to not address their growing desires. Her thighs trembled with every step, and she refused to sit down, which made for an embarrassing conversation at dinner. To have every member of the Lynn family smirk at her at the same time, made her cheeks glow until they radiated their own light. Her core was tender, and she was certain she would combust if she had one more orgasm. Though Roman and Alastor had worshipped her body until she melted into a puddle of pleasure, she needed a break. Her mates had grumbled their reluctance to go to bed without her, but Mina had insisted. What started out as an excuse to go for a walk alone to clear her head, became a moment of peace she enjoyed. She promised to stay near the village and reassured them she could look after herself. They still didn’t look happy
Mina POV - Her body jerked, ready to lunge forward but four words stopped her. “Stop or they die.” Mina stopped, the threat clutching her in a vice like grip that surrounded her body with an unbearable pressure. Her eyes widened, tears stinging at their edges. Her bottom lip trembled but she fought against it. She had to be brave for her mates, for herself. “What did you do to them?” Somehow her voice was steady, hiding her crumbling composure. The man stepped into her nest, defiling its sanctuary for her unit, but Mina’s attention was solely fixed on the closing distance between her mates and the silver blade at his side. Her muscles were taut beneath her skin, straining against the order to remain still, fighting the urge to step between her mates and the danger. At this distance, there was no chance she’d make it before he killed them both. “Don’t worry, Luna. I only gave them a sleeping drug and a non-lethal dose of silver to keep them under. They’ll be fine in a few days
Alastor POV - Alastor had woken up many times with a sore head, from too much training, a bad sleep, drinking too much alcohol, but the groggy fog that clouded his mind now was worse. It was thick, unrelenting, dulling every sense. That was a death sentence to a warrior. Panic spiked in his veins, as he jerked under the weight of the fog trying to pull him back into the realms of sleep. It was as if a heavy weight blanketed his brain, keeping his movements sluggish, his eyes closed, but he fought against it. His heart pounded his frustrations, being the first of his muscles to come alive again. It flooded his system with adrenaline, enough to make the fog begin to clear. Something was wrong. He could feel it like a sixth sense from the shiver along his spine to the prickle beneath his skin. The discomfort got him moving, waking him up with a force that made every part of his body alert, ready. He reached out with a groan, trying to understand his surroundings with blurry eyes. Th
Alastor POV - Once he was awake, it didn’t take long for Roman to recover. Alastor helped him to his feet, before yanking him into his arms. With Mina missing and the situation beyond their nest uncertain, they weren’t safe yet, but he sunk into his mate’s embrace with a sagging relief he felt through his entire body. Strong arms wrapped around him, clutching at him as Roman steadied himself. One of his mates was okay and he wasn’t alone to face what had happened. Before they left the cabin, Roman inspected the darts. He also smelt the lingering traces of silver upon its needle, but no longer felt the effects of the toxic metal. Neither understood how they were okay. Having silver directly injected into the blood stream was dangerous, deadly. They should’ve been suffering the consequences of letting the enemy slip through their defences, instead, they were fine. Though neither of them understood it, it was a small blessing they could decipher later. For now, they turned their attent
Roman POV - A dark mood encompassed him, swelling in every part of Roman as time ticked by. It was a maelstrom of anger and frustration which simmered in a pool of everlasting worry. They had attacked his entire family. The family he was supposed to protect. He did that now, keeping watch over them as they recovered from the sleeping drug, relieved that none of them had any lingering silver poisoning. Their conclusions about their Legacy bond abilities were right and they put them to good use. As soon as Jo came to, they carried her back to the village and checked on the rest of his family. Every single one had been taken out. Every single one had been suffering from silver poisoning. His jaw clenched so tight his teeth ached. How dare anyone go after his family. How dare anyone take his mate. There was no sign of the enemy or Mini around the village, they were gone, but it wasn’t hard to guess who was behind it. Even though his instincts about these things were often correct, Jo a
Roman POV - His skin crawled as they stepped out of Ashbourne Forest and into the territory beyond. It wasn’t as if Roman hadn’t been beyond the land he considered his family’s borders, but it was usually for quick trips to neighbouring packs and old allies. This was different. A group of Clear Blue warriors waited for them at the edge of the trees, standing far enough away from its trunks to keep clear of potential blind spots. For a friendly escort, they were sure on edge, eyes to the trees as if they knew his family lurked among the shadows. They had all insisted on coming to greet the escort meant for Mini, to look upon the faces of the wolves that might’ve betrayed their Luna. Roman stood strong with them at his back, but stronger still with Allie at his side. Neither of them had talked on the way to greet the escort. Betrayal stung in the air, harsh and sour. It was a bitter pill to swallow to know his previous pack had sold out their Luna, but it must’ve been harder for Allie
Mina POV - The shadow cast by the mountain, as the sun sunk behind its depths, swallowed them an hour before they reached its base. It loomed over them, dark and treacherous, a far cry from the clear terrain of her home pack. Mina stumbled to keep up with the native Blood Mountain wolves, and somehow managed to catch her feet on every large rock and dip in the path. For the first time, she was thankful for the silver cuffs she wore, their long steel chain in Blake's grip. On more than one occasion he had caught her from falling on her face, though she refused to thank him. If not for him and his entire shitty pack, she’d be in her nests surrounded by her mates, rather than climbing a fucking mountain.She had never seen terrain like it. Mina’s whole body ached from the day of travelling and was quickly tiring at the incline, but she made sure they all knew it. “I’m tired.” The whole group groaned at her newest complaint, but she wasn’t perturbed. “And I’m bored.” She had been slow
Mina POV - The room was a rush of excitement, everyone moving around, getting ready, beaming with joy. Mina watched them all from the nest, pillows carrying her mates’ scents propped all around her. She inhaled it, letting the familiarity wash though her, soothing any lingering nerves for the day ahead. Two new scents mingled with her unit’s. They were fresh and clear like the morning air after a night of rain, but crisp and warm like a dry heat in the middle of summer. They warmed her with a love she didn’t know she could feel, one that was buried deep inside her, unlocked the moment she realised she was pregnant. It had been three days since her daughters were born. Three days to recover and bond. Three days for her love for them to grow so unbearable strong that she didn’t think she could contain it all. Small faces peaked out from yellow blankets, staring up at her with inquisitive eyes like they knew there was something different about that day. For young pups, intelligence
Mina POV - Concern for Blake swamped any grief that Mina had for Sam the moment he died. She raced to her mate, her eyes widening at the gash that carried the length of his body. She had seen him twist away from Sam’s blow, likely knowing he’d be the one targeted out of the three of them, but to see the amount of damage that had still been done made her feel sick. The cut was shallow but carried from his shoulder to his rump, in one straight slice that threatened to be so much worse. If he hadn’t anticipated Sam’s response, if he hadn’t twisted enough, if he hadn’t... A wet nose pressed to her cheek. ‘I’m fine.’ Then he rumbled a chuckle and gently pushed her to make her turn. ‘Though maybe the others need some attention.’ Mina spun on the spot, panic slicing through her, but it eased the moment she saw Roman and Alastor’s pout. She’d expect it from Alastor, but Roman’s bottom lip was firmly popped, eyes averted. They had shifted back into their human forms, leaning on each other
Roman POV - Given the look on Blake’s face, the wound was bad. It hurt like hell, but Roman had held a slim hope that his body was exaggerating the pain. The iron tang of blood and the wet heat coating his shoulder told him otherwise, but it was the worry etched into his mate’s features that convinced him. Not that it mattered. He could’ve lost his entire front leg, or been knocked unconscious, but would still get back on his paws and keep fighting. He did that now, forcing his legs beneath him, letting his unharmed three take the majority of his weight. A searing heat sliced from his shoulder to his front paw when he attempted to put any weight on it. He whined, but Blake was there, giving him a solid form to lean against, helping him to stand. Roman appreciated his lack of arguing, but it would’ve been hypocritical. If the unit had demanded the others to rest every time they were injured, Blake would still be in the packhouse cells and Allie would’ve clocked out after Derren’s hit
Blake POV - The brutality of Sam’s actions made Blake jerk. If how he treated Chloe, his own mate, wasn’t bad enough, he was trying to bond with another wolf just after she lost her own mate. Whether it was an act of desperation or pure cruelty, it was wrong. The anguish contorting Chelsea’s face twisted further as pain ripped through her. A forced marking was unpleasant, but it must’ve felt a lot worse coming from someone she had trusted. Blake knew it did from the way she struggled, the way she screamed. She tried to pull free of Sam’s hold, but his arms locked around her, holding her in place. Even the Diamond Ridge wolves around them, those who had ignored their Luna’s pleas to help Derren, looked uncomfortable. Finally, Sam pulled back, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth, matching the red line that slid across the Luna’s throat. “Accept it.” He snarled. “You promised me this, now’s the time to pay up.” Tears were already streaming down Chelsea’s cheeks, cries tur
Chapter 103 – I’ll do it myself Roman POV - The tightness in Allie’s jaw worried him. Derren’s blow had been hard and, if they were right about his ability, the hardest punch Allie had ever received. Roman was certain he had heard a crack, yet his mate was back on his feet again, walking into formation. He wanted to tell him to him to go back to Mini, to protect their Luna, but Taylor was already there, keeping an eye on her, Oliver and a still whimpering Owen. Besides, against a foe they didn’t know much about and already were struggling to face, the full force of their unit would be needed to kill him. With the cuts and bites on his own body, Blake still being weighed down after the poisoning, and Allie’s jaw, Roman wasn’t sure they could muster their full strength, but they had to try. Their packmates were fighting around them, keeping the bulk of the enemy away while they took on the leaders. They couldn’t let them down. They had to try and end this fighting before any more unn
Alastor POV - “Isn’t this sweet? A little family reunion. Two Hayres close to dead, and one soon to be.” Sam’s voice grated on Alastor as his attention flickered between his father and the bastard responsible for this mess. He avoided looking at Owen, his brother’s screams lessening to whimpers as the silver took root in his body. The knife Taylor used wasn’t pure silver like the blade that Owen had stabbed their father with. His brother would be able to bare the pain for a few hours before the poison would kill him. Alastor intended to leave it until the last possible second, so Owen would feel a small amount of the pain he’d caused Mina. “Your mother is going to be utterly heartbroken about the death of you three, and that’s before I let slip about the infidelity.” Sam laughed, the sound cruel and haunting. Alastor was sure he didn't care about the Hayre head cheating on his mate, but there was still some satisfaction to the words that let him know he relished every ounce of ang
Mina POV - Lover? Mina was struck immobile with the urge to recoil and surge a protest all at once. Her brow furrowed as she tried to picture her mother on Oliver’s arm, but she couldn’t do it. Not just because it was Oliver, but because it was anyone. Not once had her mother discussed having a partner, nor had she ever had a date. In all the years she had spent with her mother, Mina hadn’t even seen the woman look twice at another wolf. Not unless they had said something rude and she had to make sure they felt the full wraith of her glare. Surely, Mina would know if her own mother was keeping the company of another wolf under the packhouse roof? Yet, Sam seemed to know, and he had lived there just like her. But what about Oliver’s mate? Alastor’s mother? Did she know he was cheating on her, did she care? Mina was pulled from the questions flooding her mind at Oliver’s wheezes. Before he had cast her out of the pack, she had considered him something of a father figure. Despit
Mina POV - As Sam and Chelsea whipped around to face the oncoming threat, her unit pounced. As one, they charged forward in a blink, hitting the front line of the enemy wolves. They moved so fast, no one reacted before three throats were torn out, the first blood of this battle splattering across the floor. Mina winced. Two of those wolves were Clear Blue, but she hardened against the discomfort, knowing they were choosing to side with Sam. If they hadn’t known the truth her guilt would’ve eaten her alive, but she couldn’t feel bad with her unit protecting themselves. These wolves would kill them if given the chance and she knew her mates would give them the same consideration. However, they were trained wolves and wouldn’t go down easily. Alastor, Roman and Blake only took out one wolf each before the others reacted. They pulled around the closest member of her unit and battle ensued. The clash of warriors was a grating sound, the stench of blood slicing through the air immediat
Blake POV - Though a heavy weight riddled his body, Blake stood tall behind Willi. His canines were bared and he stared out at the mixture of Clear Blue and Diamond Ridge wolves that came to do Chelsea and Sam’s bidding. Though their presence was a threat, he was more concerned about Willi. She was still standing strong, challenging the enemy, but he could feel her through their bond. A deep, welling ache was growing beneath her composure as she faced the betrayal of her brother. Blake hadn’t known her when she had been close to Sam, but he knew how it felt to be discarded and used by family. He hadn’t even liked his, yet their betrayal cut deep. He couldn’t imagine the pain she was forcing herself not to feel in that moment. “So, you want to cut me off? You’re doing all this, so I won’t rely on you?” Willi called out. “Rely on me? You did more than that. I was your support for everything and what did I get for it? A whiny sister who didn’t know how good she had it and no credit