After my date with Julian, I was left confused, unsure if I had clearly made any of the points I had set out to make or not. Nicholas showing up had certainly thrown a wrench into my plans. I wasn’t sure how I could show Julian he deserved love that came easy, when my own heart was so entangled in p
The next day was the dress rehearsal for the performance event. All of the candidates, Nicholas, Julian, Elva, and I were in our costumes in the ballroom at the base of the stage, chatting and getting ready. Everyone’s spirits seemed to be high. In our costumes, we made for a colorful bunch. Many
Bridget made Nicholas and I redo our breakup scene. With his apology fresh between us, I didn’t feel so hurt anymore, and the words from the script bounced right off of me without taking root in my heart. After the scene, Nicholas and I smiled at each other, then I made my way down the stage to re
That night, Nicholas and Julian joined the rest of the candidates and me in the dining room for dinner together. Elva was tired from the day’s events, so I returned her to our room where the nanny was waiting to keep an eye on her. Julian joined me at the door, to walk down to the dining room togeth
Early the next morning, I awoke to the sound of loud and persistent knocking on my door. It was so early, Charlotte hadn’t even arrived yet and the curtains were still drawn over the windows. The guards were talking with the morning visitor, who was nearly shrieking in her reply. It was Bridget. S
I frowned deeper. Julian was always playing the angles. Would he have put me down to impress Bridget? That didn’t really sound like him. “He called you… oh, forgive me. A manipulative tramp. A two-faced woman. Someone who only cared about him for his money and power.” Julian would not say that a
I didn’t see Julian or Bridget again until later in the day when it was time for the final show. By then, the cameras had been set and the guests had arrived to fulfill their role as the audience. The King and Queen took their spots on their raised thrones. Joyce was notably absent. He was likely
“Nick? What is it?” I asked. He turned to me, walked right up to me, and said, “Something better than good luck.” Then he kissed me. I wrapped my arms around him. His hands gripped my waist. He guided me back against the lip of the counter then hoisted me up so that I was sitting on top of it. M
Instead, the Queen pulled me into a hug. It was uncomfortable and brief, but a hug none the less. From the Queen, this was a tremendous breach of decorum, and I froze, unsure how to react. Even Nathan, standing dutifully as his King’s side seemed shocked.“I have misjudged you dearly,” the Queen sai
I wasn’t sure what to expect when our car delivered us from the train station to the palace, but even in my wildest dreams, I wouldn’t have guessed what actually awaited us.Cheering crowds lined the outer walls of the palace. Balloons and streamers of various colors were abundant. A stage had been
At once, my heart leapt up into my throat, while simultaneously crashing down into my stomach.I pulled away from Nicholas enough to push myself up onto my hands and stare down at him.The thought of breaking the engagement had never crossed my mind! Nicholas proposing had been one of the best momen
In a war between the wolves and the bears, only the lost bear princess will be able to stop this fighting. Else, the bears will continue to fight themselves to exhaustion or to death.“It’s up to you,” Nicholas said. “I believe in you. You can do this.”I closed my eyes. Miracle was still exhausted,
Slowly, my grief subsided for now, enough for me to look up at Nicholas and feel the relief of being reunited with my fiancé.My… mate.“I love you,” Nicholas said. “I’m sorry it took so long for me to reach you.”“How are you even here? It’s impossible for you to have found me this quickly?”Nichol
Joyce, despite his best efforts, was not a fighter. He was not bred for war and battle like Hawke was, so even calling on the power of his Alpha wolf, Hawk tossed Joyce aside like he was a sack of potatoes.However, Joyce did show amazing tenacity, and stood back up time and time again. Roaring, he
Nicholas was here. I didn’t know how. I didn’t know why. But he was here, and that gave me the strength I needed to act.I ripped my arm away from Joyce’s hold and rushed into the room where Hawk was choking my sister on the ground. Using all of my strength, I plowed into Hawk.My surprise more than
We slipped into the hallway easily enough. The lights were off, so we stuck to the shadows. We didn’t go far when we started to hear raised voices.“I want to know if Piper was telling the truth.” It was Jane.“You cannot mean to trust her more than me,” that was Hawk. His cold voice sent shivers ru
A mating bond…?Yes. Even though Nicholas and I had never talked about the love between us, I had still felt it grow over these months together. Nicholas had never made a bonding bite on my neck, yet inside of me, that bond had cultivated. Our hearts were bound together, mating bite or now.There wa