CAMILLE'S POVThey all left, leading me to deal with the aftermath of their mess. I looked back at my children.Sophia looked like she was going to cry, and Collins seemed so afraid. This was the one thing I was trying to avoid, and somehow, it had found its way to me regardless. "Camille," Neal reached for me to comfort me. But I shook away his hands. "No," I told him, my eyes brimming with tears unshed. "I refuse to let this take its course the second time.""I understand what you mean, Camille. But Milana is no harm. She is just going through a phase. It simply is an emotional response.""That is how it starts. Uncontrolled emotions lead to a world of hurt. I know that better than anyone.""Mommy?" Collins chipped in.I froze, realizing I was tethering the edge of insanity. When I turned to face my children, I managed a strained smile, suppressing the storm raging within me that threatened to tip over. I wasn't going to lose it. Not for this. "Everything's alright, my loves," I
CAMILLE'S POV"No," His hands shot to my mouth, muffling the words that were about to escape, and somehow it worked.I hesitated, guilt consuming me because I had just attempted to do the very thing that was done to me. Sure, I had a good reason. But it didn't justify my actions.I took that guilt and crammed it somewhere dark. I didn't need it now. I could get crippled by it later. I didn't care. This wasn't just about me. My children were in the picture now.As their mother, I had to be capable of anything—even betrayal."You promised that it had to be my decision."I dropped his hand, a tear escaping my eye as I faced him."It is clear to me that you will not choose," I told him.He didn't have an answer. Because he knew it was true, too.While he battled his internal demons, I summoned the courage to say the words again. My wolf was against it. She was screaming in my head repeatedly to think. Think of what a match of fate meant. Think of how rare it was to get one, not once, but
CAMILLE'S POVA stretcher was brought, and Dimitri was out in it and wheeled to the kingdom's clinic.It was my first time there. But the smell of antiseptic and the bright white light caused my heart to drown in despair.I watched as an oxygen mask was placed on his face, and the nurses who took over from the sentinels wheeled him deeper into the clinic. "You cannot go in," A nurse told me as I watched Dimitri disappear from my line of sight.I pushed her hands away, wanting to defile her order. But I was a nurse myself, and this was protocol. I took a step back upon reevaluation, sucking in a breath and combing through my hair before turning back to face the nurse."Will he be alright?" I asked. The nurse paused before answering. "We will do our best. "It has been a while since his disease has gotten this violent. But you shouldn't worry. We have the best Lycan doctors. His Majesty will be alright."I hoped so. I truly hoped so. I continued to pace around in the hall when Neal fo
SPECIAL CHAPTER ONE: OPHELIA COTTONWOOD AUTHOR'S NOTE: Special chapters serve to shed light on the perspectives of minor characters, providing insight into their roles in the unfolding narrative.Guilt and frustration lingered in me when I ended the call with Camille. I looked down at the bus tickets for three to Wentworth in my hands. A reminder of my failure. It would be only a matter of time before she found out.Turns out I was painfully right.There was a shift in the air. Power that extraordinary could never be hidden. I turned back to catch her hovering over me. Her pristine white hair looked like the sun against the warm light of my kitchen."You disappoint me constantly, Ophelia." The supreme blatantly told me. "You were the one who told me everything was under control. You were the one who convinced me not to interfere when the Lycan king fished her out. You said she had a new alias. You said she hid her face when she worked. So I chose to listen to you this one time. The
CAMILLE'S POV"So you will have him die?" Neal chipped in almost immediately. "What the fuck happened to you, Milana? It's like I don't even know who you are anymore."I watched Milana's face contort into something bitter. What Neal said hurt her. But she quickly composed herself. "I am not doing this because I am selfish." She retorted. "I expected you, of all people, to see that."Neal stepped forward. "Well, I don't. What I see is a woman letting her jealousy turn her ugly."Milana scoffed, looking at Eva for support. Eva must have gotten the message because she joined her new soul sister to strengthen the blockade that Milana had created with her body."You are protecting her an awful lot. If I weren't certain you had a little sugar in your tank, my mind would take this in a completely different direction."Milana then stepped forward, her face inches away from Neal. "You might have gotten your loyalties muddled up, but I am here to remind you. She might be his fated mate. But I
CAMILLE'S POVThe scene looked like a church. There were dried flower petals scattered over the floor, and there were rows of benches lining the room.It felt as if I was in the very room with them. A ghost unseen."Victor, what are you doing here?" Hugo's tone was tense as he walked down the altar to meet Victor. "Guest will soon be gathering. My bride will soon be here. You cannot do this. Not now.""Do what?" Victor scoffed. "Talk some sense into you? Hugo, I am in pain here. You are about to walk the aisle with my sister and make unbreakable vows to her. Am I supposed to sit and watch?""You don't have to be here," Hugo replied. I could tell he was trying so hard to be nonchalant about it. "I didn't invite you for a reason.""Grace is my sister! I'll hear everything. I don't understand why you would do this—""To protect my seat!" Hugo replied. "Lycaon, you are so self-absorbed. Do you think I want to be here? Do you think I want to marry your sister? No." He reached for Victor,
DIMITRI'S POVI didn't think I was going to make it. I was slipping in and out of consciousness. The pain tortured me till my body turned numb.At that moment, when I looked death in the eye, I got clarity. It was like every moment of my life came together to speak to me.I had been so torn about who to choose. My beast wanted to claim its mate. Touch her. Taste her. Love her. But my promise was the only thing holding me back. I did love Milana. But what I felt for Camille was different. It was a fire I hadn't known. It was why I had been against initiating the rejection. Why would I want to strip myself of a sensation that felt so euphoric? That should have been the telltale sign, but my ego wouldn't let me see it because I would have to break a promise. I would have to show just how selfish and vain I could be. Milana had been the byproduct of the necessity to fix the mess that my disease or curse had caused in both the werewolf and the Lycan species. It was a promise I had no q
DIMITRI'S POVWhen I walked through the hallway with her in my arms, I found Milana waiting. She was the only one. That surprised me. If there was one thing I knew about Milana, it was that she took her sleep routine diligently.She had this gentle smile on her face when she realized I was alright. I watched that gentle nature die when she realized I was holding Camille in my hands.I truly would have loved to do it in a different place. But if it had to be here, then so be it.I walked up to her slowly. Maybe because a part of me didn't want to do it. I didn't want to hurt her.She had been through thick and hell for me, and I was just about to push her away like she was nothing. She has spent all those years waiting on me, and I was just about to render them meaningless."Hey," I began.Milana's eyes did not leave Camille. When they eventually did, I noticed that she looked hurt. Which, in turn, broke me because I was about to make it so much worse. "I'm glad you are alright." She