"A trapped and injured wolf will bite, out of malice and out of instinct, for survival knows no mercy in the jaws of desperation."
CAMILLE'S POVThe private jet streaked across the sky, but it couldn't go fast enough for me. Every minute dragged by like an eternity as I sat rigid in my seat, my hands clenched into fists. Dimitri reached over to grip my arm, offering silent comfort, but I could barely feel it through the panic pounding in my veins.Ophelia and Neal's grave expressions mirrored my own fear. We had to make it to Ravenford. I had to find my son before it was too late.Dimitri would have loved to carry an army along with him to get rid of Eva. But there was only so much a jet could carry.When the jet finally touched down, we burst out onto the tarmac, hurrying to the rental car waiting for us. I wrenched open the door and threw myself into the passenger seat, needing to be the first set of eyes on the road to the Ravenwood Forest. Dimitri drove like a madman, the trees and buildings blurring past as we raced towards our destination. My pulse thundered in my ears, drowning out everything but the bu
SPECIAL CHAPTER EIGHT: ABIGAIL AUTHOR'S NOTE: Special chapters serve to shed light on the perspectives of minor characters, providing insight into their roles in the unfolding narrative."Go back to hell, Asmodeus," I spat. Not out of rage or disgust. But simply because I was too exhausted to do this dance with him again.Demons weren't so keen on social cues. Asmodeus waltzed in front of me and leaned in close. "You know I cannot do that, mate." He whispered in response. I almost willed the table in front of me to rise and slam into him. That was how much I wanted to shut him up. If he weren't an apparition, it would have been possible. There were laws for demons. Those laws were stringent for a Prince of hell. Asmodeus couldn't cross over physically without permission from the King of Hell, and the only way he could be semi-present was through a summoning. This was not a summoning. My hands reached for his face only to pass through. "Why are you here then? To convince me again
SPECIAL CHAPTER NINE: OPHELIA COTTONWOODAUTHOR'S NOTE: Special chapters serve to shed light on the perspectives of minor characters, providing insight into their roles in the unfolding narrative.Seeking nature's aid to locate Eva Dumont proved a grave misstep. It robbed us of the element of surprise, granting that vile monster precious time to prepare.As the first gunshot rang out, my gaze locked onto Camille, undoubtedly the intended target. I stood frozen, unable to summon my magic or even move a muscle.Then, in a heartbeat, the Lycan King's Beta threw himself into the bullet's path, shielding Camille from certain death. Horror gripped me as I witnessed his body crumple, the fatal shot meant for another striking true.Camille rushed to his side, her healing gifts desperately attempting to mend the grievous wound. But we all knew, even if her powers hadn't failed her, If it was one of those bullets cocktailed in silvermist and wolfsbane. The damage would be too severe for even he
DIMITRI'S POVWhat was happening? What the fuck was happening? My throat was dry, and my heart felt like it would explode.Neal was gone, and Camille was now unresponsive after being covered in that malevolent light. I could still hear her heart beating, but something was wrong."Camille, wake up." I urged, reaching for her hand. They were cold. Like ice cold. The full moon hung low in the night sky, its pale light casting an ominous glow over the forest. The sight of it stirred something primal within me, a force so ancient and raw that it threatened to consume my very being.I could feel the beast clawing at the edges of my consciousness, its hunger for dominance growing stronger with each passing moment. The rage that had been simmering beneath the surface erupted like a volcano, fueled by the loss of my beta and the eerie silence that enveloped Camille.My hands clenched into fists, nails digging into my palms as I fought against the impending transformation. But it was a battle
CAMILLE'S POV"It is time, Camille." A familiar voice bellowed."Time for what?" I asked, turning in the direction of the voice. I couldn't exactly make out the figure. But I recognized the voice of my wolf, and I could make out its silhouette from where I stood. "You recently told me you didn't want to shut me out anymore. You said you wanted to share our pains and desires. I know you better than anyone else because we are one and the same, Camille. You feel grief from Neal's death, and you desire to kill Eva. I can help." This was my mind. This was my wolf's domain. An unsettling negative energy consumed me, and I couldn't shake the feeling that something wasn't right."We must be reborn together," my wolf continued. "It's the only way to bring Neal back and save the others in danger."While I accepted her as part of me, her words bothered me deeply because it felt dishonest. "Can we even do that?""Why not?" The voice retorted. My gaze shifted to the space around us, and I took
CAMILLE'S POV Eva chuckled when she made eye contact with me. I saw the malice in her eyes grow, and she spat in my face. My finely tuned senses could almost taste the iron in the blood. "You have finally shown your true colors," she told me. The manipulation was really never going to end because there was no way she believed she was right in this scenario. Eva laughed again. "Nice horns. You look like the demon that you were meant to be. No more of that nice girl bullcrap." I proceeded to wipe the blood off my face. Hearing her whine like she was the victim again made me lift her by the hair and wack the behind of her head into the tree again. It wasn't enough. My hand dropped, and I grasped her neck, pulling her closer to my face. "You made me this way," I whispered, the grip around her throat tightening. "And I am fine with it because I get to see you suffer." My hands tightened even more, and I watched her struggle to breathe. The first few seconds of her pretending like
SPECIAL CHAPTER NINE: NEAL GALDINAAUTHOR'S NOTE: Special chapters serve to shed light on the perspectives of minor characters, providing insight into their roles in the unfolding narrative.I was fading fast. The pain ripped through my body with every strained breath. Dimitri and Camille's voices rang out, desperate for me to hang on, to stay awake. But the darkness closed in, blurring their panicked faces.Was this it? Was I about to find out what the big mystery was all about? I'd always figured myself for hell after what my ancestors did - that whole thing with killing off the Mad God's lover. Tough break, but what could you do?My eyelids grew heavy. Too heavy to keep open any longer. I let them slide shut as the blackness fully took over. Then - nothing. Just...nothing. No pain, no fear, no thoughts even. A pure blank void.How long did that nothing last? Impossible to say. But then, just as quickly, my eyes snapped back open. I squinted against a blinding white light that se
CAMILLE'S POVNeal's grip on my wrist was iron, a lifeline, and a shackle all at once. "Camille, this isn't you," he said. His eyes pleading and earnest while they searched mine for the woman he once knew.My heart wavered, a storm of emotions threatening to tear me apart. "Exactly, Camille doesn't hurt people. But I will," I spat, trying to shake him off. His grip only tightened."Please, Neal, stop trying to stop me," I hissed, my voice cracking. The wolf inside snarled, eager to break free and finish what we had started.Neal's expression softened, though his resolve remained. "I won't let you do this, Camille. Not like this." His voice was steady, even as he struggled to restrain me.Without warning, I summoned the ancient magic coursing through my veins. Roots erupted from the ground, wrapping around Neal's legs and arms, pulling him away from me. He struggled, eyes wide in shock. "Camille!""We need to do this, Neal. For justice," I said, my voice cold as I turned to Eva, who l
CAMILLE'S POV I took a deep breath as the massive ornate doors of the Lycaon Church slowly creaked open. My heart was pounding like crazy - this was such a huge moment. As the doors parted, a sliver of light spilled in, and I stepped forward, the delicate lace veil over my head obscuring my vision and hiding the intense emotions I felt from the hundreds of eyes watching me enter. The air inside was cool and thick with the sweet smell of incense. I could hear the rustle of fancy silk dresses and reverent whispers as everyone turned to watch me walk down the aisle. Soft, beautiful piano music began playing, a serene piece I had chosen myself to start off this grand ceremony. As I made my way up the gold carpet that seemed to glow like a path of light before me, the veil cast everything in a sort of ethereal, dreamy haze. I could feel the intricate embroidery on my exquisite gown as my fingers brushed against the fabric - it was an actual work of art, adorned with symbols of our histo
CAMILLE'S POV"No..." Eva shuddered when the weight of her sentence finally settled in. "No..."She ran towards my feet and knelt, her eyes wide with desperation. "I know what you want, Camille," she pleaded, her voice cracking. "You want me to beg for all the horrible things I've done. And I understand now, I do. I'm sorry for being so cruel. But two wrongs don't make it right. This is inhumane! A collar is a for a dog.""A troubled dog." I corrected as I knelt down to meet her gaze."I'm only being a good sister, Eva," I said softly. "You were raised wrong by your mother, Adele. Despite everything, I didn't think you deserved to suffer for something your mother and my grandmother had a hand in creating. So this is your chance at a new beginning, Eva. Be good."Eva's face twisted in disgust. I watched her muster the courage to do it. At first, fearing that the collar would catch on to her nefarious intentions if she tried to spit on my face. The second the collar caught a whiff of he
EVA'S POV (THREE DAYS AFTER THE EVENTS OF RAVENFORD)Three days of pure torture had passed. There was no clean drinking water, bath, or even a basin to wash my face or hair. The guards were rough whenever they could be, and I had only been given a decent meal once. So, panic seized me when I heard keys rattling in the lock of my cell, and the door creaked open.I looked up and saw three guards approaching. With each step they took, I shrunk back further."You can't kill me. I haven't been tried yet. I'm innocent."One of the guards stepped forward and slapped me hard across the face. I dropped to the floor, shuddering from the impact."You whiny bitch! You kill one of our own and try to harm our prince, and you have the audacity to call yourself innocent. You have no idea how much every one of us is fighting not to take your life and be done with it." Through gritted teeth, I managed to speak, "I am Eva Dumont, future Luna of the Lily of the Valley pack, and a cursed beast like you
DIMITRI'S POVI turned away from the Deltas, my mind already buzzing with plans. Their eyes followed me, filled with a mix of worry and resolve. They knew what we were up against and grasped the dangers. This was no time to hesitate."Follow me," I commanded, heading toward my chambers. The guards moved with me, their steps precise and silent, a result of years of training. The atmosphere was thick with the seriousness of our mission.Once inside my bedroom, I went straight to the dressing table and grabbed my phone. I dialed quickly, the familiar number bringing a brief sense of comfort in the chaos. Ginger answered almost at once."Ginger, it's me again. Back to business. I have three men with me, so the spell needs to be done twice."There was a short pause before Ginger's calm, reassuring voice came through. "No problem, Dimitri. I can manage that."I set the phone down on a dresser and turned to the first sentinel guard. "Step into the rune. Ginger, start the spell."The guard an
CAMILLE'S POV The necrotic green glow exploded out of me, shattering the windows and shaking the very core of the building. The door I had transmuted into a wall disintegrated completely. The light consumed everything, and when it finally died, my eyes struggled to adjust to the debris and the afterimage of that sickly glow. My breath came in short gasps, and I blinked rapidly, trying to make sense of the scene before me. Amid the wreckage, I saw Abigail not far from where I stood. She lay on the floor, her eyes wide and filled with shock. A tremor ran through me as I wondered if the spell had worked. Had I failed? Abigail’s movements drew my attention. She stared at her hands, her expression one of bewilderment. Then, her gaze shifted to the ceiling. The rune I had drawn to seal her magic was now fractured, broken by the cracks that laced the ceiling. Fucking hell! She rose to her feet, power radiating from her as she turned to face me. “I gave you the opportunity to touch a r
CAMILLE'S POV The space around me seemed to thrum with the weight of Asmodeus's words. "The rune is known as the Sigil of Perdition," he said, his voice low and measured. "It is an ancient power, capable of manipulating the fabric of reality in ways that no ordinary spell can." I felt a shiver run down my spine as I emboldened myself to ask the question that mattered the most. "But, will it work?" Asmodeus's gaze met mine. It looked like he was almost disappointed that I would ask. "Well, I hope so," he replied. "What I am gambling on is your raw strength, Camille. You are much stronger than Abigail. I felt it when you awakened. The demon blood that runs through your veins is not recessive like it was with Bo." I frowned, not fully understanding. "What do you mean by that?" Before he could answer, a bright light assaulted my eyes, turning my vision completely white. Panic tugged through me as I tried to blink away the blinding light. My senses felt dulled, as if I were suspen
DIMITRI'S POVI awoke with a start, finding myself on the cold, hard floor. The chill sent shivers through my body. Blinking rapidly, I struggled to shake off the haze of unconsciousness. As my vision cleared, I noticed intricate rune drawings on the floor beside me, softly glowing in the dim light. My heart sank as I recognized the teleportation sigil. Beside it lay Neal, motionless, his chest rising and falling in shallow breaths.That could only mean one thing. Camille had knocked him out cold, too, and gone to Abigail alone.An admission that heavy made my skin crawl.“No, no, no,” I muttered, my body starting to tremble. “Camille, what have you done?” I approached the rune, my steps heavy and reluctant, each one echoing my growing dread.Without wasting time, I turned and opened the door, my mind racing. I needed help, and I needed it fast. I hurried down the hallway, my thoughts a chaotic swirl of worry and rage. I was angry at Neal, and more importantly, I was angry at myself.
CAMILLE'S POVI tried to keep my eyes open, but I was unable to, and my whole world turned dark.When I blinked my eyes open, I found myself in a blank white space. I turned around, seeing no exit and no door. I looked down at my body and noticed it phasing in and out, looking whole one second and translucent the other second. I whispered, "Where am I?"A voice whispered from behind me, "You've lasted longer than I expected."I turned to face the voice and saw a handsome, pale-skinned man, shirtless, with what looked like liquid darkness covering his body from his hips downward. He had horns that curled back from his forehead.I recognized him from the memory of Abigail. He was the demon Abigail mentioned was her mate. "Asmodeus," I whispered."In the flesh," he retorted.I took a step back, uncomfortable and unsure of what this meant. Was I in hell? What had I done to deserve hell?"Why am I here? Why are you here?"Asmodeus replied, "You are here because you are tethering between l
CAMILLE'S POVHearing her sound so callous of people's lives reminded me of someone. It reminded me of Eva. In fact, they were more alike than I would love to admit. Vindictive. Myopic and downright cruel.I forced myself to stand. It was hard, but I could manage. My body had started to heal itself. "The Galdinas suffered for a sin they had no idea of. They had no idea what they did to deserve such a fate, but they still suffered because you were spiteful of your father? Do you know what that did to me and my son?" I demanded, my voice rising with every word. "Do you know what that did to my mate?"It was clear that Abigail didn't give two shits about my pain. As long as the Galdinas were involved, she seemed perfectly capable of blocking out her empathy if any still even remained. But seeing no remorse on Abigail's face set my blood on fire. I charged at her and swung with all my might, knowing damn well this was a fight I couldn't win but not caring regardless. She easily dodged