[Diego’s POV]I wait while Giddeon plops down in a chair with a look of curiosity on his face. Once I’m certain that I have everyone’s full attention, I let out a breath.“Do you remember that bastard Bernard?” I ask, letting his fucking face flash in my mind. “The one who was in the same year as Annemarie?”“The one that worshipped the very floor that she walked on?” Giddeon asks. “Vaguely. Are you saying he is the one who has been keeping her hidden for the past five years?”“That’s right.” I confirm. “So does that mean that he had something to do with the plague that found its way to Moon Storm?”Growing quiet, I try to find a way that the two could possibly be connected. Back at the academy, Bernard and I were rivals. Our grades and strength were on par with one another, although in the end I was the one who usually came out victorious.If he were responsible for the darkness, wouldn’t he have attacked Moon Storm during that time, or was there something that changed during that ti
[Rosalie’s POV]I walk slowly, keeping pace with the tiny boy beside me. He squeezes my hand almost as though he’s afraid that I will run away if he were to let me. Behind us, Diego walks slowly, taking in the scene, and I can almost feel the desire that he is radiating.Meeting again was never part of my plan, nor was getting close to that child that he and Kate created. So how was it possible that this was happening right now?‘He wants a proper mommy.’ Hana murmurs, letting her emotions flow into me. ‘But don’t get his hopes up, Rosalie.’‘I know.’ I respond, looking down at Landon as he skips happily.Just seeing him so happy over simply being beside me makes my heart ache because it makes me certain that Kate treated him terribly. How was it possible for a mother to be so awful to her own child?As this thought hits me, I think of Geo being alone with Gil while he waits for me. I was sure that he too would love some ice cream, but my wanting to keep distance from Diego made me ma
[Rosalie’s POV]When we arrive at the ice cream shop, the street just outside of it is empty, aside from children eating ice cream cones.“Where?” I gasp, my heart rate kicking up. “Where did they...”Moving forward, I feel my panic building as I picture Diego taking off with Geo in tow.“No.” I whisper, continuing to take in the street around me. “He wouldn’t. He definitely wouldn’t…”“Rosalie.”Gil’s voice is soft and comforting, as is the hand that touches my shoulder.“Look.”Swallowing down the knot that has formed in my throat, I shift my gaze in the direction that Gil is pointing so that I can see Diego standing at the counter with Geo and Landon cradled in each arm. To my surprise, Geo even has his arm wrapped around Diego’s neck, and if I look closely enough, he wears a small smile.Instantly, I feel my heart squeeze as I realize that if Diego and I weren’t from such different worlds, what I was seeing would have already been a regular thing.‘Don’t start to feel bad for your
[Rosalie’s POV]My heart squeezes painfully at Diego’s words, but I keep my expression neutral when Gil turns his gaze to mine. How could he so easily call us his family when he didn't come looking for us for so long? If he thought it would help win me over, he was wrong.“We’ll be okay.” I assure Gil, hoping he understands that this needed to happen. “I’ll call you later, okay?”For a moment, Gil doesn’t speak as he continues to examine me, but when he understands that I won’t budge on my resolve, he simply gives a nod.“Fine,” he says, moving forward and giving me a hug. “But know, if you don’t come into work on Monday, I will come find you.”“Got it.” I grin while Diego gives me a look that screams that he doesn’t want that to happen. “Thank you for everything until now.”Nodding, Gil steps back and turns his gaze to Diego.“If you so much as break a single hair on her head, I’ll kill you, do you understand?”“Of course.” Diego huffs in annoyance. “I wouldn’t do anything to hurt he
[Diego’s POV]I head out of the bathroom while anger slowly begins to bubble up in me. That scar. That fucking scar marring Rosalie’s porcelain skin was definitely not there five years ago. So how the fuck did she get it?As this single question races around in my mind, I feel something beginning to awaken in me—something dark and dangerous. I was certain that it was my lycan trying to show that he too was furious over the woman we loved being injured, but what I was feeling terrified me.“Fuck.” I hiss, shaking it off and beelining for Giddeon’s room, where he sat in bed reading a bedtime story to Landon. “Hey!” I call when his gaze lifts to mine. “Let’s go get a drink.”“Now?” He asks, looking at Landon, who is already asleep. “But what about...”“Now.” I growl, turning just in time to see Rosalie and Geo coming out of the bathroom.Remaining silent, I take them both in as my anger and sorrow begin to war with one another. It was still so hard to believe that after five years of sea
[Rosalie’s POV]I stare down at Diego with wide eyes as he tightens his hold on me. He reeks of alcohol, and his skin is flushed, showing just how messed up he is.Frowning, I lift my gaze to Giddeon, who is watching silently. However, before I can ask just how much Diego had to drink, the man in question's fingers slip beneath the fabric of my shirt, touching my skin.Instantly, intense sensations start rushing through me that make my eyes widen and my heart squeeze.Slowly, I lift my hand and touch the spot on my neck where he marked me so long ago, remembering that even if we weren’t together, he owned me completely. But it was weird; up until this point, he never once used this mark against me or invaded my privacy. That much was obvious due to his not finding me until recently.“Uh,” Giddeon murmurs as Diego’s hands start to gently move along my skin, touching me so gently that you would think he fears I would break. “Maybe I should...”“Not so fast.” I huff. “How much did he hav
[Rosalie’s POV]I sit on a lounge chair, staring up at the full moon while sipping on a warm cup of tea, while waiting for Diego to finish bathing. When he finally shows up, he is wrapped in a robe, and as he moves toward me, I can see his bare thighs peeking from underneath.“Feel better?” I ask, ignoring the sudden desire that is awakening in me. “Shouldn’t you have gotten dressed?”“Why?” He asks, giving me a look that screams danger. “Does it bother you that I’m not wearing anything underneath?”‘Cocky bastard.’ Hana huffs, though she doesn’t bother to hide her appreciation. ‘So much for not falling into his trap again.’Rolling my eyes, Ignore her quip, as I realize that is exactly what I’m doing, but I wasn’t doing this because I wanted to jump his bone. There were things that couldn’t be taken care of if we were at odds. We had a common enemy, and that enemy was lying dormant in Diego as we spoke.Shifting my gaze from the man in question’s exposed chest, I meet his steady gaze
[Diego’s POV]I stare at Rosalie while trying to process what exactly she is saying to me. Was there something she was sensing that I'd missed all these years? No. I was certain he was mine; otherwise, how could he...“What are you trying to say?” I ask slowly, my head spinning. “Are you saying that Kate has managed to fool me all this time?”For a moment, Rosalie doesn’t speak as she gives me a look of both pity and understanding.“You were out cold when I left.” She finally says. “I just don’t see how you could have possibly slept with Kate when you couldn’t even move to stop me from leaving.”Her words are like ice-cold water slamming into me as I remember the morning I woke up with Kate beside me. Even I couldn’t quite believe that I slept with her without remembering, but when Landon was born and I felt my family’s essence, I never questioned it.“Fuck.” I growl, shaking my head. “For five years, I tolerated her simply because of Landon, and now...”No. Even if Landon truly wasn’
[Ciaran’s POV]I lead my little mate through the bar and out toward the parking lot while everything in me screams to stop this and just leave her. However, unlike the first time we met, the bond feels so much stronger, and I can’t stop my wolf as it begs to have a taste of her. And frankly, this evening I wasn’t in the mood to be cautious, not when fate was continuing to bring her to me. However, there was something that didn’t make sense and that bugged the fuck out of me.She recognized me and my threat.Frowning, I reach my car and yank open the door to the backseat, and not wasting any time, I throw her inside and then climb in, slamming the door behind me. And once inside, I’m trapping her wrists between my hand, taking note of how fucking tiny they feel in my grasp. All I had to do was squeeze a little, and they would break.A human. I was mated to a fucking human. Me. Mated to such a weak being. What kind of fucking joke was this?“Why?” I grunt, trying to make sense of what w
[Chanel’s POV]My body buzzes with a delicious energy due to Anthrose marking me. Even though I’m exhausted from the ordeal that I’ve suffered through, I feel so invigorated that it leaves me stunned. However, by the looks of Anthrose and even Gil, who silently slumps to the side, I know that not all of us are going to be able to search for the artifacts needed to save Rosalie and Diego.“Anthrose,” I say quietly, letting him slump against me. “We should let Sam and the others find the artifacts.”“What are you saying?” Anthrose demands, jerking away. “How can we possibly…”He doesn’t finish his words before he is collapsing again, and I know that he isn’t going to fight me if I drag his ass out of here. But I know that even I won’t be able to do that, not when I needed to support Gil.“Are you able to walk?” I ask, deciding to not scold him for trying to act like he was fine. “Or should I…”“I can walk.” He assures me, slowly standing. “What about you?”“I’m fine,” I admit, joining h
[Anthrose’s POV]Joy rushes through me as the taste of blood explodes on my tongue. Goddess, it tastes so good, especially mixed with the fear that is trickling from the one that I’m slowly ripping limb from limb. It’s all I can taste, all I can feel, all I can focus on.That’s it. The darkness in me purrs. Kill. Kill everyone.Kill everyone. Right. I needed to kill everyone because they’re the ones who did this. This was their fault. They were the reason I was left with no other choice but to embrace the beast that I always kept in the shadows.Kill.The word repeats itself in my mind again and again until I feel hands wrapping around me, pulling at me, all of them attempting to stop me from killing the one beneath me.“Anthrose.”“Stop it.”“We need him alive.”Bullshit. We didn’t need this bastard alive! He deserved to die because he…The rest of my thought gets lost as a sweet scent slams into me, drawing my gaze to the single figure who lays on the ground clutching their abdomen.
[Chanel’s POV]I stare on, watching as Anthrose and the rest of his group surge forward, attacking the guards who were just sneering at me, and I can’t help but laugh at the difference in their demeanors.“Cowards,” I spit, sitting up and snapping my thumbs back into place. “Acting all high and mighty until actual danger appears.”As I speak, I grab the chains that are holding my ankles and begin to pull while ignoring the pain that shoots through me. Fuck, they were strong, but I was stronger. Soon enough, they begin to crack and then break apart, allowing me to finally get up and move to Gil’s side.“Just hang in there a bit longer, alright?” I tell him, clutching his cuff and starting to fight with it. “Then we will get you out of here and…”“No!” Gil gasps before breaking into a coughing fit. “We can’t just leave!”Frowning, I take in his words, trying to make sense of what it is that he is saying, but I don’t get to question him further before pain shoots through me and my body a
[Anthrose’s POV]The next morning we move out the minute the warm sun begins to paint the ground that we sleep on. After a quick breakfast, we head out with me leading the way since I’m the only one who can get a feel for the location that we are searching for.Together, we silently move across the island while keeping our senses alert in case of a surprise attack. However, the expected never happens, and by the time we are close to our destination, I can’t help but feel like all of this is too easy, and by the tension I feel from my companions, I know that they’re feeling the same.“Up ahead,” Sam murmurs, coming to my side. “I can see it.”Nodding, I take in the shining figure that I’m certain is the temple, noting the dark aura that radiates around it. Even from here I could tell that the things residing within were something the normal wolf wouldn’t want to approach, but given what we were fighting for, I wasn’t going to let it stop me.“Prepare yourselves.” I announce, letting my
[Anthrose’s POV]For the rest of the day, I search the island for a sign of where Chanel and Gil may be, but come up empty. And when my group can’t seem to move anymore, I have to call the search to a halt. However, that doesn’t mean that I don’t continue to keep my connection with the earth, searching while dinner is made.It’s a silent ordeal, as I’m certain that the entire group is feeling the weight of what is at hand and what we may encounter when we find the ones we are searching for. I could only assume that a fight was waiting for us, and it was because of that that I even agreed to res.Sighing, I close my eyes and let myself slip deeper into a trance, searching until I feel something press against my consciousness that snaps me to alertness as hope flares through me along with a longing that I’ve never felt before.‘Chanel,’ I whisper, not daring to truly believe that I’m feeling what I am. ‘Is that you?’For a moment, all I’m met with is silence, causing me to believe that
[Anthrose’s POV]My body screams at me, begging me to stop, to take a break, but I can’t stop moving. Behind me, I can hear noises of complaint and exhaustion escaping my companions, making it clear that they’re feeling the same thing as me. However, I can’t stop moving; I won’t stop moving; just the thought of stopping makes me so damn anxious I want to fucking destroy something. I can’t stop the feeling that if I stop looking even for a second, Chanel will vanish completely.Shivering, I try not to think of a world where she doesn’t exist somewhere. Sure, it was one thing to keep my distance and allow her to live the life that she deserves, but to even think of her not being somewhere alive and happy damn near kills me.‘Chanel.’ I call to the darkness, hoping and praying that by some miracle she will respond to me. ‘Where are you? Why aren’t you answering me?’“Anthrose.”I immediately freeze as the voice reaches me, but I realize a moment too late that it wasn’t Chanel’s voice, it
[Chanel’s POV]I look around me, taking in the stone walls around me, noting how they’re cracking, allowing vines to grow through them while my intrusive thoughts try to get the better of me. They’re screaming things like what if this place were to collapse. What if you find yourself at a dead end? What if you run out of air? It’s irritating as fuck, and even though I keep telling them to shut up, they just won’t.“Hey,” I call to Tyson, who leads the way in hopes of distracting myself. “Are you certain that we are going in the right direction?”Since he was the one to choose our path and take the lead, I could only hope that he somehow could track the way out of this place, but what if he was just leading us deeper into this underground labyrinth?“Hey,” I repeat when he doesn’t respond to me. “I’m talking to you.”Frustration growing, I move forward and grab his shoulder, forcing him to turn and look at me, but I’m not met with the same gaze that I was used to. Instead, I’m met with
[Anthrose’s POV]We spend the rest of the day searching for any sign of Chanel or Tyson, but all we come up with is nothing. It’s almost like neither of them existed or were somehow spirited away from earth.“We should rest.” Henry, one of Ulrick’s warriors, suggests later that evening. “We will be useless in helping them if we are exhausted.”“Are you saying that this little bit of action exhausts you?” I demand. “If that's the case, you are more than welcome to rest, but I’m going to keep searching.”“But, sir…”“I said I was going to keep searching!” I growl, not giving two fucks if I came across as argumentative or defiant. “There’s no fucking way that I’m going to stop until I find her.”Even though only a couple of hours had passed, I couldn’t help but feel like days, even weeks, had already gone by without Chanel’s presence. It was fucking maddening, and I was beginning to feel like a crazy man. How the hell did I manage to stay away from her for so many years in the past?No.