[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’
[Rosalie’s POV]“Now.”Chanel’s voice echoes around us as her hands grip my wrists, pulling me down on the bed beside her. Although I was extremely happy to see her, since she was one of the few friends that I actually had, I was also nervous about having to explain to her what happened.Would she still see me as a friend if she knew of my cowardice in the face of Diego’s mother, or would she understand? After all, Anthrose basically did the same thing as me when Diego’s father banished him, and she still accepted him.“What the hell happened?” She continues, snapping me out of my head.There it was. The very question I knew was to come.“I’m a chicken.” I sigh, slumping forward. “Instead of trusting that someone would help me, I ran away.”“Help you.” Chanel repeats, raising a brow. “What the hell is that supposed to mean?”“That…” I begin, wondering if Diego would be fine with me telling Chanel about what happened. “Diego’s mother found my mom.” I continue, deciding it was fine. If
[Diego’s POV]I stare into my son’s eyes, finding myself getting lost in them due to just how much they look like mine, down to the distrust that sparkles in them.Dammit. I hate that he is looking at me that way, but in the end, it was my fault. I didn’t do a good enough job of protecting his mother, and that was why any of this was even happening.“Just name it, and I’ll do it.” I continue when he doesn’t speak. “You have my word, man to man.”“Anything?” Geo asks, the little wheels in his head beginning to turn. “Even if I asked you to leave us alone?”“Anything but that.” I respond. “I left the two of you alone for five years, and I don’t intend to do that again.”“But you said anything.” Geo points out. “Are you going against your word?”“I think.” Rosalie announces as I try to come up with a response. “Tension is way too high because of everything that has happened in the last twenty-four hours. Maybe it would be best for us to do something to unwind and then come back to this t
[Rosalie’s POV]I stare straight ahead, watching while Diego lifts Landon and Geo so they glide over the waves that crash around him. The sight does something to me. Who would have known such a cold and ruthless man could have such a gentle side? It was easy to tell that he was truly enjoying himself from the sparkle in his eyes and the small smile on his lips.“Did you fall in love all over again?” Chanel asks, throwing herself against me and squeezing me close. “I know I would have.”“Who is in love?” I ask, feeling my cheeks flush. “I don’t…”“It is written all over your face.” She giggles, coming to stand beside me. “And honestly, I can’t blame you; when he’s like that, it is hard not to.”Frowning, I turn my gaze to Chanel and find myself wondering if this was the side of Diego that she always knew. Since they were close friends, I was sure that this was nothing new, but did that mean she at one point loved him?“Don’t worry,” Chanel sighs, as if reading my thoughts. “There has o
[Rosalie’s POV]The rest of the day is spent easily alternating between enjoying the ocean and lounging on the beach. At the end of it, we grab a quick dinner on the boardwalk and head back to Diego’s condo, where we go our separate ways.By the time my head hits the pillow, I’m so exhausted from essentially playing all day that I fall straight to sleep, and when my eyes open again, the sun is already shining.Yawning, I sit up and sniff the air as the scent of bacon and eggs reaches me. Instantly, my stomach begins to rumble, urging me out of bed, and when I exit my room, I hear the sound of easy chatter.When I reach the kitchen, I find that Chanel and Anthrose, along with the kids, are already at the table, eating, while Diego stands by the stove, flipping some bacon on a pan.Turning, he meets my gaze, and for a moment I’m left utterly in shock over the sight of him doing something so normal. Honestly, since our reunion, I was seeing a lot of different sides of him that I never tr
[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.