................Stefania..............."Are you ready?" Paris asks, brushing my hair out of my face, and I nod as he pulls me into the hug. The elders are at the door waiting to check if I have done what I’m here to do, and I find myself afraid. I have always been so sure that I would give Paris an heir, but during the last few days I found myself not so sure, and if I weren’t afraid of making the gods mad right now when I need them to help me see this through, I would have gone to a fertility clinic to make sure. I close my eyes, snuggling more into his arms, as memories of last night flood in. It was difficult for Paris at first. I had to take charge, but once he pulled himself together, it was magical. He was gentle and caring, and he made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, and I started feeling things I shouldn’t have—things that will break my heart all over again. We linger in the hug for a while before he pulls back and places a kiss on my forehead. I give h
...........Evaki..........."Oh, no. This is not going to do," I mutter while taking off my shoes before walking to the closet to look for a comfortable pair. I’m coming back from Stefania’s brunch, and the three of us are about to head down to the throne room for her first day as queen. Paris said, like on my first day, I don’t have to stay all day; I can leave when the formalities are over, and I’m going to do that. Dean is taking me to the orphanage I opened two weeks ago. Paris had it built in my honor because he knows that’s something close to my heart. Being around him and Stefania is something that I’m going to have to get used to, but I haven’t figured out how yet. It still hurts too much, and the fact that she’s pregnant is just another stab in the heart. I know it’s not supposed to be because I should have expected it; it’s kind of the whole reason she married my husband, and it’s not a son. But it still stings. So I decided to only subject my heart to half the torture
..................................................................Warning: The following chapter contains elements of anthropophagy........................................................................................Author's POV ......................Driviar sighs and picks up the ball, knowing it’s the king calling him once again. They don’t use cell phones to communicate unless they have to. He answers but immediately feels his blood boiling with frustration. Driviar is not in his mansion but at sea, heading to the caves where he hopes to find the answers he needs. But now Dimitris needs him to mix up a potion and deliver it to him. Driviar told him he was going to be indisposed for a few days, but Dimitris is not the type to take "no" for an answer or care about other people’s problems. When Driviar tells him he won’t be able to send the potion right now and asks that he wait until the morning so he can think of what to do, Dimitris refuses. He tells Driviar to send his
...........Kyros...........I make the turn and enter the bustling city of Dreaxotia—King Dmitris’s kingdom—the wolf who stabbed himself in the back and became a hero. Whenever I said that Father would say people would say I was bitter because my grandfather was killed, but I’m not. My grandfather made a mistake and joined Dimitris in turning against his own and protecting the Lycan King, but at least he realized what he did was wrong. It is said that he was killed while trying to kill the Lycan King after he had sided with Dimitris to aid him. Father had his own theory about what happened. He didn’t believe that my grandfather had turned on the Lycan King after giving his word to be by his side. My grandfather was true to his word, according to my father, and he never went back on it. My father believed that Dimitris turned on my grandfather, killed him, then lied and said he turned on the Lycan king because he didn’t want to share the reward with my grandfather. My grandfather wa
...........Kyros ..........‘Mate’ My wolf growls, while my heart ceases for a moment, everything fading to the background as I stand there, transfixed, before it begins to race with the familiar intensity. We finally found her, and she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I take a step closer, my knees feeling like jelly as the fireworks illuminate her face, making her look like an angel sent from the heavens. She’s standing on the balcony, her eyes fixed on the festivities below. My breathing becomes shallow as I stand rooted in the spot, my body feeling things I can’t even put into words while gazing at my soulmate. She looks completely at ease, her grace and radiance turning me inside out, and just as I begin to ask myself why she isn’t affected since I can clearly feel she’s a wolf, she turns and looks at me, and my heart stops for the second time as our eyes lock. My wolf moves forward to make the bond, but hers doesn’t. There’s nothing in her eyes; it’s like she’s hu
.........Maia .........My eyes snap open, and I stare up at the high ceiling, unable to shake the image of his face. I can still feel his eyes peering into my soul, and I don’t even understand the logic of it. He was standing in the dark, but I could see him so clearly. When I looked around him, I couldn’t see clearly, but him I could see. I was brought up by wolves, and I’ve learned and understand their ways, so I know about mates and how magical it feels when you see each other for the first time, but still, it knocked the air out of my chest. It was like my senses were enhanced, like I had taken some of his wolf magic for myself. I could even hear his heart beating, and for the past many hours, I’ve been trying to forget and sleep, but I can’t. Stefania said he’s going to come see my father in the morning because he needs his permission since I’m a princess. I asked her if Father will permit him, and she said he will. She’s never lied to me, and I want to believe it, but my mi
..........Maia.........."What?" I whisper, looking at him as he continues shaking. Why would he be calling my mother’s name in his sleep? I told him I was adopted, but I didn’t tell him her name. "Kyros!" I call him again, and this time his eyes snap open. He sits up with a start, panting and wide-eyed, before looking around the room, looking confused and disoriented."It’s okay. It’s just a dream. It’s okay," I say softly, trying to hold him while he trembles, drenched in sweat, but he flinches when I try to touch him, looking at me like he’s never seen me before in his life. "It’s just a dream; you’re alright," I try to reassure him, but my bedside clock cuts me off, and when I turn around after turning it off, I find him off the bed and rushing towards his clothes. He puts them on while I get off the bed, holding the sheets tighter against my chest and walking up to him. But before I can say anything, he picks up his car keys and bolts out of the door, leaving me standing there
.........Evaki.........I sigh as I stand in front of my closet and look at all the clothes I could wear to Stefania’s party tonight. I’m not a very social person and have been dreading it for days, and even though I was given a choice, I know it’s not really a choice. Stefania would be disappointed if I didn’t attend, and it would give others the impression that we are divided, and I can’t have that. We must always show a united front, even if we are still trying to figure out how to unite. That is one of my responsibilities as the first queen. After several minutes of deliberation, I finally decide on a knee-length, green dress with a plunging neckline and strappy black heels that are comfortable.I catch a glimpse of myself in the full-length mirror as I walk away, and I notice that my hair is still damp from the shower, so I quickly run a brush through it and pull it back into a loose ponytail. I don’t want to blow-dry it. I want to do a braided crown and leave the rest of the
.......Tory.......My heart skips a beat and my eyes widen before tears quickly fill my eyes, taking in the breathtaking sight that greets us as we arrive at Antonis' father’s kingdom. I look at him to see a surge of emotions overwhelm him as he looks at me, his eyes mirroring mine, reflecting a mixture of joy, relief, and gratitude. The people have come out in droves to welcome us. The king and council pardoned Antonis, but we weren’t sure how the people felt, especially since they had been under the rule of someone with ulterior motives for so long. Dimitris might not have been the official ruler, but he still ruled, and many were born under his rule.We step out of the car and onto a raised platform, where we can see the sea of faces in the crowd. There are men, women, and children of all ages smiling and waving enthusiastically. I can feel the love and admiration radiating from the crowd, and a tear slips from my eye at the genuine warmth and acceptance we are receiving.Overwh
........................Author's POV......................................................Two months later..............................As the sun sets over the picturesque landscape, Evaki and Paris stand in awe of the serene beauty that surrounds them. They are attending a private wedding ceremony as witnesses, a momentous occasion for the brides and grooms. The couples look radiant, their eyes filled with love and excitement for the future.Evaki is wearing a silver gown with a regal silhouette that exudes elegance and grace. Paris stands next to her in a silver tunic tailored to exude sophistication and prestige, his hand resting on her lower back as they stand side by side. They are honored to be part of this special day, supporting their friends and family as they embark on their journey as husband and wife. Maia looks like the queen that she is in an exquisite masterpiece crafted from the finest burgundy silk, the color of Antonis's house. Kyros stands next to her in a g
........................Author’s POV......................."What’s happening Paris, please? And don’t tell me it’s nothing. Why do you reek of blood? What’s all this?" Evaki bombards Paris with questions, and Paris cuts her off, saying it’s Stefania. Evaki’s heart immediately accelerates, her eyes widening as she asks him what’s wrong with Stefania, her voice trembling with fear. Ever since she arrived, she couldn't shake off the feeling that something was wrong, and after her mother-in-law told her she couldn't see Stefania, she became more alarmed. Her mind starts racing. Is Stefania dead? Did she die in childbirth? Did she not wake up from the Lycan process? She starts asking herself but her thoughts are cut short by Paris’s voice, telling her that Stefania was not who they thought, confusing her."What do you mean?""She lied, Eva. She manipulated me; she hurt you. She…" Paris chokes on the lump that quickly inflates in his throat, and Eva cups his face, but Paris quickly turns
.........Evaki.........Confusion clouds my thoughts as I struggle to comprehend what's happening. My brother is supposed to be dead, buried in the ground, and yet here he is, standing in the flesh before me. My thoughts spiral into a whirlwind of questions while my heart pounds in my chest, echoing loudly in my ears and causing my hands to start trembling. I stare into the eyes that mirror my late brother’s. The same unruly mop of blonde hair, the same sharp jawline, and the same mischievous smile that used to light up our childhood memories. It can’t be."Everett?" I whisper again, my voice barely above a whisper, and my eyes wide with confusion as he takes small, cautious steps towards me, his eyes fixed on mine. His hand reaches out slowly, tentatively, as if afraid I might disappear if he moves too quickly."Hello, sister," he says, his voice choking with tears as I lean into the familiar touch. "My name is Kyros. I never met our mother, and I just found out that she never tol
.........Evaki ........The grandeur of the palace looms before us as we step out of the car, and my eyes widen with a new sense of wonder. My transformation into a wolf has heightened my senses beyond anything I could have imagined, making me see the world with a clarity I have never experienced before. The colors are richer, the textures are more defined, and the scents are incredibly distinct. I can even identify the faint scent of humans, which surprises me as they are nothing like what I imagined. Wolves can always tell when a person is human before they even see them, and I thought that meant humans had the same scent, but it turns out they don't. Humans have different scents, with the only common denominator being the strength of their scents, which are very weak compared to those of wolves. Everyone smells good, but Paris smells divine and intoxicating. I even found myself sniffing him on the plane.I look at him as we make our way toward our quarters, and my brows furrow
........Tory .........I look back as we enter the forest, even though I know the house is sealed and the baby is safe. I also have a monitor and will be able to check on him if he wakes up. I didn't want to bring him out here, but I couldn't miss witnessing this very special moment as my friend joins me on the supernatural side. Paris sets her down, and the elders walk up to check on her. We are outside in a clearing in the forest at the back of our place. The gods need to witness her first change and release their blessing upon her, so she had to be brought out here and make her first shift under the moonlight that is shining brightly above us, as though also celebrating with us. It's also the only source of light.I take a deep breath, the scent of damp earth and decaying leaves filling my nostrils and creating a sense of contentment deep within me. I love the fresh and earthy smell of the forest. I was terrified when Paris arrived with the two elders since Eva began this journe
.......................Author’s POV .......................Dimtris is still standing by the window, his mind racing with thoughts of his elaborate plot to usurp Veseleios, when the room's door clicks open. He turns, quickly fixing his face as he does, ready to shower Veseleios with a fake compliment about something he saw in the fields, but his breath catches in his throat when his eyes lock with Maia's.He doesn’t even register the uncannily Evaki look-alike next to her until a second later. "Daughter," he mumbles, his body turning cold, the look on Maia’s face sending shivers down his spine as it screams his worst fears. He wasn't kind to her the last time he saw her, and he knows she killed Charon.He quickly composes himself while thinking of how to get out of this. Charon was supposed to mark her and tell her who she was. His eyes quickly trail down to her neck, and she doesn’t have a mark, which means he didn’t mark her, but what about the truth of who she is? He can see in he
...............Stefania...............My heart races in my chest as the elder leads me to the room, and I look at my father, who's being escorted by the king to another room. He nods at something the king says, carefree with no worry in the world, while I'm dead inside. My mind is a whirlwind of anxiety, fear, and pain—the pain of losing my brother and mother. They never wanted any of this, and now they are dead. I only asked my father what killed Charon because I didn't need to ask what killed my mother. I already knew that losing her son killed her. He said he didn't know; he's waiting for the guards he sent to Red Lake to get back to him. But I knew he was lying to me. He knows because he said we can't let their deaths be in vain, which means my brother was killed doing his dirty bidding for this stupid plan that has now ended our family."This way," the elder softly says, gesturing for me to go down the stairs, and I can feel my palms growing sweaty as I clutch onto my skirts,
..........Paris ..........Antonis's voice booms over the phone. His eyes are burning with urgency as he barks orders to the guards, telling them to close all exits and stop King Dimitris and Stefania from leaving. My father and I stand frozen in shock, listening to him."Antonis, what's going on?" Father demands again, walking up to him. "Why are you closing the airport? What madness is this?" Father grabs him by the shoulders, stilling him."He's a traitor. All this time, he's been planning to kill us all. He wants to become a Lycan," he says, shocking us and Father asks him what he's talking about."You are not making sense; what are you saying? Who told you this?" he asks, now cupping his face and Antonis says it's the maid's daughter, Stefania's adopted sister."How? When?" Father asks, and I ask if she was the one mind-linking him, since this is all happening after the mind-link. He says yes, confusing us even more. Father demands that he sit down, take a breath, and then tell