Murmurs filled the air as the assembly filed into the Moonlit Sanctum, a grand hall reminiscent of a theater. Rows of booths stretched before them, each separated by fancy railings, creating an atmosphere of anticipation and intrigue. Lily sat in a booth to herself, a sense of unease tugging at her. 'Calm down. We need to maintain our composure. We have to show that we are strong. We need to keep a clear head,' Dina said within her. In the booth across from her, Brandy and Mandy were chained to their seats, their expressions a mix of resignation and defiance. Mandy glared at Lily, but Brandy looked defeated as she stared at her feet. She didn't like that they were chained there like that and noticed the bruises on them. Had they been beaten? 'They are getting what they deserve,' Dina growled. 'Don't focus on them.' On the stage, bathed in the soft glow of moonlight filtering through stained-glass windows, sat the eight elders, their presence commanding reverence. Elder Richar
'Will this hurt like he says, Dina?' Lily asked. Dina didn't immediately answer. 'Yes. It will be excruciating. Mate marks aren't meant to be removed. This is old magic.' 'Will Garrett be able to mark me again?' Lily asked. 'I do not know,' Dina responded, causing Lily to bite her lip. She wanted to run, but she needed to play along. She needed to act like she was willing to do this, which would give her an opportunity to escape later. As the crowd watched with bated breath, warriors, their faces stoic, stepped forward and seized Lily. Some muttered their apologies to her, as they were against this. Lily didn't resist. With firm but gentle hands, they led her toward the stage, where Elder Richard awaited with a gleaming dagger whose blade glowed an eerie green. 'We need to get down there. We need to rescue our mate!' Berric screamed within Garrett. He agreed and moved to intervene, but Ethan and his father restrained him by his arms. "What are you doing? Let go of me!" Ga
The sound of flesh slapping against each other could be heard throughout the quiet dungeon. Soft grunts and moans were muffled as Matthew thrust quickly into Brandy. He gripped her hips, yanking her backward toward him with each thrust. "Oh, goddess, Matthew, I missed you so much," Brandy moaned. She had been surprised that Matthew snuck into the dungeon to come to see her. The last time they spoke, he told her that she wasn't good enough. Matthew grabbed a fistful of Brandy's hair and yanked her backward so he could whisper in her ear, "Tell me you love me." "I love you," Brandy gasped as she could feel her orgasm approaching. "Say it again properly," Matthew growled, thrusting faster and harder. "I, Brandy Bray, daughter of Kenneth Bray and Mandy Bray, accept you, Matthew Hunter, as my mate and owner of my mind, body, and soul!" Brandy screamed out. Matthew bit her hard on her back as he climaxed, and Brandy followed soon after. Brandy attempted to mark Matthew back, bu
Matthew smiled to himself as he felt himself and his wolf getting stronger after the mate mark on Lily's shoulder had been removed. He did feel a little regret for her pain, but she would get over it. A little pain and sacrifice are normal for a budding relationship to flourish. 'Do you realize how crazy you sound? I can't believe you did this to our mate,' Baldur growled within him. 'Isn't this what you wanted? You wanted our mate back. This is how we do it,' Matthew responded. 'No, this is wrong. You have caused her harm and humiliation. She will never want us,' Baldur said. His tone was defeated as he went silent again. Matthew ignored him. He wanted to jump in between the argument between Kenneth and Elad, but things got out of hand, and Elders requested a recess. Matthew smiled, hopeful. He was going to see Lily and discuss plans for their future. Matthew could smell Garrett's pain and sorrow in the air and grinned. He would speak with Lily, but first with Garrett. It
Elder Dominic accepted the folder from the scout with the Alpha King's crest, his mind swirling with questions. The scout quickly retreated down the hallway, leaving Dominic alone with the weight of the documents in his hands. He couldn't help but wonder why Ethan hadn't used the usual mind link to contact him. Ethan had always reached out through that channel for matters of importance. Closing the door behind him, Elder Dominic wasted no time. He carefully unfolded the folder, revealing a trove of letters, ledgers, transcripts of phone calls, and reports. His eyes scanned the contents, his initial confusion giving way to anger as he pieced together the disturbing puzzle before him. Meanwhile, within the private chamber where the Elders deliberated on decisions, Elder Richard found himself under the stern gaze of his fellow council members. Suspicion had simmered for years, with rumors of favoritism and covert dealings with Alpha Kenneth circulating throughout the pack. Today, th
The world around Lily was a blur of chaos and destruction. The deafening roar of the onslaught reverberated in her ears as she fought to regain her bearings. The blast had launched her, and she wasn't sure where she was right now. Her vision blurred, and she could taste the metallic tang of blood in her mouth and smell the poisonous wolfsbane in the air. With every labored breath, she tried to push through the pain and disorientation. 'Move. We have to move, Lily,' Dina said within her. 'Get up or let me take control.' Lily forced her eyes open, her heart sinking at the nightmarish scene that unfolded before her. Rubble and debris were strewn about, limbs were strewn everywhere, and bodies lay motionless in the rubble. The sanctum, once a place of council meetings and decisions, had been transformed into a battlefield. 'Was there a bomb? How could this have happened?' Lily thought. 'This was a planned attack in case Kenneth didn't get his way. We have to keep moving and find
The adrenaline coursed through Garrett's veins, his heart pounding hard in his chest. He stood amidst the chaos of the battleground, panting heavily, his wolf form still dominant. With a guttural growl, he crushed the last remaining hunter in his mouth. Garrett's breaths came in ragged bursts as he released the lifeless body and turned to face Adam, his Beta, who looked ragged. The blade of a dagger was still stuck in his eye. He was surprised to see him as he assumed that Matthew would have remained with his mate. "Adam," Garrett panted, his eyes wild with the remnants of the battle's frenzy. "How many casualties?" Adam's golden eyes met Garrett's with an understanding that ran deeper than words. He nodded, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. "Many. Everyone has lost someone and some have been lucky. One of the prides that was closest to the bomb, the son only remains. The hunters have retreated. Whatever they came here for, they have gotten," he began. Garrett shifte
When Lily came to, she found herself lying on a cold metal table, surrounded by surgical instruments and unfamiliar technology. She tried to move, but restraints around her wrists and ankles held her firmly in place. 'Dina, Dina, help me. We are strapped down. We need to get out of here,' Lily called out to her wolf, but there was silence. She couldn't even feel Dina. Panic surged within her as she strained against her bonds with a feral growl. "So interesting. The color of your eyes changes when you reach out to your beast. So very interesting." A figure stepped out from the shadows at the sound of her struggles. It was a woman with sharp features and piercing green eyes. She wore a white lab coat, and Lily could tell that she was the one responsible for her being bound to the table. The woman regarded Lily with a cool detachment, as if she were nothing more than an object to be studied. "I'm pleased that you're awake. I was worried they may have given you too much of the se