Zion's P.O.V. Having lunch with the family was nice, and after eating, we all sat around talking for a bit when I realized Rain had spaced out for a while. When I asked her what was wrong, she told me how worried she was that our people wouldn't forgive or understand why she went into hiding. She even went as far as to call herself a coward, which made Ryker angry at the fact that she was thinking so low of herself. I wish she saw what everyone else sees in her. I tried convincing her they would be understanding and have faith in our people. I also linked James to see if he had devised any plans for her re-emergence celebration. He said he was still working on ideas and that he would call Mia and Morgan to help him, Sam, and Jessica with the plans. Rain gets a notification that all the packages from her shopping spree have arrived, so Orian and I make our way to the front gate to retrieve them. "Some of these boxes are m
Rain's P.O.V. After the guys and my mother left, Jess and I stood in a daze, even though Jess seemed calmer than me. What could have happened that was so bad he had to lock down the whole Kingdom? I know he said he would tell me soon, but I was curious, so I kept asking James questions, but all he said was that he didn't know either. About an hour later, Evan and Odett were done with the cookies and sitting on the couch across from Jess and me. We gave up on dealing with the twins' clothes and bottles until we knew what was going on, so we sat there talking and enjoying a cookie until I heard footsteps approaching the front door, making my body go ridged. "What's wrong?" He asks me. "There's someone at the front door," I say, making James, Evan, and Jess stand up and take defensive stances as Odett climbs on the couch beside me. Suddenly, the door opened, and Zion and my mother walked into the suite. I launch myself off th
Zion's P.O.V. After getting to the suite, I got Stephanie and Evan to take Odett down to the kitchen to eat dinner while we waited for Annie to bring up our food. While eating, I eased into the conversation I needed to have with my mate and other half. The talk with Rain was going so well, and she was taking everything in strides and even asking the critical questions when suddenly I made the stupid mistake of trying to tell her what to do. I didn't mean to make it out like I wanted to keep her locked up in the castle like a prisoner. I don't want her anywhere near the battlefield, but I also understand her urge to protect our pups and people. This Kingdom is just as much hers as it is mine, and I know she will do anything to protect our home. The moment I knew I fucked up was when she started losing control of her emotions, making the lights flicker, the glasses shatter, and the table shake. She bolted from the table and into our
Rain's P.O.V. After my fight with Zion and my panic over hurting the ones I love, I laid down on our bed and quickly fell into a dream. It started out in the middle of the argument Zion and I had just moments ago, but it was as if I was floating between us, more like an observer instead of a participant. Instead of getting up to leave the table, I stayed to continue the argument. As it went on, we said some horrible things just to hurt each other, which is highly uncharacteristic of either of us. My eyes started to glow, but unlike my usual green glow, it was a dark, murky red before slowly engulfing my entire body. Suddenly, everything began to shake before the dark glow burst from my body, and I closed my eyes in fear. When I opened my eyes again, the entire castle had been leveled to the ground. The best way to describe it was that it looked like old city ruins after a war, and panic set in. I started running around, c
Zion's P.O.V. After arriving at the suite and finding Rain crying on the couch in Jessica's arms, we finally got her to calm down, and she told me about her dream and her talk with the Moon Goddess. Everyone stayed quiet and let her explain everything at her own pace, and it wasn't easy to keep calm as she talked about her interaction with Douglas, even if it was only a dream. It made me want to kill him even more. She chose to change the subject, saying that Jessica told her we were needed at the crime lab. She asked if we had found anything new about the wolf head, and I took a deep breath to steady myself for the news I was about to tell her. I told her what we knew and answered every question she had, but what she said next shocked me. "Maybe you should make that call," She tells me. I look at her, shocked that she can push away the feeling of worry that she had just minutes ago. I don't want to leave her after how she feel
Rain's P.O.V. Waking up in our bed, I find Zion still sleeping beside me. I get out of bed, feeling the urge to pee, and rush to the bathroom. After doing my business and finishing my morning routine, I walked out of the bathroom and saw Zion getting out of bed. He looks up at me with his amazing smile. "Good morning, my love." He says, walking over to me and giving me a quick kiss before falling to his knees and placing a kiss on my belly. "And good morning to you two." "Good morning, my King. What's on the agenda for today?" I ask as he stands again. "King Arnald and his Beta will arrive in less than an hour. And some council members have already arrived along with their current leaders and warriors." He says as he walks into the bathroom, leaving the door open to continue talking as he gets ready for his morning. "I think it would be best for you to join the meeting with King Arnald before our meeting with the council." "Are
Zion's P.O.V. The meeting with King Arnald and Beta Mark went better than I expected, with him offering to help us. Now, we are on the way to the war room that hasn't been used for a long time for a meeting with the council members and their current leaders. When we reach the door, I take a deep breath, readying myself for what we are about to walk into. The last time the council members were left alone, it turned into a complete shit show. Thankfully, Rain showed up to put them all in their place like the true Queen she is. But we have King Arnald and his Beta with us this time, so I hope they can all behave themselves. "Everything will be okay." Rain links me, feeling my hesitation. I give her a nod, and we open the doors. "Good Morning, my Queen." Every council member says as we walk into the room. They are all in their seats, looking calm and collected. It doesn't even bother me that I wasn't greeted at the same time.
Rain's P.O.V. After returning to our suite, we all sat around and ate lunch while conversing about different things. I noticed Zion and Orian suddenly got quiet, and when I looked over, I could tell they were talking through the link. I automatically got nervous, thinking something had happened, but then I heard someone approaching the door before there was a knock. When no one moves, and Zion helps me up from the couch, asking me to get the door, I grow suspicious but still make my way to the door anyway. I notice no one is talking, but I know Zion wouldn't be put in harm's way. As I open the door, I'm hit with Mia and Morgans's excitement and their high-pitched squeals, and I can't help but let out my own squeal. "What are y'all doing here?" I ask them in disbelief. "We're here for your baby shower," Mia says while looking over my shoulder at everyone. "What baby shower?" I asked, whirling around to look at Zion. "Ask Jess
Rain's P.O.V. Opening my eyes, I look around to find someone has laid me down in our bed next to Zion. He's covered in bruises and has bandages wrapped around his chest and down his left arm. I try to reach over, but I realize my body is sore and stiff, and I can barely move. "Oh, thank Goddess, you're awake." Jess gasps, walking through the door. "How are the pups?" I ask the first thing that crosses my mind. "All three are safe and sleeping. Lady Ezmerelda is in the nursery with the twins, and Odett fell asleep watching a movie with Sam in the living room." She answered while walking over to my side of the bed. "Is Douglas dead?" I ask, slowly starting to remember everything that happened. "You leveled everything in the area. Orian found you unconscious, covered in blood, but he didn't think it was yours. He said it smelled like Douglas and his minions. You didn't even have a scratch on you." She said with a smile, helping me to sit up. "How is everyone?" I ask
Rain's P.O.V. After recovering from whatever hit me, I turned to see a female who looked so much like Lady Lena that it threw me off. Zion is just as surprised as I am, his face mirroring my surprised expression. Then I realized that the restraints that held Douglas in place were released, letting him recover and stand beside the lookalike as a group of his rogue army stood behind them. "Who the hell are you, and why do you look eerily similar to a dead woman?" Zion asks after he shifts back to his human form and takes his place beside me. "You must be talking about my twin. That foolish bitch refused to leave that weak coven and decided to go against me. She got what was coming to her." She said with a cackel. "I even offered to take her with me after I kidnapped you, but she refused and even tried to fight me. She might have been our parent's favorite, but she was weak, always letting everyone fight her battles for her." "You're
Zion's P.O.V. After Rain's speech, Mia suggested opening gifts, so Jessica and I helped her up and started walking towards the chair designed like her throne where all the gifts were. Midway through the walk, Rain started feeling some pain and leaned over on me. When I asked if she was okay, she said she was. I knew she wasn't telling me the truth, but I decided to ignore it and keep walking. Unfortunately, she doubled over before we could reach the chair, grabbing her side. I quickly picked her up and noticed liquid running down between her legs as Odett called for her in a panic. I yell for Doctor Jameson, knowing he's here somewhere. He tells me to get her to the suite when he reaches us, but I know he wants her in the makeshift delivery room. I rush through the crowd in a panic, thankful that they made a path for us, and up the stairs to our suite where I lay her down on the bed, only now noticing that our friends followed. Do
Rain's P.O.V. I stood quietly in the peaceful darkness that I'd become accustomed to and waited patiently, thankfully not feeling any pain. I didn't have to wait long as soon the brilliant silver light erupted, and Dosha and Selene emerged as the light dimmed, and I could feel their warmth radiating off of them. But soon, I notice the grim look on her face, and the peacefulness I had felt melts and gives way to caution. "Hello, my dear daughter," Selene says. "I have come to bring you a warning." "A warning about what?" I ask, my stomach in knots as panic sets in. My first thought is that something is wrong with the twins. "The twins will be fine, do not worry, my dear. I will watch over them as I did with Odett. I came with a warning about Douglas." She says, and my heart stops for a moment. "He knows that you are about to give birth and thinks that you will be in a vulnerable state. He is planning to make his move now." "S
Rain's P.O.V. When Zion opened the double doors to the Banquet Hall, I was shocked, to say the least. Everyone was talking, speculating what this gathering was all about, and then complete silence followed by gasps as everyone's gaze met Zion and me as the doors opened. I place my hand on my belly as Zion leads us into the crowded room. Everyone now has faces of relief and tears of joy streaming down their faces as they bow while we make our way past them and to a table set up for us. I feel an overwhelming sense of love and confusion pouring off of everyone in the room. As we reached our table, we were joined by the others in our group, including Morgan, Mia, and Nick, as well as King Arnald and Beta Mark. Zion pulls out a chair for me and helps me lower myself into it before he addresses the crowd. He goes into detail about the reasons for my disappearance while also apologizing to everyone for keeping them in the dark about the
Zion's P.O.V. I woke up this morning and felt something different in the air like something would happen soon, but I wasn't sure what that would be. I asked Ryker about it, but he wasn't sure either. Orian linked me to let me know that everything was ready and that everyone would start showing up in about an hour or so, but that he needed to see me in my office for an important matter. I told him that I would be down soon and quickly linked Jessica and Lady Ezmerelda to ask them to help get Rain ready while I went to handle a few things before the shower and celebrations began. As soon as I told Rain that we needed to get moving and that her sister and mother would be helping her get dressed, she started getting emotional, which I know is from the hormones. Thankfully, I saved myself by explaining that she wasn't fat, just very pregnant. That worked, and just in time, since Jessica and Lady Ezmerelda arrived the next second,
Rain's P.O.V. As soon as my head hits the pillow, I fall asleep, but opening my eyes, I'm surrounded by nothing but black, and I know exactly what's going on. I found the light silver glow and walked towards it before hearing the comforting voice of the moon goddess, Selene. I can't help but smile as she comes into view before panic starts, knowing that we only have a meeting like this when something terrible has happened or will happen. "Hello, daughter. I'm glad to see you in such good spirits," Selene said with a smile of her own as she reassured me. This is a good meeting. There's no need to panic. I've come to inform you of my plans for Odett's future." "What do you mean? Won't she be the next Werewolf Queen?" I ask her, my voice thick with confusion and fear. Was she planning to take Odett away from me and Zion? I don't want to lose her, but I know that Selene will always make the best decisions, and there's nothing I can do or
Zion's P.O.V. After Luna Morgan, Mia, and Nick's arrival, I quickly linked with Orian to suggest we give them time to catch up with each other. I say that, but in reality, I wanted to save myself and the others from the headache their squeals would cause. Don't get me wrong, I love the excitement in my mate's voice, but there are too many females in this suite at the moment. Orian agrees but thinks we should take Nick with us. "Do we have to?" I ask. "Yes, remember he was the one that drove them here. I imagine he's heard enough and needs a break." He responds with a laugh. "Fine," I tell him with a huff before turning my attention to my mate. "Well, ladies, King Arnald, Beta Mark, Orian, Sam, Nick, and I will leave y'all to the planning." We left the suite and made our way to my office on the first floor. Once in my office, I offer everyone a drink, and they accept. Orian pours everyone a glass and hands them out as we s
Rain's P.O.V. After returning to our suite, we all sat around and ate lunch while conversing about different things. I noticed Zion and Orian suddenly got quiet, and when I looked over, I could tell they were talking through the link. I automatically got nervous, thinking something had happened, but then I heard someone approaching the door before there was a knock. When no one moves, and Zion helps me up from the couch, asking me to get the door, I grow suspicious but still make my way to the door anyway. I notice no one is talking, but I know Zion wouldn't be put in harm's way. As I open the door, I'm hit with Mia and Morgans's excitement and their high-pitched squeals, and I can't help but let out my own squeal. "What are y'all doing here?" I ask them in disbelief. "We're here for your baby shower," Mia says while looking over my shoulder at everyone. "What baby shower?" I asked, whirling around to look at Zion. "Ask Jess