[Ivan’s POV]The feel of something warm and slightly heavy pressing against my body roused me just as light pierced through my eyelids. What the hell was going on here? It had taken a long time to fall asleep due to constantly wanting to listen to my children’s heartbeats, and now when I finally could sleep I was being woken."Quit pretending." Arissa’s annoyed voice growled, causing me to open my eyes and peer up into her angry gaze."What’s wrong with you so early in the morning?" I yawned, running my hands up her thighs and squeezing. "Or are you wanting...""Can it." Arissa snapped, slapping my hands away. "You never told me what was on that note."I had assumed she had dropped the subject the night before after becoming distracted by hearing our children's heartbeats for the first time. After that, she didn’t mention the note again and even allowed me to cuddle her before she fell asleep."You’re still on about that?" I asked, sitting up just enough to make her slip into my lap.
[Arissa’s POV]The journey back to the mainland was a smooth one, as was the one from our pack grounds to mine. It had been a while since I came back to this place, and I found it hard to believe that it was now under mine and Ivan’s rule."Alpha, welcome!" Arnando, my stand-in, called when he spotted us making our way up the trail leading to the large mansion that the heads of the pack stayed in. "Why the sudden visit?"On the way back home, I had sent him a quick mindlink announcing our visit. I knew that I didn’t give them much time to prepare, but that was the point. I had meant to come and inspect things to make sure that all of Isaac and my mother’s corrupt followers were taken care of."I only came to visit my father’s grave." I responded, giving a small smile. "Sorry to catch all of you off guard.""Of course you didn’t!" Arnando gasped, his eyes growing wide. "We are always awaiting your arrival.""That’s enough." Ivan sighed, clearly growing tired of the ass kissing. "Please
[Ivan’s POV]"Come on." I said, holding out a hand for Arissa to take.I took in her vulnerable form sitting on the ground in front of me. Since meeting, she had never let me see this side of her. Usually she would laugh off her sadness or frustrations, but this time it seemed to be too much.When she didn’t move, I knelt down in front of her and gently touched her chin, making her look at me through the tears that still brimmed her eyes."We’ll get your father’s ashes back." I assured her, giving a small peck on the nose. "And when we do, I will make sure that a grand memorial is erected on Fulgur’s pack grounds. He will get the grand burial he deserved as a monarch and an important part of my most important person’s life. "Maybe I was sounding squishy and maybe Arissa would make jabs at me for it, but it killed me to see her so devestated and lost. All I wanted was to see her smile."Now, my love, we really do need to get back."Nodding, Arissa allowed me to help her to her feet an
[Arissa’s POV]Darkness surrounded me, squeezing me with all its might. Something about this felt off, but no matter how much I tried to wake up, I couldn’t. When had I even fallen asleep?As I considered exactly what was going on, small needles began to stab into my skin, tearing it slowly and painfully. Letting out a hiss of pain, I strengthened my efforts to get loose, only to help the needles rip my skin further.Soon, the smell of blood began to swirl around me, filling my senses and causing an odd burning to start building in my throat. This feeling was nothing like I had ever felt before, even when my vampire half was awakened."What’s going on here?" I growled, beginning to take in my surroundings.The darkness was beginning to let up, allowing me to see that it wasn’t the darkness that held me, but the ghost children. The needles weren’t actually needles either. Instead, they were the bony claws of the children, ripping at my skin in an attempt to punish me for taking their l
[Ivan’s POV] "Who are you talking to?" I asked, reaching out and tentatively touching Arissa’s shoulder. Instead of responding, Arissa jerked away and let a loud snarl escape her. From her actions, you would have thought that I attacked her. "I’ll kill you." Arissa growled, baring her teeth. "Just wait!" As she spoke, Arissa lunged forward, heading straight for a window. Realizing that whatever was taunting her intended to have her fall to her death, I quickly reached out. "Arissa!" I hissed, wrapping my arms around her waist. "Stop!" "I-Ivan?" Arissa murmured, turning her confused gaze towards me. "Dammit." I waited as Arissa slowly began to loosen up in my arms before finally releasing her. For now, it seemed she was thinking rationally again. "Fucking Jinns," she growled, letting a grimace roll through her. "Just try to remember that they are trying to get to you, my love," I murmured, kissing the top of her head. Something I was beginning to realize from each encounter Ar
[Arissa’s POV]I didn’t bother waiting for my mother to respond before grabbing her by the hair and pulling her along. Sure, I could have grabbed her wrist and led her, but why would I bother being nice to such a witch?"Arissa, you’re being watched." Ivan pointed out.Looking around, I took in the eyes of the workers as they watched me lead my mother towards the pack house."Frankly," I began, still moving. "I don’t give a damn what they think."Ignoring all the watchful eyes, I drug my mother into the pack house, slamming the door behind us."Where are you taking me?" My mother yelped as I turned a corner and made my way towards the interrogation room. "This isn’t the way to my cell.""That’s too good for you, mother." I purred, pulling her into the small room that Ivan and I used to torture criminals. "This place is much better."As I shoved my mother to the ground and began to cuff her wrists and ankles, Ivan blocked the exit. No one was getting in or out while I got to the bottom
[Ivan’s POV]I watched in amazement as Arissa remained expressionless. Her mother was bleeding out in front of her and the woman wasn’t even batting an eyelash. Something about it made her look so powerful and strong. However, I knew that despite not seeming phased, Arissa was most certainly feeling something in this moment."Arissa, please..." Tania whispered, collapsing against the ground. "Help..me...""Sure." Arissa responded, kneeling down. "I’ll help you."In one swift movement, Arissa’s hands were wrapping around Tania’s throat and squeezing until an audible crack filled the room around us. Seemingly satisfied, she loosened her hold and then let go entirely before standing back up."Can you call someone to come clean this up?" Arissa asked, turning her gaze towards me."Sure.""Great." Arissa sighed, beginning to make her way out of the room. "Be sure they just throw her in a hole somewhere to rot.""If that’s what you want, my love." I responded, looking at where Tania lay mot
[Ivan’s POV]My gaze narrowed as I watched Arissa snuggle up to Nazhoni right in front of me. Sure, I knew that I probably deserved her cold shoulder after keeping something as big as the prisoners escaping from her. But did she really have to treat me as public enemy number one?It had taken most of the previous evening to calm her down once I revealed the recent happenings, and when she allowed me to sleep next to her, I had thought that things were settled, but when we woke up this morning and packed to leave, she didn’t say a single word and even headed out before me. And when I finally managed to load up and join the rest of our party, this was how I found her. Snuggled against Nazhoni with a "you deserve this expression" on her face as she watched me seethe with jealousy.As I continued to watch her, the carriage around us came to a jolting halt. Confusion flaring, I got up and prepared to investigate what was happening, but stopped as arrows burst through the windows around us.
[Ivan’s POV]Two weeks have passed by in a blur since Rose Woods was taken down and Arissa’s curse was lifted. Two weeks filled with court hearings and punishment issuing, not to mention making deals with the nomads in regards to Catori’s part in Arissa’s torture.In the end, we agreed to allow him to go back with Nazhoni and Rome to be tried for his treachery.Despite my hesitance to let him out of my sight after everything Theodore and Giselle did after I spared them, Arissa convinced me to let them take him.Now, I sat in the front of the execution chamber, watching as Theodore was strapped down to a wooden chair. His dark gaze bore into me, as if his hatred towards me would end up killing me before he was killed."Ready, alpha." Igor announced once he was secured. "Shall we get started?"Nodding, I lifted a hand, and motioned for him to proceed.Leaning back, I crossed my arms across my chest while Igor filled a syringe with a strong dose of poison that was sure to kill even the s
[Arissa’s POV]"Watch your step." Ivan murmured, reaching out and taking my hand. "Are you sure you don’t want me to take one of them?"Shaking my head, I pulled Apollo and Conal closer to myself as I stepped out of the carriage we were in and let the familiar scent of Tonitru territory hit my nose.After rescuing our children and packmates, Ivan and I decided to head straight for Tonitru since our packmates and friends could handle the rest of Rose Woods. Despite still feeling on edge about something going wrong, I allowed Ivan to convince me to come here so that we could finally end all of this."Where is it?" I asked, beginning to make my way towards the pack house. "Are you sure that it is here?""Where is your family burial grounds located?" Ivan asked instead."This way." I responded, motioning towards the back of the building. "It is just back there, a little ways into the woods."Nodding, Ivan wrapped an arm around my waist and began to lead us in the direction I pointed out.
[Ivan’s POV]I surged forward, making my way towards the compound in front of me. All around me, everyone was beginning to shift, but I didn’t feel like using my wolf to fight. Instead, I felt like using the new abilities that I recently acquired thanks to finishing the trials.‘Congratuatlions.’ The being murmured as I moved. ‘You’ve done well.’‘No shit.’ I huffed in response. ‘I am me after all.’‘I wish you the best, alpha god.’ the being announced.‘God?’ I repeated, but I was only met with silence. What the hell?Turning back to the situation at hand, I had just enough time to spot a large white wolf shooting across the grounds and diving through a window."Arissa."Breaking off from my group, I headed in the direction that she went. When I arrived, I could hear chaos breaking out from within."Just couldn’t wait on me." I sighed, diving through the window she had managed to break to find Arissa ripping out the throat of a large man with beady eyes. All around her were bodies t
[Arissa’s POV]"What’s your plan?" I asked, trying to hide the shock that was racing through me.I don’t know exactly what I expected when Ivan pinpointed the traitor, but I still couldn’t quite believe that it was the silent giant Catori. "He needs to be locked up for now." Ivan responded slowly.Nodding, I looked towards where Stefan stood, dumbfounded. At least everyone here was reflecting the same emotions I felt."Take him to join Giselle and Theodore." I continued, "After that, we need someone to take care of the bodies in the engine room.""That’s my luna," Ivan beamed, causing my cheeks to flush. "Taking control just like the leader you are.""Now isn’t the time." I warned, trying to keep my embarrassment over being praised under control. "We should be arriving at our destination soon and need to handle matters here."Chuckling, Ivan simply nodded while giving me an approving smile. Shit, the man was dangerous, especially when he flashed those pearly whites."Here, he’s all y
[Ivan’s POV]"Let’s go."Grabbing Arissa’s hand, I began to move. I needed Stefan to let me into whatever room that was so that I could see if the person responsible’s essence was still lingering."Are we mole hunting?" Arissa asked, seeming to perk up."Something like that."Since she wasn’t aware that determining who the killer was would break her curse, I wanted to keep it a surprise. Especially if I wasn’t able to find them. ‘Don’t think like that.’ Bastian warned. ‘This determines whether or not we get to stay with our mate.’‘I know.’ I snapped.I promised many times that I would rip apart heaven and hell to be with her, but there was always that what if deep in my heart. Of course, I refused to listen to that what if, but it didn’t mean the bastard wasn’t there.Shaking off any doubts, I hurried down the stairs that led to the bunk areas to find Stefan slouched on the floor, guarding Hans, who was fast asleep."Ssssshhhhh." He hissed as I opened my mouth to speak. "He just fel
[Ivan’s POV]I bit back the laugh that wanted to escape as Arissa’s cheeks turned a bright shade of red. Goddess, she was beautiful, and when she flushed it made her so damn sexy, as it reminded me of when we were alone and..."You have quite the smooth tongue." She murmured, trying to regain her composure. "How do you stay so serious when spouting such bullshit?""Bullshit?" I repeated."That’s right."If she wanted to claim what I said was bullshit, I would show her true bullshit. However, as I prepared to speak, I felt a slight tap on my consciousness. Frowning, I allowed whoever it was to enter and immediately regretted it.‘Sorry to disturb.’ The being chuckled, even though it was clear that it wasn’t sorry. ‘But I have to remind you that there is still one more trial.’Right… If I wanted to stay here with Arissa, I needed to complete the final trial, but what the hell was it?"What’s wrong?"Letting out a long breath, I fixed my gaze on Arissa’s and gave an apologetic smile. It
[Arissa’s POV]My heart raced and I wondered if I was hallucinating or if this was another fucking jinn. How was it possible that when all hell was beginning to break loose, the person I needed the most would appear?"I-Ivan," I whispered, "You’re back?"At my words, a broad smile replaced his worn-out expression."That’s right, my love." He responded, getting to his feet. "Didn’t I tell you that not even heaven or hell could keep me from you?"Unable to contain my emotions, I surged forward, slamming my body against his while his arms wrapped tightly around my waist. I buried my face against his chest and breathed in deeply, letting myself get lost in his smell. It really was him."Does this mean you passed all the trials?" I asked, pulling away enough to look at him. "You’re back for good, right?"Before he could respond, a roar ripped through the room, followed by Nazhoni’s curses.Whirling around, I watched Hans race towards us with his teeth bared and his claws extended. Fuck, I
[Ivan’s POV]"Now," the being announced. "Are you ready for your next trial?""So soon?"I just finished fighting a pretty strong opponent and would be lying if I said that I wasn’t feeling it. Though I managed to tap into a new source of power, I didn’t know how to control it yet and therefore was wiped out."Is that a no?""No."Standing up, I did my best to push away the exhaustion that I was feeling. If I let myself stop now, all the struggle prior to this would be worthless."What is it?"I watched as the being began to use its hands to make circular motions in the air. Where its fingers passed created tiny glowing orbs. Frowning, I tried to determine exactly what was going on here, but came up short."What are you doing?""Creating two paths." The being explained."Paths?"Furrowing my brows, I continued to watch as the glowing spheres that were being created started to grow bigger and bigger until they were the perfect size for someone to pass through."What?" I hissed when wha
[Arissa’s POV]I stumbled backwards once Hans was finished feeding and wiped the sweat that was beginning to form on my brow. Blinking away the black spots that were beginning to appear in front of my eyes, I looked at his injury and found that it was beginning to close. However, where the skin healed remained raised and a purplish color, but it was healing and that was all that mattered."You should try to get some rest." Lindsey murmured, placing a hand on my shoulder."Yeah, what she said!" Pixie agreed, popping out from my other side. "You’ve been through a lot.""I’m okay." I assured the duo, forcing a smile. "There might be more of those creatures lurking. We need to stay on alert.""We can handle them." Nazhoni chimed, narrowing her gaze at me. "I agree with them. You need to rest after everything. ""By the way," Pixie murmured, lifting her curious gaze to me. "Why did you give him your blood?"Busted… I forgot that some of those present didn’t know my secret."Pixie," Lindsey