Alexanders povThe rain pelted down, each cold droplet like a shard of ice against my skin as I stepped out of my carriage to see if I could find somewhere for us to hold up until the storm passed. Streams of water ran down the helm of my cloak, soaking me to the bone. The storm had come in quicker than anticipated, and the night sky roared like an angry beast. "Alexander!" Ethan's voice barely pierced through the wind. "We can't see anything up ahead. We need to pull up and wait it out!" I knew he was right, but the thought of Olivia being out there ate away at my insides. I had sent Rebecca home with my most trusted guards and given them the orders not to wait for my return to the kingdom to just behead her. Ethan and I followed behind Olivia. I knew Olivia didn't want to go with me, but I thought I wouldn't see her for a long time and it was a long journey, I wanted to keep her safe. So I chose to follow her family and escort them quietly. If she needed any help, I would be ther
Alexander's POVThe word "rogues" had barely left Allen's lips before I felt my blood turn ice-cold. I could see the anguish etched into his every feature, but there was no time for anger or sorrow now—only action."Ethan, take them to the carriage!" I commanded my voice firm with purpose. "Ensure they're protected and send someone to tell Victor what has happened."Ethan nodded, rushing to gather Allen and the child. He made brief eye contact with me, his expression resolute and understanding. I knew I could count on him. As we helped Allen to his feet, he clutched my arm, his eyes burning with desperation."Alexander, you have to rescue Liam and Olivia. Please, they're in grave danger," he pleaded, voice cracking under the weight of unsaid words. “It's all my fault.”I gripped his shoulder tightly. "I will get them back, Allen. I swear it."Allen's eyes flickered, seeming to grapple with something unspoken. Slowly, he released his hold on me, but not before adding softly, "Just...mak
Olivia's POVMy heart raced as they continued to drag us towards the back of the store. The lingering scent of blood hung heavy in the air, mingling with the desperate whispers of those who stood with us. The rogue leader gave a sharp order to his men.“Move them,” he commanded, his voice cold and unyielding.Inside, panic clawed at my insides, merciless and unrelenting. If we were moved, how would Victor ever find us? Desperation gripped me, a cold, paralysing fear, but I couldn't let it show. Not now. Not with Liam needing me to be strong. I quickly reached for his hand, threading my fingers through his small, trembling ones.“Hold tight,” I whispered into his ear, forcing a calm that I did not feel. “Everything will be okay, sweetheart.”Liam’s eyes, wide with fear, met mine. I gave his hand a reassuring squeeze, praying it would give him some semblance of comfort. The rogue men herded us towards a trap door hidden beneath a dusty old rug. My stomach twisted as one of them yanked it
Alexander's POVThe rain was pouring down, each droplet feeling like a tiny dagger against my skin as I pushed through the relentless storm. My wolf form carried me swiftly toward the store, but when I burst through the door, there was nothing—no Olivia, no Liam, just the bodies of the guards who had given their lives trying to protect them and overturned shelves. Anger flared inside me, hot and consuming. They were gone, and I had failed.I tried to gather my thoughts, forcing down the rage that threatened to cloud my judgement. My extensive scouting experience kicked in as I scanned the ground for anything—any sign that could lead me to them. Olivia's scent filled my nostrils, and with my nose to the ground, I followed it until I came to a trap door in the back of the store that led down into tunnels.Ethan had his hands full, protecting Allen and Sarah. I had to face this alone. Olivia needed me, and no one was going to stop me from getting to her and bringing her back safely. My mi
Olivia's POV "We're going to be okay," I murmured, even though my own heart didn't believe it. His small fingers curled desperately around mine, his trembling body showing his fear.After what felt like hours, we came into a cavern. Looking up, I noticed the small opening. The leader looked at me. “Climb.”Before I had time to do anything, someone grabbed Liam, ripping him from my arms. I wanted to tell them no, but I knew that I didn’t have a choice here; I had to do as they told me. Climbing seemed an impossible task with the weight of fear pressing down on me, but I had to hold it together and keep reminding myself that I was stronger than I knew.The climb was hard. As I reached the top, dirt caked under my nails, I was met with more rogues. I turned back towards where I had come from, waiting for Liam to emerge from the hole in the ground. I held my breath. Every passing second felt like hours. Liam emerged from the hole. The Leader right behind him threw Liam back into my arms.
Olivia's POVWhen the darkness finally lifted, I found myself in a damp, suffocating cave. Chains wrapped around my ankles held me in place. My head throbbed, and my muscles ached, but my immediate concern wasn't my pain—it was Liam.To my relief, he lay beside me, his small chest rising and falling steadily. Feeling the coarse texture of the cold stone floor beneath, I marvelled that even here, under such dire circumstances, he could find asemblance of peace in sleep."Liam," I whispered, shaking him gently. He didn’t stir. Panic surged through me, setting my heart into a frenzied rhythm. I placed my hand on his forehead, and my fear magnified—his skin was scorching. Liam had a fever.The cold storm weather and the fear of being kidnapped knocked him down. I should act to be stronger and give my child more hope. Tears filled in my eyes."No, no, no," I muttered, fighting the tears that threatened to break loose. The rogues had to have some medicine, anything to bring his fever down.
Alexander's POVThe forest was a maze, an ever-changing place of shadows and sounds that kept me on edge. My wolf senses picked up every scent, every rustle of the leaves as I pushed through the dense underbrush. Despite the rain, my instincts screamed that I was on the right path. The forest canopy overhead provided sporadic shelter, but it also cast deceptive patterns on the ground, making it hard to distinguish tracks from shadows.I paused, sniffing the air again. The scent of Olivia was still faint but discernible. Adrenaline surged through my veins as I quickened my pace, my paws slipping in the mud but finding a grip on the rocks.Finally, I caught sight of the rocky base of a looming mountain. This had to be it. The rogues had chosen to hide here, thinking the weather and terrain would stop anyone from following them and give them the chance to spot anyone coming. They underestimated the lengths I would go to for Olivia. I shifted back to human form, my heightened senses not di
Olivia's POV I watched as Liam's breathing began to steady, the fever ebbing away thanks to the medication. Relief washed over me, though it was short-lived. I still needed to work out a way to get out of here. I looked around, praying for something—anything—that could help me escape. A familiar tingle coursed through my veins—Aura, my wolf, was stirring, albeit with a nervous energy that was hard to ignore. "What's happening, Aura?" I asked internally, straining to keep my voice even. "Olivia," she responded, her tone filled with an odd mixture of alarm and excitement, "Alexander is here. I can sense his wolf." I froze, my heart pounding with disbelief. "Impossible. Alexander is gone. Long gone. He left to go home, and he wouldn't be anywhere near here." Yet, that flicker of hope buried deep within me began to grow. Could it really be? "He is still far, but he's getting closer. We might be able to link with him once he's nearer," Aura reassured me. The idea of Alexander's prese
Elijah's povThe clamour of the battlefield swelled around me, punctuated by cries and the clash of steel. My heart was a tempest, torn between my loyalty to my father and my love for Olivia. I had never intended to become a pawn in this war, but here I stood, bathed in conflict, with my mind spiralling around the impending chaos. As I left Olivia's side earlier, my frustration boiled over into the tense air. "Cease this madness!" I cried out to the guards, their movements a blur of aggression around me. "These people are not our enemies!" Laughter erupted in response, sardonic and cruel. "The King has spoken, not you, Prince Elijah. We fight until death unless he says otherwise." Disdain twisted within me—a serpent rearing its head. Their insolence, their mindless obedience to Nicholas's bloody decree, was galling. But I knew why they refused me. I wasn’t their king, merely a shadow cast by my father’s ambition, a prince wearing false armour. The world spun with futility. Seeking
The ground was approaching swiftly beneath me, a swirling mass racing to meet my descent. Every instinct screamed that this was a mistake and that the leap would surely be my undoing. But even as fear clenched my heart, the dragon's scale in my grip pulsed with a warmth that banished doubt. One hundred meters above the earth, however, a shadow loomed. The first dragon I had saved soared to my rescue, swooping beneath me with a grace that defied the chaos of my fall. Relief erupted within me as I landed on its broad back, a breathless gasp escaping my lips. Holding tight to the rough, warm scales, I murmured, "Thank you."The dragon's powerful wings flapped, beating a defiant cadence against the tumultuous winds. It rose into the sky, a guardian taking flight, and together, we soared, the kingdom unfurling beneath us as a tapestry of vibrant life and teetering conflict.As if in a dream borne aloft, hundreds more dragons began to appear, majestic and fierce, emerging from the shadows
Olivias povI raced through the tunnels with a sense of urgency so intense it felt like a physical force pushing me onward. My breaths were ragged, each inhalation a struggle as I navigated the labyrinthine passages beneath the kingdom. My mind was a whirlwind, and though my plan was half-formed at best, I knew the dragons were my destination—their strength would be paramount in the battle to come.As I emerged into the dragon chamber, the oppressive air filled my lungs, heavy with the scent of fear and confinement. I couldn’t afford to hesitate, even as my heart pounded with the weight of what I was about to do. There they were, magnificent creatures tethered by chains, their eyes pools of ancient wisdom and unfathomable pain.The sight of the three guards was like a cold splash of reality, snapping my senses into sharp relief. The lead guard shouted, “What are you doing here? You can’t be here!” His voice echoed menacingly through the chamber, but I was beyond fear.Panicking would
Alexanders povThe moment we scaled the wall, chaos erupted like a storm unleashed upon the city. The guards, mere specks below, shouted commands in a futile attempt to contain the inevitable. Before anyone could react, a deafening roar sliced through the pandemonium, and the dragons descended, dark silhouettes against the dawn sky. Each dragon was a testament to terror and power, their scales shimmering with malice as they perched above the city. Fire erupted from their jaws, slicing through the air like molten spears, incinerating everything in their path. The city seemed to collapse inward upon itself, screams of horror mingling with the crackling of flames. Yet, amidst the chaos, my objective remained clear. I needed to reach the palace and confront Nicholas, ensuring he could never threaten Olivia or Sarah again. Victor and the others would search for them, but I would end this once and for all. As we pushed forward, defenders surged toward us, their weapons drawn with the con
Alexanders povThe wind whispered across the battlement, carrying a chill that dug deep into my bones. I stood at the wall encircling the city, my army of loyal wolves poised silently behind me. The air was tense, suffused with the anticipation of what was to come. I contemplated the wall with an acute awareness of what lay on the other side: the city that held Olivia and Sarah.Saphira had left to go find Tinsley and inform her of what was about to happen. She had gone inside the kingdom walls to get out as many people as she could who did not want to fight for the king. We couldn't wait for her to return. We had to strike now before Olivia was forced to marry King Nicholas's son. “Get me your king!” I shouted up to the guards standing motionless atop the wall. The defiance in their silence was a simmering challenge that only stoked my resolve further.Out of the corner of my eye, a sudden flicker—a glint of deadly intent—arched toward me. Instinct and adrenaline merged, and without
Olivias povI reached my room in a flurry of motion, the urgency pounding in my veins, and slammed the door shut behind me. My heart was a relentless drumbeat, each thud a resounding reminder of what I needed to do—find Sarah, free the dragons, and somehow escape. But I was just one person amidst the turmoil."Think, Olivia. Think," I murmured to myself, pacing the confines of my chamber. Outside, the chorus of panic escalated, every scream an echo of a city on the brink of collapse. The knowledge that they were searching for Sarah and that I couldn't help gnawed at me, a relentless torment.Suddenly, the door flew open, and there stood Elijah, his emerald eyes wide with urgency. "Olivia, come on! I have to get you out of here. Alexander’s army is approaching the city walls.""No," I protested, a firm resolve anchoring me to the spot. "I can't leave without Sarah."Elijah stepped closer. Desperation was etched on his features. "It’s not safe for you. My father will use you as a pawn i
Victor’s PovThe harsh chill of the dawning day crept through the forest as our army settled in the shadows of the Dragon Kingdom. Our journey had been gruelling, each step laden with the weight of expectation and desperation. We had pushed ourselves to the very edge, and now, waiting on the border, the tension crackled like static in the air around us. I was restless, every fibre of my being reaching out, praying for Alexander's swift arrival.I couldn’t shake the image of Olivia and Sarah from my mind. The need to bring them back consumed me with a fire that could scorch the earth beneath my feet. My sister was strong—tougher than anyone I knew—but I also knew the storm she was caught in. And then there was Sarah, innocent and pure, needing protection in a world full of shadows and claws.My thoughts were interrupted when a scream echoed from the periphery of our camp. "Dragon!"I spun around, senses snapping to attention, the word needle-sharp on my consciousness. The men around me
Olivias povI should go back to my room and return to the role of the compliant captive they expected me to play. But something deeper pulled me, a shimmering thread of fate weaving through the subterranean labyrinth beneath the palace. My steps were quiet as I ventured deeper into the cool embrace of the tunnels, the echo of my footsteps a constant reminder of the possible dangers ahead.The tunnels were a refuge, a secretive network that whispered tales of long-forgotten secrets. I navigated through the shadows, an innate guide leading me further into the depths. My gut twisted with hesitation, but I could not ignore the growing vibration in the air, a song of urgency beckoning me.Just as I considered turning back, a sound floated through the darkness, hushed but unmistakable. The distant clang of metal, a rhythmic symphony that drew me towards it despite every nerve screaming for caution.I crept forward, each step pulling me closer to the source until a thin line of light pierced
Alexander povI stood frozen, every nerve on edge, as the dragon's words settled into my consciousness. "Olivia... sent you?" I asked, my voice rough from disbelief and residual anger. The fire of my power still simmered beneath the surface, a silent reminder of what I could unleash if deceived."Yes," the dragon replied, its voice gentle yet resonant, carrying an undeniable aura of truth. "She needs your help. Nicholas plans to wed her to Elijah. This union will strengthen its hold on the lands and unleash chaos if not prevented. You must hurry."The weight of the revelation sank deep into my bones. Olivia, trapped in a web of political alliances, her freedom and the lives of those we both held dear hung in the balance. My insides churned with urgency and something more profound: fear."What about Sarah?" The question slipped from my lips, underpinned by the kind of desperation that only the thought of losing one's child could elicit.The dragon dipped its head, eyes filled with a pe