Christian’s POVIt’s hard, fighting the urge to be out on the front line. I should be overseeing the fortification at the border, ensuring weapons and men are properly distributed. With over fifty miles of dense forest at the border of our pack, a two mile wide ribbon of no man’s land, then Kendrick’s territory, it’s a lot of land to cover. We need to occupy the neutral territory before Kendrick’s men, if we are to have the upper hand. I know Zander is more than capable, but it's what I have always done. The only thing that has kept me in this bed is the weight of Liberty’s arm and leg slung across me. Since her arrival in my life, she has a somewhat disturbing ability to quench the constant fire burning inside me. I say quench in the loosest sense of the word. It's more like the darkness and hunger for vengeance has been replaced with a longing or need to feel her, protect her and always keep her close. A therapist would probably call it transference, and they might be right.“How a
Liberty’s POVThis tender side of Christian isn’t one I expected. I know him to be more complex than he portrays, he wears his reputation like armour and I’m sure very few people truly understand what goes on beneath the steely surface.I don’t know if the thoughts of the future originated with him or myself. I have never thought too far ahead. Always wondering which day would be my last, or rather hoping each day would be the end. He changed that, they both did. Now I have a home, a place where I belong, and I will not have another family taken from me.‘Let’s go for a run. If we see more of the territory it might help put our visions in perspective, make them less abstract if it is ground we have trodden.’ Justice seems very keen to get out, I don’t blame her, most wolves run at least once a day. But Justice isn’t most wolves. She is more antsy than usual though, probably from giving me time and space to digest everything.“Christian. Justice seems to think it would be beneficial fo
Hunter’s POVChristian and Zander told us all how unique Justice is but hearing it and seeing it are worlds apart. I have seen more wolves than I could put a number on, travelled far and wide, passed through countless packs, but I have never seen a wolf as magnificent as Justice. Only one other ever came anywhere near close to her unique colouring and sheer size.I haven’t seen Esme since I joined the pack and I only knew her for a few short months all those years ago. She was unlike any wolf I had ever met. She knew more than she should, like she could read my soul or something. I know, it sounds ridiculous, but I swear that woman had my number before I even opened my mouth. She was easy to get along with and didn’t question me about my past or how I ended up roaming the mountains in the middle of winter, she accepted me as I was and we kept each other company until spring, when we went our separate ways. Her size wasn’t quite as extraordinary as Justice, but her colouring was remark
Liberty’s POV That was not meant to slip out, not now anyway. I had been so careful to watch what I said, making sure I didn’t say anything to lead him to my conclusion without further evidence. I never intended to tell anyone about the two bodies that stood out above the rest on the blood drenched battlefield. Saying it out loud would only breathe life into it, and it isn’t something I particularly want to relive. It’s crystal clear in my memory. Every time I think about it, my blood turns to slush in my veins. I’m just standing there in shock and horror, watching as the blue halo surrounding them begins to dim, the snow on the ground around their bodies turns deep red and that all too familiar coppery smell begins to engulf me. Kendrick lays motionless only a few feet away, his head a short distance from the rest of him. No doubt Christian’s last act in my defense If I don’t find a way to change the events between now and then, my mates will be stolen from me, forever. As far as I
Zander’s POV “They did WHAT!” I feel myself cringe as Christian’s voice bounces off the concrete walls of the Interrogation room. Hunter is in for it, because I know only something to do with Liberty could elicit such an extreme reaction from him. A few weeks ago it would have been a different story, but since finding her, she is the only thing he really loses his temper over. “Who is in trouble now? Liberty or Hunter?” I smirk in his direction and dodge the severed Beta head that comes hurtling my way. “Fuck Christian, that was over the top, even for you.” Of all the things to throw at me, he had to go for the head. “They have left the route they both agreed to stick to and are wandering around the lake looking for the seer. The seer Zand. Don’t they think if she wanted to be found she would make her presence known. Oh, and to top that, our little mate seems to think this woman is some sort of long lost relative. I’m telling you, this stinks of Kendrick, and his bullshit antics. T
Hunters POV “Esme, it’s true.” My chest squeezes the words out and my mind dare not believe my eyes. It must be… fifteen years, no, sixteen, at least, since I watched her walk away from me. I have spent every single day of each of those years convincing myself it hurts just a little less every time I think of her. It’s all total bull shit. I distract myself from the pain, go hunting with Christian, take my frustrations out on the rogues we find in the search for his parents’ killers. I tell myself it’s in their name that I commit such depraved acts against the scum we encounter, and it is true, in part. It’s mostly to remind myself how to feel something other than numb, emptiness. I know it comes across like I am no better than the rogues, after all I was one from the very day I came of age. But it’s not like that. I stumble through each day, numb and aimless, with no real sense of purpose or belonging. I don’t want to feel the pain of love or rejection, so I sought out the exact opp
Christian’s POVDon’t judge me. But in my fucked up head something almost snapped when I saw her in his arms, soaking wet and wearing nothing but a flimsy cloak. It’s Hunter for fucks sake, he would never be inappropriate with her, my rational mind knows we can trust him, but I’m not in a rational mindset right now.Every head turns away as I march up the stairs towards our room. I’m not sure if they are avoiding my eye or seeing their barely clad Luna. Either way I’m glad to reach the door without interruption.“What are you doing?” Liberty’s laugh pulls me out of my destructive thoughts. She tries to take hold of my hands as I fiddle with the wet, swollen cord tied at her neck.“You are soaked, I don’t want you to catch a chill.” I explain as I work to strip the sodden cloak from her shivering body. It’s not a complete lie, but I have other motives to relieve her of the saturated garment. She only has to look down to get a glimpse at my primary motivation.No matter how much I have
Esme’s POVRejecting our mate and walking away, leaving a shattered man on that mountain, was the second hardest thing Ari and I have ever had to do. The fist was returning today to face them after so long. It is something I have both longed for and dreaded.Ari knew we had no choice, but a wolf feels the loss of their mate on a level no human could ever understand. The mate bond is spiritual for both souls, the human and the wolf. But for a wolf it’s so much more, their mate is literally the other half of them, separated by the moon goddess only to find each other again and become one. Human souls are complete, so if a mate rejects them, they will feel the pain but often still thrive. If a wolf is rejected by it’s mate once they have found them, their soul never becomes complete and withers away or becomes feral and jaded, warped by the excruciating pain it endures every moment of every single day. Rejection makes rogues and it is a fate worse than death for most, which makes it an
Dear readers.Thank you all for your support of the first book of my Twin Alphas trilogy. Book Two, Twin Alphas' Celestial Luna, is now available. If you are using the updated version of the app, it should come up automatically for you. If you aren’t using the updated version you can search for it by title.I hope you continue enjoying the story of Pine Lake pack and everything that unfolds in book two.I love to read all of your comments and reviews, so please stop and say hello, let me know what you enjoyed or what you hope for the future of the pack. I reply to as many comments and reviews as possible.As always, thanks again, and happy reading.VB xx
Twin Alphas' Celestial LunaChapter TwoLottie’s POVRosaline warned me that coming home would be overwhelming and my ties to this place and the land, would be empowering. I believed every word she said, but I didn’t realise how much more power I would have access to just by being back on home turf. I can feel it moving under the ground, spreading from root to root until it channels up through the earth and into me, its willing conduit. I think some of what just happened was probably fear and survival instinct, but it’s not like I was just lighting candles from across the room like I did under Rosaline’s guidance.I’m telling you, those flames must have been ten feet high. I wouldn’t be surprised if I looked in a mirror and saw that I have no eyebrows or eyelashes. My powers might be impressive to an onlooker, but I find them intimidating, especially after the couple of mishaps I had back at the beach house. The less said about that the better. I’m not sure I’ll ever live it down, and
Twin Alphas' Celestial Luna. Book Two of the Twin Alphas' trilogy Chapter One Liberty’s POV “We will cross that bridge if we come to it.” Christian is here, his voice carries a bit of a warning and a lot of fear. I can hear his words but feel like maybe it’s a dream, or a memory. His presence, regardless of form, soothes me. The salinity of Marcels blood wakes my taste buds, and my mind slowly rouses further. It’s definitely not a memory. Not a conventional one anyway. I have taken the place of Luna Serephena and my mother in my vision. Everything has come full circle and I’m laying here on the damp forest floor being fed the same blood that once sustained my mother, and in turn, me. I’m surprised to notice the blood trickling past my lips is cold, tepid at best. I didn’t think it would be cool on my tongue. I mean, I never really gave much thought at all to what blood would taste or feel like, but I certainly would have expected it to be warm. I tentatively swallow as more of th
Marcel’s POV Liberty leaps off Zander’s lap and reaches her office door in one single movement. “Where is she going?” Hunter looks at the door, quizzically, then everyone in the room seems to realise at the same time, she has just run off on her own. I know it can’t be because of what I showed her. Nothing about that would have her sprinting from the room like the devil is nipping at her tail. “I have no idea.” I stand but am almost immediately knocked back down by the two hulking Alphas who jump to their feet and make a beeline for the door, hot on the heels of Hunter. Gabriel and Uriel give each other a weary, knowing look, Gabe rubs his chin between his thumb and forefinger and Uriel scratches at the back of his neck. The two of them obviously have no idea what’s happening. “There are wolves at the beach, near The Rocks. They have already taken the lighthouse.” Esme’s flat, emotionless tone is chilling and she sits, staring vacantly into the middle distance, her eyes glazed over
Liberty’s POV If I have gained any insight from the last few months, it is that holding on to the past is like trying to swim against the tide, with other people's choices dragging you down. It takes a tremendous amount of energy and courage to let go and move on, but it is necessary for our own growth and healing. I’m done with all the anger and sense of personal loss. This is about so much more than me alone, and it is the others like me that I fight for. For my pack, my pups and all the young women who never made it out of that room alive. Justice has been a beacon of hope in my mind throughout this entire journey, giving me strength and courage to push forward even when times have felt impossible, especially during the moments when Kendrick's haunting presence invades my nightmares. I have been blessed with the opportunity to truly live life on my own terms, something that I never thought was possible or even wanted before. I won’t allow anyone to taint it. Averson has fucked
Imelda’s POVMy family is small and scattered across the world, but most beloved of these is my only grandson Hunter, who I last saw when he was a baby. Afraid of his untapped powers in the wrong hands, my daughter and her mate pleaded with me to bind his powers and help hide him from the magical world, his Alpha blood and magical heritage would make him a target for his entire life. I did as they asked and bound Hunter's gifts so he could live his life safely and happily. It was a difficult decision to make, yet necessary in order to keep him hidden and protected from the dangers of the mortal world and power hungry shifter rebellion.They both agreed that when he came of age, I would lift the binding and protection ward, and he would travel to the far lands with me to learn how to use his gifts, something his mother would have taught him as he grew into them naturally in normal circumstances.Over the years, I kept a close watch over Hunter despite physical distance. From afar, I ha
Hunter’s POVI don’t remember if I ever saw my mother shift, I must have, I can’t recall any time in particular, but then, I don’t remember much of my younger years at all. I have maybe four or five clear memories, none of them good, but all the little details are lost to my struggle for survival after a left the pack.I knew I wouldn’t have any semblance of a life if I stayed there. The way my mother was treated showed me that. I understand now. Ever since the truth came to light about my identity, when Esme helped me fill in the blanks, I would have been next in line to be Alpha. Not that I could prove my parentage, but the threat was obviously real enough for them to take extreme measures to make sure the truth never came to light.She was different, no matter what they put her through, she always had a smile for me at the end of a long, hard day. She would sing, and tell me stories of brave men and women, their struggles and triumphs. She never hid the savagery of the world from m
Liberty’s POV When Esme told me she wasn’t coming to The Rocks with the rest of us, I was surprised. I may have only recently got to know my aunt again, but it became obvious soon after her arrival that she likes to insert herself into all and every drama. Everything was put right in the world a couple of minutes later when she pulled me discreetly to one side and told me that someone would arrive here whilst we were all gone. Obviously I was reluctant to leave her on her own to begin with, but she assured me that she would be perfectly safe. She said she knew who was coming and they are no threat to us. In fact, they are here with Averson and have been expected for some time. Averson was on the beach with Gabe and I was itching to get the answers to many questions. I have had his name weaving between everything going on in my head for days now. Up until yesterday I had no idea who he is, why he would come here, or what his arrival means. So I did the only thing I could think to do.
Averson’s POV This is precisely the dramatic affair I had hoped to avoid. Coming face to face with the family that had once thought me dead and I had happily allowed them to live in ignorance of my plight. The son I was taken from and great niece I never knew and couldn’t protect, are now on their way to pass judgement on me. I can only hope their minds are open to the reality of what I have to tell them. When news reached me of my former pack’s annihilation I spent several long months in the mountains, riding the cusp between somewhat sane and feral, torturing myself with the what if’s. I knew I should have returned home sooner and taken my place at the head of the pack. I could have warned them all about what was going in so close to our doorstep. I escaped two years one hundred and thirty seven days after the rebellion captured me, but I chose to stay away for over two decades. That is on me, and it’s a burden that has grown in weight every single day since. When Alderian stepped