Wendy's P.O.V. I listen to Prince Adrian tell us the festival will be rescheduled due to unforeseen circumstances, and I'm filled with rage. I know it has to do with that bitch who thinks she's Joel's mate. How dare she say there's no one here good enough for him? I'm a lycan, and she's nothing but an unwanted she-wolf who was raised by humans. I had plans for the festival to expose her as an incompetent princess. At least they haven't marked each other yet. I still have a chance as long as that hasn't happened. Maybe this is a good thing; it will give me time to plan something even bigger to ruin their happiness. I walk past the palace in anger. The guards still refuse to let me in even though Joel is gone. I've tried to bribe them, but they say I'm not worth it. They're wrong. I'm worth more than all of them. When I get home, I slam the door. My stepdad glares at me. "What's your problem?" He asks. "They're postponing the festival because most of the family is out of town
Teegan's P.O.V. We pull into the driveway of the first wolf pack near Flint, Michigan. I see wolves on either side running along with us. I'm sure they can smell the lycan royalty in the vehicle, so they stay back. When we reach the packhouse, several people are standing outside looking at us nervously. Joel takes my hand as we approach the group. "Hello everyone, we're sorry for the surprise visit. I'm Prince Joel, and this is my mate Teegan. My sister Kiana and Teegan's brothers Damon and Anton are also with us. We would like a word with the alpha and luna, please." Joel sounds official, and I understand. We don't know this pack, and if pups were brought here, what did they do with them. I turn when I hear another car pull up and see six royal guards get out. "I'm Alpha Tyler, and this is my mate Amber. Please follow me to my office." The man who speaks sends a chill down my spine. I instantly don't like him. His mate won't meet our eyes, and it concerns me. "Have some of t
Joel's P.O.V. I'm sickened by what Tyler and his men have done to the people in the cages. They had raped and abused the men and the women. There were only a few pups, and besides being terrified, we didn't see any marks on them. Although some marks we may never be able to see. Once we have all the cages cleared out and the people in them taken to the packhouse to get treated, I have two guards bring Tyler. I also have Mike go around with the other guards to point out anyone in the pack who worked with Tyler besides the ones we caught in the building. There were a total of twenty-two men and three women. "The things you have done to people over the years disgust me. If we had time, I would torture you for years, but I want your existence to be wiped from the earth as soon as possible. You will suffer, and we will be able to tell your captives and their families that your deaths weren't pleasant. Strip them and put them into cages." I yell to the guards. They try to fight, but t
Fort Wayne, IndianaTeegan's P.O.V. We arrive at the next pack, and I'm already prepared for the worst. However, what greets us isn't what I expected. The pack is extremely small, and when we pull up, only a few people come out to greet us. I don't see any guards anywhere, like in the last pack. "Everyone, wait here. Teegan and I will go first." Joel tells the others as he and I get out of the vehicle. "Can we help you?" An older man asks, looking at us wearily. I don't pick up anything from any of them other than fear. "I'm Prince Joel, and this is my mate, Princess Teegan. Can we speak to the alpha, please?" Joel uses a much softer tone than he did at the last pack. The man looks down and shakes his head. "I'm sorry, but we have no alpha or any leaders anymore. Our pack was attacked several years ago, so only a few of us are left." Joel and I exchange a look. "Can you tell us what happened?" I ask gently. A few mo
Anton's P.O.V. As soon as Teegan waves for us to join them inside, I get out of the SUV, and the most intoxicating scent I've ever smelt surrounds me. I know it's coming from inside the house. When I rush past Teegan and Joel, I see a beautiful woman looking back at me with wide green eyes. I've found her. I've found my mate. However, when I say the word I've wanted to say for so long, I wasn't expecting her to fall onto her knees sobbing. I'm scared to move. Did I do something wrong? Is she already mated? The woman beside her squats down and wraps her arms around my mate. Yes, I'm claiming her as mine until I'm told otherwise. "It's okay, sweetheart." The woman says to her. I look at Teegan, who pulls me aside. “Jelena and Garett run the house. The woman crying; her name is Petra. They said she's been here a long time. I think she's scared based on how she looked at you when you came in." She whispers to me. Petra. That's a beautiful name.
Petra's P.O.V. I look at Anton as he speaks with the others about where they will go to look for the pups, and I can't believe he's my mate. When he pulled me into his arms on the floor, I wanted to resist, but I didn't fight much. His touch felt too good, and my wolf, Lila, told me he wasn't trying to hurt me. After talking with him, I realized he was nothing like the pack that took me. The man in that pack who was determined to mate with me when I turned eighteen had left me tied to a wall covered in wolfsbane for days. He would come to beat me a couple times a day. Jelena and Garrett found me like that when they came to our pack. I was ten. Other than Garrett and Grant, I haven't had any other men to show me how a mate is supposed to be treated. I thought they were only kind because they were werelions. I believed all wolves were like the pack that took me, but Anton quickly showed me I was wrong. I want to go with them to find the pups. It will be my
Springfield, IllinoisTeegan's P.O.V. I watch Petra's face as we drive toward the first pack, which is thankfully not far. Kiana and I had seen how unsure she was around everyone. It makes me think she's been trying to hide her whole life, afraid of the unknown. That's why we did the little pillow fight to ease her nervousness. When Jelena had taken us out of the room so Anton could comfort her in peace. She told us that Petra hadn't left the house much, and sometimes, new things could be overwhelming for her. That was another reason I wanted to help her pack her things. I wanted to let her know that we're all her friends and she's not alone. I'm happy that she agreed to come with us. I think it will do her good, and Anton would have gone mad if she had stayed behind. "Have you ever been to any of the packs around here?" I ask Petra. I already can guess the answer, but I want to give her a chance to open up. I know how much Anton wants to look into what happened to her pack. She
Teegan's P.O.V. I wouldn't believe it if I didn't see it with my own eyes. When Petra ran over to hug Lindsey, she began glowing. The glow got brighter and brighter the more she hugged her. From how she looked at herself in the mirror, I believe this is the first time something like this has happened. I wonder if it has to do with what Joel said about her pack having magic. Why would it suddenly show itself now? "This has never happened before," Petra says softly. Lindsey pulls away from her slightly, and the glow dims. "When she hugged me, it felt like she was wrapping me in a warm blanket and taking away my pain," Lindsey says, still not fully letting go of Petra. Joel steps forward. "Petra, you said your pack was the Mystic Moonlighters. I didn't say anything because I didn't know how much you knew about your pack, but they were known to have magical powers." He tells her. She looks between all of us and then looks far away. "M
One Year LaterTeegan's P.O.V. It has been over a year since Thalia tried to take over the palace. After that chaos, everything seemed to settle down. My Mom and Dad moved to the palace to be closer to everyone. Anton said he didn't want to be alpha, so Dad agreed to let a new alpha take over. After we all came out of our heat, we still traveled to some other packs and were able to reunite a few more stolen pups with their families. We returned to the palace when it was getting close to the time for us to give birth. Now, with most of the pups getting ready to turn one, we're going to have a combined birthday party for them and continue on our mission. Logan and Emily's daughter, Josette, was born first. Our little one, Gracie, was next, followed by Petra and Anton's son, Kaiden. Kiana and Damon had a little girl, Ciera. Landon is Ryker and Martina's son, and Shelby is Scott and Brooke's daughter. Finally, Docia and Jason had a son, Tyson. The palace seemed to turn into a nurser
Docia's P.O.V. Petra mindlinked me that she was in heat, so she wouldn't be out of the bedroom for a few days. Martina and Brooke also went into heat. They're all so lucky. I want my mate, my real mate. Not someone who bought me and forced me to mate with them. I was shocked when I saw Petra come to the palace. I had thought she was dead. I had wanted to run to her, but I was scared of Chris and his witch. She was so little when we were taken. I may be older than Petra, but the way she acts, it seems she's older than me. She's so mature and strong; I admire her. After we were separated, I was with a pack who knew nothing about my magic. I kept it hidden and suffered their abuse. Some of the women were more brutal than the men. I never understood what would cause anyone to treat someone so horribly. All I dreamed about was getting away from there and finding my sister. When Chris bought me, I hoped it would be better. In some ways, it was
Petra's P.O.V. Thalia just made a huge mistake. She can't know that Teegan has power, too; otherwise, she wouldn't have brought her here. I have to relieve Teegan's pain so she can help. Now that I'm mated to Anton, I should be able to mindlink her and Joel. I hope her acting skills are good."Teegan, I know you're in an incredible amount of pain, and I'm going to ease that for you, but I need you to continue screaming like you're doing now. Can you do that?" Her screaming falters for a second as she listens to me. Joel is listening as well. "I'll do whatever you want if you make this pain stop." She mindlinks back. I use magic to ease her pain and make a cooling sensation come over her. It will also help her scent so unmated wolves won't be frantic to get to her. It won't hold forever, but it should be long enough for what we need to do. She continues rolling around in the cage and screaming."I feel better. What are we going to do? I don't know what's going on other than a witc
Petra's P.O.V. The witch smirks at my sister and me. She doesn't seem like she's scared of us and our magic at all. "You need to leave. Chris will not be king, and you're not welcome here." I tell her. She looks at Chris and shakes her head. "Do you think I really care about this fool? He was a pawn to get to my real prize. Allow me to introduce myself. I'm Thalia, one of the witches from the Mystic Flame Coven. I'm over three hundred years old. I've waited a long time for you, sisters of the Mystic Moonlighters. When I discovered Docia was for sale, I had Chris buy her. I didn't know where Petra was hiding, but I knew you would eventually find each other. I heard you were hanging out with the royals, so I convinced Chris it was time for him to take his rightful place on the throne." Thalia stands up and walks over to where Chris is sitting. He turns to us and grins evilly. "Get these chains off me so I can take my place as king." Thalia sits on his lap and kisses him. While they
Petra's P.O.V. I have a sister? When I study Docia, she looks like me but older. I was three when I was taken from our pack, and I remember other pups being with me, but I can't remember her. "You're my sister?" I ask her. She smiles and nods but then glances at Chris nervously. "Yes, and you need to surrender to us before it's too late." I hear what she's saying, but her eyes tell me something different. She looks desperate. "I don't think my sister wants to be with him." I mindlink the others. "Try to mindlink her." Anton mindlinks me back."Docia, can you hear me?" Her eyes widen, and she glances toward Chris."Yes. I can hear you. Petra, I'm so scared. Chris forced me to mate with him because of my magic. He bought me from another pack a few years ago." She looks like she's going to cry. I mindlink the others again."She says Chris forced her to mate with him after he bought her from another pack," I tell them."Ask her if he has anyone else helping him that has ab
Petra's P.O.V. If the people who took over the palace were going for shock value, they succeeded. However, I'm the only one not vomiting because I'm staring at the heads hanging on the ceiling. Something isn't right. Anton grabs my arm as I start to walk into the dungeon. "What are you doing?" He asks with concern. "I need to look at something." I don't want to tell him my theory until I'm sure. I know he doesn't want to go with me, but after what happened in Texas, he hasn't let me go anywhere alone, so he follows me inside. Just as I thought. The heads aren't real. "Logan, Kiana, this isn't your family." They both jump up and look at me in disbelief. "What do you mean?" Logan asks, trying to avoid looking at the heads above me. "They're not real. Someone made really good replicas, but they're fake." Everyone comes in and sees the same thing I saw. At first glance, they look real, but when you really examine them, they are clearly manmade. "Are they dead?" Logan asks, pointi
Near Dallas, TexasLogan's P.O.V. We're at the Dark Tails pack, where Seth had told us their unmated females were taken. We found them and others from nearby packs. They were told they were going to be sold as breeders. We soon realized that many in the pack didn't agree with what their alpha and beta were doing, so we let them carry out the punishment and decide on a new alpha. They also said they would help the women get back to their homes. Just as we're preparing to leave, I get a text. It's from Eric, and all it says is Come back to the palace now. When I try to call him, his phone goes straight to voicemail. I try my parents, and they don't answer either. There is no answer when I call my sisters and brother. What's going on? I try everyone I can think of in the palace, but no one answers. "I don't know what's going on, but we need to go to the palace now. No one is answering, and I received a text from the head of security that I needed to return. Le
Warning: Parts of this chapter may be difficult for some readers.Wendy's P.O.V. When I see the look on Richard's face, I stand up and try to run out of the room. He grabs me by my hair and throws me to the floor. I look at my mom, but she's too busy screaming about me having sex with her mate to notice we're in danger. "What the fuck do you think you're doing having sex with your stepfather?" She asks as I stand up. I put on my robe and back away from Richard. "Mom, he knows you're sleeping with other men, so don't try to act like you care." I try to get her attention, but she just continues to yell. I don't have time for this. I can tell Richard means exactly what he said. "What do you want from us? My father is already dead, so you got your revenge on him." I argue. Mom finally shuts up long enough to listen. "Your dad drugged my mate to make her sleep with him. She was so ridden with guilt that she killed herself. He took everything from me. My mate and our pup. She was
Teegan's P.O.V. I feel numb. I'm still trying to wrap my head around being taken by a demon, terrorized by a giant spider, and saved by a prince from the underworld. It feels like I'm watching myself in a horror movie, but it's not a movie; it's real life. Petra was incredible. I was so busy watching the spider that I didn't realize she had her magic back. My thoughts were on Joel and never seeing him again. They were also on the spider that I was sure was going to eat me or scare me to death. Not Petra, though. She was busy getting us free and summoning Paimon. When our hands touched, I felt powerful. It was an amazing feeling and gave me a glimpse of what Petra must feel all the time. Paimon was a creepy guy. I could never really see his face. No matter which way he turned, he was always in the shadows. I was glad for his help, but a part of me worried he would try to take us with him. We're getting ready to leave the pack now. A lab t