All Chapters of Rise of a Queen - Book 2: Chapter 21 - Chapter 30

MATHIAS 2 days before the full moon I wasn’t planning on it, it just happened. Bear shifters don’t just bite, mark and mate like a wolf. It is a lot more intimate. We imprint on our mates, usually during mating. Then, we would mark them, by exchanging our blood where we wanted our marks to appear and they would manifest in the same spot, no matter who marked who. It is usually the boar that will mark and imprint on the female. Because of how aggressive bear shifters can be during mating, it can be dangerous and we could easily kill our mate. So the moon goddess gave us a more harmonious and devoted way to claim them. Imprinting forms a deep connection with our souls and the souls of our counterparts, her wolf and my beast. When I looked into Lamia’s eyes as I seated myself deep inside her, Arcas came forward and the connection was immediate. Imprinting on her had to be the most sensual thing I have ever experienced. I have never been gentle with a female, but with Lamia, it was a

LAMIA One day before the full moon I woke up with the worst headache ever. I groaned, holding my head while I used my other hand to prop me up. I was lying on a soft bed, surrounded by Mathias’ scent. It was comforting, but it was doing little for the drum beating in my temples and the brick weighing my forehead down. I reached over to feel for Mathias, but when I felt nothing, I turned my pounding head to see the bed empty. This was not his room. It was one of the guest rooms. I rubbed my eyes, pulling the cover back to see I was naked. Throwing my feet over the side and rising from the bed, I saw Mathias’ shirt from last night, draped across the chair by a closet. I grabbed it, putting it on. My movements were slower than usual and my legs were shaky. I felt like I had gone 4 rounds with myself and drank a shit ton of booze. The last thing I remember is running out of the elevator from Mathias, in hopes he would chase me and ravage me. Only to hit a brick wall and cough at the

MATHIAS Day of the full moon Last night, Lamia and I walked back to our cabin in silence, both of us contemplating Odeia’s words. Her explanation mulled through our thoughts. We lay wrapped in each other’s arms and in between tangling our bodies we talked. We talked until we could no longer keep our eyes open, about everything. I told her about Annalise and my unsavory ways. We spoke about Orion and Finnegan and what was to come. She recanted her dream of when Odeia visited her, or Ashe as she knew her. There were no more secrets between us, nothing to get in our way, and nothing to surprise us. I had complete and utter faith in my little wolf. I had a woman who was strong, kind, and beautiful, and all I could hope was to treat her right and give her everything, including my heart. Which she already had. She, Odeia, was right about my sudden change in path. I had been out of control, spiraling down a dark road full of horrors and sin. Not caring about what the next would bring if i

KELLENThe night of the full moon We had finished the pack run early due to the rain and the rolling storm that blew in from the north suddenly. Usually, rain won’t stop a wolf, but the torrential down-pour came heavy and fast. With it, raging thunder clapped in the sky and lightning began to strike, forking across the grounds of the Royal Palace. We ran for cover, shifting when we reached the pergola. I had been seeing a little she-wolf, Vanessa, for a couple of weeks now. I hadn’t been that same playboy since Lamia. Not to say I haven’t had my share of girls in the past two years, but there was no more wham, bam thank you Ma’ams. I kept them around for at least a few weeks. I had taken Vanessa back to my room; actually, it was a guest room I used. I didn’t like bringing anyone up to the royal floor. It was too personal, especially if they were not my fated mate. So I had the ‘spare’ room I kept. No sooner had the door closed, than she was upon me. Her lush lips locked to mine, h

TAWNY I wiped the blood and sweat from my brow in an over-exaggerated movement. I was beat, tired, overwhelmed, exasperated; as many words, as you can find to explain how broken a will and resolve was, I was it. The aftermath of the carnage I stood amongst, was unimaginable. The streets ran red with blood that was slowly being absorbed by the dry dirt of Cambiador. I looked up to Mason, one of Lamia’s warriors, hoisting yet another body over his shoulder and placing it in the bed of the truck, with the others. 27 trucks lined the main road to the kingdom's heart, each filled with the body of a soldier or a civilian. I wanted to cry for the loss, but I had no tears, not that my tears would do any good. Not now, and not last night. “Mason,” I called to the tall muscular were-cat. “Did you have any luck contacting anyone at MacTire?” He nodded, walking over to me, wiping the mess of grime from his hands onto his blood-soaked jeans. “I spoke with Josiah, he was going to alert Commande