ZEKE Again, fire and water will stand against each other. I don't know what the outcome of this fight will be. In my head, I know what I want, but I can't tell exactly what my brother is thinking. It was his idea to do this. I'm not so sure why I even agreed. Revenge doesn't matter anymore. Once I looked into my daughter's eyes, all the pain I felt melted away. I healed. Mare couldn't let go of me all through the night. She was stuck to me like glue because she feared this moment. She feared losing me. My life is finally coming together. I fear losing it, too. The arena roars wild. The entire wolf lands are watching King Nikolai's sons make history. I'm already a record breaker, and he's their king. This fight will have them all at the edge of their seats. The gong goes off and shirtless as we are, dressed in nothing but shorts we fight to the death. I cast an illusion of a cloud over his head, and constant rain falls on only him in the arena. Zane is furious that I'm drenching
I'm standing at the window edge of a hallway in the fortress. Everyone that passes greets their Alpha with a bow. Today is the exertion of the verdict I passed over all those involved in my mother's death. I took her skull down from where it was hung and finally gave her a befitting burial. Chantria Van Acker, after being tried for my mother's death and King Nikolai's death, was sentenced to death. Her execution is today, and Zane doesn't try to stop it. I knew he went to see her one last time at the dungeons last night, but she's his mother. Will that ever be enough? Hours later, Aiden hands me a platter. I open it and find Chantrias head. The last thing I can do for my mother is to replace her skull with that of the person who put her there. I tell him where to leave the human head until it decomposes, and only a skull is left. My brother stops by to see me in my chambers that evening. He doesn't seem angry that I had given the order for her death. She had killed Father, too. It
I walk down the aisle, parting through the crowds of Red Valley and Blue Silver Wolves gathered to witness this remarkable moment in my history. My father, Alpha Ivan Everdeen, has called a truce between the two packs. I was the sacrifice offered. Now I must mate with Chase, the Alpha of the Red Valley pack. A month ago, my life changed, and I wasn't even eighteen yet. Responsibility weighed on my shoulders. After my mother, the fallen Luna, I am the next bloodline silver wolf and many Alphas will kill to have me. I'm a wolf with healing abilities and with far greater strength and abilities. The moon goddesses prophecy has described my title as a blessing to any pack that will have me. My father holds power because of this. Our pack is one of a kind and in the wolf world, we are top ranked, but the bloodline mark only appears once in a hundred years. It is my turn now and Alpha Chase is the one my blessing will fall on. It's too bad he doesn't feel happy about mating with me so sud
My legs fail me and my heart squeezes in a vice grip. I feel this is only an illusion; a glitch in my brain because this cannot be happening to me. Not today, not now. I stare at Chase in the eye. He's on his feet now, and he's putting his clothes on quickly. I want him to look at me because this cannot be real. He wouldn't dare do this to me on such an occasion. There was nothing binding on our relationship except the words of our parents, but in a few minutes, this will definitely mean infidelity. "How dare you, Chase?" I frown with so much venom in my gaze. I want to rip Ruby's eyes out for stealing what is about to be mine. My fists clench at my side and there's a chimney in my ears. "Save it, Mare. Don't act like there was ever anything real between us. I just met you a month ago." Tear pearls gleam in my eyes as my body quakes with anger. I want to hit the nearest thing next to me and I will. Ruby strides up to my side after fitting back into her evening dress. She int
Chase and I walk back to the Alpha's Manor together. Wolves are everywhere in sight and many are watching with interested eyes. They want to see how we are together and hope to catch the slightest error that will spur gossip around the pack. We maintain and once we reach the Manor and at his room door; he shoves it open and lets me in after him. My coronation is over now. I'm in a new year of my life and the alpha and I must consummate our mate bond, just as the moon goddess has deemed it so. I'm excited and scared as I stand awkwardly in the middle of the room. Chase takes off his white tunic and leaves his pants on. He turns to the wine cabinet in the room and drowns his sorrows in the glass of bourbon. This isn't what I want. I'm his Luna now. We've bonded with each other forever and no one can come between us. I want him to drown his sorrows in me. I want to be the one he turns to whenever he's sad or needs help. "Chase." I call as I walk over to him and place my palm on his ba
The crowd is thrown into chaos. Murmurings arise as everyone awaits my father's response. I do not know what Chase is talking about, but I can see his plans now are to get Ruby to stay behind with Red Valley and at his side in place of me. I put on my best saccharine smile and say to him, "Alpha Chase, let's not cause a scene with my worrying." He cuts me off. "My dear, it pleases me to grant your request, and I will do it with all gladness." "My daughter, Ruby, has no concern with the Red Valley pack. I believe one child is enough." My father spits because this news is something he doesn't like. "What can I do? Marelyn wishes for her sister to be near, and I can’t ignore my Luna. So, I will offer Ruby Everdeen a spot on the Alpha's courtesan train." He quickly adds. "Mind you. This is not up for debate." Ruby speaks up at once, placing a deceitful hand on my father's arm. "Father, I will go. If my sister, the Luna of Red Valley, wants me near, who am I to refuse?" My father do
Carodia is a country hidden on the globe. The rest of the world thinks it does not exist, but it does. It is very real. Carodia is a kingdom made up of wolf packs, co-existing on common ground. Wars happen. Misunderstandings have claimed many packs over the centuries, but this Kingdom is what the moon goddess has provided for us. The maids are here again. It's been three days since my coronation and trouble looms near. I'm wearing battle clothes instead of a pretty gown to the throne room today. The red Valley pack is fighting a war and I am Luna. I must lead by example. The doors of the throne room open for me and I walk inside, making all heads turn. I see the way Chase looks at me from his seat. His eyes rake over my attire. The pure leather pants and black corset top hug every curve in my body and my blonde hair I always have in a messy bun drapes over my shoulders. His eyes fix on the way my small breasts perk up inside my top, but I ignore his scrutiny and make way to my th
My eyes crack open, and I find myself inside a room I've never seen before. It's fancy, with paintings on its walls, two sofas and a centre table, and the bed at the head of the room. I raise my eyes to the ceiling and I see the chains binding my wrists to the loops on it. Fear grips me again. I remember my last moments at Red Valley and I begin to struggle. Chase was far away. My father and my people can not help me now. I don't even know where I am—Immediately, my ears catch the sloshing sound of sea waves and breaking tides. The wheels in my head turn like fiery chariots. I'm currently at sea and my captors aren't planning on keeping me in Carodia. They are taking me out of it. But it's not only my captors that I fear. It is the waters we cross now that make me antsy. I struggle until I'm wet with sweat and feel the little energy in my bones leave me. "Do not fight it." I hear the low-pitched, deep voice as footsteps bound down the short stairs leading to where I am. A man in a