*Summer’s POV:I accepted. I was leaving the pack, leaving to go with the Prince. Marcus looked so sad, and I couldn’t help but ask myself: was this the end for us? For good? He looked up at me, and I didn’t know whether I was feeling pity or sadness, but knowing him like I did, it was obvious he didn’t want my pity, nor anyone else’s for that matter. I tried my best to keep my calm as he spoke to the Prince:“If Summer wishes to leave with you, it is my duty to accompany her. As the beta of her father, I am best suited after the alpha to protect her. With your permission, I would like to leave with you both.”Thankfully, he was not provocative this time or defensive. The hard and cold tone he used surprised me: it reminded me of the cruelty with which he rejected me. For once, Prince Lucian wasn’t aggressive or assertive with him either. He just nodded. Marcus looked at me and continued:“You are the alpha’s daughter. Where you go, I go, and I will make sure no one from the other pac
*Summer’s POV:My last day in the pack was a really hectic one! After leaving the hospital room, I went back to my room and tried to be as helpful as possible, but since I was still in recovery, everyone insisted on not letting me do any chores.“Do you have the golden dress packed?”“Yes, Luna.”“Don’t forget all her accessories… We want her to be dressed to match the royal protocol!”I rolled my eyes in the back of my head. They were all overdoing it. In all truth, I was terrified to leave the pack and join the palace. That’s why I tried to lighten up the mood with some jokes. Rose was not very helpful, as I could tell how devastated she was that I was leaving.That night, she slept in my room, though we didn’t get any sleep. We spent the night reminiscing about some good childhood memories and laughing, crying, dancing together like we hadn’t in a very long time. As it was almost dawn and time for me to meet with the Prince and leave, I laid my head on my sister’s lap. She caressed
*Summer’s POVClimbing the mountain on Blood Ghost was a rush, for sure. I didn’t even need to hold on that tight, he was so big I had no chance of falling. But he moved so fast, my heart was racing when he finally stopped at the mountain top.The view was unmatched. I looked at the tree tops, with the sun barely rising. At my left was the main pack house and the other buildings, and at my right, nothing but trees and mountains and nature’s perfection. I felt the first rays caressing my face and closed my eyes, embracing it all. I could smell the pines, the grass, the blossoming flowers carried by the wind. I could also smell Lucian, his masculine, enticing scent. Without opening my eyes, I felt him coming up from behind me, as his warmth sent tingles along my whole body.When he hugged me, it was like this huge weight just got lifted off my shoulders. I finally felt safe and the feeling of his lips on mine felt so natural, like this was always meant to be.He was kissing me. I was ti
*Summer’s POV:Everyone was indeed waiting for me. As I got down from the car, I noticed how some of the men were looking at me. They were probably curious and hadn’t got the chance to see me before.“You, and you, escort Miss Summer to her chambers. Make sure everything is safe and ready for her before you let her in, and stay in front of her door at ALL TIMES. Am I understood?”“Yes, Beta.”I was stunned and surprised to see the ease with which he was commanding all these men, even though they weren’t our pack warriors. Everyone seemed to genuinely respect and appreciate his input.“Beta Samuel, Prince Lucian, I have also set up rooms for you both. Since your mate is pregnant, I have arranged the first floor room for you, beta. As for you, Prince Lucian, your suite is on the last floor, right next to Summer’s.”Samuel and Lucian looked at each other, and I could tell they were slightly surprised. Nonetheless, they nodded in agreement.Before I followed my two personal guards, I took
Summer’s POV:Hearing him mention the letters instantly made my body tense up. Why was he suddenly bringing this up, after ignoring me for all those years? I stood up, and I could feel myself blushing. Suddenly, the cold clearing felt very, very warm. Marcus also stood.“I don’t want you to feel uncomfortable, or leave. I just want to tell you my side of the story, that way maybe you will understand why I pushed you away. If you want me to shut up, I will. Just stay.”I examined his face for a while. He seemed genuinely apologetic, and of course, I was still deeply hurt by his rejection. Maybe hearing him out would be a good thing… I sat back down, but he didn’t. He started pacing around the fire, and the words just started flowing out of my mouth:“You knew… All this time, you knew. And yet, you kept hurting me, demeaning me. You made me feel worthless, every time I saw you with a different girl…”“No… that’s not what… You don’t understand… It’s complicated…”He was still pacing, gro
I couldn’t remember when I had fallen asleep. Tossing and turning in my bed for what seemed like hours, sleep escaped me. I was thinking about all the recent events, the mate-bond between me and Marcus… and Lucian. Was Marcus right? Was Lucian’s sister-in-law murdering any she-wolf coming near him? I felt my throat tighten, as I was now his official mate. Surely, that meant I had a mark on my back, but I never really thought of what that would mean until Marcus said those things.His confession tonight struck a chord. He was always kind to me… Unlike Chris or Rose, he had absolutely no reason to be kind to me, and yet he was. Everything he did afterwards, the females, the rejection… Was I willing to let all that go and start anew? Marcus was strong, responsible and reliable. Everything about him screamed safety and family. Choosing him meant staying with the pack, having a calm little life as the beta female while Rose and Chris would be the next Luna and Alpha. Her life would be easy
Marcus’ POV:I looked at Summer, and the fear in her eyes made me even angrier. The Red River Pack was a pack of murderers, as far as I was concerned. Sending them a messenger was Prince Lucian’s idea: I would have much rather avoided their territory altogether. Prince Lucian explained:“My father has assigned me with official business. I have sent a messenger to announce my arrival to the Alpha, but he has yet to return.”“He will not be returning.” I said.Lucian gave me the coldest possible look.“To offend the Second Prince is to offend the crown. No pack or Alpha would be so foolish, not even the Red River Pack.”“You don’t know these people…” Summer intervened with a soft, pained voice. He turned to her.“I must admit, I am not very familiar with the histories of your two packs. All I know is that there is a rivalry between you…”“IT’S NOT A RIVALRY! THEY ARE MURDERERS!” I banged my fist against the table, feeling Brutus in the back of my head just scratching to get out.Now Pri
“I don’t… What does that even mean?”Prince Lucian took a deep breath, before explaining:“When the hybrids shift for the first time, their wolves make them even stronger and faster. But the shift kills them.”“Kills their wolves? So then how are they able to survive?” Summer’s voice was high-pitched. She had never heard of a wolf dying and their human counterpart staying alive.“They don’t. Unless they find a host, another werewolf who is just ready to be possessed. Hence the attacks on the packs and the kidnappings.”Summer mulled over that information for a while, unable to respond. Not only did they murder anyone who crossed their path, but they also took control of innocent werewolves?“The deadly attack on both the packs is what drove a wedge between us. My father told me all about it, before he…” Marcus hesitated. “Before he died. Apparently, your grandmother led an attack against the rogues. The Red River Pack was closest to them, but they were quickly outnumbered. Even with a