Hi Lovelies, forgive me if this chapter wasn't the best. My family and I are currently experiencing a time of grief. I lost a family member last month and today we discovered that another loved one has left us. Therefore, I will return with the next chapter sometime next week. Thanks for your understanding. #Much love!
-NIAโS POV-My heavy eyelids blinked open to meet a plain white ceiling. My dry throat hurt so bad that whenever I swallowed, it was like a shrimp was stuck in my windpipe. I couldnโt even muster a groan.Dazed and weak, with leaden limbs, I couldn't feel anything from my waist down. I felt like death.โTechnically, we died, Nia.โ Starr huffed.Go figure.I took a long, shaky breath, hyperaware of the pain ricocheting against my ribcage as my lungs expanded, and finally hauled myself onto my elbows. My body groaned in protest.Seashell white blankets surrounded me like a blessed cocoon and a sheen of the moonlight passed through the open window, pooling on my skin.Managing to swivel my head, I vetted the surroundings. The room was dark and quiet with only the sound of slow, even breathing and light snoring cutting through the silence.Why was Gawain sound asleep beside me? He was lying shirtless in black sweatpants on his back with one arm folded behind his head and the other resting
-NIAโS POV-"Youโre finally here," I rasped with a small smile, clearing my throat after hearing how foreign I sounded.Lykoan stepped forward, entering the room a little more and shutting the door. My eyes watched him carefully. His dull lilac hues stared skeptically.Using my abdominal muscles, I tried to sit up but was met with searing pain that radiated up my side. The sensation forced a heavy breath and a whimper as I fought against my own body, trying desperately to move.My side stung and sent a deep pain up my side near my ribs every time I inhaled. Yet I was determined to. I winced as I sat up in the bed, anxiously pulling my silk strands over my shoulders, awaiting him.The tension built minute by minute as this scenario corners us. My stomach grumbled, moaning in hunger. Then a heart-pounding silence descended.His lilacs were fixated on my orange orbs. Hurt flashed through his eyes. The outer ends of his eyebrows drooped, and his hands were shaking. He was nervous. Why?"I
-NIAโS POV-The doorknob rattled before it swung open to reveal Lucidora with a wooden tray in her hands. Her timing was totally shit, leaving me shaky and anxious.Our well-needed conversation was disrupted, but I perked up because my stomach rumbled for the food that she brought. Whatever was in that white bowl sure smelled damn good, making me drool.โThere she is. My goodness, look at you!โ She exclaimed, with a wide grin as she laid eyes on me. โItโs delightful to see you, Nia. I brought my special remedy.โ"Sounds yummy. I miss your cooking and I canโt wait to get out of this bed. Feels like Iโve been in this room forever." I smiled back as I looked up at Lykoan who hadn't allowed me to leave this medic room. It was worse than being stuck in a safe house."Donโt worry. Youโll be good as new by the time Iโm done taking care of you,โ Lucidroa piped. โJust let me know what else I can get you.โ"Bring any wine?" I laughed as she took a slow step forward, thinking I would need it aft
-NIAโS POV-The doctor saw this as an opportunity to lay the cards out. โWe could contact the Quintessa Witches to help us find the gateway to the elfโs realm. You can enter their territory because you have their blood, and no werewolf would be able to cross the vale.โโKenzieโโ Lykoan pinched the bridge of his nose and closed his eyes while his other hand fondled my right hand.However, Kenzie did not stop her smug rambling. โIt might take some time, but guess what? We could make it happen.โI tilted my head, listening keenly with brows raised and my face void of emotions. I did not want her to know she was getting to me.With a hand on her waist, the other gesticulated as she spoke. โRabastanโs RiftDregs Pack is a refuge for hybrids that Lykoan himself created. You could make life there.โโKenzieโโ Lykoan snarled her name, trying to get her to keep her forked tongue behind her teeth!โThe point is if you stay here, the overlords will continue to attack this pack, which will make you
-NIAโS POV-Damn him.I studied the dangerously handsome man in front of me and knew I had grounds to reject him.No one could blame me if I ended things right then and there, not even Lykoan. In fact, I thought he was expecting itโ bracing himself for the final blow.His brows were high and drawn together with pure despair in his eyes, looking at me like I was sentencing him into a pit of loneliness. Curse those blasted lilacs that tend to suck my soul right in.Damn the mate bond. Damn this life. Damn the moon goddess too.Yet, I wanted him. It made that stubborn part of me that repudiated this bond agonize like hammering nails on my heart. I turned my head away to think.Kenzie had the bandage in one hand and rummaged through her medical bag, taking out a syringe that she dropped into her pocket. My eyes widened, and a bile rose in my throat as panic gripped me. After being injected with poison, another needle was the last thing I wanted to see. My stomach clenched and my deep-root
-NIAโS POV-Lykoan hummed and it vibrated against my chest. My hands strayed up to his hair and I marveled at how soft it was. His tongue intertwined with mine and I tugged on his hair gently.Liquid heat scorched through my veins. We got lost in the pleasure as something ignited in the silence before painfully separating. My cheeks bloomed like roses. I bit my lower lip and glimpsed at the tented bulge under the throw blanket.โUm,โ I began, smiling shyly, "You're not like anyone I've ever known, Lykoan.โHis face lit up with a beautiful smile. Not a broken smile, a real, lewd one. "And you, Nia, are the most beautiful person I've met. Your light has brought me to the surface of an ocean that I was drowning in."Blushing profusely, I struggled to hold his gaze. "Are you saying that I saved you?"His lilacs twinkled, and his smile grew, and he cupped the side of my face. "I'm saying that you brought me back to life." He cleared his throat. โNow repeat after me.โI nodded.โI, Nia Rava
-LYKOANโS POV-Jacques has the shittiest timing. Itโs fucking ridiculous.It took everything to leave Nia and crawl out of that bed. Her flushed, sexy, sprawled out image lingered in my mind, tugging at my heart to blow the Alpha off and resume our hot session.Knowing I had to take care of business, her plump lips pouted. Red, succulent, and full. Her sad eyes pleaded, clutching to an area of my soul that felt like a broken ceramic. All I wanted to do was stay in the medical room.But a very annoying and determined someone had to show up. After desperately longing to be alone with Nia and making plans to make up for her pain, this asshole had to come and darken my day.โLykoan!โ Jacques roared three times, outraged. โOld Pops, come out! Come out!โJam-packed with fury, my wolf paced back and forth, huffing out hot puffs of breath. He wanted to permanently disable the uninvited visitor who was causing us to desert our mate. He did not like him raising his voice at us either. He saw it
-LYKOANโS POV-โShouldnโt we stop her, Lykoan? The brute might try to hurt her.โ Sultan cautioned.โAbsolutely not. I want to see where this is going and if she shows him that sheโs not a pushover, heโll have to let her be.โ I reasoned, eyeing the man keenly.โI might not be an Alpha-female, but Iโm somebodyโs daughter and blood runs through my veins too.โ Niaโs lush breasts were rising and falling, and she lifted her chin. I sensed some anger bubbling in her. โWithout us bottom-feeders, you donโt have a pack to rule. So showing a little more courtesy might do you some good.โA warning echoed in my mind. Jacquesโ nostrils flared and he began breathing heavily.To exert my dominance, I squared my shoulders and assumed a power pose in a wide stance, letting Jacques know that if he attacked my curvaceous woman, I would retaliate. He noticed and clenched his jaws as vertical lines formed between his brows.Determined to gain some respect, Nia held her ground and continued with a daring goi
NIAโS POVDalton was raising an Alpha Cabal for Subjugation. No doubt, it was the advice of his council to use the alphas to show Lykoan that he had no authority, similarly to what the ten alphas who died had done.What a night!This battle of power could escalate all the way to the fearsome Lycan Diabolyn.Did I predict any of this? Certainly not, but with Lykoan, he always went overboard. I could see the sheer rage bubbling inside him, just waiting to burst out like a volcano.โIsnโt this more trouble than we wanted?โ I leaned towards Lykoan and asked, โI thought we were going to do things the right way. Will fighting him clear my name?โโNo, but itโs more fun,โ he answered surprisingly soft, tucking a piece of hair behind my ear coyly. โDonโt you think I know heโll attempt to seduce you the moment you are alone with him?โโYou overestimate his charms.โ I released a tense breath, sitting back.โHe doesnโt even look like the lovemaking type,โ Lykoan groused, deeply analyzing the Alpha
NIAโS POVโYour lack of manners is a flaw,โ Lykoan said coolly, yet a subtle, lethal undertone bled into every word. โDo not recklessly disturb us. As you can see, this is a Volkes table, and yet you want to drag away my date without my consent.โโConsent is not required when an APB is active for her, so thank you for bringing Nia home. Now that you have delivered her, I will take her out of your hands.โ Dalton shot back, hands tightening into fists at his side.Lykoanโs arm went around my shoulder. He shrugged and muttered, โThat wonโt be necessary.โโListen,โ Daltonโs expression grew murderous. โI donโt care which Volkes you are. Youโre not the Alpha of Volkecrest Krowns. That makes your inferior stance quite irrelevant, so take your reward and leave.โHe grabbed the black briefcase from Chaseโs hand and flung it onto our table. The glasses tipped over, liquid spilled on the tablecloth. Silverware and plates sailed through the air, smashing to the floor. A deep chasm of worry opened
NIAโS POVShellshocked, Ramona froze, blinking once, then twice.โLetโs not air out family business here,โ Haynes replied with a sheepish smile, trying to de-escalate the situation he aggravated. โAll this nonsense is ruining the evening.โโSheโs the one disrupting the harmonious environment,โ Ramonda grumbled, dipping her chin. โOffer her the money and sheโll take it. A low class like her is nothing but a woman digging for gold from a sugar daddy. A mutt trying to cash out.โ Then her expression dulled, offering a regretful look when she lifted her head, her voice softened sympathetically. โYouโve endured so much already. Maybe you need more time in seclusion. Iโm just helping you to keep bad she-wolves away from you.โGritting my teeth, I laughed bitterly. โIt's odd how you know to penalize other people for things you don't have concrete proof of, but disregard it when it comes to your father's obvious theft, your mate's flagrant attempted murder, and the most famous one,โ I paused a
NIAโS POVOn impulse, I placed my hand on Lykoanโs thigh, gently patting him. In response, he put an arm around my chair to draw me close until the chairs bumped. Immediately palming my face, he rested his forehead on mine, taking large whiffs of my scent. Lilac eyes locked mine in a fierce, consuming gaze.โIโm not his anymore. He can never have me again,โ I whispered some assurance. My words were nothing but the truth, and I gave him a coy wink as my hands coasted up his chest to rest on his broad shoulders. โYou have me.โThat eased the growing tension in Lykoan, whose features relaxed. It was as though the rest of the universe had faded away, leaving just the two of us gently in the quiet.โMine.โ The deep raspy rumble from his chest lured out ripples of shudders from my core as his nose brushed against the rim of mine.My fingers comb through the ends of his hair, curling the soft strands around my fingertips.โThatโs right. Breathe slow and steady,โ I cooed, stroking his cheeks,
NIAโS POVLycans.โAlpha General, have you been well? I'm glad that you're done convalescing and could make it to Evangelineโs big day. If I had known you were coming, Ramonda and I would have paid our respects sooner.โ The man in his forties with the dark balbo beard greeted with a crooked smile. โIโm Haynes Volkes, by the way.โLykoanโs smile dropped, and a displeasing shadow passed over his face. He leaned back in his seat and straightened his back as he pinned the man with an icy stare.Haynes extended his arm across the table for a handshake.A stony indifference set in Lykoan's features. He maintained hostile eye contact with Haynes, showing no appreciation for the salutation.โAm I the only one at this table, Haynes?โ Lykoan reprimanded in an offended tone, sipping his drink.โUm. No.โ Haynesโ aubergine eyes reluctantly swept to me and quickly back on Lykoan as he retracted his hand. He opened his mouth, but the pregnant woman sitting beside him rushed to interject.โWords are f
NIAโS POVโIs there something fascinating at that table, Nia?โ Lykoanโs jealous voice drew my attention to him. His eyes were demanding and possessive as his hand reached across the table for mine. โIs there space in your mind for me?โโIt is a bit funny,โ I admitted, chuckling lowly, โIt's like they are having their own isekai plot, and we are the side characters in this drama.โโSide characters?โ Lykoan scoffed, and I did not miss the brief flicker of amusement that passed across his face when he lifted my hand and softly kissed my knuckles.He did not want my eyes wandering to my ex, even though he knew this wasn't some incredible, romantic reunion. But Iโve mentally checked out of that old fling. Dalton was not on my bingo card anymore.Then he removed his hand to pick up my wine glass, handing it to me. โIn their small world, itโs quite clear that the fuss is over you.โ Holding my gaze, he flashed that million-dollar smile. โSultanโs Starr will always be my shining star. No one ca
NIA'S POVโIf we must.โ I nodded hesitantly.Lykoan helped me down from the vanity and I linked my arm through his.My nerves wound tighter as we left the room, going into the elevator to head down to the ballroom. It dinged, opening up to the elaborate lobby. We take the left and walk down the hallway on a lavish gray carpet.My wolf knew we would see Dalton again tonight, that we would see the male who rejected us. The one who didn't care to save our baby. The same man who made us rogue. The instigator of my downhill life.A part of Starr loathed him. Once again, he has declared to the world that he never intended for me to be his Luna. Only to be used until I was no longer useful. My disdain for him churned.On the other hand, tonight was mine and Lykoan's first debut as a couple. It was also my first time attending such a grand function. My first time going in public with my arm looped around a man's own. A man who proudly owned me. A man who walked along my side, with his head hi
NIAโS POVIn awestruck wonder, I gasped. My heart skipped a beat as my eyes overlooked the two pairs of gold earrings to gawk atโ โMy jade triskelion.โBlinking my shock away, I reached inside the box and snatched my triskelion, running my fingers over the shiny surface. After noticing the slender gold chain necklace attached to it, I realized that the jade was too big for a pendant. It was practically the size of my hand.Looking up at Lykoan, I gaped at him accusingly. I wondered when he removed it from my room. Going into my personal belongings and taking out my stuff was an invasion of privacy. Was he searching for the Weloganite stones? Either way, he should have asked.โYou had no right to take my triskelion. This is dear to me.โ Bemused, I narrowed my eyes, searching his. โHow could you?โPart of me feared what he had to say. Upsetting thoughts rolled around in my head, sowing seeds of doubt where there had once been burgeoning hope and intrigue. It was self-preservationโa defe
NIAโS POV-Not even flinching, I sucked in a calming breath. Thinking quickly with the slyest smile, I beamed, โOne of your favorites.โHe halted his strides to swerve a dangerous look to the girls. โWhich one of you told her that?โPanic flashed in Tamekaโs and Kourtneyโs eyes. Their bodies went into seizure mode, shaking their heads vigorously because they had nothing to do with it.โLucidora,โ Lykoan muttered in realization, cursing silently. He returned his stormy eyes to me, resuming his steps. โThen wear it only for me. You are not leaving here looking like youโre up for grabs. Please change into something more conservative.โI tried not to roll my eyes.โWe are going to, umโฆโ Kourtney trailed off, moving sideways towards the door with a firm grip on Tameka, dragging her along.The girls scurried out of the room to avoid his wrath, leaving me alone with this puffing beast. Kourtney made sure to close the door behind them.When I did not move, Lykoanโs patience wore thin. Stoppin