Before Anne could even breathe, the same smoke-breathing creep slithered toward her with backup. Three of them now. Loud. Drunk. Entitled. They plopped down beside her like she was part of the club decor.
"Hey baby, you wanna dance for us?" one slurred, his breath laced with cheap whiskey and desperation. Another waved a handful of bills in her face—hundreds, maybe even thousands. "C'mon, we'll make it rain, sweetheart."Tempting? Maybe. But no amount of cash could buy her pride.She rolled her eyes and stood up, brushing them off like lint. "Not interested."But they weren't done. One grabbed her wrist. Another blocked her path. The sleaze in the middle leaned in close, the money now stuffed right against her chest. "Don't play hard to get. We know your type. Dressed like that, you want the attention."Her stomach twisted in fury.She yanked her arm back, glaring like she was about to burn the place down. "I dressed like this be*~Hazel's POV~*I told myself I wouldn't bring it up to Aurora..not the dream, not the shadow of a man claiming to be my mate. How could I even explain it to her? How could I tell her about someone tall, dark, and impossibly gorgeous appearing out of nowhere, calling my children mistakes, claiming that my mother had tampered with my destiny, and that I was his true mate? That the bond I shared with the triplets was nothing more than a false weave?No. That couldn't be true.I had felt it. The bond with Caspian was real—undeniably real. And even with Cayden, as much as I loathed to admit it, the bond was there too. Surely something that strong couldn't be fabricated. At least, not entirely.Still… I needed answers. Answers about my mother. And Aurora had to be the one to give them to me.Aurora was busy playing with my babies when I turned to her."Aurora," I said softly. "I'm ready."She glanced up, smiling. "What? You're ready for the naming ceremony?"Her eyes glittered as she went
[WARNING: 18+, Dark Themes, Infant Harm]*~young Lilith's POV~*"Oh darling, you're not even worth killing…" I said coolly, my eyes flicking toward her precious newborns. "But these adorable little babies? Oh, they're a different story."Her face paled."What are you going to name them?" I asked, circling the bassinet like a predator. "Let me guess… matching names for matching little monsters?""Please…" she whispered. "Just leave. I'll call for help."I tilted my head, lips curling into a smile. "Oh? You mean your dear husband? Mmm, he's a little busy right now." I chuckled darkly. "Busy holding my child. Yes. Your husband is with my baby … my child is in his hands while you're here playing mommy-of-the-century."I reached down and touched the soft cheek of the baby with crimson eyes and a slight growl in her larynx.The Luna flinched, her maternal instincts flaring. She moved to pounce.But I was quicker. My claws extended with a shing, and she froze."Too slow," I said softly. "If
*~Young Lilith's POV~*Marcus was there….Right there.Standing before the altar, his broad shoulders proud, his face steady, his hands clasped with—Selene.Selene. The same girl he once laughed about, brushed aside, told me never to worry over.And now she stood where I should have been, her gown shimmering under the glow of the candles, her lips curved in the soft smile of a bride.My stomach lurched. My chest burned. I didn't know if it was my baby drowning inside me or if it was just my heart shattering into a thousand bloody shards.I tore myself from Alice's embrace, stumbling forward. My lips trembled as I whispered, "No… no, it can't be. That's not my Marcus. My Marcus would never… never marry her. He loves me. He promised me. He—"The words strangled in my throat. Rage burned with the grief, rising hot, rising wild. My fingers clenched so hard my nails bit into my palms."I have to stop him," I gasped, taking a step forward.Alice's hand snapped around my arm, yanking me back
*~Caspian's POV~*My heart froze the moment I saw the ring in her hand.Without thinking, I snatched it from her fingers and pulled her into a soft, grounding embrace. The metal felt heavier than it should, the weight of too many questions pressing against my palm."Where did she get that from?" My eyes darted to Aurora, silently demanding answers. She only gave me the same confused stare, her brows furrowed in genuine bewilderment."Where did you get this?" My voice came out tighter than intended.Hazel's gaze was far away, almost glassy. "I… saw it inside of me," she murmured, as though even she wasn't sure what she meant.Aurora had mentioned earlier that Hazel's wolf might have awakened, but hearing it from her was different. "Aurora told me you've activated your wolf. Is it true?"She nodded once, a hesitant motion. Relief should have followed, but instead, my instincts sharpened."Then… congratulations." I forced warmth into my voice, pulling her into another embrace. But I coul
*~Caspian POV~*Standing in front of Cyrius with Hazel unconscious beside me.. My heart thudded hard in my chest, my eyes darting around in a frantic search for her babies—but they were nowhere in sight."Hello, brother," I said, my voice calm but edged with steel.His eyes..dark, almost void-like..were locked entirely on Hazel. The wolfsbane-coated arrows in his hands glinted faintly under the dim light."Shift," he ordered, his tone dripping with venom.I raised my hand before he could come closer, the air between us thick with tension. "Stay away from her. Where are the babies?"He didn't answer. His grip tightened on the arrows, his knuckles whitening.Before he could lunge, Aurora's voice rang out like a whip. "Versa!" In a flash, she pounced, knocking him back. Wolves erupted around us, snarls filling the night air."Go find the babies. I'll handle these," Aurora barked, cracking her knuckles with a dark grin.The moment she mentioned the babies, Cyrius's eyes widened. He bolted
*~Caspian POV~*Standing in front of Cyrius with Hazel unconscious beside me.. My heart thudded hard in my chest, my eyes darting around in a frantic search for her babies—but they were nowhere in sight."Hello, brother," I said, my voice calm but edged with steel.His eyes..dark, almost void-like..were locked entirely on Hazel. The wolfsbane-coated arrows in his hands glinted faintly under the dim light."Shift," he ordered, his tone dripping with venom.I raised my hand before he could come closer, the air between us thick with tension. "Stay away from her. Where are the babies?"He didn't answer. His grip tightened on the arrows, his knuckles whitening.Before he could lunge, Aurora's voice rang out like a whip. "Versa!" In a flash, she pounced, knocking him back. Wolves erupted around us, snarls filling the night air."Go find the babies. I'll handle these," Aurora barked, cracking her knuckles with a dark grin.The moment she mentioned the babies, Cyrius's eyes widened. He bolted