Mag-log inFiona's Pov The next morning, I woke up to the sound of Bastian moving around the room. I opened my eyes and watched him dress. He pulled on a clean tunic and fastened a heavy leather belt around his waist. He looked every bit the powerful Alpha Prime. He caught me watching him in the reflection of the window. "You are awake," he said. He didn't turn around. "Yes," I said, my voice quiet. "Good," he said. "We have a new lesson today. A very important one. Get out of bed and kneel on the rug." I did as he said, my heart starting to beat faster. I knelt on the soft fur rug, my hands resting on my thighs. I was naked, as I always was when we were in the chambers. He turned around and walked towards me. He stopped in front of me, so close I could see the worn leather of his boots. "A mate must learn to serve her Alpha in all ways," he began. "Not just with her body for breeding, but with her mouth for pleasure. Your mouth is another hole for me to use. It is my property, just like
Bastian’s Pov I woke up before she did. The bed was cold on my side. I had spent most of the night in a chair by the fire, watching her sleep. She was so small in my large bed. Her breathing was shallow and sometimes she would cough in her sleep, a weak, rattling sound. She looked like a strong wind could break her. I had been sent a fragile bird, not a mate. This was the price of peace. I stood up and walked to the bed, looking down at her. Her auburn hair was spread out on the pillow like a pool of blood. She was beautiful, I would give her that. But beauty did not produce strong heirs. Health did. And she had very little of that. She stirred, her eyes fluttering open. They were a soft hazel color, and they were filled with confusion for a moment before they focused on me. Fear replaced the confusion. She pulled the blankets up to her chin, a defensive gesture. "It is morning," I said. My voice was rough from disuse. "We need to talk." She nodded, her eyes wide. "Okay." "There
Fiona's Pov The carriage ride up the mountain to Ironridge was the longest of my life. Every bump in the road made my chest ache, and the thin air burned my lungs. I spent most of the journey with my eyes closed, trying to slow my breathing, trying to calm the shaking in my hands. My father’s words echoed in my head. This is for the good of our people, Fiona. You will be the bridge that brings peace. I wanted to believe him, but all I felt was fear. I was being sent to a stranger, a battle-scarred Alpha I had never met, to be his wife. His mate. I just hoped I was strong enough to survive it. When the carriage finally stopped, the door was pulled open by a huge man with a grim face. He helped me out, and I had to lean on him for a moment, my legs unsteady. The air was cold and sharp. The fortress of Ironridge was made of dark stone, and it looked like it had been carved out of the mountain itself. It was intimidating and unwelcoming. I was led inside through massive wooden doors and
Marigold’s Pov I woke up feeling weak. My head was pounding and my body ached all over. I tried to sit up but a wave of dizziness forced me back down onto the pillows. Lucien was already awake, sitting on the edge of the bed watching me. He had a strange look on his face, a mix of concern and something else I couldn't read. "What's wrong?" I asked, my voice coming out as a croak. My throat was dry. "You're sick," he said. It wasn't a question. "How long have you been feeling like this?" "I don't know," I admitted. "A few days. I just thought I was tired." He reached out and placed his hand on my forehead. His hand was cool against my skin. "You're burning up. Why didn't you tell me?" "I didn't want to bother you," I said. "It's probably just a cold." "It's not a cold," he said, his voice firm. "This is the sickness, isn't it? The one you get when you're away from an Alpha for too long." I looked away from him. I hadn't told him about that. It was something I tried to forget ab
Marigold’s Pov The words hung in the air between us after I said them. I love you, Lucien. His body went still against mine. I could feel his heart beat, a fast, hard rhythm against my back. He didn't speak for a long time. I started to panic, thinking I had made a terrible mistake. I had broken the rules. I had said something I wasn't supposed to say. "Marigold," he finally said, his voice low and serious. He rolled away from me and sat up, turning on the lamp. The light was harsh. I pulled the sheet up to my chin. "What did you just say to me?" I swallowed hard. My throat felt dry. "I said I love you," I whispered. I couldn't look at him. I stared at the patterns on the bedspread instead. "Why would you say that?" he asked. His voice wasn't angry. It was just cold, like he was examining a strange object. "Because it's true," I said, my voice shaking a little. "I know it's crazy. I know this isn't... normal. But it's how I feel. I don't want to leave. I want to stay here with y
Marigold’s Pov I woke up to Lucien's fingers inside me, thrusting in and out of my pussy. I moaned, my body arching into his touch before I was even fully conscious. He smiled, a slow, satisfied smile. "Morning, pet," he murmured, his voice low and rough. "Time to play." I opened my eyes, finding him between my legs, his eyes locked on mine, dark and intense. "What... what are you doing?" I asked, my voice hoarse with sleep and a desire I couldn't control. He chuckled, a low, dark sound that vibrated through me. "What does it look like?" he replied, his fingers moving faster, harder, curling inside me. "I'm making you feel good. I'm reminding your body who it belongs to first thing in the morning." I gasped, my body tensing as he hit that perfect spot inside me, the one that made my vision blur. "But... but I thought..." I stammered, my words trailing off into a moan. He cut me off, his fingers slowing, then stopping completely, leaving me hovering on the edge. "You thought what
Sienna's Pov I woke up in the middle of the night feeling strange. My body was hot all over. Not the normal kind of warm. It was deeper, like something inside me was waking up even though the suppressants were supposed to keep it locked down. I shifted under the sheets and felt the slick between m
Aria's Pov I sat on the edge of our big bed with my hands in my lap. The room was quiet except for the soft crackle of the fire in the corner. Viktor walked in from the bathroom. He wore nothing but loose sweatpants that hung low on his hips. His chest looked wide and strong in the warm light. He
Sienna's Pov I stood in the big hall of the council building feeling nervous and out of place. The banquet was supposed to be for all the important Alphas from the territories. They wanted to show strength after the last border fights. Rafe had to be there and because I was his anchor now the cou
Viktor's Pov I stood at the head of the pack hall with my arms crossed tight across my chest. The place was packed, every member of the pack squeezed in shoulder to shoulder. Chairs were full, and people leaned against the walls. The air smelled like wood smoke and too many bodies in one room. I