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EVANGELINE. Here we are, standing side by side like nothing happened last night. But that’s only what the outside world thinks because I can feel the walls that Zedkiel has put up around himself. My mate… The man I once dreamt about and waited for, the man I was hoping would find me, and claim me before reality opened my eyes. However, not once did I expect that man to be Alpha Prince Zedkiel Vilkas. Yet… isn’t that what he has done? He’s claimed me, protected me and made it clear I’m his… but then why are there so many conflicts and misunderstandings between us? I once thought the mate bond was beautiful. You find your own fairy tale story when your mate steps into your life and you live happily ever after, but it’s not… Glancing sideways, I peer up at the handsome man beside me. A man who oozes power and dominance. I never expected someone like him to be my mate… I always thought it would be someone of low rank, maybe a lesser guard at most. But Zedkiel… His eyes are hard and c
ZEDKIEL. I don’t know what to expect from her anymore. I retreat to the back courtyard, leaning against the castle walls and staring out at the gardens trying to clear my head. I’m letting it get to me too fucking much, the way she makes me feel. Her every action is something I’m beginning to overthink, every word that leaves those plush lips of hers and I don’t like it. The pull I feel towards her is only growing stronger with every passing day. The sound of footsteps reaches my ear and I know who it is before I even turn. “So, what are you doing out here without your little wife?” Ragnar says, smirking as he leans against the wall next to me. “And why do you care?” I ask, not bothering to look at him. “I don’t, but after what happened, I would expect you to be joined to her by the hip and watching her ever so closely.” He crosses his arms, and I don’t reply. “What do you really want, Ragnar?” “Nothing… I’m just curious about your choice in women. Don’t get me wrong, she is a
EVANGELINE. The lights are like glittering blurred orbs that dance around the stadium that is prepared for the matches in the outdoor training grounds of the Castle. Where once stood an open ground, now contained stands that can seat many, and the stands are full. In the centre is a square ring, where the matches will take place. They have emblazoned the symbols of each pack on banners that hang around the stands and on streamers that cross over the stands. With the most prominent banner being that of the Royal family’s Pack. I watch through my own eyes, but it doesn’t feel normal, and I know why it’s like this. I’m not in charge. It’s like I’m locked away behind a window. My heart still hurts from what happened earlier. Zed’s words after he allowed whatever that voice in my head was, to pleasure him, keeps replaying in my mind. Don’t think about it, Evangeline.” I whisper, feeling my eyes sting with tears again. ‘Oh, stop wallowing. I’m doing you a favour Evangeline, you saw how Z
EVANGELINE. He clenches his fist, squaring his shoulder as he looks around before he heads out towards the exit. Ignoring the crowds, I quickly climb down from the stands and hurry after him. “Zed!” I call as I run to keep up with him, trying my best not to bump into anyone. Is he alright? ‘You’re pathetic.’ Her voice comes in my head, but I refuse to listen to her. I catch up to him, but he’s walking away without even so much of a glance towards me. “Alpha Zedkiel, will you not stay for the next two rounds?” Someone asks, but he ignores them as well. “Zedkiel…” I whisper in concern when I finally catch up to him. He’s frowning as he stares ahead, but I can see the beads of sweat on his forehead. I’m uncertain if it’s from the match or from the pain that I’m certain he’s in. We reach the doors to the castle, and he strides inside and towards our temporary quarters. I don’t call him again, knowing that he isn’t going to reply, but I can smell the blood now. Once we’re inside
ZEDKIEL. I look at her sharply, glancing back at the door before I crouch before her on the ground. There is no way someone like Evangeline can kill anyone, let alone the Oracle. The woman was one of the most powerful beings. “Look, you didn’t kill her.” I say quietly, rubbing her arms comfortingly. I take a second to relish in those sparks as my hands rub her arms. I don’t know how they came back but I’m glad they did… She’s mine… “I did… I did it Zedkiel! I-I went to see her - to ask my question! Then- Then I killed her!” Her voice is panicky, and she’s beginning to tremble too. Her heart thundering like a galloping horse. I can see the fear and regret in her eyes. She didn’t kill her; I know that for certain, but she sure thought she did. I don’t know how to convince her otherwise, and so I simply pull her close and wrap my arms around her tightly. I press my lips to the top of her head. “Listen to me, you didn’t kill her. I know that and I don’t know why you think you did.
ZEDKIEL. “Did you find anything at all?” Chasyn asks me as I remove the nails and lift the Oracle’s body to the ground, looking around I yank the charred tablecloth off and cover her body. “Not yet.” I say, staring down at the Oracle’s body, I sniff the air, letting the smell of blood fill my nose. There are two different smells mixed in… I lean down, sniffing the blood. It’s not Evangeline’s blood. Relief floods me, and I stand up. I don’t know why she thinks she killed her, but I plan to find out who it really belongs to, but this blood is not Evangeline’s. I’ve tasted hers, smelt hers… this one is nowhere near hers. “Don’t touch anything in here.” I hear Chasyn command some of the men. I slowly walk through the room, trying to visualise what may have happened. The runes and the burns are the Oracle’s doing, her magic draws from herself and that around her. I know that much. I frown as I crouch down looking at the marks on the floor. There are no claw marks, no torn clothes… T
ZEDKIEL. “I want to know exactly what happened that night.” I say quietly. He takes a silent breath, obviously remembering that night and, by the looks of it, it wasn’t a pleasant experience. “It has been ten years since that night, but it’s still as fresh in my mind as if it had just happened yesterday. The town was roughly an hour's drive or run from Dark Falls. It was in an even more isolated place than Dark Falls. Hidden on the other side of the forest and these mountains. Sinclair and I were on a hunting trip, and we had found a target and given chase. It was snowing heavily, and this was something we did every winter. I made sure each year I made the hunt a little harder for him, and that year we were going to go through the rocky terrain and up through the mountains.” He begins. I can tell he doesn’t like speaking of it, but he still continues and begins pacing the room. I cross my arms and lean against the wall. “I smelt blood and something burning, yet there was no sign
EVANGELINE. I feel the heat of the morning sun warm my skin, and I open my eyes slowly. I’m enclosed in Zedkiel’s arms, and I feel so warm and protected. Despite everything that has happened, I know I’m safe here. Taking a moment to admire him as he sleeps, I observe him. His face is calm and stress-free. Well, almost, he still has that slight frown on his forehead. His plump lips are perfect, and I want to reach up and kiss them, but his grip on me is too tight for me to shuffle at all. So, I stay still, simply admiring him. We’re mates… I slowly place my hand on his bare waist, feeling him stir slightly, but I close my eyes, relishing in the sparks that ripple through me, spreading from my fingertips before washing through me. My breath hitches as I let those sparks consume me. It feels magical, it’s like a stream of gold liquid lighting up my dark insides. Warming every corner of my body from my fingertips right down to my toes. I can’t really explain it… but it’s beautiful. H