LOGINSamiya’s POVOne step forward and then ten steps backwards.That one statement explained my relationship with Zain. Last night, I waited for him until my body fully surrendered to the fatigue weighing it down, and by the time I woke up, he still wasn’t here. So, I carried on with my morning routine and waited some more.It was nearly noon when the door hinges flew open and Zain walked in in a staggered state, his body moving side to side as though he had lost all control. A foul stench of bear and ale clung to the air around him, contaminating his natural wood and spice scent. The scent carried me back to my days as the wench of Etrana when I would sometimes visit taverns for work.But this wasn’t a tavern, and this wasn’t Zain.Shock brought me to my feet and carried me to where Zain struggled to keep himself up.“If I had known that the council meeting ended with an orgy, then I would have begged a lot more to come with. Just look at you,” I commented as I did the best I could to es
Zain’s POVAll I wanted was one night with my mate without any interruptions.I was foolish to think that I could have that.Mae and I had a long conversation after the visit to the market square. What started as a heated argument slowly metamorphosed into a shared understanding when I explained that all considerations were taken into account. However, what we couldn’t agree on was my abrupt changing of the rule about omegas in the way I did without consulting anyone.It was obvious that the council would be next to question my declaration and that was why I had blocked all mind pathways with everyone in hopes that I would be able to escape those little details for a night, but it seemed that I underestimated my newest Beta.Placing a soft kiss at the top of Scarlet’s head, I whispered, “I will be back soon, my love. You can retire for the night and from the depths of my heart, I apologize for our night being cut so soon. We’d have many more nights under the moonlight, Scarlet. I prom
Samiya’s POVEverything was right.Everything was perfect.Except one not so little detail — Scarlet.“You still aren’t going to talk to me?”Cold silence.“Everything is okay now, Scarlet. Our position as Luna is solidified. The people no longer hate us and what happened at the marketsquare has been long forgotten… and Zain loves us. He really really loves us… and I believe him, Scarlet. I mean he listens and everything.”Ice cold silence.My feet continued on their journey, pacing around the room as I tried to think of a way to get Scarlet to speak to me. Zain was with his aunt and after that he had a meeting with the council members. I wanted things between Scarlet and I to be resolved before he got back.The last thing I wanted was for him to notice that I couldn’t shift because Scarlet and I weren’t on good terms. I had no doubt in the world that the man would begin to blame himself. The poor man did that more to himself all alone without anyone’s help and the last thing I wanted
Zain’s POVMy chest tightened, and I swallowed hard just to feel something other than the constriction in my lungs.She trusted me? The Samiya, whose plans always had a plan and believed that everyone was out to get her, trusted me? We hadn’t even started yet, I believed that we had already won.With Samiya’s hand in mine, I led her into the market square. Sounds of chatter and bargaining hit my ears all out once. It was different from the constant silence and decorum in the castle. Even when little fights would happen during council meetings, nothing could compare to this. People rushed by us, brushing my shoulders as they did so, as though there was hardly any time left in the world. The sharp scent of roasted duck and some of the fried foods attacked my nostrils, and for the first time in a long time, I truly questioned why I allowed myself to stay locked up in the castle for so long.For the first time in a long time, I felt free, and I didn’t want to go back. Sure, the price I ha
Zain’s POVDid anyone actually play a better role than Meidran?At least with Meidran I knew where his loyalties lay, and my choosing Jenna as my new Beta, didn’t seem to please Samiya in any way. I couldn’t tell if I had made a mistake or not, but in the same vein, I was really left with not much of a choice after I threw Meidran in the dungeons.My eyes wandered over to Samiya’s small frame for what had to be the hundredth time as our carriage rocked from side to side.I had no doubt that she had heard all of mine and Mae’s conversation. That was the thing with werewolf hearing, it never really offered you much privacy. What I didn’t know now was what she thought about it.“You can just talk, you know, Zain? I can feel your eyes on me,” Samiya muttered, her head still lying by the carriage door pane as she watched the trees pass us by.The trees reminded me of a better time when Ralph and I were one, and not the disjoint combination of man and beast. We would go for runs almost ever
Zain’s POVDid anyone actually play a better role than Meidran?At least with Meidran I knew where his loyalties lay, and my choosing Jenna as my new Beta, didn’t seem to please Samiya in any way. I couldn’t tell if I had made a mistake or not, but in the same vein, I was really left with not much of a choice after I threw Meidran in the dungeons.My eyes wandered over to Samiya’s small frame for what had to be the hundredth time as our carriage rocked from side to side.I had no doubt that she had heard all of mine and Mae’s conversation. That was the thing with werewolf hearing, it never really offered you much privacy. What I didn’t know now was what she thought about it.“You can just talk, you know, Zain? I can feel your eyes on me,” Samiya muttered, her head still lying by the carriage door pane as she watched the trees pass us by.The trees reminded me of a better time when Ralph and I were one, and not the disjoint combination of man and beast. We would go for runs almost ever







