LOGINAiden's POVI let out a sigh as I stretch my legs out in front of me and watch Jasmine, Yara, Emily, and Felix’s new mate, Kirsten, play volleyball in the pool. I take a swig of my beer. This is the first time we’ve really let loose since everything happened. With the state of the kingdom, there hasn’t been much downtime, but our fathers suggested we need to try and bond more with Felix and his new mate, so here we are.I watch Kirsten squeal as she celebrates her score and frown slightly.None of us have warmed to her.I know she wasn’t here when everything went down, but she just seems too... happy all the time. She isn’t concerned that Tobias has been lost forever, or that Zahra...No.She’s entirely too happy to find that she’s going to be Luna Queen, and far too ready to lord it over everyone. She’s careful not to show that side to anyone too important, but the girls have all seen her being a completely entitled brat in front of the castle staff.And it’s a real worry.We cannot
Edwardo's POVWe step out of the cabin, the cool wind whipping around us as we head over to the small fenced-off area out the back. It’s sheltered, and I guess where equipment and RTVs are stored when the cabin is occupied.Thor is lying on his side, his feet still hobbled together in case he somehow fights off the sedation. I cannot afford for him to either go on a feral rampage and kill someone, or run back into the wilderness.Zahra lets out a small strangled noise as she sees him and hurries over. She crouches down and folds her arms around his neck and shoulders.“How long?” she asks, her voice muffled by his fur.I know what she’s asking.“He disappeared a week after you were taken,” I say, my voice sounding weak.Her head snaps up, her eyes shining with tears. “How long ago was that?” Her voice is a hoarse whisper.Her face is set with horror. She knows. She knows the odds.“Five and a half months,” I say, my voice gentle.Her eyes shutter.Tears stream down her face as she bur
Edwardo's POVWe bind Thor with hobbles and hoist him up by his feet from a large branch. Then eight of the warriors lift him and begin to carry him back to the cabin.I can’t fucking believe we found him. Here, of all places.Although I guess it makes sense.Even feral, he found his way to his mate.I thought he was going to attack her just then. I fired on instinct. After everything, I couldn’t stand to see Zahra hurt, but I also know Tobias would never recover if he injured her.I wish the team hadn’t just found out who he was, but I can secure their discretion at the debrief later. No one knows Tobias has been missing or that he’s gone feral. Hopefully I can contain this within the team... and the prisoners.I scan them.Several are injured from the attack. Two are dead, but it could have been worse. Zahra, and Thor, I assume, did a heroic job of protecting them. I know a few of the girls were fighting when we arrived, but this could have ended very badly if we had decided to wait
Zahra's POVI hear a disturbance from behind me, and I see a blur of black barrelling out of the trees. The wolf is massive, blood coating his mouth and chest, his fur matted and filthy, his eyes rimmed with red. He looks like a crazed beast.‘Feral, watch out,’ Zanthe yells at me as we continue fighting.Fuck.A feral wolf.I’ve never seen one before, but I’ve heard stories. They are worse than rogues, because without their human they are utterly devoid of any compassion or sanity. Briefly, I feel sorry for this wolf. Given his size and colour, he’s clearly an Alpha, or maybe a powerful Beta. The only reason they tend to go feral is banishment or the loss of their mate.This poor soul.What happened to make him like this?No matter the reason though, this one, given its size and possibly training, will be extremely dangerous and won’t care who it kills. So far it’s helping us, taking out rogue after rogue. From its trajectory and the blood covering it, I’d say it’s been picking off t
Zahra's POVThe trees are not as dense as they appeared from the ridge. There are several large clearings spread out, and we are passing through open areas frequently. I’m following the scent of fresh water on the breeze. We’re getting desperate now. The sun is high, and we’ve been moving almost all day, with nothing to drink since yesterday morning. We can’t go on much longer.I’m trying to push our pace as much as possible, but they are struggling to keep up. Zanthe is struggling too, and every beat of Samuels’ heart feels slower than the last. I’m getting really worried. He’s not spoken much today, and when we’ve stopped to rest, he’s been very still.I’ve seen the worry in Sally’s eyes when she checked him over, but there’s nothing we can do except get him to a medic.‘How far out are you guys?’ Henry’s voice comes through the link.‘We’re coming up the slope to the cabin now, but I can’t see any smoke or anything. Are you inside?’I sigh, even as my heart clenches with excitement.
Zahra's POVBy the time the others arrive, I’ve got a large fire going, I’ve skinned and gutted the stag with Zanthe’s claws, and I’ve started cutting up the meat to make into a stew. I have some large flat stones heating in the fire, and I plan to fry some meat on those too.When they reach me, the exhaustion on their faces is almost universally masked by the relief of knowing help is on its way. My pack all head straight to me and hug me tight as Samuels climbs down off Genevieve’s back. He smiles exhaustedly at me as he limps over, but before he reaches me, his eyes go blank as he receives his own link, and I see his whole-body sag with relief.Somehow, seeing him make contact with the Task Force makes it real, and tears fill my eyes, and my knees give out. I sink to the ground, my pack around me, and I cry. They cry, and I’m fairly sure more of the girls join us.After we all finish crying, we set up camp and start cooking, the large pot bubbling in the fire. The meat is mixed wit
Zahra's POVWe play a couple more rounds. I don’t win again, but I think I start to see a pattern. And I’ve learnt a few of the guys’ tells as well. I think.The fifth round of beers is being passed around when Edwardo clears his throat.“Not for Zahra.”I narrow my eyes at him. The others watch in
Zahra's POVGrady surveys the room once more, giving us all a chance to ask questions, but I think everyone is still too shocked. Then he says, “Dismissed.”There’s a slight pause, and then we all start getting to our feet.“Not you, Lieutenant Larkin.” Grady’s voice rises above the noise. “Come wi
Zahra's POVO’Hara shuffles again, slower this time, the rhythm steady. Chips click softly as people reset their stacks.“Same blinds,” he says.The cards slide out once more.I wait before looking this time. Long enough to remember what Morgan said about being hard to read. Long enough to stop acti
Tobias's POVI storm into my study, the door banging as I go. I head straight to the conference table at the other side of the room, then spin to face the others, my hands gripping the back of a chair until my knuckles turn white.Persephone is dragged in by Alistair, her usually stunning face set







