*Cali POV*I walk through the bed of roses in my meticulous garden. It is an attempt to clear my head. Leroy is driving me insane. We claimed each other during the Luna red moon, yet both our marks are gone. It’s a clear message that we are not yet permanent mates. It sucks, but we both knew the prophecy. He is taking this too hard. I can’t deal with him right now, hence walking here when he is inside interrogating his Epsilon. I enviously watch the batteries flipping their colourful delicate wings. They seem at peace and happy. Perhaps like I was a day ago. The whole of the red mood was complete bliss. For a moment, I thought life was perfect. Having my mate with everyone and everything else completely gone is something words cannot express.I am still walking aimlessly in the garden when the Epsilon shows up. “My Queen.”“I did not summon you,” I say and realise just how short my fuse is. This man has shown up like this my whole life. He only does when he has a point to make. “So
*Leroy POV* The Luna red moon is over, the pull between Cali and I is not longer as strong. The Epsilon says we are meant to feel nothing for each other, but that has never been us. I have always loved her before I even knew that she was my future. My heart rejoices when I am around her. My soul and my wolf are at peace. She is disappointed that our marks are gone, but I am distraught and angry. I am livid by the time the Epsilon informs me that Cali will conceive and I will have no part in my child’s life until she and I are permanent mates. “Like hell am I letting that happen!” I roar, fighting the urge to tear down everything around me. “Some things are out of our control, some are within. Still, every decision has consequences. A second chance mate is around the corner and…” “I don’t want another mate. I only want her!” I don’t mean to yell at the Epsilon, but he is frustrating me with his usual riddles. “Dad fucked up, many parents do, why am I paying such a heavy price?
LeroyZenith is clinging to me and I can’t push her off. All my energy is spent at keeping Sky down. It’s like she knows it too because it does not matter how rude I am to her, she just won’t let me go. “I will never accept your rejection. Never!” Zenith repeat ms her words while Sky yeps mate nonstop. “You will hurt Cali,” I tell my stupid wolf, but he won’t stop. My heart is hammering out of control. The look Cali’s pack members are giving me is enough to make me freak out. They already hate me for what my pack did to them, now I am hurting their beloved Queen. Cali is also up there thinking I am choosing Zenith. No, I can’t lose Cali. I just can’t. “Let me go, Zenith,” I say sternly, but this woman tightens her grip on me. “You are my mate. You vowed to love me forever,” she reminds me of a promise I can never keep. “I loved you then, not anymore. My heart belongs to Cali.”I don’t know how many times I have said this, she just refuses to hear me. “It does not. I will fight
*Cali POV*I am starting to think that being a nameless slave was preparing me for this. I am the most powerful queen with no dignity when it comes to my mate. I watch Leroy run out to his mate with a ripping pain inside. I feel like my heart is being torn apart. I guess he has made his choice. I can feel Gold breaking before shutting down. Unlike me, all she knows is being royalty. This hurts her more than it does me. I head to the shower and wash Leroy off before putting on a flowery summer dress. Maybe it will light up my gloomy mood. There is a lot of commotion around the second floor. Betty puts me up to speed about Zenith sleeping with Duncan. I am not surprised when someone calls for help to stop Leroy from killing Duncan. I know how possessive Sky can get. This is something that would drive him crazy. I don’t bother going to investigate, but head to my favorite spot in the garden instead. I hum a tune in my head and focus on planning my future without a mate. “It is not hi
*Cali POV*Zenith has just stormed out when I feel a piercing pain followed by a burning sensation on my neck. “Your marks have resurfaced!” Betty exclaims. “Love always prevails,” she declares excitedly. My hand instinctively move to touch the two overlapping marks on my neck. My heart hammers against my chest. I don’t know what this means, but I think it’s a victory of some sort. “Two marks, this is incredible!” Alloy beams, quickly takes out his phone and takes my photograph. This man is really weird. I give him the look and he gives me a sheepish grin. “You are the only She-lycan. This is vital information for our species, My Queen,” he explains his weirdness. I only shake my head. I don’t have to the energy to deal with him right now. “Let’s give our queen privacy,” Betty instructs, takes a fast asleep Cale from me and ushers everyone out of my chambers, leaving me with the unconscious Leroy and the Epsilon. I am really grateful for her quick reaction and thoughtfulness.
*Cali POV* I am relieved when the Palmville pack leaves with Zenith. That girl is crazy. It turns out that she is carrying Duncan’s pup. That did not stop her from trying to pass the pup on to Leroy. Now that the plan did not work, she has declared herself Duncan’s Luna, even though she is not his mate. It’s only now that Luna Sarah informs me that Leroy is lucky to have managed to reject her. Apparently, she goes for the Beta’s when she and Duncan fight. That has placed a strain between the Betas and their future Alpha. I can’t believe that they lied and sang her praises when they arrived here because they wanted to get her away from their son. I remember her even saying Leroy was all Zenith spoke about since they rescued her. It’s an hour later when Alloy and Neptune’s parents arrive with Rufus, their famous Epsilon. “Rufus wanted to tag along. I hope Her Highness does not mind,” Terrence says and bows his head. I make eye contact with our Epsilon. I know that Rufus
*Leroy POV*“Are you mad at me?” Gold asks with a squeaky voice the moment Cali drifts off to sleep. “Can I ever be mad at you?” I respond with a question. She is crazy and all, but I absolutely adore her, and I don’t think even Sky can be mad at her.“Good, because we have princesses on the way.”“We do, huh?” I ask, amused. Sky already told me about this when we were in coma. “Yes, we need to deal with that Alloy,” she says, and I can’t help but laugh. “I don’t think we have anything to worry about. Alloy is the most ethical man I know. We do need him to keep everyone in check and the pups safe,” I tell her, but she is not convinced. “Remember how crazy the Lycans got around you and Cali? Someone more powerful than me has got to be around here,” I add. I don’t know how I feel about Alloy being my daughter’s mate one day, but I need him here because he is capable, and I trust him. “What if he tries stupid stuff with our pups?” Gold asks, raising Sky’s protective side. “I will k
Leroy POVEveryone is congratulating me on becoming the ultimate king, but I my mind is miles away. I can’t concentrate. I have to act now before another mate shows up. I just can’t lose Cali. Alloy raises his eyebrows when I pull him to the outside, away from eavesdroppers. “You should be ecstatic, but you are not. What’s up?” he asks.“I need you to kill me.”His eyes almost pop out of his skull. “Excuse me?”“I can’t have this wolf, Alloy. I need you to destroy my wolf,” I clarify my statement and he frantically shakes his head. “My king, I…”“I cannot lose Cali. I would rather die than betray her,” I interject before he tries to convince me otherwise. “I don’t get it. Did you two fight?”“I still have other mates,” I let him in on my curse disguised as a blessing and curses nonstop. “Shit! Damn it! Oh, man. This is bad. Bloody hell!“Now, what?” he asks after a good ten minutes of him cursing. “Gold could separate me from Sky. Maybe she can still do it with the Sable king,”
*Cali POV*We are all shocked when Orlaith shouts MATE and it is Neptune. Now this is a disaster for a pair, but it’s the least of my worries right now. Aerol’s Lycan is in a dire state. All the wolves around quickly clear out. She is so angry, she looks like she is going to explode. Alloy has shifted into his human form. He is as pale as a sheet. This is what I have feared. He drops on his knees before the livid Aerol’s Lycan. “Aerol, Babe, please,” he pleads, desperation evident in his voice. The chickens have come home to roost. “No! I Aerol of Golden and Ruber packs, reject you Alloy of Lily pack as my mate!” This is a mess. Aerol is a Lycan, she is not likely to live without her mate. She said this a while ago and we did not take it too seriously. We had all hoped that Orlaith will be the one mated to Alloy.Alloy groans in pain and frantically shakes his head while I rush to Aerol’s side.“I-will-never-accept your-rejection,” Alloy stammers and groans. This must hurt like he
*Leroy POV*We have all decided to go to Ruber city for the full moon. Cali and I had our wolves there. So did Cale and Meredith. It is only fitting that the girls get their Lycans there too. Alloy’s whole family has become our family too. They have attended all these events with us. This has in a way become an unwritten family tradition. One that the Ruber pack loves very much. There was a time they felt that we favored the Golden pack more. They felt that the girls especially, were more customed to the Golden pack more than them. Cale and Meredith being here has changed that view. Aerol has also been here a lot because she gets on well with Cale, Meredith and Marcus’s son. My mate can’t stay too long without checking on our mommy’s boy, so, we have also been here a lot more. “Nothing will be as expected. Be prepared to…” the Epsilon says the moment he shows up out of nowhere as usual. Except for the walking stick, he has not aged much from the old man I remember as a boy. “Don
*Leroy POV*Cali and I have decided to have Cale and Meredith reside in the Ruber city to get used to the pack there. Cale is the future Alpha of the pack. It is good for them to get familiar with everything before we step down. “Meredith is not here. It is just wasteful to have you travel to school alone,” Orlaith tells Aerol, who looks at her mother. She has preemptively spoken to her mother about this. I guess she knew that her twin would bring it up. “Aerol will use her own car with her own guards,” Cali says while Alloy shift uncomfortable on his seat.“But, Mother…”“Not up for discussion,” Call says, ending the discussion. A few months later, the girls turn eighteen and everyone is around to celebrate their birthday. Lord, I can’t wait for the next full moon for them to have their lycans. Luna Abi is not impressed with Alloy when she discovers the breakdown between him and Aerol. She and Aerol get on really well. It is very awkward when Alloy presents the girls wit
*Leroy POV*I quickly move out of the way when Gold reacts, splashing the Beta with her deadly saliva. Everyone gasps when the Beta evaporates before our eyes. I sometimes forget how powerful my mate is.“No one challenges my son, ever!” she says angrily as everyone around us go on their knees while Cale flashes her his sparkling eyes.She rolls her eyes when I grin at her. She can deny it all she wants, but Cale is a mommy boy.“So, you even killed the Beta for your son,” I link with her and crack up at her reaction.“He was charging towards Cale. You were ready to attack him too,” she says defensively, but I will tease her about this forever.“I was not going to kill him. You killed him to eliminate competition for your beloved son.”We have just returned home when Meredith’s wolf shouts mate at Cale. Now this is what we all expected. Cale’s eyes light up. He loves Meredith. We are all taken aback when Meredith breaks down before rejecting Cale and running off.“What jus
*Leroy*It is four days after they brought Meredith into the family when we drop Cale at Fallow. He and Cali take forever to say their goodbye’s as usual. I curiously watch when Leane approaches and drops on her knees. I notice Meredith wince when Leane holds on to Cale’s leg, dropping her head on his feet.Rumors are, she is now a laughing stock and her sleeping mates want nothing to do with her.“Please forgive me, Your Highnesses. I was wrong. I love Cale. He is my mate.”I shoot my wife a stare when she opens her mouth. She is overprotective of Cale, but he has to handle this himself. We won’t be with him all the time and this girl does not look like the type to just let him go. I suppress my laughter when he kicks her off him.“Get away from me, Whore. We are no longer mates. You are free to continue prostituting yourself,” he sneers while she frantically shakes her head.“I was wrong, Cale. Please, I will never do it again.”“Get the hell away from me. It is a command,
*Cali*It is almost dark when we get back to the castle. Aerol is happily showing the overwhelmed Meredith around. “So, you found your beloved son another mate?” Leroy teases while I roll my eyes. I have explained to him four times already why Meredith is here, but he thinks I took her in because Cale has a soft spot for her.“First you reject his mate and now found him a version of yourself.”“What?”“Meredith is battered but beautiful,” he says.“So? That does not make her version of me.”“She is quite smart too and was a slave. Rings a bell?”“Just shut up,” I say before sitting on his lap and gaze at him. Lord, this man is so hot, especially when being witty.He chuckles and plants a light kiss on my neck, send goosebumps all over my body. He chuckles again. He knows his effect on me. “Meredith is our daughter now, Aerol adores her. I think she will fit perfectly in our family,” I say and hope he does not mind that I made the decision before talking to him. I had to ma
*Cali POV*It is almost midday when we arrive at the Westside pack. The group that was pursuing Meredith must have come back to report because the elders and royal family are already waiting for us in the lounge.“Golden queens of queens,” their Luna greets with a feigned smile. Now I remember her from those days my ovulation used to summon every alpha. She was the dumb superficial and gossiping bimbo. Meredith is literary shaking and hiding behind Cale. This child has been abused and it makes me mad. I don’t acknowledge the Luna’s greetings, nor that their elders. Meredith has gotten to me. I hate all these people for either abusing her or allowing it to happen. We are taking a seat when the Luna clears her throat, her evil eye on Meridith, who literally jumps and heads out. I guess that was a way of telling her that she is not allowed to sit or be here. I grab the shaking Meredith and place my arm over her shoulder. I can feel her trembling. Each movement fueling my anger.
*Cali*“So, Meredith…”She literally jumps, startled. This girl is a nervous wreck. “ How do you know my son?”“I…I…I…”I look at Cale. She can’t even complete a sentence. “Wait, are you the whore who hurt my brother?” Aerol ask. She frantically shakes her head and burst out into tears. “I did not mean for him to get hurt. I am so sorry.”Cale pulls her in his arms and gently pats her back. “I am really confused right now, Cale. Care to explain?” I ask my protective son right when over seven wolves show up, clearly in pursuit. Meredith trembles against Cale as they shift into their human forms and bow. “Queen if Queen. Your Highnesses.”I frown when Meredith starts crying and pleading for me to save her. “Explain yourself,” I command the leader of the wolves because u can’t get anything out of this girl. “She is a rogue we were commanded to drive out of the pack, Your Highness.”I raise my eyebrow. Rogues are not this jumpy and nervous. This girl does not even have her wolf yet
*Cali POV*Cale gets up the moment we walk in. He knows that we are coming to him. Talk, dark, and handsome like his father. Out of all our children, he is the one capable of disarming me with just a smile. “Not so fast, young man,” I pull him back.He flashes me his cute smile, Phoebe’s eyes sparkling at me. Oh, how I miss that woman. “How about you tell us what is going on?”Leroy leans back on the couch and cross his legs while Cale swallows his saliva. He is keeping something from us. I just know it. “I decided to correspond the rest of my studies. It is allowed.”He is so quick to tell us that is allowed. That on its own is giving him away. “I know that it is allowed, why?”He shrugs and I can sense lies coming. “Nothing. I miss you.”“Hah!” Leroy exclaims. I have been urging him to ask Cale the reasons he is here. He is convinced that Cale misses me too much. I know Cale enough to know that there is more than that. “I miss you too. We talk on the phone twice a day and I s