Charlie POV.Every nerve ending is on fire. Every cell is burning and changing. My eyes hurt and things sound sharper and I place my hands over my ears as I double over in pain. My insides feel like they are being torn out.I have no idea where I am. I feel the sparks and open my eyes to look into the calm green eyes of my mate as I try to reach for her when I whimper, but roll onto my back as my spine breaks and I scream out.โBreathe Charlie. Imagine Valour. Imagine his coat and his eyes. Let him take control, baby.โ She tells me, but right now Iโm too focused on the pain and the sound of blood rushing into my ears.โLet me forward, hooman.โ Valourโs calm voice is louder than before and I whimper again my spine rearranges as I arch my back and I vomit on the floor.โNOW HOOMAN, LET ME FORWARD!โ I try to speak, but my jaw snaps and blood coats my tongue. I would not recommend this at all.All I can feel and focus on is the pain and my cheek bones snap and my face burns as it grows lo
Rosa POV.Waking up, I stretch and realise we are in our room in the packhouse. I reach across the bed to find it empty; I roll to my side and stare at the empty space beside me.Rolling on to my back, I look up at the ceiling and smile to myself. Charlie shifted last night. We ran in our forms; we played and we fu โฆ mated in our forms, but I do remember falling asleep in the forest. So Charlie must have woken up and carried me back here. He is a sweetheart.The bedroom door opens, and in he walks carrying a breakfast tray. He is a sight for sore eyes. With his chest on display and shorts hanging low on his hips, showing off those rippling muscles and the deep V line that makes a girl hot with need.But Iโm sorry ladies, this hunk is mine, all mine, and will be forever.โMorning, baby girl. I thought I would make you breakfast.โ I hear Cece swoon. She is a hopeless romantic when it comes to this kind of stuff. I will admit I am too.โYou didnโt need to do that. Iโm surprised you are u
Rosa POV.Iโm numb after what we have been told. That experiments have been performed on shifters. How could the humans be so cruel? I wander the pack grounds deep in thought as I try to understand why. But nothing is coming to me.If they are studying each different species, then who is to say that the hybrids wonโt be on their radars in the future? We need to keep everyone safe. But how? How do you keep each and every shifter species safe from an unknown threat?Simple answer is you canโt. You can prepare, but it would be easier if we knew who it was we were preparing for. Do we say something and create mass panic and force the shifters back into the dark? Or do we let them live, not knowing what kind of danger they are in?I have a gut feeling that all this is no coincidence. The humans were fine and the human governments were fine with us all living in peace. But to pick out shifters that is premeditated, and they knew who to target. They have had years to put this together. So wh
Rosa POV.It has been a month since I found out Asteria was captured by the humans. Since then we have found out it is the human military that captured her and we have searched the earth looking for her, but nothing it is like they have completely disappeared. I told Charlie the day I found out.He didnโt blame me; he told me that the humans have been after her for a long time. But that doesnโt make it any better. He went to Moonlight Cove and spoke to Artemis and Shanti.Artemis has evacuated the underwater kingdom and fled with the sirens. Charlie and Shanti have been following leads and I am here on the ground finding anything that could lead us to her. Pops was pissed, but he said he would help in finding her.So we are all looking for her or any sign of these military scumbags who have taken her. But so far nothing.All we know is that they would have to be keeping her near water. They wonโt be out in the open that would cause a war with the sirens. If we find her, then it will b
Charlie POV.It has been three months since Rosa told me about Asteria being captured and Shanti and I have been searching every lead we have received and, so far, nothing. I have not spoken to Rosa and I know if I did, it would hurt her more.Valour has been telling me we need to get back to her, but I canโt when I donโt know where Asteria is. Rosa will understand. Asteria is my mom, just like Gaia is hers.โWrong hooman, mate needs us. She is in distress.โ He tells me as I stop reading the latest report from the shifters on Waning mountain. I have asked Brody and the others to help. After all, they are bounty hunters.โShe is safe Valour, please. We will go back to her soon, I promise.โ I tell him when he huffs and disappears further into my mind.Hours later, I stand up and stretch my back and it pops and cracks. The door to the house bursts open and I growl as Gaia and Fen stalk inside and look right at me. Both look pissed.โWhatโs happened?โ I ask, and Gaia walks to me and punch
Charlie POV.Every day I have entered the room and stay in the same space as her and each time she watches me, I know she doesnโt believe Iโm really here and Iโm a threat and I have no-one to blame but myself.But today is different. Today I am sitting by the door reading a book. When I see her out of the corner of my eye as she moves closer to me. I donโt look at her. I continue doing what Iโm doing as she moves to sit beside me.She has started to eat again, little and often. So that is progress. She isnโt vocal, though. She is watching me and I continue to read, keeping my heartbeat steady. Valour purrs and it rumbles in my chest at how close she is.She doesnโt flinch; she blinks and watches my face. I turn slowly to look at her and smile at her. She blinks her beautiful green eyes at me and moves back, but she is still looking at me.โRosa, are you ok?โ I ask her gently and she gulps and tilts her head. I know she is in there somewhere.โCece, are you ok?โ she pulls her face away
Rosa POV.It has been two weeks since Charlie returned. I know he is still working on finding Asteria but he hasnโt left the packhouse, but each lead is leading to nothing. We have been slowly getting back on track. He is right behind me like a lost puppy.He works when he thinks Iโm sleeping, but I donโt mind. I know how important Asteria is not just to him, but to us all. She needs to be found safe and sound. I canโt think of what they are doing to her.We have been preparing for the arrival of our son. I have been able to nest properly now that he is here; he watched in fascination as I built my nest and helped by handing me things. It may look a mess to others, but it is perfect for me and Charlie. So that is where we are, in my nest.My family comes to see me every day, but once it gets too much, they leave. I apologised to my nanna. But she waved it off, saying she completely understood. Mom and Jadara have been helping with preparing for our sonโs arrival. Jadara shared her own
Rosa POV.It has been two years since Roman was born and boy is he a little spitfire. He has everyone wrapped around his little finger. He is on the go and never stops. It doesnโt help that I canโt chase him, as I am expecting our second child. We got married six months after Roman was born and moved back to Waning mountain.There is still no word on where Asteria is, but we havenโt given up hope. Charlie is still searching for her. But he hasnโt made the same mistake again. Jadara had a beautiful little girl, and she is like her, with the long white hair, but she has Merrickโs brown eyes. She is stunning.They named her Rana. After Jadaraโs mother. Her and Roman are the best of friends and they cause trouble together. Casta found a second chance mate and sunny had twins. Is it wrong that life continues on even without Asteria being here?There isnโt a day that goes by that I donโt miss her.โRoman, put you pants back on little man.โ He giggles as he streaks through the living room. J
Rosa POV.It has been eight long years since we last saw Asteria, and we all mourned the loss of Shanti. Charlie went into himself and I pulled him out of the spiral he was in. It wasnโt just me who pulled him out; it was Roman and the arrival of our little princess. She is, of course, named after her aunty. Shanti. She is beautiful; she has my red hair and her fatherโs blue eyes.Roman is ten now, and he is a good boy. Even when Shan was born he was her little shadow, always helping and even now he still does. He loves her so much, just like everyone else does.Over the last eight years I have been having more and more visions and Jadara has helped interpret them, but the strange thing is she has had the same ones I have. So this means something big about to happen.Life at Waning mountain has been peaceful, but then again, when you are on an island that only shows itself to those in need, it will do that. I look at my husband as he teaches the kids how to spar. I laugh when they all
Rosa POV.It has been two years since Roman was born and boy is he a little spitfire. He has everyone wrapped around his little finger. He is on the go and never stops. It doesnโt help that I canโt chase him, as I am expecting our second child. We got married six months after Roman was born and moved back to Waning mountain.There is still no word on where Asteria is, but we havenโt given up hope. Charlie is still searching for her. But he hasnโt made the same mistake again. Jadara had a beautiful little girl, and she is like her, with the long white hair, but she has Merrickโs brown eyes. She is stunning.They named her Rana. After Jadaraโs mother. Her and Roman are the best of friends and they cause trouble together. Casta found a second chance mate and sunny had twins. Is it wrong that life continues on even without Asteria being here?There isnโt a day that goes by that I donโt miss her.โRoman, put you pants back on little man.โ He giggles as he streaks through the living room. J
Rosa POV.It has been two weeks since Charlie returned. I know he is still working on finding Asteria but he hasnโt left the packhouse, but each lead is leading to nothing. We have been slowly getting back on track. He is right behind me like a lost puppy.He works when he thinks Iโm sleeping, but I donโt mind. I know how important Asteria is not just to him, but to us all. She needs to be found safe and sound. I canโt think of what they are doing to her.We have been preparing for the arrival of our son. I have been able to nest properly now that he is here; he watched in fascination as I built my nest and helped by handing me things. It may look a mess to others, but it is perfect for me and Charlie. So that is where we are, in my nest.My family comes to see me every day, but once it gets too much, they leave. I apologised to my nanna. But she waved it off, saying she completely understood. Mom and Jadara have been helping with preparing for our sonโs arrival. Jadara shared her own
Charlie POV.Every day I have entered the room and stay in the same space as her and each time she watches me, I know she doesnโt believe Iโm really here and Iโm a threat and I have no-one to blame but myself.But today is different. Today I am sitting by the door reading a book. When I see her out of the corner of my eye as she moves closer to me. I donโt look at her. I continue doing what Iโm doing as she moves to sit beside me.She has started to eat again, little and often. So that is progress. She isnโt vocal, though. She is watching me and I continue to read, keeping my heartbeat steady. Valour purrs and it rumbles in my chest at how close she is.She doesnโt flinch; she blinks and watches my face. I turn slowly to look at her and smile at her. She blinks her beautiful green eyes at me and moves back, but she is still looking at me.โRosa, are you ok?โ I ask her gently and she gulps and tilts her head. I know she is in there somewhere.โCece, are you ok?โ she pulls her face away
Charlie POV.It has been three months since Rosa told me about Asteria being captured and Shanti and I have been searching every lead we have received and, so far, nothing. I have not spoken to Rosa and I know if I did, it would hurt her more.Valour has been telling me we need to get back to her, but I canโt when I donโt know where Asteria is. Rosa will understand. Asteria is my mom, just like Gaia is hers.โWrong hooman, mate needs us. She is in distress.โ He tells me as I stop reading the latest report from the shifters on Waning mountain. I have asked Brody and the others to help. After all, they are bounty hunters.โShe is safe Valour, please. We will go back to her soon, I promise.โ I tell him when he huffs and disappears further into my mind.Hours later, I stand up and stretch my back and it pops and cracks. The door to the house bursts open and I growl as Gaia and Fen stalk inside and look right at me. Both look pissed.โWhatโs happened?โ I ask, and Gaia walks to me and punch
Rosa POV.It has been a month since I found out Asteria was captured by the humans. Since then we have found out it is the human military that captured her and we have searched the earth looking for her, but nothing it is like they have completely disappeared. I told Charlie the day I found out.He didnโt blame me; he told me that the humans have been after her for a long time. But that doesnโt make it any better. He went to Moonlight Cove and spoke to Artemis and Shanti.Artemis has evacuated the underwater kingdom and fled with the sirens. Charlie and Shanti have been following leads and I am here on the ground finding anything that could lead us to her. Pops was pissed, but he said he would help in finding her.So we are all looking for her or any sign of these military scumbags who have taken her. But so far nothing.All we know is that they would have to be keeping her near water. They wonโt be out in the open that would cause a war with the sirens. If we find her, then it will b
Rosa POV.Iโm numb after what we have been told. That experiments have been performed on shifters. How could the humans be so cruel? I wander the pack grounds deep in thought as I try to understand why. But nothing is coming to me.If they are studying each different species, then who is to say that the hybrids wonโt be on their radars in the future? We need to keep everyone safe. But how? How do you keep each and every shifter species safe from an unknown threat?Simple answer is you canโt. You can prepare, but it would be easier if we knew who it was we were preparing for. Do we say something and create mass panic and force the shifters back into the dark? Or do we let them live, not knowing what kind of danger they are in?I have a gut feeling that all this is no coincidence. The humans were fine and the human governments were fine with us all living in peace. But to pick out shifters that is premeditated, and they knew who to target. They have had years to put this together. So wh
Rosa POV.Waking up, I stretch and realise we are in our room in the packhouse. I reach across the bed to find it empty; I roll to my side and stare at the empty space beside me.Rolling on to my back, I look up at the ceiling and smile to myself. Charlie shifted last night. We ran in our forms; we played and we fu โฆ mated in our forms, but I do remember falling asleep in the forest. So Charlie must have woken up and carried me back here. He is a sweetheart.The bedroom door opens, and in he walks carrying a breakfast tray. He is a sight for sore eyes. With his chest on display and shorts hanging low on his hips, showing off those rippling muscles and the deep V line that makes a girl hot with need.But Iโm sorry ladies, this hunk is mine, all mine, and will be forever.โMorning, baby girl. I thought I would make you breakfast.โ I hear Cece swoon. She is a hopeless romantic when it comes to this kind of stuff. I will admit I am too.โYou didnโt need to do that. Iโm surprised you are u
Charlie POV.Every nerve ending is on fire. Every cell is burning and changing. My eyes hurt and things sound sharper and I place my hands over my ears as I double over in pain. My insides feel like they are being torn out.I have no idea where I am. I feel the sparks and open my eyes to look into the calm green eyes of my mate as I try to reach for her when I whimper, but roll onto my back as my spine breaks and I scream out.โBreathe Charlie. Imagine Valour. Imagine his coat and his eyes. Let him take control, baby.โ She tells me, but right now Iโm too focused on the pain and the sound of blood rushing into my ears.โLet me forward, hooman.โ Valourโs calm voice is louder than before and I whimper again my spine rearranges as I arch my back and I vomit on the floor.โNOW HOOMAN, LET ME FORWARD!โ I try to speak, but my jaw snaps and blood coats my tongue. I would not recommend this at all.All I can feel and focus on is the pain and my cheek bones snap and my face burns as it grows lo