McKenna’s POV Mckenna?" Swan called out, opening the door to my room. "Swan? What are you doing on this side of the palace? They will have you hung!" I said, panicking for my friend. "Calm down. I had to deliver some tea to the King's study. I wanted to check on you. I know you heard their argument last night, as did I," she said, brushing my tear-stained hair from my forehead. "You must think I am a whore too. I swear it was not my plan. The Queen..." I tried explaining, but Swan shushed me. "It is okay, Kenna. I do not think that of you at all. I know the Queen set you up just as she did with the other handmaiden that suddenly disappeared. She is an evil she-wolf," Swan said, rubbing my back. "Why did you volunteer to come here if you knew this of her?" I asked. She abruptly stops rubbing my back. I could tell she was at odds with her wolf because she seemed conflicted. I sat up from her lap and just stared at her. "She's hiding something," Halo said in my thoughts. "I can see tha
Queen Antionette's POV "Vincent, we will surely be caught if you continue to wear your heart on your sleeve," I said, ripping away from his hold. "Antionette, why must we continue to hide our feelings?" He asked. "Lincoln is the king and your brother. We will be hung for treason if we are found out," I reasoned. "I want to be a father to my pups," he growled. "You can, if they were yours! We have to slow things down," I reminded him. "It's been two years, Anti! My feelings for you have grown beyond my control. We both know those pups are mine," he pleaded. "That is a personal problem! You lie with omegas and anything else that moves. That is not love, Vincent! I cannot do this right now, especially with the mother-in-law from hell right down the hall. Put your clothes back on and get the fuck out of my presence. NOW!" I growled. He scrambled for his clothes until every piece was well put together. "You will regret this," he turned and said before leaving my quarters. If he dared to
CHAPTER 11: I AM NO FOOL Ruby's POV "Mark me!" I demanded the next morning from Vincent. "Ruby! I told you that it needs to be special for you," he growled. "I marked you! Your wolf will surely reject my mark if you don't do it soon!" I lied. "I'm no fool, Ruby," he sighed, shaking his head at me. "That is fine by me. How about we get this rejection over with so I can go back to fucking the wolf I fell in love with before you came your lying ass along," I confessed just as he wrapped his hand around my throat. His eyes were pitch black, indicating that his wolf pushed forward. "Take your hands off of me!" I growled, slashing him across the face. "Seriously?" he asked, shaking off his wolf. "Beta Vincent, I am a Duchess from the Kingdom of Tirado. I assure you I am very well trained and will not allow you or anyone else to put their hands on me," I reminded him. "Understood. The thought of you with another male just set my wolf and me off. I would never hurt you, Ruby," he said, inh
Swan's POV "McKenna!" I called out once I made my way to them. "Sorry, it took so long. I didn't want to lead them to you both. We need to get to my parents. I know they won't be safe," she said, exasperated. "I know, but will they leave?" I asked. "They have already agreed during my last visit. I told them to be ready," she replied. "This won't end well," my grandmother, Gertrude, whispered to me as we picked up our pace. "What has happened, grandmother?" I asked carefully that McKenna did not hear our conversation. "I cannot say for sure, but what happens next will take both of us to pull her back together," my grandmother replied, pointing at a running McKenna. “Are you going to be okay leaving you know who behind?” my grandmother asked. “I cannot talk about him right now. McKenna doesn’t know,” I sighed. “I would not have you risk it all for an old lady like me,” she replied. “You are what’s remaining of my family. You took me in when my parents wanted me out. I owe you my life,”
Swan's POVI cannot believe what I am witnessing from afar, but it makes my heart swell with happiness."McKenna found her mate!" I squealed to my grandmother. "Keep it down, silly girl! I'm sure they're both still trying to process many things. I feel the anxiety all the way over here," my grandmother snapped. "Such a grumpy old she-wolf. Remind me why I risked my life to save yours again," I smirked. "Because I raised you, and you love me," she chuckled. "Hmm, I am beginning to second guess my choices in life," I fake pouted, earning a smack to the back of the head. "I love you too, stubborn girl," she smiled before pulling me from the door.Although I was overjoyed for Kenna, it made me remember the mate I left behind to flee the royal guard. My heart ached, but there have been tales that say the bond weakens at a distance. I'm starting to wonder when that will be because my wolf will not even shift for me because of her sadness. Her constant whimpering in my head nearly makes me w
Marlene's POVIt's been over a month since McKenna and Swan moved here. If I'm being honest, I wanted to flee. I cannot risk Beta Vincent finding out about our pup, Marlo. He’s already taken so much from me and threw me to the side like a worthless she-wolf."Are you okay, child?" Gertrude approached and asked. "Yes, I am wonderijg what flowers I should plant near the front," I lied. "You are doing a terrible job of lying, dear. What's really eating you, kid?" she asked. "I know you all have been here for a little while, but I do wonder how long would it take for the kingdom to find you all. I am terrified that Beta Vincent will discover what I managed to keep hidden from him for two years. It's been tough raising Marlo alone," I confessed. "Are you referring to little, Marlo? Of course, you are. They will not come to find us until years from now. That, I can assure you," She said, placing a hand on my shoulder. “How are you so sure of these things? You said it yourself, things can sh
McKenna's POVThe Alpha King arranged for us to meet in the dark of night in the countryside. I hated to lie to my mate. So, I was honest with Jubilee. He was against it, but I disappeared before he had come back from welding. With the help of Gertrude, I was able to hide my scent so he could not track me. I knew this would be frowned upon but the king is threatening to take one of my pups, Tavi from us. I was grateful that he only knew of one."How did you find me?" I asked Alpha King Lincoln. "Where is my daughter?" He asked. "She's not here. Please, just let me live out my days in peace,” I begged. "McKenna, why won't you be mine? This started as a quest with you, but I have always desired you in such a way that I could never admit to my mate. Maybe the Moon Goddess made a mistake," he reasoned. "The Moon Goddess makes no mistakes!" I yelled. “You love Antionette, but you lust for me. That is not love, Alpha. You thirst for me because you can no longer have me. That, my lord, is no
Ten years later... Octavia's POV I heard knocking on the door in my sleep but I rolled over and ignored it. "Happy birthday, Tavi!" my parents and little brother greeted me. "Thank you," I croaked before rolling back over. "Tavi! Get up. Your father and I really need to speak with you about something significant," she said, shaking me back awake just as a knock came at the door. “It is much too early for this,” I pouted. “This is no laughing matter. It’s about what we spoke about long ago,” my father interrupted. “Yes, father?” I groggily asked. I looked over at my parents, who shared knowing looks of panic. "What's wrong?" I asked as the banging on the door became louder. "One minute! I am not descent!" My mother lied before my father shuffled to the door in front of her. "Tavi, please forgive us," my mother said, nodding to my father to open the door. There were at least five men dressed in armor bearing the crest of the crown on their chest. "What has happened?" I asked, feel