During the flight and car ride, Darina was restless. Her friends were chatting, napping, and having snacks. But her throat was dry, and she had no appetite. She forced herself to take a few bites of chicken sandwich as her pup needed nutrition. Darina gently brushed her palm over her stomach. She had told no one except the king about her pregnancy, knowing they would try to stop her from going on the rescue mission.
On the flight, Will sat next to her.“Nervous?” he asked.“A little,” she replied, then added with a sigh, “actually… a lot.”Will chuckled.“Is my stress amusing you now?” she snapped.“No, I’m sorry. It’s just déjà vu,” he said softly. “Do you remember a few months ago when we were on the plane to the Royal Pack? You were about to be engaged to Kai, and you said the same thing. You were furious at your father for pushing you into arranged marriage, you despised Kai, and you were afraid you wouldn’t fit as queen.”She nodded, old memorieMaya teleported them to the place near the riverbank where the Moon Goddess had once blessed her and Kai with a mate bond.The place where he marked her. The place where they claimed each other. Beautiful memories filled her mind, giving Darina new energy.But this time, the beauty of the river, the silver roses, and the charming glow didn’t touch her. Fear clawed deeper with every breath, a sickening fear that the Moon Goddess would not hear her… that maybe she had already turned away.Maya looked around, admiring the view as if it were a miracle.“Maya, I appreciate all your help, but I think for a prayer, I need to be alone,” Darina said softly, her voice already trembling.Maya nodded in agreement. “I understand.” She pressed a ring into Darina’s palm. “When you need me to come back, just wear the ring, and I will appear.”“Thank you,” Darina muttered, and Maya disappeared.Darina sat by the river, lowering herself into t
Amber’s voice broke as she exclaimed, "I still can’t believe what Kai has done!" "To ally with dark creatures… to throw his own father into a dungeonl," Cassy sobbed, tears strained her cheeks. Her voice trembled as she whispered, "What will he do to Will?" "Nothing," Darina cut in, her tone steady but laced with fire. "I will not let him touch your mates or anyone else. Not while I still breathe." She turned to Maya, her eyes pleading but firm. "Please, take them somewhere safe. Anywhere they cannot be found." "We are not leaving you," Amber shook her head stubbornly. Cassy clutched her arm, nodding silently as if to anchor herself against the storm. Darina’s patience wavered, her voice hardening. "Don’t you see? A legion of harpies and dark witches are hunting us right now. If we stay together, they’ll find us faster. And even after I free Kai from this curse, his so-called all
Darina, after healing Jamie, went slowly to her study, her hands trembling. Her mate she once knew, the one she had trusted and loved with every part of her heart, was gone. What sat in his place now was a stranger, and she didn’t know how to deal with him, didn’t know how to fight something she couldn’t see or touch.She rested her palm against her stomach, clinging to that small spark of life inside her. She needed to keep her pup safe—no matter what.“Talk to him. Try to make him open up to you,” Coral urged softly, worrying in her voice. “Something is wrong with him.”Darina’s lips trembled. “But what if… what if this darkness was always there inside him, and now he’s just letting it out?” she whispered, horrified by her own thought, her chest tightening as if the words themselves were poison.“There is darkness in all of us,” Coral answered, shaking her head. “But this… this is different. I can’t reach Blake anymore, and I’m sc
The area near the flogging pole was swarming with werewolves who had rushed over after hearing the commotion. At first, everyone thought it must be another attack, because public punishment was almost unheard of in their pack. The sight that met them, however, froze blood in veins.Jackie and Colin pushed their way through the crowd, and Jackie’s breath hitched the moment her eyes landed on the pole.Jamie was bound tightly to it, wrists raw and bleeding from the ropes, his body jerking with every strike. Kai stood before him, whip in hand, his face contorted in fury that looked nothing like him. It was twisted, animalistic, as though something darker had taken root inside him. Each crack of leather split the silence and sent shudders through the crowd.Some voices rose, cheering, urging the punishment on. Others shouted in protest, horrified by the brutality. But Kai didn’t even flinch—he didn’t care if the world itself disapproved.Reed looked as tho
After breakfast and Kai’s outburst, Darina went to the clinic alone to check on her pregnancy.She sat on the clinic ward bed, her hands nervously clasped together as she waited for Camilla. The room felt too quiet and empty until the door opened softly and Kai slipped in."Why did you come without me?" he asked, his voice laced with sorrow, eyes searching her face as he sat beside her."It did not sound like you wanted to be in my company," she replied sadly, her voice trembled.He pulled her into his arms and kissed her temple gently, his breath was warming against her skin, soothing her. "I am sorry," he whispered, almost broken. "Lately, I feel not myself… just overwhelmed with war, with jailing, with so many deaths, so much pain. I acted like an asshole today." He kissed her nose and let his hand linger against her flat stomach, caressing with fragile reverence. "I love you and our pup. You both are my everything."She looked into his eye
The next morning, Darina and Kai joined the breakfast arranged by their close circle in the private dining room for them to catch up. Darina still felt drained after yesterday night conflict with her mate. She had dark circles under her eyes and looked tired. Amber interpreted her look in another way, "Oh, someme had sleepless night," she winked teasing, "of course you too miss each other and had many actions to—" Reed pushed her under the table, "—discuss," she finished with mischief grin.Darina got pale as Amber's hints triggered the image of last night again to flash in her mind, and her breath hitched, remembering how obusive her mate was with her. "Luna, never mind beta female, you know she is very naughty," said Kelly, giving Amber a warning look. "Look who is talking, Kelly," Amber shot back, raising her brow at her belly. Kelly got red as tomato as clearly Amber was hinting at her being pregnant