Helena
I couldn’t understand why my past kept flooding my thoughts. I really thought I was over all of it, but being close to Oliver, it felt as if I could be vulnerable for the first time in my life. I just can’t allow myself that luxury yet. I knew that I was being utterly ridiculous, but if life taught me anything, it was that nothing was a sure thing.
Before I rejected Liam, I believed my mate would save me. I had learned in the meantime that no person was going to save me but me. Or so I thought, until Oliver came into my life so suddenly. My mind and heart were fighting. One was telling me to just let go of the past and accept the wonderful life I could have with Oliver. The other was telling me not to settle in. That anything could happen to Oliver and then what were we going to do?!
The reason I was feeling this way was because of Liam. Not because he was a bastard, but because he was an alpha and on to
OliverI paced back and forth in the library so angry that I was ready to physically rip the heads off their bodies! I was expecting resistance from my pack members, but not blatant disrespect! So, I declared war, but surely I was allowed to change my damn mind! I was allowed to show mercy!“Son, you have to understand that people are still in shock. It’s going to take a minute for everyone to catch their breath.” My father placed his hand on my shoulder and I stopped pacing. Sighing deeply, I didn’t need him to explain it to me. I was still in shock. Everything happened so fast, but I was scared if I didn’t act on our mate bond, I would lose her. She had proven she could survive on her own. What if she decided she didn’t need me?Helena told me of the day she rejected her mate and faced a life completely on her own. She was strong. It wouldn’t take much for her to turn he
HelenaWhen we returned, I had so much that I couldn’t imagine ever being able to wear all of it! Oliver seemed pleased, which made me happy. I didn’t want him or his family or his pack, for that matter, to think that I was after their money. Athena noticed my hesitancy while we were shopping, and she quickly made it clear to anyone and everyone who was listening that I hadn’t asked for this. All of this was a gift from Oliver, according to her.“If anybody has a problem with our queen looking the part, they should take it up with the king.” Her words still rang through my thoughts. I was a queen. I was mated to a king! It all still felt so unreal, and I still had so many questions that I wanted to ask Oliver. I patiently waited until we were on our evening walk before I finally got the courage to ask.“Do you still believe that you did the right thing? I mean, when you decl
OliverAnswering Helena’s questions was tough, but there was no way I was going to lie to her. If our relationship started with lies, it would be tough in the beginning, but it would get easier over time. I didn’t want lying to Helena to become easy. The meeting didn’t go as planned, but the omission wasn’t a lie, was it? I would tell her, eventually. I just didn’t have the heart to tell her now.The council was furious with me. All the people we lost in the war. All the families who had to live without their loved ones. All the resources we used for a war that I stopped halfway through. Not killing the wolves we had as prisoners was the last straw for them. I had to literally bit my tongue not to lose it completely. I didn’t want to lose Helena. I didn’t want to lose my crown, but I would give that up if it meant losing Helena! My parents supported me completely, but my council weren&rsq
HelenaI looked at Oliver and wondered, but something told me that although he trusted his people, he wasn’t going to share our vulnerability with them. Something was holding him back from doing that. I wasn’t sure if it was because he probably felt he always had to be a strong leader or if he just didn’t share. Maybe he only shared with his family.It was actually ridiculous. Why weren’t leaders ever allowed to be weak? If they were, they might not be the bastards some of them were. I thought of Liam and the way he grew up. If his parents weren’t such horrible people. If he had grown up in a place where love was freely given, things might have been different for us. For him.“Are you okay?” Oliver frowned beside me and I sighed deeply, nodding.“I was just thinking of Liam, and how different his life could have been.” I shrugged. It was still a
HelenaIt took time, but everything was arranged within a couple of days. I was feeling so excited and went looking for Oliver. He was in town with his father taking care of the yule lights that they were planning on putting up all over town. I had seen pictures of the lights in an album Athena showed me and I couldn’t wait to see them in all their glory. We didn’t have lights at the pack house, so this was something completely new to me. As I walked closer to a group of men, I realized I hadn’t found what I was looking for. The scene playing out in front of me wasn’t what I hoped for.“Say that again! I dare you!” Oliver was gripping a Lycan around his throat. The male looked furious as he glared at Oliver.“She is not one of us!” He growled at Oliver, and I was stunned that one of them stood up to Oliver like that. It took me a moment to realize that the she the male was referring to was me! We had been trying our best to involve as many of the staff at home with the arrangements. I
Helena“No lights? None at all?” Oliver looked sad and I shrugged.“Nope.” I walked on and they followed me.“Okay, wait. Did you celebrate yule?” Oliver frowned, and I wasn’t sure if I should tell them the rest. They might think even worse about the pack than they already did! On the other hand, I haven’t lied to Oliver once since I met him, so why start now? Liam was dead, so who knows? Things might change for the pack now.“Well, every yule, I worked in the kitchens to help prepare the meal for the ranked wolves.” A soft growl escaped from Oliver and I rolled my eyes. “To the Omegas, it was just another day on the calendar, really. We got up, took care of our chores and went to bed. The only difference was that there was more work to do. More to cook and far more to clean up afterward. We served the ranked wolves a special meal to thank them for taking care of us and protecting us all year. After the meal, the ranked wolves were given gifts by the alpha and luna to thank them for t
HelenaI didn’t feel right when I woke up. I felt weak and a little light-headed. I didn’t mention anything to Oliver, since I didn’t want to worry him unnecessarily. When I joined Oliver and his parents for breakfast, things felt different. Something in the air was different. It was almost … Lighter. I just couldn’t put my finger on it. I silently had breakfast while Oliver and his parents talked about the yule festival. It sounded so exciting.I just felt as though I shouldn’t get my hopes up too high. Our pack didn’t have lights. This pack did. Our pack didn’t give gifts to omegas and I had a shopping day planned with Athena to buy gifts for everybody. She made sure to tell me it included the omegas. It made me feel so much better to know. But still I didn’t want to get my hopes up.I couldn’t help but feel as if I caused most of the issues in Oliver’s pack at the moment. I felt guilty. I felt as if I didn’t deserve the kindness he and his parents were showing me. The servants were
OliverMy parents invited some of their old friends to join us in the hopes that if they gave us their support it would convince the last pack members to just accept the changes. Our guests arrive and by late evening the entire city is alive with celebration. Helena looks excited, and I feel so great to see her having fun. My people were just relaxing when the alarms sounded.I couldn’t believe the reports coming through our pack link! The werewolves, I thought, had returned home and were living their lives in peace … They were now rising up against me! All around us people were shifting. Some of the children screamed as their parents rushed them home. I noted the first wolf enter our city and I howled before shifting!“MOM! Take Helena with you! I don’t want one of us thinking she is the enemy!” I shouted through the pack link. Something told me that if I told Helena to go home, she wouldn’t listen. She seemed to get along well with my mother! I didn’t wait to see if Helena and my mo