Ranon’s POVThe sound of running water filled the silence as Elowen showered. The three of us stood outside her door, waiting, thinking, watching.Alaric paced, his jaw clenched. Theron leaned against the wall, arms crossed, his eyes dark with exhaustion and something else—concern.Me? I just listened.Not because I was some creep, but because I needed to know she was still there. That she wasn’t slipping away from us again.After everything—after him, after Ezekiel—none of us were willing to let her go.The water shut off.A few minutes later, the door cracked open, and Elowen stepped out, her damp hair curling at the ends, a loose T-shirt hanging off one shoulder.She looked small.Not weak—never weak—but like the weight of everything was finally pressing down on her.“You’re still here,” she murmured, glancing between us.Alaric snorted. “Obviously.”Theron stepped forward, his voice softer. “Come eat something.”“I’m not—”“No.” I cut her off. “You are eating. You barely touched a
Theron’s POVElowen stood rigid by the broken window, her golden eyes fixed on the spot where Victor had disappeared. The weight of everything we had fought for pressed against her shoulders like an invisible force, threatening to crush her.She was trying to hide it.But I saw the exhaustion in the way she swayed slightly, the way her hands trembled just the slightest bit before she clenched them into fists.She was running on sheer willpower alone.And I couldn’t let her.I stepped forward, placing a hand on her shoulder. “Elowen, you need to rest.”She stiffened but didn’t pull away. “I don’t have time to rest.”“Elowen—”“No.” Her voice was sharp, her body tense. “If I stop now, if I slow down for even a second, Victor will come back. He’ll—”I turned her to face me, gripping her arms firmly. “And what good will you be if you collapse before that happens?”Her gaze met mine, fierce and unrelenting, but beneath it, I saw the cracks. The exhaustion. The pain.I softened my grip. “Pl
Elowen’s POVThe five minutes stretched longer than I intended.Theron’s warmth, the steady rhythm of his heartbeat, the way his fingers lazily traced patterns on my back—it was dangerously comforting. For a fleeting moment, I allowed myself to believe that things could be this simple.But they weren’t.With a deep breath, I pushed against his chest. "We really need to get up."He groaned but loosened his grip, rolling onto his back. His dark eyes, still heavy with sleep, locked onto mine. "You’re the one who stayed."I scowled, sitting up. "You didn’t give me much of a choice."Theron smirked, but before he could say anything else, the bedroom door burst open."Finally, you're awake," Alaric said, leaning against the doorway with his arms crossed. His piercing gaze flicked between me and Theron, and his jaw ticked slightly. "We’ve got a problem."I threw the blanket off and swung my legs over the side of the bed. "What now?""More rogues spotted near the southern border."My stomach
Elowen’s POVThe kiss lingered between us, a fragile moment of warmth in the storm we were about to face. Alaric’s hands tightened on my waist as if he was afraid I’d vanish if he let go.But I couldn’t afford to stay in this moment. Not when war loomed over us.I pulled away, my breathing uneven. "We need to prepare," I said, my voice barely above a whisper.Alaric exhaled through his nose, clearly frustrated but nodding nonetheless. "Ranon and Theron are already gathering the warriors," he muttered. "We leave at dawn."Dawn.That left only a few hours.I turned toward the window, staring out at the darkened sky. Somewhere out there, Ezekiel's forces were waiting. They wouldn’t stop coming for me.For my blood.Alaric moved behind me, his warmth pressing against my back. "We’re going to end this, Elowen."His voice was full of certainty. Of promise.I wanted to believe him.I turned in his arms, resting my forehead against his chest. "No matter what happens," I whispered, "promise me
Theron's POVThe forest was a blur of shadows and moonlight as we raced through the underbrush. Ranon cradled Elowen against his chest, her body limp and alarmingly pale. Her blood had soaked through his shirt, staining it a deep crimson that glistened under the faint light. Each labored breath she took was a testament to her fading strength.Beside them, I ran, every step sending jolts of pain through my battered body. My ribs ached, likely cracked or worse, and a gash above my brow sent warm rivulets down my face, partially obscuring my vision. But none of it mattered. The only thing that did was the woman hanging onto life in Ranon's arms.Alaric, slightly ahead, kept glancing back, his eyes filled with a mix of fear and determination. He pressed two fingers to her neck, searching for a pulse. His face tightened."Her pulse is weak," he growled, voice raw. "She's losing too much blood—""Don't say it," I snapped, my voice sharper than intended. "She's not going to die.""Theron—""
Theron’s POV Days bled into nights, and still, Elowen remained confined to the bed, her body slowly knitting itself back together with every excruciating hour. The once vibrant spark in her eyes hadn’t fully returned, but her chest rose and fell steadily, and that was enough to keep me breathing. The scars on her skin were healing, but the silence between us—the way she flinched when she dreamed, the way her hands trembled when she tried to lift a spoon—those were the wounds we couldn’t see. Each of us took turns helping her bathe, eat, walk down the long corridor of the mansion, and each time, we watched the strongest woman we’d ever known lean on us in a way she never had before. Alaric never left her side at night. He sat quietly in a chair beside her bed, his fingers loosely curled around hers as he whispered apologies she couldn't yet answer. His eyes, once hard and unforgiving, had softened in her presence, guilt clinging to every breath he took. “She used to hate being hel
Elowen’s POVThe academy gates loomed ahead, familiar yet foreign.It had been weeks since I’d last walked through them—weeks since blood stained my hands, pain etched itself into my bones, and the world I once knew unraveled at the seams. And now, as the morning sun streamed down, casting a golden glow on the stone path, I felt… off-balance.Not weak. No, I wasn’t that anymore.Just changed.Alaric’s hand hovered close to my back without touching, his gaze scanning the students like they were threats. Theron flanked my right, silent and unreadable, while Ranon walked a step ahead, his arms folded, jaw clenched as always.Their presence was suffocating… but not in the way it used to be.Now it was protective. Devoted. Desperate.Students turned to stare, whispers already rising like a wave."She’s back.""Is that her?""Did you hear what she did to Ezekiel?""That’s the witch with the triplet alphas..."Every whisper hit me like a blade. Not because I cared about what they thought—but
Elowen’s POVThe academy halls were hushed now, lit only by faint moonlight filtering through the tall windows. Everyone had been ordered to rest after the incident, but rest was a foreign concept to me tonight.I found myself drawn to the library—a place of stillness, of worn pages and silent thoughts. The fire was lit in the hearth, casting a warm, golden glow across the shelves.I sank into one of the old leather chairs, arms folded around myself. The moment I closed my eyes, the sound of the summoning echoed again—the screaming runes, the creature’s hiss, the way my magic had clawed its way out of me like it had a mind of its own.A hand gently touched my shoulder.I looked up.Theron.He didn’t say anything at first. Just looked at me, gaze heavy, stormy as always.“Couldn’t sleep?” he asked finally, his voice low.I shook my head. “Didn’t want to close my eyes and see that thing again.”He nodded and lowered himself into the chair beside me, resting his elbows on his knees, hand
Alaric’s POV My fists were still trembling, the residual adrenaline of the confrontation coursing through my veins. I could feel the dull throb of the scrape on my knuckles from where they’d connected with Lysander’s arrogant jaw—a sharp, satisfying impact that had barely scratched the surface of the consuming fury that still burned within me. How dare he touch her? How dare he look at her with that possessive glint in his eyes, as if she were some prize to be won, something to conquer? The possessive rage was a living thing inside me, a primal fire threatening to consume me whole. My wolf was clawing just beneath the surface, snarling and restless, demanding blood. Demanding retribution. Demanding justice for the blatant disrespect. But beneath the burning rage, a flicker of something colder, more unsettling, remained. She’d looked… scared. Not of him. Of me. I replayed the chaotic scene over and over in my mind as I stormed down the deserted corridor, the air around me prac
Elowen’s POV Next morning the academy's cafeteria hummed with the chaotic symphony of midday: the incessant clatter of ceramic trays against metal surfaces, the low murmur of countless conversations weaving together, punctuated by the occasional burst of unrestrained laughter erupting from various clusters of students. I had sought refuge at a secluded table near the far wall, a steaming cup of lukewarm tea clutched in my hands, my thoughts adrift somewhere between the intricate strategies discussed in Professor Vance’s tactics lecture and the stolen, breathless intimacy of our rooftop rendezvous. The triplets were currently immersed in mandatory combat training, a rigorous session reserved for high-ranking shifters, and I had deliberately chosen this quieter hour to slip away, craving a moment of solitary contemplation. For once, the relentless demands of academy life seemed to recede, leaving a fragile semblance of peace in its wake. That fleeting tranquility shattered the moment
Elowen’s POV Before I could even form a coherent response, he captured my lips with a fierce, possessive hunger, his hands moving with a renewed urgency, exploring every inch of exposed skin with a desperate need. The lingering tension from our sparring match dissolved into a raw, primal desire that mirrored my own burgeoning need. His knee nudged my legs apart with a subtle command, and he settled his weight more fully against me, the hard ridge of his arousal pressing insistently against the slick heat gathering between my thighs. A sharp gasp escaped my lips, my body arching instinctively into his, a silent plea for connection. I needed him, wanted him, with a ferocity that eclipsed anything I had ever felt before. With a low, guttural groan that rumbled deep in his chest, he entered me, filling me completely. His pace was slow, deliberate, each thrust a measured exploration, the rhythm designed to stoke the already blazing fires within me until they burned hotter than the midda
Elowen's POV “I love this version of you, Ranon,” I whispered, my voice husky with desire. “The one that’s not afraid to want me, to claim me.” He looked down at me, his amber eyes blazing with a fierce, possessive light. “Then I’ll show you all of me, Elowen. Every single part.” His gaze dropped to my lips, lingering there for a breathless moment before returning to my eyes, filled with a raw intensity that made my heart pound. He shifted, his weight pressing more fully against me, the hard planes of his body a stark reminder of his strength, his possessiveness. “You feel it too, don’t you, Elowen?” he murmured, his voice thick with a desire that mirrored my own burgeoning need. “This… connection between us. It’s different. Fiercer.” I nodded, unable to articulate the complex emotions swirling within me. The bond I shared with all three of them was unique, a tapestry woven with different threads of affection, passion, and unwavering loyalty. But there was a raw, untamed in
Elowen’s POVThe sun, a molten orb sinking towards the horizon, cast long, dramatic shadows across the secluded sparring field nestled behind the ancient stone walls of the academy. Golden rays, thick and warm, bled across the soft, yielding grass, painting the familiar landscape in hues of amber and rose. The other students, their energy spent after the rigorous combat class, had long since scattered back to the relative comfort of their quarters, but I had lingered, my body still thrumming with the residual adrenaline of earlier matches, and my heart… still a tangled mess of conflicting emotions that the physical exertion hadn’t quite managed to unravel.“I knew you’d wait.”The deep, familiar timbre of his voice sent a shiver down my spine. I turned slowly.Ranon stepped out of the long shadows cast by the ancient oak trees bordering the training ground, his presence as always both silent and undeniably solid. His dark training shirt clung to the sculpted lines of his torso, damp w
Elowen’s POVThe echoing halls of the academy pulsed with the raw, untamed energy of morning, a palpable hum of anticipation and nervous excitement as students streamed towards their respective classrooms. Today was combat day, a stark reminder of the volatile world we inhabited, where grudges often manifested as bruises and the subtle dance of flirtation could ignite into something far more dangerous, far more real. The sharp, metallic scent of steel mingled with the faint, musky tang of sweat already permeating the air, a sensory cocktail that spoke of both discipline and potential violence.I walked with a deliberate stride between Alaric and Theron, their presence a comforting, possessive shield against the curious and often hostile gazes that followed me like persistent shadows. Ranon trailed a step behind, his movements fluid and silent, a dark, watchful presence that lingered even when he didn’t utter a single word. The other students parted as we moved through the crowded corr
Elowen’s POVSunlight, a gentle intruder, seeped through the delicate weave of the sheer curtains, painting intricate golden patterns across the rumpled expanse of the bed. I stirred slowly, my muscles pleasantly relaxed, the lingering warmth of three strong, possessive bodies anchoring me to the soft, yielding mattress like invisible tethers.I was cocooned in a comforting heat – Ranon’s muscular arm slung possessively across my waist, his fingers splayed against the curve of my stomach, a silent claim even in sleep. Behind me, I could hear the soft, even rhythm of Alaric’s breathing, a deep, reassuring sound that filled the quiet room. Theron, ever the early riser, wasn’t physically touching me at the moment, but his lingering scent, a heady blend of spice and something uniquely his own, still clung to the sheets and pillows, a potent reminder of the passionate hours we had shared. I could still feel the phantom warmth of his demanding kisses from the night before, the way his touch
Elowen's POV His grip tightened, and his hips bucked forward, hitting the back of my throat, and I moaned, the sensation a delightful mix of pleasure and pain. Alaric shifted forward, his lips closing around the nipple that Theron had been neglecting, his fingers teasing the other. Theron kissed my shoulder, his teeth grazing the sensitive skin, and his hands slid across the front of my panties, gently rubbing, the pressure eliciting a new wave of desire. Then Ranon tightened his grip on my hair, and the world blurred, his cock hitting the back of my throat, the sensation sending a ripple of pleasure straight to the aching apex of my thighs. I moaned, a sound he clearly felt, and a string of curses fell from his lips, his hips thrusting more forcefully, hitting the back of my throat again and again, the sensation pushing me closer and closer to the edge, the pressure building between my thighs. A familiar hand cupped the front of my panties, and a second later Theron ripped
Elowen's POV “I want to mark you, Elowen,” he said quietly, his voice thick with emotion. “Not just with a bite, a physical claim. I want the world to know, unequivocally, that you are ours. That you belong to us, body and soul.” My heart raced, a thrill mixed with a sense of profound belonging coursing through me. “Then… show me, Ranon.” He captured my lips in a deep, possessive kiss, his tongue seeking entry, exploring the warm cavern of my mouth with a gentle insistence. Then a second pair of hands slid across my chest, his thumbs finding the sensitive skin beneath the swell of my breasts, and my breath hitched. Theron. His fingers gently lifted my shirt, a low, approving growl sounding from his chest when he saw the black lace of my bra. Then he pushed the fabric further, his calloused fingers finding the taut peaks of my nipples and tweaking, eliciting a low moan from my throat. My senses were overloading, every nerve ending coming alive, the intoxicating scent of sa