Elowen’s POV Dawn broke slowly over the academy, its gentle light filtering through the stained-glass windows of my small room. I awoke with the echo of last night’s festival still playing in my ears—the laughter, the whispered promises, the tender, tentative touches that had woven a fragile new tapestry between us. Yet, as I lay there in the early morning hush, a subtle heaviness tugged at me—a mix of hope, uncertainty, and the lingering sting of old wounds.I rose and drew aside the heavy curtains, watching the sunrise paint the courtyard in soft hues of peach and gold. Somewhere among those awakening beams, I wondered if the scars of yesterday could begin to fade. The night had been a celebration of new beginnings, but the next day always brought with it a moment of reckoning.Before I had time to gather my scattered thoughts, there was a soft knock on my door. I opened it to find Alaric standing in the corridor, his eyes a gentle mixture of determination and concern. The cool mor
Ranon’s POV I had spent so many years hiding behind sarcasm and cruelty, convinced it was the only way to survive in this harsh world. But now, as dusk settled over the academy and the chaotic echoes of our past began to fade into a tentative silence, I found myself longing for something different—something genuine.I wandered into the academy gardens alone, seeking solace among the ancient stone statues and blooming night jasmine. The garden, bathed in the soft light of lanterns and the cool caress of the evening breeze, felt like a sanctuary. Here, the whispers of gossip and the biting laughter of yesteryear were replaced by the gentle rustling of leaves and the murmuring water of a small fountain.I paused at the edge of a winding path, my heart heavy with regret and hope intermingled. I remembered all the times I had taunted Elowen—my words, laced with cruelty, had cut her deeply. I remembered how she had endured our abuse with quiet dignity, the hurt in her eyes that I once thou
Ranon’s POV The night had settled into a thick silence, the kind that carried weight—the kind that came before a storm.Elowen had allowed me a chance, a moment of fragile trust, but I knew it wouldn’t be enough. Not yet.I had spent too many years as the bastard who tormented her, and even if her lips had met mine tonight, I knew that the wounds I had left wouldn’t disappear so easily.She had walked away after that kiss, leaving me standing beneath the moonlit arbor, my chest heavy with something foreign—hope.But as I turned to leave, the sharp scent of wolves in the wind made my body go rigid.I wasn’t alone.A slow clap echoed through the darkness, followed by the sound of approaching footsteps.Then, a voice—taunting, laced with amusement.“Well, well, well… look at you, Ranon. The mighty bastard prince reduced to chasing after a woman he once spat on.”I didn’t need to see him to know who it was.Alaric.I turned, my jaw clenching as I faced my brother. He leaned against the s
Ranon’s POV The next few days at the academy were a test of patience. Elowen didn’t make things easy. Not that I expected her to. She wasn’t cold—not exactly. But she didn’t trust me, didn’t let me close the way she did with Theron and Alaric. And I understood why. Of all the things I had done to her, trust was the one thing I had shattered beyond repair. So, I didn’t push. I didn’t try to force my way back into her life with grand gestures or pretty words. Instead, I did something I had never done before—I showed up. I was there. When she walked into class, I had already saved her a seat—not beside me, but near enough that she noticed. When she sparred in training, I partnered with her—not as a challenge, but as a teammate, offering support when she needed it. When Lisa or anyone else dared to whisper about her behind her back, I was there to shut them up before she even had to hear it. I didn’t expect gratitude or recognition. I didn’t expect her to look at me a
Ranon’s POV The silence between us stretched, thick with unspoken words.Elowen wasn’t the type to trust easily—not after everything she had been through, not after everything I had done to her.But she also wasn’t the type to ignore the truth.And the truth was, I wasn’t leaving.I leaned back against the tree trunk, watching her out of the corner of my eye. She was still guarded, still wary, but she hadn’t walked away. That had to count for something.“Do you always sit out here alone?” I asked, breaking the silence.She shrugged. “It’s quiet.”“Quiet is overrated.”That earned me a small smirk. “Says the guy who used to make my life a living hell just to hear me yell at him.”I huffed a laugh. “Fair point.”She shook her head, but there was no anger in her expression. If anything, she looked… tired. Like she was holding too much inside, and for once, she didn’t know what to do with it.“Elowen.” I kept my voice steady, serious. “I don’t expect you to trust me overnight. But I mean
Elowen’s POV I should have pulled away.I should have walked away, left him standing there beneath the stars with that arrogant smirk and those stupidly intense eyes.But I didn’t.Because for the first time in forever, I didn’t want to.Ranon’s touch still lingered on my skin, warm and possessive, as if he had no intention of letting me go. His lips had traced fire down my neck, and I hated how much I felt it.Hated how much I wanted more.His forehead was still pressed against mine, his hands settled on my waist like he belonged there. Like I belonged there.And it terrified me.“You’re staring,” Ranon murmured, his voice low and teasing.I scoffed, trying to summon whatever pride I had left. “You’re in my space.”He grinned. “And yet, you’re not moving.”I hated that he was right.Hated that my body wasn’t fighting him the way my mind told me to.Instead, I leaned into him.Just a little.Just enough.His thumb traced lazy circles against my hip, his other hand coming up to brush
Elowen’s POV The next morning, I walked into the academy feeling like my entire world had tilted on its axis.The whispers started the moment I stepped through the gates."Did you see her with Ranon last night?""First Alaric, then Theron, now Ranon? How many mates does she have?""I bet she’s just playing with them all."I gritted my teeth, keeping my head high as I made my way through the courtyard. I was used to their gossip. Used to the stares. But today, it felt different. Heavier.Because this time, they weren’t entirely wrong.I had kissed Ranon.And I hadn’t stopped him.Not once.I exhaled sharply, trying to push the memory away. The way his lips had claimed mine, the way his hands had held me like I was something precious—it had been intoxicating.And now, I was paying the price for it.“Elowen.”I froze at the sound of his voice.Ranon stood by the academy steps, arms crossed, that infuriating smirk firmly in place. His golden eyes were locked onto me with something unread
Elowen’s POV The academy faded behind me as I walked, my steps aimless, my mind in chaos. The crisp evening air wrapped around me, but it did nothing to cool the fire burning in my chest.Lisa’s words still echoed in my head.Some kind of pack whore…I clenched my fists, my nails digging into my palms.I hated her.I hated the whispers.But most of all, I hated the war raging inside me."You should have let Theron finish her."My wolf’s voice growled inside my mind, raw and untamed.I exhaled sharply. That’s not how we win."And how exactly do we win, Elowen?" Her voice was edged with frustration. "Because right now, we’re running. Again."I stopped walking.The night stretched endlessly around me, the stars above blinking like silent witnesses to my turmoil.I’m not running."Then what are you doing?"My wolf pushed against my control, demanding to be heard, to be felt.I swallowed hard. I’m trying to figure it out.Silence.Then—"You’re lying."I closed my eyes.Because she was ri
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