Ranon’s POV The moment her lips met mine, the world ceased to exist. It was only Elowen—the feel of her body pressed against mine, the sweet, intoxicating scent of her skin, the way she kissed me as though she was trying to conquer me. There was no hesitation in her touch, no barriers. Her defiance had melted into something raw and primal, and it called to every instinct I had as her mate. She tangled her fingers in my hair, pulling me closer, her nails scraping against my scalp and sending sparks down my spine. My wolf growled low, the sound vibrating in my chest as I deepened the kiss, claiming her mouth with a hunger that bordered on desperation. She tasted like fire and freedom, like a storm I wanted to lose myself in forever. When I finally pulled back, my lungs burning for air, she was panting, her cheeks flushed, her lips swollen from my kisses. Her eyes locked on mine, and for the first time, I saw no barriers, no pretense. Only her, vulnerable and fierce all at once. “
Elowen's POV My heart pounding in my ears, a mixture of excitement and trepidation coursing through my veins. Ranon's intense gaze sent shivers down my spine, and I knew in that moment, I was his for the taking. This wasn't about love or commitment; it was about desire, raw and untamed. "You're stunning," he breathed, his eyes roaming over my body, making me feel exposed yet empowered. I bit my lip, a nervous habit, as I reached for the zipper of my dress, my fingers trembling slightly. "Let me," he said, his voice a low growl as he stepped closer. I nodded, my breath catching as his fingers brushed against my skin, sending sparks of anticipation down my neck. With a swift motion, he slid the zipper down, the fabric of my dress pooling at my feet, leaving me clad in nothing but a delicate lace bra and panties. His fingers traced my spine as he whispered against my lips, “You’re playing with fire, sweetheart.” “Then burn me,” I breathed, daring him. A low growl rumbled in
Elowen’s POV The morning air was crisp, carrying the scent of damp earth and pine as the first rays of sunlight peeked through the trees. The sound of the river, gentle and steady, filled the silence between my uneven breaths. I was still here. Still tangled in Ranon. The weight of his arm draped over my waist, his warmth pressed against my back, his steady breathing fanning against my neck. His scent—smoky, wild, undeniably him—wrapped around me like an inescapable trap. Panic surged in my chest. I needed to leave. Carefully, I shifted, trying to slide out from beneath his grip, but the moment I moved, his arm tightened, pulling me flush against him. “Running?” His voice was thick with sleep, rough and lazy, but there was amusement in it too. “I thought you were tougher than that, sweetheart.” I clenched my jaw. “I’m not running.” “Liar,” he murmured, lips brushing my bare shoulder. My body betrayed me, a shiver running down my spine at his touch. Damn mate bond.
Elowen's POV The day passed in a haze, but every step, every glance felt like it had been dragged through the mud. I couldn’t stop thinking about last night, about Ranon’s touch, and the storm of emotions swirling in me. As much as I tried to push it away, the bond was there, undeniable and sharp, digging into me every moment. I found myself outside by the academy grounds, needing to be alone, away from the whispers and the weight of everyone’s gaze. My heart was still a mess, tangled with guilt, anger, and an overwhelming desire to run. But the bond wasn’t something I could outrun, not anymore. As I walked, I didn’t hear him approach until it was too late. Alaric. “You look like you’re about to self-destruct,” he said, his voice dripping with that familiar mix of condescension and false concern. I didn’t bother turning to face him. “I’m not in the mood, Alaric,” I said sharply. Alaric’s laugh was dark, mocking. “What? Not in the mood for what? For someone to remind you that you
Alaric's POV The night was quiet, too quiet. The usual noise of the academy felt miles away, drowned out by the pounding of my heart. It wasn’t just the silence that had me on edge—it was the overwhelming need to see her again, to feel that pull I couldn’t shake. The mate bond had become a storm inside me, relentless, and tonight, it felt as if I could no longer fight it. I paced back and forth in my dorm room, my thoughts scattered, my body burning with a hunger that was unfamiliar and terrifying. I’d tried to go out with the intention of distracting myself—training, even trying to get some rest—but it was all in vain. The thought of her consumed me. Her scent, the way her eyes burned with defiance, how she stood there, unaffected by my insults, yet I knew she was far from indifferent. Her resistance only made her more intoxicating. The doors to the academy creaked open in the distance, and I could feel her presence before I saw her. My breath hitched. Every instinct inside me s
Alaric's POV My mouth found hers again, our kiss desperate, hungry. We moved together, our bodies pressed against each other, her skin soft and hot against mine. I felt her hands move lower, her fingers brushing against the growing length of my cock. She was teasing me, testing me. And I was about to lose my fucking mind. I pushed her against the wall, pinning her wrists above her head. Her breathing was ragged, her cheeks flushed. The way she looked at me—it was like she was daring me to go further, to claim her. She was a siren, calling out to the darkness inside me, drawing me deeper into her web. And I couldn't deny her any longer. I took her by the hips, lifting her up and sliding her body against mine. She gasped, wrapping her legs around me, her arms around my neck. Our lips found each other again, kissing hard and deep, a battle between two forces that could no longer be denied. I carried her to the bed, laying her down, my body hovering over hers. Her skin was warm aga
Elowen’s POVThe door clicked shut behind me, and I leaned against the wall, taking a deep breath. My heart was still pounding, but it wasn’t from fear or nerves—it was exhilaration. I had him exactly where I wanted him, and it felt damn good.I had expected some part of me to regret what had happened between us, to feel guilt or shame for how I’d let the night unfold. But instead, I felt satisfaction, a quiet sense of triumph. Alaric, with all his strength, his arrogance, his ruthless nature, was falling into my trap. He wasn’t as untouchable as he thought. He wasn’t the perfect, cold-hearted asshole he tried to project. No, beneath that veneer was a man who couldn’t control the pull between us, a man who was already starting to care. The thought made me smile to myself as I walked down the hallway, my steps light, almost playful. He was fighting it, I could tell. He was trying to resist the bond between us, trying to convince himself that it didn’t matter, that he didn’t need me.
Theron’s POV The first time I laid eyes on Elowen, I knew she was trouble. Not in the careless, reckless way most women were—but the kind of trouble that could unravel a man, strip him of his defenses, and leave him begging for more. And that was exactly why I should have stayed away. But I never was good at making the right choices. Tonight, she was different. She wasn’t just the cold, untouchable girl I had always watched from the shadows. There was something darker in her, something more dangerous. And gods help me, I wanted to know what had put that fire in her eyes. I found her alone, standing on the academy balcony, staring at the moon as if it had personally betrayed her. The glow cast silver streaks across her hair, highlighting the sharp angles of her face, the delicate curve of her lips. I leaned against the railing, just close enough to catch her scent—wild and intoxicating, like midnight storms and forbidden things. "You look like someone who just won a war,"
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
Elowen’s POVThe sun, a molten orb of amber and gold, had just begun its slow descent below the jagged horizon, painting the western sky in fiery hues that bled into soft violets and deep oranges. The tall, arched windows of the triplets’ private quarters, a sprawling suite they had painstakingly personalized, cast long, dancing shadows on the ancient stone walls, the flickering light resembling the hushed whispers of old magic, secrets stirring in the very fabric of the mansion. I stood before the crackling fireplace, the warmth radiating against my back doing little to thaw the lingering tension that still coiled within me like a tightly wound knot after the day’s unsettling events.They hadn’t spoken much after Caelum’s unexpected appearance in the combat hall. Not in explicit words, at least. But their silent communication had been deafening. The way they walked closer to me than usual, their bodies a constant, protective presence; the unwavering intensity of Theron’s gaze, barely
Elowen's POVThe next morning golden sunlight, fractured by the delicate weave of the gauzy curtains, painted shifting patterns across the dark wooden floors of our shared bedroom, finally settling in warm, inviting pools on the soft, rumpled sheets tangled around my limbs. For a few blissful, stolen seconds, cocooned in the lingering warmth of their bodies and the faint scent of their skin, I managed to forget everything—the rigid rules of the academy, the ever-present hum of latent magic, the unseen threats lurking in the shadows, the hushed whispers that followed me like a persistent echo. All that registered was the steady, comforting warmth of a muscular body pressed intimately against my back.Ranon’s strong arm was draped possessively over my waist, his calloused fingers splayed against the soft skin of my stomach, a silent claim that sent a pleasant shiver down my spine. Behind me, I could hear the soft, even rhythm of Alaric’s breathing, a reassuring presence in the quiet roo
Elowen's POV When his thumb brushed the thin, soaked fabric of my panties, a strangled whimper escaped my lips, a sound raw with need. The ache between my legs intensified, a sharp, insistent throbbing that demanded his touch, their touch. “Gods, you’re so wet, Elowen,” Ranon muttered against my skin, his breath hot and ragged against my inner thigh, the possessive observation sending another shiver of anticipation through me. Then his finger slipped beneath the delicate edge of the fabric, gliding with exquisite slowness over my slick, swollen heat, and I couldn’t help the involuntary moan that spilled from my lips, my head falling back against the cool, rough stone of the rooftop as a wave of pure, unadulterated pleasure shuddered through my core. Ranon groaned, the sound low and guttural, a primal rumble that vibrated against my skin, his fingers stroking against me with a teasing gentleness that left me trembling uncontrollably, every nerve ending screaming for more. “I want
Elowen’s POV The cool night air, sharp with the scent of distant rain and damp stone, pressed in around us, no longer a chill but a warm, endless cocoon, isolating us from the rest of the sleeping Academy. Above, the celestial canvas was a breathtaking spectacle, the stars spun in dizzying, intricate patterns, a thousand tiny, silent witnesses to the beautiful, chaotic storm raging within my heart. I felt like I was burning from the inside out, a slow, consuming fire ignited by their nearness, their unwavering gazes. Surrounded by them—Alaric’s steady, grounding strength, Theron’s consuming, passionate fire, Ranon’s wild, untamed hunger—I was drowning in the magnetic pull that bound us together, a force both terrifying and exhilarating. And I didn’t want to be saved. I yearned to succumb, to be completely consumed by the intensity of our connection. I wanted to drown in the depths of their devotion. “Look at me, little star,” Theron whispered, his voice a rough, urgent rasp that r
Elowen’s POVThe night pressed down on the Academy like a heavy velvet shroud, suffocating and restless. Even after the last echoes of footsteps faded down the long corridors and the heavy oak doors of the student rooms clicked shut, sealing everyone into their private spaces, sleep remained a distant, unattainable shore for me. I paced the confines of my room, the moonlight filtering through the tall, arched windows, casting pale silver rectangles across the dark, polished hardwood floors, my mind a relentless whirlwind of anxieties and unanswered questions, spinning endlessly around Caelum’s cryptic words and the Triplets’ simmering fury.They had been a silent, ominous presence throughout dinner in the grand hall. Dangerously, furiously silent. Their usual banter and playful jabs absent, replaced by a taut, almost palpable tension that crackled in the air around us like an impending storm gathering strength, the heavy clouds of their anger darkening their eyes. I knew, with a certa
Elowen's POVThe sun was a pale, watery smudge behind a thick blanket of heavy, bruised clouds as I stepped into the Academy’s main courtyard the next morning. The cool wind, carrying the faint scent of damp earth and distant rain, stirred the loose strands of my hair around my shoulders, a fleeting caress that did little to dispel the deeper chill that snaked its way down my spine.It wasn’t the bite of the autumn air that made my skin prickle with unease.It was the way they watched me.Alaric.Theron.Ranon.My mates.Their gazes, sharp and possessive, followed my every movement across the bustling courtyard with such focused, unwavering intensity that it felt like a tangible pressure against my skin, a silent, invisible touch that both reassured and unnerved me. Protective. Possessive. Fierce. Their united front was a comforting shield, yet sometimes, the sheer weight of their attention felt like a gilded cage.And now, adding another layer to the already charged atmosphere, Caelu
Theron’s POVThe silence in the grand hall was thick enough to cut with a knife. Every fork clinked a little too loudly, every hushed conversation seemed to die in its tracks. All eyes were on us. On Elowen.I kept my arm possessively around her shoulders, my fingers lightly tracing the curve of her neck beneath the collar of Alaric’s jacket she still wore. A silent warning to anyone who dared to look too long.Ranon’s presence behind us was a palpable weight, a silent promise of retribution to anyone who might consider challenging our claim. I could feel the heat radiating off him, the barely leashed possessiveness that mirrored my own.Alaric, ever the pragmatist, continued eating as if nothing unusual was happening, but his silver eyes flicked around the hall, assessing the reactions, cataloging the threats. His hand, resting casually on the table, was close enough to Elowen’s to reach her instantly.Elowen, bless her oblivious heart, seemed more concerned with the plate of fruit i