One Year Later
Rain pelted the sides of the palace. December rain had come in full swing this year, leaving no stone dry. South African weather was unpredictable in that way. One moment there would be sweltering heat, the next, a flood could be washing away your trampoline in the back yard. We wouldn't have it any other way.
To be back in our home was a blissful experience, but to know the next Valentine was on his way was even better. Mikaela was at the end of her pregnancy and we expected her to give birth any day now. Her belly stretched far out in front of her. Julian and Caspian couldn't keep their hands off of the growing bump the entire pregnancy long. Mikaela had resorted to swatting their hands away in an effort to maintain her personal space. Alas, that still wasn't enough.
The Valkyrie had gone back to the battlefield only a few weeks ago, their vacations cut short by the growing threat of the humans. Sonja endured persistent peste
Three years laterRoyals from all across the world had started settling into the palace. Flowers dripped from every surface around me as we welcomed the stuffy nobles. Staff members had prepared over a hundred rooms for this occasion. A hundred rooms all occupied by several members of our court. Several villas were also prepared deeper into the property for larger families.The war had finally come to and end. Brought about by my own hands and the hands of the ones closest to me. No one was more overjoyed than Sophie at the prospect of finally being able to settle down. We had finally gotten the incredible news last year that Ezekiel was indeed Sophie's mate, but they couldn't complete the ritual, as we were constantly away on missions. So we were finally granted a repieve from all the blood shed.A new treaty was signed a few months ago, declaring peace amongst all who had lost so much in this war. Peace. A powerful word that felt so fragile at
Caspian's Point of View People spoke in hushed whispers before me, waiting with bated breath for the new queen to arrive. They were our new court. Noble houses we had formed in order to keep the peace and prosperity. Wolves, humans and vampires alike. Julian had insisted we make houses for the humans as well, equality being his main concern. Luciana had insisted that if those houses were to be made, they had to come from war heroes, instead of old and greedy politicians. I chosen her side. Everyone was dressed to the maximum, with jewels flashing in the well lit hall. They all anticipated the arrival of their new queen, finally made public in an orderly fashion. Yet the queen wasn't here yet. Mikaela stood to my right. Julian sat in his throne beside her. The throne beside me stood empty and waiting. This was where history would be made. We were on the cusp of a new age and everyone knew it. Finally, the monsters from their dreams had come to light,
PART ONE The clear liquid burnt with every inch it went down. My face pinched tight, my breath catching on the flames of the alcohol. Mikaela had the same distasteful grimace ruining her features. By this point we had stopped counting our shots, not needing to know how much of a headache we would have in the morning. Yet the need to get drunk overwhelming our good senses. It had been a long week, running around after pack members who couldn't do much for themselves, really. Not to mention being harassed by elders who were wholly concerned that Mikaela and I would be unmated maidens for the rest of our lives. Little did they know that we didn't want mates, particularly. Going to look for our better halves would interfere with how amazing our social lives were going now. The feeling of being young only lasted a few years. We could pretend to be old when we can't stand anymore. The music pulsed forward and our hips found it's rhythm. Mikaela and I had b
The headache hit me before the nausea did. A thrumming pulse vibrating through my skull with every pump of my heart. Instinctively I grabbed my phone, wondering how it's possible to have such a hangover on a full moon, the only time where I was supposed to be more animal than human. When I opened my phone, there were only messages from my bank, notifying me of every transaction I had made. Fucking hell. I groaned and turned over in my bed, the cool sheets giving me some relief from my headache induced fever. Half my fucking savings, gone. No wonder I felt like death itself. Mikaela and I had almost emptied the club of its liquor last night. Just as I tried rolling into a more comfortable position, my stomach lurched. All of last night's wrong decisions came flooding me. My stomach cramped as my eyes struggled to reel themselves in from the room spinning too much. So much alcohol was left in my body. Too much, even by wolf standards. My feet slapped onto the cold tiles as I d
After my little chat with Mikaela, I wasn't nearly ready enough to face my father. He would be livid at me disobeying his order. Livid that I had chosen Mikaela over them, in his eyes. Two hours after I had left I found myself outside of a bar on the east side of the human settlement, not too far from the pack. The place was crowded, with bikers spilling out from every nook. I fit right in. Men and women stared at me as I pulled off my helmet, cutting the engine of my Harley. No one dared say a single thing as I strode up the steps of the bar. With Mika on lock down, I didn't have my usual partner in crime. So solo I was. Sundays were normally for family. Or so my mother would want it, but between Sophie's studies, Jasper's grooming and father's lack of any form of bond with his children, mother wouldn't get what she wanted quickly. None of us wanted to bother father, anyway, as he would be sulking somewhere. Licking his wounds over a smallbetrayal, from his
I drove behind Julian for what seemed like an eternity. My better judgement had gone down the drain a long time ago, but this was a new level of reckless. Going to someone else's house was madness. Even if he had defended me, the act of coming with him was impulsive. Rash. Still I didn't turn my bike around. Relished in the fresh night air, but didn't even think of breaking away from the SUV in front of me. We slowed down a few kilometers outside of the human town, forest almost completely swallowing the house we turned into. White peddles made up the road leading to a rather large parking area. Before I could take in his house, Julian skidded his car to a stop at the winged steps. Even as he climbed out, you could still see the confident grace he possessed. The long, powerful legs walked towards where I had come to a stop. I didn't care that my pants were ruined. Didn't care how many people might have seen me. All I cared about was getting in bed. With him. His hair had fal
Every sound that I made felt too loud. The house echoed as I padded towards what I thought was the living room. My recollection of last night was vivid in my mind, except the part on how I had to get out. My toe hit a table and it took every ounce of self control that I had not to curse. This is what I got for my efforts. For my recklessness. A nicely veiledfuck youfrom my own guilt. Cautiously, I looked back, Julian's form not stirring through the open door. Thanking my lucky stars, I crept towards where I thought my clothes were. At least I could recount where I had lost most of the items. Well. What was left of them after being shredded numerous times.Grabbing the shredded pants, I jiggled into them, hissing softly at all the open flesh left from the holes. My bra was next but I couldn't find my torn shirt. Cussing under my breath I decided to leave it and just pull on my boots. This was traumatic enough. How Mikaela managed to do this on multiple occ
Every warrior in our pack had gathered in the small clearing, making a sparring field of sorts. Various weapons stood on temporary racks to the left side. Summer sun filled the clearing, lighting everyone up. It was a good afternoon to train. I used to love being apart of a unit. Being a part ofthem.Now it filled me with dread seeing everyone so closely packed. So many pairs were going off on each other. A kick here, a swing of fists there. They would clash in the center of their makeshift rings, then come apart again for some air. To me, it was a dance to determine who was the strongest partner. To my father it was an opportunity to weed out the weaklings. Much like myself.I needed the outlet, since last night and this morning was still fresh in my mind. Julian had crowded every part of my thoughts, leaving a tangy taste in my mouth. Mother suggested I got some fresh air after I ate. So I had gone and dressed in my most comfortable clothes. Finding them