EVANGELINE. “And so, it has begun.” Evelyn’s voice which is filled with dread echoes in my mind. “Zedkiel, please listen to me.” I say calmly as I step forward and take hold of his arm. My eyes blaze as I look up at him, feeling his restlessness and anger through the bond. “I need you to listen to me.” I’m silently pleading with him, trying to calm him with my touch. Please, my love… He frowns, “I’m doing this my way. Innocent people are being poisoned! Mask up.” He snarls at the vampires. I frown, sniffing the air. The stench of whatever is mixed in the fumes is strong and smoky… “We need to find out how anyone got so close to do this, Zed, let's act calmly.” I say, trying to place the scent. ‘Is that… Elderwood?’ I ask Evelyn and Luna if she listens. Evelyn comes forward, and I take a deep sniff, letting her smell it too. Elderwood affects Lycans negatively, making them edgy. Something not ideal before a battle and the fact it’s mixed in with poisons for vampires… ‘I think

EVANGELINE. My gaze snaps back to the tattoo on his torso, realising it’s not just any snake but the symbolic sea serpent of Hades… The symbol of the Night Shade Pack, how did I not realise! I look up at him, grasping onto the fact that I had gone straight from the wolf’s den into the monster’s lair… “I am not asking you to bow down to me Alpha Godric Astorath, as future Queen of the Werewolf Kingdom, you will be wise not to upset me.” I say calmly, but I let my aura radiate off me. Those around can sense it and I know he can too. “Our packs hold a treaty of peace and Queen Luna Danciana Vilkas is from your pack. Let’s not mar our deal.” My words don’t seem to mean anything to him, as he simply cocks a brow as if he is bored. “And do you think a mere piece of paper will stop me from cutting you up, offering you to Hades as a fucking tribute and then feeding your remains to my dogs?” He sneers, forcing my chin up with the blade. I cock a brow, pushing the blade away as I let my au

ZEDKIEL. She left. Without even a glance back… because of what? I wanted to keep her safe, that was all. Things had blurred out for a few moments, and I’m left feeling empty. I had focused on the plan at hand. I know the way werewolves work, obviously, it’s been a part of me. Right now, they are just outside the forest that keeps us apart. I know their battle formations… heck; I helped them plan most of them. If they had any brains, they would toss it aside and come up with something new. Why are we even fighting? I frown, massaging my temples. Everything is murky, and sometimes I find myself questioning why I am doing this? ‘Don’t confuse yourself, you are doing nothing wrong.’ Zerachiel growls. Is Evangeline right? She is level-headed… ‘No, she isn’t! The werewolves- our own people are trying to kill us! You being a hybrid, has always been an issue!’ Calm down… I take a deep breath. ‘I get that… she shouldn’t have left.’ I reply quietly. ‘You’re right. She left when she

RAGNAR. “The Queen was in on this?” Evangeline asks sharply. Her back is to me, and her power is radiating off her in waves. Powerful but oddly soothing and serene and I fucking hate that, but at the same time, I can’t really deny it. She has a pull on my Lycan, and I can feel his restlessness as he wishes to submit to her. That doesn’t make sense… unless Dad has passed away… has she become the next ruler? I don’t want to think about that. Losing dad… Sure, in life people always die, but not this soon… At the same time, this power doesn’t feel like the command of the Alpha of Alphas. “She is… but when I saw her, I felt she was not a willing contributor in this. She did what she did, so Dad wasn’t killed. That’s what she implied when she came to meet me earlier.” I reply. “Yet Maryka turned out to be a traitor and the one behind all of this is none other than the fucking Night Shade Pack.” Her heart thumps as she spins back around, her eyes blazing. “What? The Night Shade Pack?”

EVANGELINE. I watch Lucia for a moment, drawing the curtain partially around her to give her some privacy. The doctor had reassured me that the baby was fine. I’m glad… but I’m also confused. She still carries Chasyn’s scent, which means the child is his… but did she not say since Maryka he has not been intimate with her? So, did something end up happening between them? I remember the way she had been behaving the last few times I had seen her. Was it because of her pregnancy? It could have been… it’s clear she’s still in the early months of her pregnancy. I glance at Chasyn, before looking back at her face. Placing a hand on her stomach, I pour a little healing into her, satisfied when the swelling on her face eases up a little. But I’m careful not to use much. I can’t. The moment I feel the slight shift in the atmosphere, I stop. I glance over at Kash, who is watching us. He can’t see her, but he can see me from this angle. ‘You saved her.’ ‘I would have done the same for any