EVANGELINE. “Listen to me!” I cry, gripping his upper arms as the water soaks us both. My chest grazes against his and I don’t miss the way his eyes, even full of anger rake over my breasts, making my stomach flutter. I know I have made him angry, and I don’t know how he found the phone, but I have to get through to him. He slams me against the wall, making me gasp as pain shoots through my back and neck. I squeeze my eyes shut, trying to clear the shampoo from them. “I’m done listening.” He snarls, and for a moment his forehead touches mine, his nose brushing against mine and our hearts are pounding as one. But the moment our eyes meet, he suddenly lets go of me and turns away. Is he going to go after Sinclair? Fear envelops me and before he can even step out of the shower, I wrap my arms around him from behind. It’s not about Sinclair, but what this could mean for us all. The tournament, and then Grandmother Philomena and Alpha Aeron, would be devastated too. “Please listen,” I

EVANGELINE. Here we are, standing side by side like nothing happened last night. But that’s only what the outside world thinks because I can feel the walls that Zedkiel has put up around himself. My mate… The man I once dreamt about and waited for, the man I was hoping would find me, and claim me before reality opened my eyes. However, not once did I expect that man to be Alpha Prince Zedkiel Vilkas. Yet… isn’t that what he has done? He’s claimed me, protected me and made it clear I’m his… but then why are there so many conflicts and misunderstandings between us? I once thought the mate bond was beautiful. You find your own fairy tale story when your mate steps into your life and you live happily ever after, but it’s not… Glancing sideways, I peer up at the handsome man beside me. A man who oozes power and dominance. I never expected someone like him to be my mate… I always thought it would be someone of low rank, maybe a lesser guard at most. But Zedkiel… His eyes are hard and c

EVANGELINE. The lights are like glittering blurred orbs that dance around the stadium that is prepared for the matches in the outdoor training grounds of the Castle. Where once stood an open ground, now contained stands that can seat many, and the stands are full. In the centre is a square ring, where the matches will take place. They have emblazoned the symbols of each pack on banners that hang around the stands and on streamers that cross over the stands. With the most prominent banner being that of the Royal family’s Pack. I watch through my own eyes, but it doesn’t feel normal, and I know why it’s like this. I’m not in charge. It’s like I’m locked away behind a window. My heart still hurts from what happened earlier. Zed’s words after he allowed whatever that voice in my head was, to pleasure him, keeps replaying in my mind. Don’t think about it, Evangeline.” I whisper, feeling my eyes sting with tears again. ‘Oh, stop wallowing. I’m doing you a favour Evangeline, you saw how Z

ZEDKIEL. I look at her sharply, glancing back at the door before I crouch before her on the ground. There is no way someone like Evangeline can kill anyone, let alone the Oracle. The woman was one of the most powerful beings. “Look, you didn’t kill her.” I say quietly, rubbing her arms comfortingly. I take a second to relish in those sparks as my hands rub her arms. I don’t know how they came back but I’m glad they did… She’s mine… “I did… I did it Zedkiel! I-I went to see her - to ask my question! Then- Then I killed her!” Her voice is panicky, and she’s beginning to tremble too. Her heart thundering like a galloping horse. I can see the fear and regret in her eyes. She didn’t kill her; I know that for certain, but she sure thought she did. I don’t know how to convince her otherwise, and so I simply pull her close and wrap my arms around her tightly. I press my lips to the top of her head. “Listen to me, you didn’t kill her. I know that and I don’t know why you think you did.

ZEDKIEL. “I want to know exactly what happened that night.” I say quietly. He takes a silent breath, obviously remembering that night and, by the looks of it, it wasn’t a pleasant experience. “It has been ten years since that night, but it’s still as fresh in my mind as if it had just happened yesterday. The town was roughly an hour's drive or run from Dark Falls. It was in an even more isolated place than Dark Falls. Hidden on the other side of the forest and these mountains. Sinclair and I were on a hunting trip, and we had found a target and given chase. It was snowing heavily, and this was something we did every winter. I made sure each year I made the hunt a little harder for him, and that year we were going to go through the rocky terrain and up through the mountains.” He begins. I can tell he doesn’t like speaking of it, but he still continues and begins pacing the room. I cross my arms and lean against the wall. “I smelt blood and something burning, yet there was no sign