All Chapters of MATES: REMNANTS OF A BETRAYED BOND : Chapter 261 - Chapter 270

RAINA’S POVIn that moment, I swear a piece of my soul just packed its luggage and divorced my body as I saw Valen standing in front of me, like a printout of my nightmare into reality, pressing my panic buttons.“Ah, there he is, the man of the hour. Time to handle your Poison Ivy. Good news, she’s out of weapons. Bad news, she’s still got that killer personality. One wrong move and…” Theo’s rough but dry voice trailed off, wheezing slightly."Stealthy as always, huh, V9?" I muttered under my breath with all the venom I could lace into my words.The reprogramming was quick. Too quick.Unnerved, I gulped as crashing footsteps rushed towards me. Pure terror overwhelmed me, and I wished the ground would swallow me whole. I was out of moves. I couldn’t outrun him, and he could overpower me easily.“Don’t.” I shook my head, backing up two steps, and holding my hands up. “Don’t come any closer.”Valen halted, and his dark features softened, eyes narrowing with unnatural concern. Those emera

VALEN’S POV “Where the hell are we?” Raina retorted as I placed her down on her feet inside the ritual circle, but kept her shoulders in my grasp.Every line and curve on her face was etched by misery and sorrow. Look at me kidnapping my own mate as if this relationship were forbidden. We are meant to be together, yet here we are being forced apart by terrible forces.“Dark Wolverson,” I told her softly, hugging her as if all the love in my heart could burst out of me to console her, just by having our bodies close. “The ritual temple.”Goddess, she looked drained, very tired, worn out, and washed out. Her eyes were wild, and her untidy, burgundy hair was damp from rain. It was knotted far from her scalp, and loose enough for heavy strands to slump against her shoulders, clinging to her neck and temples, the rest draped together down her back, tangled and darkened by water.“You changed the stage.” She looked at me strangely, and the unease etched into her expression had me on edge.

VALEN’S POVRaina laughed bitterly. “I’m getting a second chance.” She swung a calculated gaze at the gang, settling one deadly look at Theo. Her voice dropped to a cold, smooth whisper. “Next time, I’m going to kill you first.”Theo gulped, suddenly frightened, and jumped onto his twin, clinging to Thaines’ neck as his muscular legs instinctively went up into his brother’s arms.Theo nervously asked his twin, “What did I do?”Thaines grimaced.“Listen to me, that’s not what we want.” Releasing her hands, I palmed her face, forcing her eyes to fix on me. “The Timekeepers are lying. The trial is over. Baby, please believe in me. We've already won.”Penn shook her head adamantly. “The timeline will change if you take that offer. It’ll be another fake Valen...not us.”All the while, she fought my grip, wrangling her head against the way I held her.Worry wove into Venus’ expression as she looked at me with wide eyes. “If the trial gets reset, and you lose, you’ll become a permanent part o

VALEN’S POV“Selene’s spirit dwells here, Raina,” I gestured to the space around us. “There’s more power in this circle than you could ever imagine. The Coyolxauhqui stone will protect you. So please stay inside it.”“Watch her,” Zeus nagged.“You’re experimenting with me, testing the limits of your world,” Raina scoffed. “You have no idea what you've done.”“I do. I brought you home.”Raina’s blue orbs glistened, and she snapped, “Stop acting like you're Valen's monochorionic twin. You are a piece of junkyard scrap, and I'll never let you get near my man.”Tears brimmed in her eyes. Her expression was devastated, torn, and ravaged by defeat, by misunderstanding.“Mate,” Zeus whimpered. Every muscle ached, protesting against the space between us.Hopelessness dulled her eyes, and her face saddened before she hung her head. A dejected sigh escaped her lips, and she muttered, “Two minutes.”“What!” Zeus roared in my head. His ears shot up, and his muscles coiled.Struck by sudden fear,

VALEN’S POVFalling stardust formed into a colorful, glittering note that floated down when the fireworks fizzled out.Raina lifted her hand as it settled in her palm, illuminating like a heavenly gift.Sucking in a huge shuddering breath of air, Raina stumbled backwards, blinking rapidly at it in shock. She gasped loudly, “Oh. O-oh my goddess.”Visibly confused, I placed my arms on her shoulders as she rocked on her heels, helping her remain steady. I asked, “Baby, what do you have there?”“I hope it's not a dinner invitation with those time bastards,” Theo grumbled, folding his arms.Over and over again, banging sounds echoed through the room as one of the outsiders was ramming something at the door, trying to bust it off its hinges.They hadn't given up.Annoyed, I shut my eyes and exhaled slowly through my nose. Goddess, I could use a sign or a break or something. Anything at this point.My eyes flicked open as I sensed my mate was drawing closer, reclaiming my attention and curio