................Stefania..............."Are you ready?" Paris asks, brushing my hair out of my face, and I nod as he pulls me into the hug. The elders are at the door waiting to check if I have done what I’m here to do, and I find myself afraid. I have always been so sure that I would give Paris an heir, but during the last few days I found myself not so sure, and if I weren’t afraid of making the gods mad right now when I need them to help me see this through, I would have gone to a fertility clinic to make sure. I close my eyes, snuggling more into his arms, as memories of last night flood in. It was difficult for Paris at first. I had to take charge, but once he pulled himself together, it was magical. He was gentle and caring, and he made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, and I started feeling things I shouldn’t have—things that will break my heart all over again. We linger in the hug for a while before he pulls back and places a kiss on my forehead. I give h

..................................................................Warning: The following chapter contains elements of anthropophagy........................................................................................Author's POV ......................Driviar sighs and picks up the ball, knowing it’s the king calling him once again. They don’t use cell phones to communicate unless they have to. He answers but immediately feels his blood boiling with frustration. Driviar is not in his mansion but at sea, heading to the caves where he hopes to find the answers he needs. But now Dimitris needs him to mix up a potion and deliver it to him. Driviar told him he was going to be indisposed for a few days, but Dimitris is not the type to take "no" for an answer or care about other people’s problems. When Driviar tells him he won’t be able to send the potion right now and asks that he wait until the morning so he can think of what to do, Dimitris refuses. He tells Driviar to send his

...........Kyros ..........‘Mate’ My wolf growls, while my heart ceases for a moment, everything fading to the background as I stand there, transfixed, before it begins to race with the familiar intensity. We finally found her, and she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I take a step closer, my knees feeling like jelly as the fireworks illuminate her face, making her look like an angel sent from the heavens. She’s standing on the balcony, her eyes fixed on the festivities below. My breathing becomes shallow as I stand rooted in the spot, my body feeling things I can’t even put into words while gazing at my soulmate. She looks completely at ease, her grace and radiance turning me inside out, and just as I begin to ask myself why she isn’t affected since I can clearly feel she’s a wolf, she turns and looks at me, and my heart stops for the second time as our eyes lock. My wolf moves forward to make the bond, but hers doesn’t. There’s nothing in her eyes; it’s like she’s hu

..........Maia.........."What?" I whisper, looking at him as he continues shaking. Why would he be calling my mother’s name in his sleep? I told him I was adopted, but I didn’t tell him her name. "Kyros!" I call him again, and this time his eyes snap open. He sits up with a start, panting and wide-eyed, before looking around the room, looking confused and disoriented."It’s okay. It’s just a dream. It’s okay," I say softly, trying to hold him while he trembles, drenched in sweat, but he flinches when I try to touch him, looking at me like he’s never seen me before in his life. "It’s just a dream; you’re alright," I try to reassure him, but my bedside clock cuts me off, and when I turn around after turning it off, I find him off the bed and rushing towards his clothes. He puts them on while I get off the bed, holding the sheets tighter against my chest and walking up to him. But before I can say anything, he picks up his car keys and bolts out of the door, leaving me standing there

.........Maia ........."I-I’m going back to the party," I stutter, my heart beating faster and faster, and there’s silence for a moment, his expression still in a frown before it slowly turns into a smile."Okay, but can I have a moment first? I have something to show you," he says, his eyes glancing at my bare feet, and I open my mouth to tell him I really have to go now, but he speaks again before I can. "I’ll ask Stefania not to proceed without you," he adds, and I scream no, turning his expression into a suspicious one, but I quickly add that the queen is there and I don’t want to seem disrespectful. I say it's okay; I have a moment, even though I’m screaming inside. He proceeds inside the room, and I head to the bed and sit down, wondering what this is about as his eyes start to make me feel weird, like they have been doing lately. He sits next to me, his gaze never leaving mine. "You know I care so much about you, right? You know I would never hurt you," he softly says, rea