Lahat ng Kabanata ng Ravished By The Alphas (Reverse-Harem Paranormal Romance): Kabanata 191 - Kabanata 200

VALERIEMaybe coming here was a bad idea.My heart raced in my chest as we moved closer to the door, a faint light flickering on the other side. I wanted to turn back—to race up the endless stairs and feel the cool air of the outside world on my face, but I couldn’t.I couldn’t stop and go back now.And I didn’t want to.We crept through the door, each if us on high alert. Xavier’s claws had appeared, glinting dark and sheeny in the distant lamplight. I watched as he stalked forward ahead of me, his sharp claws hung at his sides like weapons.Somewhere nearby, I heard Lucas unsheathe his knife.I reached inside of myself for Diya—hoping that her presence would keep me come. She stirred like a spark in my chest, but there was something unusual about her. She was…afraid. I had rarely ever felt Diya afraid. She was always enraged and furious, strong-headed and brave.Right now, it felt like she was backed into a corner, cowering. Thankfully, with Ares near her, she held her control.Be m

VALERIEThe moment the cloaked figures appeared around us, I felt my muscles turn to stone.These people hadn’t been here a moment ago. Which meant…This was magic at work.And I knew exactly what this kind of magic was. Teleportation magic. I’d read about it, heard stories from the old hunters—but this was the first time I’d seen it with my own eyes.A cold, instinctive fear crept up my spine. It was a mistake coming here. We’d walked right into the lair of wizards…and they were far beyond humans.Diya was angry, I could feel it. She recoiled in my mind, tense and alert.I forced my breath steady as Diya let out a curse.Then I heard Xavier’s voice, sharp and alarmed. “Valerie!”He must have sensed something. He started toward me, fast, furious footsteps echoing through the chamber—but before he could go far, a wizard stepped out beside him. He held out a palm and spoke in little more than a whisper, and suddenly, ice sprawled under Xavier’s feet, rising up his calves.I watched with

A Month Later...VALERIEI woke, tangled against warm skin and knotted sheets. My cheek pressed against the solid heat of Xavier’s chest. His arm wrapped lazily around my waist, his breath ruffling my hair.A month had passed since the North Archipelagos—since Calista and the fire that burned her body to ash.I wasn’t sure how we made it out in time. Lucas’s hellfire was an elemental wrath I’d never seen the likes of. It consumed everything, eating away at crates and cloth and even ice. It seemed like nothing would stop it.Like the fire would feed and feed until it grew bored, and eventually sizzled out, leaving nothing but cinders behind.I don’t recall out escape. The last thing I remember was Lucas’s fire, eating away at the frozen binds on Xavier’s legs. Then, he and Sebastian broke free. Smoke filled the room after that.I felt myself lifted up in someone’s arms—then, everything went dark.Xavier sent a group of wolves back later to investigate. Everything had been burned to ash

LUCASI clutched my goblet of wine as I weaved through crowds of guests. False smiles and pointed stares filled the space around me. The scent of fizzy wine filled the air and flute music played a harmonious tune through the courtyard.A stunning display had been erected. A large, beautiful dais, covered with latticed arches and enough roses to fill a garden. Candle lights flickered through the dark of the evening, the skies clear and clustered with stars above.Like the damn heavens had opened up just for the two of them.I had taken claim of the refreshments table. I had a mission to drink more than my weight in wine. Enough that I could forget I was at the mating ceremony of the girl I loved.But the wine was far too sweet for my liking, and I’d been nursing the same cup for the last hour.Now I was searching through the crowd for her. As bitter as I was, Valerie deserved my congratulations. Love was a strange thing.It could somehow make a man the most selfish being on the planet—

VALERIEThe mating ceremony had lasted an entire week. Seven days, in fact. Seven days of endlessly smiling at guests. Seven days of flowing wine and loud music, and the word “Luna” passing over my ears day in and day out.I barely slept that week. Barely breathed. I had smiled so much that my cheeks ached for days afterward—and I retained a painful kink in my neck from all the nodding along I did to political discussions that made my head spin.Thankfully, Xavier had chosen to move our honeymoon to Salmere. And the moment I stepped out of the car, I could breathe again.The castle was just as I remembered it—large stone walls and arched windows, and the beautiful rose garden out front. It was the first place I’d ever felt home at—and that feeling hadn’t left, even after all my time away.I admired the icy-choked balconies and mossy exterior as way made our way slowly up the endless staircase. Xavier helped me cook a hearty meal in the kitchen, before making good on our marital statu