All Chapters of Moonchild; The Rise Of the Lycans: Chapter 101 - Chapter 110

Principal Jaxon's POV"She's adapting well," Miss Antoinette said.I watched the viewing sphere in my office, a large screen on the wall showing Nivia, Justin, and Mateo on the island. They'd just made it back to their camp, all three exhausted and bloody.But alive."They almost died," I said. "Multiple times.""But they didn't." Antoinette took a long draw from her pipe. "That's the point of the trial. To push them to their limits. To see what Nivia is truly made of."I rubbed my temples. Three days. Three days of watching my son struggle to survive on that island. Three days of seeing him hurt, bleeding, fighting for his life.I'd wanted to pull him out a dozen times. End the trial. Bring them all home.But Antoinette had insisted we wait."The Moonchild's powers are emerging," she said, pointing at the sphere. "Did you see what she did? Catching them both in mid-air? Creating that silver light?""I saw."How could I not see? It had been magnificent. Terrifying. Proof that Nivia wa

Principal Jaxon POVI poured whiskey into two glasses and handed one to Beta Garret."Thanks for coming by, Richard," I said, settling into the leather chair across from him.My home study was warm and comfortable. Dark wood furniture, a crackling firepit, shelves full of books. The kind of place where men talked business over drinks.Richard Garret took a sip and nodded. "Good whiskey. Is this the thirty-year?""Forty, actually." I raised my glass. "To old friends.""To old friends," he echoed.We drank in silence for a moment. Richard looked relaxed, his Beta instincts at ease in my presence. Good. I needed him comfortable."So," Richard said, leaning back in his chair. "What's this about? You don't usually invite me over just to drink your expensive whiskey."I smiled. "Can't an Alpha spend time with his Beta without an agenda?""He can. But you don't." Richard's eyes were sharp despite the casual tone. "You've been different lately. Secretive. Closed off. Even at pack meetings you

Nivia POV"I'll be back before dark," Mateo said, adjusting the makeshift spear he'd carved from a branch.We'd been on this island for almost two weeks now. Two weeks of surviving, of learning to hunt, fish and build shelter.Two weeks of being close to both Justin and Mateo in ways I'd never imagined."Be careful," I said.Mateo smiled at me, that soft smile that made my heart squeeze. "Always am."He disappeared into the jungle, leaving me alone with Justin.Justin stood by the fire, poking at the embers with a stick. His ribs had healed well over the past week. The bandage was gone, replaced by pink scar tissue.Without his wolf, he healed slower. But he still healed."We should wash our clothes," Justin said, not looking at me. "They're getting pretty bad."He was right. Our clothes were torn, dirty, stained with sweat and blood and everything else."The lagoon?" I asked.We'd found it a few days ago. A hidden pool of fresh water surrounded by rocks and trees. Private. Beautiful.

Nivia POV"I'm going to check the fish traps," Justin announced, grabbing the woven basket we'd made from palm fronds.After my intimacy with Justin yesterday. Today had come with a gloomy feel. The sky had turned grey overnight. Heavy clouds hung low, threatening rain."You should wait," I said. "It looks like a storm is coming.""That's why I need to go now. If it rains hard, the traps might wash away." He looked at Mateo. "Can you keep the fire going while I'm gone?"Mateo nodded, not meeting his eyes. "Sure."The tension between them had been thick since yesterday, after Justin and I got back from the lagoon.Justin hesitated, like he wanted to say something else. Then he just turned and walked away, disappearing down the beach.The guilt sat heavy in my stomach.Did Mateo know? Could he sense what had happened?I hadn't been able to look at him properly since.The first drops of rain started falling."Get inside," Mateo said, nodding toward our shelter.I crawled into the shelte

Nivia's POVI sat staring at Mateo while the question hung between us like a grenade.I was so sick of being caught up in this mess. Of being painted as the bad guy."So I'm trash now. Is that how you see me?" I continued."That's not what I meant.""Yes, it is! You're acting like I betrayed you, but Justin is my mate too! The bond pulled us together just like it's pulling you and me together!""The difference is I'm fighting it!" He shouted. "I've been fighting it for three years! Fighting the urge to claim you as mine. And you couldn't fight it for one day?""Maybe I didn't want to fight it!"The words sounded like shots fired.Mateo stared at me. "What?""Maybe I wanted him!" I was crying again, but now I was angry too. "Maybe I wanted to feel what it was like to be with him without thinking about consequences or guilt or you! Maybe I needed that!""Then you've made your choice." His voice went quiet. Deadly calm. "You needed him. Not me. Him.""That's not what I meant.""Yes, it i