Semua Bab The Rogue King's Protection: Bab 61 - Bab 70

Tehila's POVThe challenger stepped forward from the back of the chamber. He was massive, easily taller than both Zane and Dalton, with shoulders broad enough to block out the light. His face was scarred with old wounds that spoke of battles survived and his entire dressing and walking step screamed military and dangerous power.I had never seen him before in my life, why would he challenge them for me?"Who are you?" Alpha Blackwood demanded, sounding surprised himself."Ryker North, Alpha of the Nightshade pack," the stranger answered with a deep voice. "Tehila Morrison is my fated mate and I am here to claim what the Moon Goddess gave me."The chamber exploded in shocked voices that mixed with noise. I just stood there looking, at this point, I was almost not surprised. My life had turned into a movie.Another fated mate? How was that even possible?"That is impossible," Zane growled, positioning himself protectively in front of me despite his silver cuffs. "She was fated to Dalton

Dalton's POVThe four-way bond was invasive in ways and none of us could escape it. I could feel everything from everyone connected through this ritual we had performed to save Tehila's life.I felt Tehila's relief that she was no longer dying, I felt Zane's iron control over deeper emotions he refused to acknowledge, walls built so high even the bond could not fully penetrate them. I felt Ryker's internal conflict between duty and desire, his traditional values fighting with the reality of what we had become.Most disturbingly, I could feel their attraction to Tehila in vivid detail and it made my skin crawl with discomfort. It mirrored my own feelings so closely that it was like being inside their heads during private moments that should have remained private.Worse, they could feel me too. Every thought, every emotion, every inconvenient physical response was laid bare for them to experience. Gross."This is temporary," Ryker repeated for what must have been the tenth time since th

Tehila's POVI needed to know more about what Echo had said. Twin flames and Weaver bonds and secrets that even Elena did not know sounded too important to pursue immediately. But when I turned back to ask another question, Echo's eyes were already closed and her breathing had deepened into sleep.She looked so peaceful lying there, I sat on the edge of her bed and watched her sleep, my mind racing through everything she had mentioned. Jade had studied these bonds for years before her death and discovered things that remained hidden from everyone else.A part of me wanted to wake Echo up and demand answers. The other part recognized how tired she looked. I smoothed her hair one more time and left the room quietly, closing the door with barely a sound.Despite the late hour and my pregnant body constantly making me tired, sleep didn't come. I wandered through the unfamiliar house and I eventually ended up in the kitchen. I filled the kettle and selected tea from the collection Ryker ha

Tehila's POVI woke in the empty cottage disoriented and confused about where I was. Sunlight filtered through the unfamiliar curtains and the mattress beneath me felt strange. For one blissful moment, I forgot everything that had happened and my mind was mercifully blank.Then the memories crashed back, my Echo was dead, my baby was gone. My mates were separated and everybody was in their different places. I was alone in this isolated cottage with nothing but grief and silence as company.I got out of bedeven though my mind felt disconnected from my new reality. The floor was cold under my bare feet and I noticed that I was still wearing the same clothes from yesterday's funeral.I had complained endlessly about the constant overflow of other people's feelings but now the absence felt like missing vital organs. My own emotions seemed too loud in the emptiness where three other people's hearts used to beat alongside mine.I walked to the kitchen and tried to make coffee because that

Tehila's POVWeek two of isolation began the same way the first had ended, with me waking to silence and wondering how many more mornings I could bear this emptiness. I forced myself into a routine because structure was the only thing keeping me from completely falling apart.Wake up, shower even when I do not feel dirty. Make coffee and sit by the window watching birds I could not name. Sleep when tiredness finally overtook the numbness. Repeat everything the next day and the day after that.Elena visited every few days with groceries and homemade meals I barely touched. She had stopped pushing therapy after the first week when I made it clear I was not ready. Now she just left the food, hugged me briefly, and disappeared back to her life.One morning I woke to find the coffee container completely empty. I shook it hopefully but only a few brown grains fell into my palm. It then dawned on me that I would have to go into town and it felt overwhelming.But I needed coffee. It was the o