As always, he felt the moment she joined the rest of the warriors. His mate. Only by sheer force of will could he look at his Queen without dragging her off to the nearest cave and claiming Raeann for his own. But in a cruel twist of fate, Valenar found her first. In Thorn's eyes, Raeann was the most enchanting creature he had ever seen, and the moment she'd walked into the hall had changed his life forever. Today she walked towards him with fire in her eyes, and he could feel the heat already pooling low in his belly-Thorn wanted her that badly. He forced himself to rein it in, giving Raeann a sarcastic smile instead. "Well, well well, look, who rolled out of bed and decided to join us today?" Raeann glared at him in reproach, "Is that my way to greet your Queen?" She sassed, taking her place with the other students. Everyone tried to talk to her at once, now that she'd finally come out of her ivory tower, and Thorn had to stifle a laugh at how u

The night was still, as Lucien slowed to a jog, and finally, he fell into a brisk walk as he took in the scenery around him. It was strange to walk through here as a grown man; his childhood was filled with his father's disappointment and the struggle to live in his brother's shadow. In the end, Lucien couldn't take it anymore, and after juvey got through with him, he'd fallen in with the Marciano pride, and the rest, as they say, is history.The sudden storm had left the pack lands in disarray, but if he knew Howling, sure as shit Harris O'Reilly would have a team of Omegas righting things first thing in the morning. If nothing else, the pack members were predictable. At the base of Ghost Mountain, Lucien noticed a light on at the cabin in the woods, and for a moment, he considered trying to get through to Lenora, but fucked if he knew where to start, so shaking his head at his own cowardice, he continued along the main street. As he approached the intersection that would le

Bella packed the last of her belongings and looked around the bedroom she shared with Shadow. A tiny piece of her heart was dying as she tried to come to terms with her own decision while the Quins cried in their bedroom, and Shadow was out for a run. Mazlyn was strangely quiet, and sadness poured off her in waves; it was clear that she thought her human was making a terrible mistake, but Bella hardened her resolve as she zipped the suitcase closed.When Lenora bought Maria back home, the little girl was asleep in her arms, and for that, Bella was grateful; Lenora always put Maria first-they had a unique bond, and her daughter thrived under the older woman's care, so she didn't need to worry about her children they would be fine under Lenora's protection. After contacting Maeve, who agreed to stay at the house while she was gone, Bella took a deep breath. She was really doing this.With one final look around her room, the Luna grabbed her suitcases and placed them at t

Enforced slumber angers me. The world evolves at a snail's pace, and I am stuck here, in my cocoon, thanks to my own mother. They all think I'm evil, but I am far from it. They are the real evil that spreads throughout this world. With their toxic love, they don't care how much it hurts-only that they don't have to suffer alongside me.You know, I felt the moment my mate was born. I watched her grow, cried when she cried, felt what she felt, and for the first time in my life, I know what unconditional love is. I wish she could know me for who I am and not the legends created by my lying parents. Instead, I appear as her wolf, ironic, isn't it? To mimic a creation that my mother could have actually loved. It's the perfect disguise.Projecting such an image takes everything I can summon within my prison; it leaves me weak, but as long as she is safe, I would gladly know such weakness for the rest of my days. When I feel her skin against my fur, I am

Saying goodbye to Bella was something that Raeann would never get used to. She knew things weren't great back home at the moment and the healer in her wanted to fix her sister's pain-but this time, she had to focus on herself. Thorn waited just outside the door while Raeann stuffed clothes into a backpack; she would be flying to Desdayos on a dragon!"So Valenar has given his blessing, huh?" Bella murmured, nibbling some toast, "Have you spoken to him about this little trip without lover boy out there hovering over you?""Hey, I heard that!" Thorn mumbled through the door.Raeann looked at the ground, playing with her fingers as she quietly admitted, "Valenar has asked that I not see him until after we return from Desdayos." Truthfully this hurt her more than she would ever say. After Thorn dropped his bombshell, the only thing Raeann wanted to do was run to her mate, but by then, he had left the realm entirely. No one would say where he'd gone, only that Valena