WINTER'S POV
FOUR MONTHS LATERThe door to my room creaked open and closed, signalling the arrival of familiar scents. My mother and Lisa had entered. Without even looking or opening my eyes, I recognised them."Has she even left this spot?" My mother's voice filled the room with concern. "And the stench in here...goodness, it's overwhelming!""I've tried everything to get her up, but all she does is snap at me," Lisa murmured. "That's why I called you. I don't know how else to reach her, and she hasn't been eating properly either.""She hasn't?" My mother's voice echoed, drawing closer to me.The bed sank as my mother sat down, her warm hands tenderly touching my face. Clutching my robe tightly, I bit my lip to suppress my trembling."You can't bring him back," my mother whispered. "He's been gone for four months. You need to find a way to let go."Shaking my head, I groaned as she attempted to pry open my eyes. "No, Mother, you know better than to say that to me.""I do know better, and I want to help you, Winter. This isn't the person you used to be. Don't you think it's time to release yourself from this pain? You're carrying a child, but it seems like you want to end it all because I can sense it's consuming you...""I am already dead; I died the moment he did," I whispered, clutching his keepsake tighter. Raising it to my nose, I took a deep breath, cherishing the lingering scent of Slade until my lungs could no longer bear the strain.I gasped, tears streaming down my face as my body trembled. "Why me?"Glancing at my mother's worried expression, I continued, "Why me? It feels as if the goddess despises me for subjecting me to this.""I'm sorry, Winter," my mother said, sitting beside me. "I wish I could offer you solace...""You can't," I replied, my heart constricting. A soft gasp escaped my lips as I felt a gentle fluttering at my side. I let out a bitter laugh as I witnessed the movement the baby had caused in my stomach.I was four months pregnant, longing for Slade to be by my side, cherishing every moment and feeling our baby's first kick. But he was gone, buried... and I couldn't shake the sense of betrayal and the surge of anger, even though I knew he would never return."Can you at least freshen up and join us for a meal, or perhaps take a walk outside?" my mother pleaded. Just then, the door swung open to reveal Linda.She stared at me a little longer than necessary before making her way towards me. "I've prepared a warm bath," she said, sitting close. Taking my hand in hers, she squeezed gently and took a deep breath. "Jasmin will help you get ready, and I'll bring your food over."Her gaze challenged me to object, but I remained silent. I had nothing to say, and when I glanced at my mother, I could see a triumphant look on her face.Since the funeral, Linda had decided to stay longer than expected, despite my insistence that it wasn't necessary. She brushed off my concerns, believing I might harm myself, just as my mother had thought.In truth, they weren't entirely wrong. I had contemplated ending it all many times. The thought of overdosing to be with Slade and escape the pain had crossed my mind. I yearned to see him, to weep in his arms, to scold him for leaving me in this wretched state, and to curse him. But each time I stared at the pills hidden beneath my dress at the top of the wardrobe, something changed within me.Slade would never want me to do anything to harm our baby. He would never want me to hurt myself, either. Yet, he left me no choice. He made me a widow. He tore me apart, reducing me to a sobbing wreck."I'll be right back," Linda said, and I nodded weakly.Dragging myself out of bed, I winced as I caught a whiff of the odour emanating from my body. While it wasn't terrible, it certainly wasn't the fragrance befitting a Luna Queen. Then again, perhaps no one would judge me considering what I had been through. But deep down, I doubted there wouldn't be judgmental eyes following me everywhere.Slowly peeling off the dress from my body, I caressed my bump once wholly naked. Stepping towards the large floor-length mirror, I gazed at my reflection momentarily and winced again. I could understand why my mother was upset with me. I didn't look good—there was no denying it. I appeared like a total mess, as though I had been dragged through the mud and deprived of nourishment. My eyes were sunken and had dark circles, and I looked paler than normal.Biting my trembling lower lip, I clenched the vanity table tightly with my hands."It's not my fault I look like this," I muttered as my mother approached me. "I never made this deal with the goddess."I choked on a sob as tears streamed down my cheeks. Blinking away the tears, my mother touched my shoulder and turned me to face her."It's not your fault, darling," she said softly. "But you need to trust the goddess.""Trust?" I scoffed, unable to control my frustration."She knows what she's doing, and I'm sure she'll give you a second chance, mate, soon. Trust...""I hate the goddess!" I yelled, my voice resonating through the room.My mother flinched, perhaps startled by the volume, but I didn't care. Nothing could stop me from voicing what I wanted to say."I placed my utmost trust in the moon goddess, and she repaid me with cruelty! She caused all of this, and now you want me to trust her again? If that's not insanity, then what is?""Winter," my mother mumbled, but I shook my head."The goddess failed me. She failed Slade!" I wiped away the angry tears that were now flowing in torrents. "Most importantly, she failed the Moonstone Pack members!"With that, I stormed into the bathroom, unable to contain my rage. Sliding down the rough wall, I covered my face with my hands and let out an ear-splitting shriek. "Why me?"WINTER'S POVI had lost track of time, crying on the floor until the sound of knocking and Linda's voice snapped me back to reality. Wincing, I stood up and rubbed my numb backside.Dragging myself towards the bathtub, I tested the water's temperature with my leg before easing in. The lukewarm water embraced my body, providing a fleeting sense of solace amidst the storm raging within me. I closed my eyes, allowing the water to soothe my weary muscles and wash away the exhaustion that consumed me, both physically and emotionally.For a brief moment, my eyes fluttered shut, and Slade's image invaded my mind. Memories of our first encounter flooded back—the moment he had rescued me from Kendall and Summer. His captivating smile, the way his eyes gazed at me, and the subtle flirts he would send my way, claiming me as his, even when no one else was watching.I missed it all. The more I reminisced about him, the more impossible it seemed to let go. I couldn't. Slade would forever remain a p
WINTER POV"S-Slade?" I stuttered once again, my heart pounding as I desperately hoped I was not imagining things. The last time I had vivid hallucinations like this was only a month after his death. He walked into the room, looking worn out, and my happiness swelled as I prepared to run into his arms, but then reality hit me—he was just a figment of my imagination.Throughout that month, I had been plagued by this illusion, each feeling so real, only to dissipate into thin air. But this time, it felt different. It felt more tangible, more substantial than the first time.Compelled by my emotions, I approached him; my gaze fixed unwaveringly on his form. My hand instinctively reached out to touch the scruff on his cheek, but Kendall abruptly pulled me back.My back collided with Kendall's chest, jolting me back to my senses."What the hell are you doing?!" he growled, his voice laced with concern."Slade," I murmured, my voice barely above a whisper. "He's Slade!"Kendall's eyes narro
RAFAEL'S POVI had seen her before. It wasn't the first time she appeared before me. Her waist-length white hair, paired with big blue eyes that widened with each word she spoke, along with the captivating scent that surrounded her, all added to her irresistible allure. There was an air of authority about her that drew me in. She was undeniably gorgeous, surpassing even the images I had seen of her in my dreams.Yet, what puzzled me was why she stood before me now. Could she be the Bride mentioned in the prophecy? The one who would aid me in reclaiming all that I had lost? However, she wasn't the type of she-wolf I had anticipated. She belonged to a pack—a fucking pack. I didn't know her personally, but mentioning Rachel made me realise who she was."I'm Winter Hall," she said, her big blue eyes gazing at me, her chin tilted defiantly. Even her stubbornness made her incredibly sexy. "I am the Luna Queen of the Moonstone Pack." Her eyes briefly glanced down before meeting my gaze again.
WINTER'S POVPacing around the room for the hundredth time, I let out a frustrated breath before walking over to the window. The rogue king—I still didn't know his name—had ordered a room to be prepared for me. Initially, I wanted to object and return to the pack to seek answers from the seer about what was happening. However, he stopped me from leaving.He had dared to halt me and threatened to arrest Kendall if I disobeyed. Manipulating me by using Kendall, he convinced me to stay, only to send Kendall away afterward, claiming he had no use for him. It was becoming absurd, the way everything was unfolding. It felt as though my autonomy had been stripped away. Once again, I found myself confined and unable to act independently.I was the fucking Luna queen, the one who gave orders and had them carried out. After Slade's death, everyone had pledged allegiance to me and obeyed my every command. Yet, I couldn't assert my authority over the rogue king. Even though I sensed something extr
WINTER'S POVJess's words kept echoing in my head. I had always known that Rafael was a tyrannical ruler; his reputation preceded him. But I never imagined that he had killed his mate. I had also never known about the curse that plagued him until now. In contrast, Slade was nothing like that. While one could argue that he was cursed, he wasn't mad, nor was he a murderer of his spouse. Slade was loving—the kind of mate anyone would wish for, and..."You still need to get dressed," a voice interrupted my thoughts.Startled, I turned around to see who had entered. My eyes widened as I recognised my mother standing by the room door. When did she arrive? I must have been so lost in my thoughts that I didn't notice her presence."Winter," she said, walking further into the room."Mother," I replied, stepping into her embrace. I took a deep breath, closing my eyes for a moment before opening them again."I'm sorry...""Why?" she asked, raising an eyebrow. Leading me to the bed, she gently sa
WINTER'S POVThe room shimmered with the soft glow of flickering candles, casting dancing shadows upon the walls. Their gentle light seemed to mirror the conflicting emotions swirling within me - a blend of sorrow and perseverance.This room, unlike a grand cathedral, had a mystical aura, appearing more like a ritual chamber. It was the largest ritual room I had ever seen, filled with solemnity and significance. At its centre stood a mini altar adorned with an array of flowers in vibrant hues. I spotted Rafael standing beside a figure who seemed to be the pack's seer.Rafael looked impeccable in a sleek, black three-piece tuxedo that hugged his form with precision. The stark white shirt underneath created an elegant contrast against the darkness, and a black bowtie graced his collar. However, it wasn't just his dashing appearance that caught my attention; it was the genuine, wide grin that illuminated his face. He seemed genuinely thrilled to be marrying me.Meanwhile, my demeanour st
WINTER'S POVThe following day, the sound of footsteps jerked me awake from my slumber. Groaning, I sat up in bed and ran a hand through my hair, which I was sure must look like a bird's nest by now.I closed my eyes, feeling a throbbing in my head, before glancing around the room. It was the first time I took in my surroundings since entering yesterday. I found myself in a master suite with minimal furnishings. While it may have appeared plain, it still exuded an air of grandeur and elegance. The walls were painted in a subdued shade of brown, adding to the overall ambience.There was only one large window in the room, providing the only source of light at the moment, as only one chandelier illuminated the space. I must have overlooked it last night due to my eagerness to escape Rafael, even though my attempt had been futile.My ears perked up as I heard footsteps approaching, followed by Rafael's voice drawing nearer to the room. I patted the spot where he had slept last night, real
WINTER'S POVI stared at Rafael and the woman, observing their interactions. It took them a few seconds to break apart as if they had just noticed my presence in the room. Rafael looked at me, feigning surprise, and ran a hand through his dishevelled hair. The woman glanced in my direction, her lips turning down in disgust. "Who the hell is this?!" she exclaimed.I looked at Rafael, expecting him to introduce me, but he remained silent. The woman repeated her question, "Are you into this now? Is she here to watch us fuck? I never thought you were into a woman like this." She wrinkled her nose and appraised me from head to toe before wrapping her arms around Rafael's neck.Who was she? I pondered. Before I could come up with any answers, Rafael responded to me almost immediately. "She's my answer," he said."What do you mean she's your answer?""I thought who'd take my place would be perfect; she's even more dumber than I imagined," scoffed the woman.Anger surged through me, and I cl