Michael’s POVThe weight between my shoulders had grown ever since we got back from the enemy castle. The clicking of the clock seemed overly loud in the wide study as I paced back and forth, cursing under my breath as panic covered my every step.“You need to stay calm Michael, it's probably not as bad as it seems-” My mother whispered and I glanced at her sharply, forcing her into silence.The two of them, Fedora and my mother were huddled together on the black leather sofa of my study, their wide eyes following me back and forth in a way that made my gut clench angrily.Not as bad as it seemed? I had lost my goddamned mate to a monster-wielding psychopath and that was all she had to say? I couldn't believe it!“If she is there of her own choice Michael, then there's really nothing you can do,” Fedora sighed, big black eyes watching me intensely before I slammed my fist into the table and made both women jump.How dare she speak of Elena like she knew what happened? She couldn't pos
ANTHONY’s POVThere was a woman lying on my chest, hair…in my face. The words registered in my head in a split-second as I glanced around the room, taking in the orange lick of flames burning low in the fireplace and the tussle white sheets of the comforter beneath my naked body.Elena?I froze, my eyes snapping open the minute a moan escaped her lips.My heart hammered in my chest and I reached out to cup a hand around the small of her waist reflexively before my heart sank.Not Elena…Carla…the woman who was carrying my child.“Your Highness! I was beginning to think I would never be able to wake you from your sleep.” Carla cooed, her blood-red lips puckering as she pressed an unwanted kiss to my face and giggled like she had done something sensational.It would have been cute if it was Elena who did it. Fucking hell, why on earth couldn't I get her out of my head?!The woman’s hands traced goosebumps on the hard ridges of my chest before I pushed her hands away, moving to my feet be
ELENA’S POV“I can't breathe…someone, help me! I can't breathe!” I gasped awake, groping around the dark bed frantically before my eyes slowly adjusted to the low light in the shadowed room.What the hell was that? My heart was hammering desperately inside me as the memory of the wispy grating voice filled my head and I tried to catch my breath.The shadows in my room were all wrong…long where they should be short and thick around the stone-walled crevices that were usually empty in daylight. It took too long for me to realize the pathetic wheezing sound I’d heard only moments earlier had not come from my head or the nightmare that still clutched to the back of my mind like a stubborn child.“The courtyards! Oh god!” I croaked, stumbling out of bed with the tangle of thin cotton sheets at my feet and bracing myself against a window just in time to look out the blue darkness.The courtyard I glimpsed from my bird’s eye view of the window was a tangle of cloth lines and thorny plants
ELENA’S POVAlpha Alaric must have been pleased with Bella’s plea because he shoved her away, turning to face me with pea-black eyes that had been darkened by his blood lust.“The next time I ask for your hand, Elena Wolfe. The answer will be yes or I will make sure I morph you into one of those senseless beasts that patrol the castle, understood?” Alaric’s gravelly voice roared as his claws tore through my hair, pulling tautly until small stars exploded in my vision.“Please!” I shrieked, clutching at air before the man shoved me roughly to the floor and I banged my chin hard against the stony ground. The guards clamped the heavy chains around my ankles and wrists, binding me against the grooves in the wall before I heard the wolves shuffle out and the heavy metal door bang noisily behind them.Gone…they were all gone!My heart thrummed desperately inside me as I glanced hurriedly around the room, and hope burst inside me when I noticed the large metal grate above my head that let i
MICHAEL’S POV“Move! Move! Move!”-I barked at the rogue as we were swarmed by the blood-thirsty beasts who flashed their fangs at us.I could see the red threads that surrounded Alaric’s beady eyes as he danced back and forth before me, his lithe body shadowed by the fog.“Release the woman to us Alpha, and I'll forgive this terrible intrusion.” Alpha Alaric hissed, before I flashed my teeth right back at him, my arms tightening against Elena’s body which I held firmly to my chest.“I’d rather die.” I growled, carefully retreating enough without turning my back on the hungry wolves.“Then it would be my pleasure.” Alaric hissed, morphing into his hideously large wolf the second that I did. I whipped around to pound through the dark castle as their screams of glee and outrage filled the air.My heart hammered with every step as the burning in my thighs increased. Firey arrows whizzed past our head just as we ducked into the line of the trees, and the leaves caught fire.All around us
ELENA’S POVThere was a muscle beating in my temples when I awoke with a groan, reeling from the sore pain that caressed my body like a lover’s hands.The orange flames that crackled in the stone mantelpiece of the fireplace raged wildly in the quiet room and I felt my teeth chatter as icy wind blew in from the billowing window curtains. “Miss Wolfe! Are you alright?” Emily’s soft voice came from beside me and I whipped around to see the worried expression on her white face. I inhaled a ragged breath when pain stabbed at the sides of my head and I felt the maid’s insistent hands on my shoulder once more, forcing me into the familiar comfort of the bedding.“Rest now, Miss Wolfe, it's a miracle you folks escaped when you did. If I could take out that bastard Cove pack Alpha myself I would! Just for what he did to you, M’lady!” Emily swore, cursing extensively under her breath as she shook her fists in the air.“How long-” I started before coughing through the sandy feeling in my throa
ANTHONY’S POVMy brother’s icy glare was sharp enough to cut through stone as he glared at me with his nostrils flaring in rage.“Miss Elena?! Oh my goodness! Miss Elena!” The maid’s shrill voice snapped my brother’s glare away from me just as he opened his mouth to say something.I glanced sharply to the bed dias where the woman lay, not wanting to admit that my heart had begun to race when I saw her eyes closed again.I had been sneaking back and forth from my chambers to Elena’s quarters, content to listen to her maid reading to her before the guards reported to me that she had woken up.“Shit, she's too weak, she passed out. Have the nursemaids brew stronger tonics and smelling herbs for the lady Emily.” Michael thundered and I ground my teeth as the maid bowed to the both of us, her wide eyes blinking frantically before she dashed through the doors.“What the fuck is wrong with you Anthony? Do you have NO TACT AT ALL?” Michael hissed in a heated voice and I could tell the only re
ANTHONY’S POVMy brother’s icy glare was sharp enough to cut through stone as he glared at me with his nostrils flaring in rage.“Miss Elena?! Oh my goodness! Miss Elena!” The maid’s shrill voice snapped my brother’s glare away from me just as he opened his mouth to say something.I glanced sharply to the bed dias where the woman lay, not wanting to admit that my heart had begun to race when I saw her eyes closed again.I had been sneaking back and forth from my chambers to Elena’s quarters, content to listen to her maid reading to her before the guards reported to me that she had woken up.“Shit, she's too weak, she passed out. Have the nursemaids brew stronger tonics and smelling herbs for the lady Emily.” Michael thundered and I ground my teeth as the maid bowed to the both of us, her wide eyes blinking frantically before she dashed through the doors.“What the fuck is wrong with you Anthony? Do you have NO TACT AT ALL?” Michael hissed in a heated voice and I could tell the only re