Mel’s POVAyla's blade digs deeper into my thigh, and although I know Jaxon can feel the pain too, I do my best to downplay it. Nina's howls echo in my mind, but I bite my cheek to suppress the urge to scream.How is Jaxon handling this so well? I feel like I'm about to pass the fuck out! "What are you doing, Ayla?" I hiss, frozen in place since she also has a dagger held to my throat."I will create a new world for us. I will be its ruler, and you will stand beside me, seeing into the hearts of my subjects. I will never be betrayed again!" she proclaims, loud enough for everyone to hear."Release her!" Jaxon growls. With his attention diverted, Kellan seizes the chance to escape, shifting and toppling him to the ground. I watch helplessly as he forces my mate to kneel and presses his sharp claws to his throat. "Should I kill him now or later?" he asks, glancing up at Ayla.What the hell is going on? She...asked him to do this?This is a betrayal that’ll never be forgiven. Ayla must
Mel's POVRubeus appears beside us, and she withdraws the blade before handing me over to him. The stench of my singed flesh lingers, blood continuing to flow down my leg, and it doesn't feel like it's healing at all.Nina, why aren't we healing? I ask worriedly.The silver is too deep. I'll need to focus all my energy to heal us.Fuck. I won't be able to fight Ayla like this. I have to find a way to distract her until Nina is finished."Ayla, don't you think we're entitled to know the details of how your plan fell into place?" I ask, still feeling the hot sting of the dagger against my throat."I supposed so since you can't run from your destiny anymore. I hired rogues to create the wolfsbane, knowing the Alphas wouldn't resist using it. Of course, I tampered with their memories, so they believed it was their own brilliant plan."Her smile twisted into a sinister grin as she continues. "Just before Kellan showed up, I promised to spare him and reward him with a pack in my kingdom if
Mel's POVI begin to dissociate through the rest of the murders. I wonder if these men were doomed since the beginning. They were already ruthless Alphas, and Ayla just took them to the next level of evil.As I reach Alpha Roman, the final Alpha, I'm shocked by the sight of a yellow band in his aura. Just a few days ago, at Dad's funeral, it was completely black. How did it change?As Dusk raises his hand to kill him, assuming there's no hope for redemption, I shout, "Stop!"Dusk takes a step back, and Ayla approaches him. She touches her fingers to his forehead. After a moment, she hums thoughtfully. "Swear your loyalty to me or die!"He gulps audibly. "Y-Yes, Queen Ayla."Ayla smiles with satisfaction as she turns to me. "You've done well, my child. I'll grant you the chance to bid farewell to your mate. Just remember, one false move and he dies," she warns.We're both released, and I limp towards Jaxon, eager to touch him. But Ayla's voice cuts through the air, "No touching! I won'
Mel's POV"B-But how?" Ayla stammers, still in shock."In a dream, the Moon Goddess granted me the Eternalbane dagger,” Dusk explains. “I never expected to use it, but she revealed the growing darkness within your heart. I was too blinded by love to believe it. It wasn't until Jaxon uncovered your role in my mate's death and you erased his memories, I knew that it was time. I would never let you do to Melanie what you did to me!"My mouth drops open. When did she erase Jaxon's memories, and how did I not notice?He quickly helps Rubeus to his feet. "You okay?"He winces, watching Ayla whither on the ground in agony. "I'll be fine. I thought she couldn't die?""The dagger only ended her immortality. Melanie will be the one to finish her off." There's a murderous intensity on his face as he hands me the blade. "Kill her and make it painful."Jaxon's fingers press against my waist, a gentle squeeze before he reluctantly releases his hold. "I can't argue with that," he mumbles.I draw clo
Jaxon’s POVIt's been three days since peace was restored in our world. We've got eleven packs without Alphas, but with Mel's help, Dusk and Rubeus are finding worthy replacements to preserve the peace we fought so hard for. Not only has she proven her worth to the pack, but she eliminated the most corrupt Alphas there were and prevented Ayla from literally taking over the world.Goddess, I can't even describe how thrilled I am that the bitch is dead. The moment she stabbed Melanie, she signed her ticket straight to hell. I'm grateful to both Dusk and Rubeus for being able to see past her bullshit and save me. They had me worried for a minute, but they came through in the end.Today is my mate's big day. She's combining her Luna ceremony and the recruits' graduation ceremony, and tonight we're having a huge feast to celebrate.After the recruits swear their loyalty to me and the safety of the pack, Melanie sinks into the water beside me. The thin material of her white dress hardly con
Jaxon's POVI follow the lingering scent, leading me into a dark cave. My eyes quickly adjust to the lack of light, and I can practically feel the heat rolling off my mate from the other end of the cave. With my head hanging low and teeth bared, I close in on her like a predator about to pounce on its prey. Her eyes dart around, searching for an escape, but she quickly realizes there's no way out. As we both shift, I close the gap between us. She kneels, gazing up at me in the dark. A smirk forms on my face as I say, "Looks like you lost, baby girl. Better luck next time."Her eyes trail down my body until she reaches my throbbing erection. "Pity. Thought I could've gotten you a little more worked up first." Her tongue darts out to lick her lips. "Are you going to breed me, my dear Alpha?"My dick jumps at the idea. She'll grow a big, round belly with our pup, but she won't be in the kitchen. My fiery girl will be on the battlefield.I close my eyes, savoring her intoxicating scent. H
Jaxon's POVMy tongue plunges into her mouth, swallowing every whimper, moan, and cry as I pound into her mercilessly. The sound of our bodies clashing together echoes throughout the cave and it's hot as fuck. With one hand tightly gripping her waist, I close my other around her throat. I pull away from her mouth and slow down my pace to look at her. "I'm so proud of you," I breathe, "you're so amazing in every way and I'm grateful for every day that I get to call you mine."I can see the emotion in her eyes, and I know my words have touched her deeply. After what happened with Ayla, I know her heart was bruised from being used by someone she cared about and looked up to. But she knows my praise is genuine and out of love. She's everything to me, and I'll forever prove to her just how much she means to me.I don't know if she realizes it or not, but she's my saving Grace. She saved me from being a monster like her father. She saved me from the letting the darkness of losing both him a
Jaxon's POVI shift and take off into the woods, ensuring that she's right behind me. Once we reach the packhouse, we quickly change into our evening attire and head to the dining hall to join our pack. It Looks like everyone is having a great time!Melanie kisses me passionately before heading off to find her sister and socialize with the rest of the pack. I grab a beer from the bar and sit at our table, watching my amazing mate surrounded by our pack with admiration.I can sense the incredible joy and pride radiating from her. Being embraced by a pack that used to treat her poorly means the world to her. They now accept her as the fierce, determined firecracker she is.Our Luna is perfect, Shadow purrs.She always has been and always will be.Ameer sits down beside me. "Y'all were gone for a while. I was about to send a search party out," he teases, throwing back a shot of whisky."I'd prefer my warriors not be traumatized like that," I chuckle lightly. Although, I'm sure everyone w