........................A month later ......................................Stefania.............."You look amazing," Maia says upon entering the room before sitting on the bed with a pouty face. I ask her what’s wrong, and she says she’s still mad at me for not making her my bridesmaid."You are my only sister. This was my last chance," she complains before adding that it’s over. I have been apologizing to her ever since she found out who my bridesmaid was going to be, but she’s too upset, I guess. I would have loved for her to be my bridesmaid. She would have been absolutely gorgeous, and the whole thing would have been cute, but I’m not feeling cute right now. I’m feeling savage, and so my move was inspired by the savage feeling. I could almost see the flames in her eyes as I looked her dead in the eye while asking her. She has no idea what’s coming for her."You just never know, Maia. It might not be as over as you think," I mutter, looking back in the mirror to see a confu
................Stefania..............."Are you ready?" Paris asks, brushing my hair out of my face, and I nod as he pulls me into the hug. The elders are at the door waiting to check if I have done what I’m here to do, and I find myself afraid. I have always been so sure that I would give Paris an heir, but during the last few days I found myself not so sure, and if I weren’t afraid of making the gods mad right now when I need them to help me see this through, I would have gone to a fertility clinic to make sure. I close my eyes, snuggling more into his arms, as memories of last night flood in. It was difficult for Paris at first. I had to take charge, but once he pulled himself together, it was magical. He was gentle and caring, and he made me feel like the most beautiful woman in the world, and I started feeling things I shouldn’t have—things that will break my heart all over again. We linger in the hug for a while before he pulls back and places a kiss on my forehead. I give h
...........Evaki..........."Oh, no. This is not going to do," I mutter while taking off my shoes before walking to the closet to look for a comfortable pair. I’m coming back from Stefania’s brunch, and the three of us are about to head down to the throne room for her first day as queen. Paris said, like on my first day, I don’t have to stay all day; I can leave when the formalities are over, and I’m going to do that. Dean is taking me to the orphanage I opened two weeks ago. Paris had it built in my honor because he knows that’s something close to my heart. Being around him and Stefania is something that I’m going to have to get used to, but I haven’t figured out how yet. It still hurts too much, and the fact that she’s pregnant is just another stab in the heart. I know it’s not supposed to be because I should have expected it; it’s kind of the whole reason she married my husband, and it’s not a son. But it still stings. So I decided to only subject my heart to half the torture
..................................................................Warning: The following chapter contains elements of anthropophagy........................................................................................Author's POV ......................Driviar sighs and picks up the ball, knowing it’s the king calling him once again. They don’t use cell phones to communicate unless they have to. He answers but immediately feels his blood boiling with frustration. Driviar is not in his mansion but at sea, heading to the caves where he hopes to find the answers he needs. But now Dimitris needs him to mix up a potion and deliver it to him. Driviar told him he was going to be indisposed for a few days, but Dimitris is not the type to take "no" for an answer or care about other people’s problems. When Driviar tells him he won’t be able to send the potion right now and asks that he wait until the morning so he can think of what to do, Dimitris refuses. He tells Driviar to send his
...........Kyros...........I make the turn and enter the bustling city of Dreaxotia—King Dmitris’s kingdom—the wolf who stabbed himself in the back and became a hero. Whenever I said that Father would say people would say I was bitter because my grandfather was killed, but I’m not. My grandfather made a mistake and joined Dimitris in turning against his own and protecting the Lycan King, but at least he realized what he did was wrong. It is said that he was killed while trying to kill the Lycan King after he had sided with Dimitris to aid him. Father had his own theory about what happened. He didn’t believe that my grandfather had turned on the Lycan King after giving his word to be by his side. My grandfather was true to his word, according to my father, and he never went back on it. My father believed that Dimitris turned on my grandfather, killed him, then lied and said he turned on the Lycan king because he didn’t want to share the reward with my grandfather. My grandfather wa
...........Kyros ..........‘Mate’ My wolf growls, while my heart ceases for a moment, everything fading to the background as I stand there, transfixed, before it begins to race with the familiar intensity. We finally found her, and she’s the most beautiful thing I’ve ever seen. I take a step closer, my knees feeling like jelly as the fireworks illuminate her face, making her look like an angel sent from the heavens. She’s standing on the balcony, her eyes fixed on the festivities below. My breathing becomes shallow as I stand rooted in the spot, my body feeling things I can’t even put into words while gazing at my soulmate. She looks completely at ease, her grace and radiance turning me inside out, and just as I begin to ask myself why she isn’t affected since I can clearly feel she’s a wolf, she turns and looks at me, and my heart stops for the second time as our eyes lock. My wolf moves forward to make the bond, but hers doesn’t. There’s nothing in her eyes; it’s like she’s hu
.........Maia .........My eyes snap open, and I stare up at the high ceiling, unable to shake the image of his face. I can still feel his eyes peering into my soul, and I don’t even understand the logic of it. He was standing in the dark, but I could see him so clearly. When I looked around him, I couldn’t see clearly, but him I could see. I was brought up by wolves, and I’ve learned and understand their ways, so I know about mates and how magical it feels when you see each other for the first time, but still, it knocked the air out of my chest. It was like my senses were enhanced, like I had taken some of his wolf magic for myself. I could even hear his heart beating, and for the past many hours, I’ve been trying to forget and sleep, but I can’t. Stefania said he’s going to come see my father in the morning because he needs his permission since I’m a princess. I asked her if Father will permit him, and she said he will. She’s never lied to me, and I want to believe it, but my mi
..........Maia.........."What?" I whisper, looking at him as he continues shaking. Why would he be calling my mother’s name in his sleep? I told him I was adopted, but I didn’t tell him her name. "Kyros!" I call him again, and this time his eyes snap open. He sits up with a start, panting and wide-eyed, before looking around the room, looking confused and disoriented."It’s okay. It’s just a dream. It’s okay," I say softly, trying to hold him while he trembles, drenched in sweat, but he flinches when I try to touch him, looking at me like he’s never seen me before in his life. "It’s just a dream; you’re alright," I try to reassure him, but my bedside clock cuts me off, and when I turn around after turning it off, I find him off the bed and rushing towards his clothes. He puts them on while I get off the bed, holding the sheets tighter against my chest and walking up to him. But before I can say anything, he picks up his car keys and bolts out of the door, leaving me standing there