-Willow- Hearing Cain speak about how he knew how to kill and that very few ever believed in him hit me deeply. I had never realized how much he actually craved someone believing in him, even when he probably thought he didn’t. To me, it seemed like Cain had been lost for a good while, but now he was given this amazing opportunity, and it was clear he was starting to believe in himself as well. He grew more confident with each question, and while I couldn’t deny that Henry still did exceptionally well, I was really proud of Cain for trying so hard. He didn’t have long before the interview, and so there was a lot for us to go over. He couldn’t seem too afraid, or the council would notice he wasn’t as confident as a future king should be. He had to seem completely sure of himself. “Okay, last question,” I said, clicking the top part of my pen, feeling more and more excited. “Another?” Cain exclaimed tiredly. “It’s just one.” “Yes, but we have been doing this all day. I would rather
-Cain-Willow lay beside me later in the night, sleeping soundly. I couldn’t help but rest my hand on her flat stomach, feeling the power slowly turning stronger within her. I knew there wasn’t really a presence to feel yet. What I was catching onto was the extra spike of power now taking place inside Willow, but I knew our child would soon be able to make themselves noticed. Werewolf children could feel their parents even as they grew in the womb, and I knew it was important for our kid to feel me and grow comfortable with me. They were already attached to Willow, so I had to let them know I was not a threat to them or their mother, but I would always put the two of them first. They were now my highest priority, and I smiled as I watched Willow, feeling my heart act in a way it had never done before. What was this strange fluttering?Could it be that you’re falling for our mate? my wolf asked me as if I were a complete idiot for not realizing what it meant to fall for someone, but I
-Willow- I stood in one of the smaller living rooms, looking out at the slight drizzle. Fall really showed its rainy side. It never seemed to stop. I had such a strong need to go out for a run and just shake this uncomfortableness in my chest, but I didn’t want to run in the rain. My fur coat would get all wet, and when I changed back, I knew I would be shivering and soaked to the bone. So I stayed inside instead, looking outside. You know he was just feeling the pressure, right? my wolf asked me, but I wasn’t listening to her. I looked down, spinning a simple little gold ring around. It had this tiny diamond forged into it, and I remembered when Carter gave it to me. It was when he officially wanted to declare we were together, and it had become almost a part of me to wear it. I didn’t even think about it whenever I put it on or let it remain around my finger. However, for the first time in years, I slowly began slipping it off. It felt wrong on me. “Willow?” I turned to look over
-Cain- It was strange walking into the building where the important council meetings were being held. It was in the middle of the human city, yet it looked just like any other building. However, the place was filled with tension. As I walked inside, my parents, Carter and his Beta, were already waiting there in front of the staircase leading up to the meeting room. Willow walked on one side of me, and Henry on the other. There was such an angry energy swirling between not just me and Carter, but Henry and his older brother too. Yet my parents gave me a smile before we all ascended the staircase and walked into the room filled with council members standing around. They had changed the room, so instead of one long table going down the room, they had placed a table at the far end, and only a few seats for the most powerful alphas stood ready. The rest gathered behind them as they went to find their seats. On the sidelines were seats for my parents and our betas. Willow took a seat, but s
-Cain- “And what will your first order as king be?” one of the older alphas asked. “To protect our kind. I want us to take the rogues weird behavior more seriously and get it under control.” “You mean you will order a war?” “Not war. Protection,” I corrected. “I want more capable fighters out there to take charge and bring the cities under control. They used to be run by lone wolves who never bothered anyone, but now the rogues have gotten so bold as to take over. We need to stop them before the cities become completely unsafe for all wolves.” The council nodded approvingly. “Where will you get the fighters?” another alpha asked. “I would ask the other alphas. I would ask them for the fighters they could spare.” “You would want all these different fighters to work together?” “In a time where things are dangerous and tricky, us wolves can come together. We have shown that. We have proven we can stand shoulder to shoulder in trying times, despite the packs we belong to,” I expla
-Willow-We were all nervous as we waited for Carter’s interview to conclude, but once it did, we were all called inside. We took our seats again as Carter and Cain stood in front of the alphas, ready to hear their verdict. I focused on Cain, but as I did, I noticed Carter looking my way. Our eyes locked, and I felt a strange pain in my heart. I had never felt that way when we looked at each other, but I could also see pain in his eyes. Nonetheless, I hadn’t chosen to go around sleeping with a lot of people. Even if he felt hurt by me, it didn’t excuse his behavior. I looked away, focusing on my father, who cleared his throat, looking at the princes.“Now we have come to a decision,” he stated. “Some didn’t think we should continue, that Prince Carter is still the obvious choice.”I noticed the brothers glancing at each other, but then my father smiled, and I knew what his choice had been.“But most of us thought Prince Cain should at least have a chance to show what he is capable of.
-Cain- I walked into our bedroom and saw Willow lying on her stomach, reading a book. She looked so adorable with her feet in the air, swinging them back and forth. It had been a few days since the meeting, and despite us agreeing we should talk more, we had been busy. The pack always needed our attention, and I had gotten into contact with my old crew, the ones I had had to leave when my father called me home. They were wolves not belonging to any packs out there fighting to keep peace, and I knew they needed help. It was why they had reached out, but I couldn’t leave now. I had a trial in front of me and a pregnant mate. Alphas were completely incapable of leaving their pregnant mates for longer periods of time, so I knew I wasn’t going anywhere. Yet the situation out there was worsening, and I wasn’t going to be king for a long time. Even if I was chosen by the council, my father wasn’t old. He was still going to lead, so I needed to figure something out. I was going to the castle
-Willow-“Why are you staring at me? Eva?”I called out to my friend as she scrutinized my flat stomach while she sat in front of me. Her arms were resting on her legs, and she was leaning forward, observing me.“Eva?” I called again.“Shh, I’m trying to connect to it,” she told me.“Excuse me?”“I am trying to connect to the little clump inside you,” she whispered.“You’re trying to connect... to a very tiny thing inside me?” I asked in disbelief.“Yes, it’s important she knows who her aunt is and that she always comes to me if her mother is being too controlling.”“Me?” I exclaimed.Eva smiled at me and then focused on my stomach.“You do know it could be a boy, right?” I asked.“No, it’s a girl, I can feel it,” she said, making me laugh.“You feel nothing! Could you stop that? I am sure Cain wouldn’t enjoy you trying to turn the child against him and recognize you as the father instead.”“I would be a wonderful father, a better one than Cain,” she stated, leaning back and throwing