Ella's POvI sat comfortably on my bed, eyes closed in deep concentration as I sought to establish a mindlink with Aiden. After two days of intensive training with the pack elders, I was finally gaining control over my emerging psychic abilities. The time had come to use them to reconnect with my distant mate. Focusing my consciousness, I sent it drifting along the invisible tether that bound my soul to Aiden's. "Aiden?" I called out softly into the void. "Can you hear me, my love?"For agonising moments, only silence answered. Then, faint as a whisper, his beloved voice echoed back."Ella?" Disbelief and joy coloured his words. "How is this possible?"My heart swelled, tears of relief springing to my eyes. "My child, Jayden's child has awakened gifts within me," I explained gently. "I can speak to you through our minds now."I sensed his smile, felt his spirit wrap around mine in a tender embrace. "You never cease to amaze me," he murmured. "Even separated, you find a way back to me
Ella's POVMorning sunlight streamed through my balcony doors as I awoke, a smile already tugging at my lips. The joy of reconnecting with Aiden still bubbled within me, bright as the dawn outside.In just two days, he would be here, flesh and blood instead of just a presence in my mind.Lea stirred happily inside me, tail wagging. "Isn't it wonderful, Ella?" she barked excitedly. "Finally our mate is coming home!" "It feels like a dream," I admitted, hugging a pillow tight. "I was so afraid we'd lost him to the darkness. But somehow, through the baby's gift, we brought him back."I placed a hand over my belly bump, awash with gratitude for our unborn child. In sleepy contentment, I imagined Aiden's reaction when he learned he would be a father. I pictured his eyes lighting up with wonder and joy as he felt the bump for the first time. The sweet images kindled a warm glow inside me.A knock at the door heralded Delia, bustling in with breakfast. Her round face lit up at seeing me al
Kristy's POV"F*CK!" I slammed my fist into the wall, barely noticing the pain that splintered through my knuckles. Red rage clouded my vision, fury pulsing through me with every rapid heartbeat. "Ella. Always Ella. Even miles away, Aiden had somehow made contact with her through their damned mate bond." I chuckled bitterly, not getting why the hell Aiden pick her over me!The information clawed at my insides, threatening to tear me apart far more brutal than any physical blow."After everything, after all this time away, he still chooses her," I growled, trembling with bitterness. Lena, my wolf, stirred uneasily within me. "Kris, you must calm yourself," she cautioned, her normally fiery spirit subdued. "This jealousy will only poison us further..." she uttered but I cut her shot."Don't tell me to be calm!" I whirled on her, eyes blazing. "You know our pain, the constant torment of seeing them together while Aiden refuses to even glance our way!" Hot tears of frustration burned my
Kristy's POVI paced my chambers impatiently, awaiting word from Orion. He had promised to arrange a covert meeting between myself and the notorious Alpha River, Alpha of the Blood Moon pack. Forming an alliance with our sworn enemies turned my stomach. But I was desperate, willing to stoop to any depth to eliminate Ella and claim Aiden. With Orion's shrewd expertise, he would broker the deal and mask my involvement.A soft knock interrupted my restless pacing. I opened the door to find a hooded figure waiting silently. Orion's trademark subtlety.He had arrived. I quickly pulled him inside, warding the room against eavesdropping. Orion lowered his hood, regarding me intently with gleaming grey eyes. "The meet is set. But Alpha River is...cautious. You must go alone, with proof of your sincerity if you wish to sway him." "Meet him?" I asked, as I suppressed a growl of frustration. Alone in their den? Lunacy. But Orion's expression brooked no argument.I gulped hard. This was my o
Ella's POVI drifted in the void between dreaming and waking, seeking connection along the fragile thread that tied my soul to Aiden's. Our mindlink had been quiescent since our last intimate conversation, his energies focused on the journey home. Or so I guess.But though his spirit was beyond my reach, images still flickered at the edge of my consciousness. Brief glimpses of unfamiliar forests, a cavern lit by firelight...flashing faces wreathed in shadow. Were these Aiden's dreams I was tapping into? Or had the twisting curse infiltrated even our bond, showing me phantoms meant to mislead?I clung desperately to the flashes of sight and sound, straining to decipher meaning in the disjointed mosaic. But just as quickly, they faded, smoke through my grasping fingers. With a gasp, I jolted fully awake, heart racing. The images had vanished like mist under the harsh sun. "What was that again?" I mumbled as I rubbed my temples, struggling to hold on to any sliver, any clue that migh
Ella's POVI jolted awake, heart pounding and skin clammy with sweat. From another of the visions. The grief is still fresh.The vivid dream still flashed before my eyes - Kristy meeting in secret with Alpha River, pledging to help him destroy our pack in exchange for my death. And now she accepts that she did it because she loves Aiden.Could it be real? A prophetic vision, and not just some nightmare conjured from stress? The details had felt so viscerally real...yet how could my dearest friend truly harbour such hatred against me?Is this real? Or is this a warning sent to me by the goddess?To know that she hates me enough to orchestrate my death atop such senseless jealousy...I should rage and weep. Instead, I only felt empty, scooped hollow with loss.Lea's compassion enveloped me as I knelt broken amidst the remnants of our shattered sisterhood. No wisdom or reassurance could erase this pain. But she grieved with me, for the friend we both loved who had been consumed from w
Ella's POVI entered Jayden 's office to help with the plans.I refused to crumple. My pack needed me stronger now more than ever."Jay." I smiled at him weakly."El, you don't have to push yourself." Jayden looked up from the maps he was studying as I entered. His smile of greeting slipped into concern at my wan appearance. "You need rest, El, look at you."he breathed. "You looked so pale." he chided gently. "Pushing yourself to collapse will help no one." He added.I tried to wave off his worry, but swayed on my feet. "Dear Goddess? What's happening?" I murmured.Jayden caught my arm, steadying me as I grabbed my belly bump."When did you last eat or sleep?" he asked with a knowing look. My silence answered for me. Looking anywhere but him.The last time I ate. Was it yesterday in the morning? Even when I sit down to eat I have no appetite."For The Goddess sake El." Jayden exclaimed as he shook his head, guiding me firmly to sit. "You should take care of yourself more, dir the
Ella's POV I slowly opened my eyes as dim pre-dawn light filtered into my chambers. After yesterday's plan. I tried reaching out to Aiden, I went to the elders and Boston gave me some herbs to help me concentrate.And today is the day - the day I would try to reach Aiden one final time before it was too late. "We can do it." Lea whispered. It's the only choice we have against Alpha River. Against the curse of the Twin Mates!Rising quietly, I dressed with calm purpose, steadying my nerves for the enormous task ahead. I had to break through the dark shroud clouding Aiden’s spirit, make him see the ruinous path he now walked. If any part of the brave, loyal mate I loved yet lingered beneath the ambition and jealousy...my voice could call him back to the light.But it would not be easy. The Bond between us had been muted, his thoughts closed to me. Some malevolent influence had sunk deep claws into his psyche, twisted him into a stranger. I would be fighting against more than just