LOGINRAINA’S POVEventually, I pulled over at a lakeside promenade and killed the engine. I dropped my hands from the steering wheel into my lap, taking a deep breath in and out to steady myself. The ache in my chest eased just a little, and I actually felt somewhat calmer.Staring beyond my windshield, I noticed a wide wooden boardwalk stretched along the water's edge. Its weathered brown planks traveled toward a distant line of trees and rolling blue-gray mountains. Suddenly, I felt like going for a walk.I raked my hair over and leaned back in my seat and then stared out the window, overlooking the calm, glassy body of water.I've never been here before, but the scenery was quite beautiful.Since I was done screaming...was done crying and wasn’t going to wallow in my own self-pity, I lifted my chin, plastered a faint smile, and I opened my car door.Just when I landed one foot outside on the peach-colored pavement, in a flash, Valen was before me, looking quite frantic. He held out the
RAINA’S POVTears blinded my path as I panted furiously, running through the high black gates to leave the memorial garden. I didn’t look back, not even once.Enlightening. Not in the good sense, because the worst just happened. It was the shock of my life. One that shattered my heart into a million pieces.No matter how I tried blinking the salty water back, the wetness trickled down my cheeks, and I couldn't let Jiya see how much she affected me.I headed straight to my car in the perpendicular parking area.“Raina!” Valen roared, but I couldn't stop.It hurt too much, as if someone had thrust a barbell straight into my chest.I didn't know what to make of the intimate position I found Valen and Jiya in. It was too intimate, and to top it off, their bond couldn’t be broken. What a slap!As soon as I opened the car door, I jumped into the driver's seat, started the engine, and reversed so fast that I knocked over the garbage bin on the other side of the asphalt parking lot. Then I dr
VALEN’S POV“I know seeing me with her hurts, but I was trying to uncover her next move,” I explained, brushing strands of hair off Raina’s neck. “I'd rather endure your anger for a minute than let another threat slip past me to harm you.”Hellbent on interrupting us, Jiya laughed me to scorn. “Tell her how we were just playing it rough. You were showing me what you'd be like in the bedroom. Tell her…hahaha. I was just feeding you what you came here hungry for. Hahaha.”Dropping my hands from Raina, I swung sideways, eyeing Jiya maliciously.Her eyes fell to my crotch, as if she expected to see my cock stir for her.Now who's the naive one?My anger flared at her jeering, and the pure disgust I felt from being connected to something like her brewed with it. I wouldn’t dare to seal this botched-up mate bond, not even with a ten-foot pole."Fucking had enough of this one for the day," Zeus growled at me, finally sorting out his head.In that moment, we decided to do something we should h
VALEN’S POVAlthough I wasn't hiding anything, I didn't want Raina to know I had sought Jiya out.My heart thumped against my chest as it registered. Shit. I knew how bad this looked.“That’s an understatement,” Hera murmured worriedly.Like a live wire, the bond I had with Raina tugged at my heartstrings, her scent intoxicating me.I instantly gave in to it, and with a contemptuous sneer, I pushed Jiya's legs down off me and shoved her to the ground, then backed away from her.“Valen, we should talk about this first; it's better this way," Jiya said, grabbing onto my arm, trying to hold me back. I bet she counted on Raina showing up.Without a second look, I growled a string of vile curses and tore my arm away.My heart thundered as I swung around to look at my precious mate. My real and only mate. The only sun I wanted to rotate around every day, always.Those blue eyes pierced me through her long, burgundy strands that gently fluttered in the breeze. She stole my attention, fixating
VALEN’S POV"Training,” Jiya stated, staring distractedly at the white building.“I'm busy,” I hissed through my teeth.“Not you.” Her eyes flashed at me, peeved. “I need proper sessions."“I won't let Raina train you. If you want to learn Luna duties, I suggest you go read a book,” I denied her."Ugh! Not that. With Raj." She emphasized. “Training with Raj.”That threw me off.For a second, I thought I had misheard. "Raj?""Mmm-hmm. Yes."Narrowing my eyes, my confusion deepened. "You want me to arrange for you to have private training with Raina's father? Wasn’t it clear, just now, how much he hates you?"Jiya's expression softened into a plea, and it made something twist uncomfortably inside of me.She shifted on her feet and folded her right arm across her stomach to grip her left bicep."This is something important." She blinked and averted her gaze at the memorial wall to our right. “He'll be difficult if the Elders approach him. I think he'll be receptive if it came from you.”
VALEN’S POVZeus roared. My desire to protect and nurture was well in overdrive.I curled my hands into fists against the strong compulsion to run to Jiya’s defense.To keep the impulse down, I quickly bit my fist, drawing blood. I didn’t want to bring their talk to a premature end. Neither would I ever let this damn connection control me."Raj, you will understand one day, I promise," Jiya stated, her tone mellowing.“You don't get to approach me and interrogate me about my family,” Raj snarled. “Not when you're after my daughter. Leave my family alone.”“You shouldn't discriminate,” Jiya responded flatly. “Everyone is treating me like I'm stealing something. I'm not against Raina, but I should be happy too.”Raj snorted. “Then be happy but not at the expense of others. You know what's funny to me? How you were here before and never once did you chase Valen, or declare this cock-and-bull bond.”“I explained that before,” she defended harshly.Raj laughed mockingly. “It didn't exist. I
RAINA’S POVStrappy heels like mine weren't designed for running. Nothing screamed ‘go for action’ like rapidly sinking into the semi-packed dirt, which annoyingly slowed down my pace to a wobble.By the time I narrowed the curve of the dark cabin, my heart lurched in relief. Right then and there,
VALEN’S POVFalling stardust formed into a colorful, glittering note that floated down when the fireworks fizzled out.Raina lifted her hand as it settled in her palm, illuminating like a heavenly gift.Sucking in a huge shuddering breath of air, Raina stumbled backwards, blinking rapidly at it in
RAINA'S POV“Oh, Raina, here’s the story that no one told you about. It’s in the Wolverson archives. The one where, every twenty years, the vicennial Alpha King’s reign comes with a curse. Sometimes it’s power. Other times it’s wealth, but this time, it’s his mate. You.” Mercedes’ tone darkened, to
THIRD PERSON’S POVRaina froze. Her eyes twitched, and her mouth dropped like Daffy Duck’s beak hitting the ground.“You’re what?!” With her blood hurtling against her eardrums, Raina crushed the paper as her hands coiled into fists. “Who?”“That conversation is not for you. Until my son wakes up a







