"Valerian!" a cry came from outside and my feet rushed to the door, my body having recognised the voice before my brain could comprehend what was happening. I yanked the door open and almost broke down crying at the sight before me, "Queen Lyla!" Bethany gasped from behind me. I scooped her into my arms, my eyes searching for any unwanted presence before rushing her into the living room. "Valerian put me down, we don't have much time!" she rushed out the command as she struggled to get down. Silently obeying, I put her down, taking note of how she looked and it wasn't pretty. Her hair, that was always neatly made, looked like a bird's nest; twigs and leaves hanging from the knots. Her long white sleeping robe dirty and bloody from her waist down, she looked a royal mess; with a bunch of blankets wrapped around her upper half. "My Queen, what happened?" Beth asked as she handed me my medicine bag.
Valerian's pov
I rushed into my home as the wind picked up rather rapidly and the sky was darkening quite fast; it looked like there was going to be a big storm.
"This can't be a good sign" my wife said looking out the kitchen window.
A sudden storm on a day like this is never a good sign but we had to be hopeful, the queen was in labour.
"I know love, but we must have faith in the Goddess" I said, hugging her from behind.
"It should have been you! Everyone knows it should have been you delivering that baby!" she huffed, leaning her back into me. I could feel her worry, and it took everything in me to not succumb to my own.
"The King knows best love" I said, rubbing my hands up and down her arms, hoping that was at least enough to calm her a little, but my efforts did nothing to soothe her, not even a little.
She pulled away from my embrace and took a few steps away; throwing the dish rag she'd been using to wipe the counter into the empty sink.
"The King is a fool!" she yelled, rubbing her forehead in frustration.
"It was supposed to be you Valerian; you are the best healer in the Kingdom. You would know what to do if anything went wrong! It's supposed to be you" she said, almost breathless and her eyes were telling me something she hadn't told me yet.
I felt unease pool at the bottom of my stomach as I stared into her tearing eyes. "What did you see Beth?" I asked; taking step closer to her, some semblance of panic firmly settling within me.
She cried, bringing her hands up to cover her mouth as a sob broke through. "Bethany! What did you see?!" I said, stepping in front of her and taking her by the shoulders.
"Blood, so much blood" she whispered through her crying. My hands fell to my side as I stumbled back away from her. "The baby won't make it?" I asked, feeling a sudden chill rush over me.
"I don't kno..." Bang! Bang! Bang!
A loud banging on the door had both my wife and I frozen on the spot, eyes focussed on the door and I prayed it wasn't the royal guard sent to come get me.
"Valerian!" a cry came from outside and my feet rushed to the door, my body having recognised the voice before my brain could comprehend what was happening.
I yanked the door open and almost broke down crying at the sight before me, "Queen Lyla!" Bethany gasped from behind me.
I scooped her into my arms, my eyes searching for any unwanted presence before rushing her into the living room. "Valerian put me down, we don't have much time!" she rushed out the command as she struggled to get down.
Silently obeying, I put her down, taking note of how she looked and it wasn't pretty. Her hair, that was always neatly made, looked like a bird's nest; twigs and leaves hanging from the knots. Her long white sleeping robe dirty and bloody from her waist down, she looked a royal mess; with a bunch of blankets wrapped around her upper half.
"My Queen, what happened?" Beth asked as she handed me my medicine bag.
"There's no time to explain" she said; unwrapping the blankets covering her upper body to reveal a beautiful little face that looked to be in a peaceful slumber despite the chaos.
"The kingdom is in flames, the King is dead and Narcissa is working with the witches" she said, handing me the sleeping baby.
"What?!" I exclaimed, my brain trying hard to process everything as quick as possible.
"Take her and run" she whispered, tears falling from her eyes. "If this kingdom is to survive, its heir must live" she said looking at her child, tears pouring down her face. "You have to live my love" she said kissing the baby's forehead.
I was about to ask her how the hell she'd managed to get here right after giving birth, if the blood on her gown was any indication but a shrill cry, something between a howl and a screech had everyone in the room looking at the door as if whatever creature was outside would burst through it.
"You have to go now! They're close" Queen Lyla said running to the door, she swung it open but stood, facing away from us.
I know I'm asking so much of you and I understand if you're not up to it; but please, you are the only ones that can care for her, the only ones I trust" she said, her voice cracking and hands trembling.
"We'll do everything we can to give her a good life" Beth said, taking the baby from me.
"Thank you" she whispered, the cracks in her voice telling of her breaking heart, what mother wants to leave their child just hours after they are born?
"What is her name?" I asked just as she was about to step out the door.
Turning to look at her child one last time, she smiled, new tears running down her face,
"Alari, her name is Alari" she said and took off into the forest filled with creatures only the Goddess knew to create.
"You're mine, little puppy," Kylan growled against my neck. A soft gasp escaped my lips as his lips brushed my skin. My mind screamed at me to push him away-the Lycan Prince who had humiliated me again and again, but my body betrayed me, leaning into him before I could stop myself. He pressed his lips against mine, and his kiss grew more aggressive, more possessive as I felt my legs weaken. What was I doing? In a split-second, I pulled away and slapped him hard across the face. Kylan's eyes darkened, but the smirk on his lips exposed his amusement. "You and I both know we can't fight this, Violet," he said, gripping my wrist. "You're my mate." "And yet you don't want me," I replied. "You told me you were ashamed of me, that l'd never be your queen, that you'd never love me. So please, accept my rejection and let me go." "Never," he whispered, his grip tightening as he pulled me closer. "Soon enough, you'll be begging for me. and when you do-I'll use you as I see fit and then I'll reject you."
Accused of murder, Sylvia Todd's mother was deemed a traitor by the entire pack, condeming Sylvia to live the rest of her life alone in humiliation as a lowly slave. All she wanted to do was to prove her mother's innocence somehow, but fate never seemed to be on the side of the traitor's daughter. Still, Sylvia never lost hope. As the future lycan king of all werewolves, Rufus Duncan possessed great power and status, but he had an inexplicable reputation for being cruel, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. Unbeknownst to everyone, he had been cursed long ago to transform into a killer monster on every full moon. Even though fate did not always look upon the two, it brought Sylvia and Rufus together as each other's destined mates. Will justice be served for Sylvia's mother? What about Rufus' secret? Can Sylvia and Rufus defy all societal norms and stay together? Will these two unlucky souls have their happy ending?
When Zora was sick during the early days of her pregnancy, Ezrah was with his first love, Piper. When Zora got into an accident and called Ezrah, he said he was busy, when in actual fact, he was buying shoes for Piper. Zora lost her baby because of the accident, and throughout her stay at the hospital, Ezrah never showed up. She already knew that he didn't love her, but that was the last straw for the camel's back, and her fragile heart could not take it anymore. When Ezrah arrived home a few days after Zora was discharged from the hospital, he no longer met the woman who always greeted him with a smile and cared for him. Zora stood at the top of the stairs and yelled with a cold expression, "Good news, Ezrah! Our baby died in a car accident. There is nothing between us anymore, so let's get a divorce." The man who claimed not to have any feelings for Zora, being cold and distant towards her, and having asked her for a divorce twice, instantly panicked.
"I, Erika Blackwood, stand before you, Alexander Robertson, with a heavy heart. I hereby reject you as my mate. The bond we once shared has grown fragile, and my soul yearns for a different path. May you find solace in the love of another, and may we both find the happiness we seek." Alexander didn't say a word and looked at me. But he refused to accept. *********** Erika Blackwood is the next Alpha in line of the Ironclaw Pack. She hides her identity and gets mated to the Alpha of the Moonforest Pack, Alexander Robertson. Three years passed, but Alexander is still unwilling to let go of his childhood sweetheart. Erika is mistreated and eventually framed by the same childhood sweetheart. Now she leaves with that humiliation, and goes back to her pack, swearing vengeance on those who hurt her. They all waited for her to return and beg, but what happens when they realize that the famous Ironclaw Pack that was going to help in the rogue war, was ruled by a woman named, Erika Blackwood. Now her Ex mates want her back. Other Alphas want this woman.. But will she accept any of them? Or will she stay independent forever?...
Brenna lived with her adoptive parents for twenty years, enduring their exploitation. When their real daughter appeared, they sent Brenna back to her true parents, thinking they were broke. In reality, her birth parents belonged to a top circle that her adoptive family could never reach. Hoping Brenna would fail, they gasped at her status: a global finance expert, a gifted engineer, the fastest racer... Was there any end to the identities she kept hidden? After her fiancé ended their engagement, Brenna met his twin brother. Unexpectedly, her ex-fiancé showed up, confessing his love...
Kallie, a mute who had been ignored by her husband for five years since their wedding, also suffered the loss of her pregnancy due to her cruel mother-in-law. After the divorce, she learned that her ex-husband had quickly gotten engaged to the woman he truly loved. Holding her slightly rounded belly, she realized that he had never really cared for her. Determined, she left him behind, treating him as a stranger. Yet, after she left, he scoured the globe in search of her. When their paths crossed once more, Kallie had already found new happiness. For the first time, he pleaded humbly, "Please don't leave me..." But Kallie's response was firm and dismissive, cutting through any lingering ties. "Get lost!"