Chapter 71-

Ember:
Oriel is beaming with joy and flourishing alongside of her mates. The crown on her head shines almost as bright as her smile while she celebrates a new era of peace with her people. Once despised and looked down on, she is now loved and renowned. I am filled with pride seeing the ball room filled with both vampire and shifters alike, all here in the name of new bonds and brotherhood. Oriel was born for great things I knew that a long time ago when the goddess spared me from certain death and filled my dreams with visions of my child standing tall and covered in the blood of her enemies. I remember seeing her protected in the shadow of her mate and victorious and that is how she stands now. Oriel is radiant and surrounded with love, when she was growing up, I know she often felt lonely and out of place because she was different but now, she is celebrated because of who she is and loved by her people. She has along with her mates changed this world for the better and I know this is just their beginning. My eldest son too is glowing in his happiness, the child not born of my own body, but of my heart has fought fate to follow his own desires, and I am so proud of him. I always felt that he and Oriel belonged together, their connection from infancy had been too strong to let them be separated by anything other than death. Irvin has grown into not only a great warrior but also a great man, the fact that he let go of his possessiveness and the fear of his origins is clear in how he stands side by side with his new family and his apparent love for Ayla.
Who would have known that a simple woman longing for adventure and a new life would end up chained and terrified, hurt and humiliated only to then find love in such darkness. That she would experience passion and devotion, loss and growth. That woman stolen from her home would go on to lead a pack alongside of two strong shifters who consumed her heart, then they together would raise a daughter who is now queen. James threads his fingers through mine and Lucas leans down kissing a stray tear that has escaped my nostalgic moment. “Phoenix, you did such a good job, look at our little princess. She has taken her place in the world. She is strong and shines bright, just like her mother.” I smile at my protector, my sweet loving mate. “My daughter is at the only place she could ever belong, on top. I guess we will have to suffer that fanged ghost riding her coattails. She doesn’t seem to want to get rid of him or the other riff raff she picked up along the way. At least she has Irvin, he was raised right and will take good care of our girl.” I roll my eyes and kiss both of my men as they laugh at James’s distain for his son in-law. “I know you secretly like him.” “You wound me queenie.” I kiss them both again laughing and move to find my daughter.
“Mom I was looking for you. I need a bit of fresh air; do you want to see the gardens.” I follow Oriel outside, my mates lagging behind to give us space to talk. I hug her tight to my ever-expanding body and tell her how proud I am of her. “I actually have something I want to tell you before we leave on our honeymoon. I haven’t told anyone else yet and wanted you to be the first to know. You are going to be a grandma. The doctor confirmed it yesterday, I am going to be a mommy.” “Oh, Oriel I am so happy for you! I know just like everything else you will be amazing.” “Mom if it’s a boy I want to name him Kiran. I want my brother’s name to live on.” I can’t keep my tears back anymore; I stroke my daughter’s face and look into her eye that matches James’s. “He lives on in you, you carry his spirit inside and so your child will be a part of him too. To give your son your brothers name would be such a great blessing.” We both cry holding each other and I feel the familiar warmth of James at my back. I look up from Oriel’s shoulder to see Lucas behind her. “I know you heard so, congratulations grandpas. Don’t spoil the surprise for my mates, I’m going to tell them tonight.” “We’re all so proud of you princess, and eager to meet our grandson Kiran.” “It could be a girl daddy.” “I have a feeling, just like I know this one in your mom’s belly is a little girl. She’ll be full of fire just like you.”
Oriel:
I say goodbye to my family and hug Ayla tight before we set off. The pack is set to leave tomorrow so we won’t see them again until next fall and by that time I will have a new sibling and a new heir to our kingdom. My men and I are spending a week away from the castle in a cabin next to the lake. It’s our chance to celebrate together and for me to share our special news. “I feel bad leaving Ayla behind.” “Why is that firecracker? I doubt she would be comfortable in a small cabin with us while we ravage you.” I laugh and swat at Irvin who insisted on riding with me, I love the way he feels in the saddle behind me. “I just meant she seems off and I hate leaving her after all the commotion of the past few days.” “Has something happened between her and your brother?” I look at Rowen confused, has he heard or seen something? “Not that I know of, but it does seem like something is going on with them. There has been so much going on that I haven’t been able to talk with her about it, when we get back, I intend on fixing that.” Darius and Rowen share a look before he speaks up. “There is definitely something going on, he is far too possessive of someone who he claims to hate. We don’t want to get too involved; some things work themselves out.” “I just don’t want her to get hurt, and Apollo can be really stubborn.” Irvin grabs the reigns and kicks Luna’s side making her gallop ahead. He leans in and whispers in my ear. “It’s our time now, let them decide what they want.” I turn and kiss Irvin running my tongue along the seam of his mouth. I can’t wait for tonight.
Ayla:
The ceremony was beautiful, and everything went just as it should. Watching my closest friend take her rightful place as queen was amazing but I am exhausted. In an attempt to be helpful to Oriel and Rowen but also to keep my distance from Apollo I kept myself busy the last two days. Arranging flowers, helping with food, and even cleaning. My body is feeling the lack of rest, since we got back to the castle, I haven’t been able to sleep well. I have always had problems with nightmares, but they had become manageable until I was attacked again. Now every time I fall asleep, I see him, Lord Hoffer with his knife to my throat threatening to take my freedom from me. After a long hot bath to soak away the aches and pains I crawl into bed hoping to finally get some rest, I need to see the doctor again tomorrow to have him examine my neck. That is something I definitely need some sleep to get through, I hate having strangers’ hands on me.
Apollo:
My sister has been crowned and the new treaty has been signed. I sat in on meeting with my fathers and everything is prepared for our departure tomorrow so there is nothing much to do now except wander around the vast castle. Ayla has purposely made herself as busy as possible since I came back with her and Darius. Some of her wounds were significant but I can’t allow myself to play the part of dutiful mate. I don’t want to give her the wrong idea, we will not share some magnificent love story like my parents or sister has had. The only reason I would even claim a mate is to strengthen my pack. I have seen what devastation love can bring to people, I will not allow it to weaken me or divide my loyalties. Ayla is beautiful to be sure but there is no way she could be a strong Luna. What can a girl who is frightened of her own shadow bring to my people? I will claim her when it is absolutely necessary to take over as Alpha and until then I will continue to live how I see fit. If I can’t find a way out of this mate situation, then I will make myself strong enough to cover her shortcomings. I don’t need a lovesick girl tagging along after me, there is too much work still to be done. My parents have rebuilt our pack and brought us to a peaceful place, when I am Alpha, I will take us farther. I don’t want to be content simply hiding in the woods, I will create our own little empire. My own little kingdom where our people are safe to live openly and how they choose.
I decide before going to bed to check on Ayla, she looked like she wore herself out today. When I stop at her door I hear little whimpers, if I find out she isn’t alone in there I will tear whoever dared touch what is mine into pieces. Ayla’s exposed creamy white thighs draw me to her bed where she is crying out and gripping her sheets. The wet tracks down her cheeks tells me she is not dreaming of pleasure. Without another thought I move onto her bed and hold her desperate hands in my own. With eyes still closed she breathes my scent in and I watch in awe as her breathing evens out and her entire body relaxes. I don’t know why but the urge to lay beside her and hold her takes over my rational mind. Her slender frame feels so good against my side, my cock stirs to life as I take her in. Her body is long and lean, so weak that I could break her. Everything about her is delicate and pure, it makes me hate the bandages that hide the jagged wound on her neck. I fall asleep listening to her heartbeat telling myself I’ll only stay for five more minutes.
Ayla:
I wake up to the warmth of the sun on my face, I feel rested in a way that I haven’t since I was attacked. To be truthful I slept more peacefully than I have for a long time, I can’t remember the last time I wasn’t awake to watch the sunrise. I slide out of bed and make my way to the bathroom anxious for my visit with the doctor. I take off the old bandages and look at my cut in the mirror. I hope that it won’t leave a big scar, I don’t want to be reminded of the blade each time I look in the mirror or have to bear the pitied glances of others as they stare. It’s not the pain that I’m afraid of, it’s the permanent reminder of how weak and pathetic I am that scares me. When I touch my scars I see the fear, the pain, the helplessness and hatred. I will never forget Oriel’s face full of tears the first time she saw them. I hate the ugliness that is branded forever on my skin.
A large warm hand on my neck just under the wound startles me out of my self-deprecating thoughts. “Are you worried this diminishes your beauty little one?” I feel his low timbered voice rumbling against my ear. I shut my thighs tight trying to ease the throbbing in my core. Just the sound of his low voice has my panties wet and my cheeks burning. I close my eyes trying to regain control of my body. “It doesn’t matter what anyone else thinks Ayla, every part of you belongs to me. Even this…” His touch is tender along my cut, stinging slightly letting me feel him there. “Every piece of you is beautiful and is mine.” He turns me in his arms so that we are face to face. There is part of me that feels so secure and safe in his arms but another larger part of me feels terrified. If I let him get close to me, he could hurt me. Powerful men like to hurt women, they use them for their own means. Oriel got lucky and met my uncle, but Apollo is nothing like Rowen, there is darkness in him and that scares me.
Apollo:
I kiss Ayla deep tangling my tongue with hers, goddess she tastes divine. I savor every inch of her mouth, eating her little whimpers. I can smell how aroused she is right now, and it almost breaks my resolve. That is part of the reason I find her so infuriating, there is part of her that draws me in and makes me want to love her weakness and all, but there is another stronger part of me that knows if I give into her that I will forfeit everything I have been working towards, I would be sacrificing my freedom. I pull my lips free from her mouth although all I want to do is take her back to the bed and make her beg to be claimed. I shake my head and turn off the desire to posses her. As roughly as I can without actually hurting her, I grab Ayla’s mouth and lean in close so that my words ghost over her lips. “Behave yourself while I am away Ayla, I don’t want to come back for you and be disappointed.”
Ayla:
The mate bond has trapped me, what is supposed to be something beautiful has so much potential for destruction. My legs give out as I watch him leave and take all his warmth with him. Why does he hate me so much, I never asked to be connected with him? How could the goddess match me with someone so hateful, his eyes switch so quickly from desire to absolute revulsion. He is dangerous to me. I grab my chest trying to subside the ache that is stealing my breath. There’s something dark stirring inside of me, something that I feel like I have forgotten, something that makes me afraid.