A COURT OF SHIFTERS AND SECRETS

E P I L O G U E

Nineteen Years Ago

Wolfe POV

"Come on baby" I squeezed my pregnant Mate's hand a little tighter "Just a little bit farther. We're almost at our special place."

"Wolfe..." Noëlani panted out a pained whimper "Wolfe...I think she's coming."

My eyes widened as I turned and quickly picked up my Mate, my body automatically moving and running even faster through these woods at her words.

My daughter barely turned 24 weeks old yesterday and while I knew that it wasn't impossible for infants to survive out of the womb this early on in pregnancy, the tension leading up to this moment, as well as the added stress of tonight's attack, would not be without consequences on my two girls.

"Hold on baby" I kissed the side of her head "I'll get us there soon and both you and baby girl will be just fine."

"That's not all Wolfe" my Mate whispered, her voice shaking as she held up a bloody palm "One of them managed to hit me."

I swore loudly, something I rarely did in the presence of my Mate, and the pounding in my heart was suddenly heard in my ears at the implication.

The arrows our enemies were using were enchanted, using a special type of poison that only grew in one realm.

The Faelands.

It made sense for Noëlani's people to be upset with her, considering she gave up her crown and untainted purebred status for a Wolf Shifter like me.

We expected them to come...eventually.

What we didn't expect was for my people, my fellow Heirs, to betray me.

Tÿr was obvious because of his utter disdain for me since the moment we met, for some unknown reason, but to know that the others were involved with him too absolutely gutted me to my core.

These were the men and women I once considered my closest friends and confidantes, the ones who I thought shared similar principles and morals as I did when it came for the good of the Shifter community.

It just...it fucking hurt me to my core to know that these people, some of who I've known my entire life, gave my family and I up without batting an eye.

And to know that they not only willingly sacrificed my family but also some members of their own, just for a taste of corrupted fae powers, led me to believe that I never truly knew them at all.

I was snapped out of my thoughts when I felt my wife grip my bicep, her blue ethereal eyes glowing bright as she looked straight ahead.

"We're not alone."

My head snapped around and I couldn't mistake the shockingly brightly colored silver blonde hair no matter how hard I try.

"Eliza?"

My best friend since we were in diapers, and the true heir of the Fenrir Pack, skidded to a stop on front of us.

"WOLFE" she cried "I would have come sooner if possible but Tÿr locked me in Phoenix's room and I couldn't..."

My Wolf let out a menacing growl at the name of her traitorous husband.

"I love you like a sister Liza" I shielded my Mate and child away from her line of sight "But I won't hesitate to put you down if you're here to harm my family."