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Hello! I always apologize, but my writer's block has been horrible. I was completely drained of ideas and inspiration, and I was not in the best head space. 2024 hasn't been kind to me, my dog passed away a few months ago and it completely broke my heart, and now I'm going through some other problems in my life, everything is incredibly overwhelming at the moment.

I appreciate you all bearing with me, and once again, I apologize. I had organized and planned to finish this book and be almost finished on the sequel by now, but, I guess; things never go as planned. But we adapt and move forward! I finished the book plan; I have a plan of how every chapter will go and where the plot will go, so, in my opinion, it's about to get good.

Thank you all who have supported and stuck with me despite all the many writer's blocks and periods without updates. Writing is my escape from what's going on in my life and around me, and I can't tell you how much it means to me to have people who love and support what I write.

So thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you so much, and Enjoy<3

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To recap

(I'm also sorry for the last chapter ending so abruptly.)

Bianca's eyes sparkled with excitement as she managed to regain some composure. "Why don't I help you get settled in our room? All your things have been organized for you," Cane suggested, voice tinged with anticipation.

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23

Bianca's Point of View

Returning home felt like a warm embrace from the familiar. Time spent with my parents had shifted my perspective; my true home was now by Cane's side. My wolf shared this sentiment, thrilled to be reunited with our mate. Her excitement was palpable, her instincts swirling with thoughts of mating, trying to spark my heat.

She had begun to talk about our future pups—how beautiful and powerful they would be. Normally, this would annoy me, but after being apart from Cane and now standing close to him again, I couldn't help but agree. Surrendering to our instincts, a heat surged through me as we ascended the staircase to his bedroom. Well, technically, now our bedroom.

Recent events still spun hazily in my mind, but my primal urges drowned out thoughts of Varian, Kat, and my old pack. All I could focus on was Cane.

His scent enveloped me, his voice soothing, his body magnetic, and his touch electrifying.

In this state, I hardly recognized myself.

I was sure I would go into heat soon, as there was no reason for my body and mind to react this way if I wasn't going into my heat cycle. Though, as Ashton said, Cane scenting me could send my body into heat prematurely. As much as my devious wolf wanted that, and a little part of me as well, I knew it was not time yet for such activities.

Cane and I barely knew each other, and in the few weeks since our meeting, we had already been flung through a whirlwind of problems. With the trial and Kat still out in the world somewhere, this would not be the time for us to satisfy primal physical urges. I would have to focus my mind on more important matters, no matter how much my body urged for him.

Cane opened the door to the bedroom, gesturing for me to enter first. Stepping inside, I noticed an immediate change in the room's ambiance. The air was crisp with the scent of cleanliness and fresh linen. The sheets had been replaced, now a soft pale blue. The curtains had also been replaced, drawn back to invite the sunlight streaming through the tall windows.

"Did you redecorate?" I asked, a smile playing on my lips as I turned to look at my handsome mate. His gorgeous melanated skin glowed in the sunlight. The way the light played off his complexion, highlighting every contour and curve, was mesmerizing.

"My mom thought it would be better if our room felt less like a somber fortress," he replied with a chuckle, his eyes twinkling with amusement. I couldn't help but join in, imagining his mother's efforts to lighten the mood of the room.

As I took in the changes, I noticed familiar picture frames placed around the room, each one meticulously positioned. It was a thoughtful touch, bringing a piece of my old bedroom into this new space.

I walked over to the bedside opposite the door. Next to it was a night table with a picture frame holding a cherished memory. It was a photo of me and my family, taken on vacation. In the picture, my mom, dad, older sister, and two young brothers were all smiling, the happiness of the moment captured forever. It was the last time we were all together for a vacation before my sister went away to university.

"Thank you. I love this picture," I said in a hushed tone, expressing my gratitude to Cane for placing it by the side of the bed where I would sleep. He must have seen the picture next to my old pack, and, without hesitating, placed it there, understanding its significance to me.

"No need to thank me," Cane replied softly. "I thought you'd want them to be by your side when you wake and when you go to sleep every night. I know it can't be easy leaving your childhood home and your pack to start anew, especially with everything that's happened. I just want to make sure you're as comfortable and happy as possible." His words were sincere, and his kindness touched me deeply. "And if there's anything I can do to be better, please don't hesitate. This is your room as much as mine, and this is your home," he added.

I turned around, my body facing Cane. "Since this is my new home, I would love a proper tour," I said, a smile tugging at the corners of my lips.

"Of course," Cane replied, returning her smile. "Where would you like to start?" He asked

I shrugged, "surprise me."

For the next hour, he showed me around the castle, guiding me through the corridors and into different rooms. We visited the grand hall where grand galas were thrown, and the meeting room where important meetings would be held. The library was next, with its towering shelves of books, and the cozy sitting rooms where I knew I would eventually find my sister when she finally moved into the castle as well.

I felt incredibly lucky to have my sister join me.

Cane then took me to the training area, where my eyes lit up with excitement. It was huge, bigger than the size of a football field, with a retractable door that led to another training area outside. The indoor space was equipped with a wall of heavy weights and punching bags, along with various other training equipment. The air was filled with the sound of weights clanking and the rhythmic thud of punches landing on bags as the pack members trained in human form. The scent of sweat and determination hung in the air, mingling with the metallic tang of the weights and the earthy smell of the training mats. Seeing the well-equipped spaces made me eager to get back into my routine.

"I would love to get back to training again," I said, my voice filled with enthusiasm. "This training area is amazing, and I can't wait to start using it."

Cane smiled, pleased to see me so excited. "You're welcome to use the training areas whenever you want. I was informed you are an incredible warrior," he said, making my cheeks flush a red hue.

As we continued our tour, I felt a sense of belonging settle over me.

Cane took me to another part of the castle, leading me to the courtyard. There, I was greeted by a breathtaking garden bursting with color and life. Flowers of every hue and shape bloomed in profusion, their fragrances mingling in the air to create a symphony of scents. The sweet scent of roses intertwined with the spicy aroma of lilies, while the delicate fragrance of jasmine hung in the air like a whisper. Bees buzzed lazily from flower to flower, and butterflies flitted about, adding splashes of color to the scene. I marveled at the sight, realizing that I had never seen such exotic and beautiful flowers before.

In the center of the garden, a pond shimmered under the sunlight, its surface rippling gently. Koi fish swam gracefully beneath the surface, their scales glinting in the sunlight. A small bridge arched gracefully over the pond, leading to a white gazebo that stood like a beacon of serenity. The gazebo was adorned with intricate carvings and surrounded by climbing vines, creating a picturesque scene straight out of a fairy tale.

"When I was a kid, I used to ditch some of my lessons to come here and read history books. I loved reading all about our history; it's always been my favorite subject. I'm a big believer that history repeats itself, and we must learn from the past."

"I wouldn't have taken you as the history nerd type," I teased, unable to resist a playful jab.

Cane chuckled, his eyes sparkling with amusement. "I love a man with a nerdy love of history."

Cane shared, "Other than reading, I loved the quiet of the garden as a kid. With all the studying and intense training, it was my peaceful spot. Things got even more intense at nine when I first shifted into my wolf form. But being out here, surrounded by nature, helped me stay grounded and keep my anger under control."

"Shifting at nine? I didn't know that was possible," I exclaimed, surprised by this revelation. "I didn't even know it was possible to shift so young," I said, my eyes wide with surprise.

Cane shrugged, "It surprised my family as well; no one had ever heard of a Lycan, or any werewolf for that matter shifting so young." He looked off into the distance, seeming lost in thought. "My dad said it was because I couldn't control my Lycan rage."

"Lycan rage?" I asked curiously.

"It's the curse of the Lycans. Zeus cursed a wolf, turning him into a humanoid creature, a monster fueled by instinct and rage. Zeus used his anger to destroy an entire kingdom after being spurned, so he left the Lycan to wander in the forest alone and angry. Selena felt pity for him and made it so that he could be human, but he would forever be left with only half a soul because he wasn't fully human."

"The anger of the animal instincts comes from being a Lycan. Werewolves like you, even Lycans like Ashton or other members of the royal pack, don't have this heightened animal anger instinct. It's passed down from Blackwood to Blackwood. My great-grandfather was a pretty ruthless leader; he ruled purely on his Lycan rage, relying solely on his animal instinct and fear to rule."

"My grandfather didn't agree with how he treated everyone around him. So when he took the throne, he vowed to be different. Things have been good since, but the one thing that scares me is the anger." He let out a sigh that almost sounded like he was frightened

"It's always terrified me, terrified me to lose control and set Lucca free. I don't like to get angry because I'm scared to let him out. And as a child, especially when I first shifted, I had trouble controlling Lucca and the Lycan rage. I was quick to anger and explode. Sometimes I think the moon goddess didn't allow them to have another kid because of me."

"You shouldn't say that," I said, placing a gentle hand on his. "Is that why you're scared to become king?"

"Yeah," He admitted, " I'm scared to be a bad king. I'm scared I'll lose control and let the monster out. My father and grandfather are amazing; they can control themselves and keep their emotions completely neutral. It's like they have everything under control, but I've never felt that way. I've never felt complete control." I squeezed his hand tightly.

"That's why you have me. We complete each other, right? We're soul mates. I'm here to keep you in check. We have mates to complete one another; two halves equal a whole. We may not be completely human. Having soul mates fulfills us."

"I'm happy to have you, Bianca."

.......

In ancient times, the mighty Zeus, the Greek god of thunder and king of the gods, grew wrathful with a mortal king who had earned his displeasure. To punish the king and obliterate his kingdom, Zeus transformed an ordinary wolf into a fearsome hybrid creature, a monstrous being with the body of a human and the ferocity of a wolf, known as a Lycan, or more commonly, a werewolf. During this transformation, the creature acquired a human-wolf form and, crucially, a fragment of a soul, a key element that set it apart.

Due to the incomplete nature of its transformation, the Lycan was driven by savage animal instincts, surviving on aggression and violence. This dreadful creature, now possessing a human-like consciousness and primal urges, unleashed unparalleled havoc upon the kingdom. Tales of this soulless beast, mercilessly slaughtering women and children, spread far and wide, for only a soulless being would commit such heinous acts.

After the kingdom lay in ruins and the mortal king met his demise, Zeus deemed the creature no longer useful and intended to banish it to the depths of Tartarus. However, Selênê, the compassionate goddess of the moon, took pity on the Lycan. She pleaded with Zeus to spare the creature, moved by a deep sense of empathy. Reluctantly, Zeus relented, granting Selênê the responsibility of the creature.

In her benevolence, Selênê utilized her divine powers to grant the Lycan the ability to transform between human and wolf at will. The creature, now imbued with human consciousness and the ability to control its transformations, was still plagued by its savage nature, reverting to wolf form during fits of anger and under the influence of the full moon.

Haunted by the Lycan's partial existence and its lack of a complete soul, Selênê decided to intervene once more. She chose a human and transformed her into a similar creature, ensuring that both possessed half-souls. To remedy the incomplete souls, Selênê decreed that these created beings were soul mates, destined to be together. When united, their half-souls would merge, creating a complete and harmonious soul, symbolizing the concept that true mates complete each other in every way.