Novels by ESQ

Katherine’s POVThe sun hung low in the sky, casting a pale golden light over the training grounds. The last day of my training, and I still hadn’t seen Kai. It had been three days since I last heard from him, three long, agonizing days of silence. Each moment without a word from him gnawed at me, a dull ache that deepened with every passing hour. Where was he? Why hadn’t he come? Even Tricia has been asking of him nonstop, Roma had just been moved down to where we were and she has been the one taking care of Tricia on my behalf. I should’ve been focused on my training, but my thoughts constantly wandered back to Kai. The connection we shared, once so clear, felt distant now. I knew he had his reasons, and his responsibilities, but it didn’t make his absence any easier to bear. Every attempt to channel my inner light, my supposed gift as the Light Seeker, was met with resistance. The power inside me felt muddled, out of reach, like trying to catch water slipping through my fingers.

Kai's POVThe forest surrounding Alpha Jackson’s hideout was eerily quiet as if even the wind was holding its breath. I moved silently, the soft crunch of leaves beneath my boots the only sound. No guards, no patrols, nothing that suggested Jackson was even concerned about being found here. Bold. Or foolish. But Jackson had always been both. It was how we had become acquainted in the first place. I reached the clearing, and there it was: the old stone cottage that Azra had described, hidden deep within my kingdom’s borders. A fitting place for someone trying to hide in plain sight. I couldn’t help but smirk at the audacity of him, slipping into my kingdom without so much as a word of notice. But I wasn’t surprised. As I approached the entrance, the door swung open, and there he stood. Alpha Jackson. He looked the same, nothing had changed about him. “King Kai,” he greeted, his voice smooth and dripping with false humility. “What a pleasant surprise. I didn’t expect a visit from the

Kai's POVThings were beginning to calm down in the low towns, but, even, I could not let the worry go. I knew that the problem was not close to being over yet. I knew that much of the peace was because I had hidden Katherine away. Keeping her out of sight, away from those who might want to use her or, worse, destroy her. She was training privately with Claire, learning how to control her power as the Light Seeker, and it seemed to be working. But how long could I keep her hidden? How long before the world found out who she truly was?The thought weighed heavy on my chest as I made my way to the secluded house where Katherine was training. A part of me wanted to tell her everything, to be fully honest about the dangers swirling around us, but I knew I couldn’t. Not yet. She had enough on her plate without the burden of my fears. The air was crisp as I approached the safe house, the setting sun casting long shadows across the stone path. As I entered, I could feel the soft hum of Kat

"The light is already inside you, Katherine. You just need to let it out." Claire said as a light began to illuminate my chest and formed a circle, shining steadily with its rays shining in the room. My training with Claire had begun privately a few weeks ago. I have been putting my all into learning how to channel my light. I closed my eyes and willed my heart to beat slower as if to slow time. My purpose, My title is the Light Seeker. It had not been easy at first, but here I was doing it. Taking it one day at a time. I was beginning to feel the warmth as it spread through me. And the truth was that I had not felt so good about myself in years. Not until I discovered that.The room around me brightened, the shadows in the corners retreating as the light from within me spread across the space. I felt the same deep within me as everything started to gain clarity.Claire stepped back, a satisfied smile curling on her lips. “You’re getting the hang of it, Katherine. I knew you had it

Kai's POVThe cold steel of the balcony railing bit into my palms as I absorbed the latest news. My mind was a turbulent sea of thoughts and decisions. Every one of my instincts screamed that we were on the brink of something catastrophic. The shadow hunter attack was a stark message, and I could not afford to underestimate the threat.“Azra,” I call out, my voice cutting through the tension of the hospital morning. We had barely slept until we were sure that Roma was in stable condition. He turned to me, his expression taut with concern. “I need you to secure the citadel immediately. No one in or out until further notice.”Azra’s eyes widened slightly, but he nodded without hesitation. “I’ve already taken the liberty of informing the guards. What else do you need, my king?”I took a deep breath, my weak attempt to quell the rising sense of urgency. “We need to find the warlock. If he’s under the shadow hunters' control, he’s a crucial part of their plan. His location could lead us to

Kai's POVThe hospital balcony was usually not the place I would imagine that I was going to be tonight. The events of the last few weeks burdened my mind so heavily that I felt like there was no way out of it. But I could not afford to think like that. I wrapped my clothes tightly around myself as the cold wind blew, even at that, I could feel the heat emanating from my body. Katherine could have been seriously hurt and each day, this crazy person came close to the woman that I loved the most. The thought of what would have happened if anything had gone wrong at the prison was not something that I enjoyed thinking about so I closed my eyes and took in a deep breath to steady my head. Azra ran to the balcony, his face etched with tension. His usual calm demeanor was replaced with urgency, and it immediately set my nerves on edge. I turned to face him, keeping my face as neutral as possible. “What’s going on?” I asked; my voice was sharp and hard. “Why are you here?” I demanded. Hi

Sometimes when one thinks of the past, moving forward to the future seems hard for them. Every night, Dad would always come to tell me tales of how they fought with a magical stone called the Onyx. He said it was what brought us together as clans all over the lands, excluding the Werecats. The breeze blew my light brown hair which was slowly bleaching into blonde like my mom's as I kept writing my journal. Although I still haven't believed there was any such thing as magic, I still needed to find out. I jumped down the fence, in my leather top and jacket with boots, my two long swords clasped to my back as I walked back to the training field. I looked at the people fighting and some bowing to me. With pride and elegance, I swerved my hips past the boys, while my four friends followed from each side. Tracy, Eretria, Romena, and Sasha. Two of them were hot blonde chicks in their mid-twenties, while the other two were brunettes. We are the Angel Squad and we rule the United Clan Train

"What's wrong, Lyne?" Zeidan asked looking up at her. She now had strange eyes and he wondered if she still recognizes him. Lyne opened her hand and he could see the Onyx on her palm, green and glowing. But that wasn't the problem. The problem was Lyne's nose bleeding and her eyes returning to normal. His hands quivered and loosened around Luana which made her grab the opportunity and kicked him in the stomach while he tended to it, she kicked him in the face turned, and stabbed his stomach with a knife.Awareness dawned on him as the object sank into him. He looked at Luana with shock and his eyes were getting blurry."You had every chance to be happy with me. But you ruined it all." Luana said and further twisted the knife inside of him, making him scream out.Lyne still lay on the floor, bleeding from her nose. He gasped and was finally released so that he could sit on the floor, weak and helpless. He raised his arm but no help came. "Die, Zeidan. Goodbye." Luana left him with Sh

Lyne looked at Luana, a smile curving her lips as she resolved to fight with all her might no matter how good she may be at magic. Or using the Onyx, but she sure is good with her claws. She stretched her fingers, eyes intent on Luana whose black eyes were also fixed on her. As they both snarled at each other, they also did the same with the charge and attack. Lyne swooshed her claws at Luana's face which she moved slightly backward to avoid and in turn twirled on her heels and hit her stomach with her knee. She bent and held on to her stomach as she felt the sharpness but only for a while before she was back on her feet. Luana threw a punch from the left to the right side which she dodged and grabbed her wrist, then right to the left and she grabbed the second wrist too, then holding both wrists captive, Lyne hit her forehead with hers, not minding the resounding bang she felt. Luana cried out and she released her so she could nurse her bleeding forehead. "You bastard!" Luana swo

With blazing eyes and a torn-apart soul, Lyne glared at Luana and the stone in her hand. "You know, if I were you, as a mother who has empathy for her daughter," Luana began to say as she walked in circles around Lyne. "I'd dive into that water and save my baby." Lyne looked back at her daughter who was still afloat, her tiny arms unable to hold her on the surface for long. "You may have won this time but not next time," Lyne hissed, looking into Luana's eyeball. "And that next time is soon."With that, she jumped into the water and swam her way to her daughter, arms and legs fluttering the strong current. She grabbed her daughter by the waist and held her tight to her body, swimming back to the shore. She climbed back to the surface and bent to check her daughter who sat on the floor, weak. "My baby." She muttered, hands running over Aurora's face and body. "Are you okay?" Aurora breathed heavily. Lyne felt guilty. She was the reason her daughter passed through all these. If she

Shelbrooke was too engrossed in staring at Lyne that he was unaware when Zeidan turned and grabbed his ankle making him fall. As Reyns moved to attack him, Zeidan grabbed his spear on the floor and pointed it at Reyns who chuckled and drew out his long swords."I'm sorry that you got played not once but twice, Zeidan. However, we can't blame you but the bitch that always thought she saw the good in you." Reyns said as they turned to the center of the field, each of them stretching their weapons at the other."I didn't ask her to find the good in me. I was already good to myself." Zeidan replied, his eyes not leaving Reyns and his swords."Then, it's obvious, you had her under your magical spell. Once we have the Onyx, I'll have the power to break that stupid spell you placed on her." Zeidan huffed. "Admit it. You like her and you're just afraid that she'll reject you if you let your true intention known." The other man held on tightly to his swords now stepping forward. "That's neve

Amber and Effinton stood gallant in front of Lyne and Zeidan, already in their fighting wear. Amber was placed as leader of the archery team since Chloe had died. She was also as good as the former leader, which makes it a win-win situation. Effinton also wore his black leather suit and pants with his boot heels. They all stood at the council table, all focused on the map before them."We need to come up with a better strategy than before. A unique one that will disassemble pure enemies before they even get closer to the field that separates Vampire city from the rest of the clans." Effinton spoke up and Zeidan nodded."You're right. But what do we come up with? We have exhausted the rest of our strategies on past wars." Zeidan replied but Lyne was seeing a different thing."Maybe we don't need a new strategy but ones we have used before and can put together to fight. They won't know what hits them by the time we strike.""I think the Queen is right," Amber spoke up, pointing to a sm

Everything was peaceful again.Logan stood at the border that separated his pack from bare land. He slowly looked around, taking in the scene of the battle that had happened so many months ago now. The sight was still as vivid as though it had happened just yesterday. He could still see the Rogue King and all his numbers standing mere meters from where he stood, the sounds of clashing metal and yelling men, so familiar and neverforgotten, the scent too, of blood and fear and adrenaline. Everything still looked and smelled and sounded the same, yet so much had changed since then.He sighed and looked up into the sky, raking his hand through his ponytail. It was almost springtime already; the whole forest reminded him of the change in season. The tree trunks dappled in the morning light and the shadow of the leaves on his face. Some of the trees were already bringing out leaves and flowers. The air smelled of over-ripe berries, fading blossoms, and a thousand or more flowers dazing hi

Logan screamed, and several things happened at once."Attack!" Casper yelled, and the whole of Logan's warriors roared and raced toward the Rogue King and his army. The rogue army equally chanted in a loud voice and beat their weapons against their shield, then ran at the oncoming warriors.Both armies met in the middle of the grassy land. The sound of their collision was terrible and harsh to the ears: the screeching of iron on iron as shields met, the barking and snarling of the frontline wolves as they tore at each other, the painful yells of dozens of Lycan warriors as they were stabbed or speared or torn apart to death.The bodies of Logan's gamma and the spy from the rogue pack were lost in the commotion. Logan barely had time to access the situation of the battle or go after the Rogue King. He had eyes only for his mate. He spotted her in the middle of the stampede, lying on the floor as her life seeped out of her body.He ran towards her after she slipped to the ground before

Logan dismounted from his stallion and walked forward to the edge of the border in preparation to meet the Rogue King. Every angle of his face was set in determination as he looked forward, the spring air caressing his regal face.Then suddenly, he spotted a speck of black coming forward from about a mile forward. The whole army behind him was so silent that the alpha could hear his beta breathing lightly beside him.Casper looked at his alpha. “Logan—” he said, then broke off, stiffening all over. A moment later Logan heard it too—a heavy, rhythmic pounding, and laid over that, a sound like several bonfires crackling. The speck grew and elongated little by little until it was a line of army, running towards Logan and his pack. It took the alpha several long moments to understand the noise.“The Rogue Army.” Casper whispered. Following his gaze, he saw them, coming closer and closer like a spreading shadow, the Rogue Wolf pack in all their numbers. There must have been hundreds of th

Logan had been waiting for a long time.He was standing in the part of the woods that faced the border, with a hundred and fifty well-armed warriors. The whole forest was silent and tense, almost as though all the animals were joining in the wait for the arrival of the Rogue King.He had sent Casper ahead with a couple of other warriors to scan the land ahead and send word when they noticed the arrival of the Rogue King. He had told his beta to wave a red flag when coming to indicate that battle was near. So far it had been four hours since he sent Casper out, and he was feeling as harried and on edge as a father expecting his newborn child.He was seated on a white stallion, bred specially for the use of alphas in the pack. His hair was packed up in a man bun and he was dressed in black fighting gear. He had smeared black paint across both of his cheeks, as well as all the other warriors that stood behind him. He raised a hand and pulled at the tight material on his neck uncomfortabl

Aella's dreams made no senseFirst, she was in the foyer of the pack house in Logan's pack, walking down the makeshift aisle that was meant for Louve. She looked sideways at the crowd of well-wishers and instead of the faces of Logan's pack members, she saw grins and sneers from the members of the Rogue Pack. She looked down and instead of a white dress, she was putting on a black one: lacy and tattered, like a Bride of Death. Someone was leading her by the arm, and when she looked up, she saw that it was her dad.Impossible, she had time to think before they got to the makeshift altar, where the Wolf Priest was waiting for the both of them. She heard low chants from the members of the Rogue Pack behind her but she paid little heed. All her attention was focused on her groom who was standing with his back to her, looking very much like Logan. Maybe this dream isn't so bad after all, she thought. But when the groom turned to her, she was staring not at Logan but at the face of the Rogu

Logan and his gamma walked back to the pack house in relative silence. Several thoughts kept running through the alpha's mind. At least now, Aella's name would be cleared, albeit not completely. She would still be seen as a rogue wolf that was sent to spy on them, and the only reason Jesse was assigned the position of a spy in the pack was that Aella had failed at it by getting herself mated to him.Jesse was the last person he had expected to be the spy though. He stole a sideways look at the man as he dragged him forward by the collar. He was one of those silent, sidelines people, those you'd never know they were there until they spoke. Logan had seen a lot of himself in the man and had admired his knack for staying level-headed even in very tough situations. That was the very reason why he had made Jesse his Gamma.Logan's mind flashed back to when they had been younger. While Casper had been his best friend, Jesse had been that boy that sort of tagged along anytime they went on th