Cecilia's pov. After the chit chat with Damon, we came to a conclusion that we would carry on with the plan. Right now, The morning air was cold as I pulled the black mask over my face. The mask was part of the plan as we needed our identity hidden from the elders. I could feel the dampness of the forest around us, the ground still wet from last night’s rain. Birds chirped softly in the distance, but their songs did little to settle the nerves crawling up my spine.I looked to my left where Damon adjusted his own mask. His sharp eyes met mine for a moment, and he gave me a small nod. It was time, he didn't voice it oh yeah but I could read his expression.Behind Damon, six of his men moved silently through the trees. They were all dressed in dark clothes, their footsteps quiet on the muddy ground. I followed close behind Damon as we made our way toward the old trail that led into the deeper parts of the forest.“They should be coming around the bend any minute now,” Damon whisp
James pov. The whole place have already been cleaned up l, the warriors, guards and maids have done a very good job, the pack wolves too have put heads to getter in helping to make sure the pack house was back to the way it was before Although there was no way it could go back to the way it was in just a day of cleaning, it had improved.The blood on the walls of the pack house has been cleaned, the casualties l, dead bodies had been taken away, the whole place now looked like there was neve a battle at the pack house. However, the only thing that gave away the fact that there had been a battle, was the broken walls of some of the buildings around including the pack house. That was something that had already been looked into and should be in order in three to five days. Right now, I stepped out of the pack house, the cool air hitting my face. The sun was already high, but it didn’t do much to warm the uneasiness sitting heavy in my chest. Oh yes,I had a lot in my chest m, a whol
James pov As we rode, I kept thinking about Lydia. I remembered the way she had smiled, the way she had looked at Auren like he was her whole world.I wasn’t going to let anything happen to them. Not on my watch.We had both promised Kailey and Ezekiel that we would protect and keep Auren safe. Though Auren wasn't safe, there was still a chance he was with Lydia and all I needed to do right now was find them and bring them back home to the pack house safe and sound.The tracks led us over hills and through narrow valleys. More than once, we had to stop and search when the trail grew faint.Each time, Jon was right there beside me, helping me pick up the scent again.“They’re moving fast,” Jon said after a while, wiping sweat from his forehead. “But not too fast. They’re slowing down.”I nodded. “They’re tired. Hungry, probably.”“And scared,” Jon added quietly.I didn’t like hearing that. Fear could make people careless. Lydia was smart, but if she was tired enough, scared enough, s
James pov. We have been in the forest for a long time but still there was no sign of Lydia and Auren.However the sun was starting to sink behind the hills when we finally saw it, a large, dark hole in the side of a rocky hill. I slowed my horse and raised my hand, signaling for everyone behind me to stop.“That’s it,” I said, staring at the cave. I didn’t know how I knew. I just... did. My heart was pounding in my chest. My instincts were screaming at me, Lydia was here.Jon rode up beside me. His face was serious, his dark eyes scanning the entrance. “You sure?” he asked quietly.I nodded. “I can feel it. She’s been here. I know it.”Jon didn’t argue, he trusted me, the same way I trusted him.The rest of the warriors waited behind us. Some of them looked nervous. Others just looked tired. We had been searching all day, riding hard through the forest and hills. However now, standing here, I felt a new rush of energy.“She’s close,” I said, tightening my grip on the reins.Jon l
Kailey‘s POV“Those damn bastards,” I muttered, taking my boots off and throwing them to the side. “Just wait till Kyle gets a hold of you.” Huffing, I slammed the door shut and crashed face-flat onto the couch. “Ugh,” I moaned, feeling my bones pop. “What I'd give to have a normal day at work.”Who was I kidding? Being an omega and deemed a disgrace in a pack filled with powerhouses could never happen. Not to talk of my spaghetti arms not helping in any way. Suddenly, a phone beeped, causing me to jerk. I looked around, a frown settling on my face. Was Kyle at home?Propping myself up, I sat on the couch, my eyes scanning for the device. Just as I was about to give up, it beeped again, and I sprang to my feet, tracking the source.Following the sound, I saw the device lying on the floor, with half of it buried under a pile of Kyle's clothes. I rolled my eyes, going to pick it up, my hands freezing as a piece of clothing caught my eye. “W–what?” I whispered, my face going pal
Kailey’s POVIt's been a week since my breakup with Kyle, and it's ironic to say the whole world knows about it. I rolled my eyes as two ladies giggled past me. I knew they were laughing at me, so I secretly held up a middle finger at them. I walked into the kitchen, averting my gaze from meeting anyone's eyes since I was a low-ranked wolf and wasn't allowed to. I dropped the crate of apples in my arms to the floor, heading out. Shouts of people moving here and there as they hurried to decorate the packing halls filled the air. Laughs and giggles from men, ladies, and children made the atmosphere more lively than it would have been on Christmas.I shook my arm, my muscles aching in protest to the heavy lifting I was doing. Tonight was the final preparations for the banquet we were hosting. The alpha's son was returning from his training, and as the biggest pack, second to the king's, tonight's banquet was a huge one. Packs from all around were to come.I just hope that maybe
Kailey’s POVFuck, fuck, fuck, fuck! I cussed as I dashed into the bathroom, panting as I did.How could this happen?Why was the moon goddess always fucking me up? I gripped my hair, scattering the neat bun I had worked tirelessly to perfect. I stared at my reflection in the mirror. My face was red, and my makeup was smeared due to sweat and constant rubbing. What was I going to do now? My wolf whimpered as I paced anxiously. She wanted her mate, but I wish it were that easy. “Shit!” I whispered, annoyed by how much my wolf whined. “He is off limits, damn it!”That man was Ezekiel Bread.Future Alpha of the Blackwood Pack. My pack. Despite that, my wolf refused to listen. Repeatedly, she howled for her mate in my head, clawing at my mind and fighting for control—one I wouldn't give.Suddenly, the door opened, and I snapped my head to the door. I frozen, taking a step back as my heart pounded. What is he doing here? My breath grew frantic, and his powerful scent hit me. M
Kailey’s POVEzekiel’s eyes snapped to the door, his body stiffening as a growl rumbled deep in his chest. I turned to look, my stomach sinking when I saw who had entered.Alpha Mark stood in the doorway, his expression thunderous, his black eyes blazing with uncontained fury. His presence filled the room, oppressive and commanding, and even though I wasn’t directly in his line of sight yet, I felt the weight of his anger settle heavily on my chest.“What is the meaning of this?!” he roared, his voice cutting through the air like a blade.My heart jumped, and my wolf whimpered inside me, retreating into the back of my mind. Instinctively, I yanked the blanket up to cover myself, as if it could somehow shield me from the storm that had just blown into the room.Ezekiel didn’t budge, standing protectively in front of me like a stone wall, his eyes locked on his father.“Father,” Ezekiel said, his tone calm but laced with an edge. “You’re intruding.”“Intruding?” Mark snapped, his voice drippi
James pov. We have been in the forest for a long time but still there was no sign of Lydia and Auren.However the sun was starting to sink behind the hills when we finally saw it, a large, dark hole in the side of a rocky hill. I slowed my horse and raised my hand, signaling for everyone behind me to stop.“That’s it,” I said, staring at the cave. I didn’t know how I knew. I just... did. My heart was pounding in my chest. My instincts were screaming at me, Lydia was here.Jon rode up beside me. His face was serious, his dark eyes scanning the entrance. “You sure?” he asked quietly.I nodded. “I can feel it. She’s been here. I know it.”Jon didn’t argue, he trusted me, the same way I trusted him.The rest of the warriors waited behind us. Some of them looked nervous. Others just looked tired. We had been searching all day, riding hard through the forest and hills. However now, standing here, I felt a new rush of energy.“She’s close,” I said, tightening my grip on the reins.Jon l
James pov As we rode, I kept thinking about Lydia. I remembered the way she had smiled, the way she had looked at Auren like he was her whole world.I wasn’t going to let anything happen to them. Not on my watch.We had both promised Kailey and Ezekiel that we would protect and keep Auren safe. Though Auren wasn't safe, there was still a chance he was with Lydia and all I needed to do right now was find them and bring them back home to the pack house safe and sound.The tracks led us over hills and through narrow valleys. More than once, we had to stop and search when the trail grew faint.Each time, Jon was right there beside me, helping me pick up the scent again.“They’re moving fast,” Jon said after a while, wiping sweat from his forehead. “But not too fast. They’re slowing down.”I nodded. “They’re tired. Hungry, probably.”“And scared,” Jon added quietly.I didn’t like hearing that. Fear could make people careless. Lydia was smart, but if she was tired enough, scared enough, s
James pov. The whole place have already been cleaned up l, the warriors, guards and maids have done a very good job, the pack wolves too have put heads to getter in helping to make sure the pack house was back to the way it was before Although there was no way it could go back to the way it was in just a day of cleaning, it had improved.The blood on the walls of the pack house has been cleaned, the casualties l, dead bodies had been taken away, the whole place now looked like there was neve a battle at the pack house. However, the only thing that gave away the fact that there had been a battle, was the broken walls of some of the buildings around including the pack house. That was something that had already been looked into and should be in order in three to five days. Right now, I stepped out of the pack house, the cool air hitting my face. The sun was already high, but it didn’t do much to warm the uneasiness sitting heavy in my chest. Oh yes,I had a lot in my chest m, a whol
Cecilia's pov. After the chit chat with Damon, we came to a conclusion that we would carry on with the plan. Right now, The morning air was cold as I pulled the black mask over my face. The mask was part of the plan as we needed our identity hidden from the elders. I could feel the dampness of the forest around us, the ground still wet from last night’s rain. Birds chirped softly in the distance, but their songs did little to settle the nerves crawling up my spine.I looked to my left where Damon adjusted his own mask. His sharp eyes met mine for a moment, and he gave me a small nod. It was time, he didn't voice it oh yeah but I could read his expression.Behind Damon, six of his men moved silently through the trees. They were all dressed in dark clothes, their footsteps quiet on the muddy ground. I followed close behind Damon as we made our way toward the old trail that led into the deeper parts of the forest.“They should be coming around the bend any minute now,” Damon whisp
Cecilia's pov.I felt a soft touch on my hands and I jolted up immediately, my eyes wide open however, I was blinded by the sun momentarily and I couldn't see who or what was standing above me. “Cecilia” a familiar voice called, still touching my shoulder. It was at that time that my vision began to adjust to the sunlight. I narrowed my eyes as I sat up l, my back resting on a tree. “Damon?” I muttered. Damon nodded, slowly helping me back to my feet “that's right”. Immediately I stood on both feet, a sudden pain shit through my head, “ahh!” I yelled,grabbing my head with both hands as I crouched down a little It was at that exact moment that all that transpired the previous night became rushing back to my head.I had been involved in a fight with Lydia and somehow I had tried and fell, and that was the only thing I could remember, I had no idea what happened after that. I looked up at Damon, my brows furrowed “where is Lydia she is with Auren did you see her” Damon sighed, “I
Kailey’s POV, My heart still raced, and fear still crawled up my spine like cold fingers, but I turned around. I had to check,if that was my chance to find the relic, I wasn't going to miss it. And with the newly found courage, I Slowly walked back toward the sound.The trees seemed taller now and thicker, the sky above was hidden behind black leaves, and even the birds were quiet. The only sound was my breathing and the soft rustle of my steps. Then I heard it again.The loud growl. It was louder now, and closer than ever.i gulped,I had already made up my mind, and I was going to stick to my decision.I ducked behind a tree, trying to steady my breath. The growl wasn't just noise anymore, it had a strange weight to it, like it was shaking the ground. This only made it even more scary and horrific than it should have been. However, even with all of this, I refused to retreat, I had only one goal.in my head. To find the relic. I crept forward, slowly, carefully. Every step I too
Kailey’s POV.I left the area where the blood red flowers had been as fast as my legs could carry me, something at the back of my mind tells me that the illusion had to do with the area, had to do with the blood red flowers. The illusion was totally different from the ones I had when I first entered the forest.This was totally real,like I was there, like I was living another life. The whole thing played on my head once again, Ezekiel confessing to Cecilia, telling her how much he loves her, telling her how much of a mistake Auren and I were. I shook the thought to the back of my mind, I wasn't going to let an illusion cloud my judgment. All I needed to do right now was to find the relic. I couldn't help but wonder where it was. I have already lost track of time. I have no idea if Ezekiel was alright. I could help but wonder if he was still sane, if the curse hadn't turned him into a complete monster.I shook my head, noticing the wetness in my eyes. No, I wasn't going to shed te
LYDIA'S POV. Together, Auren and I cleaned the fish with a sharp rock and placed them on sticks to roast over the fire.The smell of cooking fish filled the cave, and Auren’s stomach growled loudly, causing the both of us to laugh rhythmically. When the fish was ready, we let it cool for a moment and then ate. The meat was soft and smoky. It wasn’t a lot, but it was warm, and it helped.After he finished, Auren wiped his mouth with the back of his hand and looked at me.“Lydia… where are we going now?” he asked. His voice was small, uncertain.Auren was the type who was brave and always outspoken, he wanted to be involved in fights and all of that.However I noticed that all the happenings lately had calmed him down, I had no idea if it was fear or maybe this was because his parents were not around.But still I didn't know if this was a positive or negative effect.I looked into his eyes, he was scared. I could tell he misses the pack house, he misses James, he misses his parents.A
Lydia's pov. I opened my eyes slowly and for a moment I didn't move, I just laid on the ground, I didn't move, my eyes and ears open as I listened to my environment The cave was quiet except for the soft dripping of water deep inside. I felt the cool earth beneath me, it was rough but better than the night before, it was better than how cold it had been the night before.The smell of damp stone and leaves filled the air.I raised my head and could see how vines covered the entrance of the cave. I watched as they moved slowly with the morning breeze. We made it here last night. I was grateful to the moon goddess for providing a shelter for Auren and I. I wonder where we would have slept if we hadn't come across the cave. We were already tired at the tone, exhausted and I knew just as I couldn't move further, Auren also couldn't. This little cave had been like a gift from the Moon Goddess. It wasn’t much, but it kept us safe.I turned my head and looked at him. Auren was still asl