There's no way I'm going to turn this down.Despite my better judgement, I know if there has been any opportunity for me to get away from this place, it's now. Sinking my trust into these people may not be the best idea, but I'll die trying. It won't be the first time I've considered dying to escape. As long as the Moon didn't bring me back from the grips of death, it would be worth it."How are we going to do this?" I say, my one oath to help them in any way to get me and Damon out of here. And Hermione. There is no way I'm not taking her with us, otherwise the Moon will keep her here and torture her until I come back to retrieve her.Damon smiles softly. He knew I would agree. I'm not sure how long he has been a direct slave to the Moon, but it's enough to have him as desperate as me.Desperate to work with Shinee, who no one in their right mind would trust."It's going to take some time, but I can assure, it will be worth it," Damon says, glancing at Shinee for support, but he is l
Thankfully Shinee and I's conversation ended as quickly as it started.Everyone disperses from my room into my foyer. Hermione is standing quietly in the corner of my room by the fire, which is a mild concern, but the immortals lingering in my space is a more present issue. Damon's comfortability with being here is putting my mind at ease. He would know if there was any possibility for the Moon to know we are all here, since he's in charge of deceiving him. Right?"Here's an idea..." Damon says, clapping his hands together. We all collectively flinch at the sound. Everyone seems to be plagued by their own thoughts about what is to come, not matching Damon's cheerfulness. "Why don't we all have dinner together.""Damon, I think we have risked enough for one day," I say softly, looking around for support. Shinee nods grimly, although his apprehension to leave just yet is imminent."I'm going back to my quarters. Let me know when you want to have an actual conversation about the future i
AIDANAI wake slowly, comfortably.Jerking awake, I look over at the figure sitting next to me. Shinee's head is dipped back away from me, clearly dead asleep. We sleep out of novelty, to pass time, so I'm wondering how I managed to let myself fall asleep with Shinee right beside me. This moment of vulnerability is something I should feel bad about, but I don't. I feel comfortable.Shinee stirs, so I force myself into sitting position. He rubs his eyes, making me smile softly, before he blinks a few times, looking up at me. There a moment of surprise, looking like how I imagined I did when I woke. But immediately it morphs into one of warmth, making my heart flutter.He doesn't say anything, grabbing my waist, pulling me atop him.I gasp, as he presses me against his chest. I'm confused for a moment about what he is doing, until I realise he's hugging me. Is this a cuddle? It feels oddly domestic for us.I don't speak though. I let him hold me, knowing that this may be the last time I
Sarsha hasn't changed one bit.She's still unremarkable, aside from that rather mortal flare of beauty that is typically unique among them. She has a naïve nature too, which as a mortal, can be found cute. If she was a pureblood immortal, however, she would survive less than a few moments before someone swallowed her whole. Maybe that's why this experience has been so...fun.It was over a year ago when I met her. She came into my life to trick me, but instead, I tricked her. After a night to ensure the plan came together, she left my life thinking she was pregnant. With my child. Now that Fate and I have stopped colluding, I'm here to finally clear the air."Finally come to gloat?" she asks flatly."Where's Asher?" I question, strolling in through her home brazenly. She's not going to kick me out of this...rather beautiful home. It's small, though. "Did I scare him away?""It all scared him away. I couldn't lie to him, and you knew that," Sarsha says distastefully. "So, he left. He le
I lie in bed, enjoying the morning.Hermione is out of the room, leaving me in silence. I've been enjoying the peace before everything erupts into that craziness that will be escaping this place. Quite honestly, I'm not putting my faith in this working. I don't trust Damon all that much, even if he has been getting on my good side for whatever reason, and who knows if Shinee will be reliable. Especially convincing immortals to help.A knock rapts on my door, making me flinch. Without me calling out, the door opens, and Damon waltzes right in, a book tucked under his arm. He's dressed completely head to toe in white, matching those milky eyes of his."I bear gifts," he announces, as I pull myself up in bed, leaning back against my headboard. Thankfully, I decided to sleep in a night gown last night, and not completely bare.No way would I be able to look him in the eye again."I'm hoping it's the key to get out of this place," I say airily, although I already know there's more to it th
AidanaI dress quicker than I ever have.Hermione is nowhere to help me, as I pull myself together enough to come face to face with immortals. I may be one of them myself, with powers of my own – which I rarely use – but they intimidate me. They are confident, and judgmental and use their abilities without a care in the world. I'm jealous of their ability to not care about what they do and who they do it to. The moment I step into my foyer after barely putting on clothes and running a brush through my hair, I bump right into Damon. I don't think I will ever be able to look him in the eye again after what he walked in one. I can barely forgive myself...I've never done that before. No one has ever made me feel that way before, and it's frightening. If Shinee can make me feel that way, then who knows how I'll be able to react near him? "Don't say anything," I mutter under my breath, eyeing him suspiciously. I don't know what I'm going to do, considering I doubt he's going to keep his
I'm mortified.Each piece of paper glares at me, my own eyes staring into my soul. No one has ever done anything like this, that I know of, in my long years. People paint pictures of me and hang them in churches to support their beliefs, but nothing ever so...personal. There is nothing in the way I'm portrayed here that would suggest a loyal follower. Here I'm hardly even modest."I can explain," Damon says lowly, his tone steady. I tear my case away toward him, anger bubbling up within me. How dare he make these. How dare he appear to me like anything other than a helpful acquaintance who only wants freedom from me. Not...whatever this is."Take me back, to my mate. You can explain in front of him," I say softly, turning to face him, not bothered as the paper crumples beneath my feet.None of this is right.Damon's jaw clenches, turning his back to me. Wordlessly, I follow him back through the small, secret exit, emerging back into the library. I breathe in the familiarity, the other
Sound buzzes persistently in my ear.My head is spinning, a sour taste on my tongue. All I can register is heat, beating down relentlessly upon my back, right through whatever sheer outfit I must be wearing. My face is pressed against dirt...or maybe that's sand. It's burning hot, whatever it is, it coats the inside of my mouth, turning it uncomfortably dry, only accelerating my thirst.Memories flood into my mind all at once, making me wince. I'm not exactly sure where I am, as that was never a part of the plan. All I know is I'm no longer with the Moon, but on immortal soil.We executed the plan what felt like days ago, but was only seconds. We got everyone together, they harnessed their magic, and here I am, Hermione, having taken my place. The magic still vibrates through me, my own having been stilled to the point I doubt it works anymore.I force myself to look up.I'm in a desert. Red sand slopes up and down for miles, glimmering with golden specks under the relentless sunlight
As dawn’s first light crept over the horizon, casting long shadows across the Stonevale forest, an unearthly silence settled over the camp. Rayka and Sylvester could feel the weight of Bael’s betrayal bearing down on them. Their alliance with Stonevale was more fragile than ever, and the threat of the Steelclaws loomed dangerously close. Just as they were about to join Thorne for a strategy meeting, an elder wolf, bent and cloaked in heavy robes, shuffled into their path. “Alpha Rayka, Alpha Sylvester,” the elder rasped, her voice as brittle as dry leaves. Rayka blinked, taken aback. She hadn’t seen this wolf before; her fur was a grizzled silver, and her eyes were clouded with age. She leaned heavily on a twisted cane, her steps slow but deliberate. Sylvester tensed, recognizing her as a seer—a figure of reverence and mystery among the packs, rumored to carry glimpses of the past and future. The elder’s gaze fixed on them, though her eyes seemed to look beyond, as if she saw things
The atmosphere in the Stonevale territory was tense, the air filled with the weight of recent battles and hard-won alliances. Rayka and Sylvester had just returned from a skirmish with the Steelclaws, the relief of victory tempered by a newfound alliance with Stonevale. It had taken all their strength and diplomacy to secure this partnership, and now that they had it, they knew the cost of failure was even higher.Rayka sensed the underlying unrest even as they met with Thorne and his senior advisors, sitting around a council fire deep within the Stonevale woods. Stonevale’s warriors watched with wary eyes, their trust in the Moonshadow Pack still fragile, and rightly so. Only days earlier, their neutrality had been threatened, and whispers of betrayal still lingered.As the meeting began, Thorne addressed the tension, his voice somber. “It has come to my attention that some of my own pack members are not entirely pleased with our alliance. Their discontent runs deeper than I realized
As dawn broke over the Moonshadow territory, a renewed sense of purpose filled the air. Rayka and Sylvester had spent the last few days recovering from the battle, but they knew that rest would have to wait. The Steelclaws’ persistent threat lingered, and they had only narrowly managed to hold their ground. Now, they needed something more—a definitive edge that could help them secure the future of their pack.Rayka looked at Sylvester as they stood on a ridge overlooking the northern forest. “We can’t keep fighting like this, Sylvester. We need allies—someone strong enough to counterbalance Mordaen’s forces.”Sylvester nodded, his gaze scanning the horizon. “Agreed. The question is, who can we turn to? Most of the nearby packs have already chosen a side, either with us or the Steelclaws.”Rayka's eyes sharpened with resolve. “Then it’s time we approach a neutral pack.”There was only one group that had the power and resources to truly tip the scales in their favor. Known as the Stonev
The day had dawned with a clarity that brought both hope and trepidation to Rayka and Sylvester. As they prepared to leave for the council meeting with the neighboring packs, the weight of their responsibilities pressed down on them, thicker than ever. The looming threat of the Steelclaws remained, but today was a pivotal moment—one that could shape the future of the Moonshadow Pack and their allies.Rayka paced the small tent that had become a temporary command center for their operations. Maps sprawled across a table, markers indicating pack territories and possible routes of Steelclaw incursions. Sylvester stood by the entrance, scanning the horizon as if anticipating trouble. “We need to ensure that our presence is felt at this council,” Rayka said, her voice steady but charged with urgency. “If we can unite our packs against the Steelclaws, we can show them that they’re outnumbered and outmatched.”Sylvester nodded, his brow furrowed in thought. “But
The first light of dawn filtered through the dense forest surrounding the Moonshadow Pack’s territory, casting a soft, golden glow over the settlement. After the tense confrontation with Gareth, Rayka and Sylvester felt the enormity of their responsibilities settle more heavily on their shoulders. The betrayal, while quelled for the moment, had shaken the foundation of trust within the pack. As leaders, they were expected to restore stability and protect the pack’s future, yet they knew it wouldn’t be easy.For days, the atmosphere was tense but hopeful. The pack’s loyalty had been tested and reaffirmed, but the whispers of unrest and doubt hadn’t entirely vanished. The Steelclaws, though momentarily pacified by Gareth’s removal, were a looming threat. Everyone sensed that the balance of power was fragile, and one misstep could bring everything crashing down.Rayka awoke that morning with a quiet resolve. She gazed over at Sylvester, who was already awake and watch
The tension following Gareth's bold challenge hadn’t yet dissipated. The air in the Moonshadow Pack's clearing was still charged with the emotions from the confrontation, with every pack member on edge, their loyalty now a silent declaration that spoke volumes. Rayka and Sylvester knew they had to act fast to prevent Gareth’s divisive rhetoric from gaining more traction. But amid the turmoil, an unexpected turn of events brought a ghost from their past back into their lives.That night, as Rayka and Sylvester retired to the strategy room, Calder and Lara followed close behind. The four of them had spent the past few days planning every angle, every possible step they could take to neutralize Gareth’s influence without alienating the pack members who had started listening to his promises. But as they were poring over the details, there was a soft knock at the door, a knock that resonated oddly in the quiet of the stronghold. Rayka exchanged a look with Sylvester be
The cool night air was thick with tension as Rayka and Sylvester paced outside the stronghold, each lost in thought, the echoes of Gareth’s defiance still ringing in their ears. The sparring display was more than a challenge to their authority—it was an open invitation to rebellion. It was only a matter of time before the pack’s younger, more ambitious members began questioning the leadership they had fought so hard to secure. Sylvester clenched his jaw, his hand reaching out instinctively to rest on Rayka’s shoulder. “We can’t let Gareth’s influence spread any further. He’s planting seeds of dissent, and they’re taking root faster than we anticipated.” Rayka nodded, her gaze fixed on the dark expanse of trees stretching beyond their territory. “He’s smart, I’ll give him that. He knows exactly what to say to stir doubts, especially with the younger wolves. They haven’t seen the battles we’ve fought or the sacrifices we’ve made. To them, Gareth’s promise
The sun bathed the vast expanse of the Moonshadow Pack’s territory in a golden glow as Rayka and Sylvester stood on the ridge, overlooking their home. The once-constant tension of leadership and impending danger had subsided for now, replaced with the quiet hum of daily life. It had been months since the final confrontation that secured their leadership and family’s future, yet the journey ahead remained far from simple. Rayka placed a gentle hand on her stomach, where the last remnants of her pregnancy had passed into memories, and now a small, healthy child awaited them at the stronghold. She could hardly believe how much had changed. The responsibilities of parenthood had transformed her, as much as it had strengthened her bond with Sylvester. Together, they had led the pack through political upheaval and personal sacrifice, and now they faced a new era—a balance of power and family, peace and vigilance. “Are you ready for another day of juggling diplomacy and diaper changes?” S
The first rays of dawn broke over the mountains, casting a golden hue across the landscape as the Moonshadow Pack stirred to life. The morning chill hung in the air, but within the stronghold, a different kind of cold had settled in—one borne of uncertainty and lingering tension. Rayka stood at the window of their chambers, watching the sun creep over the horizon, her thoughts a tangled web of worries and plans.In the weeks since the scout had returned with news of a rival pack forming alliances, Rayka and Sylvester had been tireless in their efforts to fortify the pack, both in strength and strategy. Every move they made now was crucial—one misstep, and everything they had fought for could come crashing down. The safety of their child, their leadership, and their future hinged on how they navigated this delicate time.Behind her, Sylvester stirred awake, his arm reaching out instinctively for Rayka before he realized she was already out of bed. "You’re up early,"