I watch her, uninterested.There is little else in this place to look at right now. I sit behind the glass, watching her swim. She isn't very graceful or elegant, as she glides just beneath the surface of the water, completely naked. Her body doesn't bother me, or strike me with wonder. It's just another pointless body that holds little meaning to me. I barely give it a second glance.She knows I'm watching her, and she's making a show of it. Poppy, I believe her name is. She snuck in here thinking I wouldn't notice, stripped of her clothing and dove into my pool. Now she's trying her hardest to impress me.It's the struggle I enjoy the most.No one can impress me. It's as simple as that, yet so many shameless girls stumble into my place in order to try me out. It was the words of the last girl who came in here, not mine. It's a novelty to bed me considering my abilities as the sin, lust. It's a curse in itself, since these girls who come here couldn't in
AIDANA’s POVHer gentle fingers draw each trestle back, tucking them behind my ear with adept precision.I catch her eye in the mirror. She is so innocent, my little Hermione. She’s a gift I'm grateful for, who is almost always by my side. Almost. Perhaps her family miss her. She doesn't seem to care so much any more. Hermione has realised her life here - with me - is much better."Do you actually enjoy your hours in the temple?" Hermione asks, tightening the braid she created in the tips of her fingers.I have priorities in the temple most mornings; especially today, being a Sunday on mortal ground. It's not something I'm particularly fond of. It's the Blackthorne Pack that gather together to sing to me on this day."Quite," I say smoothly, pinning down a wrinkle on my dress. "It's such an honour."Hermione smiles down at me. A picture of innocence. A gift from my mate. He's so peculiar, doing these things for me. He so clearly wants my heart, but what separates us is more than sinis
I was not sure how I was supposed to react. My mind isn't playing tricks on me. Shinee, my mate, is standing right in front of me, hands shoved in his pant pockets, watching me. Those lavender eyes strike me into silence for a moment, as I come to terms with all that comes with him being here, in this library right now, because it's not all that simple. Does the Moon know? How did he even get in here in the first place? Who let him in? There are so many questions that Shinee isn't answering. I simply can't get the words out of my mouth to greet him. I place my finger to my lips. Anymore that he says could be detected by the Moon, especially being so close to what might be his home behind this wall. That is, if he can have one. Shinee raises an eyebrow at me. How is it possible that he looks so different to how I remember him? What happened to the shaggy haired, lean immortal I knew? He seems taller, with broader shoulders, sharper features and a sense of power that seeps from him
I can't let Shinee's appearance get to me.His letter sits on the table in front of me. It's still folded up, curiosity bubbling up within in me, my twitching fingers begging to pick it up and read what written. His visit here has left me breathless, still, hours after he has left. His presence still lingers in the air, a tingling feeling still existing on the surface of my skin.My gaze flickers up to the fireplace that crackles up against wall, before it falls on the letter again. Should I burn it? If I burn it, then it will be vanished forever, and the words he wrote upon it will be haunting me for who knows how long.Picking it up, I slip it back into my pocket, where it is once again, concealed from my sight. Right now, I have more important matters to deal with.I need to get on the other side of that wall.I'm not sure what I'm expecting to find, but as I wander back to my bed, I let my imagination run wild, considering all options.T
I hold the note between the tips of my fingers.Biting the edge of my lip, I consider all my options. I could open it, read the words upon it, or I could toss it into the fire I sit directly in front of. The flames lick up the concrete capturing it in, begging for me to give it the letter, let it take it out of my life. These thoughts I'm having, that I can trust Shinee to help me, are wicked. Poisonous.But yet, I need help. I'll admit that. And I can't trust anyone, not Damon, not a single guard, or even that Virtue who lives on the other side of the estate. But Shinee...he's my mate. I might not know his full motive, but he wouldn't hurt me, right?"Everything okay?" I hear from behind me. Glancing over my shoulder, I eye Hermione. She closes my bedroom door behind her, before she removes her jacket."Everything is fine," I reply.What the hell.I fold the letter open, unable to withhold my curiosity any longer. The note isn't too long, t
I barely slept all night.Originally, I had planned on staying up in order to gather my thoughts and prepare for this morning, but instead, I sat in front of my fire, waiting for it to completely consume me. My mind is numb, leaving me with no hope in facing him. I have a point I need to get across, which I can't do when I'm so nervous. He gets into my head, and I don't know how to get him out."I drew a bath for you, if you would like to prepare for your meeting," I hear from behind me. The words are accompanied by a bit of streaming light through my windows as Hermione opens my curtains. I wince. How long have I been sitting here?"Thank you Hermione," I respond hoarsely, stretching my back out. Everything aches. I haven't moved since Shinee left last night. Even my heavy eyelids protest.Hermione opens the door to my bathroom. It's a prompt.Glancing over my shoulder, I eye the steaming bath through the doorway, despondent. I'm not sure how Hermione knows about the meeting, but I'm
AIDANAMy reaction is immediate disgust.Shinee walks into the room, looking back at me, as if I'm going to follow him into his bedroom. I stand at the doorway, staring in at him disbelief. Did he seriously just hear me proudly talk about being a respectable woman, and is now telling me I'm sleeping in his room? There is no doubt plenty of guest rooms in this marvelous estate.As I remain gaping at him, not taking a single step in, Shinee's playful expression erupts into one of pure amusement. Does he think I'm a joke? Folding my arms over my chest, I silently scold my past self for agreeing to this."I'm offering this room to you, as it's the best room here, and you, as my mate, deserves only the best. I'm not going to be staying in here with you," he informs me.My entire body deflates."Oh," I draw off. Suddenly I feel foolish for my assumption, although he led me right into it. Warily, I wander into the room, watching him, and his bed, ensuring there is a few feet of space between
AIDANAAll I know about today, is it's going to be cold.Walking back into the bedroom after being fed a sweet liquid to remove the truth serum from my system, I trudged back upstairs, fuming. I'm not going with him today because his charm sufficed in convincing me. No. I'm going because what other choice do I have? He's going to make it impossible for me if I refuse.And to make matters worse on this entire day, he didn't give me the book. He claimed it wasn't a false promise, and that he knew I was using every fiber in my body to stop myself from being honest with him, therefore, the deal was off. Conniving jerk.I would be more mad about it, if I weren't so distracted by the clothing choice Shinee must have magically laid out atop the covers of the bed.Cold weather clothes. Coats, boots, sweaters.I've seen outside of Shinee's estate, at the snow capped mountains and dainty villages tucked within the valleys of these towering beasts. It makes me wonder whether he created it for his
The council chamber buzzed with tension as the pack leaders gathered for an emergency meeting. The news of the skirmish between Moonshadow and Nightwalker wolves had sent shockwaves through the packs, threatening to undo the fragile progress they had made.Rayka stood at the head of the room, her gaze sharp and unyielding. Sylvester was by her side, his presence a steady reminder of the unity they were fighting to preserve.“All right,” Rayka began, her voice cutting through the murmurs. “I want a full report. Who was involved, and how did this happen?”A scout stepped forward, his expression grim. “The incident occurred near the southern border. A Moonshadow patrol and a Nightwalker patrol crossed paths during their rounds. They accused each other of trespassing, and things escalated into a fight. No serious injuries, but tempers flared on both sides.”“Names,” Sylvester demanded. “Who led the patrols?”The scout hesitated. “Daren for the Moonshadow patrol. Talia for the Nightwalker p
The forest was alive with the sounds of pack life as Rayka walked through the stronghold. Wolves bustled about, carrying supplies, sparring on the training grounds, or chatting in small groups. To the untrained eye, everything appeared harmonious, but Rayka’s instincts told her otherwise. There was a tension in the air, subtle yet unmistakable—a quiet unease rippling through her people. Sylvester met her at the edge of the training field, his brow furrowed. “Do you feel it too?” he asked without preamble. Rayka nodded, her gaze sweeping over the busy grounds. “Something’s off. I’ve heard murmurs—discontent, whispers of doubt. It’s not open rebellion, but it’s there.” Sylvester’s jaw tightened. “Any idea where it’s coming from?” “Not yet,” Rayka admitted. “But I’m going to find out.”
The morning sunlight spilled across the Moonshadow Pack’s stronghold, bathing the forest in golden light. The sounds of nature surrounded the settlement—chirping birds, rustling leaves, and the soft murmurs of pack life. For once, there were no urgent meetings, no strategies to plan, and no enemies at the border. It was a rare day of peace, and Rayka intended to savor every second of it.Rayka stood in the kitchen, rolling up her sleeves as she examined the collection of ingredients in front of her. Cooking wasn’t something she often had time for, but today she decided to indulge herself. Kael’s soft coos echoed from his crib in the corner of the room, bringing a smile to her face.“Are you sure you remember how to do this?” Sylvester teased from the doorway, leaning casually against the frame.Rayka shot him a mock glare. “I might not be a master chef, but I can manage breakfast without setting the place on fire.”
The air in the Moonshadow Pack’s territory carried a quiet peace that felt foreign after so much conflict. For the first time in years, Rayka allowed herself a moment to breathe, her shoulders no longer heavy with the constant weight of impending battles. Yet the scars of their struggles remained etched into the land, their people, and her heart.Sylvester leaned against the doorway of their shared quarters, the healing wound on his side a stark reminder of how close they had come to losing everything. His presence was a quiet reassurance, a steady force beside her as they faced this new chapter together.“Morning already?” he asked, his voice low but warm.Rayka nodded, glancing at the horizon where the sun rose, casting a golden hue over the dense forest. “A new day,” she murmured. “A new era.”Sylvester stepped closer, his hand brushing hers. “And what kind of leaders will we be in this era, Rayka?”“The kind who learn from the past but don’t let it define us,” she replied without
The prophecy had haunted Rayka since the moment it had been uttered. The old seer’s voice echoed in her mind, a chilling combination of truth and warning: “Under the blood moon’s shadow, a bond shall be tested, a leader shall fall, and a child’s cry shall signal the dawn of a new fate." For weeks, the pack had lived in the shadow of these words, their meaning elusive yet ever-present. Rayka tried to convince herself that they were mere ramblings, but as the pieces of their world began to align in ways she couldn’t ignore, she feared that fate was finally calling its due.The sun dipped below the horizon, casting long, jagged shadows across the forest. Rayka stood on the high balcony of the Moonshadow Pack’s stronghold, her sharp eyes scanning the horizon. Sylvester joined her, his steps silent but his presence unmistakable. He placed a hand on her shoulder, his touch warm despite the chill in the air.“The scouts reported movements near the western border,” Sylvester said, his voice h
The dawn broke over the forest, a hesitant light filtering through the trees as if wary of what it might find below. Rayka stood on the balcony of their stronghold, the cool morning breeze brushing her face. From her vantage point, she observed the daily bustle of the pack below. Yet, a gnawing unease had taken root in her heart, one that Sylvester had voiced just the night before.“You feel it too, don’t you?” Sylvester’s voice cut through the quiet. He approached from behind, his presence grounding yet tinged with the same worry that plagued her.“Yes,” Rayka admitted, her gaze fixed on the training grounds where warriors sparred. “Something’s not right. There’s a disconnect, a tension I can’t quite place.”Sylvester leaned against the railing, his sharp eyes scanning the scene. “We’ve been so focused on external threats, perhaps we’ve neglected what’s been festering within.”Their suspicions were confirmed later that day during a council meeting. The room was filled with voices, som
The air was heavy with tension as Rayka and Sylvester arrived at the neutral territory where the meeting was set to take place. This stretch of forest, untouched by either pack or faction, had served as a sanctuary for those unwilling to take sides in the recent conflict. The trees stood tall and ancient, their intertwined branches creating a canopy that muted the afternoon light. It was a place steeped in history, where deals had been struck and truces forged over centuries.Sylvester stepped ahead, his eyes scanning the dense underbrush for signs of movement. "I don’t like this," he murmured, his voice low enough for only Rayka to hear."I don’t either," Rayka replied, her gaze fixed on the clearing ahead. "But if there’s a chance to secure their support, we have to take it."The "they" in question were the Silver Veil, a reclusive and enigmatic group that had always remained on the periphery of pack politics. Neither fully aligned with the dominant factions nor entirely independent
The battle's aftermath left a silence that felt foreign, almost unnerving. Rayka stood atop a ridge overlooking the main settlement of their pack, the soft orange hues of dawn casting long shadows over the valley. For years, conflict had been her constant companion—each victory accompanied by loss, each step forward shadowed by doubt. Now, as the dust settled and the echoes of war faded, she realized that peace was an even more daunting challenge.The village below bore the scars of their struggles. Buildings stood in varying states of disrepair, some barely more than skeletons of wood and stone. People moved through the streets, their steps heavy with fatigue but underlined with determination. For every broken window, there was a group working to patch it. For every torn banner, there was someone sewing it anew.Sylvester joined her, his quiet presence a balm to her restless thoughts. "It’s a strange sight, isn’t it?" he murmured, his voice low as if unwilling to disturb the fragile s
The aftermath of battle hung over the battlefield like an oppressive shroud. Smoke coiled into the air, rising from the scorched earth, and the groans of the wounded were muffled by the crunch of boots over broken ground. Rayka and Sylvester stood on a ridge overlooking the smoldering remains of the battlefield, their eyes scanning the horizon for signs of enemy movement.The tension was palpable, the allied forces weary but prepared for another clash.“They’ve gone quiet,” Sylvester remarked, his sharp eyes darting toward the distant enemy camp. “Too quiet.”Rayka nodded, her instincts buzzing with unease. “It’s not like them to retreat without regrouping. Something’s not right.”As if to punctuate her words, a lone figure emerged from the enemy’s camp, holding a white flag high above their head. The sight drew murmurs from the allied forces, the realization spreading through their ranks like wi