(Magana)Yadiel’s mothers perception:Entering the dining room, I stand before a grand oak table that could easily accommodate fifty guests, if we were ever to host such a large gathering. Janice is seated to the right of my son, exactly where she belongs as his mate.I can't bring myself to break their bond, so I lied about the possibility of severing it. I refuse to let him pursue those pure-blood females, having endured enough of their father's pursuit of such women. Everyone believes that Alpha Simmons was responsible for his death - and while that may be partly true, I must confess that I weakened my mate with a potion, ensuring he would be easily defeated. I couldn't bear the pain of his infidelities any longer.My gaze roamed the table, and I could feel the fury brewing deep within me as I locked eyes with her. Another reminder of my dead mates continual affairs with other she wolves, sitting here as a pawn in my son's intricate game. I refused to dwell on her presence for long.
Crystal’s point of view: I jolted awake in my own bed, but something was off – I couldn't remember the past few days. It felt like there was something important that I was supposed to recall, but it evaded my grasp no matter how desperately I tried.I swung my feet over the edge of my bed and sent a mind-link to one of my friends, feeling like I needed to go out. I've been stuck in this room of mine for far too long ever since I was kidnapped. But for the life of me, I can't figure out who kidnapped me. No matter, I've been trained to fight, and I need to have some fun. My parents can't keep me prisoner forever.Crystal's voice, tense and teetering on hysteria, pierced the stillness, joltin
Melania’s Perspective-"Stop it!" I hissed to my best friend Linda, trying to keep my voice low. "You're frightening my sister. She should be celebrating; she's been waiting for her wolf longer than any of her peers. Can't you just dial it back a bit?"I observed Linda attempting to draw deep breaths, well-known for her susceptibility to panic attacks. My gaze shifted toward her mate, silently pleading for them to escort her to a different room. I echoed the request through our mind link—a unique connection the healer and I shared with others, excluding our mates, until the bond was fully formed.I gently nudged my father aside and knelt before my sister's wolf, establishing a mental link wi
Sapphires Perspective:Once I informed my sister about the new ability she was about to gain, thanks to Edna's announcement, I turned to Brock, my Alpha. Despite not being a wolf, we have a contract—I will serve as the pack witch for his protection. Essentially, we've got each other's backs, so I don't have to worry about anyone attempting to burn down my house.“Brock, let’s go to your office and the three of us can converse there,” I suggested with a playful grin.I watched as Brock headed out the door. “Brock? Where do you think you are going?”Brock looked perplexed as he replied, “To my helicopter.” His hand motions that he is leading the way.I huffed, trying to hold my cool, “Why do we need a helicopter, if we have me?”Brock knitted his brows once again in confusion, “What about my helicopter?”“Really? Brock, your men can’t be with
Sapphires Perspective: Morgana is a formidable presence, one that shouldn't be trifled with, and with Crystal being the chosen prodigy, her role may prove critical in the imminent war. At sixteen, Crystal's turbulent emotions leave her vulnerable—ripe for manipulation, susceptible to coaxed into a misguided quest for exaggerated vengeance.I had to conceal her presence from Morgana—mentally and physically. If Morgana infiltrated Crystal's mind, she could dominate her body. I was determined to prevent that at all costs.I had to weave a magical shroud over Crystal's mind to ensure only I could penetrate it. With a sigh, I faced the day I hoped would never dawn in my time, yet here it was&mda
Sapphire's Perspective:With Crystal's mind now shielded from Morgana's influence, I couldn't help but wonder who else she might ensnare—someone of her own bloodline. It hit me then: Yadiel, his gender notwithstanding, was vulnerable to her psychic grip. Although wielding her powers might elude him, he could still act under her influence in myriad other ways.Trying to block out Morgana, I reached out to Adrian's wolf through telepathy—a witch's means of mind-linking. "Come to my side, now!" The wolf complied instantly, and along with Crystal, they took up positions on either side of me. I quickly wove a protective spell around Adrian's mind, sealing it from Morgana's reach. Facing Morgana squarely, I declared, "These two will not be turned into your pawns." With a
From Stephanie's point of view:Brock had included me in every decision, treating me with equal regard, and it made me feel cherished deeply. If he hadn't already captured my heart, this certainly sealed it. Post-meeting, I whisked him away to his bedroom, promptly shutting and locking the door behind us, my arms encircling his neck in an intimate embrace."Thank you for involving me in all the meetings and decisions," I said, gazing up at him, my eyes brimming with both love and desire. But then Brock spoke, shattering the moment."It's only natural, you are the Luna of our pack, after all." Those few words felt like ice water to my emotions. My arms fell away from his neck as I retreated and stepped through the door, a cold realization settling in. I had been foolish to believe he saw me as his true partner, when, in reality, he was still seeking a Luna to command and produce offspring. It's not the idea of having children that I oppose, but rather the thought of being subservient r
Stephanie's perspective:As my father, Brock, and other Alpha representatives scoured the area in search of my sister, a sinking feeling told me it was too late. She'd set out to find Yadiel, likely seeking the truth about their shared bloodline.Yadiel had previously snatched her, using her as a pawn in a dangerous trade for me—and now, terrifyingly, she had willingly stepped into danger's maw.We were clueless about his hideout, the very knowledge that Adrian possessed, and the interrogation of him that we had yet to conduct weighed heavily on my mind. Both my sister and Adrian had vanished without a trace, and despite the intense search effort, her increasingly faint scent led nowhere. It was near the boundary of Brock's territory where both she and Adrian's trail disappeared completely.I had an inkling that Yadiel was employing a witch who shielded their pack from prying eyes. Locating it would be an impossible task without assistance from someone within Yadiel's ranks.The searc
Chapter One-Hundred Sixty-Six: Ezra, Enzo, and Esme's Fate Stephanie's Perspective: Time has passed swiftly, and the triplets have become a source of both worry and profound anguish. Aware that the moon goddess foretold the darkness in one of my children, I also clung to her assurance that we could save this child. She warned me of the numerous trials Esme would face, yet I was unprepared for the extent of her frailty and deformity. Parenting in such conditions leaves me at a loss. Each night, I plead with the moon goddess for guidance, as it is I who feels covered in darkness. Yet I heard nothing from her. It almost feels like punishment. I am a fierce Alpha female of the pack, I had made it through giving birth to triplets - Ezra, Enzo, and Esme. I remembered how much when the boys were born, how much Ezra and Enzo, were identical in every way, with their light blonde hair to me. But it was Esme, the runt of the litter, who stood out with her black hair that mirrored her father,
Brock's perspective: I crouched by Stephanie's side, stroking her pale cheek, willing her to fight through. Dr. Mildred was a blur of motion, her hands swift and sure as she worked to stop the bleeding, her brow furrowed with concentration, her lips moving in silent prayer or perhaps a list of medical steps. The clock on the wall ticked in mockery of my racing heart, its hands moving too slowly for my liking. It seemed time itself had conspired to increase the torture, drawing out each moment into an unbearable eternity. Minutes - or was it hours? - passed and finally, Dr. Mildred straightened with a tired sigh, peeling off her gloves. "We've managed to stop the bleeding," she announced, her eyes meeting mine. It was the first hope I'd clung to since it had all begun.With that small reassurance, I allowed myself to draw a breath, my grip on Stephanie's hand loosening just slightly. Then the heart monitor screamed out with a shrill tone showing Stephanie's heart had stoppe
Third-Party Perspective:As the Suburban sped down the back road, the trees blurred past in a green and golden haze, a stark contrast to the tension coiled within the vehicle. Stephanie's grip on Brock's hand tightened with each wave of pain that wracked her body, her forehead beaded with sweat despite the cool autumn air seeping through the cracked window.Brock's heart raced as he watched his mate, Stephanie, contort in agony on his lap. He couldn't bear to see her in such pain, but he knew that they were running out of time. The driver's voice cut through the air, a note of urgency lacing his words as he asked if they needed to pull over.Stephanie knew time was not on their side, and she felt a growing urgency to act. Accustomed to living without powers, she had forgotten that she could simply wish herself and Brock directly into the safety of the pack hospital. "No, keep going," I gasped, clutching at Brock with one hand while the other grasped at the shards of my fading humanit
Stephanie’s Perspective:As the driver for I and Brock navigated the winding road towards the Silverton pack territory, my mind was a whirlwind of emotions. The truth about my parentage had shaken me to the core, leaving me feeling as if I was floating in a sea of lies and deceit. I clutched my swollen belly, feeling the reassuring kicks of her unborn twin boys, a reminder of the new life I was about to bring into this world.The cool autumn air whispered through the trees, carrying with it the scent of pine and damp earth. My mate, Alpha Brock, sat beside me, his hand resting on my thigh in a silent show of support. I glanced at him, grateful for his unwavering presence in my life, especially in this tough time for me.As we arrived at the Silverton pack territory, I felt a mix of apprehension and determination swirling within me. I knew I needed to confront my parents, to demand answers and closure, no matter how painful the t
Stephanie’s Perspective:I was aware of my issues with emotional control, which is why I couldn't face visiting my parents just yet. The guilt weighed on me, especially since my mother had just given birth and my father was now in intensive care. I had received word that my father and his men had been ambushed by rogues while returning to my former pack.Everyone anticipated that my mother would give birth to another boy; however, she had a girl instead. The sonogram had misleadingly suggested the presence of a penis, but it turned out to be merely the umbilical cord.I called Crystal, now back in the packhouse and in her own room thanks to Linda. I asked her to tell our parents that I don't hate them. Rather, I am a danger to be around until I can control my emotions and my magic.I had never deeply appreciated how blessed I was to have Linda as a friend. She provided the tough love I needed. Without her physically pulling me out of that bed, I don’t know how much longer I would have
Stephanie's Perspective:A rank odor filled the air. As I glanced around, nothing appeared wrong, which led me to realize the unpleasant smell was coming from me; okay, maybe I hadn't showered in a few days.I rummaged through my closet and picked out a pair of leggings and an oversized sweatshirt. After that, I opened my dresser and chose some underwear. Embracing a gradual approach, I completed my outfit with fuzzy socks, opting for comfort above all today. Laying my chosen outfit on the bed, I grabbed a towel and made my way to the shower. The water hissed and sputtered as I turned on the tap. The steam curled up around the room, wrapping me in a comforting embrace.As I stepped into the shower, the hot water was a sharp contrast to the coldness that had settled into my bones over the past few days. Water cascaded over me, its soothing rhythm a backdrop to my troubled thoughts.I admit I had let my depression take over me, crippling me mentally for the past week? I am not even ce
Brock’s perspective:Darkness had encircled the pack since Stephanie brought chaos to an end with the war. A persistent shadow of dark gray clouds, with occasional thunderstorms, lingered over our pack, each storm an echo to Stephanie's tears.I had to reach her, to break through the pain that confined her to her room. Only Crystal and I could occasionally console her through her sobs; it was hardly a conversation.I asked Sapphire and Selena about her powers' origins, but they refused to reveal them. Stephanie stayed quiet, not even confiding in her best friend Linda.I juggled pack responsibilities and calls about Stephanie's well-being. It all became too much, as Stephanie had excelled as both co-alpha and was an outstanding Luna. I missed having her here to help run the pack.Sapphire had to resume her duties overseeing the secret, cursed pack, a curse her mother insisted on maintain
From Stephanie's Perspective:Selena and Sapphire rushed to my side, encircling me with a protective shield to safeguard those around me from the bursts of anger I seemed powerless to restrain. It was as though I was a living embodiment of the Fourth of July, with outbursts erupting repeatedly and without control.I saw the wolf-wizard rushing toward me, his face contorted with anger and bewilderment. Sapphire stepped in front of him, placing her hands on his chest to halt his advance. Despite being enclosed in my protective bubble, where I shouldn't have been able to hear them. I could catch snippets of their conversation.I watched Brock argue with the witches and the warlock; Linda joined the fray as well.Brock questioned Selena and Sapphire about what had transpired with me. Meanwhile, Linda shared my confusion. For some inexplicable reason, the warlock was under the impression that he was my biological fathe
Stephanie’s Perspective:I positioned myself to see both astral Brock and Vincent. It became clear Vincent didn't want to harm me; he was torn because he simply aimed to rescue his mate from Adrian. I empathized if Adrian had taken Brock, I'd go to great lengths to reclaim my mate."Vincent!" I shouted, struck by a plan to retrieve his mate without jeopardizing myself or upsetting Brock by using me as bait."Listen, I have an idea. We'll need Sapphire's assistance. Without another viable plan, we can't break through the barrier.Additionally, I've concealed a special gift from most. I don't want people to feel uncomfortable around me, thinking I am reading their mind twenty-four seven. Truthfully, the ability is sometimes annoying. I really don't want to know what people think. What I can do is establish a telepathic connection with almost anyone, except for pure humans. I'll use this ability to mentally inform Adrian tha