CASSIUSInstead of making my way back to the ballroom in the basement of the pack house, I change course and head towards Xeraphina’s room. I don’t care if I have to talk to her through the door. There are so many things that need to be said before she connects with her wolf and shifts for the first time. I’m prepared to apologize on my hands and knees, even kissing her feet if necessary. It is crucial that I mend the rift between us.As I hurried down the hallway, the sound of a piercing scream echoed, transforming into a haunting wolf’s howl reverberating through my ears. The intensity threatened to shatter my eardrums. In that moment, a captivating scent enveloped me, a blend of sweet honeysuckle, the refreshing scent of rain, and the earthy aroma of the forest. The scent is more alluring than ever before and I know that it’s Xeraphina who is transforming into her wolf. A mix of overwhelming happiness and anxiety envelopes my core. Ignoring the discomfort, I sprinted the last few s
XERAPHINAThe excruciating agony pulses through every fiber of my being, intensifying with each piercing scream and howl that escapes my throat. My hands revert to their original state, only to twist and shatter once more. I feel like at any moment my heart will go into shock and I’ll die. It would be nice if I died, so this excruciating pain would end.As my door swings open, a captivating aroma fills the room, surpassing any scent I have ever encountered. It’s an incredible blend of salty ocean air, juicy watermelon, and a hint of rich chocolate. For a moment, I find solace from the torment that consumes me, but it fades as the searing pain resumes its merciless assault. It feels as though every nerve, cell, and bone in my body is being torn apart, creating an unbearable and unrelenting sensation. Even my internal organs seem to undergo a disturbing transformation, and I could throw up at any moment. However, the thought of vomiting is impossible since I haven’t eaten since yesterda
XERAPHINAI have never experienced such exhilaration in my entire life as when Xariah and I dashed through the woods. Even the excitement of cattle roping in rodeos pales in comparison. For four long years, I have eagerly awaited this moment. The shock and disappointment of discovering that Cassius was my mate, as revealed by Charity, no longer burdens my thoughts. I am finally free! Xariah, my incredible wolf counterpart, exceeds all my expectations and is everything I have ever wished and prayed for from the moon goddess.Xariah stops for a moment, sniffing the air, panting to cool off. Her ears perk up at the sound of a nearby stream and lick her chops. ‘The first shift always takes a lot out of the wolf and human. I need a drink before going any further.’‘That would be nice. We could see what we look like in full form, Xariah. The stream isn’t too far away. Let’s go,’ I say through our shared consciousness, smiling.Xariah’s tail wags furiously as she yips with glee, her joyful h
XERAPHINAIn an instant, a searing pain slices through my chest, causing me to hunch over, clutching my heart. The anguish grips me beyond any pain I have ever felt before, as if squeezing the very life out of me. It’s worse than the pain I felt when I was transforming into my wolf for the first time.It was wrong of me to reject Cassius. He has been a part of my life since I was born. Cassius has seen me through every milestone growing up. Even as I went through my preteen stages and then became a teenager. Cassius was even there for me when I was shifting into my wolf for the first time. He’s been there for me forever until he got married to Charity. Then he cut all ties with me until two weeks ago. Two years without Cassius by my side and the whole time, he knew I was his fated mate. I don’t understand why Cassius has done this to me. He rejected me before I could even understand what was happening. I became nothing to him when he married Charity. Just like I became nothing to my
CASSIUSI hoped rescuing Xeraphina during her first wolf transformation would make her consider giving me a chance. However, being there for her did not give me the result I wanted. Despite Luna Sarah’s disapproval, I stayed and waited for her to shift into her wolf form. Luna Sarah was right - it would take time for Xeraphina to feel at ease around me.I knew Xeraphina would be hungry when she returned, so I started making her favorite breakfast. The waffles were easy, but the omelet took a while because I wanted it to be perfect. In a skillet, I cooked diced ham and chicken. I chopped onions and minced garlic. I even minced parsley, oregano, and other spices in a separate skillet. With four eggs from the chickens, I made a huge omelet. I wanted to do everything myself to make sure it was perfect, even though some omega women offered to help. While I was waiting for Xeraphina, time felt like it was lagging. Now she’s here, but things aren’t going as planned.I thought Xeraphina would
XERAPHINAClutching some oven mitts, I open the oven, bend down and retrieve my plate. As I rise, I glance back to see the bewildered look on Cassius’s face. “Do you need something? Or can I eat in peace?” He blinks a few times before turning and leaving the kitchen with his shoulders slumped and his head hung low.Do I feel any remorse for hurting Cassius's feelings and being harsh? Absolutely not. Should I feel guilty? Nope. He deserved the full force of my words. I should have gone even further than what I said before. I don’t believe I expressed myself enough. However, during that conversation, I was in unbearable pain, and the longer it went on, the worse the pain became. What he doesn’t realize is that the bond between us is now weak. His scent doesn’t affect me as strongly anymore, and I barely felt any tingles when he touched me or hugged me after not accepting the rejection. Thankfully, Cassius’ not accepting the rejection took away all the pain, so I’m grateful for that. The
XERAPHINATilly, an omega wolf in her late twenties, joined our pack a few years ago, having come from a neighboring pack. Her story of why she left her old pack remains a mystery to everyone except my father, the Alpha and my mother, the Luna of our pack. Despite being here for ten years, she arrived without a mate and has yet to find one.Returning her hug, I step back to retrieve my plate and put it back in the oven to keep it warm. I then turn to face Tilly. “I’m not sure what has happened to you, but my condolences for whatever it was. Little did I know that him carrying me outside in the middle of my first shift into a wolf was so risky. If I had known, I wouldn’t have let him do it. Now I feel guilty. The whole time he was taking me away, I was mentally hoping I could shift and use my claws to castrate him.”“My older brother, who was only a year older than me, died when he picked me up and carried me outside, when I was going through my first transformation into my wolf. We di
XERAPHINAAfter finishing my meal, I made my way down to the basement where my party would take place. It’s going to be an elegant affair, and my dress is stunning. My parents are pulling out all the stops for me, which doesn’t happen very often. The whole excitement of the event used to revolve around me finding my mate, but that’s no longer the case. As a result, families from different packs will be attending. Honestly, I’m not too bothered about that anymore. A party is a party, and I’ve been anticipating this moment for a few years now.If only I had been born a boy, perhaps my father would have shown more interest in me throughout the years. It feels like I have always been a burden to him. My mother has always been the one who looks out for me, even amidst her responsibilities towards our pack. However, my father keeps her occupied with pack affairs, leaving little time for us to bond as mother and daughter.As I make my way down to the basement, I spot my mother taking charge,