LUXURIA.Parthe has been too adamant about this war, and I have a bad feeling about it. That's why I did what I had to do."The men are ready, Alpha," Vixtin said, adjusting his armor. His pregnant mate was almost due for delivery. Why would Parthe put him in harm's way just at the peak of his life?"Tell the warriors securing the entrances of the pack to get more weapons if need be. We wouldn't want any surprises while we are out there," Parthe said, not lifting his head from the map he was studying.I gathered the courage I needed and entered his courtroom, "Parthe?" I called while approaching him."How much longer did you intend to stand there?" He asked so casually.Of course, what did I expect? He'd smelt me from where I was hiding and contemplating if I should talk to him or not.I cleared my throat, "Please don't go for this war. I have a bad feeling about it and... And..." I trailed off, my voice choking with restrained sobs.Even though we've both not been the best of mates,
ALPHA PARTHE.Two thousand warriors drew their swords for a battle they knew they'd lose either way.Fools. Lesser men always are so foolish.The battleground was charged with the kind of energy I liked. Fear. Panic. Terror. It poured from Lucius's men like a pungent stench, feeding the darker corners of my soul.Even though Lucius was too much of a coward to admit his wrong and decided to keep up with his pride, his men were obviously aware of what they were up against.I watched them with detached emotion. They looked pathetic.The image of my sleeping mate kept replaying in my head. She was so beautiful when she slept. Especially when in a deep slumber like the one I had just put her in.She'd thought I'd abandon this war? She thought wrong. I had to use my powers to put her in a slumber to be able to leave."You're sure about this?" I heard Urik ask from beside me."What? You think you need to leave?" I asked in a menacing tone without even looking at him.Urik had been against th
ALPHA PARTHE.Telling Vixtin's mate about his demise was the hardest thing to do after the war. She was so shocked that she instantly went into labor.Thankfully, she and the baby boy are alive. But I can't say she was well. She hadn't spoken nor eaten in days. It kills me.We won the war but lost a very important member of our pack. I had claimed the Ray Haven pack, which was one of the biggest achievements an Alpha could have. But it was still not enough to fill the void I felt inside.I felt more like a loser than a winner.Luxuria was beyond hurt. She had warned me. I didn't listen. And everything I've tried to do to pacify her wasn't working."You promised not to go!" She had screamed at me when I returned."I never promised you anything, Luxuria. Quit the drama." I had dismissively replied to her.My life was taking a miserable turn, and it was almost as if I had no control over it. Since I got my powers back, controlling my emotions and decisions became a bit difficult.The bea
LUXURIA.I hadn't had such an intimate time with my mate in a long time. The woods were calm and peaceful under the setting sun.The cool breeze that fanned against my nostrils brought with it a promise of rainfall."It's going to be a rainy night," I said, breaking the awkward silence that had descended upon us after we talked about the Luna coronation.Parthe was certain about me being his Luna despite all odds.In the actual sense, Shikta was meant to be his Luna since she was pregnant for him and would bear him a son. I sincerely wonder how he intends to have his way with this. And Shikta was never going to keep calm about it.Deep down, I still feel the urge to leave, even though the pull I feel toward him keeps getting stronger by the day."Who best to spend a rainy night with, if not my mate?" He replied, and a blush crept up my cheek.I looked around and found the guards at a reasonable distance away from us, but I was sure they had heard him."Your pregnant mistress might nee
SHIKTA.I wiped off the tears from my eyes and went to Tervan's chamber. I was done being a fool."Shikta. What do you want? We can't be seen together!" He said through clenched teeth, looking around frantically."I have gone past caring, Tervan!" I almost screamed at him. "Take a look at me," I said, pointing at my nearly tattered self.I had become a shadow of myself. My plans - Our plans seemed not to be falling in place. Everything seemed to be falling apart.A pregnant woman needs a lot of necessities, and I wasn't getting any. My bump wasn't visible yet because the pregnancy was still at its early stage, but I was already feeling like I'd been pregnant for months.I didn't know how much of this I could take anymore."What do you want?" Tervan finally asked after taking in a deep breath."Do I repel you? Why have you been avoiding me?" I asked, searching his face for answers."I just lost my mate, Shikta. Are you that insensitive?"Oh. Now I am being insensitive?"What do you mea
LUXURIA.Parthe was still in his courtroom. He's been there all evening. It was obvious there was something crucial he was handling, especially now that he'd made Kefas the new head of the warriors after Vixtin's death.It was the best time to talk to Rorden."Rorden?" I whispered when I got to his door. I had knocked, but there was no response. I couldn't leave. Besides, I needed more potions.It's quite disturbing how dependent I have become on Rorden and his potions. I was desperate to find a lasting solution. I mean... What if Rorden were to leave one day, and I'd never see him again? What if life happens and we ever part ways? What if...My train of thought came to a halt when the door creaked open, revealing a man standing before me with his bare body.My eyes almost bulged out of their sockets when they rested on his entirely naked frame. Water droplets clung to his sun-kissed skin, tracing rivulets down the hard planes of his chest and the sculpted ridges of his abdomen. His c
LUXURIA.I did all I could to steady my racing heart, but it was all to no avail. My heart drummed hard against my ribs.The door slammed open, rattling on its hinges, and Parthe walked in with someone else.Wait. Who was it?"Where is she?" I heard Parthe ask angrily.Rorden seemed calm... Too calm. "Who are you talking about?""Don't play dumb with me, Rorden. You know exactly who I'm talking about. Luxuria. Where is she?""Do I now keep your mate?" Rorden asked in a tone that sounded so mocking.I heard Parthe take some steps forward before he came to a halt. There was silence.What were they doing? Why wasn't anyone speaking?"I will search every corner of this chamber until I find her," Parthe said, and my heart jumped out of my chest."You will do no such thing," Rorden challenged him, "Have you become so insensitive to details that you can't even take a moment to sniff around? Do you perceive her anywhere in my chamber?"What? Why would Rorden make such a statement?Of course,
THE NIGHTSHADE PACK.ALPHA ZEGAN (The Dark Alpha).The Blood Alpha was highly pleased with all we had achieved so far. Everything was falling into place already, and in just a few more days, the last piece of the plan will be with us. Luxuria."So, tell me, Nevada..." The Blood Alpha began, his back still turned against the woman kneeling before him, "Or should I call you Eldora?"The woman trembled with both hands clasped in front of her, "Call me Nevada," she managed."Ah..." The Blood Alpha sighed, "I prefer to call you Eldora. And, I have told you before... You have nothing to be scared about. You are fine and well-protected here. We brought you in to keep you safe."I know the woman didn't believe a word that came out of his mouth. She was too scared to. And he looked too frightening to give such assurances.Nevada nodded either way."So, tell me. Who was Zendaya? And why is she of so much importance to Parthe, so much that he regrets killing her?" He asked the woman, who looked
ALPHA PARTHE.Urik's words had refused to fade away since I had that triggering conversation with him. I wanted to dismiss it, but I couldn't.Just as much as I know he and Tervan hated each other, I never thought Urik would stoop so low as to make up such stories about Tervan.How could he ever suggest that Tervan might be up to something fishy against the pack? He also suggested, although without proof or enough conviction, that Tervan might know Luxuria's whereabouts.It made me laugh so hard, even though a tiny part of me was trying to betray the friendship I had shared with Tervan to believe what Urik was trying to say.Wearing this black cloak on this cold night, preparing to secretly follow Tervan, my trusted friend and Beta, to see if he was trying to betray me, seemed like a betrayal in itself. But Urik had insisted, and in order to prove him and a part of myself wrong, I agreed to trail Tervan tonight."Alpha, he's on the move." Urik mind-linked me, and I straightened up imm
LUXURIA.I had lost count of how long I'd been in this lonely hell. I hated myself. I felt like ending it all.Rorden had made me remember every single thing he made me forget, including the two times he made me betray my mate.I had cried out my eyes each time the memories came crawling in... The way he made me comply without a choice while he fucked me the way he pleased... It all made me hate myself even more for ever trusting him.All through my stay in his pack, he had refused to give me potions to take. In his words, he said, "I am preparing you for the big day ahead."What big day was he talking about? And why did I need to stay away from the potions that should help me feel better?The curse was coming back in full swing - the red flashes, the ache in my head, the uncontrollable anger, the hunger for blood and chaos... It was becoming overwhelming."Oh, Selene, please save me," I whispered as I curled myself on the bed, trying to shield myself from the pain I was feeling.My d
ALPHA PARTHE.Urik finally got my attention. Any topic that had to do with my mate was a welcomed one.He insisted on speaking with me alone, even after I told him to speak freely with Tervan here.I reluctantly dismissed Tervan, promising to see him as soon as I was done with Urik.The feud between these two keeps piling up, and I can't tell what is happening between them. I knew they were never best of friends, but I never expected it to turn into a full-blown hatred for each other.These were my Beta and Gamma, for Selene's sake!"This had better be good," I said, gesturing for him to sit, but he declined."I prefer to stand, Alpha. You aren't sitting either," He said with a small shrug."So. What about her? You finally have information about her whereabouts?" I asked, resting both my hands on the edge of the table. The tension in my muscles was becoming unbearable. I needed something to hold on to."Before I begin, please secure the place. I want your ears to be the only ones that
ALPHA PARTHE.I was losing my mind. It's been two days now, and my warriors still haven't found a clue as to where my mate - Luxuria - has gone.Rorden was also nowhere to be found.Right from childhood, Rorden always left the pack and came back at will. I never saw the need to find out where he'd been going or where he had made his second home. It was never my concern.But right now, I wish I had paid attention to those details.Perhaps she had gone to be with Rorden to continue their forbidden love story.Fuck!I punched the wall behind me, and it cracked, bringing out dust and stone particles.My heart felt so empty, even though I had rejected her, and she was no longer a part of me.A knock sounded on my door, and it took everything in me not to yell at whoever was at the door, "Who is it?""It is I, Alpha," I heard Shikta from the other side of the door."What do you want?" I asked but didn't let her respond, "Leave. I'm busy," I said.It went still for a while, but I knew she ha
LUXURIA."I'll never be yours, Rorden! Not even in your wildest dream!" I summoned up the courage and spat in his face, "You are despicable. You made me trust you and ended up stabbing me in the back. How do you feel? Didn't you feel even a shred of guilt while at it?""No. I never felt guilty. I knew all I was doing was for the greater good." He turned around and walked toward the throne, "And, sorry, I killed your father. I know you won't think much about it because he was a coward, but just so you know... I was the one who killed him." He added before sitting.I stood with my fists clenched by my sides. I had stopped sobbing. All I felt for the man sitting in front of me was pure hatred. I felt like strangling him to death.Yes, I didn't think much about my father's death. I could say he deserved whatever death came his way, but Rorden? Why was it he who had to kill Odren?I took slow, cautious steps toward him, my fists still clenched tightly by my side.Suddenly, the door opened u
LUXURIA.The world was spinning, tilting on an axis I no longer recognized. I stared at him—at Rorden—my mind grappling with the truth I didn't want to believe."So it was all you? All along?" I didn't even know the right question to ask. I was confused, speechless, hurt... Scared. I was all alone with him. He had dismissed the girls who had brought me in, and I was now at his mercy. It's not like the girls would have been able to do anything to help me should they be here, and he tried to harm me."Yes," He replied, "All along."I shook my head, trying to piece together the shattered fragments of my thoughts, "Why, Rorden? Why would you do this? Why would you…?" My words faltered, tangled in the knot of emotions choking me.He closed the distance between us and gave me a dark smile."How...? Explain this—explain you! Why are you called the Blood Alpha? You're a wizard, Rorden!" I demanded as the questions kept coming in scattered bits.He smiled at me so tenderly that I would have be
LUXURIA.I had been walking for what felt like an eternity. My body ached. I also felt a slight pain in my lower abdomen. But... It wasn't that time of the month yet. Why was I...?My thoughts spiraled on their own, and the memories of all that had happened earlier came flooding in - Dashi's death, waking up in Rorden's chamber, the humiliation, and above all, my mate's rejection. I still felt the pain so fresh in my heart.I wished to pass from sleep to death, but Selene, in her infinite cruelty, refused to grant me that mercy. I guess she wasn't done punishing me yet. She didn't let death take me in my sleep.Wait.I had slept off on the wet ground somewhere in the woods. I was cold and shaking but had no choice after walking until sundown.But how was it possible that I was lying on something so soft and impossibly warm now?My eyes snapped open immediately, and every grogginess I felt dissipated immediately, replaced by a surge of confusion and wariness.This wasn't the wet ground
ALPHA PARTHE.This wasn't what I wanted. The ache in my chest was unbearable. It wasn't supposed to feel like this—this piercing, hollow pain that refused to stop no matter how much I tried to justify the judgment I passed on my mate.I had made the right decision. I had to believe that. Yet, no amount of self-convincing could quiet the storm raging inside me.I needed explanations. Perhaps it would quench this constant ache in my heart.Not long after she left, I sent some of my trusted guards to look for her and take her to one of my secret hideouts in the woods, where I used to go as a child whenever my father was in one of those moods where he'd feel like killing me.I'd been trying to reach them to see if they'd found her, but now, they are unreachable through the mind link.The last time they updated me, they said they had found no tracks, no sign of her presence. It was as if she had vanished, swallowed whole by the earth itself, and that they might have to go outside the pack'
SHIKTA.It was everything I had dreamed of, everything I had fought for, prayed for and schemed to achieve. Now, it was finally mine.Sitting in my chamber, surrounded by maids, their trembling hands fussing over the most exquisite dress I had ever laid eyes on—ironically, one chosen by Luxuria herself—I could almost taste victory.Guests from near and far were already pouring into the fortress. Even Alpha Modred had arrived!I closed my eyes, savoring the moment.Oh, Selene! Now I could look Rashina in the eyes and tell her I finally won... I'd tell her I said so. Alpha Parthe has finally become mine, and I, his Luna."What color would you want?" The lowlife of a maid asked me, and it was all I could do not to hit her. She was so small and pathetic.I turned sharply, fixing her with a glare so cold it made her flinch. "How dare you refer to me so casually and without respect?" I hissed, my voice like ice.The poor creature's face drained of color. She immediately bowed, her hands clas