On the ground, his mate Charlotte lays wide awake, except her eyes are black, even the white parts, her left foot is split into half and there is an eerie smile on her face!Azraiel could feel his heart jump into his throat.“Charlotte?” He tries calling her name, unable to recognize his own voice.“Charlotte…” He tries again when she doesn’t react.Azraiel gulps hard and calls for Katya. “Katya!”She comes in rushing instantly.As soon as she sees the state Charlotte is in, her jaw drops to the floor.“What’s going on? Can you tell me what’s wrong with her?” He asks desperately.Katya kneels on the floor beside Charlotte. She lifts her index finger and hesitantly touches Charlotte’s foot. As soon as her finger makes contact with Charlotte’s skin, she reels back in shock. It’s as if she has touched fire.Wearily, she steps back and starts chanting a spell her mother taught her.As soon as she begins chanting, Charlotte starts convulsing. Her whole body starts twisting at weird angles
Charlotte’s tongue is stuck out of her mouth and two long fangs poke out at the sides. Blood drips from her red eyes and the look on her face says that she is ready to raise hell!Azraiel is taken aback for a second. Sure, he knows that she could turn into anything but this is the first time he is actually seeing it for himself.It looks like the vampire version of Charlotte is on the surface!Without releasing her, he loosens his grip and continues staring at her face. She smiles creepily at his stare as blood drips from her fangs.It takes everything in him to stay still and not wipe off the blood from her face. Slowly, he further loosened his grip but still remained close to her in case the spell didn’t work.He breathes a sigh of relief when he sees that it does work. The spell worked!Charlotte now stands on her own but now bound by the spell she isn’t thrashing. But for some reason, this stillness bothers Azraiel. He knows the spell worked since he can see the semitransparent sn
Azraiel drops to his knees and quickly lifts Charlotte’s fragile body and cradles her in his arms.“Charlotte?” His voice doesn’t express the fear he feels.He gulps down the tears. “Ch-Charlotte?” His voice breaks.“Alpha?” Theo enters the tent and stops in his tracks when he sees the state Charlotte is in.Behind him, Katya enters the tent but her reaction is the exact opposite. She rushes to Charlotte as soon as she sees her.Katya sits down next to Azraiel and slowly inspects Charlotte’s body.She checks her pulse calmly while everything inside her is screaming to get away from here as soon as possible.“Her pulse isn’t regular.” She mutters to herself.Closing her eyes, she puts her right palm on Charlotte’s forehead and starts chanting something.The more she chants, the more pained her face looks.Theo finally moves and sits down near Charlotte’s legs.“Alpha?” He calls Azraiel when he notices the broken expression on his best friend’s face.Azraiel Squeezes his eyes shut for
The first thing Azraiel notices about the wolf is the red eyes staring right back at him. His heart skips a beat when he notices the colour of the thick fur on the wolf’s body.BLACKBlack as in…royal…royal…which means a direct descendant of the Royals…But…The Royal family died 23 years ago…How could…Charlotte…is a Royal…The King’s daughter?Or another mutation as a result of the tragedy that happened to the Black Onyx Pack?When he is able to take his eyes off her, he notices that the other wolves are on their knees, bowing their heads to the black wolf.Azraiel is confused as hell right now. If she is indeed a royal, then he should bow down…but if…Well…he thinks to himself…here goes nothing.He steps forward and gets on his knees to bow down to her.He has no idea right now if she is indeed a royalty but he knows that that right there is his Queen, his mate and he has no freaking problem bowing down to her.With bated breath he waits for her reaction. He knows that Katya and T
Azraiel, Katya and Theo stand together at the edge of the woods with around three dozen warriors standing behind them.After Azraiel woke up Katya and Theo, they rushed to the borders to see if anyone had any idea what happened when they were unconscious. To their utter surprise, they found all the warriors unconscious. No one was harmed but they weren’t awake. They had to help them wake up. A five-minute talk with them concluded that none of them saw Charlotte shift into the black wolf. They all lost consciousness at the same time.They decided to wait for Charlotte and her pack in the woods, just in case anything goes wrong.Azraiel also received a call from his sister Ayleen and things have been fine there, to say the least. The vampires, weredragons and sirens shifted at the same as the werewolves and they too heard the howl of the black wolf. As a result, they left the Queen’s palace as soon as they heard that howl. How they managed to bypass the many spells protecting that place
Theo lifts his head a little, his eyes shine with unshed tears. He looks straight into the black wolf’s eyes and says,“Alpha!” All eyes are on the black wolf as Theo keeps kneeling down.Azraiel’s eyes play ping pong, shifting between his Gamma and his mate. Why the hell is his Gamma calling Charlotte ‘Alpha’ instead of ‘Luna’?With his breath stuck in his throat, Azraiel watches as after looking at Theo for about a minute the black wolf trudges forward and licks his cheeks, wiping the tears now streaming down from his eyes.What in the name of hell is happening?Theo bows his head and cries softly.Without another glance at him, the black wolf steps aside to stand in front of Azraiel.Pushing the scene, he saw before to the back of his mind, Azraiel leans down to hug his mate. His nostrils flare as her intoxicating scent enters his nose. Mhmm…Much more powerful and strong.His wolf’s relief is evident as his mate rubs her muzzle in his neck, marking him with his scent. He plants a
She is home! He is her home!Azraiel pulls her inside his office and takes her sit on the couch, making her sit on his lap. His face rets in the crook of her neck and he breathes in deeply.“Are you okay?” He asks her lightly.“Mhmm…I am now.” She places a kiss on the top of his head.“Good.” He pulls back to look into her eyes.A smile slowly etches on his face.“You look stunning.” Azraiel whispers. He wasn’t lying. Charlotte was practically glowing. It was still her but somehow more beautiful, if that was possible. Her face now had a certain tightness and sharpness that it didn’t before. Her eyes looked bigger and sharper, probably her vision has altered too. She was dressed in a simple black sweatshirt and a blue denim but to him, she looked exquisite.Charlotte smiles in return. “Please tell me I didn’t hurt you…or anyone?” She asks, her smile slowly wiping away.Azraiel understands her concern immediately and shakes his head with confidence and conviction painted on his face. “N
Charlotte woke up to an empty bed. Immediately, she mindlinked Azraiel to confirm if he was at the packhouse and yes he was.She felt like she needed a coffee so she brewed one cup for herself and slowly sipped on it while looking at the woods from the balcony in her room. There were warriors stationed all around her house and she knew it was Azraiel’s doing. She was fine with it.The moment she woke up from her sleep, she has been thinking hard about only one thing. The whole ordeal with Theo left her confused and conflicted. She doesn’t want to hurt Azraiel but she also has no control over Theo’s decision.Theo is Azraiel’s best friend and Gamma, so how can he be her Beta? Why did she feel that connection with Theo when all along she felt like Nicholas was her Beta? She has a lot of questions but no answers. Worst of all, she doesn’t feel bad about Theo being her Beta. She has always felt at ease around him, almost as if he was her brother. He cheered her up when she felt down, he w
Aunt Caitlyn sat on the plush sofa in Azraiel’s drawing room, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. The rich, dark wood of the furniture glinted faintly under the muted glow of the overhead chandelier, and the scent of pinewood from the hearth lingered in the air. She had rushed over in her nightclothes, barely taking the time to throw a coat over her shoulders when Ayleen’s desperate call came.The sound of Ayleen’s sobs still echoed in her ears, and Caitlyn’s heart clenched at the memory. The young woman had flung herself into her arms the moment she stepped through the door, her body trembling with unspoken fears.Now, as she sat in the center of the tension-filled room, Caitlyn couldn’t help but notice how heavy the atmosphere was. Matt and Theo stood to the side, their postures rigid, their expressions grim. Siobhan sat beside Ayleen on the loveseat, murmuring soft reassurances while rubbing her back gently. Ayleen, her eyes red-rimmed and swollen, leaned her head against Siobhan
The moonlight cast a faint, silvery glow on the forest path leading to Alana’s house, illuminating the route just enough for Kira to navigate without stumbling. Her boots crunched softly against the dirt, the sound oddly loud in the stillness of the night. She glanced up at the looming trees, their dark branches intertwining above her to form a canopy that swallowed most of the moonlight. It felt like the forest itself was holding its breath. Alana’s house came into view, a small structure perched on the edge of the pack’s territory. Its isolation was deliberate—an unspoken acknowledgment of the unease the pack felt around the witch. Even as she approached, Kira couldn’t help but feel the weight of its placement. It wasn’t just physical distance that separated Alana from the others; it was a barrier of mistrust and fear. Kira slowed her steps, her hand instinctively resting on the hilt of the dagger strapped to her thigh. She didn’t expect trouble, but being cautious never hurt. The
Katya tossed aside another of her mother’s journals, letting it fall to the floor with a defeated sigh. The thick stack of ancient leather-bound books was strewn across the room, each one filled with spells, enchantments, and writings about flames of every imaginable color—blue, black, green, even a rare purple. But nowhere, not a single line, had mentioned the mysterious silver flame. It felt as though the answers she sought were just beyond reach, buried beneath years of her mother’s guarded knowledge.Katya rubbed her temples, feeling a growing frustration behind her eyes as she got up from the floor, carefully stepping over a couple of loose pages that had scattered during her search. She wandered into the kitchen, her bare feet padding softly on the wooden floor, where the hum of the refrigerator and the ticking of the wall clock punctuated the otherwise heavy silence of the night. She reached for the coffee pot, her hands moving almost mechanically, measuring out the coffee grou
For the next two hours, various tests were conducted on Charlotte to determine the cause of her condition. They wanted to be certain that she was physically fine before drawing any conclusions. Some of the test results came back normal, and now they were awaiting the others.Dr. Humphrey had checked Charlotte’s vitals earlier—her pulse, heartbeat, blood pressure, and brain activity were all normal. Yet, despite these signs of life, Charlotte remained unconscious, as though trapped in a deep slumber. Azraiel lay beside her, his body healing slowly from the burns, but his heart was heavy with worry. The others had left the room to give them space, gathering downstairs in the hall.Katya had left the house altogether, determined to search her mother’s books and journals for anything related to the mysterious silver fire and its effects. Ayleen, who had been inconsolable earlier, reluctantly joined the others after Dr. Humphrey insisted they needed the room to monitor both Charlotte and A
Azraiel’s scream tore through the night as the silver flames licked at his skin, searing his flesh. The pain was unlike anything he had ever felt—blinding, all-consuming—but he pushed through it. His grip tightened around Charlotte’s limp body as he lifted her into his arms, ignoring the fire that burned him down to his core. Every breath was a struggle, coming in short, agonized puffs as the heat smothered him, but he refused to let go.He summoned his true-blooded wolf, the primal strength buried deep within him, and let out a howl of pain and anguish that echoed through the walls. The wolf took over, guiding him with a singular focus—protect Charlotte. His feet moved on instinct as he hurried into the room, the flames still biting at his skin, and laid her carefully on their bed.As soon as her body touched the bed, Azraiel collapsed, his knees buckling under the unbearable pain. He hit the floor with a thud, the flames finally retreating, but leaving him scorched, his body covered
Azraiel felt her pain before he heard her voice. The intensity of the headache that slammed through the mindlink sent a sharp jolt of panic through his entire body. He was at the pack border, inspecting the security for Charlotte’s introductory ball with Kira, Matt, and Katya, when it hit him like a physical blow. The agony was overwhelming, and it wasn’t just his own—he could feel Charlotte’s fear pulsing through their bond.Without a word, Azraiel spun on his heels and sprinted towards her, his heart racing with dread. He knew something was wrong, terribly wrong, and he couldn't waste another second. Behind him, Matt, Kira, and Katya followed, their footsteps pounding through the woods as they tried to keep up with his pace.Matt’s voice cut through the rush of wind and trees as they ran. “Charlotte left the banquet hall a few hours ago. Ayleen left for home not long after. They must be at your place.”Azraiel heard him, but he couldn’t respond. His mind was racing too fast, his hear
Charlotte stood on the balcony, her arms wrapped around her middle, deep in thought as the cool night air played with the loose strands of her hair. Below her, the maze in the garden glowed with a soft golden hue. Yellow-golden fairy lights had been draped intricately along the maze's borders, casting an ethereal glow that illuminated the neatly trimmed hedges. The lights flickered gently in the breeze, their glow stretching out like long fingers that traced across the stone walls of the estate, spilling golden shadows across her face. Her reflection caught in the glass door behind her, her expression drawn, her lips pressed into a thin line of unease.Azraiel had taken charge of the preparations for her ball—her introductory event. As usual, he was meticulous, ensuring every detail was perfect. Charlotte had been busy too, focusing on the decorations and arrangements, but her mind was not with the party. Hours ago, something had happened, something that had shaken her in ways she cou
Matt tossed and turned in his bed, the moonlight filtering through the curtains, casting silver streaks across the room. Sleep was elusive, as his mind replayed the conversation he'd had with Kira just yesterday.“The way you look at her...it’s the same way Theo looks at Samantha and Alpha looks at Luna.” Kira had said.He had laughed it off at the time, but now, in the stillness of the night, the weight of her words pressed down on him. How could he have been so transparent? How could he have let his guard down so easily?Years ago, he and Katya had been inseparable, especially during that rescue mission for Ayleen. They were younger then, driven by adrenaline and the high stakes of their world. It had been easy to mistake the intensity of their connection for something more. And perhaps, back then, it had been more.But they had grown up. They had changed. He wasn’t the same impulsive wolf he’d been, and Katya wasn’t the same mysterious witch who could read his thoughts before he’d
The Blue Orchid packhouse was alive with the hustle and bustle of preparations for the grand ball, an event that drew werewolves from packs far and wide. However, in the quiet confines of Theo’s office, an entirely different kind of preparation was underway.Charlotte, the Luna of the Blue Orchid pack and the Alpha of her own unnamed supernatural pack sat poised in one of the plush leather chairs, her sharp eyes fixed on Theo. Samantha, Theo’s mate, sat beside her, her interest piqued by the serious discussion they were about to have. Theo, the Beta of the Blue Orchid pack, stood behind his desk, his presence commanding the room.“The world of werewolf politics is more intricate than it appears,” Theo began, his voice steady and authoritative. “As Luna of the Blue Orchid pack and Alpha of your own, you, Luna, must be well-versed in the dynamics of our world. And Samantha, as my mate, your understanding of these matters is equally important.”Samantha nodded, her curiosity evident. Char