“It-It’s Wolfsbane.”Both Azraiel and Theo knew what was in the pouch even before Charlotte opened it. That’s why Azraiel pushed it out of her hands.Since she too is now a wolf, wolfsbane is equally dangerous for her too.“Leave the room.” Katya looks at them. “All of you. Ask someone from the medical wing to send gloves and sample containers.”Azraiel nods and the three of them leave the room. Theo instantly mindlinks someone at the medical wing while Azraiel inspects Charlotte’s hands.“You are not hurt, are you?” he asks gently. His heart thunders in his chest.“No.” She says quietly, surprisingly calm.A few minutes pass and a nurse from the medical wing drops the supplies asked for. None of them speak while Katya collects the sample from the pouch and cleans the office from any wolfsbane with her magic.A few minutes later, she opens the door and says, “Come in. It’s all cleaned up.”Azraiel exhales and they take their places again.“So”, Azraiel begins, “A blood stained cloth,
Charlotte silently takes in what Azraiel just said.I am sure she was a part of the Royal courtShe tilts her head so that she can look at his face. It’s dark but her brand new werewolf vision lets her see every detail of his face.“What do you mean by that?” Her voice a foreign sound on her lips.His arms tighten around her. “The blood on the fabric smelled really strong, Charlotte which is very unusual if it indeed is from the day your mother entered the human land. The smell should have faded by now if she were any ordinary wolf. I smelled the same scent on the fabric too. If it was someone else’s blood, then I wouldn’t have smelled the same scent on that piece of dress too. The smell…” he trails and she sees him gulp, “The smell is strong. During that time, it was a common practice for the courtiers of the Royal court to swear a blood oath with the royals. The Blood oath not only prevented them from betraying the King and the Queen but it also added to their power. The power of th
The next day began earlier than Azraiel would have liked.With every member of Charlotte’s pack now completed shifting, they need to maintain records of each and every member according to the supernatural being they transformed into after their shift.Charlotte left early in the morning to ensure that her pack members weren’t having any adverse symptoms after the shift. She also wanted to discuss with Nicholas and Jamie about the training and further course of action as a pack. Theo accompanied her to the woods.They still haven’t figured out the whole Theo acknowledging her as his Alpha thing and it seemed like no one wanted to discuss anything about the matter.Azraiel left for the packhouse at the same time. He barely slept last night even though his mate was safe and protected in his arms. The matter with Theo and the contents of the backpack left by Arthur keep coming back to his mind every other second. His men have been tracking Arthur and Austin ever since they noticed them on
The old cabin nestled within the dense thicket of the village seemed almost as weary as the man who inhabited it. Arthur sat slouched at a rustic wooden table, a dimly flickering lantern casting long shadows across his haggard face. His weathered hands clutched a half-empty bottle of whiskey, its amber contents offering temporary solace to a soul burdened with remorse.The air was heavy with the weight of his regrets, each breath heaved with the weight of his betrayals. Through tear-blurred eyes, he stared out of the cabin's small, frosted window, watching as the moon cast an eerie glow upon the surrounding trees. It was a night ripe with both sorrow and danger.Outside, in the veil of darkness, lurked creatures of myth and legend. Werewolves, guardians of the forest, prowled silently, their keen senses attuned to the slightest movement. Among them, two pairs of amber eyes fixated on the cabin, the Beta and the Head Warrior of the Blue Orchid pack tasked with observing and bringing th
Under the blazing sun, Charlotte stands tall, her muscles glistening with sweat as she pauses to catch her breath. The training grounds are a flurry of activity, filled with the sounds of clashing swords and grunts of exertion. Preparation is key for the impending battle, Kira told her before she started training her.Charlotte begins her training regimen with a series of stretching exercises, her movements fluid and precise. Limbering up her body, she ensures that every muscle is ready for the challenges ahead. With each stretch, she focuses her mind, channelling her inner strength and determination. She starts with the basics, honing her agility and speed by darting through the underbrush with the grace of a prowling predator. Each movement is deliberate, and calculated, as she weaves between trees and leaps over fallen logs, her wolfish instincts guiding her every step.Next comes combat training. Charlotte faces off against imaginary foes, her claws extended and her fangs bared in
“Hello, Uncle!”Arthur’s eyes snap to Charlotte. As he takes in the woman standing before him, his eyes widen in disbelief and fear.As if he has seen a ghost, he scrambles to put as much as distance possible between them but ends up falling flat on his ass.Charlotte smirks, letting her teeth extend into canines and peek out of her mouth.Arthur starts sweating profusely. He looks at Azraiel and Katya for help but when they maintain a stone face, he realizes he is on his own.“Y-“ he gulps, “You are alive.” He trembles.Charlotte grins. The smell of his fear gives her immense satisfaction.“Yup.” She says popping the ‘p’. “I am alive, despite your schemes to get me killed.”Arthur’s face changes at the accusation.He regains his composure, or at least tries to.“I never wanted you dead, Charlotte. They wanted to kill you but I convinced them to let you leave the continent.” He says, his voice a little clearer than before.Charlotte’s eyes harden.“And that makes it alright?” Arthur v
The moon hung heavy and bloated in the ink-black sky, casting an eerie silver glow upon the desolate landscape below. Charlotte stood alone on the edge of a cliff, her heart pounding like thunder in her chest, her breath coming in ragged gasps that misted in the frigid air. The wind howled mournfully, whipping her dark hair about her face in wild tendrils.But it wasn't just the weather that sent shivers down her spine—it was the figure standing before her, a twisted reflection of herself. Its eyes glowed with a feral light, glinting like shards of shattered glass in the moonlight. Its lips peeled back in a snarl, revealing gleaming, razor-sharp teeth that dripped with blood.Charlotte recoiled in horror, her mind struggling to comprehend what she was seeing. Was this truly her? Was this the monster that lurked within, waiting to be unleashed? The realization struck her like a bolt of lightning, filling her with a bone-deep terror, unlike anything she had ever known.She tried to turn
Charlotte was stunned when Azraiel relayed the events that took place that evening. She knew she had a nightmare, but she had no idea that the said nightmare was about her.Of course, it was! Her wolf remarks.Smartass!She thought that she was a threat to everyone else, so she unknowingly cast a protection spell to contain herself within the half circle. It came as a relief that even when she wasn’t aware, she was wise enough to protect her pack. This eased her worries of becoming a danger to some extent.At least she is not trying to be dangerous on purpose.This incident forced her to face the truth. Her truth! She needs to know herself really well. So well, that she is aware of every being residing inside her and its capabilities and nature. To do nothing would be a gamble on the future. She is too smart to make that mistake.In their home, Azraiel and Charlotte quietly had dinner and went upstairs to the spare room. The damage in their room couldn’t be fixed right now so they d
Charlotte’s head feels like she has been hit with multiple hammers a thousand times over. A sharp, pulsating pain courses through her skull, making her groan softly. Her throat is dry, her limbs feel like lead, and her eyes itch as she struggles to open them.What the hell is going on?Where is she?The last thing she remembers is an angry voice screaming “RAVEN!”, and then… nothing.She puts every bit of strength left in her body into forcing her eyes open. It takes effort, but after a few agonizing seconds, she finally manages to pry them open. The first thing she sees is the vast expanse of tree leaves above her, their thick canopy allowing only thin slivers of sunlight to pierce through. She barely catches a glimpse of the sky in between the dense leaves.Great. More trees. That narrows down the place, she thinks sarcastically.A groan escapes her lips as she tries to sit up. Every movement feels like she is dragging a boulder attached to her body. Her limbs protest, but she pushe
Azraiel leaned back into the sofa, letting out a loud sigh, his frustration is evident in the way his shoulders slumped. Ayleen sat beside him, her small hand lightly clasping his. She knew her touch offered him no real solace, but it brought her a sense of grounding she desperately needed. People often saw her as delicate, a young woman barely stepping into adulthood, sheltered and untainted by the harshness of life. They were wrong. What they didn’t see—what she kept hidden behind her soft smiles and quiet demeanor—was the weight of grief she had carried for years. She had witnessed heartbreak and loss, endured the kind of pain that left invisible scars, and yet here she was, sitting strong and steady beside Azraiel. Her fragile appearance was a mask; beneath it was a will forged by fire, stronger than most in their world. She tightened her grip on his hand slightly, as much for her own reassurance as to remind him she was there—not weak, not afraid, but ready to face whatever came
Charlotte felt like her eyes were glued shut. The weight of her eyelids was unbearable, an invisible force pressing them down. Panic blossomed in her chest, sharp and suffocating, as she struggled to make sense of her surroundings. Her breath came in shallow, uneven spurts, and she willed herself to concentrate.“Why the hell can’t I open my eyes?” she thought desperately. Each attempt sent a searing burn through her eyelids. With every ounce of willpower, she took a deep breath, calmed the racing of her heart, and tried again. The ache behind her eyes intensified, but she pushed through. Finally, with what felt like a monumental effort, her eyelids fluttered open, and the world exploded into light.“What’s going on?” The thought was a quiet whisper in her mind, drowned in the overwhelming brightness that engulfed her.She raised a trembling hand to shield her eyes. The light was blinding, its intensity unfamiliar and disorienting. As her vision adjusted, she realized she was standing
The silence that followed Daniel’s call was as thick as fog. Everyone sat in contemplative unease, their thoughts spiraling into the abyss of uncertainties. Silver flames had been sighted 22 years ago—just a year after the devastating fire at the king’s palace, the same fire that claimed the lives of the werewolf royalty. Could these two events be connected? The implications of such a connection were as vast as they were terrifying.Azraiel’s drawing room felt heavier than ever, the weight of worry and exhaustion palpable in the air. Kira shifted uncomfortably, her gaze moving to the grandfather clock ticking loudly in the corner. Every second seemed to stretch into eternity.Suddenly, the sound of a door creaking open broke the tension. Everyone’s heads snapped toward the staircase, alert and apprehensive.Theo and Matt bolted to their feet, rushing up the stairs.“Azraiel?” Theo’s voice carried a mix of relief and worry as he spotted the Alpha slowly descending the stairs.Azraiel w
The weight of responsibility bore down on Daniel as he leaned back in his chair, rubbing his face with calloused hands. The room around him was dimly lit, with the flickering glow of a solitary desk lamp casting long shadows against the walls. The soft hum of the ceiling fan was the only sound accompanying his tumultuous thoughts.He had just returned to his office after a grueling day spent ensuring the security of the forest surrounding the Blue Orchid pack. Every minute had been a whirlwind of meetings, coordination, and checks, with one goal in mind: to eliminate any potential threats before the ball. The gathering of so many Alphas and Lunas in one place was a political and logistical nightmare. It was a powder keg waiting for a spark.And now this.The phone call from Caitlyn had left him shaken. He stared blankly at the pile of papers on his desk, unable to focus on any of it. The words "silver flames" echoed in his mind, each syllable slicing through his thoughts like a blade.
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