The morning sun poured through the tall windows of Derek’s hotel suite, casting golden streaks across the polished marble floor. The room was expansive, with plush furniture in deep, regal tones of navy and gold, and a chandelier that hung like a centerpiece in the middle of the ceiling. Everything about the place screamed wealth and power, yet Derek barely noticed it.He stood by the window, his sharp eyes scanning the city below, but his mind was far from the stunning view of Devil’s City. His reflection in the glass showed a man lost in thought, his jaw tight, and his hands clenched at his sides. He couldn’t shake the image of Ella from his mind.It had been days since he arrived here, searching for her. Days filled with frustration and sleepless nights as he pieced together every bit of information he could find. Now, the truth was clear: Ella was being held at the Vampire Lord’s manor.The thought of her in that place sent a wave of anger surging through him. He tightened his gri
The air around Valen’s manor was thick with tension as Derek stood at the massive iron gates. Two vampire guards flanked the entrance, their expressions cold and defensive. Their red eyes flickered with suspicion as they sized up the lone werewolf before them.One of the guards narrowed his eyes, his sharp fangs peeking through his lips. “What business does a wolf have here?”Leo, Derek’s wolf, growled low in his chest, irritated by the guard's condescending tone. Let me loose. I’ll tear them apart and get our mate back.Calm down, Derek murmured under his breath, fighting to keep Leo under control. We’re not here to pick a fight.Derek raised his hands slowly, palms facing out, signaling he came in peace. "I’m not here to fight. I just need to see your Lord."The second guard exchanged a look with his companion before turning back to Derek. "Wait here." And with a speed that made Derek’s breath hitch, the vampire disappeared into the shadows.Leo stirred again, a restless force insid
The tension in the hallway grew thicker as Ella’s eyes darted nervously between Scottie and Dorian. Her heart raced when she heard the loud crashes and roars coming from the study. “What is happening in there?” Ella asked, her voice trembling.Scottie hesitated, glancing at Dorian, whose expression remained unreadable. Neither of them answered, which only made Ella more uneasy. Scottie shifted uneasily, her lips pressed into a thin line, while Dorian remained stoic, his expression unreadable.Suddenly, Lila, her wolf, stirred restlessly in her mind. Mate! Mate! Mate! He’s here!Ella froze, her chest tightening as she tried to calm her wolf. Her wolf’s excitement was almost overwhelming.“What are you talking about, Lila? Who’s here?”Before Lila could answer, a scent hit Ella like a thunderclap—strong, familiar, and intoxicating. It was a scent she could never forget.Her breath hitched as the realization dawned on her. “Derek,” she whispered, her voice barely audible.As if summoned
Ella felt the weight of the room shift with every passing second. Slowly, she released her hands from Valen's grip, her eyes meeting his briefly before she took a step back to address both him and Derek. Valen’s demeanor changed instantly, a flicker of unease crossing his face at her withdrawal. He didn’t lash out, though; instead, he kept his emotions tightly guarded, as if he knew her resistance was deserved.Derek stood there, his expression conflicted, his eyes locked on her. He seemed stunned, unable to process the weight of what she’d just said. Ella inhaled deeply, forcing herself to meet their gazes evenly."Derek," she began, her voice calm but firm, "like you said, a lot has happened. When I came here, I discovered that the Moon Goddess had other plans for me. I don’t know how it’s possible to have two mates, let alone from two entirely different worlds. I’m still trying to figure it all out." She paused, glancing briefly at Valen before turning back to Derek.“But yes,” she
Valen’s emotions churned violently. Morgana’s words kept echoing in his mind, each syllable digging deeper into his resolve. The accusations she brought were serious, and the evidence—if it held any truth—painted Ella in the darkest light. And Ella just stood there, her expression unfazed, her silence deafening.Valen clenched his fists at his sides, his nails digging into his palms. He couldn’t understand why she wasn’t defending herself, why she wasn’t shouting her innocence from the rooftops. Wasn’t she aware of how precarious her position was? Say something, Ella, he thought, desperation clawing at him. Please give me something to work with.He clenched his fists by his side, struggling to keep his anger in check. Last night’s memory burned fresh in his mind. He’d found her sneaking in, in a disheveled state and her nakedness, a clear sign she had shifted. He hadn’t pressed her then, hoping she would come to him with an explanation. But she hadn’t. And now this. That memory, coupl
Ella and Valen stepped out into the hallway, where Dorian, Scottie, Derek, Morgana, and the two vampires accompanying her stood waiting. The air was thick with tension, and Ella felt the weight of their accusing gazes.“We’re going to the crime scene,” Valen announced firmly. His words cut through the silence, commanding attention.Morgana blinked, momentarily caught off guard by his decision, her confident smirk faltered for a split second, her surprise breaking through her mask of calm. She hadn’t planned for this turn of events.. She hadn’t expected this. Her plan had been simple—bring Ella to face the council and let the fabricated evidence do the rest. But now they were going to the crime scene, What if they were able to unravel something else there?“That’s… unexpected, seeing the provided evidence” Morgana said, quickly recovering. Her lips curved into a strained smile. “ But Of course. We can go to the crime scene. If that's what you want” she said hoping that Sandra hadn't ma
Ella’s eyes widened as they locked onto something glinting a short distance away. Her pulse quickened, and hope flared in her chest. Finally, she thought. She cautiously approached the object, her heart pounding with anticipation. If this was what she thought it was, it could prove someone else was here—someone other than her might be responsible for the vampire’s murder.But as she drew closer, her hopeful smile faltered. The object lying on the ground wasn’t just any trinket. It was a pendant—her pendant.Her breath caught as she picked it up, her fingers trembling. The intricate design was unmistakable, and the tiny gemstones around the locket in the center and the initials S.C at the back of the locket were burned into her memory. She had worn this as a child, a small token of comfort during her turbulent years. Her stepmother had taken it away when she was older, claiming it was sold. But here it was, lying at a crime scene. How? Why?“Are you going to transform or not, Ella?” Mo
Derek approached Ella cautiously, his expression guarded but determined. He studied her face as she stood amidst the crowd that had begun to disperse. The tension between them was palpable, but Derek could no longer ignore the turmoil swirling in his chest.“Ella, it seems you're not welcomed here, and someone is trying so hard to prove that point,” Derek began, his voice low and controlled.Ella looked at him, her lips curling into a bitter smile. “Derek, I appreciate your concern, but I can handle myself. This isn't the first time I'm facing threats. I’ve faced betrayal, humiliation, rejection… so what more could I possibly be afraid of?”Her words cut through him like a dagger. Guilt surged within Derek as he recognized her statement wasn’t just about the others—it was about him too. And it holds a clear meaning; She wasn’t just unsafe here; she wasn’t safe with him either. He sighed, his voice softening.“Ella, I understand you're still mad at me, but please… I need a chance to ma
The moon shone brightly casting an ethereal glow on Ella and Valen as they stood at the Manor's front yard admiring the night.Ella stood facing the moon and rubbing her now visible baby bump, a peaceful smile gracing her face. Valen stood behind her, his strong arms wrapped around her waist pulling her snugly against himself.Ella leaned into him, feeling the warmth of his embrace. Her bright, beautiful smile deepened as she chuckled softly."Can't believe you're scared of being a father," she teased, her voice laced with amusement.“It's not a crime to be scared,” Valen murmured against her ear, his breath warm and teasing. “I'm just speaking my mind. And besides I have never been a father before.”His lips brushed against her exposed neck, his voice turning huskier.Ella stretched her neck, giving him more room to nibble on them as she smirked. “You will definitely make a great father Valen.”A low growl rumbled from Valen’s chest as his fangs gently grazed the marked spot on her n
Sebastian had managed to fight through the warriors on him, leaving Scottie injured and some others dead. One look at the war and she could tell they were evening out on the battlefield. There was only one thing to do now. Something inside Ella snapped. She turned, her murderous gaze locking onto Sebastian's. He growled, as if beckoning her. With a deafening roar, she transformed into Lila, but this time Lila moved with a blinding light enveloped around her massive form. She had tripled in size. She possessed the speed of an ancient vampire and the strength of a powerful warrior Alpha. Nothing like anyone had ever seen. Even Sebastian was momentarily taken aback at her transformation. Her eyes were of two colors—crimson and Silver. She launched herself at Sebastian. The ground shook in her wake. Her claws glowed and her wild Lila had the force of the Moon Goddess herself surging through her. Warriors gave way in fear as she approached. Sebastian
The battle erupted in a blur of fangs, claws, silver, and wooden daggers. Sebastian tore through warriors, his monstrous strength overwhelming both vampires and werewolves. A vampire leaped at him but he crushed his skull in one swipe. A werewolf lunged at him but Sebastian ripped out his throat without hesitation. Valen and Derek fought side by side, cutting through anyone coming closer to the Manor, where Ella was tirelessly healing those being brought back with injuries. Despite their efforts, It was obvious to the two men that they were losing. But in war, no one says it’s over until the very end so they fought on. Ella looked up from where she was, the scene before her was pure terror, there was blood everywhere, the air was thick with death. Ella’s heart tightened as she saw warriors falling. She heard movement beside her, she held onto the dagger by her side, a part of Scottie’s war gear. It was Sandra. “Oh! You think healing can help you in this case?” Sand
Maxwell strode through the gates of the manor with a practiced ease, despite his expression being unreadable, there was no way to mask the gait in his walk. He envisioned the death and destruction of all the mutts involved and when they were done with Valen and Derek, even Alpha Kevin and his own mutts would be annihilated. He trusted Sebastian not to maintain any alliance against the vampires. Immediately he stepped into the manor, Alpha Kael and Dorian approached him. “We need you,” Kael said, his voice firm. “We need the exact coordinates you found Ella. We’re planning a search for Sebastian’s whereabouts.” Maxwell kept his expression neutral but within him, he smiled. The fool suspects nothing, he thought. “Of course,” he said smoothly. He followed them deeper into the war room, already planning to lead them astray. His plan was simple—give them false coordinates, and send them chasing ghosts while preparations for the war raged on, unnoticed. But the moment
Kael had followed Maxwell closely after his angry exit and deadline for finding Ella. No matter how great he was as a tracker, it wasn’t possible that he would find her as quickly as he said he would.Unless… He already knew where she was. He had followed Maxwell closely moving through the shadows like a ghost, Maxwell was fast but he was versed in stealth. Finally he had seen what he needed to see and now he had to speak to Derek. “I have something you’d need to hear,” Kael whispered urgently.He took Derek aside to explain what he had seen to him. “Okay. What is it?” Derek asked sharply, his mate was unconscious inside and there was an impending attack.According to Valen, Ella had been having nightmares about this war revealed to her by the Moon goddess and now it's finally coming to pass. He wasn’t thinking about being subtle or calm at this point. Kael inhaled. “After Maxwell left, I followed him and I think he knew where Ella was all along. I couldn't match his speed but h
Maxwell’s grip tightened around Ella’s unconscious human form as he moved effortlessly through the forest. The night air smelt of pine but he couldn’t enjoy the smell because of the werewolf stench in his nose. He hated them, the annoying mutts were everywhere now, walking freely in their territory, their putrid odor made his stomach turn. If it were up to him, every single one of them would be dead by now, especially her. But he couldn’t risk it, he had to deliver her to Valen himself as his task and promise but soon enough he wouldn’t be taking orders from a mutt lover like Valen. He’d never thought he’d see the day when a vampire as powerful as Lord Valen would willingly align himself with werewolves but here he was. One thing was certain, betraying your own kind comes with a death wish no matter how powerful you were. Maxwell scoffed, wasn’t it an irony that Valen had foolishly aligned with the werewolves and now a similar alignment will be what would end him? As he was los
“You're just what I need. Your blood holds the key to unlocking the secrets of immortality.”Sebastian smirked as he stared at the weakened and unconscious body of Valen's mate—Ella. He would destroy everything that Valen holds dear, starting from his mate. It's quite unfortunate he couldn't kill her yet, but he would use her to show to Valen what it meant to be hurt.He didn’t want to underestimate her powers. Though she was surrounded with silver, he still made sure she wasn't fed so she would be too weak to resist what he intended to do.Murmurs and whispers of why Valen hadn't arrived yet, despite his mate being captured, were already spreading amongst his allies and he knew he needed to act fast before their impatience ruins his plans.He watched as Ella slowly regained consciousness.“Finally you're awake” Sebastian chuckled dryly.Ella slowly opened her eyes, her vision blurry at first, she shook her head to regain some clarity. A sharp throbbing pain in her wrist had pulled he
A heavy silence immediately filled the room after Alpha Kael's outburst.Derek's eyes narrowed slightly as looks at Maxwell, waiting for his reaction. He knew Kael had struck a nerve.Maxwell didn't disappoint, but one thing he didn't know was that Alpha Kael wasn't just an ordinary werewolf or a ‘mutt’ as he just called them.His fingers twitched, his sharp fangs peeking out as his eyes darkened. The anger in his gaze was unmistakable. Then, without warning, he charged at Kael, his speed as fast as lightening but dark.He aimed for Kael's throat, but Kael had seen so many battles to be caught off guard. Before Maxwell could strike, Kael twisted his body slightly and slammed his elbow into Maxwell’s side. The force sent the vampire stumbling back, his cloak fluttering as he steadied himself.Maxwell's eyes widened in shock. His jaw tightened. He was fast—faster than some vampires, faster than most creatures. But speed meant nothing if your enemy could predict your moves.Kael smirked
Valen stomped into his office, slamming the door heavily behind him. Dorian was lucky enough not to be hit by the door as he followed behind Valen.“Useless!” Valen muttered, rubbing his hands against his hair and jaw.Dorian stood at a safe distance trembling slightly. He was doing it again, releasing that powerful aura that brings people to their knees.Clearly Valen was so mad, he has unleashed this aura just twice. This was only the second time Valen had ever let his emotions slip so much that his power surged uncontrollably—the first time was when Ella came into his life and now that she had disappeared.Dorian could see from his clenched fist that he was fighting so hard to control it. His crimson eyes were now a darker shade of red.“Did she just vanish into thin air? Are you trying to tell me there are no leads? No clues?” Valen asked, his voice filled with rage.Dorian stood speechless, he swallowed hard, his throat dry. He had no answer that wouldn't further enrage Valen. He