"Ella…" Moore’s voice echoed through the hall, growing louder with each step.Ella tensed, her instincts urging her to create distance between herself and Derek. She could feel the tension building, and the last thing she wanted was for Moore to find them like this. She shifted, trying to slip out of Derek’s grip, but Derek, sensing her intention, held her tighter, pulling her even closer to his chest.Her eyes flared with frustration. "Alpha Derek, what are you doing?" she hissed, trying to keep her voice low and controlled.Derek smirked, his eyes glinting with a mix of amusement and something darker. "What do you think I’m doing?"Ella struggled more forcefully, her movements frantic as Moore’s voice grew nearer. In the scuffle, the strap of her dress slipped down her shoulder, leaving her skin bare and her breast partially exposed. Any further, and the situation would be beyond embarrassing. But Ella, too focused on escaping Derek’s grip, didn’t immediately realize what had happen
Ella woke up feeling more refreshed than she had in days. She had finally put her thoughts together the night before, deciding that clarity was what she needed most. Wrapping a towel around her chest, she flipped her hair into a bun, exposing the smooth skin of her neck. Her fingers grazed the unmarked area, and she sighed softly."An unmarked Luna," she whispered to herself, tracing the spot where a mark should be."Well, Derek was right about one thing," she muttered to herself. "If Moore and I were truly mates... he wouldn't have resisted marking me.”She shook her head, dismissing the thought as she moved toward the bathroom. The hot water poured over her, soothing her tense muscles, but it couldn’t wash away the lingering thoughts of her complicated bond with Moore—and Derek.But that wasn't their relationship. It had never been about intimacy or passion, just a mutual understanding. Moore had offered her protection within his pack, a place where she could heal from the wounds of
Derek slammed his fist against the wall, feeling the sharp sting of pain shoot through his knuckles, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the frustration boiling inside him. He had called Ella for the umpteenth time, only for each call to go to voicemail.“Fuck! Fuck! Fuck!” he roared, throwing his phone across the room with so much force that it shattered on impact. Not satisfied, he stormed toward it, trampling on the already broken pieces with his boot as though it could vent the storm raging inside him.Pacing back and forth, Derek ran his hands through his hair, trying to control the rising tide of fury. His chest heaved with each breath, the air around him thick with the energy of his wolf pushing to the surface. He was losing control, and he hated it.“Alpha…” a voice called tentatively from the doorway. It was Alex, his beta, standing at a distance, clearly cautious about approaching his enraged alpha.Alex had returned from the pack with important news, and Derek’s a
Derek drove through the city streets, his mind spinning with the new information Alex had provided. According to his beta’s source, Ella was at the hospital. Relief washed over him at the thought of finally getting to see her after everything that had happened. But as quickly as it came, his relief was replaced by tension. He needed Ella’s cooperation now more than ever. He couldn’t stop thinking about Alpha Kevin. Derek knew exactly what kind of man Kevin was—ruthless, manipulative, and someone who never played by the rules. He had no doubt that if Kevin discovered Ella was the healer he sought, it would end badly for her. Derek didn’t know what Kevin’s next move would be if he found out Doctor South was also his once-rejected mate. The thought of her being in danger gnawed at him, fueling his determination.As Derek approached the hospital, he parked at the entrance and stepped out with purpose, striding toward the hospital building. He wasn’t sure how Ella would react when she saw
Ella’s grip on the steering wheel tightened as her mind raced with questions, her thoughts darting from one possibility to another, filling her with anxiety. What could Kevin be doing with Moore? Had he hurt him? Her breath quickened as the image of Moore in danger haunted her. She felt a pang of guilt in her chest—he was in this mess because of her. But then, another thought rose, darker and more unsettling. ‘Why had Derek kept the information about her agreeing to help to himself?’ He had seemed so calm earlier, as if he had everything under control. Was he truly trying to protect her, or was there something more sinister at play? Could Derek and Kevin be working together? The idea seemed absurd, but she couldn’t ignore it. ‘What if this was all a setup?’ What if Derek had lured her into this situation, pretending to be her ally while secretly plotting with Kevin?Her heart pounded harder, doubt creeping into her thoughts like a shadow. ‘How did Kevin even get to Moore in the first
In a hidden, shadowed location, a figure stood in silence, frustration simmering beneath the surface. She slammed her phone down after the call ended, her voice sharp with anger.“Damn it!” The curse echoed through the dimly lit room, but the figure remained cloaked in darkness, her identity concealed.“Who could have thought Ella was the highly sought healer?" she muttered, her voice low and indistinct filled with venom.The figure paced, clearly unsettled, her movements deliberate, as though calculating her next steps. “I will do everything within my power to make sure she doesn’t return to the South.” She clenched their fists, resolving to stop her at all costs.Meanwhile, in the quiet of the hospital, Ella slowly stirred, her eyelids heavy as she struggled to wake. The first sensation that hit her was the dull, throbbing ache in her limbs, a persistent reminder of the attack she’d endured. Her body was weak, and with each attempt to move, pain surged through her, making her gasp s
Derek turned around to check on Ella and noticed she was awake, her eyes locked on him, a mixture of confusion and determination reflected in her gaze. He could tell she had a thousand questions swirling in her mind. With a sigh, he pulled a chair closer and sat down across from her.“How are you feeling?” Derek asked, his voice soft.“You saved me,” Ella replied weakly, her voice barely a whisper. “Thank you.”Without thinking, Derek reached out, brushing a stray strand of hair away from her face, tucking it behind her ear. “You’re still weak,” he said, concern etched on his face. “The doctors did what they could for the silver burns, but you need more time to rest and regain your strength.”Ella winced as she tried to shift on the bed, her thoughts racing. “Moore… he’s in danger,” she said, her voice laced with worry. “I need to be by his side, Derek. I have to get to the South.”Derek shook his head, his expression firm but laced with concern. “They won’t harm him, Ella. They still
Ella lay in her hospital bed, staring at the ceiling. She was healing, but the weight of everything going on outside these walls kept her on edge. Moore was still in danger, and Kevin was out there, probably plotting something worse. The rogue attack earlier didn’t help, and now, she felt like time was running out, Derek had gone out to attend to something important or so he had said.The door opened, and Nurse Sara entered, pushing her usual cart of supplies. Sara had been the one to take care of Ella since she was admitted. She was always calm and friendly.Ella smiled softly at the sight of Nurse Sara walking into the room. For days now, Sara had been nothing but a comforting presence, always ready with a gentle word and warm smile. She was human—an ordinary person in a world where beings like werewolves, vampires, and other supernatural creatures often clashed. Maybe that’s why Ella found it so easy to trust her.“Good morning, Ella. How are you feeling today?” Sara asked, her voi
“This is more of a curse than a blessing” Valen muttered under his breath. Being mated to your enemy and, worst of all, the very kind you detest was so much to bear.He paced his study restlessly, the weight of it pressing down on him. How could fate be so cruel? To be cursed with a bond like this—it was unthinkable.The sharp sound of his door creaking open interrupted his thoughts. Valen glanced over to see his best friend Lucian staggering in, obviously drunk. He rolled his eyes as he watched him stagger to his desk with this familiar smile of “I just had the best sex of my life” plastered on his face. Valen was already used to it.But just as Lucian got to Valen's desk, he stopped on his track, the smile on his face disappeared immediately, replaced by wide-eyed shock, then an amused smirk.“You are Mated”. Lucian said, his silver-gray eyes glittering with humor.Valen stiffened. “I'm not mated; I just met her.” He growled defensively.Lucian laughed softly. “Don’t lie to me, Vale
Ella stood quietly in the doorway, her eyes sweeping over the room Dorian had led her to. It wasn’t grand or extravagant; its simplicity was striking. The walls were bare, painted in muted gray, and the single bed in the corner was dressed in plain white sheets. A modest wooden chair and a small table completed the sparse furnishings.She sighed, stepping inside and running her fingers over the edge of the table. It wasn’t much, but it was clean, far better than the damp, dark cell she'd been confined to at the hideout.Dorian, who stood just outside the door, cleared his throat. “You’ll be staying here for now. Someone will bring your meal shortly.” His tone was curt, almost hurried, as though he wanted to leave as soon as possible. Before she could respond, he turned on his heel and disappeared down the hallway, the sound of his boots fading into the distance.Ella closed the door with a soft click, leaning against it as a long breath escaped her lips. “Well,” she muttered to hersel
A soul mate. A fucking soul mate! Valen gripped the edge of the table making deep grooves in the mahogany wood, as he watched Dorian lead the woman away from the study.As soon as she had stepped foot into his territory, he had felt it. A strange scent. A scent of life, of warmth, had seeped through the ice inside him. It was a strange feeling he couldn't comprehend.No. He must be imagining things. After being cold for so long, his mind was craving what he couldn't have. At his age, he might be close to losing his mind.But the feelings kept getting stronger and stronger, the scent irresistible. He had been thankful Dorian hadn't barged in like he sometimes does in times of emergencies. The little minutes he had used to announce his presence with the healer were enough for him to turn his back to the door and regain his composure. It took a lot of self-control to steel his voice and order for them to come in.As soon as she stepped into the room, her presence struck him like a ligh
As Ella stared into those eyes, a chill ran through her, yet she couldn’t look away, even as her heartbeat thundered in her ears."Oh, moon goddess, those crimson eyes," she thought, mesmerized and paralyzed at once. It was as if a magnetic force held her in place, pulling her in, even as every instinct screamed for her to flee. She didn’t know if that was his true eye color or if this was his vampire form.Her emotions were a chaotic mix of fear and something else, something dangerously close to longing. He was big. No—massive. His muscular frame radiated a restrained strength that made her feel both small and hot, an unfamiliar warmth coiling within her. She could barely understand what was happening or why her own body seemed to betray her with this strange, simmering heat. "What is this? What kind of power does he have?" she wondered.Before she could process the beautiful and lethal creature, his lips pulled back into a growl that sent a fresh surge of goosebumps along her skin.
As the sun dipped below the horizon, casting long shadows across the landscape, Ella sat rigidly in the car beside Dorian. Despite her instincts urging her to remain calm, a cold dread prickled down her spine. She was in enemy territory now—a city that thrived under the cover of night, the very heart of vampire power. Everything about it was alien to her, from the scent of the air to the quiet, lethal tension that seemed to cling to every surface.Through the tinted window, she caught glimpses of Devil’s City as they drove. Tall, dark buildings rose like jagged shadows against the twilight sky, their sleek, blackened glass reflecting the faint light that remained. The architecture was both beautiful and foreboding, a blend of ancient stone and sharp, modern angles that mirrored the ruthlessness of the inhabitants. But it was the people that unnerved her most. Vampires lined the streets, their eyes following her as if they could sense her difference, her very scent marking her as—an i
Derek approached the river, the eerie silence only heightening his unease. Raising his right hand, he motioned for his warriors to halt as his sharp eyes scanned the surroundings, every sense heightened to the subtle sounds and movements around him. From where he was standing,he could see the vampire's hideout that Sara described—a small, ancient structure carved from the rocky cliffs by the water, it was hidden partially by a dense cluster of trees and overgrowth. If you don't look closely, you wouldn't notice it. Shadows draped across the entrance, and Derek noticed remnants of crude barricades and the unmistakable stench of vampire lairs—Which further proves Sara's confession.But then, he caught it—a trace of Ella's scent, drifting faintly on the air. It wasn’t as strong as it should have been, which set his instincts on edge. Why was her scent so weak? Without wasting more time, he mindlinked his warriors, instructing them to fan out and proceed cautiously.The warriors bowed, t
Derek and his wolves moved swiftly and silently through the dense forest, their senses alert as they tracked Sara’s scent through the dense underbrush. the scent of pine and damp earth sharpening their senses. He could feel Leo, his wolf, thrumming with restless energy, urging him forward.He had barely taken a breath since discovering Ella’s abduction. Days of failed attempts to locate Ella had built a fury inside him that he was barely containing. He could feel her slipping further out of his reach with each passing moment—and Sara, the one person who could lead him to her is somewhere within the depths of this mountain.The wind shifted, bringing a faint scent to Derek’s nose. It was her. The trace was weak but enough to reignite his determination. He signaled his pack with a raised fist, and Alex, his Beta, nodded, gesturing for two wolves to fan out.“She's near,” Derek murmured.Alex, his loyal beta, matched his pace, scanning the surroundings with a sharp gaze. “The trail’s fr
Derek stormed down the hospital corridors, his footsteps echoing sharply off the polished floors. Every step tightened his resolve, the tension in his jaw like coiled steel. He had only just returned, barely setting foot inside the hospital, and already his worst fears had been confirmed—Ella was missing. The guards he’d stationed were either unconscious or in critical condition, and her ward was ominously empty. Each heartbeat drove home a fresh surge of rage as he struggled to keep his emotions under control. Derek’s footsteps thundered through the hospital corridors, each step radiating the fury coursing through him. The air around him crackled with barely contained rage as he stormed into the security room, barking orders at the bewildered hospital staff. “Who’s in charge here?” His voice, deadly calm, sent a shiver through the room. “Get me the CCTV footage of the past 24 hours.” The head of hospital security paled as he scrambled to check the camera footage. Derek's mind ra
It had been a grueling journey. The captured rogue, the one they hoped would provide answers, had been nothing but trouble. Derek had taken him to a secluded hideout, deep in the woods where there was no communication, ensuring their presence stayed off the grid. But it hadn’t gone as expected. Days passed with the rogue taunting them, refusing to reveal any information as if he was more fearful of his own master than he was of Derek himself.Inside the dimly lit room, Derek stood across from the rogue, his gaze cold and unforgiving. His Beta, Alex, watched from the corner, arms crossed and tense, as Derek leaned in, his voice low and menacing.“You’re only making this harder on yourself,” he said in a cold voice.“Who sent you.”The rogue sneered. “You can tear me apart, but you won’t get anything from me.”Derek stepped closer. “Do you think I’ll hesitate to force the answers from you?”The rogue’s mouth twisted into a defiant smirk. “I don’t care. There are still others out there w