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
“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
As thoughts of Ella filled Valen's head, he wanted to go meet her and let her know that she belongs to him.No. That's madness, if he saw her again, he wasn't sure he could stop himself from claiming her, instead he decided to go out for a run.As he stepped out of his study, her scent hit him like a tidal wave—sweet and intoxicating, wrapping around his senses and refusing to let go. He inhaled deeply, trying to control the surge of desire that followed. His feet moved on their own, following the trail of her scent until it led him to the garden.There she was.The sight of her stopped him in his tracks. The moonlight bathed her in a soft glow, accentuating her graceful form. Her hair shimmered, cascading down her back like a dark waterfall, and her skin seemed to glow under the moon’s light. She looked extremely delicate, almost otherworldly, as if she belonged to the night itself. Her fingers lightly brushed over the petals of the flowers, the gentle motion captivating him. He swal
Ella woke up to a bright sunny morning. She looked at the round clock that hung on the wall across the room and groaned. She had overslept, but it was worth it, this was the most peaceful night she’d had in a long time. Ever since the day she was humiliated, rejected, and scorned, Ella hadn’t experienced such restful sleep until last night. It felt like the long embrace she shared in the garden with Valen had soothed something deep inside her she hadn’t even realized was aching.She couldn’t stop the smile that crept onto her face as she remembered the night before.What an irony.Valen hadn’t rejected her. Though they hadn’t spoken about their mate bond, his actions made it clear he wasn’t planning to reject her either. He seemed just as drawn to her as she was to him. Unlike Derek, Valen hadn’t taken advantage of their bond.A jolt of anger and regret shot through Ella as she remembered her humiliating experience with Derek. She quickly brushes it off as her mind drifts back to Vale
Ella paced the length of her new room, unable to shake the unease she felt after Valen’s sudden departure. Though the morning had started peacefully, his hurried exit left her feeling restless. Deciding not to dwell on her nerves, Ella ventured out. She decided to explore the manor, she opened the heavy oak door and stepped into the corridor.The hallway was grand, with marble floors that gleamed under warm, overhead lights. The air smelled faintly of lavender, and the walls were lined with oil paintings, some depicting serene landscapes and others showing proud, regal figures. A staircase wound down to the lower floors, its banisters crafted from dark mahogany.Ella wandered aimlessly, drawn by the silence and the faint hum of life elsewhere in the manor. She found herself in front of two large double doors that were slightly ajar. Unable to resist her curiosity, she pushed them open and stepped into what she immediately recognized as the library.The room was breathtaking. Shelves s
"It’s a message, Lucas," Sebastian Draven said, swirling the amber liquid in his glass. His voice carried an air of triumph, a rare moment of satisfaction breaking through the brooding bitterness that usually cloaked him. "A message to Valen that his reign is crumbling, piece by piece."Sebastian Draven, Valen’s older brother, sat in his luxurious penthouse, the city’s glittering skyline stretching before him. he's handsome with a chiseled face and high cheekbones, a strong, angular jawline, and a thin scar running from his left temple to just above his cheek, a reminder of past conflicts. His ash-gray eyes were cold and calculating, framed by thick, dark brows that gave him a perpetually intense expression. His straight nose and thin lips added to his stern demeanor, while his neatly combed jet-black hair, streaked with faint silver, highlighted his sharp features. With his tall, broad-shouldered frame and commanding presence, Sebastian exuded a mixture of elegance and menace.Lucas,
Sebastian sat in his dimly lit study, his fingers drumming impatiently against the edge of his polished desk. The faint glow of the city outside barely illuminated his features, but the fire burning in his dark eyes could rival the night’s gloom.He had spent years plotting, years trying to undo the injustice that had been dealt to him. It wasn’t enough to simply hate Valen; no, he wanted to destroy him, to see the legacy Valen held so tightly crumble into ash.FlashbackSebastian was just a young boy when the weight of his father’s favoritism first crushed him. Lord Alaric had gathered his sons to discuss an important mission, one that would cement the family’s influence within the vampire world. Sebastian had prepared tirelessly for this opportunity. He memorized every detail, studied every strategy, and practiced endlessly.He could still remember standing tall, his chest puffed with pride, as he awaited his father’s approval. But Alaric’s gaze had passed over him, cold and indiffe
Valen strode into his study with Dorian following closely behind, his expression as sharp and unreadable as ever. Inside, Scottie sat perched on the edge of one of the armchairs, waiting for them. She stood as soon as they entered, her eyes scanning their faces for answers.Scottie's eyes met Valen’s as he entered, but she said nothing. Instead, she glanced over at Dorian, silently urging him to speak.The tension in the room was palpable as the door shut behind them. Valen walked over to his desk, running his fingers along the edge, the silence stretching thin. "What did the council say?" Scottie finally asked, breaking the quiet.“Nothing we didn’t already know,” Valen replied curtly, taking a seat behind his desk. His tone held an edge that silenced any further questioning. He turned his attention to Dorian. “Speak freely. I know you’ve been holding something back.”Dorian hesitated, his shoulders stiffening. He glanced at Scottie before lowering his gaze to the floor, bowing slig
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