It was a quiet, late night at the hospital, and the atmosphere around Ella’s ward was unusually calm. The guards stationed by her door stretched and exchanged glances, sensing the peace that settled over the building like a blanket. The muted hum of hospital lights and the faint echo of distant voices in the hall only deepened the stillness.“I think we’re finally getting a break tonight,” murmured Jake, one of the younger guards. He rolled his shoulders, yawning as he leaned against the wall. “It’s been days since anyone even tried getting close to the Luna.”"Don’t get too comfortable," said his older partner, Greg, his voice carrying a note of warning. “We’re here for a reason. Can’t ever let our guard down.”“Yeah, yeah,” Jake replied with a tired smile, nudging his partner. “But a coffee run wouldn’t hurt. We’ve got it covered here.”Reluctantly, Greg relented. He gestured to two other guards on rotation, nodding toward the café down the hall. “Fine. Grab some for us too.”The tw
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
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
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
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 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
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
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.
Derek walked into the pack's infirmary, the faint scent of disinfectants lingering in the air. The quiet hum of activity greeted him—nurses moving about and doctors tending to the wounded. His gaze swept across the room until it landed on Alpha Moore.Moore sat propped up on a bed, his large frame noticeably stronger than the last time Derek saw him. The deep lines of exhaustion were beginning to fade, though his face still carried the effects of the plague. His wolf had fought hard, coupled with Ella's calming effect, but the lingering poison slowed his recovery.“You’re looking better,” Derek said, stepping closer.Moore looked up, his lips curving into a faint smile. “Better, but not quite my usual self,” he replied, his voice deep but calm. “Thanks to my wolf, though, I’m still here.”Derek nodded, crossing his arms. “The Doctors say you’re stable enough to leave, but I’m taking you to my home. You’ll need to rest somewhere safe while you regain your strength.”Moore raised a brow
Derek paced his office, the echo of Clara’s ultimatum ringing in his ears. “Your title or your mate.” Her words lingered like a storm cloud, casting doubt over every decision he had made. He raked his fingers through his hair, trying to shake off the frustration gnawing at him. But there was no escaping it—Clara’s demand had thrown him into a whirlwind he wasn’t prepared to handle.Still, his duty as an Alpha came first. He needed answers, and Kevin was at the center of it all. He couldn’t afford to let emotions cloud his judgment, not with the safety of his pack at stake.He made his way to the war room, where his beta Alex and Gamma Rafael were already waiting. The tension in the air was palpable as Derek entered, his Alpha presence commanding their immediate attention."Alex," Derek said, his voice low and firm. "Have you found anything on Kevin?"Alex exchanged a glance with Rafael before replying. "Not much yet, but there’s something strange. His pack’s movements are unusually qu
As Derek walked into his Alpha chambers, his footsteps faltered, and he froze at the sight before him.Sitting on a high stool near the wine cabinet, a glass in her hand, was Clara—his Luna. The warm glow of the chamber’s lanterns reflected off her auburn hair, and her emerald-green eyes locked onto him with an unreadable expression.Noticing his presence, Clara turned gracefully, her gaze unwavering. “I’ve been expecting you,” she said, her voice smooth but edged with something cold. She took a delicate sip from her glass, savoring the wine. “What took you so long?”Derek blinked, caught off guard. He hadn’t seen Clara in months, and her sudden appearance was the last thing he’d expected.“What are you doing here?” he asked, still shocked.Clara tilted her head slightly, a faint smile playing on her lips. “Is that supposed to be a question?” she replied. “Or is it that you don’t want your Luna back?”Her tone wasn’t accusatory, but it wasn’t warm either. It was indifferent, cutting.
As Derek approached the door, the tension in his body was palpable. His mind raced with plans to rescue Ella, his heart heavy with guilt and determination. Just as his hand reached for the handle, Alpha Moore’s voice broke the silence, stopping him in his tracks.“Derek,” Moore called out, his tone low but firm. “Wait”Derek turned slowly, meeting Alpha Moore's piercing gaze. “What is it?”Moore hesitated, his brows knitting together as though weighing his words carefully. “There’s something you need to know before you leave,” he said, his voice laced with urgency. Something I should’ve said earlier.Derek stepped back into the room, his eyes narrowing. “Go on.”Moore exhaled heavily, leaning forward in his chair, his expression grave. The lines on his face deepened, revealing the weight of whatever burden he was about to share. “I think you should investigate Alpha Kevin,” he began, his voice steady but grim. “Keep a close watch on him.”Derek’s jaw tightened at the mention of Kevin
Derek guided Alpha Moore into the Moonstone Pack’s infirmary, his steps heavy with worry and guilt. Moore had been weakened from his ordeal, his face pale and drawn, but his eyes burned with barely restrained fury. Derek could feel the tension radiating from him as he used his mindlink to summon Alex, his beta, to call for the pack doctor.“Get him treated immediately,” Derek ordered Alex before turning his attention back to Moore. “You’ll be fine soon.”Moore gave a curt nod, but his silence was ominous. Derek wasn’t naive enough to think Alpha Moore would stay quiet for long.The doctor arrived swiftly, tending to Moore’s injuries with practiced efficiency. Derek stayed nearby, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed, watching as Moore slowly regained some color.When the doctor finished and left the room, Moore finally spoke, his voice sharp and cutting. “Derek, where’s Ella?”The question hung in the air like a blade. Derek stiffened, his jaw tightening as he moved to sit a
The heavy air of Alpha Kevin’s pack lands reeked of decay. Derek strode past the worn gates, his presence commanding attention. Guards stiffened, and murmurs of his arrival rippled through the pack. “Take me to your Alpha,” Derek growled, his tone brooking no argument. The guards hesitated before one scurried ahead to announce him. Derek didn’t wait for permission. Pushing the door open, he entered the pack house uninvited. Inside, Alpha Kevin lounged in his study, feet propped on the desk, a glass of whiskey in his hand. His casual demeanor ignited Derek’s anger. This wasn’t the aura of a leader facing a crisis but that of a man indifferent to his pack’s suffering. “Kevin,” Derek’s voice was low and threatening, “you and I need to talk.” Kevin glanced up lazily, his lips curling into a smirk. “Derek. To what do I owe this... intrusion?” Derek’s patience was already wearing thin. “Where is Alpha Moore?” Kevin leaned back, taking a deliberate sip from his glass. “Safe, las
Sebastian entered Valen’s manor, his footsteps echoing softly against the tiled floors, the grand halls and opulent decor reflecting his brother’s commanding presence. It had been years since he last stepped foot here, and though the place still held its grandeur, he noticed a few subtle changes. The harsh, cold decor he remembered had softened. Fresh flowers stood in vases along the hallways, and the air seemed... warmer, as if the place had come alive somehow.He smirked to himself. Valen must be trying so hard to impress his new mate. His curiosity piqued even further about Valen’s mysterious mate.As he moved through the manor, his sharp eyes scanned every corner, taking in every detail. The faint scent of a werewolf reached him—a mix of earthiness and something uniquely feminine. Unlike the unpleasant scents of other werewolves he’d encountered, this one was surprisingly pleasant. Certainly better than Sandra, he mused.Sebastian followed the scent, his steps deliberate yet quiet
Sebastian pushed the heavy doors of his chambers open, his dark eyes immediately drawn to the figure draped across his bed. Sandra lay sprawled there, her long legs crossed lazily, the thin black robe she wore barely clinging to her frame. The silk fabric did nothing to hide the curves beneath, instead teasing him with every dip and slope. Her hair was a cascade of wild waves against the pillows, and her lips were curved into a knowing smile. “You’re late,” she said, her voice low and sultry as she propped herself up on one elbow. The movement caused the robe to slip off her shoulder, baring even more skin. “I was starting to think you weren’t coming.” Sebastian leaned against the doorframe, his sharp eyes taking her in. “I wasn’t aware I was on a schedule,” he replied coolly, though the corner of his lips lifted slightly. “But it seems you’ve made yourself comfortable.” Sandra chuckled, stretching out like a cat in the sun. “I always do.” He didn’t bother responding. Instead, he s
The grand hall buzzed with tension as the council of elders and clan lords assembled. The room was bathed in dim candlelight, the ancient walls echoing the voices of vampires who had gathered here for centuries to discuss matters of power, loyalty, and survival. At the head of the long table, Valen sat with an air of authority, his sharp gaze sweeping over the gathered vampires. Lords from distant clans, the elders of his own court, and members of his bloodline—all were present. The atmosphere was tense, the scent of blood faint but ever-present.Dorian stood to Valen’s right, his expression stoic as he addressed the room. “A rogue vampire has crossed our borders, attacked a human, and violated our laws. This cannot be ignored.” Patrols have been strengthened, and investigations into how it entered our borders are ongoing.”Murmurs spread across the room, some elders nodding in agreement, others exchanging skeptical glances.Lord Kellan, an elder with a booming voice, broke the silenc