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
To the outside world, the Devil’s City was a place of myth and legend—a land where darkness reigned, where nothing thrived but death and shadows. Tales of terror whispered through the lands, painting pictures of a place cloaked in eternal night, where vampires ruled with iron fangs and talons of blood. But the truth was far more dangerous—and far more beautiful.The Devil’s City was a marvel of dark enchantment, a kingdom of eternal twilight kissed by the silver glow of a crescent moon. Its towering blackstone buildings glistened like polished obsidian under the soft, ethereal glow that bathed the city in a perpetual soft, dreamlike hue. The air was crisp, carrying with it the scent of night-blooming flowers that lined the streets, their petals a kaleidoscope of deep crimson, violet, and gold. Intricate lanterns hung from elegantly wrought iron posts, illuminating the cobbled streets with a warm, golden light that danced with an unnatural grace, casting moving shadows that seemed to f
The night was still as Maxwell stood in the shadows, preparing for his journey beyond the boundaries of Devil’s City. The air was thick with the scent of impending rain, but he moved with an unbreakable focus. Valen’s words still echoed in his mind: Confirm the healer wolf’s existence. Find the truth.For centuries, Maxwell had been Valen’s trusted scout and enforcer. Tonight, however, his mission felt charged with greater purpose. The rumors surrounding a healer wolf were impossible to ignore, even if they seemed as improbable as any he’d heard. Valen’s previous purge of healer wolves had been merciless, leaving none to spare, or so they’d believed. But if one had truly survived, this could reshape everything they understood about their species—and reignite old wars.Maxwell slung his gear across his back and blended into the night, his steps soundless as he made his way through the outskirts of the city. His senses were sharp, taking in the hum of life beyond the walls. He would nee
Valen sat alone in his grand office, his gaze drifting from the endless pile of documents before him to the faintly glowing horizon visible through the arched windows. Outside, Devil’s City shimmered with a haunting beauty, cloaked in perpetual twilight—a beauty that only deepened the ache in his cold heart, reminding him of what he once had and lost.Tonight, he felt the weight of the past pressing against him with unrelenting force, clawing at the walls he had so carefully built. Lydia. Her name echoed like a heartbeat, filling the empty spaces of his mind, and slowly, inevitably, Valen let himself fall into the memories.He was young then, far less burdened by power and revenge. He remembered the night he met her as if it had just happened, her image so vivid that he could almost reach out and touch her. Lydia had entered his world as a quiet figure among a gathering of vampire clans, her presence calm yet commanding, with a subtle allure that had drawn him across a crowded room wi
The morning began with quiet precision in Valen’s chambers, a vast space of understated opulence. Dark marble floors stretched beneath his feet, the walls lined with tapestries older than the city itself, woven in shadowed hues of crimson and midnight. Only a soft, indirect light touched the room, casting a moody glow over the vampire leader as he prepared himself for the day.Valen moved in calm, measured steps, his mind as sharply honed as the physical routines that kept him in peak form. With long, graceful strokes, he swept back his raven-black hair, exposing high cheekbones, a chiseled jawline, and eyes that gleamed with an intense, unsettling allure. His movements were deliberate, precise, echoing the control he wielded over his realm. Every action, from dressing to the minor adjustments of his cuffs, embodied the silent power he commanded.As he adjusted his collar, a faint knock came at the door—a sound that few in the Devil’s City dared to make. Dorian, his second-in-command,
Ella Brown stood in front of her full-length mirror, a soft smile playing on her lips. The delicate lace of her gown draped her curves perfectly, the fabric shimmering in the low light of her bedroom. Tomorrow was the day she had dreamed of her entire life. She’d be turning eighteen at midnight, finally awakening her wolf and completing the bond with her fiancé, Alpha Kevin Taylor. The thought sent a shiver of excitement down her spine. By tomorrow night, she would be his mate, officially declared Luna of the Silver Moon Pack. She traced the neckline of the gown with her fingers, imagining Kevin’s hands replacing hers, his lips grazing her skin as he whispered promises of forever. Her body tingled at the thought of him—strong, powerful, and hers. “Just a few more hours,” she whispered, her cheeks flushing as fantasies of their future swirled in her mind.Her daydream was interrupted by a muffled sound from the hallway—a low, sultry moan. Ella frowned, her brow furrowing as she str
The dim lighting of the bar flickered, casting shadows over Alpha Derek Kingston of the Moonstone Pack as he downed another shot of whiskey. His tall, imposing frame was hunched over the bar, a scowl fixed on his face as he ignored the brunette who had been shamelessly trying to seduce him for the last half hour. Her hand slid up his arm, her voice dripping with desire, but Derek didn’t even glance her way. His mind was elsewhere, uninterested in the shallow advances of yet another desperate woman.“Get lost! ,” Derek said coldly, his voice a deep growl that sent shivers down her spine. He pushed her hand away roughly, eyes fixed on his drink. “Find someone else.”The woman pouted, but eventually took the hint, walking away with a huff. Derek exhaled sharply, running a hand through his dark, tousled hair. He wasn’t here for this—he was here to escape the relentless responsibilities of being Alpha, even if just for a few hours. The pressure weighed heavily on his broad shoulders, but n
The room seems to shrink as the intensity between Ella and Derek grew,the air thick with a primal need that neither of them could control. Derek's body pressed down on hers,his lips tracing a scorching part along her neck, making her grasp with each kiss,each bite. His hands roamed her skin exploring every curve,every inch of her trembling body as if he couldn't get enough of her.Ella arched her back,her chest brushing against his, her skin on fire from his touch. Her head spun, both from the alcohol and the overwhelming sensation of being so close to him, her true mate. She had never felt anything like this. Every fiber of her body aches for him,needed him,and the bond between them seemed to magnify every sensation,making her more sensitive, more desperate. “Derek…” she whispered,her voice shaky as her fingers dug into his back. Her nails scraped against his skin, pulling a growl from deep within his throat . He looked down at her, his eyes dark and wild from lust, his wolf barely