Stephanie stood transfixed, she could not believe her eyes. She felt cold all over, everything spelled doom for her. Even though she knew that it was inevitable that she would run into someone from her past someday, however, she did not expect it to be so soon and worst having the person become her boss at a job she desperately needed.Wrapping her hands around herself, she started to walk away from the hall. Her legs felt heavy, she felt numb, morose, and drained. Stephanie could feel her eyes getting cloudy but she tried to hold back her emotions, it was neither the place nor the time.She was so absorbed in thought that she did not notice anything or anyone around her. Her focus was solely on getting back to the office.A light touch on her shoulder made her jerk. “Are you okay? You are acting strange as if you have seen a ghost.” Stephanie gave Jane a weak smile. If only she knew she had seen one -she mused.“I don't feel too good, that's all.” She said with a tired smile.Jane
“I will hold you to your promise then,” Jane replied and Stephanie smiled at her. It tugged at her heart that she had just lied and was about to ruin a relationship that seemed promising maybe in the future. But she had no choice, she had to protect her daughter and herself. Taking quick breaths in strides, she forced herself to focus on the task at hand, switching between typing and checking her watch every minute.“You keep checking your watch, do you have an appointment or something.”“No…I mean yes. I..I am taking Kayla to the dentist later today.” “Are you not late already?” Jane enquired “The dentist is a friend, he agreed to do it after school.” Stephanie could not believe how smoothly she had learned to lie. “Okay,” Jane replied and continued with her work.As the time for Kayla to get back from school got closer, Stephanie became more agitated and afraid. She began to doubt her plans, fear gnawing at her, almost paralyzing her.But the thought of losing her only daughter
Stephanie stepped out of the way so that Dr. Zita can enter her living room. She does not offer her a seat but stands defensively facing her former friend. “How are you, Stephanie?” Dr. Zita said, her eyes focused on Stephanie. The animosity in her eyes was not difficult to miss.“4 minutes remaining.” Stephanie snorts, ignoring her question.Dr.Zita sighs “How did we get to this Steph, we used to be best friends. Why do you hate me so much, why did you disappear from the hospital without telling me.”“You are joking, right? you of all people should not be asking me this.” Stephanie sneered. “Tell me why you are here and move on, oh..I get it now.” She paced a bit. “You are spying on me, first you got a job at my workplace and now you are at my home. Who did you send to spy on me?” She raised her baseball bat as if to strike.“I have never spied on you Steph. Firstly, after I resigned from Eclipse pack and moved to another pack north of our pack, I met someone there, we became frien
Eclipse pack“Dad, I am tired. Can I take a break?” Alpha Damiens' almost-four-year-old son cries out. “I am hungry too.” “But we just started, Gaius, you have to learn how to fight so you will be a good leader.”“No, I don't, I do not want to fight with anyone, they are all my friends.”“When you get older, you will discover that not everyone is your friend. You must learn to be a good Alpha and take care of everyone once I am no longer here with you.” “Where are you going, Daddy.” Gaius asked, “I want to go with you wherever you go.”Before he could respond his Beta roared in laughter irking Alpha Damien more. “Let the boy be, he is only a child, and remember he is hungry too.”“But he needs to learn and this is the age to begin, I started way earlier than him. And we know the werewolf world is experiencing more attacks than before, I want him to be ready, I need him to be fully equipped in case something happens to me.” Beta Chris started to shake his head “Look at the boy, he
021Stephanie watched Dr. Zita from the kitchen dining table where she was seated beside her daughter as she ate her breakfast of pancakes and bacon. After their reunion some months ago, Dr. Zita invited her to come stay in her luxury apartment with her. At first, she rejected the offer, not wanting to take up anybody's space, she also enjoyed her privacy too. However Dr.Zita had convinced her that she would enjoy her privacy and no one's space would be invaded, the best part was that there was a high level of security at the apartment. The security was enough to convince Stephanie and she agreed and moved in.Stephanie was glad she made the decision and after one of the episodes of Kayla's health attack, she had no doubts ever again. Dr.Zita had insisted on drawing some blood from Kayla and taking it to the lab for some test, she had a theory but needed to be sure.They had to wait for a week or more till the results come out “I brewed some coffee,” Stephanie said to Dr.Zita. She
022Kayla's body accepted the antidote and she quickly showed signs of improvement. Dr.Zta increased her dosage when she felt it was necessary and within a year of taking the drugs, her symptoms vanished completely. She was taken off the meds and her body was allowed to do the minor healing, especially in her bones. This was necessary to determine if her werewolf traits were in her. Even though Stephanie tried not to make much fuss about this, she worried a lot. It was important for her daughter's survival and since her father was an Alpha, she was prone to more threats in their environment. However, her healing was fast, though not as fast as a normal werewolf especially one that did not suffer the trauma that Kayla went through but she healed at a good pace and Dr.Zita was positive that it would only get better from there on.Stephanie was pleased with the outcome. Her only worry was about the boy, she could not stop believing he was alive and each day her confidence grew that her
Stephanie tried to wring her way out of the invite, she kept making excuses and tried to be a matchmaker between Jane and a colleague so Jane could go with him but everything fell flat. She tried to feign sickness but was unable to pull it off.“Can I take a rain check? I will make it up to you someday.” She begged “It's not as if you are going to a prison yard to be locked up. It's just a party, where you can mingle with people, make friends and might even fall in love. Just be more open to this, you can't tell what will come out of this.” Jane persuaded her friend. “You know what, let's pretend it's just for fun and you can leave anytime you want, I won't force you. But please join me, I just want you to come with me.” “Alright!” Jane squealed in delight, “You won't regret this.”“I hope so.” Stephanie tried to connect to her friend's excitement but failed. “Remember you said I can leave whenever I want.”“Sure. But I bet you, you will have the time of your life.” Stephanie snee
“Did I not tell you all eyes would be on you tonight? “ Jane whispered into her ears. Stephanie gave her a quick smile, trying hard to remain focused as butterflies filled her stomach. The venue for the event was already filled with guests all looking elegant and sophisticated. The ambiance in the hall was that of wealth and power, and Stephanie for the umpteenth time wondered why she was there, such glamor was surely not her cup of tea.However, as soon as they both entered she could feel eyes on her and they were not hostile at all. After dressing this morning and looking at herself in the mirror, she could not help but admire what she saw. Her makeup was not heavy but light and simple, her dress hugged her at the right places accentuating her curves. She paired it off with the diamond studs Jane had given to her. The red pumps she wore made her look more slender and sleek, truth be told, for the first time in a long while she felt beautiful.However, seeing how all eyes were on h
Four years had passed since Stephanie became Luna. In that time, the sorceress' Prophecy about the Eclipse pack had come to pass as the pack had not only flourished but had become the largest and most formidable pack in the entire territory. The transformation was felt in every corner of their land, and a sense of security and pride filled each member.Under Alpha Damien and Luna Stephanie’s leadership, they had found peace and prosperity. Damien’s once arrogant and foreboding feature had become warm and inclusive, embodying the unity of the moon goddess. Stephanie, who once questioned her place in the pack, was now a revered Luna, trusted and respected by all. She carried an undeniable strength, one that had seen her through some of the darkest times and now anchored her family and pack.*********On a cold morning, Damien gathered everyone in the central grounds of the pack community. Standing beside Stephanie, he addressed his pack."Today, I have wonderful news to share," Damien b
“Hey, your break’s over. We need someone clearing tables. Stop lounging around and get back to work,” he snapped, his words cutting through.Hank’s eyes widened, the shock unmistakable as he turned his look back to Cassandra. “Cassandra… you work here?”Cassandra’s shoulders slumped, her eyes dropping to her hands as shame washed over her. “Yes,” she murmured, voice barely audible. “This is my job now, Hank.”Hank’s face softened, his shock giving way to a profound sadness as he took in her worn appearance. He reached out, resting a gentle hand on her arm. “What… what happened to you, Cassandra?”Cassandra took a shaky breath, her voice filled with shame and regret as memories rushed back, memories of the choices she had made, the paths she had chosen, and the arrogance that had blinded her. “I trusted someone,” she began, voice breaking. “A younger man. He made me feel… seen again, like I mattered. But he took everything I had and left. I lost my home, my status… everything.” Her vo
Damien stood on the edge of the field overlooking the lush greenery of parts of the pack territory. He glanced around at the pack members beginning their morning routines and took a deep breath, his mind elsewhere. It was Hank's invitation that lingered in his thoughts—a trip to South Africa, a vacation that had taken on a life of its own in his mind, fueled by encouragement from Stephanie and the children.“I think you should go," Chris had told him one evening, sensing Damien's hesitation. "You've been carrying this pack for years, barely taking a moment for yourself. Let me handle things here for a little while. I owe you that much—and more."Damien had turned to his beta, touched by Chris's words. "Chris, you know since after the whole ordeal we have faced, I planned on never stepping out of the pack for years to come”Chris gave a light chuckle, patting Damien's shoulder with a brotherly confidence. "Damien, with respect, you need to go. Not only for you, but for Stephanie and t
The night had quieted down slightly as the guests had left, but the heart of the pack remained. Under the glow of the moonlight, laughter and music filled the air, while the remaining pack members continued to dance and celebrate. Stephanie and Damien stood together, watching Caleb and Kayla play with the other children, their faces glowing with happiness.Suddenly, Chris approached, his arm around Zita, both of them laughing softly. “Alpha,” Chris began. “Zita and I have been talking, and we… We'd love to exchange our vows and officially become mates tonight, with all of you here to witness it. It feels right on a night like this.”Damien’s face lit up with surprise, then softened with a deep warmth. “Chris, I can’t think of a better moment. No one deserves this more than you. You’ve stood by me, through every storm and every success. It’s an honor to have you both join as mates on this special night.”Chris nodded, visibly moved, and his hand tightened around Zita’s. “Thank you, Da
As the celebration continued into the evening, the guests began forming a line to present their gifts to the new Luna. Stephanie graciously accepted each one, touched by the thoughtfulness behind every present. Her heart warmed as she saw the way her pack and loved ones had come together to make this day so memorable.Albert, Damien's former gamma and new Alpha of knight pack, presented a beautifully crafted silver pendant adorned with the Moon Goddess symbol. “To remind you of your strength and wisdom, Luna,” he said with a smile, bowing his head in respect.Stephanie took the pendant with a smile, deeply moved. “Thank you, Albert. I’ll wear it proudly,” she replied, clasping the pendant close to her heart.Jane approached next, holding a delicate painting of a moonlit forest scene. “It’s a reminder of home,” Jane said softly. “Those times you felt lost, but now you have gotten all you deserve because you are a good person.”Stephanie’s eyes shone with gratitude as she took the gift.
The night before the Luna ceremony, Stephanie lay wide awake, staring at the ceiling, her thoughts swirling with anticipation and excitement. It was hard to believe the day was finally here. She was about to step fully into the role of Luna, something that had once seemed unimaginable. Though she had faced endless trials and tribulations, she had come full circle, returning to the place where she now felt a profound sense of belonging. In the early morning hours, she heard a gentle knock at her door. “Mom?” Caleb’s voice whispered through the door.Stephanie rose and opened the door to find Caleb standing there, looking every bit as anxious as she felt. He began to speak but kept stopping, clearly struggling to find the right words.“Mom, are you… excited?” he finally asked, his voice barely more than a whisper.Stephanie placed her hands on his shoulders. “More than you can imagine,” she replied softly. “I’m nervous too, just like you.” She squeezed his shoulders reassuringly. “But
Stephanie could feel the children’s excitement building as they made their way through the heart of the pack’s community toward Alicia's shop. Though she had initially considered using a human seamstress, she felt a sense of ease in choosing Alicia, a decision that felt more meaningful now. Alicia was not only an incredible seamstress but also a woman who deeply understood the werewolf world and its sacred ceremonies. Stephanie knew that Alicia’s designs would capture the spirit and traditions of the pack, honoring the connection to the Moon Goddess.When they arrived, Alicia’s shop was warm and inviting, filled with bolts of fabric in rich colors and textures that seemed to glow under the sunlight streaming through the windows. Stephanie took in the scene, feeling a surge of pride for her pack and their traditions.The door swung open, and Alicia looked up, her face breaking into a broad smile when she saw them. “Stephanie!” she exclaimed, her voice filled with genuine delight. “And
As they settled down for breakfast, the atmosphere was light with laughter and the occasional clink of silverware. The events of the past few days felt distant, overshadowed by the warmth of family and the security of home. The children chattered excitedly about their favorite dishes, as Stephanie and Damien exchanged glances, each silently grateful for the peace they now had.Just then, Chris and Zita walked in, both of them beaming, a radiance about them that instantly caught Stephanie’s attention. “Hey! Look who’s finally joining us!” she called out with a welcoming grin."Couldn't resist the smell of breakfast, could you?" Damien added, chuckling as he pulled out chairs for them. Chris laughed, nodding his thanks as he and Zita took their seats at the table, the children greeting them with enthusiastic waves and giggles.“We thought we’d pop in to see everyone before the day fully got underway,” Chris said, giving a warm smile around the table. “But truthfully, Zita and I have som
Stephanie stirred, blinking sleepily as the trauma of the previous night’s ordeal washed over her. She glanced beside her to see Damien, Kayla, and Caleb, all nestled close together, their faces peaceful in sleep. The children had insisted on sleeping with them that night, clinging to the safety and warmth they found between them after the terrifying events they'd endured. Stephanie had found no reason to say no; in fact, their closeness had provided her with a rare sense of calm.Taking a deep breath, Stephanie gently placed her hand on Damien’s shoulder, whispering his name as she brushed back the strands of hair that had fallen across his face. "Damien," she murmured softly, her voice barely audible. He blinked awake, his gaze meeting hers, still clouded with sleep. Slowly, she woke the children too, brushing a soft kiss over each of their foreheads. Kayla’s eyes fluttered open first, followed by Caleb’s, both of them stretching and yawning.A heaviness lay on her heart, an ache t