The beast was roaring, and then it stopped suddenly while Caelum stared at the sword in his hand. He had never killed a man before, but even though they called this one a beast, he certainly still saw him as a man. Helsinger had said he was a werewolf, but it still felt unreal. He heard stories about werewolves from his mother and could remember growing up and beginning to taunt her about her beliefs and odd stories. They were all myths that never existed to him, but now he stood before a werewolf welding the sword he had been asked to kill him with. His conscience came to play instantly. In her stories, his mother told him that not all werewolves were evil and corrupt. Some of them never wished to be born into the curse but seeing it was their lineage; they had to learn to accept whatever comes with it. The hate and isolation alike. Certainly he could not get through with this as there was no way to tell if this was actually one of the good ones and if indirectly he was getting him
Caelum was still surprised at what happened, but there were no whispers. He felt the strong admiration with which the others looked at him. He had proven himself and then turned to look in Helsinger's way. His gaze first fell on the lady. She still was not smiling at him but was not frowning this time or looking at him like he was a lost sheep in their midst. It gave him the satisfaction that she did not see him as a failure or unworthy person. Perhaps she might accept him yet in their ranks. Suddenly, there was clapping, and Helsinger called him to stand in front of him. Caelum went over to him and then presented his sword back, but the man smiled."No. She's yours now. She made your first kill." he said to Caelum."Oh, thank you so much, sir." the latter greeted, and as he bowed, he saw where the claws had hurt him from. He was not worried about it, nor did he feel any pain. Instead, he let it sink into him that it was something he had to get through if he was going to become a bra
Mara still had not the words to answer him.Her thoughts had been accurate; Sebastian was never going to trust her. All this between them was merely a charade to him, as until he had confirmed it, she would always be another Esmeralda to him.However, she did not blame him for his reaction, as she too was beginning to doubt herself based on the things happening to her, something she had read about in his study while he was away, and the stories her mother told her.Perhaps, she might even be dangerous to him without actually knowing it, which meant his fears were also justified. She realized now that she had grown to love him and wished to believe that all his reactions towards are were signs that he also felt the very same way she did about her and that he wanted her as much as she wanted him.It was too late already, too late for her to turn back on what she now shared with him.It was not just about the intimacy but that he had successfully clouded her thoughts and vision. She worr
She knew well enough how she had made him that promise to be calm, but his following words caused her to sit up, instantly breaking the promise as soon as it had been made.It was not her intention to do so, but Tristan left her no choice with what he said next.Any woman in their right frame would have done just the same; it was way worse than what she thought she might have done that would cause such quietness.She had no idea that whatever it was about her had escalated to that point."I went to see a witch," he said"A what?" Mara had asked, sitting up"You promised," he said"Didn't promise to act human." she chipped in"Still the same," he said, reaching for her hand, which she moved away from his reach.If she found something about him disturbing, she could have just told him about her, but he did not trust her.How on earth would he take her to a witch to discuss whatever was about her?No, he had gone too far, which was unacceptable to her.Mara's thoughts flew to a default d
Perhaps you would not understand her worries, but that was precisely what she needed to feel. To be told she would die all of a sudden was scary, and that explains a lot to her about why Grimshaw wanted her so badly.She had limited time to live, and he would need her to sort out whatever he had cooked up for the real werewolves that did not follow his way. She felt distraught and brooded all day as she needed to think.Sebastian had been right after all, and he had been after her welfare. He had done her excellent service, and they owed him and the witch a lot. She felt agitated that she had been angry at him when all he was doing was for her safety. She was not herself and needed her space when she went to the developing garden.It was beginning to take shape now, and its beauty was becoming more mesmerizing, but to explain the extents to which she was upset, Mara did not notice its lavishing beauty, nor did she pay attention to its splendor.She simply kept at the single task she w
He smiled now at her, saying she sent for him, and she nodded. Indeed she did send for him but had notexpected he would be there too soon, which works for her. He agreed, and then she sat down and patted beside her for him to sit. Sebastian could feel the rising tempo of her heartbeat.She was worried about something, and he knew it was all about what he had said. It was to be expected. The reaction from her as no one would get their day and time of death predicted in such a sudden manner that they would be smiling about it, except such a person was not average. It was, therefore, absolutely normal for her to behave as she was at the moment.However, Sebastian gave all he could to make sure she was okay. He asked her to proceed as he was all eyes, ears, and real senses together. She smiled at his words and then cleared her throat carefully as she watched him for a brief moment."When is the next full moon?" she had asked him all of the sudden"Not certain I have paid attention to th
The previous day had been great for them, and Mara was skeptical about leaving the little child she had found attracted to. Sebastian had asked her to go inside that night as intruders were in the forest. They had their fears wrapped around the fact that perhaps Grimshaw had found a way and infiltrated Blackwell.Mara was scared, and although she asked her to leave, Maria stayed with her alongside Luke, Daemon's brother, to protect her. Something seemed to be developing among the duo—something strong and which only few would understand.They were mated to each other, but while it seemed Luke's loyalty lies with Sebastian, Maria was with Mara. They stood guard over her, positioned ready for war.Old Sonya was with them as they waited for a long time, with Mara already promising herself that she would kill herself instantly should it turn out that Grimshaw was the one coming for her.She stood there while Sonya sat down beside her on the seat provided. It was a long wait that seemed to
"Because I am the one breathing and telling you, Mara. Sebastian has never been this way since I knew him, but you made him like this. You made him understand and value the life of others." he said"But not enough to change fate." she chipped in sadly"Change fate? I'd say you defeated fate already. I mean, look around you. Look at Blackwell and how you changed it in a short while. Do you think all these people would be here if not for you? Sebastian is doing these things because you taught him. You have influenced him, and now he is just like you." he said.It was reassuring but not enough, all he said to her."Yet we do not know what monster I am," she said"You are the best monster ever. Everyone needs a monster like you once in their lifetime," he said.Those last words did their job smoothly as they brightened her spirit. If only the peopleinside would talk that way, then she would never have a reason to be sad. She noticed no more yelling now and wondered what had suddenly ch
His piercing scream and then the impact on her body from the way the old alpha had slammed herreached into her depths. Mara had never been more pained and even now, she had forgotten how toturn for a moment into her human form. Her baby was all that mattered to her and then she got over itand let it free. She had returned back to her human for, bare and all. The minute she opened her eyes, two things happen simultaneously. Grimshaw pulled a dagger andthen held it close to her stomach area just as she saw Sebastian in the action of trying to make it over. “Now you stop there boy or I would be sending her and your baby to hell.” He said “Baby?” Sebastian asked caught dead in his tracks Yes baby. Continue wizard.” Grimshaw said to the wizard whom yet again had been distracted. Sebastian must not have believed his ears when he closed his eyes and listened. He could hear it finallythrough the noise, the steady tiny beating heart of the child within her. He could not believe his ea
He pulled her along quickly taking the shorter route to the stone altar he already had in preparation fortheir rites. The wizard was there and Grimshaw had never been more excited over his plans ahead andof time of making the wizard key into all his plans with Alexa the late sorceress. The breach of his wallshad seriously extended to where they were and it was only a matter of time before they get closer andget to him. But not for long, he was going to make certain he beats them to it. He had some of his menstand guard around the place as he pulled Mara along. He was not going to waste anymore time.“You may begin.” He said to the wizard“Yes my lord. Everything is nearly prepared but we might still be needing the one inhabited by life.” Thewizard said.Grimshaw caught Mara smirking but he had a surprise for her.“Oh she is the one inhabited by light.” He said“But I thought Alexa…” the confused wizard said“Alexa was gullible and let a little girl play a fast one on her. But su
She has been unnecessarily frustrating since he took her to see Zyair and abruptly refused eating until hefrees the boy. Grimshaw also knew within that the knowledge that her own mother had put him onpermanent protection was something way more challenging for her. He felt really proud but morehappy about the fact that her powers were actually awakening. It was a go go for him actually as he hadbeen waiting patiently to be able to harness her powers. But since what happened with his men theother day, Grimshaw suspected that something was off with her and her powers. The sorceress hadAlexa had said that it was a force field of death that she wielded based on what Mara had told her buthe could point out loopholes around those words. He knew he had to revisit that issue himself and seefor himself to make certain that her powers were what they seemed. He had asked that his men looksaround and finds the sorceress text but it would turn out that it had disappeared miraculously.Grim
They had been trying hard at keeping their ranks for sometime now as they had been really busy with the enemies. It was really tough as Sebastian had not been to war in a long but luckily for him, he had the experience and the true qualities of a leader. More and more had been falling into his ranks and aligning with his troops as everyone seemed to be calling for an end to Grimshaw’s reign. There were leaders around him both young ones and older ones to advise him and brush up his strategies. They were not so much but they were doing really well at holding out on the enemies. They fact that theywere short numbered was a cause for alarm as this was war and not a fairytale. It would only be a couple of moments and then the enemies would see through the hidden loopholes in their formation and then it would be their turn to start suffering the ills of war. That was just what Sebastian had been fighting tooth and nail to avoid. He could not loose this war. Not with the glimmer of hope h
Three days since he sent out his men, he still was not getting any responses from the battlefield. He last heard that they were engaging each other already at a place not so far from his castle, and now he heard nothing more. Grimshaw had sent three ravens out already. Two to the light claw pack and one to his general out at the war front, but neither had responded. The panic of not knowing was killing him; all he wanted now was reassurance from the general that his men were doing well, followed by a backup from the light claw pack.Apparently, it would seem like the old pack wanted nothing to do with or assist him. Grimshaw was not short of surprises as he knew well enough that all this had everything and more to do with the distraction he had received the other night of the banquet.The heavens knew what his son and Mara had voiced to the alpha. He had been told that they met with the man away from the banquet table, and although they tried to make it seem like a tour of the sorts o
“You should stop pressurizing him about these things, Max. It is not his problem.” Artemia said to her brother.“So you think,” Maxwell said.“So I know.” She said to him, firing up.Maxwell had been at the top of his beefing with his father again; this time, he was not buying his cowardice. He could not understand why the old man was acting the way he had been, even after the young woman had affirmed that she was being married against her will to this old wolf that seemed tohave been brewing all the troubles in the entire werewolf history.Maxwell had never liked Grimshaw, not even as a child, and many times when his father would meet secretly with this man; he always felt uncomfortable about it all. His father had not sent troops to help when the first war had happened, and as a child, he had not understood the reason why but this time, he was already beginning to think about it having relations with Grimshaw.All these years, they had been living in the wild and away from everyone
"Well, good morning to you, my hubby dad," Mara said as she entered the dining room, smiling ear to earwith so much amusement, especially at his face. Someone else was seated a little too early on the table, and he snorted laughter that had him choking on the drumstick he was biting down on."That serves you right, boy, for not waiting," Grimshaw growled as he observed Mara come to sit at her place."Are you alright?" she asked Zyair, who just drank from his cup and nodded. Mara then turned to Grimshaw, who was glaring at her. There certainly was a part of him that wished she had nothing to offer him so he could snap her neck, but he could not now, could he? He needed her alive so his plans could mature into reality. Grimshaw then furrowed his brow even more profoundly as he glared."You know, girl, I would rather the other bit of our relationship be kept secret." He glared at her"I do not understand. But that's what we are, right? And sometimes one could get confused with identitie
"Are you sure you want to do this and trust those treacherous humans again as our ancestors once did, brother?" Silas asked him for the third time, but this was at the boundary of Blackwell.The past few days, or dare we assume the week, have been the most hectic as they had been up and busy with the re-establishment of Blackwell, and there have been a lot of changes. Successfully a few daysafter the barrier had fallen, they had completed the sealing around Blackwell entirely. It was far more than what little Sebastian had thought they would achieve. It would seem the hands of fate had played them with way better plans than they had ever dreamt of as it was walled a little higher. Even more exciting was the line of persons, wolves in particular, that lined outside the new gates of Blackwell to surrender themselves to the new dawn and hope which was in the person of Sebastian. A lot had been happening these few days, but also enough to remind them that there was no longer time for so
Mara stood there as the maids attended to her with sadness in her eyes.She could not believe that this was happening despite the discovery. She looked grim as they put the gown on her, as she stared back at the mirror.Here has a damsel in distress that perhaps her powers alone would not save her from her impending fate.After the last altercation with Grimshaw, he had come to her room afterward and spoken to her.Mara then went to bed and did receive a confirmation of the fact that Grimshaw was her father. In fact, from what she had seen, he had known from the moment of her turning and yet had decided to keep it safely away from her while she wallowed in his desperation to marry her. He had come and put her in the tightest of corners when he warned her of the fate of Sebastian. He had sent a spread of words about her, and he also had more news.Two days ago, he learned that Blackwell castle had been again found. The barrier had already been lifted.Hence he could easily make an atta