Christina's povI barely noticed the hands guiding me down the hallway. All I knew was that I was moving. It was a miracle I was still on my feet because I couldn't even feel them anymore.It took me a lot of effort to look to my side to see who was guiding me along, and I was met with a kind smile from a woman in a blue and black checkered uniform—a maid, just like the ones Elsa and I used to imagine living in castles. Go figure.I smiled back at her, but I doubt it came out as a smile. Probably a grimace. The thought of Elsa only made matters worse and brought the flashbacks to me as vivid as they were some minutes ago.All I wanted was to stop, just for a moment, to sit down, to breathe, to process the nightmare I was forced to live and relive. But apparently, no one cared about what I wanted.As I was led towards a destination that I had no interest in, I kept seeing them flashing before my eyes like a blur:My mother's lifeless body on the floor, blood pooling around her, blood d
Author's povI hate this place, was all Becca could think as she sat at the dinner table. Even with all its grand hallways, sculptures in the courtyard, and the priceless tapestries on the walls that were to die for, she still didn't like it.Becca glanced at the massive chandelier that cast a golden light across the mahogany table, remembering when she was younger and wished to visit the Alpha King's pack house. Well, be careful what you wish for, for her wish had been granted at the worst moment and in the worst way. Now, all she wanted to do was return home with her sister.But she could not turn back time, so she wouldn't agree to go on the mission to get Christina. And even if she could, what was the guarantee that she would disagree? Christina was also her sister, albeit illegitimate, but she couldn't just let them kill her.She cleared her throat, deciding to focus on the present. "We need to discuss our release," Becca said firmly, her gaze directed at Marcel sitting on the ot
Author's povChristina wished the only empty seat at the table was not beside Marcel. It had been done that way because the table was large enough to fit five more chairs.As soon as she sat down, Melissa leaned over the table and hissed, "What did they do to you?""It's so nice that our little Omega has decided to join us for dinner," Sandra said, interrupting whatever conversation was about to happen between Melissa and Christina.Truthfully, she was a bit disappointed when she saw Christina. Not only was she an Omega, but she also looked quite plain. Her emerald green eyes looked sunken, and she was very scared as they darted around everybody in the room. Her skin was tanned, not the porcelain skin she desired in young women, and her hair looked quite normal—dark chocolate.She looked so boring that it took her everything not to yawn when she first caught sight of her from where she was standing over the balcony. But then she had done something to make her notice. When her eyes sta
Marcel's povAfter Christina's statement, silence fell over the room, but was broken by a murmured conversation between Melissa and Becca.Arden was the first to finish his meal. He declined dessert, muttering something about having a task to complete for me.I nodded absentmindedly, gazing at Christina. I had been doing that quite a lot for the past few minutes, and though I'd like to tell myself that it was out of curiosity, I know it was more than that.She seemed so fidgety, her hands trembling every time she held the spoon and brought it up to her mouth. For some reason, I wanted to calm her down, to tell her that she had nothing to fear and that I would take care of her.I shook my head immediately. Where had that thought come from? I had no intentions of making her at ease, in fact, no obligations to her whatsoever, so why did I suddenly feel like comforting her?I shook my head again, annoyed at myself. From the corner of my eyes, I could see my mother glance at me, probably w
Christina's povI sat on the edge of my bed, staring at the faint patterns the just-rising sunlight made on the tile floors and walls as it filtered through my heavy curtains.Sleep had been elusive through the night, only catching a few hours of tossing and turning. Finally, I decided I couldn't take it any longer, and I decided to stay up instead.For the past two hours, I had been bored to death, having enough time now to think about every depressing thing that could happen and trying to desperately distract myself.When I asked Marcel for a device, I wasn't completely out of my mind. I needed a distraction, or else I could go insane with the gravity of grief that seemed to overwhelm me.But of course, he had refused I thought he would agree for a moment, but I was wrong. It was silly of me to even make such a request when he would not agree.And what was that excuse for telling all my friends about them? I wasn't three, for goodness sake! I didn't have to keep my mouth shut.Besid
Christina's povI took in a deep breath, and we recounted what I felt outside when Luna stepped out to interrupt my yelling at Marcel.By the time I was done speaking, Melissa had a murderous glint in her eyes. “That witch” she growled, her hands curling into fists."Witch?" I asked in surprise. "She's a werewolf, isn't she?" Or perhaps she was calling her that as a form of insult...Becca shook her head. "Luna Sandra is more than just a werewolf. You see, in this world, sometimes two supernatural beings mate and end up making a hybrid. Luna Sandra is one of them."My eyes widened; I was sure I looked comical staring at them like that. I could barely believe what I was hearing. "You mean a werewolf and a witch can get married?""I don't know the full story surrounding Luna Sandra's birth, but we do know that she's not just a werewolf. She's also a witch, and she's powerful.""It's also unfair," Melissa picked up from where she stopped, "that she gets to be more powerful than we are."
Author's povArden stepped inside the room, his eyes darting around curiously. He had knocked for a while, and nobody answered. For a panicked moment, he had thought that she got away somehow—Marcel would never live it down if she did.However, there she was, perched atop her bed and staring right at him. His eyes narrowed; he could have sworn he heard some voices when he was outside, but now there was only her. Perhaps it was just his imagination."How may I help you?" Christina asked. Her voice was a few pitches too high, confirming his suspicion that something was wrong."I'm sure you remember me," Arden said as he stopped some distance in front of her.Christine nodded. Of course, she remembered him—he was the handsome guy that Marcel had introduced as his beta. The first time they were introduced, she hadn't noticed anything of his appearance because of her state of mind, but during dinner, she had gotten a closer look, and well, he was pleasant to look at.Today he was dressed q
Christina’s povI don't know exactly what I expected when I entered the conference hall, but it was not what I saw. I gazed around at my surroundings, softly exclaiming in awe at how grand it was.With the high vaulted ceilings and the dark oak walls adorned with banners of the Black Moon Pack, it was an intimidating space. I felt like I had stepped into another slice of reality that was beautiful, even with its ancient feeling.Arden cleared his throat softly beside me, bringing me back to reality. A long, imposing table stood in the center, surrounded by individuals who radiated authority and experience.Immediately, I felt like a kid who had been called into the principal's office for a scolding. It did not help matters that none of them was smiling. They all stared at me with curious expressions, making me wish I had dressed in a ball gown instead.Well, all but one. Marcel sat at the head of the table, but he wasn't looking at me at all. I glanced backward to see what he was gazi
Christina's povMelissa added the last silver hairpin to my elegant bun and took a step back, admiring her work. "Well, look at you. Some months ago, you were stomping around refusing to be a Luna, and now you're glowing with confidence."I laughed with them. The funny part was that they were right. Suddenly, I felt so sure of whatever I wanted to do and the way forward for me. I felt so sure when I said yes to Marcel a week ago.I stood in front of the mirror while smiling as I turned to observe my reflection. The formal robes felt soft against my body while the silver clasp kept the gown in place.The dress was marvelous itself—drab white shot through with silver embroidery in lacy moon patterns down the bodice and sleeves. It cinched at my waist before cascading away in airy, weightless folds. And to crown it all, a silver circle rested on my head.I looked divine. I would never know how Marcel managed to have this dress custom-made for me within a week, but I was grateful for it.
Author's povJust as the words left Pierce's mouth, a sharp pain erupted in Becca's throat. The chains around her hands tightened so much that she had to scream. Her feet hung inches above the floor, and she had never felt so powerless.On the other side, Melissa was not doing any better. Pierce curled her fingers by her side between them as though she were holding on to an unseen rope. Something about her younger sister being tortured just like she was—by their mother, no less—made Becca snap. She ignored the intense pain and cried out, "Mother, stop!"To think that this was the person they refused to give up on, the person she went through the risk of bargaining with the alpha just to reach. How naive she was.Christina found herself screaming at the pain in her expression. "What are you doing? Stop it!"Pierce only smiled, not bothering to listen to her daughter's words. "Do you think you could betray me and walk away unharmed? You chose her over me, you both, and your father. Don
Marcel's povThe air in the patio was thick with tension, as I stared at each of the four elders sitting around the table. They met my gaze expectantly, even though I figured they already knew the reason I had called for the meeting.A day ago, I let Becca and Melissa leave with Isaac, not because he wanted to take his mate away, but because they have a greater purpose to serve, speaking with Pierce.They had until today to give me an update and change the course that I knew this meeting would inevitably reach, and yet they were silent.All I got to indicate their existence was a call from Becca to tell me that they had arrived at their destination. And since then, there has been nothing. I didn't like that. If they brought bad news that their mother refused to listen to reason, I would appreciate it better.I wasn't one to go back on my words. The ultimatum had reached its end, and the council meeting would hold, and so would the war. In my head, this meeting was basically to draw as
Christina's povAll I noticed initially was the heat of the flames around me. The colors surrounding me were not blue but aggressive orange and they pervaded the entire space. Multiple screams pierced the environment similar to tones while I held my head with my hands to block the noises from entering.A heavy odor of burning fur combined with blood filled the air while the sky turned strangely into a sickly red hue. Ranges of wolves escaped in all directions while their struggling bodies produced the sounds of wounded howling. I stood in the middle of a battlefield. I sensed a presence then I turned to my side and saw a radiant figure. The figure appeared completely unfamiliar without any recognizable characteristics because its flowing garments obstructed my sight. I only understood that the figure shined silver yet this surprised me."Christina," a soft voice whispered. I turned around in a full circle, but there was no one else around me.No one but this glowing person. When I r
Christina's povMy breathing became uneven while my heart raced but the feelings had nothing to do with fear or anger. I was completely unfamiliar with the source of my sudden nervous state.I sat up, unable to sleep. For the last few minutes I had been tossing on my bed while trying to relax my mind but every attempt resulted in more tension swirling through my thoughts. What was going on?Perhaps I was worried because of Marcel. He had brushed me off when I tried to stop him from leaving. Maybe that was good since I had no idea what I was going to say to him anyway, but it hurt nonetheless.I erased some of the cold sweat from my forehead. It was extremely strange that I was sweating despite the coolness in the air. This was much more than a misunderstanding with Marcel. Something was off.Unable to bear it anymore, I pushed off my bed and rushed towards the window. Both of my sisters were still fast asleep, so I was not interrupted. When I opened the windows a thick black cloud fro
Marcel's povWithout an answer, I carefully turned my body to look at her. At that moment Christina stood with her lips slightly open as she panted irregularly. During that moment the forceful wind simply vanished but the surrounding environment remained entirely unrestful.I asked her a simple question. Since she was so hell-bent on convincing me before I even talked with Isaac, answering shouldn't be hard.But her hesitation told me everything. Christina refused to let them depart from her side. The fiery defiance showed her unwillingness to accept their leaving.I scoffed, unable to believe what was going on right now. She accused me of being heartless, of keeping them here against their will, and yet she couldn't even find the strength to do the opposite. How hypocritical of her.I turned away, deciding that I would not repeat her mistake and say something I would regret. It would be better if I just left. Just as I started to walk away, I felt her hand brush my wrist slightly, bu
Christina's pov"Close your eyes and take deep breaths," Marcel's deep voice rumbled through my mind. "Focus."Easy for him to say. We found ourselves in a private spot where the fresh air mixed with gentle wind made it ideal for meditation. However, my mind was everywhere. How could I focus like this?Becca refused to tell us the reason behind her sudden change of mind. She just said it made sense that she should go with her mate when she had the chance to go with him, and that settled it.Well, it didn't. I could sense something amiss, but what it was, I had no idea, and it was killing me. Melissa seemed quiet, neutral, curious but also willing to go.That also worried me. If both of my sisters left, I would be alone. I did not wish to be alone, not yet."Christina," Marcel's voice cut through my daydream, and I opened my eyes. He was frowning at me, arms crossed over his chest."Do you want to do this, or not?""How can you tell that I'm not focused?" I demanded, indignant, that he
Author's povWarm sunlight from the afternoon bathed the patio while it created shadows that extended over the wooden floor. The gentle wind brought distant voices from another part of the estate while this isolated area maintained a peculiar tension in the air.Becca was probably the only one feeling the tension since her sisters beside her looked just fine and moved with as much ease as usual. Well, from the moment she set her eyes on the man standing a few feet away under the shade, she couldn't feel relaxed.Not much had changed about him, she noted as he locked his gaze with hers. He still had the same piercing gray eyes, the same strong jawline that made him look dominant and the kind tilt to his eyes were still there. Here was the subject of all the silent nights here at the blood moon pack.Becca took her final few steps to position herself next to him while feeling a mix of betrayal and excitement.A deep breath escaped from Isaac when he saw the stunning woman standing in fr
Author's pov"No!" Christina was saying. "No, I'm not with you on this one."Was Becca being serious right now? That insane woman had burned the house down in anger, and she was ready to kill both her and Marcel! She might be their mother, but she had no trait in common with them and that meant that Christina wanted no involvement with her.Reasoning with her? Pfft. That sounded like a plan that would fail. Perhaps in the end, the woman would turn Becca and Melissa against her, and now they would be a three-woman army all out to take Christina down."Becca, are you sure about this?" Melissa asked in a small voice. She should have sided with her sister immediately, but she doubted if their mother would listen for any reason.She had seen her angry before and caused a lot of wreckage, something she did not regret one bit after doing so. It was like when the witch took over, every ounce of good nature left her and she became worse."Are you serious?" Becca demanded. "So you're going to l