Marcel's POVI led Christina through the dim corridor, a path I knew by heart, the faint scent of evening roses and flowers carried in by the breeze. I hadn't planned on bringing her here; for some reason, I hadn't even thought about the place we were going to in a long time. It was like I had forgotten about it.But something about today, about having her in my space while she stared with wide eyes at my creations, made me want to share.She didn't ask where we were going, though I could practically feel her curious eye on me. She just followed, her fingers resting lightly in my grasp. I held on loosely so she could pull away if she wanted to, but I doubted she would.When we finally got to the end of the corridor and stepped outside, I heard her sharp intake of breath. Well, she sure was fast at spotting things.Not that what was on display was hidden, though. I followed her line of sight to the big oak tree at the center of this private garden.All ten of the paintings were careful
Christina's POVIt had been long, agonizing minutes since Marcel moved away from me, and my head still felt woozy. When Marcel's lips left mine, a tingling sensation erupted across my skin, sending electric shivers down my spine. The tingling still hadn't stopped.My lips burned with the memory of our kiss, a foreign and intoxicating sensation. It was a far cry from our first kiss, which I want to discard now. I could still taste him - a sweet mix of something dark, mysterious, and dangerously compelling. I wanted to go back and continue what we had started.He kept his hands on my back as he guided me back into the room. I was grateful for that; if he wasn't holding me, I might have fallen at some point. But now I was painfully aware of his touch, which brought feelings I didn't want to acknowledge.My mind reeled with confusion. How could the same man who had once been my tormentor now feel so... different? My cheeks flamed hot, a betraying blush spreading across my skin, highlighti
Marcel's POVThe atmosphere in the Judgment Circle was thick with tension. The place was called so because it was the venue for making drastic judgments, such as the one to be passed out today.The vast open space at the heart of the pack's territory was lined with towering stone pillars, each etched with ancient runes that spoke of battles fought, sacrifices made, and, most importantly, laws upheld. Today, it would witness a crime that could never be forgiven.The crowd was silent—strangely so for such a grand occasion. Delegates from surrounding packs filled the seats, their eyes trained on the center of the clearing where Alpha Xavier stood, shackled and bound, his head lowered in defeat. The seats in front were filled with the high-ranking alphas and their warriors, all present to witness what was to come.Of course, I hadn't forgotten what Alpha Xavier had done. He had been held in custody for the past three days, and it was time for him to face the consequences of his actions.
Christina's POVI couldn't breathe.The world around me felt distant, muffled like I was underwater. The sound of the blade cutting through flesh, the thud of Xavier's body hitting the ground, and the gasps from the crowd—they all blended into one horrible noise inside my head.Except it wasn't just Xavier's death that I was reliving; it was Peter's.The way that witch stood over him and brought the blade down in one fell swoop. The way I had screamed for her to stop, only for my voice to be swallowed by the silence.I didn't know where I was going. I just knew I had to get away. The streets were empty, and everyone still gathered at the execution site. My legs carried me faster as I ran blindly until I turned a corner and stumbled into an alleyway behind one of the smaller buildings. My back hit the wall of a random building as I slid down, pulling my knees to my chest.I couldn't stop shaking. It felt like I was back in the middle of the crowd, watching Peter's life slip away. Seei
Marcel's POVChristina was failing. Badly. I watched her struggle to catch her breath, bent over slightly with her hands on her knees. She was getting angry and frustrated.I suspected part of the reason was that I kept breaking through her defenses with little effort. I could go easy on her, but then what was the point of the training session if I wasn't assessing her?I felt selfish calling her here to train with me instead of my mother. I covered it up with the reason that my mother could not give her the level of training that I could, but I knew the full truth was I wanted to prove to her that she couldn't hide from me for long.I knew she had been avoiding me since the execution. I wanted her to know I could bring her out of her hiding place whenever I felt like doing so.Now, here she was, forced to be in my presence, and I could see her discomfort with every second that passed. She looked like she would run out anytime without looking back. She lifted her head, her brown eyes
Christina's POVTraining with Marcel became a routine that I was now starting to look forward to. I had been doing so for two weeks, and it was helping me. I faced him in the training room three times a week, and we pretended everything was alright.It was an unspoken truce—he didn't push, and I didn't go back. Neither addressed the lingering tension from that day after the execution or the awkward closeness during training. We just... moved on.Somehow, I was okay with it. I didn't want to bother myself with my emotions just yet, so I threw myself into the training, letting the strain distract me from them. It was easier to focus on striking, dodging, countering—anything but the wickedly handsome man whose gaze lingered too long. It was easier to pretend I didn't want to be close to him.Sometimes, he looked at me like he was waiting for something, and if I was being honest, I was waiting too. But for what? I didn't know, and I doubted he did either.After today's session, I returned
Christina's povI should have turned away and escaped before he saw me, but I just couldn't. In that flash of light, I saw scars on his bare back—not too many, but enough to make me curious.I could only see him by the dim yellow lighting. His damp hair was tousled as if he had just stepped out of the shower, and the dim glow highlighted every sculpted muscle as he leaned over to pick something up from the table.I had never seen him so relaxed and vulnerable, so unaware. Perhaps it was the rarity of the situation that kept me rooted to the spot.I blinked and shook my head slightly. I had to leave before he accidentally turned and saw me. Just as I was about to step in, his voice stopped me."Will you stand there all night or come in?"I gasped as my stomach flipped. He knew I was here already, but how was that even possible when he hadn't looked back?Hesitantly, I stepped inside, wishing I had something else on besides this damp dress."You know, I'm quite surprised—" He turned to
The passion between us was intense, yet I longed to draw her nearer. At this moment, I had no awareness of our surroundings. Even if I attempted to focus, I couldn't. The sensation of her underneath me, her form rising to meet mine with each urgent motion, was all that mattered now.Christina's breathy sounds filled the air around us, her nails digging into my back as I pushed deeper. My name escaped her lips like a soft request."Marcel..."I let out a low sound releasing her nipple and nestling my face where her neck met her shoulder. Her heartbeat was strongest. My teeth skimmed the area, and something deeper than instinct urged me to mark her as mine.It's too early, I thought, not wanting to rush or seem hasty. But as this idea crossed my mind, her scent overwhelmed me, and she lifted her hips driving me further inside her. Every fiber of my being was tense, my wolf side demanding what we both knew would happen.My willpower crumbled. If I didn't act now, I would lose my mind. He
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