Christina's povThe world beyond the estate walls was quite different from the world within. It seemed everyone here was busy. All around us, people moved quickly, carrying bags and supplies wrapped in plastic bags, making calls, whispering to one another, some just lurking in corners.There were even kids here, running around and talking in groups. A few were with their parents.I huddled closer to my sisters, feeling like a stranger to these people. I was the only one nervous though my sisters walked with such confidence as though they were used to seeing this amount of activity, while all I wanted to do was run back to my safe and quiet abode."At this rate, you're going to give yourself away," Melissa said, a smile in her voice as she turned to me. She pulled her cloak a bit tighter over her head.Becca had suggested we come out in disguises, especially on my behalf because I was well-known. However, Melissa had decided to go overboard, actually getting a cloak that covered most o
Christina's povBoth of my sisters shouted at once. "What!"Even people in the crowd were murmuring loudly now, agitated and not knowing where this would lead. No doubt they were shocked by my sudden decision.I smiled. I liked the fact that they didn't see that coming, and neither had Reynolds.A look of shock flashed across his face, but then it was replaced with a grin. "Very well, then."Melissa snatched at me, forcing me to take a step backward towards her. "Don't do this," she said, raising her voice this time. Heads were turning in our direction, but she didn't care."He could get you killed!""If I keep running," I snapped, "then this pack will keep crumbling. It's high time I step up and do something real."She let me go with a stony expression on her face. "I was just... I'm just trying to look out for you."Okay, maybe I shouldn't have snapped at her. After all, she did care for me. I felt sorry for the hurt look she gave me. "Trust me on this one. I'll be fine. I need to
Marcel's povI blinked, well and truly surprised by her words. If anything I expected to hear, that it wasn't her trying to reciprocate my actions. She was in no place to do that. People would attack and bring her down before she could even say a word.When Arden told me that Christina was out of the estate and in the lower section with her sisters, I made my way there immediately.Throughout the ride, my heart beat rapidly, only able to think of the worst possible scenario: her tied to a stake and set ablaze just like her mother was.With Arden's directions, finding exactly where she was wasn't difficult. However, the sight of that crowd and her standing among them only made me more agitated. It would be easy to recognize her—I did at first glance.I was the only one who could, because not until she stepped up did anyone know that she was there. And her justification was that she couldn't just stand by and watch them talk about me that way. Now she had me truly confused.On one hand,
Marcel's povI laced my fingers together, looking from Ophelia to Roderic. We had just finished listing out the matters we needed to handle and the present situation of things. Next on the agenda was our next course of action.I had a few suggestions of my own, ranging from sending spies to the Ironclad territory to find out what exactly Pierce was doing, to launching a full-on attack on Dean's pack. But I wanted to hear what they had to say first because once I spoke, anything they said would be influenced by me."I don't know why we're still discussing this," Ophelia scoffed, crossing her arms. "Pierce set fire to your home and she almost killed your mate. If Alpha Dean is sheltering her, then he's no better. We should have already marched to his gates and taught him a lesson.""I considered that," I replied. "Let's hear what Roderic has to say before I voice out my thoughts."Roderic sighed. "As much as I agree that Alpha Dean needs to be put in his place, I don't think that an out
Author's povIsaac studied the thoughtful expression on Alpha Marcel's face. He knew this would not be an easy decision for him, but that was why he was Alpha - so he could make the tough decisions for his pack.He meant it when he said that he was not against Alpha Marcel. His action in executing Alpha Xavier alone was enough to endear him to his heart because Xavier was into a lot of wrong dealings which he could not speak up against because he was in a lower position. He didn't intend things to turn out like this for Alpha Marcel though, but he found a way to use the situation to his advantage - that is, if he agreed to his conditions.Marcel heaved a sigh. "Give me some time to consider," he said finally. He thought that the deal was quite fair. If he were in Isaac's shoes, he wouldn't have asked for anything less, but he couldn't just agree immediately.Isaac nodded. "Very well, but don't think too long, Alpha. With time, Alpha Dean is gathering forces and the chances are wearin
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
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
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
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