The car hummed softly as it cruised down the bustling streets of the city. Gaia sat stiffly in the passenger seat, her hands clasped tightly in her lap. Her eyes darted to the window, drinking in the view outside.The sunlight streamed through the trees lining the sidewalks, casting playful shadows across the roads. People walked by, chatting, laughing, and living their lives without a care. Gaia’s chest tightened as she took it all in—the freedom, the noise, the color. It felt like an entirely different world from the one she’d known.“It’s beautiful out here,” Gaia murmured, almost to herself.Selene, seated beside her in the driver’s seat, arched an elegant brow. “What’s beautiful? The traffic? The noise?” She chuckled lightly, though her tone held no malice.“No,” Gaia replied softly, shaking her head. “The world. I haven’t been outside like this in years. It’s… overwhelming, but in a good way.”Selene cast her a sideways glance, her lips curving into a smile that didn’t quite rea
Gaia stood frozen, her pulse hammering in her ears as the security guard reached for her shopping bag. The other customers in the boutique stared, their whispers a sharp buzz that filled the air. Selene stood off to the side, her arms crossed, a faint smirk playing on her lips.“I didn’t take anything,” Gaia said quickly, her voice trembling.The guard gave her a professional but firm look. “It’s just a precaution, miss. We need to check everyone’s bags.”Selene stepped forward, her tone dripping with mock concern. “I’m sure there’s been a misunderstanding. Gaia wouldn’t do something like this. She’s… not that kind of person.”The way Selene emphasized her words made Gaia’s stomach churn. Was she defending her or subtly casting doubt?The guard nodded and began rifling through Gaia’s bag. Each second stretched unbearably long, and Gaia clenched her hands into fists at her sides. She couldn’t believe this was happening.When the guard finally straightened, holding up nothing but the cl
Gaia sat comfortably on the couch in the living room, sorting through an assortment of shopping bags, her fingers tracing over the elegant logos of high-end brands. Each item she pulled out seemed more extravagant than the last. Her lips curved into a subtle smile as she admired her haul.Across the room, Valtor leaned against the doorway, his arms crossed, his sharp eyes tracking every movement Gaia made. Despite his calm demeanor, an air of tension lingered between them.“You got quite a lot,” Valtor commented, his tone neutral.Gaia glanced up at him, her smile unwavering. “Well, it was a productive outing—eventually.”Before Valtor could respond, the sound of heels striking the floor cut through the silence. The front door slammed, and Selene stormed into the room, her face flushed with barely contained fury.“Productive?” Selene hissed, her voice dripping with sarcasm. Her gaze darted to the numerous shopping bags strewn across the couch. “Looks like you had a great time finishi
Selene’s flushed face tightened as she gritted her teeth. “What do you mean?” she asked sharply, her voice carrying an edge of defiance. Gaia sat back in her chair, her expression unbothered. “Oh, you heard me,” she replied evenly, her voice carrying a quiet confidence that only added to Selene’s rising fury. “I’m just asking why you put the wallet in my jacket.” Selene stood abruptly, the scrape of her chair against the floor piercing the tense silence. “That’s absurd! How dare you accuse me of something so ridiculous?” She turned to Valtor, her eyes pleading now. “You’re just going to sit there and let her throw baseless accusations at me?” Valtor rubbed his temples, a sigh escaping him as he glanced between the two women. “Selene, calm down. Let’s just talk this through without turning it into a shouting match.” His voice was steady but carried a sharp edge of frustration. Selene rounded on him, her voice rising. “You’re defending her? Again? Why are you always taking her si
Tokyo, Japan.A man sat in a sleek, leather chair, the Tokyo skyline stretching out before him, glowing with neon lights and deep shadows.He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, his gaze steady and unblinking as he leaned back. Bringing the phone closer to his lips, he exhaled a slow plume of smoke."Go on," he said, his tone sharp yet calm, slicing through the low hum of the city outside.The man's sharp chuckle echoed in the dimly lit office, his fanged smile glinting briefly against the glow of his cigar. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished mahogany desk, the phone pressed to his ear.“Victor,” he began mockingly, his voice like silk laced with venom. “I would have expected more cunning from a man of your… position. But no, you’ve proven to be as desperate as the rest of them, clutching at straws to clean up your daughter’s messes.”The man on the other end sputtered, trying to defend himself, but the man cut him off with a low, humorless laugh.“Oh, don’t wast
At night.Gaia sat upright in bed, her chest heaving, drenched in sweat. Her hair clung to her damp forehead, and the sheets beneath her felt sticky and uncomfortable. She pressed a hand to her pounding heart, trying to shake the unease that gnawed at her.It had been a long time since she’d had a strange dream, but it seemed they were back again.Closing her eyes, she let out a slow breath, her body sinking back into the mattress. But as soon as her head hit the pillow, the world shifted.She was no longer in her room.The dream world was a warped, unnatural place—fog covered the ground, thick and choking. The sky above was a strange shade of black, fractured with veins of crimson lightning that never struck. The air smelled of decay, and the sound of distant whispers echoed, and it was haunting.Gaia stood in the middle of it all, her bare feet sinking into the cold, wet ground. Her breath formed clouds in the icy air, and her stomach twisted with unease.“Gaia…”The voice came from
Gaia’s voice trembled as she called out his name again. “Valtor?” Her back pressed against the headboard, her knees drawn up as she sat on the bed’s edge. Fear glistened in her wide eyes, her chest rising and falling with shaky breaths. Her fingers gripped the sheets beneath her, the cold sweat clinging to her skin making them slippery.But Valtor didn’t stop. His movements were slow and deliberate, his expression blank and eerily calm, as if he were in a trance. He stepped closer, and she froze, her heart pounding in her chest like a frantic drumbeat.“Valtor,” she said again, louder this time, but the man before her seemed far away, unreachable. Her fear deepened as he climbed onto the bed, his movements strangely fluid yet mechanical. Gaia’s body stiffened as his weight shifted the mattress beneath her, and she instinctively scooted further back, her legs hitting the headboard.Then, to her shock, Valtor leaned forward and rested his head against her lap. Gaia gasped, her hands hov
The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft, golden rays over Gaia’s face. She stirred awake slowly, feeling a strange warmth against her. Her groggy mind struggled to make sense of it until her eyes fluttered open.And there he was.Valtor.His head rested on her shoulder, his arm draped loosely across her waist. His presence was so close, so intimate, that her heart leapt in her chest. For a moment, she didn’t dare move. The events of the night before came rushing back to her—his sleepwalking, her singing him to sleep, and the sense of connection she couldn’t explain.But now? Now it felt undeniably awkward.She cleared her throat softly, hoping it might stir him awake without her having to physically move. It didn’t. Instead, his grip on her tightened slightly, and his breathing hitched, as though he was beginning to wake.“Valtor?” she whispered hesitantly, her voice barely audible.His eyes blinked open slowly, disoriented for a moment as they met hers. His brows fur
Selene sat curled up on the velvet couch in her parents' grand sitting room, her hands clenched around a silk handkerchief. Her tears had dried, but her frustration simmered beneath the surface.“I can’t take it anymore,” she snapped, voice thick with anger. “Everything is falling apart, and he—he’s letting it happen!”Anna sighed, setting down her teacup with a soft clink. “Selene, you’re overreacting.”“I am not overreacting!” Selene shot back. “I did everything right. I stood by him. I endured the stares, the whispers. And now, some random girl appears, and suddenly, he’s… different.” She exhaled sharply, shaking her head. “It’s humiliating.”Anna studied her daughter, her expression unreadable. “And what have you done about it?”Selene blinked, caught off guard. “What?”“You’re sitting here crying,” Anna said calmly, “but have you reminded him of who you are? Have you reminded him why he chose you?” She leaned forward slightly, her voice laced with quiet authority. “Men don’t chas
Gaia stirred, the remnants of sleep heavy in her body. She blinked, the soft morning light pouring through the curtains. For a moment, everything felt calm, familiar. Then she turned her head—and froze.A man stood by her door.Dressed in all black, his posture was rigid, arms folded behind him in disciplined stillness. His expression was unreadable, but his piercing gaze locked onto hers the second she moved.She sat up slowly, her voice hoarse from sleep. “Who the hell are you?”The man dipped his head in a respectful nod. “Your new bodyguard, Miss Stormborne. Assigned by the Alpha.”Valtor.Gaia exhaled through her nose, raking a hand through her hair. Of course. After last night’s chaos, it wasn’t surprising he had taken extra precautions. Whether it was to protect her or keep an eye on her, she wasn’t sure.Still, something about the silent, looming figure unsettled her.“Right,” she muttered, swinging her legs off the bed. “I hope you don’t plan on standing there like a shadow a
The sunlight poured into the office, illuminating the dark wood desk and Valtor was seated behind it. His sharp gaze lifted from a document as the door opened. Damon stepped inside cautiously, head slightly bowed, his demeanor respectful.The previous day had been a disaster. The argument with Selene, the confrontation with the elders, and then Gaia—everything was spiraling faster than he had expected. And now, Selene was making her irritation known in the most predictable way possible.Damon cleared his throat, snapping Valtor from his thoughts. “Alpha, the bodyguard you assigned to Gaia has started his duties this morning. He’s stationed outside her room.”Valtor nodded slightly, but before he could respond, Damon hesitated, then spoke again. “Luna Selene sent me to inform you that she’ll be spending some days with her parents.”Valtor let out a quiet scoff, leaning back in his chair. Of course, she would. She was still furious from what had happened between them yesterday. The way
The room was thick with tension, the air charged with anger and unspoken accusations. Selene stood in the center of the living room, her hands clenched into fists, her voice cutting through the silence like a blade.“You think I don’t see what’s happening here, Valtor?” she hissed, her eyes blazing with fury. “You’re so distracted by her that you’ve forgotten your duty to this pack—your duty to me!”Valtor stood a few feet away, his face set in a cold mask, but his voice was low and dangerous. “Watch your words, Selene. You’re crossing a line.”“A line?” Selene laughed bitterly, her voice dripping with venom. “The only line crossed is you sneaking into her room like some lovesick fool while the pack watches their Alpha lose control!”Gaia froze at the base of the stairs, her heart pounding in her chest. She hadn’t meant to walk into this, but their raised voices had drawn her down. She clutched the stair rail tightly, feeling the weight of Selene’s glare the moment her presence was no
The sunlight filtered through the curtains, casting soft, golden rays over Gaia’s face. She stirred awake slowly, feeling a strange warmth against her. Her groggy mind struggled to make sense of it until her eyes fluttered open.And there he was.Valtor.His head rested on her shoulder, his arm draped loosely across her waist. His presence was so close, so intimate, that her heart leapt in her chest. For a moment, she didn’t dare move. The events of the night before came rushing back to her—his sleepwalking, her singing him to sleep, and the sense of connection she couldn’t explain.But now? Now it felt undeniably awkward.She cleared her throat softly, hoping it might stir him awake without her having to physically move. It didn’t. Instead, his grip on her tightened slightly, and his breathing hitched, as though he was beginning to wake.“Valtor?” she whispered hesitantly, her voice barely audible.His eyes blinked open slowly, disoriented for a moment as they met hers. His brows fur
Gaia’s voice trembled as she called out his name again. “Valtor?” Her back pressed against the headboard, her knees drawn up as she sat on the bed’s edge. Fear glistened in her wide eyes, her chest rising and falling with shaky breaths. Her fingers gripped the sheets beneath her, the cold sweat clinging to her skin making them slippery.But Valtor didn’t stop. His movements were slow and deliberate, his expression blank and eerily calm, as if he were in a trance. He stepped closer, and she froze, her heart pounding in her chest like a frantic drumbeat.“Valtor,” she said again, louder this time, but the man before her seemed far away, unreachable. Her fear deepened as he climbed onto the bed, his movements strangely fluid yet mechanical. Gaia’s body stiffened as his weight shifted the mattress beneath her, and she instinctively scooted further back, her legs hitting the headboard.Then, to her shock, Valtor leaned forward and rested his head against her lap. Gaia gasped, her hands hov
At night.Gaia sat upright in bed, her chest heaving, drenched in sweat. Her hair clung to her damp forehead, and the sheets beneath her felt sticky and uncomfortable. She pressed a hand to her pounding heart, trying to shake the unease that gnawed at her.It had been a long time since she’d had a strange dream, but it seemed they were back again.Closing her eyes, she let out a slow breath, her body sinking back into the mattress. But as soon as her head hit the pillow, the world shifted.She was no longer in her room.The dream world was a warped, unnatural place—fog covered the ground, thick and choking. The sky above was a strange shade of black, fractured with veins of crimson lightning that never struck. The air smelled of decay, and the sound of distant whispers echoed, and it was haunting.Gaia stood in the middle of it all, her bare feet sinking into the cold, wet ground. Her breath formed clouds in the icy air, and her stomach twisted with unease.“Gaia…”The voice came from
Tokyo, Japan.A man sat in a sleek, leather chair, the Tokyo skyline stretching out before him, glowing with neon lights and deep shadows.He swirled the amber liquid in his glass, his gaze steady and unblinking as he leaned back. Bringing the phone closer to his lips, he exhaled a slow plume of smoke."Go on," he said, his tone sharp yet calm, slicing through the low hum of the city outside.The man's sharp chuckle echoed in the dimly lit office, his fanged smile glinting briefly against the glow of his cigar. He leaned forward, resting his elbows on the polished mahogany desk, the phone pressed to his ear.“Victor,” he began mockingly, his voice like silk laced with venom. “I would have expected more cunning from a man of your… position. But no, you’ve proven to be as desperate as the rest of them, clutching at straws to clean up your daughter’s messes.”The man on the other end sputtered, trying to defend himself, but the man cut him off with a low, humorless laugh.“Oh, don’t wast
Selene’s flushed face tightened as she gritted her teeth. “What do you mean?” she asked sharply, her voice carrying an edge of defiance. Gaia sat back in her chair, her expression unbothered. “Oh, you heard me,” she replied evenly, her voice carrying a quiet confidence that only added to Selene’s rising fury. “I’m just asking why you put the wallet in my jacket.” Selene stood abruptly, the scrape of her chair against the floor piercing the tense silence. “That’s absurd! How dare you accuse me of something so ridiculous?” She turned to Valtor, her eyes pleading now. “You’re just going to sit there and let her throw baseless accusations at me?” Valtor rubbed his temples, a sigh escaping him as he glanced between the two women. “Selene, calm down. Let’s just talk this through without turning it into a shouting match.” His voice was steady but carried a sharp edge of frustration. Selene rounded on him, her voice rising. “You’re defending her? Again? Why are you always taking her si