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
. Ironhaven Asylum. "Your blood will make me stronger and the most powerful in the lycan world," his voice echoed relentlessly in her mind, like a chilling reminder of her fate.Valtor’s icy blue eyes locked onto hers, glowing with an intensity that sent a shiver down her spine. "You're mine! No matter how hard you try, you can never escape me, Gaia." His voice was low, but it held an authority that shook her resolve.Gaia squeezed her eyes shut, as if by doing so, she could block out the sight of him and the unsettling world she was trapped in.This place was unlike anything she had known, the forest stretched forever in all directions, trees with grass-like bark, and leaves that had sharp teeth. Shadows in this place didn't stay still. They slithered along the ground, their shapes shifting into things that shouldn't exist. Here, Gaia could understand the language of animals and speak to humans with claws like those of wild predators. It was a world she never wanted to experience
Gaia took a trembling step back, her wide eyes locked onto the figure advancing towards her. Her voice broke into panic, as she screamed, “Stay away from me!” She turned to the security guards, her fear escalating, “I don't want to see him. Take me away, please…..”The guards hesitated, their eyes shifting to their superior for instructions.The chief doctor nodded solemnly and approached the man with a measured calm. “Gaia’s condition has worsened. She's not in the right state of mind to see you now. Perhaps you could return on the next visiting day.”But the man disregarded the chief entirely, his focus fixed solely on Gaia, as if nothing else in the room existed. The guards moved swiftly, raising their batons in a show of force, while Gaia, eyes still on the stranger, inched backwards, her mind racing with something far deeper than fear.“Hey, mister, you heard the chief,” one of the guards said, stepping forward with authority, hands outstretched to block the man's path. Chief D
Gaia’s body hit the ground with a soft thud, her eyes fluttering shut as she lay motionless at Valtor’s feet. He barely spared her a glance, his attention already on the man stepping forward from the shadows—a figure almost as tall and imposing as Valtor himself, with a hardened glare that spoke of countless battles.“Well, well, Valtor,” the man sneered, circling slowly. “Never thought I’d see the day you'd stoop to guarding a mere human. Or is she?”Valtor’s lips twisted into a dangerous smirk, his eyes gleaming with a cold, lethal light. “You speak as if you understand the stakes here,” he replied, his voice dripping with contempt. “But I wouldn’t expect a half-breed like you to understand loyalty.”The man let out a low growl, his fists clenching. “Loyalty? Is that what you call it?” He laughed bitterly. “Or are you just afraid? Afraid of what I could do if I take her from you?”Valtor’s form shuddered, beginning to shift, his claws lengthening as his features took on a more feral
Mystical world.Valtor stood at the head of a long, ancient table, the gleam of candlelight casting shadows on the stone walls. His wounds throbbed, a constant reminder of the confrontation that happened earlier.He had been summoned for an impromptu meeting by the elders of his clan, who were visibly agitated. Their gazes were sharp, full of unspoken questions as they awaited his arrival.“Where is she, Valtor?” one elder demanded, his voice heavy with authority. “The girl with strange powers. Rumors are spreading like wildfire about her presence in our territory.”Valtor halted, the weight of the inquiry settling on his shoulders. “Who told you about her?” His voice was low but laced with an intensity that could not be ignored. A younger council member shifted uncomfortably. “Word travels fast among our kind, Alpha. And it travels even faster among humans. They’ve begun to speculate about a girl with unusual abilities, and they suspect she’s connected to you.”“Do you have any ide
Valtor stepped into the dimly lit room, his presence commanding yet cautious. Gaia was sitting up on the bed, her eyes wide with confusion and a touch of fear. Damon lingered by the door, silently observing their interaction, while occasionally glancing at Valtor’s still-throbbing wound.Gaia lay on the simple bed, her eyes half-closed, but the moment Valtor entered, she stirred. The air around her seemed to hum with a faint energy, causing Valtor to pause for a moment, feeling the hair on the back of his neck stand on end.Gaia’s gaze locked onto Valtor as he approached, her voice hoarse but firm. “What do you want from me?” she demanded, her fists clenching around the bed sheets.Valtor raised his hands i, chuckling softly. “Whoa... stay calm,” he replied, his tone steady and measured. “I don’t mean any harm. You’re safe here.”“Safe?” Gaia scoffed, her eyes narrowing with suspicion. “You dragged me into your world, into your battles, and now you expect me to believe I’m safe? After
New York city.The air outside Ironhaven Asylum was thick with the smell of rain and wet dirt. Red and blue lights from police cars lit up the dark sky, making the old, broken building look even scarier. Journalists and cameramen crowded behind the yellow tape, shouting questions as they pushed to get closer.A black car stopped quietly, ignored in the chaos. Out stepped Detective Evelyn Monroe, her long coat blowing in the cold wind. She fixed her hat and looked around with sharp hazel eyes that missed nothing. Evelyn was known for never giving up, no matter how strange the case.A junior officer hurried to greet her, looking flustered. “Detective Monroe, thank you for coming on such short notice. The situation is... strange.”Evelyn raised an eyebrow, her lips curving into a faint, amused smile. “Strange, Officer? I've seen enough in my line of work to question that word. What am I walking into?” The officer glanced nervously at the asylum, now a crime scene. “We received multiple
Dreadfall Citadel.“You’ve arrived… faster than I expected,” the man said, his deep voice eerily calm.The air was heavy, dense with mist that clung to Gaia’s skin. She glanced around, disoriented. The last thing she remembered was the void consuming her. Now, she stood in a strange land—twisted, lifeless trees stretched upward like skeletal fingers, and the ground beneath her feet pulsed faintly, as if it were alive.“Where am I?” she muttered, her voice trembling as her breath filled the air.“Lost, are we?” A low chuckle echoed behind her, sending a shiver down her spine. She spun around, her heart hammering in her chest. Emerging from the swirling mist was a figure cloaked in black, his glowing amber eyes locking onto hers.Gaia took a cautious step back, her fists clenched. “You again? What do you want from me?”The man tilted his head slightly, a faint smirk playing on his lips. “I am Caelum,” he said, his tone almost mocking, “a watcher, a guide, perhaps even a foe. That depend
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