Alpha Varek sighed, rubbing his temple as if trying to ward off a growing headache. “They are my guests, Zorya, and they will be treated as such. Please, don’t make this harder than it already is. I’m tired enough as it is and definitely not in the mood to have a discussion with you.” Zorya’s lips pressed into a thin line, but she fell silent, though I could see the simmering anger in her eyes. The Alpha turned back to us, gesturing for us to enter the living room. We settled onto the soft leather sofas, the tension in the room thick enough to choke on. “Now, Lya,” Alpha Varek began, his voice calm but firm. “Tell me what happened.” I swallowed, gathering my thoughts before I spoke. “Niall…he... just didn't want to leave me alone. I told him to back off as he was way too close to me, but he didn’t listen... and just came even closer. Romer heard my pleads and ...stepped in to divide us, and things…got out of hand.” Alpha Varek nodded slowly, turning his gaze to Romer for confirmat
Illuminated by just the yellow light of the vanity dress of my bedroom, I slipped into a black midi dress. Its soft silky fabric hugging my figure just enough to feel elegant without too much effort. I reached for my earrings, small drops of silver and took a deep breath, trying to center myself. It wasn’t working.My thoughts kept drifting back to Darius.This past week, it felt like he was everywhere. We’d bump into each other in the hallways at Silverwood University, catch glimpses across the training grounds, and even cross paths at the café. But each time I wanted to talk to him about Romer, he’d vanish.Tonight, though, wasn’t the time to dwell on him. Tara’s twenty-first birthday was in full swing, and I was determined to focus on her and not on the confusion brewing in my chest. Looking at my reflection in the mirror, I reminded myself firmly “Tonight is about Tara, not Darius. Just Tara.”I headed downstairs, where Dad was waiting to take me to the party. “You look beautiful,
Tara started walking slowly towards Darius. Her expression was tense but his was totally relieved, like he finally got what he had been waiting for a long time.When she reached him, he took herhands and softly he pulled her to his chest and hugged her tightly. The room was silent, everyone amazed by this magic moment of natural bonding that hit once again in a beautiful way.Some closest relatives came forward to give their congratulations, but I waited as I wanted them to size every bit of these first moments together. I knew how they felt, and I wished with my whole heart that they would last forever. After the crowd dissipated I went to them, I hugged Tara and whispered on her ear “Tara, I'm so happy for you.”“Thank you. I—I still can't believe it’s real.” Her voice still trembling for the emotion.I laughed softly, pulling back just enough to meet her face. Then I turned to Darius, who was not wearing his usual serious face, but had a small smile. “So, Darius,” I teased, raisin
Tara didn’t show up at school the next Monday. It wasn’t a surprise. When I asked Cara, she confirmed what I had already suspected.“She spent the whole night with Darius,” said with a knowing smile on her lips. “and came back just when Mom and Dad were finishing breakfast.”I laughed and said“How did they take it?” Cara shrugged. “They weren’t thrilled, but they didn't try to stop her either. After all, they got married a week after their mate bond kicked in. It’s kind of a family tradition at this point.” She laughed even more.I nodded, but my mind started going elsewhere. The thought of Tara finding her mate and being so blissfully happy was bittersweet. I was happy for her with all my heart, but at the same time I couldn’t stop imagining how it could have been for me, how it should have been. Romer might have rejected me, but the bond between us still throbbed painfully in my chest. I couldn’t stop loving him, no matter how much I tried. Cara must have sensed my thoughts becaus
My mother tried desperately to calm the situation, and in a sweet but trembling voice said "Lya, sweetheart, please try to understand. If Niall, has feelings for you, it’s not something to fear. It’s not a bad thing. It’s an honor. Do you realize what this could mean for you? You would become our Luna, a role with so much power, and you could do so much good in that position.”Her words felt like they cut through me, leaving a cold pit in my stomach. “Honored?” I said with a sarcastic tone,barely able to control myself anymore. “You expect me to be grateful to Niall? Even if you know he is the reason why I felt my heart literally breaking every day in the last months?”“Lya, please,” my father interrupted, his tone firmer now but tinged with sorrow. “You need to calm down and think this through. You’re young. You don’t see the bigger picture yet. This is about survival, about protecting you, about keeping us safe in the pack. If Nial wants to be with you, it’s something we should cons
I took a deep breath. Put the backpack over my shoulder and slowly, I opened the window just enough to slip through it. I was hit by the cool night air, and turned to look at my room for what was the last time. I had done this a lot last year, sneaking out for late-night walks or secret rendezvous with Romer. But tonight, it was different, I was leaving, not only the house, also everything I once thought I could trust and couldn't anymore.I slowly and carefully began my descent, and reached the thick branch of the three, that grew under my window.I lowered myself down until I finally felt my feet touching the ground. I adjusted my backpack and looked around, trying to decide where to go. The woods surrounding my house were familiar to me, but it was risky to there alone without shifting. My backpack was too big to hold on my mouth and at the same time I couldn’t afford to leave my things behind. I needed a place to go, somewhere I could think, without the terrible heavy feeling insi
Circa one year before.The Sunday after the disastrous encounter between Romer and Niall felt oddly quiet, like the world had been drained of its usual energy. After all the emotions of the previous night, even if everything turned out for the best, I was still feeling nervous. It felt like I was starting to understand all that happened just now, and I needed something to work this energy out.I was caught in the middle of my thoughts when my phone buzzed. It Romer, asking if I wanted to go for a walk, and his timing couldn't be any more perfect. I texted right back, agreeing to meet him outside my home, and hurried upstairs to change into warmer clothes. "The day was cold, but clear, it makes the perfect weather for a romantic walk." Said Nyra with a smirk on her face."Don't even start with such things, he just asked me to go for a walk. Stop building castles on the sand."As I pulled on a jacket, my mind wandered back to our childhood. When Romer had left, I tried to lock away tho
That moment with Romer felt endless, but quickly it was shattered as we heard the footsteps of someone walking to us. I left abruptly his hand and I caught the disappointment in his eyes, before we both turned to see who it was.It turned out to be Niall. He looked at us in a way that profused amusement and malice. Now in the daylight I could see the striking resemblance between him and Romer, but where Romer’s presence made me feel safe, Niall’s held a darker edge, a predatory confidence that set my nerves on edge.His curly hair, wilder and less controlled than Romer’s, framed his strong jawline. He carried himself with that same arrogant swagger he always had in the last years, his broad shoulders moving easily under the thin sweater he wore, as if the cold didn’t even touch him. That was another thing they both had in common, they looked like they were totally immune to the freezing temperatures. All werewolves have high body temperatures, but these two were something else. They