WINTER POVAs soon as Rafael left, I turned to Jude and reassured him, "I'll be fine."Jude nodded, though I could sense the insincerity in his smile. He stepped forward and enveloped me in his embrace. I felt a flicker of comfort, knowing he was there for me."Just let me know if he taunts or manipulates you into doing something you don't want to do. He may resemble him, but he's not the same person," Jude warned, his voice tinged with concern.I giggled softly as I gently untangled myself from his arms and looked into his eyes. "I understand your worries, but I won't allow myself to be manipulated. I am strong, and I won't let him get away with anything."Even as I spoke those words, a twinge of doubt crept into my mind. I was now residing in Rafael's pack, surrounded not only by him and his pack members but also by Vivian. I couldn't help but wonder if my grit to stand my ground would hold firm.Jude opened his mouth to say something, but instead, his eyes narrowed, and I followed h
WINTER'S POVTWO DAYS LATERAs I walked through the courtyard, my hand gently caressed my tummy, feeling my baby's kicks. A smile spread across my face, filling me with warmth. But just as quickly as the smile appeared, it vanished when my eyes collided with Rafael's.Startled, I halted in my tracks and swiftly turned in the opposite direction. I hadn't expected to see him after everything that had transpired two days ago. I couldn't avoid him forever, considering I was temporarily living in his pack. Also, I tried to forget he existed, but my attempts proved futile as the thoughts of Slade reminded me of him, or I caught glimpses of him when I least expected it.Until now, we hadn't come close to each other. I started walking back toward the hall's exit, but my steps faltered as he called my name."Winter."Turning, I forced a bright smile and turned again, pretending to ignore him. However, a startled gasp escaped my lips as he tugged me backwards, pressing me against the nearest wa
RAFAEL'S POVI heard her, but it was easy to pretend that I hadn't. Then again, I wouldn't know what to say if I told her I heard her. What happened earlier wasn't my intention. I couldn't say I fully understood what had happened until I left her presence.After seeing her again in my dream, I awoke with unease. She was at the centre of my problems, and every time I tried to make progress, her presence sabotaged my efforts.The goddess and the seer hadn't been much help either. They provided no information about her. Consulting the seer only made things worse as she advised me to keep her around, believing that my answers lay with her. Yet, I ended up with Vivian. Why?Everything was confusing. The more I thought of it, the more it confused me."Rafael..." I stopped in my tracks as Vivian appeared in the doorway."Alpha," An Eta, Jake said as he walked towards me."Yes?" I raised an eyebrow, ignoring Vivian as she approached me as well."They're here," Jake informed me. "Your presence
RAFAEL'S POV"Will you at least give me some attention for the day instead of ignoring me?" Vivian grumbled as she stepped into the room.Without hesitation, I grabbed her abruptly and shut the door behind her, pushing her into it. A gasp escaped her parted lips, quickly replaced by a moan as my lips covered hers. Vivian's hands wound around my neck, and she pressed herself against me, returning the kiss with equal intensity."This is surprising," she muttered as I pulled back slightly, allowing her to catch her breath."What is?" I murmured, my gaze still fixed on her lips. My insides churned as I noticed the red lipstick smearing. I was sure I had the same lipstick on parts of my face, especially my lips.It wasn't that I didn't find it attractive on her; it was just weird. All I could think about was Winter. I wanted to despise her for making me feel these strange sensations and emotions that were entirely new to me, but it seemed futile.After leaving her with the Hunters, as they
Rafael's POV:I stared at him for a few seconds before speaking. "And why are you telling me this? You're in the Eta for a reason, or do I need to reassess the teams I have? Because none of you seem to be doing your damn job!"If they had been doing their assigned tasks properly, Winter and her brother wouldn't have been able to infiltrate the pack in the first place. She would have been long dead, and I wouldn't be standing here, conflicted about her."No," he began, shaking his head. "The thing is, the intruders didn't come for us; they came for the Lady.""What, Lady?" I muttered, narrowing my eyes."Lady Winter," he replied."How many are there, and what species?""There are about five of them," he answered. "As for their species, I have no idea because—""Pretty useless," I mumbled, shoving him out of the doorway as I stepped outside.I had claimed that whatever happened to Winter didn't concern me and that she should handle her problems. But there was no way I would allow her to
WINTER'S POV"What was I thinking?" Did I believe Rafael would eventually come to me? Why would he even want to do that?I agree that this was the pinnacle of my foolishness.Rafael had warned me to stay away. He had explicitly said that I meant nothing to him, and he wouldn't even bat an eye if I died. He might as well have been the first to light my funeral pyre! Damn it! The rejection between us was final, and perhaps I should have taken the hint and stopped crossing paths with him. But for the life of me, I didn't know why I kept doing so.I wasn't prepared for the pain, the overwhelming surge of emotion that blinded me when I saw them together earlier. I had wanted to discuss the Vordrak Lycan, the hunters' warning, but I wish I hadn't wasted my energy.I wished I had stayed in the room to meditate on the thoughts myself!The image of him between Vivian's thighs would forever be etched in my mind. I would never forget that. Glancing around the room, including the bed we once shar
RAFAEL'S POVThe rain beat heavily on the ceiling. I had been awake for a while, but I didn't feel like getting out of bed. Aside from Vivian, who was curled up tightly against me like a magnet, I enjoyed the warmth the bed provided.My ears perked up as I listened to the rumble of thunder, feeling Vivian's hands wrapped tightly around me."I'm scared," she murmured, causing me to roll my eyes.I was well aware of her fear of thunder while we were together. She had once been caught up in a terrible storm which almost cost her her life, but her parents luckily found her. I knew more about Vivian than she knew about herself. But telling me about her fear, I didn't understand what she wanted me to do with that information."I hate storms," Vivian groaned, stretching languidly on the bed before sitting up straight. She ran a hand through her hair and rubbed her eyes before locking them onto mine. "How long have you been awake?" she asked."For a while," I muttered."What are you thinking
WINTER'S POVI jolted awake abruptly and immediately regretted it as my head throbbed from the sudden motion. It felt heavy, as though an extra weight had been attached to it, and my body ached as if I had been run over by a truck.Doubting my ability to move limbs, I remained upright with dazed eyes. It took a few minutes for me to regain my bearings and assess my surroundings.I found myself in the pack's infirmary, although not the Moon Stone pack infirmary. This one was larger and felt more advanced than any place I had ever seen. It was clear that this was my first time being here.Therefore, I couldn't tell which of the pack I was in exactly.I struggled to recall why I was lying in bed wearing a patient dress. Furrowing my brows, I turned to my side as a throat cleared nearby."Did you enjoy your sleep, little miss Perfect?" a voice called out."Rafael," I mumbled, eyeing him as he sat in a white plastic chair with his legs spread apart."Yes, that's me," he replied, a cheeky g
WINTER POVA DAY AFTER THE BATTLEThough we endured many casualties, victory was ours. Our pack was back under our control, and there were no impending threats.No prisoners were taken from the Vordrak Lycans. Those who refused to yield were beheaded, and their remains left for the vultures to feast upon.Most importantly, Slade had returned. However, he hadn't given me the full acknowledgment I sought.At the moment, I was in the room, preparing for the meeting to announce Slade's return. While some felt it, others were still bewildered.Slade had departed the room even before I woke. I wondered if he was intentionally avoiding me, for he wasn't acting like himself."Maybe you're attributing too much to it," Flora suggested."I doubt it," I murmured. "He's distant. I should be the one relishing his presence the most, but now he seems to prefer others' company over mine.""I don't believe that's the case. He still feels the same way about you," Flora assured."How do you know that?" I
WINTER POVMinutes passed as I waited for Rafael or Slade, unsure which one would wake up first. I hoped one of them would regain their memories soon.However, it seemed like my wait might be in vain. He hadn't stirred since he fell, and he wasn't breathing. I couldn't detect any heartbeat. I wondered if I had overexerted myself."When will he wake up?" I asked Rachel. "I thought it would happen soon!"I glanced back at his body. He was growing cold, and his lips were turning blue. The sounds of battle from outside echoed while I cradled the nearly lifeless body of my mate."What should I do, Rachel?" I looked at her, then at my mother and Emily."Give it time," my mother said, reaching out to touch my shoulder, but I shrugged her hand away."Everyone keeps saying that!" I cried out. "Did I do everything wrong, and why is no one telling me the truth?"Was he going to die again? Tears blurred my vision, and I bowed my head, sobbing against his chest. The sudden wave of grief overwhelme
WINTER POVI was relieved my mother stayed behind. The process of forcing the Blood Moon was even harder than I had imagined. We had been at it for hours since my arrival, and night hadn't fallen yet.Despite drawing on my mother's strength, I still felt weak. It was as if something was trying to drain my energy."It's the babies," Emily whispered."What?" I furrowed my brow, my hands resting on my stomach."They're taking power from you, Winter, so you can't use all your abilities, or you'll end up magically depleted," she explained."Why would they try to take my powers when they know I need them right now?" I questioned.They should have sensed my distress, especially since I'd been using my powers more frequently lately."It's what keeps them alive," the Eclipse pack seer said.She approached me and placed her hands on my stomach, closing her eyes. "You should talk to them."A few seconds later, she opened her eyes. "Rachel and I can lend you our strength, and I'm sure your mother
WINTER POVEven though I glimpsed her briefly on my way to the Silvamemoria Forest, I never imagined she'd come here after all she'd done. No one saw eye to eye with her, and she hadn't offered an official apology for her part in it. I couldn't help but wonder how she'd managed to step in here without being torn apart."What are you doing here?!" It was Kendall who snapped out of his daze first, and he strode toward her, growling lowly with narrowed eyes."Hi, Kenny," Summer smiled, waving at him. "Long time no see.""I'm not delighted to see you," Kendall hissed. "And it would be best if you left.""Don't you think having extra hands could be a help for all of you?" another familiar voice chimed in, and Daniel emerged from his hiding spot."No," I murmured, shaking my head. How had they managed to come here amidst all the chaos?!"We found our way," Daniel said as if he were reading my mind.It felt like the last time I'd seen him was a century ago. His hair was shaggy, and it seemed
WINTER POVI jumped as another shot rang out in the air. It had been happening for over an hour now. Although it was expected, I never thought it would be this soon. It was the day of the blood moon, and it wasn't even morning yet when we were being attacked by the Vordrak's lycan. Some of the buildings close to the large gate of the Moon Stone pack had been hit and were in ruins. It wouldn't be long before it reached us, but I guess they were taking their time.From where I stood in the main pack's building, very much close to the balcony, I could see some of the Vordrak's lycans taking the pack members who weren't fortunate enough to flee captive and beheading them in cold blood. Also, I didn't think it was the dead pack members' fault since we were attacked unaware."My lady," I turned to Jude as he stepped towards me. I saw Linda behind him, as well as Kendall. They all wore battle armor with swords in their sheaths, except Linda, who took a spear. It wasn't as though she couldn't
WINTER POV"Try again," Emily urged for the third time since we left the room. Closing my eyes, I took a slow breath and focused on the candle before me."Ignis (Fire)," I whispered for the third time. Opening my eyes, I felt nothing. I shook my head, stepping away from the pentagram."It's not working, Emily," I admitted. This should be the simplest of spells. I couldn't fathom why it wasn't working, and I hadn't even tapped into my deepest power to draw it out."Your mind is still occupied," Emily pointed out."It's clear," I insisted."It's not," Emily persisted. "That's why I want us to start with the simplest spells, so your powers won't be drained from repeated attempts.""I did clear my mind just as you instructed," I insisted.I hadn't been thinking of anything except the fact that Rafael was in the dungeon, in need of my help.'That means your mind is still occupied,' Flora whispered.'Flora,' I acknowledged. 'What should I do?'Flora speaking to me at moments like this wasn'
WINTER POVTHE NEXT DAYI felt confined in the room, not literally, but I could barely leave without my mother or Denise asking where I was going. Rafael was still in the dungeon, though not locked up like before. I'd been told that, but I didn't trust my mother enough at this point not to.For some reason, she was keeping the truth from me. Pacing, I ran a hand through my hair, then glared at Emily, seated on the sofa in front of me. She'd been talking nonstop about the history of the Vordrak Lycans and how they came to be. I didn't want to hear it. I just wanted a solution. The one, my parents had proposed involved me forgetting about Rafael, which meant I'd forget about Slade, too, if I did it. Saving Rafael was important, but his forgetting me was the last thing I wanted.So, the only sensible option now was to wait for the Blood Moon night to use the moon shadow Blade. It was the only available and effective option I knew, even if it meant forgetting about him."Do you understand
WINTER POV"I am dying," I whispered, gazing at the face of the goddess Selene. She shook her head, her expression distant, lost in thought.I wondered if she shared in my pain, her murmurs never-ending. "Can't you help me?" I implored, but she remained silent, her gaze fixed on me.She only stared at me before shrugging. "Even for a goddess like me, there are limits I can't surpass. As much as I care for you, Winter, there are boundaries I cannot cross." Her voice held a touch of sadness, mirroring the emotion etched on her face."What do you mean by these limits?" I inquired, a hint of frustration creeping into my tone. I lay there, perhaps lifeless, with my loved ones surrounding me. Rafael still needed my aid, and the impending war loomed. Yet, she hesitated to assist."You know I would have assisted if I could," she sighed."Everything lies within your power; a mere snap of your fingers could change it all," I insisted, my voice tense as I glared at her."Like I said, Winter..."
RAFAEL POVExhaling once again, I stood rooted to the spot, unyielding since the trio departed. Winter hadn't budged either.No matter how often her mother offered reassurances, it did little to ease my unease. If only I'd left with Jude and faced the consequences head-on, just as I glimpsed in his eyes. It might have offered some solace.It could have balanced the scales, a punishment of sorts for what I'd subjected Winter to. Yet deep down, I knew that wouldn't be enough. I sighed and began to pace around the room."You should sit down. You'll wear yourself out," Denise advised."Sit?" I scoffed. "I don't think that's what I need."Rising to her feet, Denise approached me. "It's not your fault," she asserted. "I believe you would've shielded Winter if you had the inner strength. I know you never intended to harm her.""I should have shielded her, but I never did," I acknowledged. "I repeated the same mistake I made with my first mate. I'm cursed, shit!""Listen to me," Denise insist