GINA'S POVI could feel the tension in my blood reaching a boiling point before I even stepped outside the mansion, leaving Van behind as he watched me limp my way out.I needed space to think clearly and act without my mother or Van's questioning eyes on me.I took a deep breath as I passed the garden. The night's cool breeze tingled on my skin, and thoughts of the bastard waiting outside caused my hair to stand on end.I was trying to shake off the dizziness from the fall and remain as calm as possible, still limping as I went. My mind raced with thoughts of the person waiting outside and the implications of what they could mean for me.I glanced back at the garden and saw that everyone was still there except for my mother and Van. Before I left him in the mansion, I could sense his curiosity and concern but had no time to address them then or now. Though, I would never dare to address them.I looked back to make sure I wasn't seen or being followed by anyone. Thankfully, I manage
NARAH'S POVI watched Gina limp past the garden, her usual grace and poise compromised, but I didn't understand why. I couldn't help but feel a twinge of concern, despite our complicated history.I was talking with Hanadin and Rachael, before I decided to go after her. As I approached the gate, I noticed Kacy and Sharon were lingering nearby, their whispers and giggles carrying on the wind.“Hey, Narah!” Kacy called out, her voice husky and laced with an unspoken invitation. “Join us!”I hesitated for a moment, my eyes locked on Gina's disappearing figure.“What makes an elephant look like a fat whale on land?” Sharon asked, suppressing her laughter.What? That single handedly topped my list for the most ridiculous question I've ever heard in my life. And mind you, I've heard a lot of ridiculous questions.“That doesn't make sense at all,” I said, observing both of them as they burst out laughing and had failed attempts at hugging each other.But my attention was soon diverted by Gina
ALPHA VAN'S POV Moisture glistened softly in the corners of my eyes as I jolted awake, my heart pounding from an awful nightmare. Anakiyus's wolf tearing into Bryan's flesh, devouring his heart, and like a Kitsune, consuming his liver as well. The images were grotesque and vivid, and they left me gasping for breath. Sweat dripped from my body as I frantically yanked my cell phone from the drawer by the bedside. My hands were trembling, and I could barely dial the hospital number. I was finally able to dial the hospital line where Bryan was admitted. I had seen him the previous day; he was alright, but I insisted he stay so the doctors made sure he was completely fine before releasing him. “Hello, Doctor June,” I managed to say, my voice shaking. When Doctor June answered, her calm voice did nothing to ease my panic. “Alpha Killian, I was just about to call you,” she said. Without wasting a second, I blurted out, “Is Bryan alright? Did something happen to him?” “Yes… he—” Her vo
ALPHA VAN'S POVDoctor June’s worried expression made my heart race even faster. “What is it, Doctor? Is Bryan’s condition worsening?” I asked, my voice tied with concern.“It’s not about Bryan’s condition, Alpha Killian,” she said, her voice low and serious. “It’s about the attack on him. We’ve found something... unusual.”My mind raced with possibilities. “What do you mean?”Doctor June hesitated before speaking. “When Bryan was rushed in here, there was a wound in his chest,”“Yes, I remember.”“Well, it’s not just a physical injury, Alpha Killian. The wound has some sort of dark magic in it.”My heart sank. “Dark magic? What do you mean?”“Bryan’s condition was better, but then, he got worse. I had to call in the famous Doctor Rowan. I explained the situation, and he agreed to come see Bryan. That's when he confirmed that an enchantment had been used in the attack.”What else was I expecting when dealing with a witch? A sudden fear of losing Bryan engulfed me once more. “I need y
NARAH'S POV The morning sun cast its yellow glow upon the estate's exquisite surroundings, creating a small rainbow over the fountain that stood majestically in front of the mansion.As usual, I was already awake, along with the other maids, getting ready for our morning routine. After cleaning Gina's bathroom and fixing her bath water, I made my way downstairs to join Abigail in cleaning the living room.The sweet aroma of freshly baked croissants, smoked salmon, and cream cheese bagels swoon around like a spell, drifting up my nose and causing me to salivate.The chief cook, Mrs Flora, was indeed good.“Can you get me a new rag from the store?” Abigail asked, cleaning the table.“Sure, I can,” I replied. I left the living room and entered the kitchen.Its spacious layout had multiple work areas. The beautiful rectangular island, made of glass and seated in the middle, also served as a fish tank. It's usually where the chefs sometimes prepare for the meals, and we use it as our casu
GINA'S POV“What are you doing here?” I asked softly, feeling the alcohol, doused in a little bit of wolfsbane, course through my veins. F**k! What was he doing in my room at this hour? I wondered “He's here for us,” My wolf Ria stated, smiling sheepishly at the man she loved. I staggered and gently settled into the plush grey couch beside the bed, cradling the glass of amber liquid in my hands and staring at him as he slowly walked up to me, a soft growl building in his chest.The soft glow of the fireplace danced jubilantly, casting a fine, warm ambiance across the room, while the flames flickered on the walls and ceiling.I took a sip of my drink, feeling the alcohol and wolfsbane mix take full effect. The tension in my head increased, and decreased simultaneously. As it fluctuated, my mind began to unwind.Ria stirred within me as he leaned close and nuzzled my ear.“What—what are you doing?” I mumbled, a pang of heat riveting within my thighs and a sense of desire within my he
NARAH'S POVI walked briskly down the hallway, my mind in a tumultuous whirl. The sight of Gina and Van together earlier was etched into my mind, replaying like a cruel, unending loop. The intimacy between them was undeniable, and while I understood their bond, it left me feeling an aching sense of isolation.I tried to shake off the feeling of sadness and focus on my tasks at hand. It rested at the back of my mind that if I didn't get them done on time, I'd get a scolding from Luna Tauriel and Gina.Why did I even care about Alpha Van and Gina? I wondered. My role was to ensure that I served her and her home, even if it meant dealing with my personal sorrows silently.The sight of the broken glass in her room had been an unwelcome reminder of the boundary I had crossed by witnessing Alpha Van going into her room last night. I had been a fool for thinking he felt something for me; for ever thinking that he could ever love…I knew the signs well enough now—Van and Gina’s love was eviden
ALPHA VAN'S POV The room was quiet, except for the gentle rustling of blue curtains as the morning sun poured in. I’d been lost in thought, wondering why Gina was elated and why Narah had that look on her face. Letting the warmth of the light chase away the shadows of my worries, the lingering weight of last night with Gina still pressed upon me–– that's why I had gone to see her this morning. But I’d tried to push that thought aside and focus on my impending meeting with Beta Solomon and Henry about the young witch. As I stood by the window, gazing out into the serene field, the gardener was mowing the field, and Kacy was walking with James. My peaceful silence was abruptly shattered by the sound of the door opening. My heart skipped a beat when I turned to find Narah standing there, her eyes wide with surprise. She seemed momentarily frozen, and I couldn’t blame her; I was quite literally in my most vulnerable state. Her reaction was immediate and involuntary, her gaze lingerin
NARAH'S POV Without saying a word, the guards led Bryan and me into the Alpha's house. As soon as we stepped inside, memories flooded my mind—how Gina and I used to run around, playing and screaming at the top of our lungs.“Wait here,” one of the guards commanded. “Let me call Luna Tauriel.’As he went upstairs, I couldn’t help but move around the house, my heart swelling. Everything was almost exactly the same. From the thick, yellow curtains to the wall where Gina and I had measured our heights over the years.The guard returned and left with the one who had stayed behind. Then Bryan suddenly asked, “How did you know impersonating the Alpha's long-dead daughter would get us in?”“I wasn’t impersonating,” I replied, scanning the living room.Bryan's face contorted. Just as he was about to speak, Luna Luna Tauriel's sharp voice pierced through the atmosphere as she descended the stairway in a precise fashion, her gaze fixated intently on me.“Look who we have here. The fortunate mai
ALPHA VAN'S POVThe night of my lunar bonding ceremony with Reina was supposed to be one of the most joyous days of my life. I had anticipated the night with her, standing side by side, chanting our vows, and binding our hearts into one. We were fated mates, and I was glad she would come to know it when she saw me, but things took a turn for the worse. A witch enchanted me; I rejected Reina, and she died.I still found it hard to believe she's back. Narah was Reina. From the day I met her in the cafe, I knew she reminded me of Reina, but wouldn't it be sickening if I told someone that Reina, who had died a long time ago, was standing in front of me, alive and well?No wonder my wolf, Curtis, called her “mate.” He could even sense the mate bond between Narah and me more than I did. However, the enchantment we were under suppressed and clouded his mind, just like it did to mine.My father once read a book about reincarnation to me as a kid. He told me about his great grand-father, Mica
LIORA'S POV Memories of my capture in Luna Tauriel's room were hazy. The dog's frantic barking had ceased. It was then wagging and chasing its tail, running in circles. I was battered so quickly, and the next thing I saw was gross darkness. A few minutes after that, I felt my body floating, then I realized I was being carried away by a man. While descending the stairs, my eyes struggled to open. As they slightly parted, trying to observe the environment, I noticed Luna Tauriel and the man from her room standing at the top of the stairs. I didn't know his name or remember it even if I'd heard of it, but I recognized his face. That unmistakable resting bitch face. He had that same expression when he attacked me in the room as soon as he saw me. A guard was now carrying me on his shoulders, taking me to a place I didn't know, and I couldn't resist. I was too weak to do anything or even speak. Gina's wicked mother watched in awe as I struggled in vain. Suddenly, a familiar sce
NARAH'S POV My gaze lingered on Alpha Van as I spoke with Chris across Alpha Van's room.“I have to go to the Moonlight Pack, there's something wrong; I can feel it,” I said, worried.“I know, it's weird for Liora not to have her cellphone all day or contact us. She uses that thing like she breathes,” Chris remarked.I shot him a glance, a smile tugging at the edges of my lips despite the tension brewing inside me. He was right. Liora was addicted to that device.“I can't let anything hurt her, Chris. I don't want anything to harm her.”I meant every word I said. I hoped Liora was safe with Anakiyus and Nas.Chris nodded, his expression resolute. “I'll take care of Van, I promise,” he assured me. “He'll be awake soon. The poison had been in him for so long, I'm surprised he's even still alive. A normal person or any other werewolf wouldn't have been able to break free from that enchantment and would have died instantly from the strong poison.”My eyes drifted back to Alpha Van, my he
GINA'S POV “Reina is back, she's back.” The words stumbled out of my lips, as tears filled my eyes.“This is bad, really, really bad,” Ria cowered.As I lay helplessly on the narrow metal-framed bed, staring blankly at the cold, cream-coloured walls of my prison cell, all I could think of was how I had been such a weakling and a fool.I couldn't even control my own mind and all this time, I thought I had been in control of a situation, whereas I had been a mere puppet. My father and mother had been the ones controlling my life, pulling the strings however they liked. I had my fair share of evil in my blood, but looking back, I wasn't always like this.I admitted that the first mistake I ever made was sabotaging Reina’s relationship with Arthur by setting him up with her cousin, Dahlia.I did it out of pure jealousy. I hated Reina. That was what I thought. The truth was I never hated her. No, I didn't. She was the best part of my life until she wasn't. I had the most fun with her whi
LIORA'S POV Clearly, I was overthinking it. It was a door that led to the kitchen, and maybe the maids had to use it often. Okay, maybe it was a trap. As we entered the hallway, the darkness enveloping us, panic surged through me. The air was thick with the scent of savoury dishes that clung to me like a fish on a hook. At the end of the hallway, a door stood in the center, slightly ajar. Lights flickered above, and sent shadows dancing across the walls. The distant sound of faint voices, talking over one another, escaped from behind the door, filling the creepy hallway like haunted ghosts. As we marched onward, a few feet from the door ahead, we saw another wooden door by the side of the wall, old and rugged. It felt out of place compared to the others. Though wooden, the door we had just walked through and the one ahead were made of strong oak and had fine engravings of different patterns on them. Whereas this particular door was thin and as plain as day. Nas proposed we
LIORA'S POV “So this is the Moonlight territory? Not bad,” I said, impressed. “Hey, keep your eyes on the guards,” Anakiyus ordered. I wrinkled my nose in disapproval and mimicked him in a quiet, disturbing mockery of a voice, which sent Nas chuckling. “What is it?” Anakiyus asked, oblivious to the shenanigans going on behind him as we walked through the bustling street which led to the Alpha's house. “Nothing.” Nas croaked immediately. Anakiyus looked between Nas and me, his expression grim, his eyes narrowing with suspicion. As his gaze landed on me again, my shoulders rose and fell in a lazy shrug, my hands drifting up to accompany the notion, as if to say, “I swear it, I have no idea what's going on.” I flashed an innocent smile to convince him, and he still didn't buy it. He shook his head and slowly turned away, his eyes scanning the street ahead. Nas and I exchanged a quick amused glance. I let out a sigh, thanking the heavens I wasn't caught imitating the humourle
NARAH'S POV The air seemed to vibrate with tension, and I could feel the weight of Gina's gaze on me like a physical touch that made my skin crawl.“Hope you've been well?”“You're the last person I thought I'd see,” she said, her voice soft as wool.“And yet, here I am.”“Isn't it a coincidence?” I've been doing a lot of thinking. Earlier, I was just thinking about you, and guess what? I found something weird.”I cocked a brow. “Really? What did you find?”“You're not just a stinky maid. When we first met, my intuition about you was right,” she breathed slowly, savouring every word. She seemed to find it interesting, basking in her own words, like a puzzle she had just solved. “And what intuition is that?” I asked dryly.She smiled in a knowing manner. “You're wolf-less, like someone I used to know, someone who you remind me of… someone DEAD,” she said. “You see, when I was a cub, about ten years old, there was something I read in a book once that fascinated me. I dreamt about it
NARAH'S POV “The Alpha has fallen into a coma, but there's nothing wrong with him scientifically. There’s absolutely nothing I can determine,” I heard Doctor June confirm. “That's because it's a witch's enchantment,” I said, stepping into Alpha Van's room, my footsteps echoing in the stillness. They all turned back to look at me. Miss Kiara's eyes narrowed. “An enchantment?” she asked. She was sitting beside Alpha Van, her hands clasped around his. Tears had dried on her face, and her eyes had turned red as velvet. She had been away for a long time, so she definitely didn't know anything about her children or the things they were going through. “Yes, an enchantment. Alpha Van had complained about this to Doctor Rowan, and it's not new that he's been having seizures and needed medications to stay well.” The words escaped my lips freely, and I didnt even care to stop there until Kacy interrupted. “Narah's right,” she declared. “Van talks about a woman in his dreams and voices in h