LiaI’ve been working my butt off at school and magic lessons, barely having time to breathe. My usual time I wake up is now well before the crack of dawn. It’s strange getting out of bed before the sun has even risen in the sky.The last time I got up this early… well, I don’t think I ever did! Even when I was in my last year of high school I stayed in until the sun started to rise. There was just something unnatural in being awake before the sun has risen.But this time I don’t have this luxury.All of us have been pushing ourselves. With Michael still recovering, it’s up to us to get Gabi back.I thought Michael would heal faster, but the witches must’ve put something in the spell to specifically affect lycan blood. Sneaky coven, I thought.My teacher said that a good witch considered everything when they were creating a spell. Nothing was off limits because if it was then they could risk dying. She was tough and didn’t fail to pull any punches if I screwed up, but I appreciated he
LiaEven though Simone and I said we were going to get to work, we also realized that there was such a thing as a break. Myself, in particular, needed a break. I was working os hard and could barely breathe.The only thing on my mind was Gabi and the pup. They needed to get back home before she gave birth because then there would be no chance of getting the babies back.I can’t imagine how my brother would react to not having the baby. Hell, how would Gabi react knowing she is giving birth and can’t keep her own child?It’s sick is what it is, but this is exactly what I’m not supposed to be thinking about. I am supposed to be thinking about more pleasant things… such as relaxation.When I walked down to join everyone for breakfast, I was surprised to see my brother there. He was almost fully healed… physically at least. Emotionally he was a mess so I thought he would still be in bed, refusing to leave the nest he had created for himself.With a shaky breath, I cleared my throat… only
RainFuck I was a nervous wreck.I had been training for… what felt like weeks. Bulking up and trying to make sure my skills were sharp and fresh.It brought me to this point; waiting in the lobby of the clan’s headquarters waiting to be called up for my trial.Everyone had come with me and was sitting beside me, wanting to make sure I had support. I kept flashing nervous smiles in their direction, hoping they wouldn’t pick up how nervous I was but they had to see it.Everyone always loved to tell me I was the type of person who wore their heart on their sleeve. It was exhausting that I lived that way, but I didn’t know any other way to be.“Rain, you're sweating bullets,” Lia whispered to me.I paled. “Am I?”“Yes and you look pale,” Colby pointed out. “If your goal is to look more like a vampire; good news. You’ve done it!”The laugh bubbled out of my throat before I could stop myself. I threw my head back and started cracking up laughing. It drew the attention of several people nea
RainThree days later I had recovered enough to call the clan again to book a second attempt. I had a long talk with my mates about it. They said I should do it not just for Gabi, but also myself.That was part of the reason I was doing this. I wanted to see this through so I could explore my vampire identity. For so long it felt like I didn’t fully fit in with the werewolf world.Now I knew why!I asked Lia if she felt the same when it came to her magic. She nodded, telling me that she felt the same way.Lia was sitting beside me right now, holding my hands and trying to silently urge me to call the number. With a shaky sigh, I dialed the number and hoped for the best."Hello, this is Rain. I’m trying to reach someone from the Nightshade Eclipse Council.""You’ve reached one of the council heads. How can I assist you today?""I wanted to talk about my trial. I know I didn’t pass, but I was wondering if there’s any way I could attempt it again. I’ve been thinking about it a lot, and I
LiaI nudged Rain to move his head out of the way so I could read the email he had up on his laptop. He grinned sheepishly, moving his head so I was able to read the email he received from the council this morning.Subject: Welcome to the Pack, RainFrom: Nightshade Eclipse CouncilDear Rain,It is with immense pride, honor, and great anticipation that we officially welcome you as a member of the Nightshade Eclipse clan. This moment signifies more than just an addition to our numbers—it marks a continuation of a legacy, a strengthening of bonds that transcend generations. The veins of your ancestry intertwine with ours, and your acceptance into this family is a reminder of the unbreakable threads that connect us all.Your presence brings more than strength; it brings renewed purpose and hope. Together, we stand not only as individuals but as a unified force, bound by loyalty, resilience, and an unwavering commitment to one another. By joining the Nightshade Eclipse, you have become par
LiaThe thought had been on my mind for a while. After seeing what happened to Michael and Gabi, I realized that life was short. At any moment I could be kidnapped by a coven obsessed with this blood oath they wanted fulfilled.Yes, the chances of it happening again were slim to none but it didn’t change the fact that anything could happen. I could blink and something could happen to one of us. It proved life was short. Before the five of us went through with our mating ceremony something could kill one of us.It was something I didn’t want to happen. The best way to prevent it was to have the full mating ceremony now.I had thought about it on my own for a while. For days, I went through and weighed the pos and cons, trying to figure out what I should do. If I said the word all my mates would agree to have the full mating ceremony in a heartbeat.But was I ready to take that step?That was the big question.When I first found out I had four mates, I thought my life was over. But fast
Lia“So, are you gonna tell me what’s got you all glowing like a full moon, or do I have to guess?”“I told the guys I wanted to have the full mating ceremony. Soon. Like, ASAP.”“OMG, WHAT? NO WAY! You’re finally doing it?! You’re going through with it?! I can’t believe it!”“Yeah, it’s time. I don’t want to wait anymore. I’ve been thinking about it for a while, and I just feel ready. I want to do it, and I don’t want to keep putting it off.”“This is HUGE. Like, seriously, this calls for a pre-mating party. No arguments. It’s tradition, right? We need to celebrate this!”“Simone… you’re already planning something, aren’t you?”“Nope! No backing out now. This is a massive step in your life. You’re about to be mated for real, and that deserves a proper send-off. We need a night to celebrate before the big day! A full-on pre-mating bash!”“You just want an excuse to throw a party, don’t you?”“Okay, yes, maybe a tiny bit, but also, come on, you deserve this! You’ve waited long enough,
LiaThe next morning Michael knocked on my door. He was walking back and forth, looking like he had something to say. But wasn’t sure what or how to say it.I’ve been there and done that.“Michael?”“Hey, can we talk?”“I think you’ve already decided you want to talk. It’s more what do you want to talk about?”He grinned, scratching the back of his head nervously. The action reminded me of rain. I forgot that the five of them had spent almost their whole lives together. It was likely that they were going to rub off on one another at some point.Hell, I think the guys were starting to rub off on me to be honest. Sometimes I would stop and find myself doing small little actions that weren’t my usual go to type of action. They were rubbing off on me. But I liked to think I was rubbing off on them too.The only thing I hadn’t managed to do was teach Rain how to properly cook but that was never going to happen.“I’m going to leave the rugby team,” he said, plopping himself down next to me o
JesseOut of all the mates in our group, I was most aware. It wasn’t like I wanted to mock the others, but the fact of the matter was, I was the type of person to be aware of what was going on with everyone.If something was off, I was going to notice it.Now, with Rain, this didn’t count because he wore his heart on his sleeve. He always made it so obvious when something was wrong, and couldn’t hide his emotions even if he tried. If he did try, then he ended up being more obvious than usual!The others depended. Colby and Matt could hide their emotions, but not from me. Lia also depended, while Michael did a pretty good job of hiding it unless it had to do with Gabi and the kids. If it had to do with one of them, then he showed how upset he was because they were his family.Not that we weren’t, but they were his mate as well as children. It was a little different.Today I was out with Lia. The two of us were going for a walk, trying to enjoy some of the fresh air. I did offer the oth
MattThe past few days have been pretty crazy. I have been trying to deal with healing and then working as a coach while also spending time with my mate and pack. Everything was much better than it had been, especially with my former pack behind bars.I couldn’t stand them. Anytime I thought of them, I got upset, but right now, they were the last thing I wanted to talk about. What I wanted to focus on was the fact that Lia and I had made our way to her room, kissing passionately after going out to see a movie together.Honestly, I couldn’t even remember what the movie was. I remember the people being all romantic on screen and acting like idiots. This meant it had to be a romantic comedy. Was it obvious I wasn’t a big fan of romantic comedies? Because I wasn’t. They were stupid and a waste of time b but Lia seemed to like them.My favorite type of movie to see with Lia was a horror movie because then she got scared and cuddled up close to me. Who wouldn’t want to cuddle up with Lia wh
LiaI’m in the backyard, ready to start practicing. I have to always be ready. This is why I try to carve time for myself to practice magic. Everyone around here is always practicing their skills because you never know when something is going to happen.After the crazy time we had, I wanted to be ready for anything. How was I to know when a coven seeking revenge or some dragon shifters who had been sleeping“Okay… let’s not get rusty,” I murmured, staring down at the candle placed in the center of a circle I’d drawn with chalk. “Just a little warm-up. Easy.”“Talking to yourself again?” Rain’s voice floated over from the porch, teasing as ever.I didn’t look up. “It’s called focus. You should try it sometime.”“I’m very focused,” he said, strolling over with that infuriating grin. “I’m focusing on how intensely you’re trying to intimidate a candle.”“It’s not intimidation. It’s discipline.” I took a slow breath, letting the magic rise like a tide inside me. “Now hush.”“Shutting up,”
LiaNow that I’ve spent all this time with my mates, I wanted to spend time as a whole with everyone in the pack. This was why I let myself into the house my brother now lived in. See I had a key and he had a key to the place I had with my own mates. We were part of a pack so if we didn’t want to let the other in we would say something ahead of time.I found Michael in the kitchen, his head buried in the fridge like he was on a mission. “Hey,” I said, leaning against the doorframe.He grunted in acknowledgment, pulling out a container of leftover pasta and giving it a suspicious sniff. “Who made this? You?”“Gabi,” I said.He immediately popped the lid and started digging in cold with a fork. “Then I trust it.”I made a face. “Cold pasta?”“Don’t judge me. I’m a man of simple pleasures.” He took another bite, then finally looked at me properly. “What’s up?”“I was wondering…” I hesitated, then sighed. Why was this suddenly awkward?Michael raised an eyebrow. “You okay? You look like y
MattI found her on the porch, curled under a blanket like a cozy little woodland creature, mug in hand, book in lap. Honestly? Not fair how good she looked doing absolutely nothing.“Hey,” I said, leaning on the railing and trying to sound casual. Which meant I sounded like I was overthinking breathing.She glanced up, smiling. “Hey. Why do you look like you’re about to give a presentation in front of the school board?”“Because I’m brave,” I muttered. “And because I came to ask if you wanted to go for a walk. In the forest.”Her smile widened. “A walk?”“Yeah. Just us. Trees. Quiet. No one is trying to set the microwave on fire.”She sat up, already pulling off the blanket. “Of course I’ll go. I love when you get all woodsy and mysterious.”“I am always woodsy and mysterious.”“You spilled coffee on your shirt this morning and said, ‘The mug betrayed me.’”“It did.”She stood, and I thought that was that—until we heard it.Crunch.A very loud, very obvious crunch from behind the scr
ColbyEveryone was doing their own thing to bond with Lia. I decided that I was just going to cook dinner for the whole group, and then I would sneak her some dessert. Great for us to have a private dessert. Something chocolatey, maybe. She always smiled more with chocolate.“I’m making dinner tonight,” I announced, tossing my keys into the dish by the door and heading straight for the kitchen.Rain popped his head around the corner, eyes lighting up. “Ooh! Need a sous chef?”I didn’t even hesitate. “Not.”“What?!”Rain gasped like I’d just insulted his entire bloodline. “Banned?! That’s so harsh!”I had to stifle a chuckle even though he was just being his usual self. That was Rain for you. But he would be fine after a while. He just had to get over his little pouting session.Lia appeared behind him, crossing her arms. “Rain, last time you helped, the smoke alarm had to be reset twice.”“That was an accident!” Rain argued. “The stove was faulty!”“No,” Matt said from the couch witho
JesseAfter learning that Rain had a successful date, I decided that it was my turn to take Lia out. I had something in mind. It was a bit of an odd date—the two of us were going to play chess. Or I was going to invite her out to play chess.Chess was an awesome game that I loved. I tried to teach some of my friends the game, but only Michael was interested and now he had kids. Colby just didn’t want to waste time on it, Matt had no patience and Rain was well… Rain.If Rain ever came to me and said that he wanted to learn chess, I think I might die from shock.“I’m taking you out,” I said.She blinked. “Okay… where?”“The park,” I replied, dropping my hands into my pockets.Her head tilted slightly. “Just the park?”I nodded. “Yeah. We’re going to learn how to play chess.”Lia stared at me. “Chess?”“Chess.”“Like… with the little horses and castles and tiny guys in helmets?”“They’re knights and rooks and pawns,” I corrected, lips twitching at the corners. “But yes. That chess.”Ther
RainI had a plan and the plan was to do something romantic with Lia. It didn’t matter if it led to something more, but I wanted the two of us to spend some quality time together. The two of us hadn’t spent any time together with it just being us.None of the guys had been able to spend any quality time with her either because of all the shit going on in our lives.This wasn’t going to happen any longer.I had racked my brain, trying to think of something to do, and then I realized that I was going to surprise Lia with a private picnic in a meadow that was nearby.So I decided to go to her door to talk with her, letting her know that I was taking her out on a date.Well, if she wanted to go out on a date. She was perfectly capable of saying no. and could say no. I didn’t care if she did or not.No, that was a lie. I wanted her to say yes, but if she didn’t want to go, then this was fine too. Lia was her person and could decide what she wanted to do.“I’m taking you out tomorrow,” I sa
LiaAfter everything we dealt with regarding Matt’s old pack and Colby fighting them, we needed a break. I was planning something with my pack, or more specifically, my mates. We were just going to have a quiet evening at home and enjoy our time together.Simone was helping me plan. She was a great friend, doing what she could to help me plan this thing.Now the sun was starting to set. We had managed to get the guys out of the house so they wouldn’t bother either of us while we planned. Rain would blurt everything to the entire household if he caught wind of anything.Rain was incapable of keeping a secret. This was why everyone kept secrets from him and also kept him out of the kitchen, but that was a completely different story.But then they did come home, and I was forced to tell everyone what was going on. They started to do some things to help me prepare for the night, wanting to do their part.The sun was just beginning to dip behind the trees, painting the sky in streaks of or