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 pa
LiaThe lunch I packed for myself remained mostly untouched. I picked up part of the sandwich, took a bite, and struggled to swallow. It felt like ash in my mouth, making me want to spit it out.Folded and shoved into my pocket was the invitation for my coming-of-age ceremony that was delivered to me two weeks ago. With trembling hands, I pulled it out and read it word by word.Official InvitationDear Lia Brown,It is with boundless joy and honor that we invite you to attend your Coming-of-Age Ceremony, a momentous occasion marking this significant milestone in your life. This celebration is a testament to your growth, achievements, and the exciting future that lies ahead.Event Details:· Date: Monday, the 6th of October· Time: 9:00 AMWe encourage you to arrive promptly at the clinic to ensure the smooth progression of the event and to fully immerse yourself in the process. The ceremony afterward will include heartfelt speeches, special performances, and a formal acknowledgment of
LiaWhen I came home I was looking forward to being in a quiet house where I could clear my thoughts. But the moment I walked through the door I heard multiple, loud voices coming from the kitchen, the spot my brother and his friends liked to haunt with their imposing presence.Taking a shaky breath, I closed the door as quietly as I could behind me, but not quite enough. Michael, my brother, popped his head into the room, a smirk playing on his lips.“Trying to sneak away without saying hello, little sister?”“I live with you. Why do I have to say hello?” I countered.A deeper voice chuckled, and Colby came to stand on the left side of Michael. He was a little taller than Michael who was already six feet so that was saying something. Colby’s piercing jade green eyes locked onto my tense form, pearly white tease exposed as he smirked.“Lia are you going to go all the way upstairs without saying hello?” he asked.Rain popped up on the other side of Michael. He was the same height as my
LiaWhen I was called to the administrative office the next day, I was a bundle of nerves. I didn’t understand why they called me here. Wasn’t it enough that I handed in the form?With a shaky sigh, I tucked an ebony lock behind my ear. My blue eyes darted around the room, waiting for the staff member to come into the room and talk to me.“Thank you for coming here, Lia Brown.”I resisted the urge to squirm in my seat, even though the urge was great.“I signed the paper and returned it. Why am I here?”She blinked. “Miss Brown you're not in trouble. We just have to move your ceremony to next week to accommodate a speaking guest we booked at the last minute. The staff will be busy with preparations so I hope you can understand.”“What?” I blurted out. “I want to get this over with; not wait another few days!”“Miss Brown please calm down,” the woman muttered, glaring at me from across the desk. “I understand you are eager to find your mates—”“No, you don’t understand because that’s no
LiaThe school was buzzing with excitement from the moment the email was sent out. Come Friday, it was all anyone could talk about. It was like they forgot that the championship Rugby team members once went to this very school.I don’t know how they could forget such a thing. This was something I remembered every single day, unable to forget no matter how much I tried.But I believed what my brother said. They weren’t going to be there. It was just going to be him.Until I ran right into Colby of all people. He looked surprised so I don’t think he was trying to seek me out. I jerked away as if I had been burned, flattening myself against the wall and trying to become as small as possible.“Hey Lia,” he purred, grinning from ear to ear.He ran a hand through his damp dirty blonde locks, clearly having just gotten out of the shower not long ago.“Colby,” I spat, trying to make a run for it.Before I could, Colby crowded me against the wall. He had me pinned with both hands on either sid
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 pa
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
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
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
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
MattIt should be a good feeling to know we are one step closer to getting Gabi back and stopping the Rosewater clan for good, but instead, all I can think about is how out of place I feel. I felt this a lot growing up, thinking I never quite fit in with the rest of my family.My father always made it clear that he thought I didn’t live up to his standards. It made me angry, wanting to try to get him to notice me, but eventually I stopped giving a fuck. He was perfectly fine with ignoring me—until it became clear that I might leave the pack.He couldn’t live with the fact that I might no longer be a part of the clan. How dare I, his son, do such a thing? But I pushed ahead thanks to the help of my at the time future pack. They proved to me I didn’t need to do anything but be true to myself.Cheesy advice, but it worked for me.However, now everything was changing. Gabi was gone and Michael was a shadow of his former self. Rain was off training to join a vampire clan while Lia was lear
RainMy dad’s records were what helped me learn the name of the clan my family used to belong it. They were the Nightshade Eclipse, an impressive name for what was a clan that went back centuries. I was shocked to learn that, but thrilled. It was exactly what we needed.If they were this old then they had to know some ancient vampiric magic that we would be able to use to help our situation.Jesse must’ve heard me hollering in excitement because he burst into the room, holding… a spiked bat.“Jesse, my dude, where the hell did you get that bat?”“I made it,” he said, eyes darting around the room. “What is going on? I heard you shouting.”I coughed. “It was shouts of excitement, Jesse. I just learned the name of the clan my family used to belong to!”Jesse closed the distance between us, looking me in the eyes. I balked, taking a few steps back until I hit the wall.Fuck I was trapped with Jesse who looked mad. It was hard to tell with him but when you could tell it meant you should ru
LiaI hated keeping things from anyone, especially my brother. He was the one who was always there for me, never letting me doubt that he cared for me. If I had been in his position then I would’ve wanted to have the same information, even if it wasn’t something I should know.But sometimes you can’t prevent someone from discovering something. No matter how hard you try, they will find out and do something stupid.This is exactly what happened when I got home from school that evening. I spotted my brother in a situation I never expected to see him in.The moment I stepped into the house, my stomach twisted. Michael was slumped against the couch, blood staining his shirt and dripping onto the floor.“Michael!” I rushed to his side, my voice sharp with panic. “What happened? Are you okay?!”“I’m fine.” He groaned, shifting slightly.“Fine? You’re bleeding everywhere!” I grabbed the nearest towel and pressed it to his side. “Who did this to you? What happened?”“It’s nothing,” he muttere
Lia“I’m telling you, Michael’s a wreck,” I said, pacing back and forth across the room. I could feel the anger, fear, and frustration bubbling up inside me, and I couldn’t seem to settle. Every thought in my head kept coming back to him—Michael—and how out of control everything was getting.“He’s not exactly subtle about it,” Rain replied, leaning against the wall with his arms crossed. He sounded more exasperated than anything else. “I caught him snapping at the delivery guy yesterday. Poor kid almost cried.”I let out a frustrated breath. “Yeah, well, I don’t blame him. He’s holding all of this inside, and it’s tearing him apart. He’s been on edge for days, and I don’t know how much longer he can take it.”Colby shook his head, his voice filled with sympathy. “He’s been through hell with Gabi being taken. I’d be a wreck too if my mate was in danger. I think we all would.”“No kidding,” Jesse muttered, his tone dark and heavy. “But the way he’s holding it in? It’s like a ticking tim