ZEDANE "What is your problem? Why are you looking at me with so much disgust on your face? It was you who asked me to show you in the first place, so don't go acting irritated by the sight of it." She glances down at the injury in question and turns to glare at me again. "It's not even that gross. It's just a narrow cut that runs along my skin." I clench my fists tighter, trying to tame the beast that is pulling at me to take charge. Something is seriously wrong with this woman, it's like all she cares about is starting a war. "Go, Kiena. Leave now!" Hurt flashes in her eyes for a second before she masks it and folds her arms over her chest in defiance. "Why the hell am I the one who's expected to leave? If you're that grossed out, then get out!" I shake my head in a move that's meant to clear it, but instead it jumbles my thoughts even further. I pull at the hair on my head. "You need to leave now, Kiena." She scoffs."I already told you, if someone needs to leave here, it's y
KIENA I didn't think twice about what I was doing after I got the parchment delivered directly to me. I woke up to the knocks on my chamber's door and found that I'd gotten a delivery - much to my surprise. As soon as I opened the folded piece of cloth to see the familiar lines of writing that belongs to none other than Estina, I got into overdrive. There was no contemplating involved as I took a hurried bath and got into a car in the Alpha's garage or when I drove up to the huge gates and rolled the windows down to gain passage. They opened the gates for me with such swiftness and tons of head bows that for once I didn’t exactly hate the idea of being the Luna of Blackwater pack. But there seems to be an overabundance of second thoughts as I stand just a few steps away from the hidden gateway of Whitevalley pack that's only used in cases of serious emergency. I let out a heavy sigh and take a step forward, ready to step back into the territory of Alpha Dumitri Vocci, my former A
ZEDANE I haven't been in the same space as Kiena ever since the incident in the woods two nights ago, but all that changed the moment I got a call from pack security that she had just driven out of the pack. I contemplated letting her be for a while, thinking that she might have decided to up and leave finally after the last stunt; but knowing how proud Kiena is, she definitely would not have left with anything that belonged to me or my pack - that includes the pack car. Hence my decision to go after the little fireball, and I couldn't be any more grateful that I did. Damn, the woman has a death wish, suicidal tendency and genocidal tendency all wrapped up in that delicately hot body of hers. I force in a harsh breath through my nose and turn to cast a glance at the flesh and blood representation of chaos sitting beside me. She has her face turned to the window and her expression is drawn into something terribly sad. The visual of her hunched shoulders, glossy eyes and sad f
KIENA “Luna,” a tentative voice calls from behind me and I turn around. I'm lying in my bed, my head tucked comfortably on my pillow and cushioned by the swaddling of sheets that pool at my neck. “May I help you?” My voice is soft even though I want to snap instead. It's not the fault of the little girl that she belongs to a pack with a jerk as the Alpha. Matter of fact, all Alphas are jerks. From Dimitri Vocci to Xhecon Luther and now, Zedane Rhage; every man is far worse than the last. She shows me her hand. “I brought you a plate of brownies, Luna. I didn't know what you liked so I also picked two cupcakes and two muffins just in case.” My forehead furrows in a mixture of confusion and suspicion. “Who are you?” “I'm Lina. I'm an Omega wolf and all the wolves tell me that I'm weak and…” “They tell you that?” I interrupt her, anger skimming my blood all of a sudden. She looks shocked by my reaction and her nod of affirmation is tentative. I raise myself up into a sitting p
ZEDANE I couldn't bring myself to look away from the beautiful women in front of me. Lina looked like she was torn between pledging all of her treats to Kiena as a vow of loyalty and just crying in happiness from the love she's receiving from Kiena. "Okay. When would I start learning?" The little girl finally finds her voice and questions. Kiena lowers herself to a squat to put herself at Lina's eye level. "As soon as right now. I just need to have a talk with your scary Alpha here, and you need to have something to eat before we can get started." "Really?" Lina was bursting at the seams with excitement, and I couldn't blame her. She's been alone for so long, and finally having someone to look out for her must be an absolute thrill. I can't possibly imagine how she must be feeling. I shake my head slowly to clear it from the fog that's threatening to cloak my mind. "We could all have lunch together, and then Lina gets a change of clothing and meets us in the field." Kie
KIENA My ears are ringing with a mixture of righteous annoyance and all the embarrassment that I can feel. I thought that all of my problems revolved around Dimitri and Xhecon's play of politics that involved me, but I guess I would always be seen as a lot less by everyone around me. "Do you have any idea what you are invoking by deciding to disrespect me?" "Absolutely nothing." He spits, his face wearing a mask of disgust. "I am not in danger of anything. In fact, you would be proving me right by running over to the Alpha with your cries for help. Like the useless piece of..." He doesn't get to finish that sentence before a strong arm wraps around his throat and lifts him off the floor in the grip of a single arm. "Who the hell do you think you are to be speaking to my mate like that? Have you no respect? Or fear?" Zedane snarls at him. His face is contorted in a mask of rage and his teeth are bared at the jerk he has hanging off the floor by his throat. "Zedane..." I st
ZEDANE "What would you reckon it is given the presentation?" I ask the guards stationed at the manor's great gates. I have no idea why it is that Dimitri Vocci is sending me gifts, especially not after the way he denounced his own daughter the last time we were in each other's presence. "I think it could be a set of explosives. Not deadly but annoying enough." Emmett, one of them, answers. "You seriously believe that the Alpha of Whitevalley pack would be daring enough to send a threat to my own home?" "I wouldn't put it past him to make such a reckless calculation. Dimitri has always been one to make arrogant moves as a result of the political backing he has in other packs." He responds again. "Tear open the seal. I want to see the first layer of the package. I presume it would be more a warning than a threat." "Yes, Alpha." One of my pack guards, Luke, answers and pulls a pocket knife free from the sheath at his waist. The other guards start to form a makeshift barric
KIENA A knock sounds on my door, drawing me out of the slump I've been lounging in for about three days. My head is throbbing dangerously, rivaling the thumping of my heart's beating. My eyes are swollen, a result of endlessly sobbing into my pillow. The sight of Estina's open eyes as they stared back at me, devoid of life and anything that would be attributed to health, swarmed my mind; filling me with an endless bout of nightmares and terror. All of them spurred on by the knowledge that my father is the monster I've always believed him to be. Even worse. "Can I come in? You've been locked up for three days without food or water. Your pain and physical weakness is traveling down our pack and mating bond and leaving the rest of the pack feeling uneasy and distressed." Of course it is Zedane, and of course the only reason he's here is because somehow I've managed to disrupt the peace and quiet of the pack. "I don't want to talk to anyone." I call back. My voice sounds weak eve
KIENAIt's been a whole month, one entire month since I got back to the pack, and that douchebag Alpha wolf, who should also be my mate, has been treating me to the coldest set of shoulders I've ever seen.He barely speaks to me, matter of fact, we barely even cross parts. But like the idiot that I am, I run outside hoping to catch a glimpse of him after I heard his enraged howl, but once again I'm met with cold eyes, curt words and an all round disinterest in anything that concerns me.I step out of the shower feeling even worse than I had when I stepped in. I don't even understand why my wolf is intent of not speaking to me, yet overpowering me with her excessive emotions. Like the very unnecessary guilt I'm feeling right now, even though he has made it clear that he was only concerned for his pack and not me.My head snaps in the direction of the door as a knock rings out. "Who's there?""Lina." The tiny voice on the other side of the door calls back.I sigh as I walk over and pull
ZEDANEIt's been a whole month since I found Kiena lying half-dead beneath the bushes that were cut into a makeshift tent for her. Whoever it was that took her wanted me to find her, and probably dead too.I can still taste the dangerous flavor of fear that had cloaked me after I found her in that position. It was something I had succeeded in preventing for well over a decade, almost two, but in a single moment, a woman was able to bring it right back."Are you even here?" Lunil asks along the bond we share with the pack.My eyes snap in the direction that his mental voice came from and our eyes lock on each other. I nod once to let him know that all is well and then pick up the pace, but he isn't far behind."You don't look like all is well with you. You've let the same rabbit run past you twice without so much as blinking in its direction, and that's very unlike you. You're an exceptionally skilled hunter, something has to be wrong if you're missing game like that."I cut him a glar
KIENAMy eyes feel heavy but I force them open, feeling the pressure in my head intensify as my body begins to stir awake. The endless dabble between consciousness and unconsciousness has left me feeling drained and weary.My mind vaguely registers the fact that Zedane is still sitting beside my bed. I wonder how long he has been in that position. He thrusts a glass of water in my direction. "Here. Have a drink."I close my eyes shut again. I can't stand the cold intensity of his gaze right now. I'm already in enough pain as it is, and the fact that I cannot even remember anything that happened after I was plucked up in front of the gates makes it all that worse."This isn't the time to play childish games, Kiena. Have something to drink, we need to have a talk." Just like his eyes, his voice is also steel hard and devoid of emotions, except maybe anger.I try to get into a sitting position after I manage to pry my eyes open, but a groan works its way through me an I slink back down,
ZEDANEMy feet halt on their own accord, the hairs on my skin stand at attention, my wolf half growling inside of me in restlessness. "We heard her just a moment ago." His complaint is growly and filled with irritation. "I know." My response is immediate and angry as well.I try to reach out to her again but to no avail. Something is even more wrong than it was when we first entered the woods. My fingers turn her bracelet this way and that, using the warmth that somehow still lingers on it to try and feel her. I don't."Something's wrong." He complains again."I would really appreciate it if you'd stop stating the obvious."The flow of magic that binds Kiena to me is... weird. It still exists, so I know she's still alive, but something has happened with it. I can't find it in my mind's eye. Almost as if something has cloaked it."I think she's been kidnapped." My wolf supplies again. "And whoever has her must have a shit ton of magic at their beck and call to be able to keep us trap
KIENA"I would never have guessed that someone of your standing would betray Zedane. He's been nothing short of amazing to all of you in the pack." I scold the traitor hotly.He laughs. He simply laughs at my heated judgement. "Coming from someone who takes his kindness for granted repeatedly? That's rich.""What do you want from me? If you're doing this to get me to betray Zedane, I'd have you know that I would rather die before I let anyone turn me against Zedane. Not everyone is as twisted as you are.""You think top highly of yourself, Kiena. Or should I call you Luna?" He makes a tsking sound. "You would need a certain level of intelligence before you can even be considered for the position of mole, and you, my dear, are seriously lacking in thay field." I feel heavily insulted by the insinuation that I am stupid, enough that I feel my mouth spitting venom before I can put a hold on it. "Coming from someone who's choosing to bite the very hand that has fed him for so many years
ZEDANESomething is amiss. I know that the very moment that I step out into the manor. Herome hurries after me immediately. "Alpha. The Luna is not back in the packhouse yet. I thought she was going to return with you."A sigh works its way past my throat. "I've been away for a number of hours and none of you thought to communicate her disappearance with me until now?" My temper is rising to the surface really quickly and even though I know it is irrational, the though of her being in possible danger makes me want to snap the necks of the wolves who should've been more careful."We couldnt stop her from leaving the pack. She left immediately after you did and we assumed you jad found that out.""Of course I found that out. I also expected that she'd be back here by now." I pause and inhale a breath. "Get some men to help you search every square inch of the pack.""We already searched for her everywhere in the packhouse, but we couldn't find her. I also cannot feel her link to the pac
UNKNOWN 15 YEARS AGODarkness, cold, pain. Al three of the things my kind usually thrived on, but is suddenly the worst kind of nightmare we could ever face.We feed on blood, consuming the very essence of living creatures that keeps them as that, but we made a vow long ago, after we realised that there was more to the earth than an eternal war; we would never eat of the blood of other rational creatures like ourselves. There were humans, but we ate them up with such swiftness that very few remained, and those who sought a haven of any kind from us turned to one thing. Witchcraft."Get the hell up! You think you're here to lounge? You're here to suffer, for evert single thing that your kind has ever done to us."The woman who kept us immobile and reeking of despair screamed at the top of her lungs, each word coated with an insane load of anger. And evil."What do you want with us? We're barely up to the age where feeding off of other creatures is in our control," the young boy whose
KIENAMy heart is still thudding with undilued anger long after Zedane walked away. How dare he constantly remind me that I am not allowed on my fathers property?A simple memory flashes in my mind's eye and I sigh. He was right, after all. As much as I hate to admit it. I denounced every tie I had to Whitevalley pack and the Vocci name, and had my father - if I can even call him that - threaten to kill me if I ever dared to show my face near him again. Yet I constantly ignore the warning and trudge hopelessly in that direction.I start pacing, thinking of a way to make myself better at the whole leadership thing. I was really only thinking of a way to help the pack, and Zedane, but instead I made him so mad that his mood had to be perpetually ruined till he got there. Being well aware of how manipulative my father is, I should have been the one to protect Zedane not throw him into the den while he struggled to rein in his temper.Another long sigh finds its way out of my throat, but
ZEDANE"I didn't expect that you'd have the balls enough to show up here unannounced." Dimitri welcomes me with a snide comment as soon as I walk into the room.He's sitting on a huge sofa, something that's shaped like a throne, complete with the brass that lines the edges, and a back as high as..."I didn't think you'd consider it unannounced still after all of the forewarning you had." I don't have the energy to keep the anger out of my voice.I've been pissed ever since I noticed that Kiena was trailing me. I wonder just how dumb she would think of me that she'd trail my single car with another one, without even making an attempt at camouflage. "Seems to me like you're forgetting where you are." Dimitri's tone is now icy, and his eyes are glaring daggers at me. The guards surrounding the room poise at the tone of his voice, each one with their gaze trained on me like they are even remotely capable of causing me any form of harm."You're making such a dramatic declaration at the s