ElitaKalix’s grip tightens on my wrist, his wide eyes filled with something I can’t quite understand—desperation? Relief? Maybe both. He stares at me as if I am a ghost returned to haunt him. “ It worked… ” He breathes, his voice rough with disbelief. “ It actually worked. ”His fingers tremble against my skin, the intensity of his hold making my heartbeat quicken. I take a cautious step back, my voice low. “ What are you talking about, Kalix? ”He doesn’t answer right away. His gaze travels over me, his eyes scanning every inch like he is trying to piece together an impossible puzzle. “ I don’t understand. It worked. Then…how are you still alive? ”Before I can respond, the air shifts. It’s subtle at first—a faint chill that deepens until the entire room is gripped by an icy stillness. My breath turns to mist. A blur moves through the space beside me. Kalix’s hand is ripped away from my wrist with a brutal jerk.I gasp, just in time to see Dustin slam Kalix into the wall. The en
ElitaI was the last surviving werewolf in the world—a fate worse than death. Once, the werewolves and Lycan Kings ruled the lands. We were united, powerful, and unstoppable. Now, I walked alone among the land of the savage vampires and cruel humans. It was my betrayal that ended our rule and destroyed my race until I was the sole survivor of the war that wiped out everyone.But I didn’t regret what I did to end up here, in a world where the history of Lycans and werewolves was long forgotten. Because I had him. Levian Seisti, the original vampire, and a man who I thought was my mate.He loved me, or that’s what I believed. He said he was my destiny and so, I followed him blindly even when I never felt the connection with him.Until…he turned his back on me and my illusion shattered. The vampires and humans were now hunting me down, to end the legacy of werewolves, to end me.I ran and pleaded with everyone I knew. I waited for Levian to come to save me. I prayed to the Moon God
Elita“ No! ” I scream and sit up.It feels like I am still burning. I rub my arms and my face, trying to extinguish the fire but it keeps aching and itching.“ Is it my punishment? Am I in hell, to burn for an eternity? ” I cry out, looking around the dark room. The walls are closing in on me and I can’t breathe. My whole life flashes before my eyes, and I am stuck at the point where the Lycan King was murdered before my eyes years ago. That’s when everything started going downhill, that’s how the werewolves lost against the vampires and humans in the war.If I had not become the reason for the death of the Lycan King, the werewolves would still be here. At the fading memory of his face in my mind, tears slide down my cheeks. He died because of me, yet I can’t even remember what his eyes looked like in that last moment of his life.Until now, it didn’t hurt. But now, all that’s left is a gaping hole in my heart that is filling with regret for what I did. Suddenly, a door creaks o
Elita“ You will attend the selection Ball. Don’t try to run away again or you will have no legs in the future. ” The strict, angry Alpha on the other side of the desk hisses. “ If you serve me no purpose, you have no right to be alive! ”I blink, staring at him. He heaves a heavy breath and holds my gaze before a look of confusion takes over.His features match the face of the body I am inside. Blue eyes. Blonde hair. He is my father. I mean…the father of this body, Lana Redley. He is Alpha Redley, a powerful Alpha in the North who can influence even the Lycan King of the North, Dustin Landric into doing things for him. According to my information, he fed his daughter silver which is deadly enough to kill a wolf, even if it’s an Alpha’s daughter.Something inside my chest burns at the thought. I shouldn’t be angry because I am not Lana but fearing him and despising him is like…muscle memory of this body.When I don’t say anything, his frown deepens. “ Why are you not replying to m
ElitaI stare at the vial in my hand and grimace. It is a bright red liquid which is warm to touch.As I stare at it, Alpha Redley’s stern words echo in my ears. ‘ All you have to do is to drink this potion right before you meet the King. It will attract him to you and he won’t be able to hold himself back. He will mistake these effects for a mate bond. ’I sigh, hiding the small bottle in my right palm. It’s a Love Potion, that’s all Alpha Redley should have said. But I don’t think he is aware of the whole fiasco this potion can cause.Once I drink it, every man around me will become a lovesick puppy and will pounce on me like an animal if I don’t use it properly.I hum. Maybe, Alpha Redley knew that but just didn’t care to tell me. He is fine as long as Dustin is among those love-sick puppies.“ Lady Lana, stop pouting. ” Donna scolds, and grabs my chin to pull my lips apart. “ It doesn’t suit an Alpha’s daughter to pout. ”I blink and shake my face out of her hold. She frowns at m
ElitaDoes this mean I am going to die tonight?“ Oh, shit! ” I blurt. “ I am damned. ”“ Lana! What language is this? We are already here. Refrain from saying such words. ” Donna whisper-yells but I can not focus on that anymore.I am walking to my death.I wince, as I am literally forced down the carriage by Donna.She pushes me in the direction of the open gates of the Wolveshire Citadel. “ Go on! Best of luck! ”I take a step forward, preparing myself to face the inevitable. “ And Lana?! ” Donna calls me out again.My trance breaks as I hum, not in the mood to reply to her.“ If Alpha King is anywhere close to killing you, just remind him that you are Nora’s best friend. ” She chimes as if that fact alone can save me from death.“ Who is this Nora? ” I wonder, completely dumbfounded. But I receive no answer. When I glance over my shoulder, the carriage is already gone.I stand there and stare at the bright, golden decorations from afar until a warrior comes to lead me inside the
DustinIn our world, what do people want the most? It’s power. If they are not born with it, they do anything to get it. They can commit any crime, any sin, any unthinkable act to just become the one person who controls several others. The excitement of commanding someone is just too tempting to pass on. To know someone is at their mercy makes it all the more thrilling. People…love playing God. And when it comes to werewolves, they are worse than any average human and vampire. They thrive on their hunger for power, to be more than what they are, to be at the top of the hierarchy.I am not any different. I like power, and what I can do with it. But the only difference between them and me is that…I was born with power. I was destined to be above the rest of the people—the vampires, humans, the werewolves. And…they don’t like that. “ Alpha Redley is dealing with that witch again. ” Ronac discloses and lingers close to the door.“ And what is he buying? ” My lips curve slightly. “
ElitaPull away, Elita. Right freaking now!I scream in my head. But nothing seems to be working.My fingers keep holding onto his shirt, trying to pull him into me and become one somehow while my tongue darts out, licking his lips as if he is my favorite treat.Every touch sends a hot current down my body, making me shudder. I can’t breathe. It’s too hot. Just when I tilt my head, and go for another smooch against his tightly pressed lips, a finger pokes my forehead.A whine tears out of my throat, leaving me both—embarrassed and mortified. My eyes fly open and land on Dustin’s nose. The finger pushes my head back, putting distance between us and that’s when his dark eyes come into my view.My lips pucker out some more, desperate to cover the distance again so we can kiss. But he presses his forefinger harder into my forehead and keeps me away from him.His thick lips part, and he whispers. “ what are you doing, Lady Lana? ”As he speaks, his head leans forward and his gaze drops
ElitaKalix’s grip tightens on my wrist, his wide eyes filled with something I can’t quite understand—desperation? Relief? Maybe both. He stares at me as if I am a ghost returned to haunt him. “ It worked… ” He breathes, his voice rough with disbelief. “ It actually worked. ”His fingers tremble against my skin, the intensity of his hold making my heartbeat quicken. I take a cautious step back, my voice low. “ What are you talking about, Kalix? ”He doesn’t answer right away. His gaze travels over me, his eyes scanning every inch like he is trying to piece together an impossible puzzle. “ I don’t understand. It worked. Then…how are you still alive? ”Before I can respond, the air shifts. It’s subtle at first—a faint chill that deepens until the entire room is gripped by an icy stillness. My breath turns to mist. A blur moves through the space beside me. Kalix’s hand is ripped away from my wrist with a brutal jerk.I gasp, just in time to see Dustin slam Kalix into the wall. The en
ElitaHis scent surrounds me, and I can’t breathe.Dustin’s arms tighten around me, pulling me more into his front. His touch burns through every layer of my being, like fire searing flesh, but it’s the ache inside that makes me freeze. His breath brushes my neck, warm and rough, and my body…betrays me. Every muscle locks. Every nerve surrenders. I can’t push him away. I can’t pull free. My heart pounds so loud, I am sure he can hear it.He nuzzles into the crook of my neck, and I want to scream. But I fall silent.Because it feels good. Too good.A shiver races down my spine, my body trembling between need and fear. My breath catches in my throat as his lips graze my skin. Every inch of me craves his touch, yet every heartbeat screams for distance.“ Tyson was right. ” Dustin murmurs. His voice is low and dark—a whisper that bleeds into my soul. I feel it more than I hear it. His words spread like a storm, drowning my reason.My chest tightens. My lungs burn as if I am drowning aga
ElitaThe moment Dustin opens his eyes, my breath hitches in my throat. It’s as if something raw, and untamed stirs between us—an invisible binding us together.The mate mark on my neck burns, a reminder of what he has done. My heartbeat quickens and I find it hard to think, to look away from his intense eyes.For a moment, there is only silence. No one says anything as we all watch him stare at me. Then, suddenly, Striker rushes past me, breaking the spell. “ Dustin, are you alright? ”Dustin doesn’t answer. His eyes move away from me, from the mark that ties us together, and land on Tyson instead. There is a shift in the air—heavy and dangerous.Dustin rises from the bed in one smooth motion. Striker steps back. I should move too, but my feet won’t listen. One moment, I want to step forth, wrap my arms around him, and tell him how scared I felt…But the next, I want to run away…But he is not focused on me, or the turmoil going on inside me. His focus is on Tyson.Without warning,
ElitaI wake with a sharp gasp. My heart is pounding too fast, too hard in my chest. Darkness clings to the edges of my vision as my chest heaves, my eyes moving around the unfamiliar warmth of the room. For a moment, I can’t tell what’s real. That… vision—no, that hallucination—lingers, my mind spinning with fragments of what I felt.Why did I think that Dustin's statue broke and he somehow came to life to save me? That's...impossible. My mind played such stupid tricks on me while I was dying. My fingers clutch the blanket covering me, and the heat wraps around me. For a moment, I don't realize where I am. The sheets smell clean, and I am wearing a loose white dress that brushes my ankles. I touch the fabric, frowning.Then, I look around again. I am not in that lake. I am in my room. The one in the small cottage. But how?I blink rapidly, my breath quickening as the memory returns—icy water pulling me under, my body going limp, death scratching against my skin. I remember the cold
DustinMy body moves on instinct as I pull her out of the water. Her weight feels wrong in my arms—too light, too still. Her limbs dangle lifelessly. For the briefest moment, I want to look at her pale face, but I can’t She is always talking so much. But now she is silent. I drop to my knees on the frozen ground, cradling her as the bitter chill brushes against my skin. As a Lycan, I am incapable of feeling cold, but I do now. Something inside me is freezing, and I can feel the sharp tips of that ice digging into my heart. Reluctantly, I look up, at the wet hair that sticks to her lifeless cheeks, at the eyes that are closed, at the parted lips that are too colorless. Mechanically, my hands press against her chest. No beat. There is no beat. Or maybe, I can’t feel it because my own heart is beating too hard in my ears. My jaw clenches, and I grind my teeth so hard it sends a sharp pain shooting down my temples.My hands are trembling against her chest. I want to press down, to
ElitaI thought as the water would fill my lungs and I would struggle to breathe, I would think about how normal it was.I had died once before. And the pain would be nothing new.In fact, I would recall everything I suffered. The dark nights. The bloody days. The empty world. I would remember every time I woke up to find that I had fallen one level below from yesterday. I would remember how I slowly forgot what I had destroyed everything for. I would remember my desperate attempts to save my life.Anger. Agony. Fear. But I didn’t feel any of that. I didn’t think of the dark nights or the bloody days.Instead, it felt like my life started the day I woke up in that dungeon with wrists slit, and head smashed. There was something different about occupying the body of someone who had died miserably—something like an emptiness nothing could fill, a void so vast it could devour me whole.But I was too cold, too dead inside to acknowledge it. Now, I could relive every emotion I felt for La
ElitaI don’t know how much time passes after I get tired of slamming my aching palms against the door. When no one hears my screams or comes to open the door, I move to sit on the floor beside the bed and stare at the wall opposite me.I can’t believe it.I thought we had made progress.But that stupid, ruthless King just locked me inside this room. He knows I can’t break it down. He used my weakness against me. I snort in frustration, glaring at the door as if I can burn a hole through it. Then, I look away and focus on the floor. I hate that he has done this. I hate that I am here, trapped like this.He should have listened to me instead of acting the way he did—like he is so scared of losing me until he is forced to resort to these foolish methods. Suddenly, the lock turns and the door opens. I don’t look up. I don’t care who's coming. Whoever comes will only come to deliver food, and they will make sure that I remain trapped.“ Having fun? ” Tyson says, his voice low and casual
Dustin“ The voice in the water told you that? ” Moon Goddess laughs, and it’s the first time I have heard her laugh so lightly as if she finds this unbelievable, or maybe…amusing.“ She did. ” I nod. “ She told me your reign depends on the survival of our powers. If Levian is gone, the other four Lycan can still hold onto that power because you paired the women to the Lycan men so carefully…but take out one more Lycan power, and…everything will come crumbling down. The reason why you wanted me gone when I was a child was because…you chose Levian over me…like you did in my past life. You thought Elita could bring him to the side of the other Kings, and you will still have your power. ”“ You are…angry about that. You said before that you did not care. ” She chuckles again, like she finds my anger and resentment funny.I continue in a low voice. “ You changed your mind even after you made her my mate because you know you can control Levian better, because once his child-driven haze is
DustinI was surprised and even pretended to be oblivious when she talked about the prophecy. But it was not so surprising anymore when she didn’t know what it meant.Instead, it was relieving.What you don’t know can never hurt you. That’s what I believe in and that’s why I am against letting everyone know everything. I refuse to let every secret spill out not because I like having all the knowledge in the world and keeping others in the dark but because…when people around me grasp the truth, they do stupid things or turn into people with dead eyes.I don’t like either of those options.And I have figured out that I hate it even more when it’s about…Elita.“ Were you hoping she would kill herself, and save you from the misery of following one man for such a long time? ” My hold over Kalix's throat tightens until his eyes bulge out and go red.I let him have the upper hand when we sparred because I didn’t want him to feel embarrassed in front of his people. Now, I believe he is too d