ElitaThe fog wraps around me, curling like cold fingers against my skin. Every step I take feels muffled, swallowed by the eerie silence of the woods. It’s unsettling. No rustle of leaves, no crack of a branch. Just me, the fog, and this unbearable quiet. Something feels…wrong. I pause, my breath hitching. I should have encountered some vampires by now, or at least some sign of them. But the forest is empty—too empty. My senses tingle, my pulse hammering against my ribs. But then I glance up at the moon, shining bright and full.Right. Full moons are for their parties. The so-called “festival” where vampires and humans come together for deals, bargains, and blood. It seems Dustin knew this, too. But how does he always know the inside information?My feet move faster now, guided by an urgency I can’t explain. The trees thin out, and that’s when I see it. The cottage. It’s exactly how I remember it—small, tucked into the clearing like it’s hiding from the world. But I know
ElitaLevian lets out a quiet laugh, the sound dripping with mockery. “ Your courage is almost amusing. I thought you were the clever one among the Kings, Dustin. But maybe you are pretending to be more cunning than you are. Sending someone important like him on missions when you know how dangerous it is. Purely reckless…foolish. ”I grip the bark harder, my nails biting into it. My breath feels too loud, too fast, like it’s betraying me. This is not good. My stomach clenches into knots. Dustin’s calm voice cuts through the rising tension. “ what can I say? I was distracted by a little bird. ”Levian tilts his head, his piercing gaze sharpening as it flicks to Dustin’s warriors. “ You must still be enchanted to think you can come here with a few of your warriors and get him back. ” The weight of his words feels suffocating, but Dustin doesn’t flinch. Instead, he glances at his men, a silent command passing between them. “ I know what I am doing. ” Dustin looks ahead.“ Do you?
TysonI have known Dustin since I was a naive little child, living in a colorful, bright world of my own. This makes me privileged—because I can tell when something is not right with him.But it’s not often. Dustin is like a block of ice that never cracks. He holds everything inside, pretends to be a jerk, and does everything in silence—plans in silence, suffers in silence, gets back on his feet in silence.I have never doubted that he will not stay down for a long time. Except for one time before and this time.A long time ago, he told me that if he dies, we all must not die with him. He said he would have to do something, sacrifice something that he holds dear to his heart. That time, he went ahead and offered his precious little sister to an enemy King. Everyone saw his action. How could a brother just trade his sister like this? He was criticized for a long time by Striker, Nora, and Amelia, and that also drove a permanent wedge between him and his sister. But I have never felt
ElitaWho are you? Such a vague question.I couldn’t say I was Elita because he must have sensed foul play already.I couldn’t say Lana either…because that’s not who I am.And then…I didn’t know what his mate’s name was, so I couldn’t use that as an emotional trap to get out of this stupid situation.That's why, I kept my mouth shut and didn’t say a word to answer it.But Levian was lenient. That’s why now I am inside the small cottage, sitting on a chair while he stands close to the window in the distance, looking out at the woods.“ The little kid has learned how to use emotional traps to get what he wants. ” His deep voice echoes in the silence of the place.I flinch, gripping my dress harder. When he stays silent, I can pretend I am not even here and feel alienated…almost numb.But hearing his voice brings me back to the same spot. I am here, on this cold night, alone…With the man who hurt me more than anyone will ever do again.And the man I came to save has fled with someone el
ElitaThe silence after my words feels like the sharp edge of a knife. It slices through the space between us, heavy and suffocating. I take my hand off his wrist and pull it back to my lap.Levian doesn’t move. Not a single muscle twitches as if my declaration left him frozen. But I know better. Levian never freezes. He calculates, measures, and waits until his opponent makes the wrong move. It’s always been like that with him. His eyes stay locked on me, and I can feel the weight of his gaze pressing against my skin, searching for a crack, a tell, anything to understand why I hate him so much.But he won’t find an answer. And until he doesn’t find an answer, he will remain distracted.That’s what I wanted, and he is playing right into my hands. “ Monster? ” He repeats, his voice deceptively soft, the kind of soft that feels like the calm before a storm.“ Yes. ” I reply, my tone steady even as my hands tremble in my lap. “ You destroy everything you touch, Levian. You are aimi
Elita“ Soline. ” I mumble to myself.And my chest aches again. It’s like someone is gripping my heart, threatening to rip it apart if I dare say that name.What kind of joke is this now?I move towards the bed in the room and pause. I have been having a hard time convincing myself to sit.How long has it been?I stare at the clean black sheets. My muscles stiffen. And like before, I walk back to the window and stare out.This room feels too familiar, and it’s grating on my nerves. I can escape from seeing Levian’s face, but can I escape from the memories that haunt me? Everything about this place, about him, about this room… reminds me of things that seem to have happened ages ago.It’s like I am trying to see my life from a distance, with a detached view…but I am unable to do it. Levian used to say memories are a curse. I didn’t agree back then. No matter what, I wanted to remember my life, my siblings, the destruction I was a part of.But now…I agree with him.If people just forg
ElitaThe veil of darkness falls around me again. She is gone. She turned to dust right before my eyes, and even that dust disappeared.I…I don’t know what to think.So, I stare at the spot she was in. What just happened?Did her soul just…perish? Is this what people call finally leaving the world and moving to the afterlife? When I first entered this place in my dream, I thought this was it—the place I would end up in after dying. But it turns out I am wrong.There is more—something unpredictable, probably scarier awaiting me.For the first time since I have entered this strange state in which I am neither dead nor alive…I feel fear of the unknown, of what awaits me at the end of this journey.And I realize…I…I…really don’t…I…I can’t bring myself to even think of those words. If I think, someday, I might say them too.I don’t want that. Because this is my retribution. And I don’t deserve to voice out my fear for it.“ You are both stubborn. ” A familiar voice echoes through the e
Elita“ Where did that girl go? ” I hear King Tyson ask.The three Kings are sitting in Dustin’s office. The two that have little to do with me look so grim. But the one who should appear solemn has nothing on his face, not even a hint of distress or a sign that he regrets abandoning me like this.“ Dustin— ” Alpha King Striker starts, but Dustin interrupts, answering their previous question.“ That girl… ” He picks up his head and looks in their direction, his eyes undeniably dull. “ …is where she is supposed to be. ”“ And where is she supposed to be? ” Striker hisses, slamming his palm on the desk.Dustin doesn’t answer, just looks to his right, where the window is, where I am. For a moment, his eyes lift to mine, and my breath hitches.It’s as if he can see me.“ Did you send her to Levian? Is that how you got Ronac back? ” Tyson huffs and Dustin looks away.No, he can’t see me. “ She is his mate. If I had let go of her a long time ago, things wouldn’t be like this today. ” He sa
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 L
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 casua
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
ElitaSunlight hits my face, warming the side. I groan, shifting to my other side to avoid getting burned. The corners of my mouth sting and feel dry. My lips sting, and feel dry.And my throat…It feels like something is still stuck in it. I blink away the heaviness clouding my thoughts. It takes me a moment to remember where I am, and when I do, my heart jumps straight into my throat.I squeal, rolling onto my side and burying my face into the pillows. Memories of last night flash through my mind. Heat rushes to my cheeks as I recall how bold I was with him—how I touched him, sucked him, and how he…took my mouth…I squeeze my eyes shut. How did I even find the courage? I could never have imagined him like that. I could never have imagined myself like that either.We both must have lost our minds. I squeal again, kicking my feet up, because now, I just can’t believe how I let him have his way with me. Suddenly, the door creaks open.I freeze, gripping the blanket tighter around me
DustinHer wrists feel fragile in my grasp, but I will be damned if I think that for long. She is not fragile or a damsel in distress. She is the fire that will burn everything if I take my eyes off her for a moment.My mouth brushes over her pulse again, and I inhale deeply. Her scent is maddening—Sweet, fierce, and entirely hers. When I pull back and look into her eyes, I find her still glaring at me. She liked what I did to her, but she doesn’t like the fact that she liked it. Now, she is sulking.I feel the need to push her more, but I press a last kiss on her other wrist and let her go.It’s enough for tonight. Or I might lose my mind completely. I push myself off her and out of the bed. The sounds of my heavy breaths fill the room. I want to get into bed again and do more with her…but…After what she told me, I don’t want to take her when I am angry and jealous like a fool. My desires can wait. I can’t risk her zoning out when we are doing it.Without looking at her naked bod
Elita“ Do you know… ” Dustin’s hand lowers to my cheek before he rubs his thumb across my bottom lip. “ …women in the North call me a gentleman. I am gentle with women, and I never do or say dirty things. ”The sense of doom crashes over me. I try to move, but he is still above me, caging me between his thighs this time, making sure I can not move an inch without his permission.This should send my mind into a state of panic, but instead…it drives me crazy with need. With him, I have truly become someone I don’t recognize.“ What do you want? ” I whisper, my tongue flicking out and brushing his thumb.I notice the way his eyes watch my mouth as if he is in deep thought. The hunger in his eyes intensifies, burning so hard that it almost steals all air from my lungs.“ What— ”“ Your smart mouth. ” Dustin interrupts. I gasp, my face flushing. My chest heaves heavily, my nipples tightening as his words sink in.“ You— ”“ I have never used my mouth on a woman before. But I did it for y
Elita“ Did you just— ” My back arches off the bed, as Dustin’s warm breaths hit my moist core. “ did you just hit me there? ”My head rolls back, my eyes threatening to close against the sharp pleasure. But his voice keeps me in the moment, forcing me to focus on every breath, every movement.“ I can kiss it better if you are that offended. ” Dustin murmurs, his voice dropping.“ W—What— ” I gasp loudly as he plants an open mouth kiss on my clit. It’s like everything inside me is tuned to that one, throbbing, drenched spot. His breaths are still warming me.“ Say my name. The moment you stop saying it, I will stop too… ” His lips brush my clit with each raspy word. “ Wha— ”His tongue sticks out, licking a path up. My head goes blank, and the energy in my limbs disappears. It’s like someone snatches my soul and then slams it back into my body. My toes curl, my heels lifting off the bed but his hands wrap around my thighs and push my body down again.“ My name, Elita. ” He nibbles