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
ElitaAt his command, the ceremony quickly comes to an end and the moment I have been waiting for—a very dreadful and a lot more dangerous moment—finally comes.“ I rarely feel surprised. ” Dustin drawls, slowly walking around me in a circle.After everyone left, I was dragged to his office and the doors closed, trapping me inside with him.For a few minutes, he didn’t really say anything, just stared at me. And let me tell you—it’s not pretty to get stared at by him. When he stares, it feels like he is slicing your skin off with his eyes, just because he wants to see what’s under those layers.Now, he is behind me, and I can feel his gaze burning into my back. “ You managed to surprise me after all. ”“ I did? ” I flinch, trying to mask my nervous expressions.Don’t give him your back, Elita. You should never give your back to a predator.I attempt to turn around to face him but pause. He steps closer, so close that I can feel the heat of his body seeping into my back but he is not t
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“ 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 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
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
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
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?
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
Elita“ Someone will know we are trespassing before we reach our destination. ” I blurt, panic bubbling in my throat.I can feel my body beginning to vibrate, my pupils dilating, and my mind racing with thoughts again.This is a bad idea. A very bad idea.So, to make this idea a not-so-bad idea, I want to believe he has a plan.I glance at his face from over my shoulder and unconsciously lean back into his chest.“ What is our plan? Why won’t you tell me? ” I hum, feeling his chest rumble against my back.I silently memorize every sensation he makes me feel when we are pressed together.“ Drink this, and when we reach there, hide. ” Dustin pushes his hand forth and offers me a small bottle filled with a colorless potion.I sigh. “ Dustin— ”“ And don’t ask any questions. ” He interrupts.I want to lash out and continue asking questions even when he said I shouldn’t. But…Given that we will be fighting with an enemy later, fighting with him right now doesn’t feel like a good idea to me
Elita“ You should have told me sooner, Ms. Folke. It’s far better than pretending to want you and playing house with you. ” Dustin says, without hesitation, without even a hint of any insincerity in his eyes.“ Oh. ” My lips form an O. “ So you were pretending? ”I feel like laughing. It’s nothing new, anyway. Many people have pretended to be something else just to use me. By now…I am used to it.Because how can anyone want someone like me? A girl is supposed to be sweet, innocent, and naive. I am anything but that. I am filled with darkness inside out, and perhaps people can spot that darkness when they look at me. That’s when they decide—she is not worth it.Or maybe it’s not about how I am unladylike. It must be the desperation to be wanted by someone. It must be leaking from every pore of my body and surrounding me like a visible layer. She is desperate. Let’s use her. That must be what always goes through everyone’s mind.He starts again, just on the verge of saying more hurt