Hi, dearests. A lovely reader pointed out that updates have been slow and I'm sorry about that. I also want everyone to know that aside from writing, I have other things to do for myself. 16 days in October and I have updated every day but four days, some of which I uploaded more than one chapter. Please bear with me and thank you for loving my book enough to want more of it. Love, Kiki.
AURELIA~~Lori met us at the entrance of the building, her eyes pleading with me. I knew she was about to apologize for keeping the truth from me as I hadn't seen her since Raiden carried my unconscious body from the building weeks ago… I haven’t been here since I transitioned and–“She’s in her room. We will be here in case you need anything,” Lori changed her mind about the apology and I was grateful. Susanna and Otis also nodded, assuring me that they would be there waiting for me. If I had a choice, I would have asked them to come to Mia Lu’s room with me but this was something I had to do alone. I nodded before leaving the trio. My steps were slow but soon enough, I was in front of Mia Lu’s bedroom.“Are you really ready to face her?” Inara asked me as I was taking too long to open the door to Mia Lu’s bedroom. I responded to my wolf, “I have to be. I can’t keep myself away from her. She is family and I know she must have a way to help me save Raiden.”Whether I like it or
AURELIA~~Pulling myself together was hard but I did after many minutes of awkward silence and I faced Mia Lu confidently.I choked on my words as I questioned, “W-why? Why did you choose to lie to me?”To get rid of the anger knitted in my heart, I needed to know.If that was tears in Mia Lu’s eyes, I couldn’t be sure because her natural eyes had been glinting and captivating ever since she opened them, just like how her skin was glowing and her hair, flawless. I could tell she was fully recharged even though she hadn’t slept for months as we all expected.However, I was able to confirm that she was truly crying when she started sniffing as she responded, “Because I didn’t want you to feel responsible for all these people. You almost died, Aurelia. Imagine what happened to me when I saw your unmoving body… Imagine how hard it was to not lose control of my emotions and tell you the truth the second you regained consciousness. I wanted a better life for you–” “But you shouldn’t hav
ALPHA TRISTAN’s POV~~I don't know what was but something was wrong with me…. Fuck that! A lot was wrong with me. I sensed the difference weeks ago yet I have failed to figure out what exactly was different. I felt weak yet never have I felt this strong. In control but utterly out of control. Wise but absolutely stupid. “Tool you this long to figure that one out.” Wolf would have made such a snarky comment if he hadn't been unbearably silent for a couple of days or was it weeks? I don't know. But I knew he would have said something like that to me just to call me out.All of a sudden, I missed Dolf’s constant yapping. I missed how he used to irritate me with his nags even though he knew I wouldn't listen to him. Dolf never gave up on me… until now.These days, I find myself getting lost in my damn thoughts. I find myself thinking about nothing but every damn thing at the same damn time. For instance, I was supposed to be going through the stack of papers on my office desk.
LARISA’S POV~~What I will give up just to get back at Raiden….No. Raiden has become a smaller fish in the sea of power whose waves I yearned to control. Even Tristan has become nothing but a chess piece on my chessboard. The plan to take Tristan out was already in motion and while he tries to recover from how I use his energy, I have been planting seeds of either fear or forced respect into the important pillars of his pack. Tristan wouldn't be able to stop me from taking over and ruling this realm with or without a mate by my side.I mean who cares about mates? The stupid version of me who was actually in love with Raiden did care about him becoming my mate but this new me would sacrifice anything to be the only one in charge. I laughed contentedly as I strolled along the corridors that led to Tristan’s office as I recalled his failed attempt to change my mind about fueling my power with the fetus's life force. “If I could use my wolf’s and my destined mate’s life force to be
ALPHA RAIDEN~~Two days after Mia Lu woke up, the purifying lake was established by the white wolves and I was with them to grace the occasion even though the creation of the lake wasn’t exactly a festival.After the lake had been created, we all returned to the white wolves’s pack house where Mia Lu asked everyone to gather in the large living room. She stood before them all with Aurelia beside her and for the first time since I met Mia Lu, my brain registered the resemblance between Mia Lu and the woman I loved. I thought the white wolves shared similarities and perhaps that was why my brain didn’t register the resemblance between Aurelia and Mia Lu until now.The space was silent until Mia Lu started talking, “It’s no secret that I have asked every one of you to keep a secret that isn’t ours to keep.” The white wolves hummed in agreement. I could see appreciation and adoration in the eyes of the ones closest to me as they gazed at Aurelia. I didn’t know how good that felt until
AURELIA~~It just happened. Saying those words to Raiden just happened. Blame it on the chemicals zapping through my brain after I was officially accepted into the pack of white wolves as their leader. Blame it on anything but me.“Shut up, you horny she-wolf.” Inara let out a wolfy giggle, mocking me as I thought about what happened yesterday.“That statement of yours describes you and you alone, Ina,” I said to my wolf but before we could continue bantering, Mia Lu cleared her throat, asking for my full attention.“Am I boring you with the history of our people? Knowing the history will help you connect better to your root–” Mia Lu started explaining. I quickly corrected her assumption, “Not at all, Tamia.” She had asked me to stop calling her Mia Lu just like everyone else and I knew I loved the sound of her full name anyway. “Although I have read most of the history in my mom’s journal, I find it interesting.” “The same journal you have refused to show me? Elora was my godda
AURELIA~~I stepped out of the bathroom, smelling like roses and fresh out of a milky bath that made me feel like a newborn. Although Katie and Kyle were still in the room, I saw Maya standing by the bedside mirror.My daughter answered my silent question when she said, “It’s time to style your hair, Mom. Maya is here to help.” Kyle rushed to pull out the chair for me and I kissed his forehead as a reward. My little man blushed before returning to his sister’s side. “Thank you for doing this, Maya,” I said to the sweet teenager. “It’s always a pleasure, Luna,” Maya responded. She applied hair product to my hair before blow drying skillfully. After minutes of silence, Maya muttered, “You’ve beautiful hair, Luna. The color keeps blowing my mind even though the white wolves have been staying in the pack for weeks.”I thanked Maya again. As soon as she was done curling my hair and combing it into bouncy curls, she breathed, “We’ll leave you to get dressed.”“Papa got a dress for you
ALPHA RAIDEN~~My heart wasn't beating.It was racing. Racing so damn fast and with every second that passed, I feared I would do something stupid and embarrass myself before Aurelia who seemed to be composed. How she achieved maximum composure was something I obviously needed to learn—“Perhaps she would lose it too if you are in that dress and have that hair—” Lex groaned into my mind. I could rip that dress off even though I have been dying to see her in it since I picked it up yesterday. I could rip it off because as much as seeing her in it kills me, the thought of seeing her without it sent me to the deepest pit of hell and all I could feel was pleasure… or at least the thought of it.“Everything okay?” Aurelia asked innocently after we both settled in my car and I didn't turn on the engine.I breathed, praying to the goddess that she wouldn't notice the bulge in my pants, “Sure.” I wouldn't want her to think all I wanted this time was sex. I craved more from her but she
ALPHA TRISTAN~~“You should take your leave.” The he-wolf who smelled like a strong gamma seethed at me. “She doesn’t want to see you.”Although I had been standing by the border of Dark Moon Pack for hours, I intended to remain there until I got to see Aurelia. “C’mon, Gamma Seth. You know we mean no harm.” Louis, who had officially resumed his duties as my Beta after I was reinstalled as Alpha, said to the strong Gamma. “This is a peaceful visit.”I simply listened as my Beta negotiated with the Gamma, feeling more like Louis was the Alpha. I would be lying if I said I haven’t felt useless these past few days. After regaining consciousness, I found out that Louis had become more influential, not only in my pack. Obviously. “Your ego is bruised?” Dolf mocked me. But his assumptions weren’t exactly the case. I just couldn’t wait to get back my strength and become myself again. “This isn’t about your intention, Beta Louis. It’s about my Alpha and Luna's wishes.” The Gamma answer
AURELIA~~Perhaps it was anger or hate, I couldn’t tell. Or maybe it was both. I was angry that Tristan was back to his feet even though I permitted Lori to send some Mender to Black Fur Pack to help him after Beta Louis took the oath, signed the peace treaty, and pleaded for help. I was so angry that my mate had to fall and Tristan got to rise again even though he didn’t deserve it.And for the hate, it was simple– I hated Tristan.Although my hate for Larisa was greater, Tristan wasn’t far from being another Larisa to me–“Talking about that bitch. She has had enough peace, don’t you think? It’s time we pay her another visit.” Inara snarled into my mind, fueling the hatred in my heart. My wolf had taken a hobby in tearing Larisa apart since she had become our prisoner– one that I wasn’t ready to kill just yet. Each time we pay her a visit in her cell, we torture her until death flashes before her eyes, leave her to healers to heal her, and return to start the process all over
AURELIA~~Life was different now. Before the war, I simply trained to get better and increase our chances of winning, but now, I am the leader of two packs and have more duties than I could have imagined. Life was different but one thing remained constant– my life was difficult.“Are you with me, Luna?” Andrew’s voice called me out of my self-pitying thoughts. I blinked rapidly, composing myself despite my desire to just go home, be with my kids, and–“Do you want to take the day off? I can handle the pack affairs while you recuperate.” Andrew offered and Seth who was sitting on the chair beside him nodded in agreement.But to be honest, I have rested enough. It’s been two months after the war and while a lot still needed to be fixed, the pack was recovering better than I thought it would, thanks to the help I have gotten from both sides– White Shade and Dark Moon.Andrew and Seth have been helping with Dark Moon’s affair and the elders of the White Wolves have been very helpful
ALPHA TRISTAN’S POV~~As my eyes fluttered open, I could have sworn that my body had forgotten what it meant to be alive. Opening my eyes was harder than it should ever be for anyone but adjusting my eyes to the brightness around me was way harder than opening them. I let out a groan when I tried to lift a finger and pain consumed me. My entire body ached. I felt so heavy.“Alpha. You are awake.” Louis. That was his voice but it sounded more like noise to me as his voice sent a sharp ring through my aching head, making me groan again. At the moment, I didn’t feel like an Alpha. It took forever before I could see clearly and Louis's face was the first thing I saw. He was hovering above me, looking at me like he was scanning me for damages. “Thank the Goddess. I was beginning to worry that you might never wake up–” Louis stated, smiling. But seeing him so close to me sent flashes of what I knew was the past through my mind. I recalled everything. How he joined forces with Laris
aryAURELIA~~“We can’t give up like this, Relia. You shouldn’t give up like this. Mend him. Do something.” Inara uttered, urging me even though Raiden was gone. Do something… I couldn’t count the number of times I had heard those two words today and I hated the sound of it, mostly because I couldn’t do anything. “Yes you can, Alpha.” Tamia’s voice echoed in my mind. I didn’t know how she managed to reach me despite the turmoil my mind had become but she did and her voice would have given me some sort of peace if I wasn’t mourning my mate… My teary eyes found Tamia and Lori beside me, making me wonder how long I had sat in the dirt with Raiden’s body. For how long has his heart been crushed right there in my presence? For how much longer can I keep this devastating news from my kids–“Oh, my kids.” I cried out, undiluted misery settling within my being, making itself at home. They just got their father. How do I tell them it would be just us from now on? How do I manage this
AURELIA~~I knew I screamed. I felt my lips parting and my lungs pushing out air as my mouth widened. I knew I screamed but I heard nothing. The world went still while Raiden kept falling. Faster than my brain could register. Faster than my body could react. Although I was still standing, I fell with him. Although my eyes were still open, they closed the second his eyes did. I saw the same darkness he saw when he closed his eyes. I felt the same pain he felt when his heart was engulfed by a strong force and maybe I screamed because I knew there would be no going back as that force crushed his heart before I could even blink. “No!” Inara’s cry burst through my crushed soul as she exclaimed, “Do something, Relia.” But what could I have done? After draining Larisa as my wolf suggested, I didn’t expect any sudden movement from her. Heck, she was as good as dead and when Louis screamed those warning words, I was too tired to react quickly. Converting Larisa’s dark energy to pure
ALPHA RAIDEN~~It took seeing Larisa and Aurelia in a fight for me to realize that I was wrong to assume that I could take down Larisa just because I was the most powerful Alpha in the realm… Physical strength was no use against Larisa because she had soaked my soul in dark energy. She wasn’t even touching me and I was feeling pain despite floating in the air like gravity had decided to take a break.Sadly I realized that I was of no use in this war. In fact, I was merely a weak link that Larisa wanted to use to defeat Aurelia and have her way in the realm. I was trying so hard not to scream and came off as a powerless puny before my exhausted mate and my warriors but this pain was eating me alive. It was everywhere. Digging deep into me. I have been trying to block the pain from getting to Aurelia as I could tell that she didn’t need that right now. If I couldn’t contribute power, I shouldn’t add pain either.But of course, that wasn’t easy to achieve. I could feel the pain slip
AURELIA~~Raiden’s scream was heard by every warrior. I could feel every one of our friends and pack members freezing for a moment as we all understood that for an Alpha; in fact, the strongest Alpha in the realm; to scream like that, hell was coursing through him. We all understood. I, as his mate and Luna, knew even better because the second the hell burst out within him, I felt it burning me from within and it was only a matter of time before I let out a scream of my own. “You dare not, Relia.” Inara’s voice echoed, breaking through whatever Larisa was doing to Raiden which was affecting me greatly as I tried to keep the spiritual link between me and the warriors open. If those links should close, they would all die as they would be no match for Larisa’s fortified warriors. “It hurt. I’m burning from within and–” I cried to my wolf even though Phoebe was still right behind me, healing me and Otis keeping me out of sight.“Do you know why she is coming at you hard?” Inara as
ALPHA RAIDEN~~My feet couldn’t carry my body weight fast enough as I ran through the forest, noticing how deserted my pack was. Those pack members who were not in the hall with Mia Lu were with Aurelia on the battlefront where my body was literally yanking me toward.I was on high alert and if I was being honest with myself, I would admit that I wasn’t in my right senses but how do I even think when all I felt was the urgent and dying need to be with Aurelia? It was like a pull.The kind of pull a mate should feel only when his mate is in grave danger. The kind that makes a man’s heart bleed and every nerve in his body go out of control.Yes, I was losing it. I had lost it from the second I regained consciousness and felt the strange burn on Aurelia’s mark which was sitting on my neck.I woke up with the need to get out. To break free and get to Aurelia even though my kids were in the hall and beside me. The second I saw Mia Lu stagger due to exhaustion, I ran and hadn't stopped