AURELIA~~“Pay attention to your stance,” I instructed affectionately, readjusting the wooden sword I was holding as I circled my opponent, looking out for mistakes.“The sword is heavy, Mom. It’s knocking me off balance.” My opponent, aka my daughter, complained even though I could still see her excited face when Raiden gave her her sword after many months of waiting for it. I snorted, “You can’t be a warrior if you can’t be one with your weapon, Trainee Katie. You aren’t holding a sword. Your hand is just longer and the longer it is, the better for you as you would have done enough damage before your opponent can get close to you–”“But the sword is short, Mom. My hands are short. I’m still a kid.” My daughter argued.I groaned, “I have told you not to call me mom when we are training, Katie. I’m your trainer or do you wnat to go back to training with Tara?” Why was I doing this when she couldn’t even understand a simple explanation? I wasn’t talking about her hand or the swor
AURELIA~~It’s no secret that Katie shared a close bond with Tristan and I might have kept my kids in the dark about what Tristan did to me. To us. How could I have told them everything without destroying them?The worry in Katie’s voice made Raiden look at her with both hurt and concern in his eyes. What father would want his daughter to care about his biggest rival and enemy?I cleared my throat and said to the twins, “Can you go to your rooms, please.” I didn’t think they should be here for whatever Andrew was about to say next because from what I knew about Tristan, it wouldn’t be good.Katie argued, “But, Mom. He said something happened at Black Fur. I still have friends there and Tristan is–” “Can you trust me and give us a moment?” I cut my daughter off, holding her gaze. Kyle stepped in by pulling his sister towards the stairs. I heard him say to Katie, “If there’s something we need to know, they will tell us, Katie. You don’t have to worry or make them worry about us.”
LOUIS’S POV~~I’m a terrible person.I pushed my Alpha– my supposed Alpha into madness. I forced his hands and pushed him until he could no longer turn back. I was supposed to be his Beta, the one who helped him see the truth and make the right decision. Truth is, I don’t deserve to be a Beta. Neither do I deserve to be an Alpha yet I won the Battle Of Alphas–“We are here, Alpha Louis.” Elder Joe, who has become so supportive after the whole ordeal with Larisa and the battle with Alpha Tristan, voiced.Truly, we have arrived in Dark Moon Pack. Who would have thought that this would be the first place I come to in time of need and to get answers? I have always hated this Pack and I passed that hatred to Alpha Tristan, fueling his desire for revenge each time I saw him slipping all because of Aurelia. I should have embraced her sooner. Larisa didn’t have to make me stupid for me to recognize the light in Aurelia.That woman could have saved and unified our realm without a war.Yet
AURELIA~~You’ve got to be kidding me… Those words were the only ones that came to mind as I stared at the two men who were looking at each other after catching everyone’s attention and pausing Maya’s birthday party. I expected Louis to arrive tomorrow so I didn’t think throwing Maya a big party would be a hindrance to his visit but when I heard he was close to the pack, I focused on enjoying the party and not thinking about the kind of news he was bringing with him. Huh… I obviously won’t cancel Maya’s party because Tristan lost his life after laying it down in a silly gamble. At least I expected to see Louis since Seth informed Raiden and me that they were on their way to the grand hall. However, I didn’t expect to hear both Seth and Louis utter the scared with captivating emotions while staring at each other.“Mate…” They had said. The hall went silent. Even Raiden went still beside me.Katie, who had asked her father to help her cut a piece of cake and despite being a kid
ALPHA RAIDEN~~The party started on the loud side until Seth, Maya, Louis, and Phoebe happened. Now we were all standing in silence as my daughters’ question hung in the air. I saw how Louis looked between three females that could end him– Phoebe, Aurelia, and Katie. Clearly, he was confused. If I were him, I would too.It would be hard for him to focus on other people or things with his destined mate in the room. But still, Katie barked in his face, asking for Tristan with the kind of passion that made my chest tighten.“Answer me!” My daughter exclaimed. I hated seeing her like that, especially when it was about Tristan. I guess his death would be a relief for me. There would be no one to provoke war, try to harm my pack for selfish reasons, and take my Aurelia from me. Louis stammered again but got a grip on himself after he said to Pheobe, “Please, be patient with me. I do not deserve you and after you hear what I have to say, we will be able to move forward.” Then he face
AURELIA~~“Can Dolf stay, Daddy?” Katie asked. But before Raiden could answer our daughter’s question. I already knew what his answer would be, not because I could read his mind but because I knew how uncomfortable he was about the entire idea of having Tristan in our pack. “You would too if it’s Larisa instead of Tristan. Imagine Dolf was Larisa’s wolf, would you want her to be kept alive and even close to Raiden?” Inara said into my mind. I knew I wouldn’t like that but this was Dolf. I knew he had saved me many times. The last time I saw Tristan when he showed up at the the border of my pack, I perceived the pureness of his wolf’s spirit. That has to be why I was so worried, right?It couldn’t be because I have some sick feelings for Tristan. Right?“I’m sorry, baby, but he can’t stay here.” Raiden finally broke the news to Katie. My daughter’s lips began to tremble just as Dolf, a gigantic black wolf was carried into the hall by six men. Despite the number of men carrying
LOUIS’S POV ~~ Despite being a terrible person, I made that decision the minute I challenged Alpha Tristan to the battle of Alphas. I decided to step down if I won and if I lost, it would have been a dream come true as I had wanted to die for the part I played in crippling Black Fur Pack. Yes, before I stepped on the battleground with Alpha Tristan, I knew what to do but what I didn’t know was the fact that I would find my mate. My destined mate. A beautiful woman– the most beautiful I had ever set my eyes on. The moon goddess counted me worthy of a mate after she tied me to Larisa. Why would she even tie me to Larisa in the first place? Perhaps she did that to punish me and I deserve to be punished but tieng me with this amazingly calm woman who was standing behind Luna Aurelia couldn’t be a punishment unless the moon goddess planned to punish the woman and not me. “Does she look like someone that has to be punished?” My wolf asked his voice light as a feather. I look
ALPHA RAIDEN~~I was certain I would kick Tristan’s wolf and everyone from Black Fur Pack out of my pack without thinking twice.But after everything I saw with the help of Aurelia, I knew keeping the wolf was the right thing to do, not just because he was a good wolf but because I also wanted to keep my enemy close. “I still don’t like this,” Lex grumbled within me as Aurelia and I gazed at each other, standing before our home. Let’s just say Lex has officially gotten a rival. Prior to this time, I was worried about having Tristan as a rival and in fact, wished him death. Lex was worried too but he was more worried now that Trstan’s wolf would be staying in our pack–“Not just our pack.” Lex countered. “You decided to bring him to our home. I don’t like that.” “He won’t be living with us, Lex,” I assured my wolf. But that didn’t lessen Lex's worry or should I say, jealousy.Aurelia asked me, “Are you ready?”To show my daughter that I didn’t throw Dolf out like I said I would?
Princess Katie Anne~~Walking around the pack didn’t help me clear my head; neither did it help me stop thinking about Davien. I desperately yearned to be with him, to apologize to him not just because I was in his mind but because of the hell he had to grow up in.“I feel so sad,” Zuri eventually broke the silent bubble she had popped around herself.Zoe, who had been pointing out how she was wrong since Davien ran out of the purifying hut, added, “Me too. I have been mean to him, and all of this happened because of me. I was pushy and unreasonable.”“You sure were, Zoe, but you had to. I believe this happened for a reason,” Zuri said to Zoe, comforting her even though that was the last thing I expected from her.Clearly, what happened with Davien had bridged the gap between my wolves and me, and I could only hope that this bridge wouldn’t collapse anytime soon. I mean, both Zuri and Zoe can be very unpredictable.“Still, I'm sorry,” Zoe apologized to Zuri and me.Her sincerity br
Princess Katie Anne~~“Davien!” I called out as he ran out of the purifying hut with undiluted terror in his eyes. “Please wait, Davien.”I pushed myself out of the lake, ready to run after the man whose mind I had seen and now knew like the back of my own hands. I didn’t just have a small peek. I was in Davien’s mind long enough to have a glimpse of every memory he had stored.I still didn’t know how I did it, but I knew I saw him laugh a few times, and when I went deeper, I saw the real him. The young boy whose family failed him in all ways. I saw the real him, and my heart ached for him.My heart nearly ripped itself out of my chest when he screamed in the memory realm. Seeing him shake even in that space made me realize the kind of damage that had been done to his mind and soul.Fuck!Why was I in his mind?Before I could make it out of the lake, fatigue hit me like an enemy who was hell-bent on stopping me from going after my mate. Auntie Susanna caught me before I could lose
DAVIEN~~At first, I thought nothing was happening because, despite how much the white wolves Gamma, Susanna, and a famous mind reader tried to instruct Katie, I felt nothing.Katie felt nothing as well.Until it happened.An electrifying sensation crackled between Katie and me, and before I knew it, my mind transitioned into a space that was completely out of the ordinary.It felt strange. I was both confused and curious, looking around for answers that seemed to be slipping out of my grasp. In fact, nothing felt familiar until my voice sliced through the thick, foggy air, invading my ears.“Mom, please,” I cried.I cried, but at the same time, the cry wasn't mine. I mean, I don't sound like that anymore. Over the years, my voice had thickened, but the voice that I heard at that point was soft.Soft yet recognizable because it was the younger version of me.“Please let me attend the party with you and Damien. I won't try to make friends. I won't disgrace you and Dad,” my younger se
Princess Katie Anne~~"Open your damn eyes, Katie Anne." Zoe’s vicious voice snapped through my mind in a way that made me groan even though I was trying to pretend to be asleep.Even though I have been awake for the past ten minutes.I just didn't want to open my eyes—“That's because you can feel our mate waiting for you, Katie. He even went downstairs to get breakfast for you,” Zuri muttered so softly.She was such a lover girl, the opposite of Zoe, of course.“Whatever. Just get your ass up and get it to the purifying, but where we have to be to channel enough to go into Dolf’s memory,” Zoe chimed emotionlessly.Although she didn't say it, I knew she believed that Davien went to get breakfast for me because he was hoping I would change my mind about taking the trip down memory lane with him. She didn't have to say it. I have come to know that she would read meaning into every action, including the meaningless and harmless.“You should get up, Katie. I agree with Zoe on this one,
ALPHA PRINCE KYLE~~As soon as dinner ended that day, my Ma and Pa chose to walk me to my bedroom even though they had a nighttime ritual they performed with Elora, Ronald, and Kennedy. My younger siblings weren't pleased they wouldn't have the attention tonight, but I wasn't delighted to be getting it either. I wanted to be left alone, but in this house, it seemed like I was asking for too much. “You can leave now, Ma, and you too, Pa,” I said to my parents as soon as I got to the front of my bedroom door. The walk from the dining hall was silent, and I knew they had many questions to ask me, but I wasn't in the mood to entertain them tonight. “You know I am not leaving, young man.” My Ma chimed, countering and walking past me to enter my bedroom.I looked towards my Pa for help, but he raised his hand and shrugged, saying, “I can't leave now, can I?” With that said, he also stepped into my room. I began to panic because I knew my Ma would make me break down before her in a
DAVIEN~~After Katie decided to read Dolf’s memory the next day because she was tired and also had to join the family for dinner, I also decided to tell her about my father’s text tomorrow. It would be if she could read my memories too and find out that I wasn’t involved in whatever conspiracy my family was cooking.I would do that tomorrow. I promised myself, walking side by side with Katie into the dining hall, where I was welcomed with warmth and smiles.Elora asked me to sit by her side, and to my surprise, Ronald and Kennedy began to talk about having a date with me, individually and also together.It was a wholesome time until Luna Queen Aurelia exhaled, her eyes on Katie, who seemed to be focusing on her meal. “Your brother isn’t here again tonight, Katie. What is it you aren't telling us?”Katie tensed for a minute before she looked back at her mom and stated, “You worry too much, Mom. Kyle is fine, and I already told you I have nothing to share with you. You can ask Kyle y
Princess Katie Anne~~“Go down memory lane with me, Katie, and if you can, let’s peek at the future while at it.”Dolf’s voice echoed in my mind, instantly resulting in a drop of my jaw, as I didn’t expect this conversation to lead us here. I thought he would be hurt, and Davien too. I knew I would be hurt if he were to tell me that he didn’t trust me, even though I had done nothing to earn his distrust.Hurt and anger were what I expected, but Davien was staring at me with those warm honey-brown eyes, and Dolf's voice was soothing in my mind.Dolf’s offer was tempting, but I wasn’t sure I wanted to do that.“And why on earth would you not?” Zoe’s voice resonated in my mind, leaving Dolf out of the conversation even though his consciousness was stirring within my mind as well.Before I could respond, Zuri chimed in, “Because if he is offering to do that, then he has nothing to hide, Zoe. We can’t keep hurting them just because of what someone in the past did to us. It’s not fair to
DAVIEN~~“Experiencing the war so close and having two parents actively fighting a war that could have been avoided broke me. My mom returned bloody and in tears. She was wounded, but she didn’t care about herself because my dad was unconscious,” Katie said.Although this was not how the conversation started, we got to this point where she opened her heart and bore her soul to me. I moved to sit beside her on the bed, and I held her hands when I noticed how difficult it was for her to continue.I didn’t want to speak or interrupt her, but I still wanted her to know that I was listening and would always listen to her.“My dad’s condition almost tore us apart. Mom lost herself and could barely look at us. Kyle and I had to manage our feelings. I’m not blaming my mom for not paying attention to us then because I know how difficult it was for her. What I am saying is that although the entire realm felt the scorching wildfire of the war, my family and I were the closest to the flame.”My
Princess Katie Anne~~The conversation with Auntie Susanna didn't end with her telling me I was sabotaging my connection with Davien because of my fears.After she let that sink in, she added softly, holding my hand, “I'm not invalidating your fears, Katie. It's okay to be afraid, and this is bound to happen after you had your trust broken as a kid. However, I'm invalidating your doubts about Davien. Although doubts are part of life, you can't let them stop you from living your life like you should.”I nodded but still asked, “How do I trust him? Zoe could be right. He might be bad for me, and I don't want to get hurt again, Auntie Suzy. I can't bear to be hurt again.”Auntie Susanna sighed while I looked at her expectantly. She seemed lost in thought, but before I could ask her to say anything to my racing heart, she voiced, “Sweetie, I wish I could promise you that you won't get hurt. Life has a way of testing us, and during those challenging days, we might get hurt, but we usual