CJAnxious to find Lenora, I combed every hospital in Brookville—private, general, military, modern, ill-equipped, you name it. But there was no sign of her. It was as if she had just evaporated from the face of the Earth. She hadn’t been on any lists, and it didn't help that some hospitals refused to disclose the identity of their patients.All odds were against me, but I couldn't give up. The search was overwhelming and overpowering. My chest caved in, and I felt so lightheaded I couldn't even think straight. The pain in my gut worsened until I could no longer breathe through it. It was like someone had stabbed an icicle through my heart."Where are you, Lenora?" I groaned into my hands.Maddox had every right to be mad at me, but not at the expense of his daughter's life. I tried countless times to stop by the house, but there was no sign of him or any other person. My throat closed up, and I began self-talking to calm down and think straight. I didn't know what to do, and my hope
LenoraNow, on a crossroads between life and death, I was getting prepared for a high-risk surgery. Fear, stark and vivid, knotted inside of me.There were over six specialists who were on my case, and each time they poked my body, I felt so much pain, and my heart raced in my chest like a horse ready to gallop across the desert.My stomach roiled with bile; acid churned my intestines. I wanted to scream, but all that came out was an occasional whimper as my throat constricted. My eyes watered from it all."Her case is delicate," I heard one of the doctors say. A middle-aged, buxom woman with thinning hair. "It's almost impossible for all organs to shut down at once without any cause. I've never seen anything like this before."Another doctor, a tall man who seemed more interested in reading a chart than in talking to her, nodded numbly. Hearing that made me shiver uncontrollably under the thin hospital gown.I was weary with fatigue and watched the third doctor pick a glove and adju
LenoraCJ didn't stop driving until the first rays of dawn broke on the horizon. He drove past the huge gates marking the boundary of the werewolf territory. Although I was sick, I could smell the otherworldly scent even though I wasn't actively seeking it out.Laying in silence, my lips were tightly sealed, unable to form words. The leaf he gave to me earlier was quite helpful, but my senses were scattered by the poison, and I was still alert. It dulled the pain a bit and made the journey quite bearable. CJ remained silent and would occasionally cast a glance at me through the rearview mirror to be sure that I was breathing."You're going to be okay, my love, I promise you. We're here now. You're gonna live."The thought echoed around the space inside my head like the roar of a great wave, making my brain hurt.I tasted the bitter bile rising in my throat when CJ picked up my fragile body and cradled me in his arms like a baby. He had begun running to Magda's Little House.Barely ha
CJStanding at the airport terminal, my eyes scanned the crowd for Maddox's arrival. I was so uneasy when he finally emerged from the gates and our eyes locked.His expression turned icy when I waved at him and walked towards him. I knew that there was nothing I could do to appease the man, but if staying mad at me was the price I had to pay for Lenora's life and health, then so be it."Hi, thanks for coming," I said, and he glared at me without saying a word. I tried to help him with his bag, but he jerked it away from me."Don't touch me or my stuff. Back off. Perv."I sighed, obeying him. "Maddox, listen. I did what I had to do because it was a matter of life and death. Lenora is fine, and...""Take me to her," he said with unwavering stubbornness. "I don't have time to trade words with you."Opening the car door for him, he got in without a word. I closed the door got in the driver's seat and started the car, driving away from the airport.The ride was very awkward and silent. Mad
LenoraI sat opposite Magda on a couch in her living room, getting healthier by the day. It was almost eleven a.m., and no one had come to check on me, not even my dad. I wondered why. Also, I was kind of getting bored of staying in the same place.A young woman came in with a basket of oranges and a knife. Magda said oranges were good for my health. Smiling, I took one and began peeling it, enjoying the tangy juice in my mouth.Keeping myself busy with it, I didn't know when I had peeled six and finished them. It was still odd that my dad wasn't here, and I found myself yearning for some human interaction beyond Magda's company."So, my dear, what's next for you?" Magda asked me, bringing me out of my drifting thoughts."What do you mean?"She chuckled and leaned in. "I mean your relationship with CJ, dear. What do you want to do about it?"Sighing, I looked away. There was no easy answer to this question. I knew that I'd still love to see Joe with all of my heart, but the complicati
Twenty-one years later.Ruby.With dazzling determination, I let my dad lift my leg over my head, and I held my breath, hoping I wouldn't sprain my ankle. A shriek escaped my lips when he made me perform a backflip over the trampoline. He began giggling like a schoolgirl while I tumbled to the ground."You're so mean, Dad," I groaned, stumbling away from him. His eyes twinkled with excitement and he laughed. "No, I'm not. I'm the full package. I'm preparing you for the big competition. You need to perfect your gymnastic technique and show off those amazing skills. I bet if you put some work into this competition, you could win first prize."The thought of winning that prize was enough motivation for me to stay focused on doing the task at hand, but I knew better than to get my hopes up."Thanks, Dad. But let me remind you that there are better girls out there. What if I make a mistake or fall during my routine? Janet, the best gymnast in my school, hasn't fully recovered from her c
Lenora After making sure my guests were well-fed, and as usual, packing the leftovers for Mariselle, who hated cooking and preferred my chef, Mr. Gilbert's food, CJ, Harrison, Mariselle, Anthony, and I sat in the lounge. We were sipping a very expensive red wine my husband got from one of his numerous business dealings in Paris.We enjoyed the evening while the kids were in the living room, chatting away. We had blended so well that I could bet my chest that if I dropped dead today, Mariselle was going to take my daughter in as though she were her biological mum.My dad and Kia's sister, Leah, were in a long-time relationship. It was difficult for me to accept at first, but as long as my dad was happy and Kia was out of our lives, it was foolish to hinder anyone's happiness.CJ and I had been married for twenty years and had Ruby, who was almost eighteen. Although we had our fights now and then, he was the best thing I could ever ask for.I didn't want the Luna tag since Mariselle wa
RubyI woke up with a knot in my stomach and a lump in my throat. It was the day of the gymnastics competition, and I was a bundle of nerves.When I was thirteen, I figured I had social anxiety disorder. It explained why I got extremely nervous and self-conscious around other people. I hated being the center of attention, especially when I had to perform in front of a large crowd.Getting out of bed, I prepared for school. I'd picked out my blue leotard and white tights, and packed my bag with my essentials last night. I headed to the bathroom, brushed my teeth, combed my hair, and looked at myself in the mirror.I didn't like what I saw.Standing before me was a seventeen-year-old half-human, half-werewolf. A girl who was different from everyone else. A girl who didn't belong anywhere.Sighing, I turned away from the mirror and tried to ignore the negative thoughts in my head and focus on the positive ones. I tried to remember why I loved gymnastics and why I wanted to compete.Gymna