Emberlynn sat by the mirror, her gaze fixated on her neck. She had been sitting in front of the mirror for the past hour since she stepped into the room after her discussion with Roy.She was fascinated with the mark on her neck. Her mate mark and the mark that binds her and Damien as mates.It was a delicate, swirling pattern that resembled a blooming vine, with tiny shimmering stars and Cresent moons woven throughout. The mark began at the base of her neck and wound its way up to her jawline, with tendrils curling around her ear and down her shoulder.Even though he had only bitten her neck, the mark extended there, and it was beautiful. She never thought it would be as attractive as that.Lifting her hand to her neck, she touched her neck and gasped as it sent a tingling sensation down her spine and into her finger.She licked her lip, excitement coursing through her. The excitement vanished almost immediately as she remembered her predicament.Breathing out, she let her hand fall
TWO DAYS LATERIt was the wolf moon and a time of the year when every werewolf found their identity. Not only just their identity, but it was a year to connect to the moon and the goddess as well. During this wolf moon, werewolves could find their mate and wolves, which made it somewhat different from the other events that often happened.But it happened quarterly.It was Emberlynn's first experience in the Sil,verwood Pack, and she seemed to be enjoying everything that was going on.The moon hadn't appeared fully, but with the little glimpse she could see in the sky, it was overly enthralling, making her envious of the fact that she wouldn't be partaking in whatever was going on as she was wolfless.As they had said, only the werewolves with wolves could transform during it.And it had always been a special event in the pack house.They sat around a bonfire that burned brightly even though fuel wasn't added to it. It felt like the wind was empowering even though it should be doing th
"It's time," Phoebe yelled.And a shrill cry followed soon after, followed by several howling by wolves from afar.The pack members stood and scurried around.Emberlynn stood as well, a frown on her face. "What's going on?" she asked Betsy."It's time for transformation, Luna," Stated Betsy. "We all ate going to our safe space to shift.""Come on," she tugged Emberlynn's and towards the training facility. Betsy led her towards the door Roy had forbade her to step in.Emberlynn stood at the entrance, reluctant to step in. She remembered the door from her dream. She wasn't ready to see all the images from before."Come on, Luna, this is a safe space," Betsy said and pulled her into the room.Emberlynn shut her eyes tightly, her breath itched, and she bit her lower lip."Why are you closing your eyes? Are you afraid?" Betsy asked, and Emberlynn nodded."Like I said, here is a safe space, and nothing is going to hurt you. I am wolfless as well, so I won't be transforming and instead be wa
"What do you want?" Damien asked as he sensed Mark's presence behind him. "I thought I made it clear that you can only visit with an appointment?"Damien turned towards his desk and sat looking at the pile of paperwork he had to do.He could give it to Roy to take care of, but he didn't want to because of Emberlynn.He had been avoiding her. After the moment he had shared with her last night, he fled the scene soon after.Although he wasn't embarrassed, she had seen him in that manner because he wouldn't be able to keep the fact of not being able to shift from her for long.He didn't want to meet with her. It still had to do with the curse. Being in her presence was a danger to both of them.Mark glared. Even though Damien wasn't looking at him directly, he felt the intensity of his gaze."What do you want?" Damien repeated."What's going on with you and Emberlynn?" he asked him, and Damien's gaze snapped to Mark, his eyes narrowed."What does that have to do with you?""It has everyt
Damien burst into the forest, his feet pounding against the earth as if trying to outrun his own demons.His heart seethes with anger and frustration.Aside from the frustration that enveloped due after Mark left due to the argument with him, the main reason was his inability to unleash his wolf.Even though he had tried his best again as soon as he arrived indoors after leaving Emberlynn, it remained stubbornly trapped inside.The worst was that Cadence wasn't speaking to him anymore. Ever since he had pushed Emberlynn away, his wolf had retreated as well, keeping silent and leaving him even more vulnerable.A werewolf could not do without a thief wolf, and now he was with a wolf, but at the same time without it.As he ran, the trees seemed to blur together, their branches reaching out like skeletal fingers, mocking him with their silence.The air was heavy, with the scent of damp earth and decay suffocating him.Damien gasped, his chest burning with exhaustion, but he didn't stop ru
"Damien!" Emberlynn called as she raced towards the direction Roy had pointed to. He wasn't following her, neither did he stop her from leaving.Roy himself had looked dejected and hopeless. It felt as though he was already exhausted by the situation, but he couldn't bring himself to say it for fear of offending anyone.Emberlynn understood him. She felt the same exhaustion, and it was strange she hadn't caved in yet."Damien!" she yelled again, her feet pounding against the earth as she ran.She had long discarded the peep-toed heels she wore for the seduction, and she didn't care if her feet got injured due to her recklessness; she just wanted to reach Damien to make sure he was doing fine.Emberlynn burst into the underbrush suddenly, and she halted.Damien was there. In his human form, his back was to her, his fists repeatedly punching the Oak's tree trunk with a ferocity that made her heart clench."Damien!" she yelled his name, but he didn't respond, neither did he acknowledge s
"They look perfect, don't they?" A voice said, turning to Mark with a broad smile on her face. She tilted her head back and cackled, causing Mark to stumble backward.One minute, he had been walking home fuming with rage; another minute, he was clutched by something out of thin air and teleported here.He didn't know exactly where he was. It was dark and foreboding. It looked like a graveyard of some sort with several coffins lying open and no one in it.The woman before him was old and wrinkled. Her eyes were as dark as night, and her air was woven on her head like a spider web.Also, it felt like the spider had long forgotten that it was building something great and decided to stop halfway because it was bald at the start.Her face was really old, yet Mark couldn't look away. He didn't know exactly what he was staring at her for as there was nothing remarkable about her features, but it felt like her gaze held him spellbound.Mark nodded, then shook his head. "Where am I? Why did yo
BACK IN THE FOREST(With EMBERLYNN AND DAMIEN)Emberlynn stared at her hands in awe. Was this the magic the wolf from her dream had spoken about? Never in her wildest dream would she have thought she'd have done what she did a few minutes ago.It had felt almost surreal, yet she knew it was real. The power still tingled her hands, reminding her she had just done something powerful, something unique, most especially as she had released Damien from his curse. Despite how impossible she thought it was from the beginning, now she knew almost anything was possible."What just happened?" Damien asked aloud. His heart was thumping, and his gaze was unblinking. Despite the black dots in his vision due to him looking at the bright light for long, which could cause him blindness, it was the least of his problems.The heavy burden of his curse, he felt it lifted. He felt nothing and not even the telltale sign at his side.He felt free.Turning to Emberlynn, whose face had stopped glowing, he furr