Maya
Epilogue
A few years later.
"What is it?"
I tilt my head and smile down at my daughter. It's Christmas, and Finn is busy cooking our grand feast with Kyra and my mother. Elijah is drinking wine with Alice and my father.
The pack is happy, and while I'm not friends with Bianca anymore, it finally feels as if I'm home.
Everything is as it should be.
"You need to open it." I stand up from the couch and sit down on the floor next to Elvira. "Here, let me help you!"
Elvira beams and laughs as I help her open the enormous package. She has Finn's pointed ears, but she can already shape-shift into a wolf—one with gorgeous wings. It seems she has inherited a lot from us both.
"A unicorn!" Her eyes are radiating joy. "I got my own unicorn!"
I laugh. "Yes, you do!"
"I'm so amazed!"
I sit back and smile at Elvira, who is on top of the world and holding up her XXL stuffed toy for the world to see
Thank you for reading!
Prologue Patricia Fourteen Years old. No-no-no! I'm late for class again! There is drool on my cheek, and I'm running in my freaking pajamas. I kept pressing snooze on my phone alarm until I jerked awake with the insight I probably overslept. I barely even looked in the mirror before rushing out of our house. As I pass the windows of a dark classroom, I regret my decision to not even brush my hair—I resemble Hermione Granger in the first Harry Potter movie, with a bird's nest for hair. Mine is darker, though. I was born with the complex of a ghost and black hair to match. I'm a mess. Grumbling to myself over my hairstyle, I sneak closer to a door by the end of the corridor. It leads to the back of our classroom. Mrs. Bridget, the elderly lady who is my history teacher, can barely see anything and won't notice me taking a seat twenty minutes too late. I enter the classroom and tiptoe with my eyes locked on an empty bench
Present. Patricia. Nineteen years old. Life isn't fair. Dior has grown several inches during upper secondary school and has taken William's spot as the most sought-after guy. He is only seventeen but already the alpha of the Winterbite pack. The guy rules with an iron fist, and anyone with a lick of sense knows there isn't a heart beating inside his chest. Unfortunately, everyone is too starry-eyed and blinded by his beauty and sheer power as an alpha to see the monster lurking on the inside. The girls in my pack fawn over him like he is their idol, giggling whenever he glances their way. It baffles me how his pimples have vanished and been replaced by a face so beautiful one could mistake it for having been sculpted by an angel. Yes, he is that gorgeous. Not only that, but his body nowadays is sheer physical perfection. Such a shame a boy so pretty possesses what I deem an ugly heart. Dior thinks he is better than everyone els
Patricia School is over, and I'm about to join my pack for a late hunt. I'm still hurt by the events that unfolded in the cafeteria, including my run-in with Dior, yet I'm trying to stay positive and focus on nature. I fold my clothes behind some bushes. The weather is brisk, and autumn has brought in blazing colors such as red and yellow, making it seem like the ground is burning. Smiling at the cold, I sharpen my ears at the sound of voices. Gloria and Riley are both giggling at me and gossiping like usual. Riley, the pretty girl with doe-eyes, is currently dating Dior. And for some stupid reason, she hates me. I think she has mistranslated my hatred for her boyfriend as me interested in him, which is laughable. I'm certain Dior will be mated to Riley—they deserve each other. "Hey, Patty," Riley walks up to me, her arms folded underneath her firm, tiny breasts. The fact that I have bigger ones gives me sick satisfaction. I'm
PatriciaI drag my feet forward, intent on dying in my bed as soon as I get home.Since I'm not rich, I still live with my parents. I'm moving out next year, thank god for that, because my parents aren't supportive of me at all. They are Dior's brainwashed pawns, clueless about the deep hatred I hold for their beloved alpha.As expected, my mother, Elena, is already waiting by the door as I walk across our garden covered with red and brown oak leaves. She is wearing a white blouse and black pants. An apron is slung over her shoulder, and her glare is intense.I know without asking that she has discovered the latest rumor that I left the pack to become a rogue. Her expression says it all and does nothing to hide her inner rage."Patricia!" Disappointment is radiant on my mother's face, and her nostrils flare with disapproval. With her dark hair and heart-shaped face, we look like clones. "How dare you leave the pack! Do you have any idea what it mea
Patricia My pace slows when I get to a clearing, and I stop to stand in the newly fallen snow. I peer up at the sky, only to lower my gaze and find a cream-colored wolf staring at me with a curious expression. I fold my ears and glance to the side, uncertain if I should run away. The other wolf approaches me with confidence, and my eyes widen when a second wolf joins their side. They are both cream—luna and alpha, and the one walking up to me smells like a female. On the brink of a second, the wolf shape-shifts into a blonde woman, who smiles at me. Her hair reaches down to her shoulders, curled to perfection, while her face is the epitome of angelic. "Hello, there!" The woman waves at me. I don't think she is much older than me, possibly around twenty-five. "What are you doing on our turf, little rogue?" Swallowing, I decide to turn back into a human. The chilled air bites my milky skin, and I stand there shaking while the snow circles from t
Dior From the first moment I laid my eyes upon Patricia, I understood she was different. I spotted her on my first day in kindergarten. My skin under my clothes was blue and yellow from the abuse I had to endure the night before. I was in tremendous pain, and she smiled at me like a princess from one of those Disney tales. And while a typical kid would have gladly made friends with the cute girl, I stood frozen. It was as if my feet had grown their gnarled roots and stuck them in the ground. I had never faced kindness, and my initial instinct was to run, but then I clenched my fists and fought to steal the spade and bucket from her. I lost, not that I'm bitter about it. The event marked us as enemies, and although I will never admit it out loud, Patricia has saved my life plenty of times. My parents weren't kind when I grew up—they are still assholes, but I'm strong enough to fight back these days. When I was younger, I didn't possess enough strength.
PatriciaWilliam and June are living in pure luxury. I can't believe they own this place—it's so incredible! Their mansion is enormous, and so is their kitchen, where professional chefs work to please their alpha and luna.I was astonished the entire walk to their dining area. There are actual diamonds in their chandeliers, and there is an open flame ahead of me. The table is polished and so clean a better-behaved person would fear touching it, afraid of tarnishing it, but I don't care.With a big smile, I gulp down food like it's the first time I've ever eaten. Some guy named Antonio came out with a silver platter of delicious shrimps, and I'm now throwing them into my mouth with my heart singing happy songs.Changing into a werewolf burns ton of calories. I suspect the shape-shifting is part of why I'm not a big girl—I love cake and bake them too."This is so good," I take another bite, eye-rolling and smiling at my platter like a chi
Patricia Last night was a nightmare. William and June were screaming and fucking each other so hard their bedframe hit against my wall. They let me sleep in their guestroom, but I kind of wish I had slept in the forest. Seriously. I'm officially scarred for life, humiliated because I thought I had this instant connection to William when he is clearly, deeply in love with June. What was I thinking getting butterflies when he looked over at me with those pretty-boy eyes? June probably had Willian act friendly so she could pump information from my system. Groaning to myself, I speed up my pace. I snuck out of the pair's mansion, and now I'm racing to school through the woods. Fiery colors are blazing around me while my hands are under my arms, seeking warmth. My dirty hair thrashes to the left and right over my back, reminding me of how badly I need to shower. It's a long way to school—I must already be late, and I know for sure that I lo
Maya Epilogue A few years later. "What is it?" I tilt my head and smile down at my daughter. It's Christmas, and Finn is busy cooking our grand feast with Kyra and my mother. Elijah is drinking wine with Alice and my father. The pack is happy, and while I'm not friends with Bianca anymore, it finally feels as if I'm home. Everything is as it should be. "You need to open it." I stand up from the couch and sit down on the floor next to Elvira. "Here, let me help you!" Elvira beams and laughs as I help her open the enormous package. She has Finn's pointed ears, but she can already shape-shift into a wolf—one with gorgeous wings. It seems she has inherited a lot from us both. "A unicorn!" Her eyes are radiating joy. "I got my own unicorn!" I laugh. "Yes, you do!" "I'm so amazed!" I sit back and smile at Elvira, who is on top of the world and holding up her XXL stuffed toy for the world to see
Maya I throw myself at Lily, snapping and biting while the people looking at our duel are shouting and whistling. Kyra is rooting for me, but I can't face my friends—I'm too invested in the fight. Finn must be worried, but seeing his expression might throw me off my game, so I continue my battle without distractions. I can't lose. Lily fights with anger, and darkness follows her with every attempted bite at my neck. Her shadow is growing, and half the sky turns black. Our fight suddenly turns into a battle of day and night. Darkness threatens to conquer the sky, but I force out light since I have to win. My blood is boiling and my frustration from all the years Lily spent harassing me offers me motivation. I bite at her shoulder, headbutt her stomach, and slash her face. Lily whimpers and falls to the ground, where I bend down to maul her. Blood splashes everywhere, and I know I've officially won the battle. Lily is still breat
Maya Lily is already waiting for us when we step out of the car. The entire block is emptied of ordinary people, and the skies above us are dark and eerie as if set for a battle. Werewolves from the Winterbite pack surround us; countless of them bare their teeth and growl viciously. They all seem ready to slaughter us if their alpha, Lily, decides to snap her fingers. Elijah glances around, baring his teeth to hiss at the wolves. Veins appear on his face, and Kyra widens her eyes at the sight of her vampire mate. I'm guessing she has never seen Elijah's true colors; regardless, newfound respect shines in her eyes. It seems even she understands that the vampire isn't to be underestimated. "I don't like this," Finn says as he takes in our surroundings. His wings spread out from his back, although the only reason for him to fight is if I lose against Lily. "Me neither," Kyra agrees. "Why are they all staring at us?" Lily chuckles.
Maya The sky is cloudy, and rain is patting against the window as my new pack members, and I drive through a sleepy village. I'm tired of the view, and my head won't stop spinning and thinking about the upcoming fight taking place tomorrow. I'm about to challenge my sister, Lily. I shudder at the thought, knowing it won't be easy to win against her since she isn't a weakling. My sister controls the darkness while the light listens to my command—we are opposites of each other, yet I intend to win. Or more like I have to win. Lily is keeping everyone a prisoner. She has turned the Winterbite pack into something not to be proud of—the female alpha doesn't allow anyone to have a different opinion, and if you stand up against her, she will throw you to the sharks. She isn't a good alpha. 'You will be a better one,' Lumi says in a calm tone. 'Hard times breed strong women, and you've gone through hell and survived—the storm h
Maya I splash cold water up at my face, meeting my angry, determined eyes in the mirror. It's soon time to face my fate. Lily has plagued me with her nasty words from the first day in high school. She looked down upon me and laughed at me for not having an inner wolf. Even though we are sisters, she spat in my face and bullied me until I saw no other option than escape from my hometown. I left my old town behind. I abandoned my pack. I cut off the ties I had with my family, and now, I'm taking it all back. I'm angry, pissed off because Lily thinks she can do whatever the fuck she wants without consequences. But she is wrong. She killed Elijah's mate. She hurt our father, kidnapped Bianca, and I will make her pay. 'We will make her pay,' Lumi corrects me. 'Remember that I want in on this too. We will take our rightful place as the alpha of the Winterbite clan, and then NO ONE will laugh at us again.' 'I will become the a
Kyra I wake up to Elijah pulling the curtain to the side. The sunlight streams inside of the room like an unwelcome guest, and the vampire laughs when I hiss. I drag the bedsheet over my head, and the vampire sits down at the edge of the bed. "Please pull back the curtain..." I beg. Elijah chuckles in amusement. "If I didn't know better, I would say you're acting more than a vampire than I do." I speak from under the bedsheet. "Don't your kind like the sun?" "Usually not," he exhales, seeming to drag his hands over his thighs."I love the sun, but the light burns my skin unless I wear a daylight ring. I'm an original vampire, one of the first. I won't die, but the sun still hurts." Slowly, I uncover my face, meeting his red eyes. My mate smiles at me, and it hits me that Elijah must be bored. He watched me sleep for the entire duration of the night and probably can't wait to leave the bed behind. Embarrassingly enough, I vaguely
Maya I'm stirring my milkshake while walking in the park together with Finn after sunset. The future concerns me, and I sigh. "No offense, but how am I supposed to beat Lily? Last time I checked, I don't possess any offensive abilities." Finn glances down at me, smiling. "Because only the light can defeat the darkness. It doesn't matter what you throw at the shadow creepers—sticks and stones, fire, water, earth, or even lightning can't beat them." 'Finn is right,' Lumi says. 'You're the only person who can put an end to your sister's dictatorship. She wasn't made for the role of alpha. No matter what, we have to defeat her.' I grimace. "I don't even remember how to shape-shift." Finn laughs, tapping my shoulder. "That's why we are here in the park at night. You can transform here, and..." he shrugs. "Pretend to be my oversized dog if someone sees you." My lips twitch. "You haven't seen my wolf's form when you're a human—are you
Kyra Elijah is bouncing me up and down on his cock. It's fantastic, his cock is so thick, but his piercing gaze is hard to swallow. I've been avoiding his eyes for the entire duration, embarrassed by the sounds leaving my lips. What if he is embarrassed by me? "Kyra...?" I suppress the urge to moan when he lifts his ass from the ground, thrusting deeply into me. Oh-my-fucking-god. Elijah is a beast. I see stars and grow weak in my limbs. "Kyra, look at me." I don't listen. "Kyra..." Elijah slows his speed, and the building pleasure stops growing, forcing me to bounce faster. But Elijah stills my legs, holding me in place as he speaks. "If you want my cock, then you need to look at me." The authoritative tone in his voice got me peering down at him. Elijah smiles in satisfaction. He looks downright delicious, with his captivating abs and mischievous eyes. I squeeze my legs, knowing I'm about a hundred times wetter. How t
Kyra I might die from a heart attack any second now. I'm standing in the shower booth and finding it harder to stand straight as Elijah enters through the door. When my mate offered to get me cleaned up and took me to a human hotel, I didn't expect him to have hidden motives—I was wrong. As warm water pours over my head, I stand there, jaw slacking to the floor as I take in the adonis closing the door behind him. Elijah looks like he just stepped out of every woman's wet dream. He is entirely naked, making it impossible not to drool over his bulging biceps, muscular chest, and flat, washboard abs. I count the ridges and lose all breath of air. Perhaps I am more into men than I initially thought? Piercing red eyes that are even more intense now that we are both naked meet mine. Elijah smiles at me, a crooked half-smile that makes my heart seize in my chest and my belly tighten in suspense. He looks keen to eat me alive, and I'm horrifie