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Weight of A legacy.
Huling Na-update:
2025-02-12 17:42:55
Kaugnay na kabanata
ELDER'S BLOOD Before the War
Elena's point of view.Vanda gives a sly grin and cups my cheeks, pressing a kiss to my lips as the soap on his skin melts away. My hands can’t slide any further without crossing into intimate territory, and I’m instantly reminded of how I’ve avoided touching him out of fear I’d embarrass myself. Though, that fear is starting to seem silly—Vanda knows I haven’t done these things with anyone else. Surely, he’d understand if I needed guidance again.I move my right hand against him, recalling what he showed me before in the dining room, even though he had been clothed then. He leans into me, deepening our kiss, so I take it as a sign to continue. I take him fully in my hand, and his body reacts immediately. My mind fills with memories and fantasies, my heart picking up its pace.Vanda’s right hand drops from my jaw, adjusting my grip on him, guiding me to tighten my hold in a way I would’ve been too nervous to attempt on my own. I continue, and soon enough, my back is pressed against th
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-13ELDER'S BLOOD Thread of War and Bond.
Elena's point of view.I fill the kettle with water and turn off the faucet. "You know he’ll be alright," Elizabeth says."Death isn’t the only consequence of war," I murmur, staring at my half-empty glass.She sighs. "No, of course not. So what’s really bothering you?""Vanda was fighting in battles before he was even of age. I can’t help but think it affected him. And with all these wars... I worry it’s only making things worse. It’s hard to believe that he can take so many lives and not carry the weight of it."Elizabeth sets the kettle on the stove, igniting the burner. "I’m sure it affects him, just like it affects every man out there fighting."I turn to her. "Then what can I do to help him?"A quiet pause settles between us, and for a moment, I think she might not have an answer. Then she speaks."Kevin used to be a full-time warrior before he hurt his back. There wasn’t an active war at the time, but he was part of a group patrolling the borders to prevent rogue settlements fr
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-14ELDER'S BLOOD Wound and War
Elena's point of view.Elizabeth, Serena, and I take our time at the seamstress’s shop. Serena picks out some clothes from the general stock, but she also selects a few special pieces—the ones that Elizabeth and Ben refer to as "miraculously found" right after I step inside.Her purchases are billed to the pack house, supposedly just a small deduction from Alpha VuK’s considerable wealth.After shopping, we return home for lunch. Once we’ve cleaned up, Ben arrives, as if on cue. The moment he steps into the kitchen, Serena becomes flustered, her usual composure giving way to shy smiles and rosy cheeks. For a brief moment, her obvious infatuation distracts me from my own anxieties, but the looming attack still weighs on my mind.Ben mentions needing to gather ingredients from the garden, and Serena eagerly volunteers to go with him. They leave together, and when they return an hour later, Serena announces that the warriors have reached the border.Elizabeth heads out to meet Kevin now
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-16ELDER'S BLOOD Safe Haven
Elena's point of view."I forgot to mention it yesterday—Serena can start as soon as tomorrow. You, on the other hand, need to wait until your wrist heals and Rose clears you for shifting. Your sessions will be at eight in the morning, and Serena’s will be at five.""In the morning?" I ask, adjusting the leather brace around my wrist."Evening," Vanda corrects.I nod, digesting the information. "Okay, I'll let her know before she heads out."Just as I turn to leave, Vanda speaks again. "Come back up here afterward, okay?"A strange flutter stirs in my chest at the request. "O-okay," I say before quickly heading downstairs.I find Serena in the kitchen, drying dishes while Ben washes them. As soon as I relay the information, Ben encourages her to go, saying it’ll be good for her. She agrees, albeit with a bit of hesitation.Meanwhile, my own doubts creep in. The idea of joining the running group unsettles me. What if I'm the slowest? I’ve never had a reason to run unless I was moving b
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-17ELDER'S BLOOD Precautions and Promises.
Elena's point of view. As I slowly wake up, the first thing I notice is my own nakedness, followed immediately by the warmth of Vanda’s body wrapped around mine. His arms encircle me protectively, his breath soft against my ear. Sunlight filters through the closed shutters, though I don’t remember shutting them—or even falling asleep.Vanda takes a deep breath, his hold tightening slightly around my ribs.“What happened?” I murmur, my voice heavy with sleep. I recall us being together, tangled in each other’s embrace, talking quietly as I rested against his chest, reluctant to move.“You fell asleep,” he replies in a hushed tone. “I figured you’d wake up when I rolled you off me, but you must have been exhausted.”He must have closed the shutters after that and dressed partially because I feel fabric against my back. Blinking drowsily, I push myself up with one arm, using the other for support as Vanda shifts onto his back, his arm sliding away. My gaze drifts to the nightstand, where
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-18ELDER'S BLOOD A Step too Slow.
Elena's point of view.I wanted to ask Elizabeth more about the precautions Vanda had instructed her to take, but she didn’t seem eager to discuss them. I knew I wasn’t the only one affected by Alpha Kane’s infiltration—it left a bitter feeling in her as well—but my curiosity wouldn’t let it go. If Alpha Walter managed to break through our borders, Vanda wanted Elizabeth to take me under… Under what?If there was a hidden space beneath the packhouse, like a basement, I would have known about it by now. But perhaps other buildings had concealed rooms. Wherever this supposed hiding place was, I hoped I’d never have to see it.---The hours leading into the moonless night passed in a blur of intimacy, whispered words, and quiet comfort. Elizabeth was sent home, and a note was delivered to Mark, instructing him not to come by. Vanda and I spent the day in our bedroom, only breaking away briefly when he gave me a report on the previous day's losses. In that brief window of time, I shared E
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-20ELDER'S BLOOD A Basket of Remembrance.
A pinkish sunset bathes the pack house in warm hues as Vanda arrives home for the evening. Though the weather has been growing colder and rainier, the golden light makes everything feel cozy and inviting.Elizabeth and I have been at the kitchen table for hours, completely absorbed in planning our delivery project. After a bit of light snooping in the study, we found some useful supplies. Papers are scattered across the table, accompanied by empty mugs and plates dusted with crumbs—Mark’s cookies and muffins didn’t last long.“He’s been baking nonstop since Serena arrived,” Elizabeth mutters as we hear Vanda’s footsteps approaching. “Not that I’m complaining—he’s way better at it than I am.”I turn toward the archway just as Vanda steps in. Resting my hands on the back of my chair, I greet him with a tired smile.“Have you two been busy?” he asks, stepping closer to examine the notes and maps we’ve spread across the table.“Yeah,” I say, tapping the binder in front of me. “Since we ha
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-22ELDER'S BLOOD Not During War.
As I walk alongside Elizabeth, my thoughts spiral."How am I supposed to handle this when Vanda is off fighting all the time?" I ask, frustration creeping into my voice. "What if something happens to him? What if I'm left alone? I can’t do this without him. I don’t want to."Elizabeth links our arms and gives me a reassuring squeeze. "You’ll be fine. Just keep walking, okay?"A heavy sigh escapes me. "I'm scared. I didn’t think I would be, but I am. I used to judge Alexa when she worried about getting pregnant and trying to please everyone. I thought she was just overreacting. But then Vanda’s mother looked me in the eye and asked if I understood what it meant to be Luna. I told her I did, but honestly? I only said what she wanted to hear."Elizabeth glances at me. "You don’t want to have kids?""I do. I want a family, but I never really felt the pressure Alexa talked about—at least, not until Vanda told me he wanted me to get pregnant. That made everything real. And since we’ve been m
Huling Na-update : 2025-02-22
Pinakabagong kabanata
ELDER'S BLOOD Moonwater and Fantasy
Elena's point of view.Elizabeth scribbled something on the notepad in front of her before looking up at me. “So, what’s the deal with the previous Luna?” she asked, pen stilling. “She’s showing up because she found out you’re pregnant, right?”I gave her a half-smile. “Pretty much, yeah.”She raised a brow. “Sounds like a mother-by-bond festival is coming.”I snorted. “I doubt it’ll be that dramatic, but I have my weekly checkup with Rose today. She can come to that. I think she’d like it.” I added with a little more hope than I meant to show, “Hopefully, Rose has good news.”Elizabeth nodded knowingly. “And she’ll definitely dunk you in a moonwater bath.”“Moonwater baths…” I echoed, sighing. “I’ve already started forgetting half the pregnancy rituals I was so excited about.”“I can jot it all down for you,” she offered with a teasing smile. “As your Luna Advisor, tending to your Alpha-blooded pregnancy falls under my job description. Any ritual or bath or charm you want—we’ll do it
ELDER'S BLOOD The Message and the Mark
Elena's point of view Just as Ben was wrapping up dinner, a knock echoed from the front door. I went to answer it and found a familiar face—the female courier who often brought messages to the pack house. She offered me a sealed letter addressed to Vanda and then turned away, heading off with the rest of her delivery pouch slung across her chest.I closed the door behind me and turned the letter over in my hands. The wax seal was pressed with a stylized ‘S’—most likely for Silva. That could only mean one thing: a response to the letters we sent.I broke the seal, unfolded the paper, and immediately recognized the tidy, graceful handwriting. It was from Corinne. She wrote to say she’d be traveling tomorrow and would arrive by evening.Returning to the kitchen, I found Ben pulling out three plates—one for each of us, including Serena, who was due any minute after her training session."Who was at the door?" he asked casually."It was a message from Corinne. She’s coming tomorrow," I re
ELDER'S BLOOD Moon Bond Regret
Elena's point of view.Elizabeth sits across from me in the kitchen, chatting away about her list of potential housekeepers. It’s still pretty early—she arrived only about ten minutes ago. Outside, the sun is just beginning to rise, casting soft light over the pack grounds, where members are slowly emerging from their homes to start their duties, whatever those may be.I was already awake when Elizabeth let herself in. I had come downstairs because it felt like the right thing to do, a nod to routine and common sense.Last night was anything but restful.“You weren’t supposed to worry about finding someone to replace you,” I tell her, cutting into her updates. “You should’ve been spending time with Kevin.”That sounded like something I’d say if I weren’t feeling so disoriented. My thoughts are scattered. I can’t keep my mind from drifting back to Vanda—who never came home—and the fresh bite marks on the side of my neck. An old tradition. A mark.So many questions haunt me. Where did y
ELDER'S BLOOD Marked under the Full Moon.
Elena's point of view We kiss for a long while until Vanda pulls away. I sense his inner struggle. His hands grip my hips tightly as he takes control, moving my body to his liking. I brace myself against the tub’s edge for balance. The shift in pace is sudden and intense, yet my body quickly adjusts. The only discomfort I feel is the pressure on my chest, so I use my arm to hold my sore breasts and keep them from bouncing.My jaw tightens, my eyes squeeze shut, and my moans turn into desperate whimpers. I try to focus, to grasp onto the kind of pleasure that could push me over the edge, but everything is happening too fast. The only thing I can process is Vanda’s urgent desire. He moves me faster, pushing deeper, until he suddenly stops, holding me firmly in place. He reaches his peak, and I realize how exhausted I feel despite him taking the lead. My heart pounds, my thighs ache. Finally, he releases my hips, and I slide off him.I collapse against Vanda, still facing him, resting m
ELDER'S BLOOD Keeping up with the bond.
Elena's point of view.I insist to Serena and Elizabeth that I’m perfectly capable of helping with the cleanup. After reassuring them that I won’t be sick all over the place, they finally relent and allow me to do as I please. I store the leftovers in the fridge while Ben takes charge at the sink, meticulously ensuring the dishes are cleaned to his satisfaction. Eventually, Elizabeth gives up trying to help him and instead assists Serena with moving furniture.Once the house is back in order, I announce, "Go home, all of you. No cooking dinner tonight, no working on Nursery plans or bereavement gifts. Just take the evening off. Thank you for everything, now enjoy yourselves."Ben smirks knowingly. "I think I know why. Quick, girls, before the Alpha gets back."Serena scowls. "Stop it. Gross. She’s my sister.""Not mine.""Yes, she is—by bond."Ben stills. "Right. Then ew, gross, Elena. I don’t even want to think about—"Serena promptly leads him toward the back door before he can fini
ELDER'S BLOOD Between Fear and Faith.
Elena's point of view.With my back pressed against the cool bathroom wall, I wait for the nausea to pass. The bitter, metallic stench still lingers in my mind, so raw and fleshy — like rust and death. I shudder at the memory.Whose blood was on Vanda’s face? He’s been on edge during training, but it must’ve been a rogue’s. It has to be.I push myself off the floor and flush the toilet. There wasn’t much to throw up — my nerves over the luncheon had killed my appetite, leaving me with nothing but a few bites of fruit and cheese this morning. Still, the way my body convulsed felt like I’d emptied myself entirely.I rinse my mouth until the sour taste fades, then scrub my hands clean.“How are you feeling?” Elizabeth’s voice comes softly from the other side of the door. She must have stayed close. I open it to find her stepping back.“I think it’s passed.”Ben appears from the kitchen, offering me a small chocolate truffle. “For your breath,” he says with a smirk.I take it gratefully,
ELDER'S BLOOD A Gathering of Strength
"Hello again," I begin with a warm smile. "I'm sure many of you have heard me say this already — some even more than once, like Taylor and Tamra, probably three times by now." A soft chuckle ripples through the room. "But truly, thank you all for coming. Meeting you and your families — by bond and blood — has been an honor. I'm not originally from Draven, but being here with you all, I’ve never felt more at home."The women's faces soften, nodding in quiet agreement."I love getting to know you, hearing about your lives and families, and making myself more familiar to you. It’s become a bit of a joke now that I promise everyone I’m fully recovered from my little trespassing arrest." The room laughs more freely this time. "But there are a few things I’d like to talk about."I glance at Elizabeth, who moves through the crowd with quiet grace, handing out glasses of champagne like a shadow."I’ve mentioned before how I’ve grown especially interested in the families of Draven — particular
ELDER'S BLOOD Meeting with the leaders.
I stand in the middle of the large living room, hands on my hips, surveying the space. The luncheon needs to be perfect."There are two upholstered chairs in the other living room — I want them brought in here. Move the couches back to give people more room to walk around. And bring the side table too — we need enough space for plates and drinks," I instruct a guard who’s been pulled from his usual duties outside."Yes, Luna, I’ll move everything now," he replies without hesitation.Turning back to the room, I notice the grand, arched window’s curtains aren’t fully drawn back. I fix that, letting as much daylight as possible flood the space. Though it’s a cold, gray afternoon, the room needs to feel warm and welcoming."Elena!" Elizabeth’s voice calls from the kitchen.I make my way down the hall to find her, Ben, and Serena arranging platters of trimmed sandwiches, cubed fruits, sliced vegetables, cheeses, crackers, and other finger foods."We’re just about done," Ben says, sounding
ELDER'S BLOOD A Battle Between Hearts and Duty
I’m the first to reach the bedroom after Charles, Emma, and the kids leave. I came to change and take down my hair, but I end up frozen at the dresser, gripping the knobs of my pajama drawer. Emma’s words replay in my mind like a simple melody: Vanda likes it, Vanda likes it, Vanda likes it.It’s not a surprise — it’s a reminder.“Well, Emma seemed excited about the luncheon and the nursery,” Vanda says as he steps into the room.I jolt, snapping out of my daze.“Yeah. It should go well tomorrow. Elizabeth, Ben, and I spent the whole day planning it,” I reply, finally tugging the drawer open and pulling out a white nightgown.“Elizabeth’s also sorting through candidates for the housekeeper position,” Vanda continues. “She said she’s fine staying on until we hire someone, but hopefully, it won’t take more than a week.”He moves behind me, and I startle again when I turn to find him so close.“Should you bother with that?” he murmurs, running his fingers over the soft fabric of the nigh
