~ ZoraNox immediately made some calls and had soldiers covering the river and every land the river ran through that led to our territory. After that, Nox engaged with the others. Making rounds with the soldiers and checking on them. Hailey and I decide to make ourselves useful by helping the healers administer the Coral cure to the remaining wounded. By evening, more trucks arrived filled with men and this was where I came in. I sent for Tyler who was now looking better than he was hours ago. While still under my control, Tyler and I would show the new men the lay of the land as they were here to take over the pack until a new Alpha was chosen. In the meantime, all soldiers of Troy, Tyler and Emilia combined would be kept in the dungeons until something could be decided about them. Once agreed, Nox, Tyler, Roman, and I got into a range rover and drove into the packland of Moonrise with 5 big trucks of men in tow. Nox and I stayed in the back seats while Roman drove us and Tyler
~ ZoraMy heart jumps as I stare at my own mangled expression in the mirror. I was a bit relieved to see my eyes were no longer dark but my relief immediately shifted to anxiety as I wondered what Nox would think if he came in and found me like this. He can't and shouldn't know about the mirror. Whatever it is, I can handle it on my own. I pull my fist back and check my knuckles. They were bloody but healed already. I look at the mirror again and immediately rush to my closet to change into my pyjamas. "Abigail, are you awake?" I called via mindlink as I wore a big t-shirt over my head. If you don't reply, I might have to call her via phone. Almost immediately, her reply came. "Yes, Zora. How can I be of help?" "I need uhm someone to clean up a mess in my bathroom. The bathroom mirror shattered and I need a replacement asap.""Oh okay. Are you okay though?"Am I okay? Not in the least! " Yes I'm fine, Abigail. Just tired." I lied. Abigail sympathized with me and told me someone
~ ZoraI stayed awake till the morning light brightened the room, then I got out of bed, being careful not to wake Nox. I combed my hair and tied it in a bun before changing into loose joggers and a tank top. I mindlinked my shadows that I was going for a run.This time they were two women and by the time I came downstairs they were ready in their own running wear. When we got to the woods beyond, we shifted into our wolves and started our race. Eventually I found myself at the waterfall cabin, Nox showed to me a while back. I made a mental note to ask Nox if I could bring Hailey here. I wasn't sure if that was an appropriate ask since he never brought anyone here except Roman and I. Since my shadows were women, I shifted back to human form and went for the water. As expected, it was cold and a stark contrast to my skin which was starting to get hot again. My shadows sauntered to the lake's edge in their lycan forms and stood guard. I watched their ears perk up in alert as their
~ ZoraAfter the meeting, I released Nolan's Beta as promised and he was terrified to find himself on the floor sitting next to me. He hurried to his feet and went back to his position behind Nolan. His previous smug expression when his Alpha and Luna were bashing me was now meek and that pleased me. Soon, it was time for all the leaders to swear allegiance to Nox and I. Nox mentioned again that anyone had the chance to walk away without judgment if they wanted to.I waited in anticipation but to my surprise, no one made a move to leave and so the ceremony began. Every one of us had to bring our wolf to the surface. This was the part where we were both human and wolf at the same time. Each person's eyes will reflect the color of their wolf's, our teeth will elongate into fangs and our fingernails and toenails will elongate into claws. We all had to hold hands as the leaders repeated the Oath of Allegiance after Sydney. The moment they finished, I felt a surge of power leave me an
~ ZoraAt this point, I was too far gone in my despair to be surprised or shocked. "I'm sorry, what?" Nox said, leaning forward and lending his ear. "You're saying my wife, Zora, has to die.""Yes." The Ennoias answer in unison. "That doesn't sound like a solution to me." Nox said. "It sounds like a sentence.""But that's the only way, my King." One of the other two Ennoias said. "She must go through something called The Cleansing. Only one out of forty nine Mind-Wraiths in history ever came back out alive."Nox and I share a glance. "No way she's doing that. Find more solutions."The Ennoias shake their heads. "None, my King." Alastair says. "If you want to throw us out, we understand. We will not blame you."Nox takes a step back, blinking repeatedly. He looked like he was in shock or even going through his own despair."What happens exactly if I don't go through The Cleansing?" I ask. "Madness." One said."Chaos!" The other said."Death and Carnage." Alastair adds. "The worse y
~ Zora"I'll admit, I never thought of it that way." I said. "You should and if possible, hold out in your dream and see what happens next.""Thanks Roman." I said, leaning back in my office chair. "Always, Princess.""Any progress with Tyler and Emilia?""Well we haven't been able to pay them much of a visit since the Kane situation. And I have also been busy with moving back and forth to Moonrise but Sydney has been in charge of working them and while Emilia is stubborn asn silent despite the torture and everything, Tyler insists on speaking to you before he would say anything… ""Tyler said he wanted to speak to me?"Roman hesitates on the other end. "Nox didn't tell you?" Despite the chill of the air conditioner in the room, my body suddenly temperature went up as anger burned through me. I felt the sudden urge to destroy things, and him but I took deep breaths. "Princess, you there?" Roman asks. "Yes." I replied. "I just needed a moment with the temper."Lately, it wasn't ju
~ ZoraI had no idea when I left the Underground and was driven all the way home. All I knew was that I climbed down from the vehicle and went straight into the house.My body was hotter than usual, so hot, I was dripping sweat as I moved. It felt like my insides were on fire and I was becoming molten lava. Outside the window, the clouds rumbled and darkened signaling the impending arrival of rain. Before I climbed up, I went into the kitchen, and went straight for the deep freezer. Grabbing a bowl, I opened the freezer before dumping in bags of ice blocks. Once I had a full bowl, I carried it upstairs and straight to my bathroom. Instead of the shower, I chose the bathtub. I opened the tap and plugged the hole before pouring all the ice blocks in the tub. Once that was done, I pulled my top and jeans all while removing my shoes at the same time. The moment I became completely naked, I stepped into the tub, instantly wincing at the biting cold. Slowly, I force myself to sit in the
~ ZoraInvading Nox's mind was impossible.He was too strong but I was just as stubborn. I had no plans on letting Nox off the hook. If it would take dying to prove a point, then I would gladly do so. Lightning strikes and I catch his blackened eyes glaring up at me and the red running down his nose. I should be afraid, I mean he is the most powerful Lycan to exist and is capable of being ruthless. What if I was tempting fate? What if I overestimated how much he loved me and he hurt me instead? "Zora, you need to stop now." He says authoritatively but I could hear the concern in his tone. "You're hurting yourself!""Not until you surrender." I cried weakly, as I began to feel faint and swayed on my feet. Nox tries to reach for me while still on his knees but I step out of reach. "Who is Elsa?!"Nox remains silent and just when I concluded he would never let me in, he finally does. Sudden relief washes over me as my headaches ceased and my pain subsided. It was like when one pushe
~ ZoraSeveral Months Later"Let me help you with that." My husband said, collecting a wedding present from my hand and taking it to the car. I stood in disbelief. "I'm just pregnant, you know? I'm not an invalid.Nox closed the car and gave me a shrug. "Well you have no choice." He bends down and holds my big belly before giving it a kiss. "As long as you're carrying my babies, you will do as little as possible." He came back up to kiss me and at first, I had my mouth closed refusing him entry. Then he tickles me in persistence causing me to laugh and give in. I wrapped my arms across his shoulders and leaned in deep into the kiss, letting him explore my mouth and ravish my tongue. He never ceases to amaze me with how much he could get my body to respond to his touch and make me want more and more of him. I felt a fire starting within my core and I quickly broke the kiss. Breathless, I stared at him and found him grinning to himself. "We can't continue or we'll miss the wedding."
~ Zora By the time I arrived back in Parsivia, driven by the man Roman left behind, I could see my people already in the process of packing their things. I wondered where we would go now that Emilia was getting her lands back. Once I arrived home, I sprinted out of the car and into the house. I was surprised to find that servants had begun packing as well. They bowed to me with smiles and I acknowledged them before asking about Nox. They told me he was upstairs in our bedroom so I ran up the stairs and.dashed straight for the room. The moment I came in, I found him standing at the balcony behind billowing silk curtains. He turns and finds me standing by the door and he crosses the floor to me while I do the same. By the Gods, he smelt so much stronger and looked so much better, that by the time he touched me, my body came alive like wildfire.I pulled his face in for a kiss and moaned into his mouth when his lips sent delicious warmth down my mouth and straight to my throbbing cor
~ ZoraIn a flash, Tyler steps in front of me and takes the knife in his chest. "NO!" Emilia yells and everything else happens so fast. Nox moves towards Troy and in seconds has Troy's head removed from his body.Tyler fell back on me and I had to hold him gently as I sank to my knees. Emilia rushes to his side to check his wound.Someone calls for a Healer we were told that yet they were tapped out and even Nox was spent too. Fortunately, Tyler's wound wasn't immediately fatal so he was quickly carried to one of Troy's cars. There was a pack closer to the scene which also turned out to be an ally of the Moonrise pack, we decided it was best that he was driven there for treatment.Roman offered to drive us and I had to go meet Nox, "I have to go. I need to make sure he's okay.""Go." He said but there was a certain sadness to his demeanor. "I'll watch over your family." I approached him and despite the blood he had splattered on his face from killing Troy, I kissed him on the lips.
~ ZoraIn shock, she grabs his wrist trying to get his hand off her neck as he slowly lifts her off her feet but he wouldn't budge. "Hey!" Tyler said running in but was soon stopped by about half a dozen wolvescoming out of nowhere, almost surrounding him and snarling at him to go no further.“It’s a damn ambush!” Roman mutters, stepping back while staring at something from afar. I look in time to see wolves coming out of the woods around us. They surround Nox, Roman and the other lycan soldiers. "What are you doing?!" Emilia chokes out from Tyler's grip. I could see the fear and the disbelief in her features as she looks at the man who once meant something to her.. "You dare come here barking orders at me? Who are you to believe you can be a ruler over me?"Emilia fumbles for words, clearly speechless! Her face suddenly became red as her eyes slid to mine. “Help me, please!”"Zora, get away from there right now!" Nox mindlinked me and I see him walking towards me despite wolves sn
~ Zora"I can't do that!" I immediately responded. "I can't kill Nox!"Troy gave me a sympathetic look that was meant to be mocking. "I guess your sister will have to die then." He said and turned to leave. Behind me Hailey coughed and I had to make a decision in a split second. "Wait!" Troy stopped in his tracks and half turned. "Yes?" He drawled with a malicious grin. I used that moment to try and invade his mind but I was instantly met with a blinding white light followed by a great pain hammering through my head. I cry out in pain as a result,, falling to my knees and holding my head in my hands!Troy’s laughter echoed towards me as he came closer. “I knew you would do that! Now, ain’t that a bitch?!” He chuckled. “You think I’d be dumb enough to come down here without fortifying my mind and that of my men against your power? Come on, Zora. You should give me more credit than that.”My head continues to hurt as if an electric current just passed through it. “What you just expe
~ Zora"Zora, wake up!" A groan escapes me when I feel hands on my face and open my eyes. My vision goes blurry at first seeing a warped figure above me but when I blink a few times, a person's face comes into view."Mom?" I ask. "Yes dear." She said, stroking my hair. I immediately went still. The last time my mother had stroked my hair, I was eight and had fallen terribly sick. It was an illness that lasted months and was part of the reason we quickly went broke. My mother noticed my unease with her affection so she stopped, retracting her hand from my hair. Behind her was darkness that I was unfamiliar with and around us and around us was a smell so bad, I had to sit up. Doing that caused the worst headache I had ever had. A pounding ache assaulted my head and began to pulse in my right eye.Another groan, yet I chose to look around. "Where are we?" I asked.My mother shushed me gently and whispered, "We are in a cell."At her words, I instantly became very alert. "A cell? How
~ TylerI shouldn't have but I had already started counting the days until I would see Zora again. Our last encounter had left a bitter taste in my soul and my spirit, corrupting my nights and leaving me sleepless. The harsh words that poured from my lips and became the stones that I threw at her now played over and over again in my head like a bad soap opera. I knew if I truly wanted to have peace, then I needed to see Zora again and beg her forgiveness.This was why I was a little bit excited when the guards came to drag me out of my cell to an unknown place. I was so riddled with thoughts of seeing Zora again that when I was brought into an office which had only Emilia, Nox, and his second in command, I automatically searched for her. "Where's Zora?" I asked as the guards worked on adjusting my chains so I could sit in a chair next to Emilia. Nox was seated while Roman stood and I noticed how both men looked sad and angry at the same time, as if something terrible had happened.
~ NoxWhen Elsa died, it felt like a part of me had died with her too. Before her, I was in a funk, dealing with the consequences of having a cruel father and a depressed mother. Growing up, Roman was the 'ray of sunshine' who didn't let me stay entirely in the dark and when Elsa came, she totally brought me into the light. She made me feel entirely vulnerable with my guard down. She was a girl I'd do anything for, including fighting my demons and conquering my fear of letting another human into my heart. Everything was fine until the curse took her and she died with her hand in mine. That was when I began to freefall into the deepest darkness I had ever been in and put up layers and layers of protection around my heart.And then Zora came along and began to chip away. She was a woman with a hammer breaking through my shield until she got to the last layer. Elsa. It was a layer I wasn't ready to bring down, not when death hung over her head. Now I find myself wishing she'd walk t
~ ZoraI woke up to the rhythm of my own heart beating and when I opened my eyes and looked around, I couldn't help the frustrated sigh that left my mouth when I realized I was in a hospital again. "Zora?" A familiar voice called and I turned my head to the right to see Nox sitting in a chair close to me. "Thank the gods, you're awake." He said, taking my hand in his. Although, I felt sparks tingling up my arms, they felt more like an inconvenience rather than something enjoyable. "What happened? How did I get here?" I asked, racking my head for my last memory. "You don't remember?" I shook my head. "The last thing I remember was…" I pause, suddenly remembering myself drowning. "... dying…and then you pulled me out."Nox met my gaze and I suddenly felt a mixture of guilt and relief emanating from him. "You saved my life." I concluded. “Thank you.”Nox responds by taking my hand to his lips and kissing it repeatedly and it should affect me in a positive light but the more I look