Kendra heard their mother long before she walked into her room. She has always been a light sleeper. As a warrior and a hunter, she trained herself to sleep with one eye open, ever ready for anything, even when asleep. The first thing that changed was her breathing before she opened her eyes. Her mother was just outside their door. Kendra moved her hand along the back of the young woman plastered against her side, soothing her back to sleep when the blonde grumbled as if disturbed by her nightmares. She felt her mother hesitate at her door before the older woman turned the handle and walked in. Kendra held her eyes closed and waited for the older woman’s reaction to the sight of her sister in her bed, plastered against her nakedness. She didn’t react like she had something to hide. Her sister sleeping beside her is all innocent, even though it is not unless they make it not so. Luna Grace doesn’t know how to interpret the sight before her. The s
Tonight is the mating ball; an annual festivity celebrated across all the werewolf Packs during which wolves who have come of age find their mates. Everyone is expected to grace this occasion, no exception. While everyone in the pack is over the moon with the approaching mating ball, Kendra is different. She makes it a point to miss the ball. She dreads the idea of being shackled by a mate. There is no room in her heart for love. All she thinks about is having her revenge, but a mate doesn't fit into her agenda. Twenty years ago, rogues killed Kendra’s family and Pack, and Kendra had dedicated most of her life to finding the rogue who took the life of her parents and getting her revenge. During the day, she works as a paralegal in a big law firm, and at night, she shades her clothes of justice and dons her hunting clothes, executing justice by herself. She hunts rogues at night in search of the one who stole everything from her, killing them mercilessly if they wouldn't
Adira is ecstatic about the mating ball tonight. It is been all that she and her girlfriends could talk about all week. Mating ball is a time when a werewolf finds the one he or she would be mated with for life, and Adira is holding her breath for this special someone. Having grown up watching her parents loving relationship, their deep affection for each other. How much her father adores and protects her mother, and how in turn she worships her father, Adira longs for the same thing for herself. Her father, though a very strict disciplinarian, is very affectionate, and deeply protective especially to the people he loves, and she wants someone like that. Basically, she is wishing that the moon goddess would grant her someone like her father. She has a boyfriend, Jake, who is the son of their Beta. She and Jake have been dating since their Sophomore year. Adira loves Jake so much because he reminds her of her father. He has her father’s strength, while also displaying his sens
Kendra felt precisely as her sister did—shock and a little bit of fear. Of everything she expected to happen tonight, finding her mate wasn’t one of them, least of all it being her sister. The Moon Goddess must have a cruel sense of humor. “Hello, little sister,” Kendra greeted, her tone measured as she took in Adira’s appearance. Oh, how she had grown. From the little girl who had once followed her around like a lost puppy to a woman—a striking one at that. Her sister had always been beautiful, but the young woman who stood before her now was breathtaking. This realization unsettled Kendra, and her heart thudded in her chest like a drumbeat. Adira stumbled past her initial shock when Kendra addressed her. Her emerald eyes narrowed as if trying to pierce through her older sister’s calm facade. Was she mocking her? Kendra, who had always kept her at arm’s length, now suddenly called her “sister.” “What are you doing here?” Adira demanded sharply, her voice trembling with anger
Jake stood like a protective shadow beside Adira, his broad frame stiffening at the mention of mates. His heart pounded with dread, an ache settling in his chest. He had meant every word when he’d told himself there was no one else for him except Adira. He had loved her since they were kids, a tender bond that had grown and deepened over the years. What had once been innocent childhood affection had transformed into a love so profound it frightened him. As the question about Adira’s mate hung in the air, Jake held his breath, his muscles coiled tight. He hadn’t found his mate yet, and, secretly, he was glad. It meant he didn’t have to wrestle with guilt for desiring Adira with every fiber of his being. When she finally answered, a tidal wave of relief crashed over him. The world felt brighter and lighter, like the moon was smiling down on him. He fought the urge to leap into the air and whoop joyfully, but he couldn’t contain the grin that broke across his face. “Hey, Jake, what’s
Kendra’s heart thundered against her chest, fueled by a tempest of emotions—anger, jealousy, disgust—swirling into a volatile storm as she stormed toward her car. This was what she wanted. It was what she’d told herself she wanted: for her sister to find someone worthy, someone better, and it didn’t get much better than the Beta’s son. Jake was polite, dependable, and annoyingly handsome—everything their Pack could hope for in a mate. She’d known him since he was a kid and watched him grow into a man. It would be him if she had to pick anyone for her sister. So why did she feel like ramming her fist through the nearest wall? Her jaw clenched as she yanked open the car door and slid behind the wheel. She slammed it shut with enough force to make the entire car shudder, then started the engine. The tires screeched as she sped off into the night, the engine's roar a poor mask for the roar inside her head. She wasn’t just trying to escape her feelings; she was fleeing them like a prey an
The tension swirling inside Kendra increased as she watched the scene before her flatly. She didn't feel any fear at the thought that she just walked into a trap; if anything, she felt more excitement. She was itching for a good fight tonight. Trix stirred at the presence of so many hostile individuals, her presence simmering beneath the surface, ready to lend her human help if she needed it. One of the men in the room, their leader, responded to Jonas's words, a sly smirk tugging at the corners of his lips as he praised Jonas for a job well done. “Good work,” he said, his tone carrying the false warmth of a predator playing with its prey. A few days ago, they had tracked the young wolf down at a dump of a club where he was up in his nose with drugs and high as a kite. They apprehended him before he could escape, and in exchange for his life, he was to give up the one who had been killing rogues these past few months. Kendra’s vigilante parade has caught the attention of the r
Adira's mother’s hand flew to her mouth, her expression tightening with worry. Jake stepped forward, his easy demeanor replaced by concern as he glanced between Adira and her parents. “Where is she?” her father asked again, his tone firm. “Did she say where she was?” Adira shook her head, struggling to steady her breathing. “No… she just said ‘help,’ and then the line went dead.” Her father’s jaw clenched, his mind already racing. “We need to find her,” he said, turning to Jake. “Alert the patrols. We’ll go out and search for her.” Jake nodded immediately, stepping away to carry out the Alpha’s orders. Adira stood frozen for a moment, her hand clutching the phone like a lifeline. The fear in Kendra’s voice echoed in her ears, cutting through the lingering tension from earlier. Kendra was never the one to ask for help. She charged into the fray, facing danger head-on without hesitation. For her to call Adira now, to sound so… broken—it was unlike her. She shook herself
Kendra heard their mother long before she walked into her room. She has always been a light sleeper. As a warrior and a hunter, she trained herself to sleep with one eye open, ever ready for anything, even when asleep. The first thing that changed was her breathing before she opened her eyes. Her mother was just outside their door. Kendra moved her hand along the back of the young woman plastered against her side, soothing her back to sleep when the blonde grumbled as if disturbed by her nightmares. She felt her mother hesitate at her door before the older woman turned the handle and walked in. Kendra held her eyes closed and waited for the older woman’s reaction to the sight of her sister in her bed, plastered against her nakedness. She didn’t react like she had something to hide. Her sister sleeping beside her is all innocent, even though it is not unless they make it not so. Luna Grace doesn’t know how to interpret the sight before her. The s
While watching their Mother interact with her sister, Adira stares longingly, wishing things were different. She wants to be in her sister’s arms to assure herself she is alright, but she can’t because no one knows that she is her mate. When Kendra looks at her, Adira’s heart skips and her green eyes soften with tenderness as she silently coveys her feelings to the brunette. The stare lasts a brief second before Kendra looks away. She tries to rise from the couch, uncaring about her nakedness, when two warriors storm into the living room wearing urgent expressions, forcing her back to the sofa to hear what has the warriors looking like their houses are on fire. The warriors stop short to pay respect to the Luna and then ask after the Alpha when they don’t see his tall frame in the living. "He is in his office," Luna Grace directs, and they turn to leave, but Kendra speaks, stopping them in their tracks. "What is the
After her shower, Adira joins her mother in the living room. The older woman offers her a cup of hot coffee as she sits beside her on the sofa. "Anything?" Adira looks at her mother as she takes a sip, her still cold inside welcoming the warm heat of the coffee. Luna shakes her head as she peers into her daughter's worried eyes, her similar eyes reflecting the same emotion. "Nothing yet." Just as she finished speaking, the outdoors crashed open, and the warriors rushed in carrying an unconscious Kendra, the Alpha hot on their heels. The warriors gently set Kendra on the long sofa while the Alpha barks. "Can someone call the Pack doctor?!" Mother and daughter flew to their feet with confused, terrified expressions. They looked from passed-out Kendra to the Alpha, who stared at his daughter worriedly and demanded together. "Dad, what happened?!""Honey, what happened?!"The Alpha looked from his daughter to his mate, his eyes resting on her worried face. "Your stubborn, reckless d
Kendra looked toward the snapped twig, and glowing red eyes met her sharp blue ones. She quickly pushed her sister behind her as multiple big wolves prowled out of the darkness. Their glowing red eyes contrasted sharply with the thick darkness surrounding them. Kendra heard Adira whimper in fear and quickly reassured her without taking her eyes off the six rogues that had them semi-surrounded."Don't be scared. I will keep you safe."Her voice sounded confident and cold. Her expression was fierce. The one thing she will not take a chance with is the young woman's life behind her. She means too much to her.The assurance in her sister's voice settled Adira's nerves. Kendra's sharp mind assessed their situation. She wondered how the rogues could access their land without alerting the patrol. Secondly, she was outnumbered. Although skilled, she can't face off six rogues alone and keep her sister safe. She needed backup, and even though Kendra hated asking for help, she knew she needed
Adira stared at her father in disbelief, her eyes blazing with anger. "You can't force me to mate with someone who isn't my mate!" she snapped loudly, her fists clenching and unclenching in frustration. Alpha Conor stared at his daughter with a cold and calm expression, unbothered by her explosive reaction. She was young and didn't know what was best for her. If the moon goddess hadn't given her a mate, then Jake would be good for her. He knew his daughter loved the young man and was stubborn because he had asked her to mark him. "I didn't; you did," Alpha Conor replied in a leveled tone. He didn't shrug to show how much he didn't care about his objection, but the others felt his nonchalant reaction to his daughter's anger. That is not to say that Alpha Conor doesn't care for his daughter because that is far from the truth. The BlackMoon Pack's alpha loves his daughters so much, but he believes his daughter is too young to know what is good for her. Luna Grace was stuck between he
It is dinner time. Alpha Conor is having dinner with his family alone; the pack members stay away to allow the Alpha family some privacy with their eldest return. They were eating silently, with Luna Grace desperately trying to infuse conversation and liveliness into the meal, but everyone seemed lost in their thoughts. “Your sister found her mate,” Alpha Conor said suddenly. Kendra and Adira froze. Adira looked at their father sharply, wondering why he brought this up. Kendra kept her eyes on her food as she answered their father. “I know.”Alpha Conor nodded, then took a deliberate bite of his mashed potatoes, savoring the rich flavor. He followed it with a forkful of vegetables, a hearty drumstick, and a sip of wine. “And you?” he asked curiously, looking toward his eldest. The young woman had not told them about her personal life, and he was dying for information about her life in the city. Adira looked at her sister, interested to know if she was seeing someone.“No, I ha
“What do you think is wrong with Meredith?”Adira asked Jake as they bounded up the stairs to her room. She looked back briefly to see her boyfriend's reaction to her question. Her best friend has been acting weird these past few days, and her angry outburst is more than her usual cranky personality. Adira can't shake the feeling that more is going on with her best friend. If the blonde isn't talking to her, maybe she said something to their other friends.Jake stiffened at the mention of Meredith. He masked his nerves with a stiff smile on his lips. “Babe, you know how Meredith is? She is always like this when she meets someone new.”Adira shook her head. She believes it to be more. “I don't think...”Adira trailed off suddenly. They were at the top of the stairs and about to enter Adira's room when a sound in the adjacent room caught her attention. Jake noted Adira's frozen expression and asked. Is something wrong? He stared at the petite blonde before him with a frown between his
After what happened with her sister last night, Kendra woke up the following day and decided she had had enough of the hospital food. Her parents walked in on her, arguing heatedly with her doctor, who believes she is not strong enough to leave, but Kendra argues that she knows her body better than the fucking doctors. “What is going on here?!” Alpha Conor asked, looking from the doctor in scrubs to his fully dressed daughter. They both turned to the Alpha, a stubborn look on Kendra’s face, while the doctor looked frustrated and relieved to see the Alpha. He has never met a more stubborn young woman. “Please, can you talk some sense into her,” the doctor pleaded dramatically with the Alpha. Last night, she tore her stitches from doing God knows what! And this morning, she wants to leave. She is not yet strong enough and can barely stand on her own. “I can stand alright, thank you very much.”“What did you do to tear your stitches?” Alpha Conor asked his daughter in a calm voice.
Nate stood staring after Meredith with a bewildered look on his face. He didn't understand what the hell was wrong with the blonde. It was only eight o'clock in the morning, and she was already worked up. "I was only trying to help," he mumbled loudly before deciding to go for his first period. Before he could walk away, a female voice yelled his name loudly in the hallway way to get his attention.“Nate!”Nate stopped walking and turned. His gray eyes widened slightly at the sight of his friend from the Park.They haven't seen each other since the Park. “Gloria, what are you doing here?” Nate asked when the redhead joined him. “I just transferred," Gloria smiled at him. Nate nodded. “What year?” He asked as they walked down the hallway. “Senior”Nate looked at the redhead, shocked. He thought she was younger. She looked sixteen to him. Gloria's smile widened at Nate's shocked expression. “I skipped a few classes,” she explained. “You must be brilliant then,” Nate commented wit