SLADE POVThe Goddess Selene stone.I had heard of the legendary story countless times, and I could recite it off hand.I never knew it was a thing until now. I had assumed it was just folklore told to the members of the moonstone pack.I remembered when Luna Ashley and Alpha Charles would read it as a bedtime story to Summer, Kendall, and me.They'd praise the bravery of the Alpha of Moon Stone pack; Alpha Charles and Luna Ashley wanted Kendall and me especially to be as Brave as he was.Selfless even.The Goddess Selene Stone had existed for centuries, even before the previous Alpha, my father. It was given to the Moon Stone pack by the moon goddess Selene herself.The gem symbolized the goddess's never-ending power in the pack, and it was used to recognize the promise the goddess had made to the pack.According to what I read, the Moon Stone pack was formerly called the Green Moss pack because the land where the pack was located was filled with shrubs, short grasses, and, most impo
WINTER POVI was avoiding Slade.It was obvious.I was sure he knew that as well. I didn't know why, even though it wasn't my intention.Ever since the night of the intruding werewolves, which was yesterday, I had not talked to him again.Aside from what my mother had told me, which I definitely wasn't following, I wanted to figure it out myself.I did not know how long it would take me, but I was sure I'd come to a better answer soon enough.I didn't want to be Slade Luna and make an enemy of Britney. I didn't know how our union would go too. Perhaps, he'd announce me as his second Luna, which was even absurd to me.I didn't want to become a second choice. I had never thought of that.Secondly, I didn't want to turn into a wild werewolf like my mother had said. I couldn't help but think back to all she had told me the night before.I was worried that no matter how hard I tried, even if I rejected Slade, which I knew would be futile since he would take me by force, I would turn to a r
WINTER POV "How do you feel?" Linda asked, touching up my face with the bronzer brush.She was the second person asking me that today and might I add how annoying it was.I had told her not to talk about the coronation ceremony unless I wanted to, but it seemed all I had said and was saying had fallen on deaf ears.I turned to look at the mirror, which was still covered, and then at Linda. She raised her brows, looking expectantly at me."Winter." She murmured. "I know you are worried...""Nervous," I corrected. If there were a better adjective to describe the way I feel, I would use it."I am fucking nervous, Linds. I feel everything will go wrong today." I mumbled, twisting the rhinestones on the bodice of my dress. "And can you not ask me how I feel again? I might be forced to smack you because of how I feel."Linda giggled, catching the hint I didn't want to talk about it. I had joked this way many times to her. And she knew never to ask me a question after that."I'll keep that
WINTER POVI had been by myself for almost thirty minutes. I hadn't seen Linda or even Lisa.I needed someone to talk to badly. Also, I tried my best to avoid two people, no three.Firstly, Britney. I didn't know what I would say to her if we met. She might threaten to kill me as she always did.She might also kill me tonight since I would be taking her place.But I hoped she'd restrain herself until it was over if she felt the urge.Secondly, I didn't want to run into Summer—my sister who never failed to let her evil intention toward me known.I had not seen her, and I believe it was a good sign.I doubted Summer would ever want to miss anything that would put me in a difficult situation. Just like tonight.Lastly, I didn't want to see Kendall. He was just like Summer.The last thing I wanted was someone who believed I had come to take their spot in the family, which was literally mine.Kendall never ceased to astound me. I was glad we weren't identical. His loathing me would have be
WINTER POVI stayed in the dark corner for another minute before I decided to go back to the hall.I was glad no one had noticed when Slade dragged me there, and no one noticed we came out together. So I thought."So, you did it?"I flinched and swirled as Linda interrupted my thought."Fúck you, Linds!" I glared at her."That will be hot if it ever happens." Linda grinned. "But it'll be hotter if you do it with Slade. Don't you think so?"Shít!Did she see us?I glanced around frantically to see if anyone was staring at me weirdly, but I realized they were engrossed in what they were doing; dancing and discussing."Relax, Winter." Linda giggled. "To the answer in your head, I saw you. I saw when he pulled you in."I flushed and attempted to move away because I knew what would happen next. Linda would want to know what we did, and she'd prod me until I told her."I see you are flushed. So, I am right that something happened? Maybe not the séx part, but something happened."I glared. "
WINTER POVThe coronation ended with me still confused. Yet, I saw no one to help me with my confounding thought."Luna Winter." Lisa gushed, and I rolled my eyes.I didn't get crowned alongside Slade; my ceremony got moved to the next week due to the seer collapsing.But then, everyone already knew it was possible. I'd be Slade's Queen, and then the mating ceremony comes after it.I flushed, shaking my head at what would happen during the night of the mating ceremony.I knew it was the usual but different at the same time.I tried not to think about my body and Slade's naked and tangled underneath the duvet.I conjured a weird image of me bent awkwardly with my àss in the air while Slade lodged himself behind me... "Please, no," I mumbled, clearing my thoughts again. It would be difficult not to think about such, and Slade made it even worse by kissing me.The silent promises in the kiss made me tingle over, but I knew it was forbidden.He still belonged to another.I gathered the s
SLADE POVI was unnerved by the prophecy of the seer. And now, I met Britney being her bratty self.I heard everything that was said. Others might not have, but my hearings were sharper than most Werewolves because I was partly a lycan and partly a werewolf.I never believed Britney would show her face after telling her not to.I hadn't purposely dismissed her. I, in fact, wanted her to be part of the coronation ceremony, but she had cursed at me and threatened to disrupt everything.She had threatened to lie to everyone in the pack about me.And the lie was I had forced her to do things she didn't want to. She mentioned me promising her father by taking a blood oath to never replace her with another.A blood oath was known to bind almost anything with the help of a seer.I never took a blood oath with her.I wouldn't say I didn't have the strength to tell her off; I hated that she made me seem cruel.She made it look like I punished her whenever I didn't let her have her way.I was g
SLADE POV Ignoring the glare Winter shot my way, I stood to my feet."Where are you going?!" Britney yelled. "Don't you dare leave me in this room with her!"I walked back toward her and gripped her hand, helping her out of bed.Britney breathed out as soon as her legs touched the ground.Still ignoring Winter, ad she kept staring at me, I halted Britney as she was about to move out of the room."I'm sorry, Britney," I mumbled, pulling her into a hug."You've been apologising since. Is there Something I should know? You've never apologized for this long before." Britney hugged me tighter.I felt her tremble.It was as if she knew what would happen, just like how Winter knew.I shook away the thoughts of not going through away from my head.I was having second thoughts again. Just like the first time she had come to me, it was that instant I should have rejected her.I groaned and murmured, "I'm rejecting you.""W-why?" Britney stuttered. She abruptly disengaged from the embrace and s
WINTER'S POVJoy erupted inside me as I glanced at Slade and Damien-who were now lifeless. For a brief moment, I had thought Slade would be the one in Damien's shoes. I had felt Damien would overpower Slade, considering his immense power, but I was glad it had turned out differently.Gloria screeched, "I'll never forgive you for taking my son from me!""You brought this upon yourself," I said. "You should surrender now that it seems you can't win!""No!" Gloria screamed, almost bursting my eardrums. "I'll never surrender. His death needs to be avenged!" Dark energy enveloped her, emanating an aura of animosity.Gloria's voice thundered through the forest, carrying a raw fury fueled by the essence of darkness. An ominous aura consumed her body; the air crackled with nervous energy.I watched in both awe and apprehension as Gloria underwent a grotesque transformation. Her eyes turned pitch black, and her once-elegant features contorted into a twisted visage of rage. Shadows danced aroun
Slade's POVI shifted uneasily, knowing I shouldn't be in this form. I couldn't help it, though. I didn't want to be the defenceless alpha who always relied on his Luna for help. Even though I had always fought my battles, I felt like most people saw me as weak, barely capable of doing anything.I locked eyes with Damien, and we exchanged growls. But deep down, I almost regretted it. My heart pounded, wildly beating against my rib cage. Being in wolf form made everything even more challenging for me.I turned my gaze towards Winter. Despite being held by Gloria, it seemed like she could free herself from the situation. She looked furious, and I knew most of that anger was directed at me, while the rest was aimed at her ex and his mother."You need to shift back," Winter snarled, her frustration evident. "She said you'll die!"Gloria only laughed in response. I wished I could wipe the grin off her face and make her pay for everything. Pay for killing Britney, especially, and taking my
WINTER POVI had always known that many things could go wrong in one night, but I never imagined it would be this same night. First, the forest became infested with reptiles, making the hunt scarier than I had anticipated. Despite thinking we could manage the situation, the hunters appeared, Slade, got bitten, and now Gloria and Damien had arrived.I never thought I would find myself in a situation like this, struggling in the death grip of the woman who was once my mother-in-law. The last time I saw her, after Slade's victory, she even tried to console my mother. I believed she had our best interests at heart. But learning that she had impersonated people to reach and kill me turned my stomach.I used to admire her and thought she was the perfect Luna, but the crazed look in her eyes just moments ago shattered that illusion. Gasping for breath, I felt her yank harder on my hair. I desperately tried to grip her hand and release her hold, but it only tightened."Fucking shift and kill
SLADE'S POV"What the hell?!" I yelled, glaring at the slime as he kissed Winter.Struggling to stand on my feet; the poison from the snake was making it increasingly difficult. I blinked back the haziness in my eyes, gritted my teeth, and summoned all the strength to confront him."Get your fucking hands and mouth off, my mate!" I bellowed.Winter gasped, her eyes shifting to mine as I hunched over. She approached me and reached out a hand to touch my back, but I shrugged her off."I'm fine," I said, narrowing my eyes. "Why the hell did you let him kiss you like that?!""I let him?" She asked, brows furrowing. As I nodded, she exclaimed, "You saw he forcefully kissed me! I never asked to be kissed, but he did it against my will. So, don't blame me for not reacting quickly—I was taken by surprise!"Of course, I wasn't blaming her, and I wasn't angry with her. I assumed she should have pushed him away at the first opportunity, but maybe I wasn't thinking straight.Winter hissed and att
WINTER'S POVDespite all that I said, Slade didn't budge. He stumbled away from me, running his hands through his hair. "I'm fine, Winter. Just watch where you're standing. We need to deal with this before we leave."I rolled my eyes and clenched my teeth, my gaze drifting up to the full moon. "The poison will spread faster when you shift, and you'll shift sooner than you think."Slade glanced at me and shook his head. "I'm not like the other werewolves, remember? I'm partly a lycan, so I can control my shifting to some extent until the hunt is over."I let out a frustrated breath. No matter what I said or would say, he remained stubborn. I supposed I needed to stay close to him to prevent impulsive actions. Just then, Jude burst into the clearing, growling, and lunged at the hunter's leader next to me before I could stop him.He landed several punches on the leader's face, only stopping to catch his breath."Jude!" I shouted, scanning the other hunters who seemed poised to attack him
WINTER POVI turned to Slade with wide eyes, and he mirrored my expression, staring back at me."What are you all, then?" I blurted out. "Are you not the ones after the pack's MoonStone? I mean, the group of Lycans who fought with the previous Alpha and led him to sacrifice himself?"He nodded grimly. "And we had our reasons for coming after the MoonStone gem." He added, "But we are not the same as those. We belong to a different faction, known as the Bwegbonyu speakers and night hunters. Lastly, we weren't the ones who originally attacked the previous alpha.""This isn't making any sense," Slade voiced my confusion, and I nodded to indicate my agreement."I think we need to explain further. But first, you must understand that we are not the Vordrak Lycans. They pose a threat to everyone in the werewolf world, as well as humans. They are incredibly powerful, second only to gods and goddesses," he explained."Vordrak Lycans?" I murmured, wracking my brain to recall where I might have h
WINTER'S POVI couldn't determine how long I had been peering over Slade's shoulder, but time seemed to crawl, and everything moved slowly. The hunters approached us with eerie smiles plastered across their faces as if they had cornered us exactly where they wanted us. I bit down on my lip, suppressing a groan, while Slade shielded me and prevented me from moving forward."Stay back," he murmured. "They appear formidable."Of course, I was aware of that! I wished I could scream it at him. I wanted to shout that these hunters before us were not the same ones we had encountered on previous occasions. They were doubly stronger, emitting a completely distinct scent, not to mention the crazed expression etched onto their faces."What should we do?" I asked, my fingers twitching and my palms growing clammy. I tightly gripped the hilt of my dagger, clenching my teeth as I contemplated the potential attacks I could launch, all of which could still go awry."We fight," Slade said slowly.Noddi
Winter's POV:We ran tirelessly through the seemingly endless forest, leaping over fallen logs and avoiding reptiles lurking beneath our feet. Although I couldn't see them clearly in the darkness, I could feel their presence as my combat boots brushed against their scaly skin, and their hisses filled the night air. The moonlight cast flickering shadows, making it difficult to discern between reality and imagination. Holding Slade's hand tightly, I relied on his guidance to navigate the treacherous terrain.My heart thumped in my chest, a constant reminder of the imminent danger surrounding us. Adrenaline surged through my veins, urging me to keep pushing forward. Each step I took was a battle against fear and instinct, tempting me to succumb to panic. But I couldn't afford to falter. Not now.As we reached the heart of the woods, Slade abruptly halted, pulling me back as I raced past him. I gasped for breath, my chest heaving, and approached a birch tree, but Slade's firm grip prevent
WINTER'S POVTWO DAYS LATERThe moon hung high in the night sky, casting an eerie glow over the surrounding forest. The anticipation among the Moonstone pack members present was palpable; their breaths came out in shallow huffs as they crouched low to the ground.It was hunting season, and today marked the Moonfest, as it was often called in the Moonstone pack. It was the Hunters Moon festival, and it was a time which happened every October after the harvest moon disappearance. The hunter's moon was the first full moon to have appeared this month, and the festival was a thrilling and transformative nighttime event that showcased the werewolves' connection to the moon and their hunting prowess. I didn't know how it was done in other packs, but Traditionally, only the Deltas and Etas, the warriors of our pack, were allowed to participate. However, Slade's arrival changed everything.Today, we were embarking on something different. Instead of limiting participation to the Deltas and Eta