SLADEPerhaps, I shouldn't have acted in that manner. Maybe I should have kept calm and done it civilly and maturely way.But was I sorry for the scene that was created? No!I wasn't sorry, and I wanted this duel to happen. I'd never give up on Winter. Contrary to what people thought and how they stared at me now, I didn't care.A Cord took my first mate, and I wouldn't let that happen to my second chance mate.Fúck, I'd rather die than watch everything destroy before me.I kicked the door to my room open and walked towards my drawers, pulling them open. I didn't know what I was looking for in it, but I gripped the first cloth I saw.I couldn't precisely duel in a suit.A soft knock sounded on the door, and I frowned, walking towards it."It is I." I heard Winter say, and I opened the door swiftly and tugged her in before shutting the door."Did you know about arranged marriage? Was that the reason you've been acting all clingy to me?""I am as surprised as you are. Mother never told
SUMMER POV"How do you feel making the atmosphere as tense as this? I'm sure you are over joyous."Winter raised her face to stare at me. The urge to claw at her face and eyes filled me.I wanted to make her hideous, so no one would ever stare at her.I desired to do many awful things to her, but I settled on the taunts."Leave me alone, Summer. I am in no mood to speak to you.""You agreed you are just an attention-seeking witch? What did you do back there? Now everyone's going to assume that's how we do all the fucking time! See my friend staring at me with disgust all because of you.""I didn't ask your friends to do that, and I wasn't the one who made everyone look at you in that manner." She murmured.Winter stood to her feet and attempted to walk away. I yanked her back by her hair and wrapped her hair around my hand."You brought shame to this family, Winter. It would help if you left when I told you to. Why the fuck didn't you?!""Let go of me!" She grunted and struggled in my
WINTER POVI stayed in my room for a long time. I didn't want to see anyone. I didn't feel like it. After rejecting Slade and announcing my marriage to Prince Damien, I dashed inside.I couldn't bare to see the pain in Slade's eyes. I couldn't bare to see the questions and then his eyes going from being tender to being cold instantly as if he didn't know who I was.Shit!I caused it. I did. If only I had more say and power. If only I could control everything. But I was powerless.I grasped my pillow to block out the noise from outside. Whoever it was was knocking; I didn't think they thought of stopping now.The door opened, and I peeked from underneath the pillow.It was Luna Ashley. She stayed by the door, clearing her throat softly, perhaps to announce her presence before walking towards me.The bed dipped as she sat on it. I felt her hand caress my hair."It's for the best." She murmured. "Having you marry one of the strongest families will form a great ally between the two packs.
SLADE POV"I can't stay here," I mumbled over again. I needed to leave. I didn't know how I'd sneak out without getting caught, but I couldn't stay in the pack anymore.What was the need? My mate had rejected me, and I had no purpose anymore.Before now, I had been planning to leave to find my path and get some answers.I wanted to know a lot of things about myself and the reason I was sent to an orphanage at an early age. I was told someone in royal apparel brought me, but his face couldn't be recognized.He was my supposed father and told them to keep me safe. He had freaking said he was coming for me but never did.I desired to know why he did that and who my mother was.I wanted to know why I could barely shift and why my wolf was different from every other werewolf whenever I got to shift. I desired to see a lot of things, and I knew only one of my parents or two of them could provide me with an answer.I guess only then I'd have some peace within myself.But I didn't know where
TWO YEARS LATERMOONSTONE PACK COPPERBORROW, THIRD DISTRICTWINTER POV"I checked that pup out already." I pointed to a brown-haired baby wrapped in a pink swaddle."Thank you, Miss; he seems better now." The baby's mother, Rachel, said as she bounced him.I smiled, wiping the sweat from my face before standing to my feet. I had been sitting for about three hours.I hadn't had much rest because many pregnant women frequented the pack house this day.Aside from being married to the Beta, Damien Cord, I was part of the medics in the pack, the Phi. Might I add I held the highest rank in the Phi.It wasn't because I was the Beta's wife; it was because I was knowledgeable in the field.As soon as I graduated from high school, I was allowed to go to college to pursue my passion. It had been a surprise that Damien allowed that because he was a bit possessive and barely let me out of his sight, except when he went for missions or other pack business.I instantly opted in to be a doctor becau
WINTER POV"Damien," I mumbled, trying to move my mouth out of his reach, but he pulled me closer to him more, and I heard him groan."I am not in the mood for this. I'm rather exhausted and would like to rest," I said after being able to use my mouth again.Damien furrowed his brows as he accessed me, and he chuckled. "Why would you think I care if you are in the mood for it or not?"Well, for once, I knew he didn't. I was only hoping he'd let me be.I sighed, attempting to sit up and leave the bathtub, which was beginning to look too small, but Damien tugged me back, making me straddle him.His hand gripped my buttocks, squeezing hard, and he whispered. "Your due is to me in all parts of the house. Your exhaustion means nothing to me."I opened my mouth to speak, but instead of words coming out, I gasped as a finger slipped into my pússy."Goodness, I can't believe you're still tight after two years of fúcking nonstop!" Damien said. He was vulgar, and I was not too fond of his words.
WINTER POVAccording to what I understood about the Alpha ball, all Alphas from each pack and district gathered together.It was the time of the year for the Alpha of all Alphas, the most powerful werewolf, and leader of all werewolf would come to visit.He would inspect each pack after having a meeting with the Alphas.It was the Moonstones pack's turn to welcome the Alpha of all Alphas. All alpha would come to have a ball before the inspection would begin.I didn't want to attend such an event except that Damien was hellbent on showing me off to everyone.I rolled my eyes as several girls glared at me. It was the usual, and I was used to it. I had even received a death threat from some even after knowing Damien was my mate; they made sure to rub it in my face that he only agreed to mate with me to expand the territory.I didn't know how people got to figure it out, but I was aware it could only be the job of one bitch.Summer.I hadn't seen her in two years and might I add, it was t
SLADE POV"How long will you keep zoning out?!" Britney gripped my hand. She narrowed her eyes at me. "You barely give me attention."I sighed and stared at her. Her big brown eyes blinked, and she grumbled. "You promised never to do this again. Yet, it is happening.""You promised to be on your best behaviour." I reminded her, and she rolled her eyes."I have been on my best behaviour, but I have gotten nothing for it. I feel you bring me here to make a mockery of me.""Britney," I mumbled, watching her lip tremble. Her eyes brimmed with tears, and she sniffled."You don't have to do this here." I knew all the tactics. Back at home, she would throw tantrums and demand I give her attention.She was about to do the same right away. As I doubt, it would sit well with anyone. The last thing people needed at the party today was a tantrum from a pregnant Luna."It's about her. I'm talking about your supposedly lost mate. She's here, and you are reacting to her scent?!"Thanks to Summer's b
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