Clara let out a low, humorless laugh. “Good. Let her stay clueless. It’ll make things easier when the time comes.”I stepped back, my mind racing. They were talking about me. Whatever they were plotting, I was somehow involved, and it was clear they didn’t think much of me.The door suddenly creaked open, and I barely had time to slip around the corner before Clara and Martha emerged.“You’re sure you’ve got everything handled?” Clara asked, her voice still tinged with doubt.“I said I do,” Martha snapped. “Now stop worrying and act normal.”They parted ways, Clara heading toward the kitchen while Martha turned and walked in my direction.I pressed myself against the wall, holding my breath as she passed by, her expression tense. When she was out of sight, I exhaled slowly, my hands trembling.What in the world are they planning?---Later that afternoon, I found Martha alone in the laundry room, folding linens with an air of forced nonchalance. I needed answers, and I wasn’t about to
Evan was right when he said I was looking for something.Indeed I was.Martha.How could she? She acted all good and nice to my face, only to stab me in the back.I angrily walked through the hallways of the pack house, heading straight for the maids’ quarters.To the room we shared.It was unbelievable.I was sharing the same room, sleeping next to my enemy.The thought churned in my stomach, twisting like a knife. Her words to Clara echoed in my mind, the way she so easily dismissed me, calling me clueless, plotting something that I didn’t fully understand yet.I pushed open the door, the hinges creaking loudly. Martha was sitting on her cot, folding clothes, a soft hum escaping her lips. She looked up, startled, as I entered.“Marcy! You scared me,” she said, placing the shirt she was folding onto the pile. “What’s wrong?”I shut the door behind me and crossed my arms. “You tell me.”Her smile faltered, her brow furrowing. “What are you talking about?”“I overheard you,” I said, my
Martha leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. “Oh, come on. You’ve been spending so much time with him lately. Don’t tell me there’s nothing going on.”“There’s nothing going on,” I insisted, though my voice sounded unconvincing even to me.Martha raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. “You’re blushing, Marcy..”“I am not!” I said, setting the spoon down with a little too much force.“Sure you’re not,” she said, laughing. “So, what did you two do? Talk? Laugh? Stare into each other’s eyes? Kiss? Touch boobs?”I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “We got ice cream, okay? That’s all. You don't exactly have sex in an ice cream parlor or I tell him to oh Evan mark me.”“That isn't so bad.”I cocked my head to the right, “It's just ice cream Martha.”“Okay at where?”“Dream delights ice cream parlor.”Martha gasped, her eyes lighting up. “Oh my goddess! You are so clueless. That’s practically a date! Anyone who goes there knows that's a date.”“It wasn’t a date,” I said firmly
The council chamber was filled with tension so thick it felt like it could shatter at any moment. The long wooden table, carved with the sigil of the Obsidian Pack, sat in the center, surrounded by elders and advisors. Ryker stood at one end, his broad frame rigid, his piercing blue eyes locked onto Evan, who leaned casually against the far wall.I hovered near the door, unsure if I was supposed to be here, but neither of them had told me to leave when I arrived with a tray of water for the elders.“I don’t see why we’re even having this conversation,” Ryker said, his voice a sharp blade cutting through the murmurs. “I’ve led this pack for years without incident. Evan is not ready to take on this responsibility.”Evan snorted, his smirk growing wider. “Right, because ‘without incident’ includes driving the pack into stagnation. Or have you forgotten how you’ve let other packs walk all over us in recent years?”Ryker’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “You don’t know wh
She stood at the edge of the ring, her long auburn hair cascading over her shoulders, her emerald-green eyes glinting in the afternoon sun. She was as poised and stunning as he remembered, her smile delicate and deliberate, like a blade wrapped in silk.“I got in this morning,” Joanne said, stepping closer. “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”Evan stared at her, the whirlwind of emotions inside him shifting. Shock. Confusion. And beneath it all, a twinge of guilt.“You should’ve told me you were coming,” he said, his voice steadier now.She raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. “And miss the chance to surprise you? Never.”Evan ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. He hadn’t seen Joanne in over a year—not since their engagement had quietly dissolved after his mother’s death.“I didn’t think you’d ever come back,” he admitted, his tone softer.Joanne’s smile faltered, a flicker of something unspoken passing through her eyes. “I wasn’t sure if I would,” she said honestly. “Bu
“Have you heard that the alpha house is on fire?” “Fire? But we are in front of the building, I don't see any smoke”“Not literally you idiot. I mean that there has been conflict in the alpha house between Alpha Ryker and his son, Evan” “isn’t Evan supposed to take over as Alpha in a few weeks? What is the conflict all about now?” “Yes, you are right. But I heard that Alpha Ryker is refusing to give him the position on the claims that he is not ready for the responsibility” “Oh my! That's a real house on fire, those two are always at loggerheads since Luna Tira died two years ago. Alpha Ryker is stubborn and headstrong while Evan is rebellious and stubborn too”“Hmmm, It is said that when two elephants fight, it is the grass that suffers. The pack is in trouble…”…I took another bend in my path thereby disconnecting myself from the two elderly women gossiping along the way, I had to listen to them against my wish. None of that mattered to me because I had bigger problems to face
Alpha Ryker and Evan exchanged shocked looks. In fact they were beyond shocked, they were terrified.“Is this a prank, dad? Because it's not funny one bit. What do you mean by mate? She's my mate” Evan said.“Do I look like the type to play pranks, especially on you? Somehow, this omega is my second chance mate” Ryker replied, the confusion clear in his voice.My eyes kept moving across the both of them, I still couldn't believe what was happening or was I dreaming?I have always wished for a mate but this? This was madness, it was just not right. What was the moon goddess thinking? I didn't know if I should be terrified or grossed out… or maybe it was both.Having two mates was considered very rare in the werewolf community, I have only heard of one which was many years ago in books before I was born. It was a mateship between three powerful individuals that birthed the werewolf community and the balance of all creatures of the world. That is why this mateship was incredibly strange
“What?!” I exclaimed in shock and began rushing down myself.“Marcy, come on, wait for me!” I heard Martha call out to me from behind as she tried to keep up with me. She didn't know why I was this anxious, I couldn't let my mates fight and kill each other.Outside was crowded, the entire pack was watching the duel. Once I got there, I struggled to get past the people watching, I could hear their conversations as I walked by. “Who do you think is going to win the duel, Alpha Ryker or Evan?”“Hmm, I stand with Alpha Ryker. He is more experienced in fighting and when it comes to leading the pack, I think he is doing a good job so far”“I disagree. Evan is a prodigy in combat hence his title as commander in chief to the pack's army. Through his current position, we can all see his leadership skills aren't lacking either. He deserves a chance as alpha, Alpha Ryker can't rule forever”…The arguments continued heatedly among the audience, I didn't care about who was alpha or not, all I wa
She stood at the edge of the ring, her long auburn hair cascading over her shoulders, her emerald-green eyes glinting in the afternoon sun. She was as poised and stunning as he remembered, her smile delicate and deliberate, like a blade wrapped in silk.“I got in this morning,” Joanne said, stepping closer. “I thought you’d be happy to see me.”Evan stared at her, the whirlwind of emotions inside him shifting. Shock. Confusion. And beneath it all, a twinge of guilt.“You should’ve told me you were coming,” he said, his voice steadier now.She raised an eyebrow, her smile widening. “And miss the chance to surprise you? Never.”Evan ran a hand through his hair, his mind racing. He hadn’t seen Joanne in over a year—not since their engagement had quietly dissolved after his mother’s death.“I didn’t think you’d ever come back,” he admitted, his tone softer.Joanne’s smile faltered, a flicker of something unspoken passing through her eyes. “I wasn’t sure if I would,” she said honestly. “Bu
The council chamber was filled with tension so thick it felt like it could shatter at any moment. The long wooden table, carved with the sigil of the Obsidian Pack, sat in the center, surrounded by elders and advisors. Ryker stood at one end, his broad frame rigid, his piercing blue eyes locked onto Evan, who leaned casually against the far wall.I hovered near the door, unsure if I was supposed to be here, but neither of them had told me to leave when I arrived with a tray of water for the elders.“I don’t see why we’re even having this conversation,” Ryker said, his voice a sharp blade cutting through the murmurs. “I’ve led this pack for years without incident. Evan is not ready to take on this responsibility.”Evan snorted, his smirk growing wider. “Right, because ‘without incident’ includes driving the pack into stagnation. Or have you forgotten how you’ve let other packs walk all over us in recent years?”Ryker’s jaw tightened, his fists clenching at his sides. “You don’t know wh
Martha leaned forward, resting her chin on her hands. “Oh, come on. You’ve been spending so much time with him lately. Don’t tell me there’s nothing going on.”“There’s nothing going on,” I insisted, though my voice sounded unconvincing even to me.Martha raised an eyebrow, her grin widening. “You’re blushing, Marcy..”“I am not!” I said, setting the spoon down with a little too much force.“Sure you’re not,” she said, laughing. “So, what did you two do? Talk? Laugh? Stare into each other’s eyes? Kiss? Touch boobs?”I groaned, covering my face with my hands. “We got ice cream, okay? That’s all. You don't exactly have sex in an ice cream parlor or I tell him to oh Evan mark me.”“That isn't so bad.”I cocked my head to the right, “It's just ice cream Martha.”“Okay at where?”“Dream delights ice cream parlor.”Martha gasped, her eyes lighting up. “Oh my goddess! You are so clueless. That’s practically a date! Anyone who goes there knows that's a date.”“It wasn’t a date,” I said firmly
Evan was right when he said I was looking for something.Indeed I was.Martha.How could she? She acted all good and nice to my face, only to stab me in the back.I angrily walked through the hallways of the pack house, heading straight for the maids’ quarters.To the room we shared.It was unbelievable.I was sharing the same room, sleeping next to my enemy.The thought churned in my stomach, twisting like a knife. Her words to Clara echoed in my mind, the way she so easily dismissed me, calling me clueless, plotting something that I didn’t fully understand yet.I pushed open the door, the hinges creaking loudly. Martha was sitting on her cot, folding clothes, a soft hum escaping her lips. She looked up, startled, as I entered.“Marcy! You scared me,” she said, placing the shirt she was folding onto the pile. “What’s wrong?”I shut the door behind me and crossed my arms. “You tell me.”Her smile faltered, her brow furrowing. “What are you talking about?”“I overheard you,” I said, my
Clara let out a low, humorless laugh. “Good. Let her stay clueless. It’ll make things easier when the time comes.”I stepped back, my mind racing. They were talking about me. Whatever they were plotting, I was somehow involved, and it was clear they didn’t think much of me.The door suddenly creaked open, and I barely had time to slip around the corner before Clara and Martha emerged.“You’re sure you’ve got everything handled?” Clara asked, her voice still tinged with doubt.“I said I do,” Martha snapped. “Now stop worrying and act normal.”They parted ways, Clara heading toward the kitchen while Martha turned and walked in my direction.I pressed myself against the wall, holding my breath as she passed by, her expression tense. When she was out of sight, I exhaled slowly, my hands trembling.What in the world are they planning?---Later that afternoon, I found Martha alone in the laundry room, folding linens with an air of forced nonchalance. I needed answers, and I wasn’t about to
The following days passed in a haze of paranoia and determination. The journal and the pendant never left my side, tucked safely in my satchel. I spent every free moment deciphering my mother’s words and studying the map, though its symbols and annotations still eluded me. Each step forward felt like peeling back another layer of the lies that had shrouded my life for so long.Clara and Martha, meanwhile, were becoming more vigilant. Their whispered conversations were shorter, their movements sharper. It was as though they sensed I was onto them. I avoided them as best I could, but I knew it was only a matter of time before they made their move—or I made mine.One evening, I found myself back in the library, poring over old texts in the hopes of matching the symbols on the map to anything in the archives. The room was silent, the faint scent of aging paper filling the air. I’d nearly given up when a faint scuff of boots on the wooden floor made me freeze.I looked up to find Ryker sta
Their words sent a jolt through me. Playing the victim? What was right under my nose? My pulse quickened as I pressed harder against the door, trying to catch every word. The conversation was laced with a tension that hinted at something deeper than petty gossip.“We need to move quickly,” Clara said after a moment of silence. “If the Elder keeps poking around, it’s only a matter of time before he puts the pieces together.”Elder? Were they talking about Solas? My heart sank. What could they possibly be involved in that connected to him—and, by extension, to me?Martha sighed. “I know. But if we rush, we’ll make mistakes, and mistakes mean exposure. We’ve waited this long; a few more days won’t hurt.”Clara wasn’t convinced. “We’re running out of time. If she remembers anything—if she finds out what really happened—”“We’ll handle it,” Martha interrupted, her voice sharp with finality. “Just stick to the plan.”I stepped back from the door, my mind racing. What were they talking about
I was giggling to myself as I rushed to get some drinks. The festival had done something strange to me, lifted a weight I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying. For the first time in what felt like forever, I felt light. Even the lingering tension between Ryker and Evan had faded from my thoughts as I wove through the bustling crowd.Grabbing two mugs of cider from a nearby stall, I turned to head back when I nearly collided with someone.“Oh, I’m sorry—” I began, stopping short as I looked up.The man before me was older, his face lined with deep wrinkles that spoke of years of wisdom and hardship. His sharp, amber eyes seemed to pierce straight through me, and a long, silver beard framed his weathered face.“Marcelline,” he said softly, his voice gravelly yet calm.I blinked, the sound of my name from his lips catching me off guard. “Do I know you?”He gave a small, knowing smile. “Not directly. But I knew your parents.”The world around me seemed to slow, the sounds of the festival fadi
The pack festival was a grand affair, transforming the normally quiet grounds into a bustling scene of celebration. Lanterns hung from trees, casting a warm golden glow over the crowd. The scent of roasted meat and spiced cider filled the air, and laughter echoed from every corner.I walked cautiously through the festival, Martha at my side, her excitement palpable.“Isn’t this amazing?” she said, her eyes sparkling as she took in the sights. “It’s like the whole pack has forgotten their troubles for one night.”“Not everyone,” I murmured, noticing the occasional scowl or whispered comment directed my way.Martha looped her arm through mine. “Ignore them, Marcy. Tonight, you’re here to have fun.”Easier said than done. I tried to focus on the lively music and the colorful stalls, but the weight of the pack’s disapproval clung to me like a shadow.As we passed a group of warriors gathered around a large bonfire, I spotted Ryker and Evan standing off to the side, deep in conversation. R