Delilah couldn't remember how she got back into her cell. Everything and everyone around her seemed to be at a distance. The only thing replaying in her mind was the sight of her daughter. Xeni. In pain and screaming, and there was nothing Delilah could do. The memory of Fredrick's death flashed in her mind. The words he spoke plagued her. You will not fall apart...I did not marry a weak woman. His words brought more tears from her eyes. She felt the same as she did then. Hopeless. "Forgive me, Fredrick," Delilah cried before covering her mouth to stifle her sobs. Tears fell down her face as she held herself. "Who is Fredrick?" Princess Aidy held out a wet cloth Delilah took to clean her face. Delilah smiled. "He is...was my husband. Died a long time ago." "Oh, I'm sorry." "It's fine," Delilah said, patting Princess Aidy's hand. "I've enjoyed every single moment with him. Good and bad. Now I'm just biding my time until we meet again." He would be so disappointed, Delil
A couple of guards carried boxes into the room down the hall. Delilah noticed the Royal seal on the boxes, and by the gasp from Princess Aidy, so did she. After the guards entered the room, Princess Aidy was the first to speak. "This is bad," she said to them. "What are those," Delilah asked. "Those boxes are from our armory. I remember sneaking into one and seeing those exact boxes." "What's in the boxes," Princess Clara asked. "Something that could bring down a pack of wolves in less than a minute." "I didn't know humans could do that," Princess Clara said. "Almost like they are preparing for a war." They became quiet as the guards locked the door to the room and exited the dungeons. "Maybe we could use it to our advantage. This pack is full of werewolves, right? We can use whatever is in those boxes to create a path to freedom," Delilah suggested. "At least for you two." Princess Clara waved her hands in the air. "Hello, werewolf here. Whatever is in those boxes
Burnt bodies, blood, and feces was the only thing Micah could smell in the air. He stood at the top of the hill, overlooking the carnage before him. They have been following leads of attacks reported by Commander Duche for a week now, and this was the third settlement they've encountered like this. It was small, but Micah knew it well from many of his journeys. It was one of the few settlements that were integrated. The people and werewolves lived in harmony, which has turned into this. Death and ash. "Didn't think we would find this many settlements like this." Micah turned to the voice and watched as Lieutenant Duche joined him. Micah didn't respond as he turned back to the scene. His people were piling up the bodies on one side of the settlement. So far, they have found twenty bodies. Men, women, children, humans, and werewolves alike. "Strange how Commander Duche recommended this particular path," Micah said. He could feel a hint of anger in his tone and was unapologetic. He
"Xenia is my mate," Micah finished. "That fact is undeniable." "So what? If she decides she doesn't want you as a mate, you will force her like your brother," Cristobal accused as he took another step toward Micah. "OoOo, girls, go get me a chair," Serif geeked. "I think it's about to get good." Micah closed his eyes, feeling Roman wanting to set this man straight. Micah took a deep breath before opening his eyes with a strained smile. "I would never do that," Micah said, stepping towards Cristobal to close the distance. Cristobal laughed harshly. "Said every abuser." "He is pissing me off," Roman growled. "I will give you the benefit of the doubt, Cristobal, because you don't know me. So, let me give you a clue. I don't have to force anyone to do anything for or with me," Micah said, flexing his muscles. "I wouldn't need to." The men were chest to chest now. Micah's hands flexed at his side while Cristobal rested his hand on his sword. Serif sat back with a cocktail in hand,
The sunlight peeked through the half-drawn curtains, waking Delilah from her nap. She glanced at Xenia, who hadn't moved since Mason let her in a week ago. The guards tried taking Delilah back to the dungeons, but she pleaded with Mason to let her stay by her daughter's side. Mason hesitated until Lillian reminded him it was for the best. Delilah wanted to thank her but remembered she was the woman who kidnapped her in the first place. So now here she was, waiting for her daughter to wake up. "And you will wake up," Delilah said as she grabbed Xenia's hand and placed her other hand on Xenia's forehead. She took a cold towel to wipe away the sweat on Xenia's brow. Xenia's body temperature was hotter than usual, and the bed she was lying in was already soaked through. Delilah feared the fever would get worse if she didn't do anything. However, Mason informed her that werewolves could withstand temperatures far greater than most species. Werewolf? Delilah didn't want to point out t
Mason took a moment to gather himself as he stared at Xenia. Her eyes moved around the room until they landed on Delilah, and she placed a hand on Delilah's cheek. Delilah cuddled against Xenia's hand, and jealousy rose in Mason so quickly he had to grip the table's edge to keep from moving to her. He could hear the wood splintering under his hand as he watched them. Delilah moved again, and he silently prayed she wouldn't wake up. He had enough drama for the day and wanted nothing more than an outlet. An outlet consisted of him ripping every piece of clothing from Xenia's body, laying her on the bed, opening her thighs, and thrusting each long, thick inch of him inside her. That thought alone had his cock hardening against his thigh. He wanted her attention all to himself, even though a part of him felt conflicted. Melania. What would she say if she saw him lusting after another? She would most definitely kill that person before turning her wrath onto him. She had never had a
Mason almost panicked at the thought of Xenia being out of her mini coma. She's been sleeping for at least a week yet somehow found the strength to cuddle with him. Unless… "Rodin, did you…" "Of course not," Rodin growled at him. "Really? It's just a coincidence you have a dream of her, and now she's like this. Did you move her?" "We," Rodin stressed, "dreamed of her, and I did not. We woke up like this." Mason knew he was telling the truth, but still, her body was covering parts of him. Did we move her without knowing? Mason wondered as he stared down at her still form. She was still asleep, but her breath was just as erratic as theirs. She can feel us through the bond. The light from the moon was slowly peering through the curtains. It could explain why Rodin was able to take control so easily. Stupid moon. Mason pushed forward to gain control as he moved her. He slowly got out of bed, making sure not to wake her. Though waking his mate would not be such a terrible idea for Ro
The sound of girlish laughter echoed through the room as Melania moved around her space. "I can't believe I got a chance to touch and feel him close to my body," Melania gushed. Micah was still on her mind, and now, more than ever, she wanted to be free. Her love for him has never faltered, even if he was the one that betrayed her. She didn't want to think of that now. He still had feelings for her, no matter how much he denied it. She could feel it. The Red Moon was less than a month away, and that felt more like a lifetime. Melania spun around and saw the conflicted look on Lillian's face. "Aw," Melania pouted. "Don't tell me you're still mad it wasn't you that Nova bonded with?” "I'm not," Lillian said unconvincingly, rolling her eyes and crossing her arms while Melania laughed about the whole situation. “Lill, what would your mate say if I allowed that to happen?" Melanias asked, teasingly. “She would be fine with whatever I do." Lillian glanced over her shoulders to the
As the morning sun filtered through the curtains, casting a soft glow over the room, Xenia slowly opened her eyes to find herself lying in her room. She quickly sat up in bed, looking around. Was she dreaming? She had to be. That was the only explanation. She jumped out of bed and ran to the bathroom to look in the mirror. She was the same as she was before. She pinched herself thinking she was dreaming but she felt pain.What the hell?She absentmindedly touched her face, arms, and hair. Unable to believe where she was. She tried remembering where she was before. Melania. The fight. Nova. She had to get back and…“Xeni?”Xenia’s inner thoughts stopped and she froze. She looked towards the doorway, willing herself to move but her body was shaking with emotions.“Mother?”As if on cue, Delilah appeared in the doorway with a smile on her face. “There you are? What is taking you so long? Put on some clothes and come to breakfast.”Delilah turned to leave but Xenia grabbed her and pulled
Delilah caught Jane before she fell to the floor. Jane gazed over Rick’s lifeless body, her body trembling of what had just happened before. before letting out a heavy sigh.“I knew this was going to hurt, but damn,” Jane laughed. “You would think I would be used to pain.”“Jane, what’s going on?” Delilah asked.“Later,”Jane said with one last look at Rick before shaking her head. “We have to get to the others.”“Agreed,” Archie said, gripping the hilt of his sword. “No delays. Where are the others?”Jane pointed in the direction of the dungeon cells. “Cells are down that way, but we’re not the only ones down here.”On cue, a loud crash could be heard through the tunnels. The group raced forward, coming to a scene of pure chaos. Lacey, Friend, and Danny were in the middle of an all-out brawl against several guards. Lacey was throwing punches like a rabid beast, while Frieda and Danny–both laughing wildly–used each other to break through. Danny swung Frieda around like a rag doll while
The saturated color of the surrounding trees and landscape looked all too familiar when Xenia woke up in the spirit realm. Yet, something felt off. The hues were darker and the shadow loomed over the entire space. Mist swirled around her ankles, and the air carried an otherworldly hum that seemed to resonate in her chest. For a brief moment, the feeling frightened her.“You are finally awake,” a voice called out.Xenia turned to see Nova, moving towards her. Nova’s white fur shimmered like freshly fallen snow under the moonlight and darkness.“Nova,” Xenia breathed, relief washing over her. “I forgot how this felt. Though, it looks different.”“Dark forces are involved here, Xenia,” Nova said, lowering her head slightly, her ears twitching in agitation. “Melania’s presence is growing stronger.”Xenia’s stomach tightened. The name alone sent a chill through her body. Her hands curled into fists, looking around the area for a sign. “Where is she?”“Close,” Nova growled. “Be on guard.”“
The clash of metal against metal echoed through the kitchen as Jane ducked, barely dodging the swing of the spiked chain now wielded by Rick.Rick grinned as he twirled the chain like a predator with a toy. “You thought you were clever. Wielding this chain like you had a chance against me. Haven’t you had enough today?”Jane was breathing hard, her muscles aching from the fight, but still she laughed, shaking her head. “Obviously not, if I’m defying you again, but you know what Rick. I don't care what you do to me anymore. I will be free from you whether you like it or not.”“Don’t test me, Jane.”He swung the chain and Jane ducked as it hit the plates just above her. The glass sprayed everywhere causing a few cuts on her arms. She moved back against the counter, and her hand grazed the surface, feeling for anything useful. Her fingers brushed against something cold and metal–a pie tin. Her heart leaped as she remembered its contents. The silver and wolfsbane pie she’d baked earlier,
The path they took wasn’t going to the dungeons but through the Alpha’s secret hideaway in his office. The sudden change as they entered the small cave made Xenia’s stomach tighten. “Where are we going?” Xenia asked, her voice more high-pitched than she liked. The warriors remained silent, their faces unreadable as they waded through the icy water to reach the other side. Xenia’s heart raced, her pulse pounding in her ears. The dim, suffocating tunnel brought back the memories of her escape with her mother. Her breath hitched, and her legs faltered as the faint echoes of her mother’s screams mingled with the falling of debris.“Xenia,” Nova’s voice rumbled in the back of her mind, firm but soothing. “They did this on purpose. Fight through it. Breathe.”Xenia gritted her teeth, drawing strength from Nova’s presence as she struggled to keep moving. The warriors exchanged glances but said nothing, their grip tightening to keep her moving. Nova’s presence swirled protectively around he
Jane waited until all the warriors had left for the ritual before making her way through the halls of the packhouse. Her fist tightened around the key wrapped in a note she received from one of the guards–a man with a creepy obsession with Frieda. Jane thought it was a trap set by Lillian, but at the moment, she didn’t have any other option. “They locked Lacey and Frieda in the west wing, the room with the black doors. After the feast.”Jane cursed under her breath again. The west wing was desolate, but she knew there would be a guard or two stationed there. As she approached the main staircase, she slowed her pace, her ears catching the faint murmurs of voices below. She peeked over the railing and spotted two warriors stationed at the bottom of the steps. Sneaking past them was impossible. She needed a distraction. She looked around and noticed a small statue perched on a pedestal. Quietly, she slipped toward it, her heart pounding. With much more effort than she anticipated, she
This worked way better than expected. Lillian thought as she strode into the room where Mason lay, his muscular arms wrapped protectively around a trembling Xenia. She twirled the little pouch to break the spell, seeing the control Melania had over him was still in effect. Though if it was up to her, Lillian would let the effect last as long as she could. She approached the side of the bed where Xenia was looking straight ahead, her eyes wide with unshed tears. Lillian crouched down, her face level with Xenia’s. When Lillian’s hand reached out to brush a strand of Xenia’s hair back, Xenia flinched, but Mason’s grip kept her in place.“You brought this on yourself, you know,” Lillian mused. “All you had to do was cooperate.”“Fuck… you,” Xenia stuttered.Lillian laughed. “I think we both know who just got fuck. What? You can’t handle a bit of rough play?”Xenia wanted to reach out and claw Lillian’s face but Mason had her locked down. Lillian crouched, meeting Xenia’s angry gaze with
**TRIGGER: ASSAULT**Xenia’s fingers brushed the cold windowpane as she gazed out into the night, the Red Moon hung ominously in the sky. Its crimson glow bathed the landscape in an unsettling light, a reminder of the ritual to come. Tonight, everything will change. She could feel the weight of it pressing down on her. No matter how much Nova tried to reassure her that everything was going to be okay.“Do you feel that?” Nova asked. Xenia knew what she was talking about. There was power in the air. Something that seemed to call to the both of them. Or more like someone.“Mason?” Xenia asked.“No. Micah.”Xenia closed her eyes, searching in the darkness for something to hold on to. Was he really here? Was she really saved? A hand on her shoulder shook her from her thoughts as Tammy stood behind her with her dress.“Everything is safely tucked in, Luna,” Tammy said, laying the dress on the nook bench. Xenia exhaled slowly, gripping the towel wrapped around her as if she was cold, but
Mason stood in the dimly lit chamber, the flickering light from the torches casting shadows on the stone walls. In front of him, chained to opposite walls, were Micah, with bruises all over his body, and Cristobal, bound and barely conscious, yet still seething with defiance.Rick stood silently by the door, arms crossed, his eyes flicking between the three of them, awaiting orders.Mason tapped his fingers on the hilt of the knife he held, lazily spinning it in his grip as if it were a mere toy. He paced back and forth in front of his captives, stopping occasionally to inspect them with a twisted sense of amusement. "So, plans, dear brother. Let's discuss those. I’m sure you didn’t crash my little party just for a scenic tour of the dungeon." He stopped abruptly, crouching in front of Micah, his smirk twisting into something crueler. “Or are you going to let our brave soldier boy here spill his guts for you?”Micah didn’t respond. His breathing was labored, but his eyes—those damn e