Lillian stood in front of the mirror, waiting for Melania to show up. She held onto the box holding Melania's soul and closed her eyes, trying to calm her nerves. The Blue Moon wasn't far away, and she was no closer to finding a way for Xenia to accept Mason. So far, Rick hasn't been able to crack his little mate. Suddenly, her thoughts were interrupted as the surrounding candles were set ablaze before an image appeared in the mirror. Lillian opened her eyes to see Melania sitting on a bench under a tree. "Ah, Lill. So nice to see your face," Melania said. Her voice was as sweet as candy. Lillian bowed before her as she felt a ghost of Melania's hand caressing her face. "How is my mate holding out? Keeping him satisfied, I hope." "Of course, Luna. Though…” Lillian hesitated to continue. The one thing she hated more than Mason's indifference was Melania's disapproval. "Lill, tell me now," Melania said as the air in the room seemed to drop in temperature, "before I get angry." "It
Xenia was healing slower than usual but enough for Mason to put her back to work. She couldn't move as much with her injuries and the bandages but was glad to leave the room. Instead of one of the girls coming to get her, Mason sent two warriors in their place. Probably thought it best to send someone she couldn't easily knock out. Though if given a chance, Xenia wouldn't pass it up. She walked in front of them as they shared a hushed conversation behind her. Luckily, they paid her no mind, and she listened well. "Can't believe they stuck us with this human," one of them sneered. "I have better things to do than babysitting." "Tell me about it. I wish I had joined them when they killed all those bandits. It would've been fun getting a few kills under my belt." "I don't know, Bran. Rick said they had magic bombs that made the air taste like blood and dirt. They confiscated them so the Alpha could study them. I saw it in his office, but it didn't look impressive." "That's becaus
Xenia had to remind herself not to cry as she stared at Jane in the doorway. She knew she looked bad but Jane… Jane's eyes were lowered to the ground as silence blanketed the room. Lacey walked over and pulled Jane into a hug. Xenia was frozen, looking over Jane's face, which was heavily made up. Still, the bruises were plain as day. Her eyes were a deep purple, her lip was busted, and a light ring appeared around her neck. Xenia was surprised her face wasn't swollen. As Frieda and Celia walked over to Lacey and Jane, Xenia gripped the island to help her breathe. "I swear that hot bastard needs to be caged like the animal he is," Frieda said. "Fuck that," Lacey yelled. "Someone needs to beat his ass. Give him a taste of his own medicine." "Please," Jane begged softly. "I'm fine. I'm already healing." Jane moved around them until she came to Xenia. "Luna, I'm glad to see you moving around." "Jane..." Xenia could barely speak as Jane bowed and went to her station to prepar
Xenia pulled away from Jane and walked through the door. Lucky for her, Fred and Bran were chatting with the group as she hid the knives behind her back. They hadn't noticed her yet, so the element of surprise was on her side. She could hear Rick speaking to them as they laughed. "Did you see what I did to shut her up?" Rick asked, holding his hand up to demonstrate. That's when the first knife sliced through it like it was butter. It took them a second to realize what had happened before Rick growled and turned towards her. Xenia didn't wait as she threw the second knife, and he blocked with his hand like a dummy. The knife went through like butter, lodging itself in his shoulder. Xenia heard a scream from behind her, and it sounded like Jane. She turned to head back to the kitchen when she felt someone's hands on her shoulder. "How dare you!" Lillian growled as her claws dug into Xenia's skin, causing Xenia to scream out in pain. Without a weapon, Xenia did the only thing she coul
She is perfect, Rodin thought when Xenia stabbed him. He could tell she was scared, but still, she fought him, and that was the biggest turn-on for him. He couldn't help but pull her into a kiss. She was a beast, and he wanted to tame her. Her eyes widened when his lips found hers, and that was precisely what he was going for. She felt her heart pounding in her chest, a mix of surprise and vulnerability washing over her. Confusion clouded her thoughts, and for a second, she felt her body wanting to give in, but she refused. She struggled to escape his embrace, but he held her even tighter. Her hands moved up his side, finding the wounds she had made, and she dug in with her nails. Rodin growled in her mouth, holding her closer and biting her lip just a little in the process. She gasped, and he took this opportunity to plunge his tongue into her mouth. Rodin breathed a sigh against her lips. It was wonderful. The feel of her in his arms, the taste of her lips. At last, he felt at eas
Xenia was in a daze when she returned to the kitchen. "Gurl," Frieda started as soon as they returned to the kitchen, "that was the hottest and craziest scene I've ever seen. A fight and a makeout sesh all in one moment. And did you see what the Alpha's packin'? Pure entertainment..." "I'll say," Lacey laughed. "I've never seen anyone stand up to Rick and Lillian like you did. You're like a little badass human." Xenia saw the girls moving and talking around her. Still, she was oblivious to what they were saying. She sat in the corner, hugging her knees to her chest, rocking herself back and forth. The motion gave her time to analyze the situation. I can't believe he kissed me, Xenia thought, dragging her hands down her face. There was a whirlwind of emotions coursing through her - surprise, uncertainty, and a hint of an internal struggle. A thousand thoughts flooded through her mind, and they all led to the moment his lips met hers. At first, he was rough and dominant, and a sudde
Xenia paced in the kitchen, waiting for Jane to finish cleaning the tables. She was too eager to share the little present she made for Jane earlier. Hopefully, bringing Jane some semblance of happiness. The moment Jane entered the room, Xenia embraced her. It startled Jane slightly as her body remained slacked in Xenia's embrace. "Is everything okay, Luna? You're squeezing a bit tight," Jane said. Xenia let go, and before anything else was said, she went inside the walk-in freezer. Confused, the girls looked at each other before Xenia came out holding a pie. "I know I can do nothing to make up for the other day. I made this for you," Xenia placed the pie o
Trigger: Sexual AssaultThe door had the exact mechanism as her room. Xenia touched the entire door, trying to figure out how to open it. "Only the Alpha and the top warriors have access. Like Lillian, Kane, and Rick," Jane said. "What about you?" Xenia asked. "You're bound to Rick, right? Maybe the power transfers through you too." "I guess I never thought of that," Jane said, walking to the door. She hesitantly placed her hand on the mechanism. It glowed around her hand for a few seconds, then went out. The door remained locked. "Dammit," Xenia yelle
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
Lillian and Rick exchanged glances as Mason stormed into the dining room, his jaw clenched and fists, bloodied and balled at his sides. Lillian knew that meant he was in the dungeons with their shipwrecked guests. Still, she said nothing as he sat down at the head of the table with a force that rattled the silverware on the table. Normally, Lillian would offer him an alternate way to release his tension, but it looked as if even the sound of a fork scraping against a plate might set him off. So, to be safe she was careful with her movements and words.Lillian cleared her throat. “Everything is in place for tonight, Alpha,” she began. “The preparations are nearly complete. The altar has been set, and the ceremonial items are ready.”Mason didn’t respond immediately. His gaze was distant, lost in thought. He reached for a glass of water, his grip tight. Lillian glanced at Rick, who avoided eye contact and focused on his plate. He had seen Mason in these moods before–volatile, unpredicta
The morning of the Red Moon came quicker than Xenia had hoped. She had barely slept through the rest of the night after Mason practically dragged her from the dungeons. She had a bit of solace when something urgent came up and he left her for a while. It wasn’t until later when she felt him enter the room, smelling of earth and blood until he went into the bathroom.Xenia prayed he would leave but that went out the window the moment he climbed into the bed. She moved only for him to grab and pull her into his arms. Xenia pushed against him but he only tightened his hold.“I have to pee,” Xenia lied, preparing to bolt from the bed the moment he let her go.“You lie,” Mason grumbled, his voice drifting off as Xenia sighed into his hold.I’ll just wait until you’re asleep. She thought as she stared at the ceiling, waiting until the shadows in the room seemed to stretch long in the early light, wrapping around her like chains she couldn’t break. What was worse than having a psychotic kidn
Mason walked into the woods far from the packhouse. It was already late and he didn’t like being away from Xenia for too long. His instincts warned him that leaving Xenia alone was a mistake, even if the threats of her friends’ lives kept her in place for now. She was clever, and desperation could make her even more so.Mason paused in his steps, his eyes scanning the darkness ahead. He knew they were close. Lillian and Rick had found something important and refused to let him know until they got back to the packhouse, but Mason was impatient. It was too close to the Red Moon to be left out of the loop.A flicker of movement to his left caught his eye as Lillian emerged from the darkness like a phantom, her eyes blazing with fury. Rick trailed behind her, his expression stoic.“What are you doing here?” Lillain spat with irritation in her voice. “You left her alone.”Mason didn’t flinch under her glare, though her anger was palpable. He knew what she was really angry about. He expecte
Delilah hit the water hard, the icy shock of it stealing her breath. Panic surged within her, a flashback to the last time she had been submerged in the waters from an explosion–a time when death had nearly claimed her. The relentless grip of the ocean, the surrounding darkness, and the crushing weight of the water threatened to drown her in panic. I just have to swim up and I’ll reach the surface. She thought, but her body refused to move. The water was ready to drag her under. Then, in the midst of the chaos, she thought of Xenia. The image of her daughter’s face, strong and resolute, filled her mind, anchoring her in the present. She couldn’t give in to the fear. Not now. Not when they still had a chance to save her baby.Kicking furiously, Delilah forced her way to the surface, gasping for air as she broke through the waves. Her eyes darted around, searching for the others amidst the chaos. Pieces of the boat floated around, and she could barely make out the figures struggling ag
Xenia’s breath hitched as she took in the sight of Lacey, bruised and broken, barely clinging to consciousness. Next to Lacey, sat Frieda in the same condition. Xenia’s nails bit into her skin as her fist tightened from the fierce anger that had been burning inside her. She tried to look away but something wouldn’t let her. The air around her was thick with the scent of blood. She took one shaky step forward, keeping her gaze on Lillian, who had a sickening smile on her face. I want to kill her. I want her dead! Was on repeat inside Xenia’s mind as she got closer to the cell door. I could do it, she thought. I was fast enough to dig my nails into that pretty face of hers. Nova’s power flowed through Xenia and out into the room. She felt Nova pushing her, urging her to act, to tear Lillian apart limb by limb. Every muscle in her body tensed, ready to spring into action.Lillian’s smile was gone now, replaced by a wary glint in her eyes. She had felt the shift of power, the surge of e