Xenia paced back and forth in front of the window, listening to the rustling sound of the hem of her dress at every turn. Tammy, the seamstress, made her a pretty crimson dress that flowed to the floor with some black leather boots. It wasn't her clothing style, but she was content with finally wearing something decent that fit perfectly.
The past few days have been nothing but a boring routine. She would wake up to breakfast being served by the devil himself. She bathed before slipping into one of the three dresses Tammy made her. She tried looking for anything to use as a weapon, but they were meticulous about what to have in the room. Then, she would wait for Mason to return with lunch and clean up breakfast. She made sure to stay as far away from him whenever he came. Finally, he would return for dinner and ask her the same question every night.
Xenia tried folding her arms, but doing so would mean touching him. So she looked everywhere else but him. "So what if I did?" Mason chuckled before reaching up to stroke her burning cheek. She moved to push him away, but the touch made the burn almost nonexistent, and she felt herself leaning into it. God damn you, body. Don't do this. She squeezed her eyes together momentarily, thinking of Cristobal and how the monster before her killed him. "Get away from me." She tried pushing him, but instead, his hands covered hers. "Why, Xenia?" "Because
"Xenia is fine." Lottie kept reminding herself as she paced in front of a door in the infirmary. Her hair was pulled back into a messy ponytail, and her eyes looked like she hadn't slept in weeks. She kept looking at the closed door before her, whispering to herself. Her mind was racing with thoughts of her friend, who had been missing for a few weeks. After that day, Lottie has been waiting at the infirmary. Waiting for news about Cristobal. He suffered from many broken bones, internal bleeding, and a concussion. Nurses were surprised he was even alive. Lottie inquired about his memory, and they told her there was a possibility of him remembering nothing. They would have to wait and see how he recovered, but that was a possibility Lottie couldn't accept. The door to Cristobal
Delilah stood a few feet away, holding Xenia's axe to her chest while Lottie and Spencer hovered over the wolf she found. She knew by the color of its fur and the scar above its eye it was Illipio. The mangy little wolf her daughter adopted. She knew it was in bad shape by the gashes on its body. She silently hoped it had nothing to do with Xenia until she found the axe beside the wolf's body. Her heart sank when she saw blood covering the axe, but she refused to believe the worst. Xenia wasn't dead. She can't be, Delilah kept saying to herself. "Miss Delilah." Lottie lightly touched her shoulder, breaking Delilah out of her thoughts. "Are you okay?" Delilah nodded slowly. "Well, Illipio has seen better days, but he will survive. We're going to take him in to get some help." Lottie looked down at the axe Delilah was holding, and with her senses, she could tell the blood on the axe wasn't Xenia's. "Miss Delilah, can I borrow the axe? We can see if the scent will lead us to more
Lottie paced in front of the Alpha's office. She was trying her best to calm down, but what she discovered was replaying in the back of her mind. The moment she left Delilah, she felt terrible. She didn't want Delilah to be alone, so she turned the carriage around and headed back to the cabin. When she got there, it was empty even though Delilah's carriage was still nearby. Lottie searched the house but could only find Xenia's axe, the drawn picture of the guy who possibly took her, and the scent of fresh blood. Delilah's blood. She spent the next hour or so trying to trace Delilah and returned to the road heading south. Same as Xenia. This was becoming a nightmare. So now, here she was, waiting for the person with the best chance of helping them find Xenia and Delilah. "Hey, it's going to be fine," Spencer said while rubbing her arms, but Lottie couldn't relax. Even with the mate's bond, she felt anxious and scared. She was so wrapped up in her thoughts she nearly jumped
Alpha Micah raised an eyebrow, curious about how this could concern him. Lottie went to hand the sketch and axe to Alpha Micah, but Laurie froze the items in the air. A white glow surrounded the items as Laurie stepped up to inspect them. "Sorry," Laurie smirked. "I like to inspect things before the Alpha touches them. You understand?" Alpha Micah sighed, but still, the smile on his face didn't falter. "I apologize. Laurie can be a bit suspicious of everyone.""Oh no, I understand," Lottie replied hastily. "I mean, we've never met before, and I'm not sure how much you trust Spencer, but even I would be suspicious too. There are so many ways to transfer poison onto things, and with werewolves, it's much easier to...""Lottie," Spencer interrupted. "I think we all get it."Lottie finally noticed the suspicious look on Laurie's face as Alpha Micah laughed at her ramblings."I'm sorry," Lottie said with a small smile. "It's been a rough." The magic around the items glowed briefly bef
Mate? As soon as Lottie said that word, a familiar pang blossomed in Micah's chest. It was the only thing that crippled him right down to his very soul. It hasn't been long since the execution of his first mate, Melania. The painful breaking of their bond was still fresh in his mind. 'You will never be rid of me. You will always belong to me and only me.' That was the first thing Melania said when he broke their bond, and as much as he didn't want to admit it, she was right. Parts of him still felt attached to her. A thin connection making even the slightest thought of her pulled at his heart. Micah knew it was because of Roman's connection to Nova. There was nothing he could do about that. Micah took a few calming breaths. Even though Lottie's words hit him hard, she had a point. If this woman was really his mate, then it was in his blood to want to protect her. No matter what the circumstances. Though she was human. The fact made Micah a bit uncomfortable. He had no qualms with
Laurie couldn't help the surprised look on her face. Edmund's question was too coincidental. How could they know about Mason? How did they know about him kidnapping a princess before them? Laurie watched Edmund's face as he continued. Something didn't feel right, and she was glad she wasn't the only one who felt that way. Micah smiled at Edmund's accusation. "Is this confirmed or just a speculation, Commander," Micah asked smoothly. "I would hate to believe you would give chase to such a rumor without evidence." Edmund walked around the room, looking at nothing with his hands clasped behind his back. Archie stayed in place, his eyes shifting between everyone in the room, lingering on Laurie sometimes. "Of course not," Edmund laughed. "Just wanted to see how you reacted to the information. Though, there were reports that Princess Aidy was last seen at the Century War celebration near one of your towns. Ornxville." "Ornxville is at least a day's ride away from here, Commander,
Xenia threw another glass of water at the door as the guard retreated. She tried escaping again after Mason tried his version of flirting with her. She got him close enough to knee him straight into the balls and bolted out the door into the arms of two guards. She hated how fast they were and struggled as they brought her back into the room to an angry Mason. She thought this was it. Mason was going to get rid of her for sure this time. Really, how much assault could he take from her? Surprisingly, he laughed before leaving the room. That part pissed her off. The longer she stayed here, near him, made her resolve to leave weaker. A part of her wanted him closer, his nearness, his touch. It was driving her insane. Her only hope was to remind herself why she was brought here and what she had been through. She sat by the window, glaring at the full moon with its tint of blue hanging in the sky. It was one of the most prominent moon sightings she'd ever seen. She could make out every
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
The cannon ripped through the side, sending vibrations through the ship and rattling the planks and bolts.“What the hell!” Micah yelled over the noise. “Did you signal them to attack us?”“No,” Archie responded, looking just as confused as the panicked crew. “This is all wrong.”“Maybe they attacked because we’re onboard,” Eric suggested.“How would they know?” Archie asked. “This is a civilian ship with King Gerald’s flag colors.”Another cannon exploded above them. Gunpowder filled the air and like before Micah could taste the silver. Before he called out to Laurie, she already created a whirlwind to keep it away from the crew, especially the wolves.“I think your notion that they don’t know werewolves are on board is wrong Lieutenant,” Micah growled.“I don’t understand,” Archie said in disbelief.“It doesn’t matter what you don’t understand,” Laurie yelled. “Just know right now we are being attacked!”The crew sprang into action, each member knowing their role as Micah and his te
Lottie paused mid-pace, her glare sharp enough to peel paint. “Just great. Now we have two lovesick puppies on this boat.”“Better two puppies than one seasick alpha, amirite,” Spencer quipped, trying to lighten the mood. Silence greeted him like an old, unfriendly acquaintance. “Tough crowd,” he muttered, looking around for a lifeline, None came.The boat swayed gently as the crew exchanged uneasy glances. Delilah emerged from the cabin, stepping right into the middle of the Micah-Cris showdown brewing on deck. Micah, who swayed in perfect time with the boat, looked both determined and like he might hurl at any moment. Despite Eric steadying him like a weary mother holding up a toddler, Micah’s glare at Cris was unwavering.Cris’s laughter broke up the tension. “You can’t be serious, right?”His arms crossed, voice dripping with disbelief. “You realize we’re still together. Have been for a while now. You can’t think you can just come in and break up something as real as what we have.”
Micah stood at the edge of the pier, watching the water lap at the edge of the boat. Sweat was building across his forehead as he took a deep breath, steeling himself to walk across the plank leading up to the boat. The salty tang of the sea filled his nostrils, and the sound of the water was anything but comforting.“Alpha, we have to go!” Laurie’s voice rang out from the haul, carrying a note of urgency. Her usual calm was slipping. “Just pretend it’s a moving house!”Micah growled low in his throat, frustration evident in his tone. His usual bravado was faltering, replaced by a rare vulnerability. “Wow, thanks for that, Laurie. Super helpful. If I hurl, it’s going to be your fault.”“Can’t believe the big bad Alpha is afraid of boats,” Cris laughed, his amusement clear. “This is priceless.”Lottie, standing beside him, quickly hit him across the shoulder. “Said the guy who once jumped on Xenia’s back in the dead of night, screaming like a banshee,” Lottie shot back, a smirk playing
Xenia’s heart pounded as she narrowed her gaze, locking onto Mason’s intense expression. What are you playing at? Xenia wondered as she stared at Mason, searching for any signs of deception. But all she found was a raw mixture of lust and determination.“You can’t be serious,” she scoffed, hoping her laugh would push him back. But instead, Mason smiled, a slow, predatory grin that sent heat pooling low in her stomach.“I think you know me well enough to realize I’m very serious,”he replied, his gaze flickering down to her lips, making his intentions crystal clear. “You realize every time we’ve kissed it was Rodin who was in control. I can’t help but feel a bit…”“...jealous,” Xenia replied.“...left out,” he finished, his eyes darkening as he moved closer, closing the gap between them. She felt her pulse quicken, her body betraying her mind. His nearness was intoxicating, and that made her furious. She tried to fight the rush of heat flooding her, swallowing hard as she placed a hand